The Bible Is from the Mind of God

I got this article called The Bible Is from the Mind of God from the website Agape Bible Studies.  It was written by Carmen D. Hillard.

As I do on my other blog, Dallas Shooters Baseball Club, I am posting a copy of Hillard's article on the Bible being from the mind of God.  I wish I were posting more on this blog but haven't.  I don't have a good excuse.  On my Dallas Shooters blog I copy a lot of articles and sometimes highlight things I think should be payed special attention to.  In this article Hillard already bolds certain things needed to be payed attention to.  I hope this is the first in many copied articles I post up here.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  Even people who know nothing about this blog but pray for me, I am extremely grateful and really do feel your prayers.  Its been a crazy month plus for me and my family, but when I have asked for prayers I have to tell you that I have and do feel them.  God is present in my life, I can tell you that without a doubt.

There have been times I felt distance and times I have felt so close to Him.  Knowing that He is with me even when I don't feel it always brings me back closer.  Sometimes life feels like a roller coaster to me I am reminded of his love for me at every twist, fall and rise.  When this roller coaster is over I am at peace God loves me and I am one of his children.  He was, is and is to come.  From before time through the end of time and after, he always loves me.  His love is eternal and always present.  Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins given to all my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Death was not His end as He rose again.  


Thank you Lord.

My Savior, My God

by: Aaron Shust

THE BIBLE IS FROM THE MIND OF GOD

If you compare the Bible to other religious books, it becomes apparent that its distinctive characteristics are unparalleled. The Bible is the only source for acquiring a correct knowledge of God's plan to save man from sin. If we place our faith in it and allow it to guide our life, we are guaranteed a home in heaven. Many Christians today do not realize that the Bible is our authority for learning and teaching the truth. If we arm ourselves with the facts and evidences that are available within its pages, it will prove that only God could have written such an amazing book known as the Bible. In your search for the facts, don't stop with this article. It only scratches the surface of what God wants you to know.

I. PROPHECY OF THE BIBLE

Many other books are revered as sacred and claim to be inspired, such as, the Koran; containing the revelations to Mohammed by Allah. It is believed by Moslems that Allah is the Supreme Being. The Veda, used in Hinduism, is believed to be sacred literature. Many other religious books claim to be revelations from God but they do not contain fulfilled prophecies and cannot be compared to the Bible. The Old Testament used types and symbols to describe historical events, institutions, ceremonies, offerings and feasts which point to Christ and His church in the New Testament. (Isaiah 53, Micah 5:2, Daniel 2:44; 9:25-27, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Psalm 16:8-11). Many Scriptures tell the place of Christ's birth, His ancestry, how He would be received, and the facts about His death, burial and resurrection. Read some of the prophecies about Jesus' birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), a forerunner (Malachi 3:1, 4:5), the disciple who betrayed Him (Psalms 41:9), for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12). At His trial, His disciples would forsake Him (Zechariah 13:7). He would suffer in silence and be beaten (Isaiah 53:7). His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16), vinegar and gall would be offered to Him (Psalms 69:20,21). His garments would be divided (Psalms 22:18), He would die among the wicked, but His grave would be among the rich (Isaiah 53:9), none of His bones would be broken (Psalms 34:20), He would be resurrected (Isaiah 53:10-12; Psalms 16:10).  These are but a few of the predictions and prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament that were fulfilled, in minute detail, hundreds of years later. It is impossible for humans to have continued the writing of the Bible, throughout the centuries it took to complete it, without the direct guidance and instruction of God. No human could have fulfilled all the prophecies perfectly as did Jesus.

II. UNITY OF THE BIBLE

About 40 different men were instructed by God to write the 66 books of the Bible. It was written in 3 languages, over a period of some 2000 years, from many different countries, all walks of life, and on hundreds of different topics. Only God could have maintained the oneness and purpose of the Bible over such an extended period of time. With the 66 books of the Bible, the writers put one book together. Each piece fits together perfectly to tell the true story of God's love for man by sending His Son Jesus to redeem us from sin. The Bible could not have originated with man. It came from the mind of God; it is unmatched by any other book in history.

