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What The Bible Says - Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

An Historic Look at Protestant Eschatological Thought on the Rise and Fall of Islam

Chapter 6 – 30 Minutes

A Rose Among the Thorns | Job 11 Wednesday Evening Service Bethel Baptist Church Pastor Sutton February 21, 2024 Music ...

Experts debate the origin of the date- or nut-filled pastry, but Middle Eastern believers love the taste and the Good Friday symbolism in its shapes.The Middle East’s favorite sweet symbolizes Good Friday.Maamoul is a buttery cookie baked with semolina and stuffed with dates or nuts—usually walnuts or pistachios. Seasoned with a variety of spices, for centuries it has flavored the Easter holiday for Christians, the end of Ramadan for Muslims, and Purim for the Sephardic Jews of Jerusalem.Three shapes are common: an elongated oval, a circular ring, and a rounded dome. Patterns are pressed into the dough by tweezer or with a traditional wooden mold, often in the shape of a sunburst and sometimes with a cross.For Christians, the oval resembles the sponge given to Jesus to drink from. The ring, his crown of thorns. And the dome is shaped like his rock-hewn tomb, sealing its scented treasure within.“Is that so?” asked Hoda Khoury, a Lebanese mother of three adult children, hard at work preparing the sweet. “That’s nice. That would make maamoul a Christian tradition.”Not all believers know the deeper meaning.Recipes vary, as do the names. Called kakh in Egypt, kleicha in Iraq, and kombe in southeast Turkey, experts have differing opinions on the cookie’s origin. Many find traces of Pharaonic or Mesopotamian beginnings, some suggesting the imprinted patterns reflect ancient worship of the sun.Charles Perry, translator of the medieval Baghdad Cookery Book, says maamoul descends from the Persian kulachag, perhaps reflected in the Iraqi name today. Lebanese historian Charles El Hayek suggests the cookie may have originated in the Neolithic period but that the modern sharing of the sweet began in Fatimid Egypt (A.D. 909–1171).Ultra-modern is the chocolate filling—promoted by Hershey’s Middle East.But the tradition ...Continue reading...

