Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
The Keeper of His People
The Lord, the Keeper of His People
Psalm 35:1-14
35 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
People, we must take a stand against sin and evil. We are at war! When we are truly about the things of God, there is always attack. But we have help!
His name is Jesus. Jesus said, "I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. John 17:15
The devil hates you and seeks to destroy you, but Jesus promises life. Remember what John 10:10 tells us, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, I (Jesus) have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
The good news is that God has already won the battle. Take a moment and remind the devil.
Just a Note from Pastor Paul
Good morning to each of you,
We are one month away from getting on a plane and head to our Mission Destination.
We are so excited and ready to get there and do the work that God has laid out for us.
To show the Love of God not just in word but by showing the Love of God.
I am asking for people to hold us up in prayer - March 22 thru April 2, 2017
Remember the other 2 men from Beckley Praise Church as well - Stephen Mullens and Kurt Gillispie
Blessings,
Pastor Paul
Monday, February 13, 2017
How can I know God's will for my life? What does the Bible say about knowing God's will?
"How can I know God's will for my life? What does the Bible say about knowing God's will?"
Answer: It is important to know God’s will. Jesus said that His true relations are those who know and do the Father’s will: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). In the parable of the two sons, Jesus rebukes the chief priests and elders for failing to do the will of the Father; specifically, they “did not repent and believe” (Matthew 21:32). At its most basic, the will of God is to repent of our sin and trust in Christ. If we have not taken that first step, then we have not yet accepted God’s will.
Once we receive Christ by faith, we are made God’s children (John 1:12), and He desires to lead us in His way (Psalm 143:10). God is not trying to hide His will from us; He wants to reveal it. In fact, He has already given us many, many directions in His Word. We are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are to do good works (1 Peter 2:15). And “it is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
God’s will is knowable and provable. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” This passage gives us an important sequence: the child of God refuses to be conformed to the world and instead allows himself to be transformed by the Spirit. As his mind is renewed according to the things of God, then he can know God’s perfect will.
As we seek God’s will, we should make sure what we are considering is not something the Bible forbids. For example, the Bible forbids stealing; since God has clearly spoken on the issue, we know it is not His will for us to be a bank robbers—we don’t even need to pray about it. Also, we should make sure what we are considering will glorify God and help us and others grow spiritually.
Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult because it requires patience. It’s natural to want to know all of God’s will at once, but that’s not how He usually works. He reveals to us a step at a time—each move a step of faith—and allows us to continue to trust Him. The important thing is that, as we wait for further direction, we are busy doing the good that we know to do (James 4:17).
Often, we want God to give us specifics—where to work, where to live, whom to marry, what car to buy, etc. God allows us to make choices, and, if we are yielded to Him, He has ways of preventing wrong choices (see Acts 16:6–7).
The better we get to know a person, the more acquainted we become with his or her desires. For example, a child may look across a busy street at the ball that bounced away, but he doesn’t run after it, because he knows “my dad wouldn’t want me to do that.” He doesn’t have to ask his father for advice on every particular situation; he knows what his father would say because he knows his father. The same is true in our relationship to God. As we walk with the Lord, obeying His Word and relying on His Spirit, we find that we are given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We know Him, and that helps us to know His will. We find God’s guidance readily available. “The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, / but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness” (Proverbs 11:5).
If we are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for our lives, God will place His desires in our hearts. The key is wanting God’s will, not our own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
gotquestions.com
Answer: It is important to know God’s will. Jesus said that His true relations are those who know and do the Father’s will: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). In the parable of the two sons, Jesus rebukes the chief priests and elders for failing to do the will of the Father; specifically, they “did not repent and believe” (Matthew 21:32). At its most basic, the will of God is to repent of our sin and trust in Christ. If we have not taken that first step, then we have not yet accepted God’s will.
Once we receive Christ by faith, we are made God’s children (John 1:12), and He desires to lead us in His way (Psalm 143:10). God is not trying to hide His will from us; He wants to reveal it. In fact, He has already given us many, many directions in His Word. We are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are to do good works (1 Peter 2:15). And “it is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
God’s will is knowable and provable. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” This passage gives us an important sequence: the child of God refuses to be conformed to the world and instead allows himself to be transformed by the Spirit. As his mind is renewed according to the things of God, then he can know God’s perfect will.
