Background Scriptures:  "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."  Matthew 6:6 NIV

"He says, 'Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 NIV

Just in case you hadn't noticed, we live in a noisy and distracting world.  The International Facility management Association has estimated that the open environments in most offices today has the potential for reducing productivity up to 20%.  But, the noise and distractions we encounter on a daily basis (sometimes self-inflicted), are nearly inescapable.  Those of you who come to Adult 1 Sunday School class have heard me say that these distractions of the world, seemingly innocent, can be used by Satan.  The Evil One would much rather we spend our time droning on in front of the tube or the computer screen that in spending time with God and His word.  He would much rather we think more about who is going to win the Super Bowl or American Idol or who said what on Facebook than whether we are laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

In John chapter 14 Jesus tells us that, as His followers, we are not at home in this world.  And Yet, here we are.  What is the solution to this conundrum?  How can we live among the noise and distraction (often meaningless), and still stay rooted in eternal values and perspectives?  The Holy Spirit, writing through Matthew 2,000 years ago, had the answer.  The following is my 21st century paraphrase for what Matthew said:

"When you want to be with God and His word, go into your place of daily seclusion, close the door, shut-off your cell phone, turn off the computer, and pray.  Then take time to meditate and listen to the voice of God.  He will reward you for what is done in secret."

This is most commonly known at QUIET TIME or daily devotions.  If you are still wondering why your Christian walk and growth is not what you would like it to be or what God desires, if you are still questioning the value of doing this on purpose every day, consider the following metaphors:

• An ember, removed from the fire, soon grows cold.
• A branch that is cut off from the vine quickly withers.
• An iPhone that is not charged on a regular basis soon goes dead.
• An orchestra that does not tune-up before the concert is cacophonous.

We could go on like this but you get the point.  Daily time with the Lord and His word is a necessity in order to filter out the noise of this life or to put it in perspective.  It is also critical to how we will carry out the remainder of our day.  Southern Baptist preacher Robert G. Lee was famous for saying, "If you wake up in the morning and don't meet the devil face on, it just means that you are both headed in the same direction."  And, while a considerable case could be made for having personal devotions (a.k.a. quiet time) first thing in the morning, we also know that we are all different.  Some of us cannot even think clearly that early (coffee not withstanding) and some of us are "night owls."  The mother of John and Charles Wesley, Susanna, although she had nineteen children, used to stop in the middle of her busy day, go sit in a chair, pull her apron over her head, and spend time communing with her Creator.

Most Christians are well aware of what has already been said here.  Why then don't more "Just Do It!"  There are several possible answers to this enigma.  One is that we have unconfesssed sin in our lives and don't want to draw near to God.  The same thing happened to our first ancestors.  Genesis 3:8 tells us that after sinning, "the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day and they hid..."  Are you not just neglecting devotions but rather hiding from God?  Take it from me, it doesn't work (Psalm 139:7-8).

Another possible reason for neglecting to have a daily quiet time with the Lord is that you somehow feel that discipline and devotion are mutually exclusive; that you shouldn't need to do this on purpose because it should just "flow" from your love for Christ and He for you.  While that is partially true, to think that is to underestimate the nature of spiritual warfare and the pugnacious and persistent wiles of the enemy.  Think of it!  Something stressful and dramatic happens in our lives, a loss, a failure, a sudden change, and we find that what we formerly thought was important gets pushed way down the list.  Daily time with God also has the built-in benefit for re-prioritizing our lives each time we meet with Him.

I close with the words to this well-known worship song because it clearly tells me of the benefits of consistent, daily communion with God:

You are my strength when I am weak,

You are the treasure that I seek, 

You are my all-in-all.

Seeking you as a precious jewel,

Lord, to give up, I'd be a fool,

You are my all-in-all.

Jesus, Lamb of God,

Worthy is Your Name, Worthy is Your Name!

I would love to see you this Sunday morning as we continue with the "How to's" of Quiet Time.

Keep and Defend the Faith,

Dan

Background Scripture:  "Great blessings belong to those who don't listen to evil advice, who don't live like sinners, and who don't join those who make fun of God.  Instead, they love the Lord's teachings and think about them day and night."  Psalm 1:1-2 ERV

Background Scripture:  "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  John 13:17 NIV

A Greek mathematician once told his shortcut-seeking student that "There is no royal road to geometry."  In other words, while I am quick to answer in the AFFIRMATIVE the question posed by the title of this evotion, I would also be quick to say that it takes work.  To be fair, however, it is not difficult to see how a new Christian, a "baby" Christian if you will, could be confused by trying to find his or her way around the Bible.  Hence the need for discipleship.