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-3-2024Psalm 119:73-80? Introduction:? One of the struggles that people have concerning the preservation of the Scriptures is that the teaching that the Bible is a man-made book and therefore is subject to additions, subtractions, and mistranslating.? 176 verses, 22 stanzas with each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, 8 verses in each stanza with each verse in the Hebrew beginning with the same letter of the alphabet (acrostic).? What a magnificent work of God!? A.? Tonight, the 10th? stanza of Psalm 119, JOD.? “JOD” is the smallest letter of the Hebrew Alphabet and is represented by a “dot . )? ? 1.? Every one of the 22 letters of the alphabet are created by continuous dots ……………... which form the lines that form the letters as letters consist of a continuous line of dots.? ? 2.? When two consecutive JODs or dots are found, they represent the word “God” or Adonai who is an eternal, unchanging God.? Judaism considers the names of God so holy that, once they are written, should never be erased.? B.? Whereas JOD is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, “iota,” which is the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet. In Modern Hebrew, the phrase “tip of the YOD” refers to a small, insignificant thing.? God is meticulous!? Precise in what He says.? C.? JOD, of the Old Testament, was mentioned by our Lord Jesus when He said in Matthew 5:17-18: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.? (18)? For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”? ? Of Hebrew origin (the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet);? “iota”, the name of the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, put (figuratively) for a very small part or amount of anything: - jot.? The word “Tittle” means a “horn” and is smaller than the “jot.”? It is a horn like apex on a letter that changes the inflection of a word.? D.? Thus, our Lord said that not even the most insignificant thing in the Word will ever change or disappear.? E.? It would do us good to realize that the Doctrine of Divine Preservation is just as important as the Doctrine of Divine Inspiration.? Without continuance of preservation, inspired manuscripts become a moot point.? ? F.? The Continuity of the Word of God and its importance are found in these 8 verses of the 10th? stanza.? 1.? Verse 73.? Understanding.? The continuity of God's Word is essential to our understanding.? We must continue to have the Word of God for all generations to understand how we got here, why we got here, where we are intended to go, what we are intended to do, and what it takes to suceed.? In our Bible we understand that man was created by God and for God.? ? Proverbs 4:5-8? Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.? (6)? Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.? (7)? Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.? (8)? Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.? Three branches of education are found in the Bible: Knowledge, learning facts – Wisdom, learning to use those facts – knowledge, is learning why those facts work.? Without the continuance of preservation of God's Word, we would have none of the three.? 2.? Verse 74.? Hope.? The continuity of God's Word is essential to our blessed hope.? Our temporal and eternal hope is Bible based.? Through the eyes of the Word of God, we have hope in this world though it is deteriorating.? Through the eyes of the Word of God, we have an eternal hope that is nearing!? ? Romans 15:4? For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.? Titus 2:13? Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;? Without continuing preservation of God's Word, we would have neither.? 3.? Verse 75.? ? Correction.? The continuity of God's Word is essential to our? correction.? Throughout the Bible, we find the righteous judgements of God that are essential to a godly, obedient walk with God and each other.? There will be times that we fail and times when we will fall but God's grace and strength will carry us through.? The Word of God teaches us to walk in the right way wherein is the good way.? Hebrews 12:5-7? And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:? (6)? For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.? (7)? If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?? Without the continuing preservation of God's Word, we would not know right from wrong and the consequences thereof.? 4.? Verse 76.? Comfort.? The continuity of God's Word is essential to our comfort and peace.? ? In the darkest hours of our lives, the Word is a light that shows us the way so that we do not stumble or proceed? down the wrong paths. We have the love of God to comfort us and the promises of God to encourage us.? A peace to trust and hearts to trust when we do not understand.? Romans 8:28? And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.? Romans 15:4? For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.? Without the continuing preservation of God's Word, we would not have comfort in our tribulations.? ? 5. Verse 77.? Life.? The continuity of God's Word is essential to our living.? ? Not merely physical life, though our physical life should be guided by the Bible, but also our life in Christ.? The Bible gives us grace, mercy, and strength for the journey.? The three remaining gifts of faith, hope, and charity are all found within the volume of the Word of God.? Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.? 2 Peter 1:3? According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:? Without the continuing preservation of God's Word, we would have no parameters to keep us living a life that is right and godly.? 6.? Verse 78.? Confidence.? ? The continuity of God's Word is essential to our confidence.? Our confidence in the scriptures leads to our confidence in God which leads to our confidence in life.? The world lives unto shame, but the child of God lives unto Christ!? The enemies of Christ become the enemies of God's children, but—through the scriptures—we can walk in total confidence.? Hebrews 10:35-36? Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.? (36)? For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.? Without the continuing preservation of God's Word, we can know for certain that everything both works together for good but will also turn out right in the end.? 7.? Verse 79.? Companionship.? The continuity of God's Word is essential to our company that we keep.? ? The Word of God teaches that the world will turn away from us and count us as enemies.? Often, those of our own household will become our foes.? But those of like precious faith will become our friends and family.? We are exhorted to spend quality time with our brothers and sisters in Christ.? I find no greater joy than to visit with our people who are going through trying times.? Oh, what joy!? Oh, what delight!? Acts 2:46? And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,? Without the continuing of the Word of God, we would not be able to properly identify God's people much less have a place called the church where we assemble to bless and worship our wonderful lord Who gave Himself for it.? 8.? Verse 80.? Spiritual Soundness.? The continuity of God's Word is essential to our spiritual soundness which leads to our spiritual boldness.? A song says, “I had rather be an old time Christian, Lord, than anything I know.”? We who are saved are not ashamed of our Lord, the brethren, or our precious local church.? John 17:22-23? And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:? (23)? I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.? Without the continuing of God's Word, our overall spiritual wellbeing would in jeopardy.? The Bible is the measuring stick by which we measure ourselves and the benchmark from which we measure everything else.? Conclusion:? JOD!? A point from which comes continuation.? Since both our physical and spiritual welfare depends upon the veracity of God's Word, there must be a continuity or continuance of preservation of said Word.? All that we need and all that we have is founded upon the Continuity of The Word of God.? Preservation is an act of God, not of man.?