As we seek God’s will, we should make sure what we are considering is not something the Bible forbids. For example, the Bible forbids stealing; since God has clearly spoken on the issue, we know it is not His will for us to be a bank robbers—we don’t even need to pray about it. Also, we should make sure what we are considering will glorify God and help us and others grow spiritually.
Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult because it requires patience. It’s natural to want to know all of God’s will at once, but that’s not how He usually works. He reveals to us a step at a time—each move a step of faith—and allows us to continue to trust Him. The important thing is that, as we wait for further direction, we are busy doing the good that we know to do (James 4:17).
Often, we want God to give us specifics—where to work, where to live, whom to marry, what car to buy, etc. God allows us to make choices, and, if we are yielded to Him, He has ways of preventing wrong choices (see Acts 16:6–7).
The better we get to know a person, the more acquainted we become with his or her desires. For example, a child may look across a busy street at the ball that bounced away, but he doesn’t run after it, because he knows “my dad wouldn’t want me to do that.” He doesn’t have to ask his father for advice on every particular situation; he knows what his father would say because he knows his father. The same is true in our relationship to God. As we walk with the Lord, obeying His Word and relying on His Spirit, we find that we are given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We know Him, and that helps us to know His will. We find God’s guidance readily available. “The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, / but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness” (Proverbs 11:5).
If we are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for our lives, God will place His desires in our hearts. The key is wanting God’s will, not our own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
gotquestions.com
Friday, February 10, 2017
How and Why should we Pray for our Leaders
"How and why should we pray for our leaders?"
Answer: The concept of praying for our leaders is not unique to democratic nations, and it did not begin with the United States’ National Day of Prayer. The Bible contains many commands to pray for our leaders—national and local, secular and religious.
Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1–4, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God told the Israelites in exile to pray for Babylon: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7). Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Paul requested prayer “for all the Lord’s people” and for himself that he would speak the gospel boldly (Ephesians 2:18–20).
Prayer is important. And it seems the Bible makes special mention of praying for those in positions of authority. Such authorities include government officials (international, national, and local) and pastors, church elders, school boards, school principals, employers, and the like.
We do not pray for our leaders simply because we are commanded to. Praying for them makes practical sense. Our leaders can affect the conditions we live in and have an impact on our families, our churches, our workplaces, our cities, and our countries. When those in authority are obeying the will of God, it is easier to “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2). When evil men are in authority, our prayers for them are just as needed, as illustrated by William Tyndale’s last words as he was being burned at the stake: “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.”
Also, we do not pray for our leaders merely for our own benefit. Leadership can be a tiring task. James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Leaders carry a degree of responsibility to their followers. They are often the targets of criticism and the go-to people in a crisis. If they are leading well, they are living their lives in service. We pray for them because we recognize the greatness of their task and because we are grateful for their willingness to lead.
So how should we pray for our leaders? First, if we are uncertain that they know Jesus, we should pray for their salvation. But whether or not our leaders are Christians, we should pray that God will guide them as they guide us. We should pray that they be wise and discerning and surrounded by helpful advisors. We know that God has placed our leaders in authority over us (Romans 13:1), and we can ask Him to use them as He will. We should also pray for their protection. When praying for pastors or ministry leaders, we can pray for them to have strength in the midst of spiritual warfare and to remain encouraged in the Lord. We can pray for their families, who often feel scrutinized and bear an extra load.
Briefly stated, we should mention our leaders before God in prayer and ask Him to have His way in their hearts, to support those around them, and to use their leadership to benefit their followers.
gotquestions.com
Answer: The concept of praying for our leaders is not unique to democratic nations, and it did not begin with the United States’ National Day of Prayer. The Bible contains many commands to pray for our leaders—national and local, secular and religious.
Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1–4, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God told the Israelites in exile to pray for Babylon: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7). Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Paul requested prayer “for all the Lord’s people” and for himself that he would speak the gospel boldly (Ephesians 2:18–20).
Prayer is important. And it seems the Bible makes special mention of praying for those in positions of authority. Such authorities include government officials (international, national, and local) and pastors, church elders, school boards, school principals, employers, and the like.
We do not pray for our leaders simply because we are commanded to. Praying for them makes practical sense. Our leaders can affect the conditions we live in and have an impact on our families, our churches, our workplaces, our cities, and our countries. When those in authority are obeying the will of God, it is easier to “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2). When evil men are in authority, our prayers for them are just as needed, as illustrated by William Tyndale’s last words as he was being burned at the stake: “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.”
