The Word of God Stands On Its Own Merit! Day 1 Psalms 1

 

Psalms 1:1-6

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

News about my blog

Hello Friends. I am going to be taking some time off my regular posts, starting today. There are some things that I just need to focus on in the next few weeks. I am not sure when I will be back to do the kinds of post that I have done for you. I am anticipating it might well be into June. Perhaps towards the end of that month. 

However, I do plan to post a bible scripture each day, if I possibly can.  That will start later today.  So please feel free to continue to come here and get that and also you may want to reread some of my older posts. I would also suggest that you make reading your bible (which is more important than even coming here) everyday a part of your life, if you don't already do that. 

I am truly sorry. There is so much going on in my life and at this time (retirement is not always a smooth sail like we think it will be sometimes, ha, ha) while I do not want to ignore God, (which I don't intend to do), I need to concentrate on other things to. 

I will keep you up on the status of this blog in the meantime. Thank you for your commitment here. You are such a blessing to me. And I love that I have been able to share the gospel with you.

God Bless, Becky

Jesus" Disciples: Bartholomew

 Who was Bartholomew?

Bartholomew is listed as one of the twelve disciples of Jesus in each of the four references to the group (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). In the Gospel of John, however, he is always referred to as Nathanael (John 1:45–49; 21:2). Bartholomew is a Hebrew surname meaning “son of Tolmai.” So Nathanael is the son of Tolmai, or Nathanael Bar-Tolmei.

In each of the listings of the disciples, the names of Philip and Bartholomew are linked, which could mean they were good friends or even related. What we know about Bartholomew/Nathanael comes primarily from the account of his call by Jesus (John 1:45–49). After Jesus called Philip to follow Him, Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (verse 45). This would seem to indicate Philip and Nathanael were students of the Law and the Prophets and that Philip recognized from their study that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for.

We see from Bartholomew’s next statement, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46) that he held the town of Nazareth in the same regard as many Jews of that day. Nazareth, and all of the area around Galilee, was seen as a low and wicked place. Even Bartholomew/Nathanael, himself a Galilean, was doubtful that anything good, let alone God’s Messiah, could come from such a place.

The next verse gives us true insight into the character of Bartholomew. When Jesus saw him coming, He said, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” The Greek word for “false” means “deceitful, crafty, or full of guile.” Jesus knew Nathanael’s heart, just as He knows what is in every heart. Jesus’ assessment of Bartholomew was that he was a “true” son of Abraham, that is, a man who worshiped the true and living God without any of the deceit or hypocrisy that characterized the religious leaders of that day.

What follows is a declaration of Jesus’ divine nature and power. Bartholomew/Nathanael asked Jesus how He knew him, and Jesus replied, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you” (John 1:48). Jesus wasn’t present when Philip called Nathanael, yet He had seen and heard their conversation, evidence of His omniscience. He knew not only Nathanael’s words but his heart and sincere character as well. Nathanael (Bartholomew) saw the attributes of divine omniscience and the ability to discern hearts in the Man who stood before him. Nathanael’s familiarity with Old Testament prophecies caused him to recognize Jesus for who He was, the promised Messiah, Son of God and King of Israel (verse 49).

This is all we know about Bartholomew/Nathanael from Scripture. As an apostle, Bartholomew saw the risen Lord Jesus (John 21:2) and was present at the Ascension (Acts 1:1–11). Tradition indicates that Bartholomew was a minister of the gospel in Persia and India. There is no biblical record of his death, but one tradition has it that he was tied up in a sack and dropped into the sea. Another tradition claims that he was crucified. All traditions agree that he died a martyr’s death, as did all the apostles except for John.  (Credit: gotquestions.org)

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Another amazing fact about Jesus, that not only was he born and laid in an animal troff in stable, but he was also raised in a not-so-great city that Bartholomew had asked if "anything good can come out of Nazareth?" 

And therefore, as Jesus explained how he knew Bartholomew, he realized Jesus was who He said He was. 

That all people could know who Jesus is would be wonderful. 

And friends, one day everyone will know. 

 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Philippians 2:10

But not only that:

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. verse 11

We had better be ready. Are you? 

 Hello Friends. I am so sorry I have not been here for the past few days.

