Biblical Teachings

Dr. Mike Murphy Each Sunday morning, at his small southern church, the pastor would call on one of his deacons to lead the service in an opening prayer.  This Sunday was no different, he called on his oldest deacon, Bruce, as the service began.  Bruce slowly rose, bowed his head, and began to speak.  “Lord, you know how much I hate buttermilk.” On hearing these words, the pastor opened one eye to glance at Bruce, wondering to himself just where all this was going.  And then, with a slow southern drawl, the pastor heard Bruce continue.  “And Lord, you know …

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Reflections From the Psalms Victory in Christ Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly. (Ps. 6:8-10) The workers of iniquity in the life of the believer are anything that contradicts the Truth of Christ, and contradicts the faith in Him by which we are to live. Here we see a plea that God’s Truth would prevail, and that when it prevails, all …

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Entering His Rest….Anyways By David A. DePra If we compare the two times that God brought Israel to the point of entry into the Promised Land we will gain a valuable insight into the Truth that these events represent in our Christian walk. The first time God brought Israel to the Promised Land they refused to enter. They sent in spies and concluded that the heathen living in that land were too strong for them. They were in unbelief. Forty years later, God brought them to the land for the second time and again they sent in spies. The heathen …

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Reflections Scripture tells us that Christ must be formed in us. This means God wants us to inwardly realize and know Christ. But it is vital to also grasp what it does NOT mean. To have Christ formed in me is not SELF-realization. The goal of God is not to bolster self-esteem, help me find the, “real me,” or to enhance my focus on MYSELF. Actually, the more Christ is formed in me, the more I will be set free from my obsession with myself. I will leave myself alone. Why? Because I will see HIM. He is just that …

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Reflections From the Psalms Deliverance In Christ Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. (Ps. 6:2-4) When we are brought to the end of our rope, and come to a complete despair over ourselves, it is not because God has forsaken us. Rather, it is because God is showing us the Truth: There is no hope in ourselves. Indeed, left to ourselves, we …

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The Heavens Opened to Ezekiel Ezekiel 1:1-3  “1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him.” (ASV, 1901) In the first …

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“These have no root.” Luke 8:13 My soul, examine thyself this morning by the light of this text. Thou hast received the word with joy; thy feelings have been stirred and a lively impression has been made; but, remember, that to receive the word in the ear is one thing, and to receive Jesus into thy very soul is quite another; superficial feeling is often joined to inward hardness of heart, and a lively impression of the word is not always a lasting one. In the parable, the seed in one case fell upon ground having a rocky bottom, covered …

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To get a plentiful crop of spiritual fruit, the Lord sometimes acts as a pruning force in people’s lives.   A LESSON IN PRUNING John 15:1-4   15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide …

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Reflections From the Psalms The Righteousness of God For thou, Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield. (Ps. 5:12) The OT is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ. The NT is Christ Himself – “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27) The Psalms often give us a prophetic revelation – in type and shadow – of the Person of Jesus Christ. In this Psalm, there is reference to, “the righteous.” This is a reference only to Jesus Christ – for other than Christ, “none is righteous, no, not one.” …

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Turn and Face the Wind Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” ____________________________________________________________ I can still remember the first time I saw an airplane takeoff. It was at a small airport in Orange County near the coast. That little airport had just one simple runway, no control tower, and no fence to keep people out, so I took full advantage of getting as close as I possibly could to the planes. I sat …

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“I have prayed for thee.” Luke 22:32 How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer’s never- ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, he pleads for us; and when we are not praying, he is advocating our cause, and by his supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter–“Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but”–what? “But go and pray for yourself.” That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, “But I will keep you watchful, and so you …

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01/10/2018 BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran’s atomic energy agency said on Wednesday a reimposition of sanctions by the United States would be a violation of Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers, adding that the Islamic Republic had the capacity to greatly increase its enrichment of uranium. U.S. President Donald Trump must decide by mid-January whether to continue the suspension of U.S. sanctions on Iran’s oil exports under the pact, which eased economic pressure on Tehran in exchange for limits on its nuclear programme. “If the suspension is not continued it’s a violation of the (nuclear deal) and the Islamic Republic of …

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Character flaws can either wreak havoc in our life or drive us to greater dependence on God. Judges 14 (KJV) 14 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, …

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“In my flesh shall I see God.” Job 19:26 Mark the subject of Job’s devout anticipation “I shall see God.” He does not say, “I shall see the saints”–though doubtless that will be untold felicity–but, “I shall see God.” It is not–“I shall see the pearly gates, I shall behold the walls of jasper, I shall gaze upon the crowns of gold,” but “I shall see God.” This is the sum and substance of heaven, this is the joyful hope of all believers. It is their delight to see him now in the ordinances by faith. They love to behold him …

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