Also, we do not pray for our leaders merely for our own benefit. Leadership can be a tiring task. James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Leaders carry a degree of responsibility to their followers. They are often the targets of criticism and the go-to people in a crisis. If they are leading well, they are living their lives in service. We pray for them because we recognize the greatness of their task and because we are grateful for their willingness to lead.
So how should we pray for our leaders? First, if we are uncertain that they know Jesus, we should pray for their salvation. But whether or not our leaders are Christians, we should pray that God will guide them as they guide us. We should pray that they be wise and discerning and surrounded by helpful advisors. We know that God has placed our leaders in authority over us (Romans 13:1), and we can ask Him to use them as He will. We should also pray for their protection. When praying for pastors or ministry leaders, we can pray for them to have strength in the midst of spiritual warfare and to remain encouraged in the Lord. We can pray for their families, who often feel scrutinized and bear an extra load.
Briefly stated, we should mention our leaders before God in prayer and ask Him to have His way in their hearts, to support those around them, and to use their leadership to benefit their followers.
gotquestions.com
Thursday, February 9, 2017
02/09/2017
We as a people of a great nation need to come together and stop all of this back biting and turmoil. Every 4 years we vote on a president; every 4 years someone is going to win and someone is going to lose. This has not changed for years and as long as we live in the land of democracy; it will continue to be that way.
Christians rise UP! Let it begin with us! I dont care if you agree or not with the political party that is in there right now. We have a duty and a obligation to pray for the leaders that is before us! (like it or not)
People are looking at us like this country is a bunch of idiots.
Democrats, Replubicans, Independents, Christian or Non Christian.......God help us to do the right thing and that is to pray!
If we are going to say we are Christians - let us then be Christ like.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
"What does it mean that God is spirit?"
Answer: The teaching that “God is spirit” is found in John 4:24: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Jesus said this to a woman who thought that physical locale has a bearing on proper worship of God.
The fact that God is spirit means that God the Father does not have a human body. God the Son came to earth in human form (John 1:1), but God the Father did not. Jesus is unique as Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Numbers 23:19 emphasizes God’s truthfulness by contrasting Him with mortal men: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.”
Some question why the Bible sometimes speaks of God as if He has a body. For example, Isaiah 59:1 mentions God’s “hand” and “ear.” Second Chronicles 16:9 speaks of God’s “eyes.” Matthew 4:4 puts words in God’s “mouth.” In Deuteronomy 33:27 God has “arms.” All of these verses are examples of anthropomorphism—a way of describing God with anatomical or emotional terms so that humans can better understand Him. The use of anthropomorphism, a form of figurative language, does not imply that God has an actual body.
To say that God is spirit is to say that God the Father is invisible. Colossians 1:15 calls God the “invisible God.” First Timothy 1:17 praises God, saying, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.”
Even though God is spirit, He is also a living, personal being. As such, we can know Him personally. Joshua 3:10 speaks of God in this way, saying, “You will know that the living God is among you.” Psalm 84:2 declares, “My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God” (ESV).
Philosophically, God must be a spirit in order to be infinite. Also, if God was limited to a physical body, He could not be omnipresent (in all places at once). God the Father is not limited to the dimensional restrictions of created things but can exist in all places at one time. God is the uncreated First Cause that is the power behind all other beings.
Interestingly, in John 4:24 Jesus makes the connection between God being spirit and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. The idea is that, since God is spirit, people must worship Him accurately (in truth) and in spirit (with their soul or heart), as opposed to relying on traditions, rituals, and physical locales.
Copied from gotquestions.com
Answer: The teaching that “God is spirit” is found in John 4:24: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Jesus said this to a woman who thought that physical locale has a bearing on proper worship of God.
The fact that God is spirit means that God the Father does not have a human body. God the Son came to earth in human form (John 1:1), but God the Father did not. Jesus is unique as Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Numbers 23:19 emphasizes God’s truthfulness by contrasting Him with mortal men: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.”