Temple Baptist Church - 2-11-2024Psalm 119:49-56? Introduction:? A.? Psalm 119:49-56 is the 7th? stanza of the Psalm and begins with the Hebrew ZAIN means a sword or sharp weapon.? Much is said about warfare in the bible, both physical and spiritual.? Proverbs 3 declares that there is a time for war.? None of us like war in either the physical or spiritual realm but “it is what it is!”? ? B.? Both the world and Satan will wear you down, and if they can wear you down, they will wear you out!? C.? The World hates God and through wicked surroundings and ungodly people, it will defile both mind and body.? D.? Satan is a God hater from eternity past.? He cannot take his ire out upon God, so he attacks God's children.? 1.? He will wear you down physically: physical burn out.? 2.? He will wear you down psychologically: mental burn out.? 3.? He will wear you down spiritually: spiritual burnout.? 4.? All of the above and you ARE OUT!? 6.? The Devil will try to disappoint you.? 7.? If he can disappoint you, he will discourage you.? 8? If he can disappoint you and discourage you, he will defile you.? 9.? If he cannot do any of the above, he will distract you!? 10.? If the devil can wear you down, he will wear you out? E.? In this 7th? stanza of the Psalm, we once again are introduced to the hardness of the life of the believer.? ? 1.? In verse 50, the Psalmist speaks of affliction.? Affliction can also be both physical and spiritual.? a)? Physical affliction.? The First Mention of “afflict” is found in Genesis 15 and is in the physical realm.? Genesis 15:13? And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;? James 5:13? Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.? b)? Spiritual affliction.? 2 Corinthians 2:4? For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.? 1 Peter 5:9? Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.? 2.? In verse 53, we find the word “horror.”? A fear that consumes someone.? We use the phrase “scared to death” when we would watch a Horror Movie.? ? a)? Horror – the imaginative fear which is only a figment of our imagination.? These “horrors” are normally quickly over with.? This fear may consume us for a while but will soon be gone to the sane mind.? The mind is the “Devil's Playground!”? Psalms 55:5? Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.? b)? Horror – that which is real is another matter.? The horror of the direction of the world and our nation.? The horror of physical, psychological, and spiritual battles is often the worst kind because they are both real and often enduring.? ? c)? Both are a sad state of mind to be in as they can destroy the strong as well as the weak.? 1)? The Weak -? 2 Timothy 2:24-26? And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,? (25)? In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;? (26)? And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.? 2)? The Strong -? Luke 22:31? And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:? F.? Peace of God is not an emotion!? If it were only an emotion, we as emotional people would constantly have a lack of peace.? We MUST understand that true peace MUST be found in God's Word.? Our Relationship with the Word of God dictates our Peace of God.? Our peace of God comes through the Word of God, not some feeling as feelings change often from moment to moment.? Isaiah 26:3-7? Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.? (4)? Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:? (5)? For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.? (6)? The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.? (7)? The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.? 1.? Verse 49 –? The? peace of God through remembering.? “Remember the Word? ... upon which thou hast caused me to hope.”? YOU WILL NEVER REMEMBER THE WORD UNTIL YOU SPEND TIME IN THE WORD!? You cannot remember what you do not know!? ? ? If God is the God of? peace, and He is, then His Word must be the Word of? Peace and it is.? Job 35:10? But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;? Psalms 42:8? Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.? Psalms 77:4-6? Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.? (5)? I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.? (6)? I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.? Isaiah 26:3-4? Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.? (4)? Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:? Acts 16:25? And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.? a.? We find the peace of God in the Bible through God's People.? Many before us have failed in like manner as we fail and survived and prospered.? ? b.? We find the peace of God in the Bible through God's Prophecy.? The Bible declares that God knows the end from the beginning and controls all things.? He is our refuge in the times of storm.? c.? ? We find? the peace of God in the Bible through God's? Promises.? They are Personal as they apply to each of God's children.? They? are? pertinent as they cover every aspect of life.? A promise for every person,? for? every problem, and? for? every period of time.? ? God delivered Adam and Eve through sacrifice.? God delivered Noah through the flood.? God delivered Abraham from the Pharaohs.? God delivered Isaac from Esau.? God delivered Joseph from his brethren.? God delivered Israel from Egypt. God delivered David from Saul.? God delivered the New Testament saints through trials and tribulations.? AND YOU DON'T THINK THAT GOD CAN DELIEVER YOU.? ? 2 Corinthians 1:3-4? Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;? (4)? Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.? "The pathway of life is strewn so thickly with the promises of God that it is impossible to take? one step without treading upon one of them." ~ John Bunyan? Isaiah 55:8-12? For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.? (9)? For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.? (10)? For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:? (11)? So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.? (12)? For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.? Hebrews 4:9-12? There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.? (10)? For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.? (11)? Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.? (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.? 2.? Verse 50 –? The peace of God in? our Afflictions.? Grace and weakness turn into strength and power!? When you can't, God can!? Can God?? Yes, He can!? 2 Corinthians 12:7-10? And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.? (8)? For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.? (9)? And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.? (10)? Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.? 3.? Verse 51 – The peace of God in our Persecutions.? God's people in both Old and New Testaments were mal treated.? They hated God, they hated Christ, and they will hate you!? John 15:18-19? If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.? (19)? If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.? 2 Timothy 3:12? Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Romans 8:28-31? And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.? (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.? (30)? Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.? (31)? What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?? 4.? Verse 52 – The peace of God in His Past Judgments.? Precedents!? A legal term for making decisions based upon past judgments made in similar circumstances.? God will always be righteous and His judgments on the wicked will prevail.? I read the last verse in the Bible and it all turned our right!? Revelation 22:21? The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.? 5.? Verse 53 – The peace of God in our Horror.? Horror that has taken hold upon us.? An unreasonable fear or dread.? When we are overwhelmed with fear, God fears not!? Run to your ABBA Father!? An endearing phase such as we call our earthly fathers, Daddy!? ? Psalms 61:2? From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.? Isaiah 43:1-2? But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.? (2)? When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.? 6.? Verse 54 – The peace of God in His Statutes.? God's Law is right, and He will honor it in our walk with God.? Walk that straight and narrow road guided by the parameters of God's Law and He will Honor you!? Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “It is never right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do right.!”? Do right” was the name of a book of his sayings.? ? Hebrews 11:13-16? These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.? (14)? For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.? (15)? And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.? (16)? But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.? 7.? Verse 55-56 – The peace of God in His Name!? “I AM THAT I AM”? Do you need peace tonight?? Run to the Lord!? Proverbs 18:10? The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

His (or her) name derives from two Latin words. “Porcus” means “pig” in that ancient tongue. And “spine” means “thorn!” An animal that has a pig-like shape and can wound an attacker with his thorns, spears, quills! The little creature has around 30,00 of those sharp things, weapons! (And contrary to popular opinion, he cannot […]

A new Sunday School Class called “Home Builders” will begin April 5th. This class is for young/newly married couples and will be taught by Pastor Horn. There will be a planning meeting at the Pastor’s house Saturday, March 21st at 4:00 p.m. Please let Pastor or Mrs. Horn know if you are interested [...]