III. HISTORICAL ACCURACY

Rob's Side Note:  Check out Josh McDowell's "More Than a Carpenter."  Its Josh's testimony of how he was came to believe Jesus was who he said he was.  I like it so much because I like reading C.S. Lewis' take on the Christian faith.  These guys went from being an atheist, extreme as these two were in their beliefs, to knowing God and putting their faith into Him.  Cool testimony coming from an impressive mind.

For centuries, critics have tried to undermine the Bible so as to weaken its authority and cause people to doubt its accuracy. They have denied that writing was invented by the time Moses was supposed to have written the first five books. They denied that Abraham's native city of Ur existed. They denied the existence of people who were called Horites and Hittites. They denied that the nation of Israel was ever in Egypt and that the walls of Jericho crumbled as the Bible states.  They have denied much of the Bible's chronology and have reduced the flood to nothing more than a paddle boat ride. But one by one the objections fell as archaeology uncovered evidence to confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible. There are no records or accounts of ancient history that can compare to the exactness of the Bible. God gives the evidence to prove everything He asks us to believe. Because you have not discovered it doesn't mean the evidence is not there for you to know. Most of us would rather take someone's word than to search for our self. The tendency to do just that is why so many people accept false teaching.

IV. SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

Early in history, many ideas about the world and universe which were thought to be true (but were no more than guesses) turned out to be wrong. Many scientific truths, hidden for centuries, have been discovered just in the last few centuries. The small scientific treasures listed below stand as evidence that the Bible is inspired of God.

Astronomy. Before Columbus and Magellan sailed around the world, the earth was believed to be flat. Yet the Bible said it was round, (Isaiah 40:22; Proverbs 8:27) and supported on nothing, (Job 26:7). The stars cannot be counted, (Jeremiah 33:22). Stars give off sound, (Job 38:7) and function according to heavenly laws, (Job 38:33). The moon is a reflector; a witness testifying for another, (Psalms 89:37). The universe is not humanly measurable, (Jeremiah 31:37).
Oceanography. The seas were created with a common bed (Genesis 1:9). There are streams or paths in the sea (Psalms 8:8). The ocean floors are coursed by canyons (Job 38:16; 2 Samuel 22:16). and contain fresh water springs (Genesis 7:11; Job 38:16).
Meteorology. The water cycle involving evaporation, transportation, condensation and gravitation is suggested, (Job 36:27-28; Eccle.1:7). Electricity causes rain, (Job 38:26). Air has weight, (Job 28:25) and rushes in circuits, (Eccle.1:6). Physics. Neither matter nor energy is presently being created.  (Genesis 2:1); instead the universe is running down or wearing out, (Isaiah 51:6; Psalms 102:26; Hebrews 1:11). Light requires time to travel through space and thus exists in a path (way)-- (Job 38:19,24).
Biology. Life does not arise spontaneously, (Acts 17:25). Living things reproduce according to the laws of heredity, (Gen 1:11, 12, 21, 24). There is a basic difference in the cell structure of the major classes of living things, (1 Cor.15:39).
Medicine. Sanitation laws infer germs, (Leviticus 11:29-36,; Deuteronomy 23:12-14). Life is in the blood, (Leviticus 17:11) and all nations share a common physical unity, (Acts 17:26).  The eighth day is ideal for circumcision, (Gen.17:12).
Scientific Foreknowledge. This is only one of the many ways the Bible proves that it came from the mind of God. Other books will contain truth mixed with error, whereas the Bible contains nothing but the truth. It is not just a textbook on science or philosophy.  If the Bible makes a statement about either, it's always correct.

V. SURVIVED AGAINST ATTACKS

For over 1900 years the New Testament has survived many attacks. None has been able to destroy it or the faith of Christianity.  In A.D. 303, Diocletian ordered the Bible destroyed.  Today, it is the all-time best seller of books in the world. In 1718, the infidel Voltaire predicted he would have the Bible extinct in 100 years. Soon after his death the British and Foreign Bible Society was founded and used Voltaire's presses for printing Bibles. They used the room where he wrote his attacks to store them. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). Today, skeptics continue to throw doubt on the authenticity of the Bible, and yet more people are convinced of its truth than ever before.  These attacks will come from men of science, education, psychology, politics and so on, but the Bible will remain. It predicts these attacks will come, (2 Peter 3:1-7) and promises that it is indestructible (1 Peter 1:23-25).