Some question why the Bible sometimes speaks of God as if He has a body. For example, Isaiah 59:1 mentions God’s “hand” and “ear.” Second Chronicles 16:9 speaks of God’s “eyes.” Matthew 4:4 puts words in God’s “mouth.” In Deuteronomy 33:27 God has “arms.” All of these verses are examples of anthropomorphism—a way of describing God with anatomical or emotional terms so that humans can better understand Him. The use of anthropomorphism, a form of figurative language, does not imply that God has an actual body.
To say that God is spirit is to say that God the Father is invisible. Colossians 1:15 calls God the “invisible God.” First Timothy 1:17 praises God, saying, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.”
Even though God is spirit, He is also a living, personal being. As such, we can know Him personally. Joshua 3:10 speaks of God in this way, saying, “You will know that the living God is among you.” Psalm 84:2 declares, “My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God” (ESV).
Philosophically, God must be a spirit in order to be infinite. Also, if God was limited to a physical body, He could not be omnipresent (in all places at once). God the Father is not limited to the dimensional restrictions of created things but can exist in all places at one time. God is the uncreated First Cause that is the power behind all other beings.
Interestingly, in John 4:24 Jesus makes the connection between God being spirit and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. The idea is that, since God is spirit, people must worship Him accurately (in truth) and in spirit (with their soul or heart), as opposed to relying on traditions, rituals, and physical locales.
Copied from gotquestions.com
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
02/07/2017 B
We as Christians need to stop complaining about everything and put it in God's hands. People are looking at us and saying if all they do is complain then why should I want to serve their God. Think about it!
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Re-post from 6-29-2015:
A great friend posed this question to me and I also wondered over the weekend of the same thing:
But I was wondering if by keeping completely silent unless approached can it be interpreted as approval? Just wondering.
Someone else asked me what the Bible says about all of this that is going on.
Because few of us want to be perceived as “backward and bigoted homophobes” (as tolerance advocates often brand those with whom they disagree) or as people, who are not in step with the “progressive, equality, non-judgmental” mantra, it’s easy to clam up and play it cool, saying things like, “Of course I’m for equality and non-discrimination.” But that’s not an option for faithful, obedient followers of Jesus! As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned, “When we learn the truth but choose to remain silent, that’s when we begin to die.” Dr Alveda King, Martin’s niece, said in an interview, Is Gay OK? 10 Things Every Christian Needs to Know, if her uncle were alive today, he would remain steadfast in defense of biblical marriage and reject attempts to justify immoral conduct as a “civil right.” He’d remind us again of his oft-quoted words concerning the church’s role in society: “The church is neither the master of the state nor the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.”
1. To call oneself an authentic Christian and remain a practicing homosexual is a direct contradiction of biblical teaching and contrary to the "abundant life" promised by Jesus. Just as "Christian hatred" is an oxymoron, so too is the term “gay Christian.” God offers forgiveness and freedom through His Son, which is the good news (gospel) of the Christian message.According to the Christian faith, once a person responds to the gospel message in repentance and faith, he or she finds a new start to then fulfill their destiny in life. Even as Saul of Tarsus —a murderer—became Paul the apostle, a great saint and missionary leader, Christianity asserts that God redeems repentant people who may be “homosexuals, adulterers, drunkards, idolaters or whatever” and transforms their lives! It happened in the “San Francisco” of their day—Corinth—and has been repeated all over the world. Jesus Christ didn’t invade human history as the world’s Messiah to merely make our selfish, sinful lives a little better and more prosperous. He came to totally transform our lives and not only forgive our sins but free us from sin's power!
2. Practicing homosexuality is most definitely sinful and contradicting biblical teaching on God's order for human relationships and family. We’re aware this is contrary to what some “religious,” “gay-affirming” churches and leaders put forth (they reject the authority of the Bible and twist the meaning of passages), but they must be challenged and called back to faithfulness to the truth. The Bible consistently, unambiguously, without exception prohibits practicing homosexuality and tells us to honor God’s design for sexual behavior between men and women. The purpose is that we enjoy a fulfilling sexual experience in marriage and ideally have children as an expression of our marital love. Stating this forthrightly is not “hate speech.” This is an expression of divine love because sinful behavior not only hurts our Creator, but also is harmful to us (and others). God gives us laws for our own good! 3. Homosexuality is not simply another "alternative lifestyle."In the Hebrew-Christian Bible, there are multiple times in both the Old and New Testament accounts where homosexuality and other immoral activities are explicitly condemned as dishonorable to God and the natural order (the way things were designed to work) and as destructive to those involved with them. An entire chapter in the Old Testament lists certain activities and calls them “detestable,” stating in no uncertain terms, “Stay away!” The New Testament uses five terms to describe both male and female homosexual conduct: “unnatural,” “perverted,” “degrading,” “shameful” and “indecent.” Not to be facetious, but is that hard to understand? Scripture throughout forbids us to be sexually involved in seven areas: with parents, with children, with brothers and sisters, with another spouse, with animals, with dead people and with the same sex. These never change.
