Posted 30:4:10
Often, reading is difficult especially legal papers which are very hard to understand. Unless a solicitor is there to help us understand its legal jargon, the legalities written, are not easily understood.
Some books or other writings are also hard to understand. Even though the writer is diligently conveying the thoughts of the text, the writing needs to be reflected to the reader.
In today’s world, to understand the Bible is more difficult. A preacher, teacher, commentary or other help is needed to understand the text. Critics may say the knowledge of English is getting worse. Maybe, English is not studied as it should be.
In Acts chapter eight, the story of Philip meeting up with the Eunuch is recorded. Understanding the prophecy of Isaiah chapter fifty three, could have been the difficulty the eunuch was facing. The problem, not understanding scripture is the same today as it was when Philip made plain the text of Isaiah to the Eunuch.
God, seen a need for the Eunuch to understand what he was reading. God sent an angel to instruct Philip to get up and travel towards the South that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the wilderness of Judah. Doing what the angel said, Philip met up with a eunuch. He held an office; he was a Lord chamberlain or steward of the household. Regardless, he had authority.
Philip and the eunuch came together in a conversation that changed the eunuch’s life. Philip, seeing the Eunuch reading the Bible, asked him a question. “Understandest thou what thou readest?” “How can I understand, except someone guide me? Therefore pray come up, and sit with me.” The eunuch needed an explanation from the writing of Isaiah chapter fifty three.
Philip, explains the gospel concerning Jesus Christ and him crucified, using the text Isaiah Chapter fifty three. Like the eunuch, the reader needs explanation to what is read. Reading the Old Testament and Revelation may be a challenging ordeal. Like Philip the evangelist, there is a need for pastors, ministers, teachers, and elders to explain the scriptures.
What a blessing that can be ours when scripture is understood by the reader. The Christian can go on to better and wonderful enjoyment as he is our light that shows the way.
The eunuch whilst still travelling, as he was still going forward, seeing water, the eunuch saw the need to be baptized. What a true testimony of the Eunuchs conversion to follow Christ to be obedient to Him.
Be encouraged today. The reader needs to understand what is being read so that God’s blessings can be poured out.
References are from KJV Bible
Studied using: Mathew Henry’s Commentary.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Writing on the Wall Daniel 5:1-31
Posted 23:4:10
It is said that the saying; “the pen is mightier than the sword;” dates back to the ‘Institution of Christian Prince' However; God had in his known wisdom knew that words and writings would have an impact on people’s lives.
Let us consider for a moment the King Belshazzar. In Daniel Chapter 5; The King was having a great feast and drank wine with a thousand of his lords. The King commanded that the golden and silver vessels be taken out of the temple so that his wives, concubines and his princes can drink out of them. They drank and praised the gods of precious stones and of brass, stone, wood and even Iron.
Could you not imagine the surprise that King Belshazzar experienced? He was having a party; drinking to a thousand of his lords; took the vessels out of his Fathers temple; A hand appears on the wall writing. There would have been the smell of drink. The noise, and interaction that elevated the excitement. Suddenly; a hand writes on the wall. I do not know about you, but I would have been shaking in my boots.
Daniel 5:6. “Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.” Surprise!
Belshazzar called those that he could to make sense of what was written on the wall. No human inventory power could understand what was written on the wall. The Queen sees the King in distress. She wanted him to live. No doubt she also must have been scared. She has a solution to the problem. She reminded the King that when his father was alive Daniel had wisdom. She goes on to say that he can help now.
Daniel being brought to King Belshazzar is now offered gifts if he could interpret the writing on the wall. These gifts were also offered to the astrologers and soothsayers who could not interpret the writing on the wall. Daniel in his wisdom did not want these gifts. Daniel did not want gifts to be a hindrance in his life. King Belshazzar had no doubt had the wrong treasures.
Daniel begins to tell the king some very important interpretation. “MENE” “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.” “TEKEL” “thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting” “PERES” “Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
In Daniel 5:30 King Belshazzar was slain.