If you are like me and have been in church a long time, it is easy to forget the feeling a new Christian can get sitting in church when the Pastor says, "Turn to First Timothy 5:12."  The new convert opens a pew Bible and finds Genesis then, trying not to stick out like a sore thumb, turns to the table of contents and finds that 1st Timothy is on page 325.  He turns to that page and finds that it is the book of Joshua.  Just then, someone sitting next to him whispers that there are two main sections of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments and that 1 Timothy is found on page 325 in the New Testament.  At this juncture, had it not been for the intervention of a mentor, he is ruminating over the possibility of not returning to church and not trying to solve this mystery called "The Bible."

(By the way, above example really happened to 17-yr. old Dwight L. Moody.  Fortunately, the man sitting next to him who helped him find 1 Timothy was the shoe salesman who led him to Christ.  The rest, as they say, is history with Moody becoming a famous preacher who, it is said, led one million people to saving faith in Jesus.)

However, what about those of us who have been followers of Jesus Christ for some period of time.  Can we understand the Bible?  I mean, isn't it just for theologians and seminary students?  Can an ordinary, garden variety believer really understand God's Word?  Since I have already answered that question above, allow me to expound on some key principles of Bible study:

• The Bible was written for peoplejust like you and me, not just for preachers and theologians.  John said it best when he told his audience, "I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven on account of His name." (1 John 2:12).  That's right!  The Apostle John was asserting that even "little children" or brand new Christians can understand the Bible.
• The best commentary on the Bible is...the Bible. In other words, it is difficult to see the whole forest if your nose is smashed up against one piece of bark.  This means that every Christian should endeavor to read through the entire Bible multiple times.  This macro approach helps the reader to understand God's overarching plan.  For example, allow me this oversimplification to create in your mind a time line of God's Kingdom plan:  Creation - all was perfect and good.  Man sinned and fell short of the glory of God.  God immediately put His perfect plan into place to redeem those who would accept it.  God chose the Jewish people to bring this plan to fruition and ordained prophets to reveal it.  The Jews, by-and-large, rejected this plan and God sent Peter and Paul to the Gentiles; the world.  The present time is for sowing the seed (God's Word) and some will accept it, some will reject it.  Soon, the King will return and establish His kingdom on earth and will rule in righteousness.
• Don't get too hung-up on passages you don't yet understand. Just thank God for those that you do understand and trust Him that more will be revealed at a later time if you are diligent in your study.  After all, if you are not living up to the light you already have, why should God give you more light?  Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God "rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
• You don't have to quit your job in order to devote enough time to understanding the Bible and growing in the Lord.  Author and Bible teacher Tim LaHaye states that a plan of 15 minutes per day of reading God's Word and another 15 minutes studying it changed his life and his walk with the Lord.
• Choose the same time every day to read and study the Word. We are creatures of habit.  If brushing our teeth every morning can be a habit, why can't reading God's Word be so also.  I try not to read anything each morning until I have read God's Word but I would be lying if I said I was 100% successful at it.  However, I also refuse to get discouraged if life happens and I don't get to read the Bible first thing.
• Don't settle for second best. Sure, you can go to heaven knowing little more than John 3:16 and Romans 10: 9-10 because God's marvelous gift of salvation is so free that all you have to do is accept it by faith.  But do you really want to drink formula your whole life?  Did God waste His time by revealing 66 books of the Bible when all you needed was two or three verses?  Is is God's plan that you remain a mental pygmy whereas scripture is concerned your whole life?  Can you really defend the faith without "studying to show yourself approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed?"  (by the way, these are rhetorical question...I hope.)

In closing, it is my considered opinion that God wants us to love him with all of our soul, with all of our strength, and with all of our mind.  But, to do this, you gotta study, which brings me around to a verse that I sneak in whenever no one is looking.  "But, in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have..."(1 Peter 3:15a)  Now, how are you going to do that without Bible study?

Keep and Defend the Faith,

Dan

Background Scripture:  "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

WANTED:  BIBLICAL APOLOGISTS

(for a brief summary of the last five reasons why we know the New Testament writes told the truth, see attachment)

Atheists and agnostics are.  Cultists and skeptics are also.  Conspiracy theorists, people who claim to have been abducted by aliens, Darwinists, global warming advocates and those who don't believe we ever landed on the moon are too!  Are what?  They are apologists for what they believe or what they adamantly don't believe.  What about you?  If I have done anything in the last two e-votions to convince you that you can believe the Bible, that it is (does not merely contain) the word of God, that it is inerrant, inspired, infallible, and indestructible, what are you doing about it?