4. All of us are born with a fallen nature that gives us a tendency to do wrong.We don’t have to train children to lie, steal, harm others, act selfishly or demand their own way. Having a free will to make choices, all of us are accountable for our own actions. Biology can’t make us do wrong, although circumstances can influence us. To say otherwise leaves people as victims, not responsible for their behavior—a convenient excuse. That's like what a present-day celebrity, married eight years with two sons, who shamelessly committed adultery with a younger country singer and then left his wife to marry her did. He later told his wife, “It wasn’t your fault. I’ve cheated from day one. It’s just who I am.”According to Scripture and science, homosexuality has never been proven to be part of someone’s biological constitution, so everyone decides his or her lot in life (although all of us are influenced differently). The bottom line: We do express understanding regarding people’s upbringing while not releasing people from taking personal responsibility for their actions.
5. There is a major distinction between people's behavior and their race.My black friends can’t decide to become Caucasian. My wife can’t decide to become a full-blown man (though today some try!). One is chosen; the other unchosen. Homosexuality is something someone does—not something someone is. Each of us is personally responsible for our behavior. (Otherwise, drunk drivers, rapists and child molesters are “off the hook" and play the “victim card.”) To confuse this wrongly creates a new “minority” status and special “rights” for a very small segment of the population representing no more than 2 to 3 percent (not the inaccurate, inflated figures of 10 percent or more).
The Bible teaches against any sexual relations except between husband and wife. The Bible specifically mentions sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex as among the forbidden acts. Homosexual acts are mentioned in seven Bible passages: 1• 2 refer to rape (Genesis 19:5, Judges 19:22)• 3 refer to intercourse between men (Leviticus 18:21-22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:27)• 1 refers to intercourse between women (Romans 1:26)• 1 refers to prostitution and pederasty (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)• 1 is general in nature (1 Timothy 1:8-10)Old TestamentThe first mention in the Bible is in Genesis 19:1-13. The wicked men of Sodom attempted a homosexual rape of two messengers from God who had come to visit Lot. As a result of this and other widespread wickedness, God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in a storm of fire and brimstone.The next two mentions are in LeviticusYou shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. (NKJ, Leviticus 18:22)If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. (NKJ, Leviticus 20:13)Life was harsh in early Old Testament times. The wanderings and struggle for survival of the Israelites did not permit prisons or rehabilitation. Anyone who deviated seriously from the norm was either stoned to death or exiled. The Old Testament prescribed the death penalty for the crimes of murder, attacking or cursing a parent, kidnapping, failure to confine a dangerous animal resulting in death, witchcraft and sorcery, sex with an animal, doing work on the Sabbath, incest, adultery, homosexual acts, prostitution by a priest's daughter, blasphemy, false prophecy, perjury in capital cases and false claim of a woman's virginity at the time of marriage.
It must be emphasized that, according to the New Testament, we are no longer under the harsh Old Testament Law (John 1:16-17, Romans 8:1-3, 1 Corinthians 9:20-21). The concern with punishment is now secondary to Jesus' message of repentance and redemption. Both reward and punishment are seen as properly taking place in eternity, rather than in this life.In the Old Testament, homosexual activity was strongly associated with the idolatrous practices of the pagan nations surrounding Israel. In fact, the word "abomination," used in both mentions of homosexual acts in Leviticus, is a translation of the Hebrew word tow' ebah which means something morally disgusting, but it also has a strong implication of idolatry2. Thus, many Bible scholars believe the condemnations in Leviticus are more a condemnation of the idolatry than of the homosexual acts themselves3,4.