VI. GOD DIRECTS OUR LIFE THROUGH THE BIBLE

God uses the Bible to guide and direct man because its truth is stable and unchangeable. He does not direct us through our feelings. Emotional experiences have little or no place in acquiring correct Bible knowledge. Our individual feelings are created by what we think and experience. Feelings change and often are extremely unreliable. It is a popular idea in many religions today that one should open up and allow the Holy Spirit to take the lead, depending on Him to give little signs and gentle nudges in the right direction. One is supposed to know when He is leading through his feelings. God doesn't promise the Christian, in the Bible, that He will lead him through emotional experiences. In fact, Christianity is based on the very opposite. We are trained by Scripture, to obey God's commands regardless of how we feel. Loving God is not an emotional feeling but what we do. We are told repeatedly in the Bible, "If you love me, obey my commandments." Serving God and our fellow man constantly puts us in the position of giving and doing what is best for the other person, not what we would rather do. If I feel lazy and don't want to attend worship on Sunday morning, is it the Spirit's instruction? No! If I am wronged by others and have the desire to retaliate, should I listen to my feelings? No!  God knows I will feel anger, but directs me in the Bible to control my feelings and sin not. Christianity is a constant battle of denying self and feelings. Christ denied His feelings, allowed Himself to hang on a cross and die, to pay for the sins of the world. Using our feelings as a guide will get us into trouble.

God knows that our emotions are changeable and are unreliable. He never tells us to trust them as a guide to teach us the truth. He gives us a standard (authority) to learn the truth on any spiritual matter that is never changeable; the Bible. It equalizes everyone's chances for salvation and provides the way to prove what is true or false. With it, no one can elevate their feelings or experiences above another. I know people who believe that everything that happens to them is the Holy Spirit's work. If they are happy, the Spirit made them happy. Depressed, the Spirit is trying to get a message through to them. If they are in pain, the Spirit is chastising them, and so on. Such ideas are not biblical. The Spirit leads the Christian through the information contained in the Bible. All of us have the same information and the same leading. A person receives the Holy Spirit when he obeys the gospel. The Spirit then dwells within and strengthens the Christian as he obeys God's Word. But the Spirit doesn't lead the Christian through his feelings.

God teaches and directs man through his intellect. Satan, on the other hand, uses feelings and emotions to bait and deceive us into disobeying God's direction given in the Scriptures. Satan's apostles and servants are dressed as angels of God, 2 Cor.11:13-15. Sin and error is disguised in a beautiful package so that you will exchange the truth for a lie and lose your soul.  Satan uses feelings, such as pain, sorrow, loneliness, depression, and even happiness, to mask the truth. Beware of those who discredit the Bible, or tell you to let the Spirit give directions through your feelings. They are false teachers, masquerading as angels of God.
Whatever you may think of God or Jesus, if you examine all the evidences, you cannot deny that the Bible had to have come from the mind of a Supreme Being. The human mind does not have the ability to write such a book, much less to preserve it through the ages. A person who relies on feelings as a guide is re-infected over and over with the same error. By using the Bible, we have a way to know the truth, refute error, and strengthen our faith in God's promises. God's Word has the ability to look into our hearts and souls, like an X-ray machine. It can diagnose the diseases of sin The Bible reveals the struggles with sin and tells how to overcome it, Heb. 4:12-13. It supplies us with everything we need to teach, reprove, correct and train in righteousness that we may be complete, 2 Tim.3:16-17.


The Bible is from the mind of God.

Stumble Upon

I love the app stumbleupon. If you don't know about it or use another form of it online, stumbleupon is an online discovery engine that, after your put in what things you like, discovers websites that you might find interesting.  All of that at a click of a button.