If we Bible "thumpers" are convinced that the Bible is true and that it is the definitive guide for practice in living, for the origin of the universe, for understanding redemption, for training in righteousness, for getting to know God, for raising our children, and for being prepared for the Second Advent of God's precious Son, why aren't we apologists for it?  Why do we sometimes lurk in the shadows hoping that we won't be confronted at work or in school by a skeptic or a cultist about what we profess to believe?

Before I address these poignant questions, I would first like to define the word "apologist" as I am using it here.  It does not mean that we are to go around apologizing to anyone and everyone who will listen (our adversary would like that).  It does not mean that we are sorry that our beliefs and views offend them or that we regret that the way is so narrow.  No, none of these.  Apologetics is a branch of Christian study that deals with the defense and establishment of the Christian faith; something that every believer should be engaged in.  The reason it sounds like we are apologizing is because it comes from the Greek word "apologia" which means to give a verbal defense.

That is why Peter tells us that we are"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope you have." (1 Peter 3:15).  Perhaps it is why the Apostle Paul used this same word when he spoke to the crowd after being arrested in Acts 22:1.  Perhaps that is why the word "apologia" is used eight times in the New Testament. And perhaps, just perhaps it is why apologetics is not for those in the pulpit only but also for those in the pew.

IN CASE YOU HADN'T NOTICED,YOU ARE AT WAR!

When I was in Army basic training, my drill sergeant once "apologized' for dropping me for 50 push-ups by saying he was getting me ready for war (okay, it didn't sound much like an apology at the time).  If preparation is necessary for human warfare, how much more important is it for spiritual warfare?  While earthly wars begin and end, the battle in which we Christians find ourselves engaged will not end until our glorious Lord returns and puts all enemies under His feet.

The most serious and intense struggle those in the Christian Church have ever engaged is the war over the Word of God.  If this war could be lost (it cannot, Matthew 24:35), our faith, our hope in God and our witness would utterly be destroyed.  But, since God will not allow that to happen, why is it important for all Christians to be doing their spiritual "push-ups" in these times?  Once again, we must look no further than the Word itself for our answer.

THE WAR INTENSIFIES!

• Even before the birth of the Church in Acts 2, Jesus warned of the coming war against the Word of God.  In Matthew 24:24-25, Jesus Himself warned us of this time.  "For false Christs and false prophets will appear (and need to be refuted)and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible.  see, I have told you ahead of time."
• The Apostle Paul warned the Church at Ephesus:  "I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them(Acts 20:29-30).
• And again, Paul wrote to Timothy to be a good soldier on guard against these attacks against the Word of God:  "But understand this, in the last days there will come times of difficulty...while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."  (2 Timothy 3:1, 13)

At the turn of the 21st century, Bible scholar James Orr predicted that the theological battleground for this time would "be fought around the fortress of the worth and authority of Holy Scripture."*  We are in the thick of that battle today.  Is the Bible the Word of God or the work of man?  If you, like me, cannot see how it could possible be the product of man's efforts, then drop and give me 50 spiritual push-ups.  It is time to engage the enemy.

Keep and Defend the Faith,

Dan

*  Dr. Orr as quoted by Lehman Strauss in his book, "We Can Trust the Bible" 1997.

Background Scripture:  "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  2 timothy 3: 16-17 NIV

A young man was informed that his grandmother had died and left him an inheritance.  He was delighted to find that she had left him $50,000 and "her Bible and all it contains."  While he relished to idea of the money, he knew very well what the Bible contained and, because he wasn't into "that religious stuff" he placed it on a high shelf and ignored it.  Much like the prodigal, he gambled away the $50,000 and fell into extreme poverty, living as a pauper and depending on relatives to keep from starving.  Finally, he had to move in with relatives and while cleaning out his room, he found the Bible right where he had placed it.  As he took it down, his trembling hands dropped it on the floor, flinging it open to reveal a $100 bill between each page.  He had lived as a pauper simply because in his prejudice he thought he knew what the Bible contained.*