 I had some tech problems with my pc and after trying to work them out, finally figured out it was because someone was trying to hack into it, Thankfully, they did not get anything. I have to say that even though it is at times stressful to keep changing passwords (because I don't rely on programs that make them for me), and having to use virus protection, I am thankful that the banks and credit card companies that I use will lock even me out until suspicious activity issues are addressed. These people that do these things do not care who they take from nor how much they steal. I saw one report on this subject that while a lot of them are in other countries, they think they have a right to the money in America because we are rich here. While that is mostly true compared to many countries, most of us struggle to make ends meet and put food on the table. We work hard for the money we earn and we as Christians know that our blessings from God Himself and no one has a right to take them from us. 

One last thing about this is that while these people are doing criminal things, we should be praying for them. One day they will bow their knees to a Holy God as we will, and wherever they end up after that, may be the same place as those that do not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Well, have a great rest of your day. I probably won't be here tomorrow as my family will be coming over.  God bless you and your family!

Jesus Disciple: Phillip (part two)

 Who was the Apostle Phillip?

Philip the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Later Christian traditions describe Philip as the apostle who preached in Greece, Syria, and Asia-Minor1. He is mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels and plays a significant role in the Gospel of John. Here are some key points about Apostle Philip:

1. Background and Calling:

   • Philip hailed from the city of Bethsaida in Galilee, the same town as Peter and Andrew.
   • He was among those who followed John the Baptist and witnessed John pointing out Jesus as the Lamb of God.
   • Philip introduced Nathanael (sometimes identified with Bartholomew) to Jesus.

2. Role in the Gospel of John:

   • In the Gospel of John, Philip is prominently featured.
   • Jesus tested Philip when He asked him how to feed the 5,000 people.
   • Philip served as a link to the Greek community. He bore a Greek name, likely spoke Greek, and may have been known to Greek pilgrims in Jerusalem.
   • During the Last Supper, Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, providing an opportunity for Jesus to teach about the unity of the Father and the Son.

3. Feast Day and Veneration:

   • In the Roman Rite, Philip’s feast day, along with that of James the Less, was traditionally observed on May 1st.
   • The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Philip’s feast day on November 14th.
   • Philip is depicted as an elderly, bearded man holding a basket of loaves and a Tau cross in iconography.
   • He is venerated in all Christian denominations that venerate saints.

Philip’s pragmatic and sometimes skeptical approach contrasts with his role as a light unto the nations and a pillar of Christ’s church2. His legacy continues to inspire believers across different traditions.  (Credit: christianity.com)

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Hello, Friends. I had trouble with my pc on Saturday with the post about the Apostle Phillip. Not only that, but I was not having a great day. And so, I did not get to finish that one. And part of the problem was way that christianity.com had their post formatted. Instead of continuing along the same path to finish it up today, I just decided to post some of their points about him which is above. I am not complaining about how their posts are as that is just the way they have made them. But they don't copy well for me. If you would like to know more about Apostle Paul, you may want to click on the graphic above about him and see what is said about him there. I have not read any of this however and am not going to try to copy any of it here. I would ask that you please keep me in your prayers and thank you for doing so.  At any rate thank you for coming by. Have a blessed day. 

May we all stive to fulfill God's promise to Abram in our own lives.

Jesus Disciples: Phillip (part one)

 

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I don't remember hearing much about the disciple named Phillip. But no doubt he was just as much important to Jesus as were the rest of them. Here is what I found on him

Philip the Apostle is one of the original twelve apostles chosen by Jesus. Not much is detailed about his individual acts in the Gospels. Still, he is mentioned several times, notably when he brings Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:43-46) and during the feeding of the 5,000, where he discusses the logistics of feeding such a crowd with Jesus (John 6:5-7). His role is primarily seen as a follower interacting directly with Jesus during His ministry.

Where is Philip in the Bible?

Apart from listing the twelve disciples of Jesus, found in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 3:16-19, and Acts 1:13, the individual stories that feature Philip are found exclusively in John’s gospel. There could be several reasons for this. 

For one thing, John writes from a different perspective and with a distinct focus than his fellow gospel writers. He includes details, characters, and stories from the life and ministry of Jesus that others do not. Philip features prominently in several of them. 