Similarly, when I'm reading the Bible or listening to a christian radio station I will stumble upon encouraging or at times helpful verses/lyrics.  Now, you might think that when you read the Bible there will always be that verse that catches your eye or when your listening to the radio that part of the song that does just that too (to your... fill in the blank... ear...).  In some way yes, but sometimes not so much.  You might be struggling with something and you switch on the radio.  You might not get your answer but you did hear some good news.  You might be struggling with something and you open your Bible.  You might not get your answer but you did read some good news.  Well, I guess not always good news if your reading that your a sinner.  But if you were to keep going the fact that you are a sinner is solved by what Jesus did for you and me when he died on the cross.

"... We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.  For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." - Romans 6:2-7

 Getting back to my topic of discussion...  I'm sure you have had times in your life where you have no answer or maybe you think you do but only more questions and problems come after you have tried to fix it your way.  We all do.  Now, I'm not saying a problem as that my feet are cold.  Well, I'll just put on some socks.  My feet are still cold.  Maybe a warmer pair of socks or even some shoes might do the trick.  No, I'm talking about instances where someone is hurting and you don't know how to console them.  Instances where you worry yourself about getting the bills paid.  Times when your family is in some turmoil and even when you do everything in your power to fix the issues.  You get the idea.

I'd love to tell you that if you open your Bible you will find your answers.  That might lead though to you opening your Bible up and turning to Exodus 26 you find that that chapter of Exodus tells of how the tabernacle in those days was to be constructed.  The curtains are supposed to be what color!?  Thank you blue and purple curtains for fixing my day.  Not to belittle that chapter of the Bible because it does have some real significance to the faith but I'm just pointing out that by just opening up your Bible you will find your answer.

Sometimes, though, you stumble upon something in there that really hits home.  I am doing my best to read the Bible each day.  It is easier some days than others but it is something that I want to make part of my daily life.  Today, I got some terrible news which I am extremely hurt by.  I'm not hurt because it hurts me directly but because others are being hurt the most.  I want to be able to pat them on the back and say its going to be ok.  I want to tell the hurt you are doing bad things and to stop, but I can't.  It is so hard to stand on the sideline and although I can yell, "keep on going, your doing great, that was a nice hit, its alright you'll get'em next time," it doesn't solve anything.  This is one of those times where you need to put the issue in the hands of the Lord.  And I stumbled.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." - Romans 8:26-27

I was let onto this verse in my Bible study that I was a part of at school but hadn't read it myself in its full context.  I am making my way through the book of Romans right now and so happy to have read that verse today.  I'd like to say by sharing this verse it has solved all of our problems and by sharing it I'd have done the right thing and handled it the right way.  But then I'd be wrong.  Sharing a verse from the Bible is one thing but for that verse to have any meaning the person receiving the verse would have to put it to good use.  This is where God tells me to read the verse and put it to good use myself.  I am in a state of weakness now.  I don't know what to pray for.  I am trusting the Spirit to intercede for me when I pray because I believe the Holy Spirit will speak for me.  I have the Holy Spirit in me and I have to trust the Spirit to move me.  Its not an easy concept for me to fully grasp but because He is in me I must have faith.

God, Today Please Remind Me That You Love Me

Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 6:00PM CT

This morning I prayed for God to remind me that he loves me.  I don't think I asked how much.

I woke up around 8 this morning, which is early for me by the way, to get ready for a coaches meeting I had to be at at 9.  After showering and getting out the door I headed to Brookhaven Country Club.  On my was there is when I am pretty sure I prayed the prayer, "Lord, please today show me, remind me that you love me."  My mom had had a meeting a couple of days before with our pastor at PCBC about wanting to rejoin the church.  He told her he prayed a similar prayer every day.  Finally today I prayed it.

I got lost on my way to the country club and was actually a couple minutes late.  I was so worried about making a bad impression with one of the dads that was going to be there as well.  I got there finally and he couldn't have been more awesome about it.  I had met him once before and he was a super nice guy to begin with.  The meeting went great and I got out of there in time to just barely make it to my 11am shift at the restraunt I work at.