New TestamentJesus never mentioned homosexuality, but He did condemn all forms of sexual immorality:What comes out of you is what defiles you. For from within, out of your hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile you. (NIV, Mark 7:20-23)The apostle Paul, in one of his letters to the Corinthians, wrote the verses most often quoted on this subject:
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NIV, 1st Corinthians 6:9-11)This verse has been translated in as many different ways as there are different versions of the Bible, so we have to look at the original Greek to see what Paul was really saying. The word translated here as "male prostitute" is the Greek word malakos which literally means "soft to the touch." However, it was used metaphorically to refer to a catamite (a boy kept for sexual relations with a man) or to a male prostitute in general. The word translated here as "homosexual offender" is the Greek word arsenokoites which means a sodomite, a person who engages in any kind of unnatural sex, but especially homosexual intercourse5. Some believe this use of arsenokoites referred specifically to the men who kept catamites6, but that is not certain.
There are two other New Testament mentions of homosexual acts, in Romans 1:25-27 and 1 Timothy 1:8-10. In this passage from Romans, again in the context of idolatry, Paul mentions women who "exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones." This is the only mention of lesbian acts:
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (NIV, Romans 1:25-27)
Monday, February 6, 2017
Profile: James ‘Paul’ Chapman
James “Paul” Chapman, pastor of Beckley Praise Church, is licensed as a Pentecostal minister.
But before Chapman began pastoring BPC in April 2007, he was a traveling preacher who delivered the good news at any church.
“I went into all denominiations and preached, whether it be a Baptist, Church of God, Pentecostal, Methodist,” he said. “We were invited to a lot of pulpits.”
Chapman said the gospel message (Christ died to give eternal life to everyone) and the needs of people don’t have denominational barriers.
“The message that I found I preached a lot while I was an evangelist was the message I titled, ‘When Jesus Passes By,’” said Chapman. “I found that while I was evangelizing, there were a lot of hurting people that were down and out, that just needed to know that Jesus was the same as He was when He walked on earth.
“He is still here today to take care of our needs and our concerns today,” he said. “All (people) have to do is turn it over to God and let God take care of it.”
At first, Chapman said, more seasoned ministers told him that he wouldn’t be successful as an evangelist if he didn’t preach within his own denomination.
“Instead of sticking to one denomination, I felt like God was calling me to go out and spread love and unity in the body of Christ,” said Chapman, referring to the Christian church-at-large. “I’m not one of these people who think my church is the only one or my denomination is the only one.
“All (denominations) are an important part in spreading the gospel,” he said. “Even though we all may believe a little different, we’re all still the body of Christ, and we should be promoting unity.”
When Chapman was a child growing up in Raleigh County, his parents, Robert and Connie Chapman, always had their kids attend church.
Although his parents weren’t Christians when he was a child, Chapman’s mom often drove him and his four brothers to Maynor Freewill Baptist Church or sent them to church on a church bus.
Chapman said he didn’t protest.
“There was a drawing from me, because it just seemed like church is where I found the most peace for some reason, growing up,” he said. “The pastor at one point said, ‘I could see you being a preacher when you get older.’
“I laughed it off and said, ‘There’s no way.’”
At age 12, Chapman said he accepted Christ as his personal savior and entered a relationship with God.
After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1985, he entered the U.S. Army. Chapman spent four years at Fort Hood, Texas, before heading to Garlstedt, Germany.
During his time in the military, he said, his relationship with God faltered.
“I knew I had God’s protection over me, but I just wasn’t living for God like I needed to be,” Chapman recalled. “Every night, I prayed, but I knew I just wasn’t where I needed to be.
“There was just a void there. I wasn’t feeling complete.”
After leaving Germany, he returned to West Virginia and spent four years in the West Virginia Army National Guard.
“When I came back to West Virginia, I knew where the void was, and I immediately just surrendered everything over to God,” he said.
In 1991, Chapman attended a Christmas program at Cranberry Community Church.
One particular congregant immediately caught his eye, he remembered.
His future wife, Cecilia, was in charge of the program.
“She was just so ... I can’t explain it,” said Chapman. “She was so captivating that I was like, I’ve got to know who this is.”
Chapman called a friend who attended church with Cecilia and asked for an introduction.
“I met her and her son, Robbie,” said Chapman. “He was a good kid. We hit it off very well.”
The couple began dating in January and were married the following July.
In 2000, Chapman was working at WJLS AM 560, a Christian radio station. During his stint at WJLS, he was ministering to youth but felt the call to begin preaching, he said.