Furthermore, as someone who grew up in Bethsaida (John 1:44), the same hometown as Andrew and Peter, Philip may have been acquainted with Andrew and Peter as well as James and John. 

Could Philip have been a friend and fishing partner of James, John, Peter, and Andrew before following Jesus? It’s entirely possible. In fact, there’s good reason to believe that after the resurrection, when Peter went fishing with Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and “two others,” the others referenced may have been Andrew (Peter’s brother) and Philip. Philip was often paired with Nathanael, his best friend (John 21:2-3)

(credit: Christianiy.com)

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There is quite a bit more about Phillip in this article which I am not going to copy in this post. However, if I am able, I will do a part 2 on him tomorrow and if not, then for sure on Monday. Thank you for your patience and also for coming by. I pray for you a blessed rest of your weekend. 

Jesus" Disciples: James, Son of Zebedee

 

Who was James Son of Zebedee?

Jesus had two disciples named James: James the son of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus. Another James, the half-brother of Jesus, was never one of the twelve disciples but was a leader in the early church of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13) and wrote the epistle of James. One of the Twelve, James the son of Alphaeus, is called James the Less (or the Younger) in Mark 15:40, where we also learn that his mother’s name was Mary. Scripture does not record much more about James the son of Alphaeus, so we’ll focus on the other disciple, James the son of Zebedee, in this article.

When Jesus called James to follow Him, he was in a boat mending fishing nets with his father, Zebedee, and his brother, John. “[Jesus] called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him” (Matthew 4:21–22). From then on, James was in full-time ministry with Jesus.

James was one of Jesus’ “inner circle.” James, John, and Peter are frequently mentioned together as the only apostles to witness some of Jesus’ miracles: the raising of a young girl from the dead (Mark 5), for example. Jesus took James up a mountain along with Peter and John, where James saw Jesus’ transfiguration and watched Him talk with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1–9). James, along with John, Peter, and Andrew, privately asked Jesus for clarity after He told the disciples the temple would be destroyed (Mark 13:2–3). Because of their desire to understand Jesus’ words better, the four received some prophetic words from their Lord regarding the near future and also the end times (Mark 13:5–37).

James and his brother, John, were given a nickname by Jesus, who called the two “Boanerges,” which means “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). This name gives us a clue to James’ personality. Both he and his brother were characterized by zeal, passion, and ambition.

James and John asked Jesus to let them sit on either side of Him in His kingdom (Mark 10:37), and Jesus told them that wasn’t a request He could grant. Then He prophesied about their future—James and John would suffer persecution just as He would (Mark 10:39). Jesus handled the brothers’ audacious request graciously, turning it into a lesson in humility for all the disciples (verses 42–45). The other ten disciples weren’t very happy with the brothers because of their brazenness—and probably because they wanted those positions of honor in the kingdom for themselves (verse 41).

Later, James and John showed their zealous, thunderous personalities when Jesus sent messengers before Him into a Samaritan village. The people of the village refused to welcome Jesus, however, because they knew He was journeying to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51–53). James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy the village (verse 54). This impetuous, vindictive desire earned Jesus’ rebuke, and He reminded the sons of thunder that His mission was to save lives, not destroy them.

Scripture doesn’t record any specifics about James’ activities following Jesus’ resurrection other than he went fishing with some of the other disciples on the Sea of Galilee, witnessed another miraculous draught of fish (John 21:1–11), and had breakfast on the shore with the resurrected Christ. After the ascension of Christ, James was present on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and did his part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Given James’ outspoken nature, he was probably a bold witness for the Lord and led many to faith.

As Jesus had predicted, James experienced persecution soon after the church began. King Herod decided to arrest some believers, and he had James killed (Acts 12:2). James thus became the first apostle to be martyred.

The life of James the apostle shows us that Jesus knows our nature: He identified James as a “son of thunder” right away. Also, Jesus patiently works with us to conform us to His will, just as He did with James. We also learn from the life of James that courage in our service to Christ is a valuable asset in spreading the gospel—although it can make us the target of persecution. At the same time, boldness should not be allowed to descend into brashness. Our zeal must be tempered with grace, and impetuosity must be curtailed by a steady commitment to the will of God. (Credit: gotquestions.org)

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Isn't it interesting that the same king that wanted to kill Jesus after His birth (and didn't succeed), would one day kill one of His disciples (and succeed)?