The restraunt was very stressful today with some of my coworkers not being in good moods.  I went abou my business but still complained aloud to other coworkers and mentally in my head.  Just not the best day at work although all the customers I had were actually very pleasant and I was happy to serve them.  That made the shift not as bad as I was trying to make it seem.  During that shift when things weren't so bright I prayed the prayer again knowing that I was stressing out about things too much.  "Lord, please remind me today that you love me."

When I got off work I went home to meet my friend about looking at apartments.  My mom, also being our realtor, my friend and I went downtown to look at some places.  It was a good experience and we got a lot out of it as far as knowledge of what we were looking at.  It was cool with the three of us and happy we all got to go together.

When we got back home it was finally time to go see friends and relax for the night.  I headed to Tom Thumb to pick up some beer for me and my friend.  When I got back to the parking lot to head to my friend's new awesome apartment I sat there for a second.  I thought, "It doesn't seem like God answered y prayer today.  Did I miss something?"  So I prayed the prayer again sitting in the parking lot with the radio off.  I realized today wasn't even over and maybe there was something extraordinary he had in mind.  I prayed a third time, "Lord, please show me/remind me that you love me."

It was like I had a revelation.  What was I thinking!  God had been showing me all day how much he loved me.  When I say revelation, I mean that I can't even write down how many times throughout the day God HAD shown me.  It wasn't one or two things, it was continuous!  Sure, sin was still in my life and had invaded my day, but God revealed to me how much he loves me all the time.  The story of my day that I have written above does no justice for accounting for the love God revealed to me when I prayed for the for the third time in that parking lot.  I drove from Tom Thumb to Henderson Avenue dealing with some traffic with the radio off.  The love I recalled through the day kept being revealed to me one by one, one thing after the other.  I didn't get moved to tears but I got emotional and felt the Holy Spirit inside me more than I have felt in a while.  I had to write it down.  Now, I need to blog it.

On that drive to Henderson Avenue I felt God calling me to blog things like this.  I haven't written in a long time.  I realized that I have always felt a need to share God's love and still don't think I'm meant for the pulpit or anything.  I think though that God has a way, multiple ways, this being one, to use me to share his love.   I am still on my journey and will be for the rest of my life but if this is a step in the right direction then Praise Him!  All Glory to God in the Highest!

What's In It For Me?

I think you better stay here Ray...

It's always been about you Ray.

Romans 7:14; 8

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

Romans 7:14 

Life in the Spirit

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.1 2 For the law of hthe Spirit of life ihas set you2 free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For jGod has done what the law, kweakened by the flesh, lcould not do. mBy sending his own Son nin the likeness of sinful flesh and ofor sin,3 he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that pthe righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, qwho walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For rthose who live according to the flesh set their minds on sthe things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on tthe things of the Spirit. 6 For to set uthe mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is vhostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; windeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact xthe Spirit of God dwells in you. yAnyone who does not have zthe Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of ahim who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus4 from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies bthrough his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12 So then, brothers,5 we are debtors, cnot to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you dput to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are eled by the Spirit of God are fsons6 of God. 15 For gyou did not receive hthe spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of iadoption as sons, by whom we cry, j“Abba! Father!” 16 kThe Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then lheirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, mprovided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time nare not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for othe revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation pwas subjected to futility, not willingly, but qbecause of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that rthe creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that sthe whole creation thas been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have uthe firstfruits of the Spirit, vgroan inwardly as wwe wait eagerly for adoption as sons, xthe redemption of our bodies. 24 For yin this hope we were saved. Now zhope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we await for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For bwe do not know what to pray for as we ought, but cthe Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And dhe who searches hearts knows what is ethe mind of the Spirit, because7 the Spirit fintercedes for the saints gaccording to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together hfor good,8 for ithose who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he jforeknew he also kpredestined lto be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be mthe firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also njustified, and those whom he justified he also oglorified.

God's Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? pIf God is for us, who can be9 against us? 32 qHe who did not spare his own Son but rgave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? sIt is God who justifies. 34 tWho is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—uwho is at the right hand of God, vwho indeed is interceding for us.10 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

w“For your sake xwe are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than yconquerors through zhim who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.