What is mightier; the pen or the sword? One may ask. God did not use a pen, but rather he wrote with his finger on the wall. It is what is written that matters. King Belshazzar needed to get his heart right with God. This was such a powerful message to the King. God knew that the method of getting the message to Belshazzar was to shake him in his boots by writing on the wall. The message of where eternity is spent is more powerful than being slain by a sword. To die without Christ there is no power; only a power of a lost and accelerated wasted life to the wrong side of eternity.
Let us therefore be diligent in writing for the reason; the pen is mightier than the sword in spreading the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
References and story taken from the KJV
It is said that the saying; “the pen is mightier than the sword;” dates back to the ‘Institution of Christian Prince' However; God had in his known wisdom knew that words and writings would have an impact on people’s lives.
Let us consider for a moment the King Belshazzar. In Daniel Chapter 5; The King was having a great feast and drank wine with a thousand of his lords. The King commanded that the golden and silver vessels be taken out of the temple so that his wives, concubines and his princes can drink out of them. They drank and praised the gods of precious stones and of brass, stone, wood and even Iron.
Could you not imagine the surprise that King Belshazzar experienced? He was having a party; drinking to a thousand of his lords; took the vessels out of his Fathers temple; A hand appears on the wall writing. There would have been the smell of drink. The noise, and interaction that elevated the excitement. Suddenly; a hand writes on the wall. I do not know about you, but I would have been shaking in my boots.
Daniel 5:6. “Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.” Surprise!
Belshazzar called those that he could to make sense of what was written on the wall. No human inventory power could understand what was written on the wall. The Queen sees the King in distress. She wanted him to live. No doubt she also must have been scared. She has a solution to the problem. She reminded the King that when his father was alive Daniel had wisdom. She goes on to say that he can help now.
Daniel being brought to King Belshazzar is now offered gifts if he could interpret the writing on the wall. These gifts were also offered to the astrologers and soothsayers who could not interpret the writing on the wall. Daniel in his wisdom did not want these gifts. Daniel did not want gifts to be a hindrance in his life. King Belshazzar had no doubt had the wrong treasures.
Daniel begins to tell the king some very important interpretation. “MENE” “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.” “TEKEL” “thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting” “PERES” “Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
In Daniel 5:30 King Belshazzar was slain.
What is mightier; the pen or the sword? One may ask. God did not use a pen, but rather he wrote with his finger on the wall. It is what is written that matters. King Belshazzar needed to get his heart right with God. This was such a powerful message to the King. God knew that the method of getting the message to Belshazzar was to shake him in his boots by writing on the wall. The message of where eternity is spent is more powerful than being slain by a sword. To die without Christ there is no power; only a power of a lost and accelerated wasted life to the wrong side of eternity.
Let us therefore be diligent in writing for the reason; the pen is mightier than the sword in spreading the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
References and story taken from the KJV
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
What about You
It is with dismay that we categorize one person as a Christian and
another not. just on our own assumptions. Isn’t it known that God knows
who belongs to Him or not? Wow! It is so awesome to think we have the
same capability as God. NOT! Yes. it is by their fruits we can recognize
who is a Christian or not. But. what if their fruits are not showing?
Does this make us judges?
Are we glad we are not God, having to choose who is following me? Wow! What a
thought! To be quite honest. I think I would make many mistakes. I
think I would be sending people to the wrong side of eternity. What
about you?
Wow! Just to think we have a God so powerful and knowledgeable goes beyond our human thinking
capabilities.
Therefore it is of my opinion that we not say who is going to heaven and who is not. After all would
we want someone to judge us that way with the potential of putting us on
the wrong side of eternity? Wow! What an exhilarating thought that would be!
another not. just on our own assumptions. Isn’t it known that God knows
who belongs to Him or not? Wow! It is so awesome to think we have the
same capability as God. NOT! Yes. it is by their fruits we can recognize
who is a Christian or not. But. what if their fruits are not showing?
Does this make us judges?
Are we glad we are not God, having to choose who is following me? Wow! What a
thought! To be quite honest. I think I would make many mistakes. I
think I would be sending people to the wrong side of eternity. What
about you?
Wow! Just to think we have a God so powerful and knowledgeable goes beyond our human thinking
capabilities.
Therefore it is of my opinion that we not say who is going to heaven and who is not. After all would
we want someone to judge us that way with the potential of putting us on
the wrong side of eternity? Wow! What an exhilarating thought that would be!
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