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.  Acts 12:1-2

 I am not sure if James was the only one that the king killed. Maybe we will find out as we study these men.  But James had stood up to the evil of the day, for the cause he had come to accept in Jesus Christ, and he lost his life for it.

I wonder what Herod thought about that. Pretty good, I imagine. I am sure there was no sorrow for having the part in Jame's death. 

And I wonder, if we are ever faced with a similar situation, will we do the same?

Thanks for coming by. I will be back on Saturday with the next disciple, God willing. 

Until then, God bless you and yours!

Jesus' Disciples: Andrew

 

Andrew in the Bible was a disciple of Jesus. Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother, and they were called to follow Jesus at the same time (Matthew 4:18). The Bible names Andrew as one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:2). Like Peter, Andrew was a fisherman by trade; they made their living on the Sea of Galilee. Peter and Andrew were from the city of Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northwest coast of Galilee (John 12:21).

The call of Andrew in the Bible is a memorable story. Andrew and John were originally disciples of John the Baptist. They were present when John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:35–36), and they followed after Jesus (verse 37). Jesus noticed Andrew and John following and invited them to come spend the day with Him (verses 38–39). After spending the time with Jesus, Andrew became convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and he took action: “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus” (verses 40–42). Thus, Andrew was one of Jesus’ first two followers and the first to bring another person to Him.

Later, Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee when He came across Andrew and Peter, busy casting nets into the lake in search of fish. Jesus called to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). The Bible says that Andrew and Peter “immediately” followed Jesus, leaving their nets behind (verse 20). Andrew and Peter already knew who Jesus was, based on their contact with Him in John 1, and now when He officially calls them to be disciples, they respond.

In leaving behind the family business, Andrew sets a good example for all who would follow Christ; we are all called to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), and we should not let anything get in the way of following Jesus’ call. When Jesus told Andrew and Peter they would be “fishers of men,” He promised that He would use them to save men’s souls. And that’s exactly what the apostles did.

There is at least one instance in Andrew’s life, recorded in the Bible, where he was a “fisher of men.” Some Greeks approached Philip, one of Andrew’s fellow disciples, wanting to see Jesus (John 12:20–21). Philip told Andrew what the Greeks wanted, and together Andrew and Philip brought the matter to Jesus (verse 22). In bringing Greeks to Jesus, Andrew had faith that Jesus’ intention was to save all men, and he was right: Jesus responded by referencing His crucifixion, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23). His death and resurrection would be the way by which all men, from all races and creeds and families, would be saved. These are the “fish of every kind” from Jesus’ parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47–50), and Andrew was one of the first to be involved in an evangelical effort that extended beyond the Jewish people. The incident with the curious Greeks anticipated the day when God would reveal to Peter, Andrew’s brother, that all people are welcome to come to Jesus (Acts 10:1–48). (Credit: gotquestions.org)

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What I found interesting about Andrew, was that he wanted to be convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Once he was, and Jesus called him to "Come" that is what he did. 

How this contrasts with who people follow today in the church, can and has led many people to end up in hell because they don't actively really find out a pastor to make sure he ends up where God truly wants him.

Matthew 24:5 KJV: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Friend's, there are many, many fraudulent pastors in the world that would invite us in and many of these people do it because they have ways of manipulating us into giving them our money. Yes, the work of God does need money to operate. But these people that are frauds will squeeze every penny out of the people in their church. And it doesn't matter to them who they take advantage of while the money piles up in their bank accounts. 

It really does matter what pastor or teacher we are listening to. And as with Andrew, we should always do our homework to make sure that those people are preaching the Word of God to us and not a watered-down version, twisting the bible to meet their desires. 

Many people are being deceived. Many but for God's grace that some will come to understand this, and get out of that church, are on their way to hell and they don't even know it.

Please, don't be in that number. Jesus said many will be deceived. Not just a few, but many. 

Thanks for coming by today. God bless you!