While I can't guarantee you'll find your Bible stuffed with $100 bills, I can firmly assert with full confidence that it is a timeless treasure that, unlike money, will never pass away (Matt 24:35).  While many Americans take this treasure for granted or find reason to be skeptical of its "toqueph" (Hebrew for authority), Christians in other parts of the world, where Bibles are restricted or completely banned, would find it a pearl of great price were they able to lay their hands on one or even part of one.  In the underground house church in China, they often take their Bibles (Shengjing) apart book-by-book so that if there is a sweep by the PSB, the whole Bible will not be lost.  They then exchange books of the Bible at each secret meeting.  I am somewhat reluctant to tell you that, in cleaning and reorganizing my office recently, I counted 27 Bibles and New Testaments there.  It makes me wonder if I appreciate such free access to God's word as I should.

However, in speaking to people about the claims of God's word, a favorite tactic to throw me off is to state one of the following claims:

• The Bible has changed down through the years.  How can I trust it?
• The Bible is full of contradictions.
• The Bible was just written by men and is full of mistakes.
• Much of what is written in the Bible cannot be proved.
• Isn't that just your interpretation?  Doesn't the Bible mean different things to different people?

The remainder of this e-votion will be an example of how I might respond to such accusations:

• "The Bible has changed down through the years."  (My answer) No, it hasn't!  God has miraculously preserved His word.  One of the favorite arguments among skeptics of this ilk was to surmise that the text had changed from time-to-time making it unreliable.  A discovery made in 1947 made it much more difficult for them to argue this.  The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered that year and a careful study of them revealed that they not only contained much of the Old Testament but also that the text revealed that the Bible hadn't changed.  The Dead Sea Scrolls were one thousand years older than existing manuscripts.  Additionally, Jesus was a prolific user of the Old Testament scriptures.  No one in the entire Bible quoted scripture as often as did Jesus.  In fact, some scholars estimate that one out of every ten of Jesus'  recorded verses is a direct quote from the O.T.
• "The Bible is full of contradictions."  (My answer handing them my Bible)  Would you mind terribly showing me a few?  This is a favorite tactic of skeptics and is meant to put us on the defensive.  It shouldn't.  This assertion is often made by folks who have little or no Bible knowledge but they have heard this said and, in an effort to assuage their conscience, they repeat it.  By asking them to show me the contradictions, I am not trying to show them up or embarrass them.  I am simply trying to show them that what they believe might not be true.  A contradiction is something that makes something else impossible when both statements deal with the same thing.  One of the favorite arguments of those who have a little Bible knowledge is that both Matthew and Mark list the women as being the first to reach the tomb of Jesus and Paul (in 1 Cor. 15:5) lists Peter as the first.  This apparent contradiction is easily destroyed.  Paul was not saying that Jesus appeared only to Peter.  Remember that in that culture, only the testimony of men was considered legal and admissible.  It is understandable that Paul would not list the women.
• "The Bible was just written by men and is full of mistakes."  (My answer)  Yes and no.  Yes, the Bible was written by mere men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the truth.  This was not a mere dictation nor was it a trance where God put them to sleep and they woke up with a manuscript and didn't remember anything.  The Bible was written by 40 different men from 1500 B.C. to 100 A.D. in three languages and on three continents and yet its message it remarkably clear and coherent.  That message is of God's creative work, the fall of mankind, and God's wonderful plan to rescue them from sin through the perfect work of His Son, starting first with the nation of Israel and then to the whole world.  No, the Bible is not full of mistakes.
• "Much of what is written in the Bible cannot be proved."  (My answer)  The Bible stated scientific facts long before scientists knew it.  Just to give a couple of examples,Isaiah 40:22 talks about the circle of the earth long before scientists knew it was round.  Genesis 15:5 states that the stars were innumerable long before the Hubble Space Telescope revealed it.  We could go on like this indefinitely.
• "Isn't that just your interpretation?  Doesn't the Bible mean different things to different people?"  (My answer) Okay then, let's start with those things that are not open to interpretation (handing them my Bible open to Romans 3:23).  Please read this verse and tell me what it says to you.  I also do this with John 14:6.  This argument is a well-trodden rabbit trail and if you go down that trail with them, watch where you step!

There is so much we can say on the topic of the Bible's inspiration, inerrancy, and "toqueph" or authority and we will not miss the opportunity.  Please join us this Sunday as we continue to marvel at God's revelation of mankind and how it has been divinely brought down to us through the ages.

Keep and Defend the Faith,

Dan

*Illustration taken from "The Evidence Bible" compiled by Ray Comfort.