“In 2003, I really felt the calling of God upon my life to do more than just teach children, just reach teenagers,” he said. “I was feeling the call to minister on a broader range.”
Cecilia — who Chapman says is a “pretty good preacher herself” — told Chapman to “quit running and go ahead and answer the call God has placed on your life,” he said.
Over the next three-and-a-half years, Chapman said, he spoke at churches of different denominations about the love of Christ.
“I have found that when I told God I would go wherever He wants me to go, regardless of the denomination, God opened the doors for me,” said Chapman.
When he began pastoring Beckley Praise Church in 2007, Chapman said he kept his belief that different denominations are all part of one body of believers.
He said the greatest message he believes Christ is sending to the world is, “Get ready.”
“You do that by accepting Jesus as your savior,” he said. “A lot of times people want to say, ‘If I’m a Christian, I have to give up a whole lot of stuff, I have to dress a certain way. You know, it ain’t about that. It’s about getting our hearts right. It doesn’t matter what you wear, it doesn’t matter how long your hair is or how short it is.
“It’s about having a right relationship with Jesus Christ and communicating with Him on a daily basis.”
Chapman said Beckley Praise Church is a “vibrant church” of around 60 people.
“We believe that we live up to the name of the church,” he said. “We love to praise the Lord.”
The church welcomes visitors, and Chapman has remained true to his open denominational roots.
Twice a month, ministers from various denominations are invited to speak, he said.
“I have a different minister, just whoever God tells me to get,” he explained, “I bring ministers in who will preach.”
Chapman said that women ministers play an important role in the work of the gospel, and Christian women ministers are often invited to preach at Beckley Praise Church.
“God is calling all to preach his word, whether they be male or female,” he said. “I fully support women ministering in the pulpit.
“There is so much work that it’s going to take all of us to proclaim the gospel,” he said.
Chapman also works as a supervisor for Raleigh County Home Confinement.
He said he supervises individuals who are “trying to get back into society from being either in jail or in trouble with the law.”
Chapman said he enjoys working with his clients in the program.
“There are opportunities that I can minister even on the job,” he said. “They need direction, and I have found that I have been able to do that, and it has been very successful in changing peoples’ lives.”
Chapman said Beckley Praise Church, located at 250 Elm Street, welcomes visitors. BPC Sunday service is at 11 a.m., and Wednesday classes for all age groups begin at 7 p.m. Sunday school classes meet at 10 a.m.
On the second and fourth Friday of each month, BPC hosts ministers from other churches.
He said BPC also offers a Youth Explorer Club for kids on Wednesday evenings.
More information is available at www.ourchurch.com/member/b/beckleypraise or by calling Chapman at 304-573-4009.
But before Chapman began pastoring BPC in April 2007, he was a traveling preacher who delivered the good news at any church.
“I went into all denominiations and preached, whether it be a Baptist, Church of God, Pentecostal, Methodist,” he said. “We were invited to a lot of pulpits.”
Chapman said the gospel message (Christ died to give eternal life to everyone) and the needs of people don’t have denominational barriers.
“The message that I found I preached a lot while I was an evangelist was the message I titled, ‘When Jesus Passes By,’” said Chapman. “I found that while I was evangelizing, there were a lot of hurting people that were down and out, that just needed to know that Jesus was the same as He was when He walked on earth.
“He is still here today to take care of our needs and our concerns today,” he said. “All (people) have to do is turn it over to God and let God take care of it.”
At first, Chapman said, more seasoned ministers told him that he wouldn’t be successful as an evangelist if he didn’t preach within his own denomination.
“Instead of sticking to one denomination, I felt like God was calling me to go out and spread love and unity in the body of Christ,” said Chapman, referring to the Christian church-at-large. “I’m not one of these people who think my church is the only one or my denomination is the only one.
“All (denominations) are an important part in spreading the gospel,” he said. “Even though we all may believe a little different, we’re all still the body of Christ, and we should be promoting unity.”
When Chapman was a child growing up in Raleigh County, his parents, Robert and Connie Chapman, always had their kids attend church.
Although his parents weren’t Christians when he was a child, Chapman’s mom often drove him and his four brothers to Maynor Freewill Baptist Church or sent them to church on a church bus.
Chapman said he didn’t protest.
“There was a drawing from me, because it just seemed like church is where I found the most peace for some reason, growing up,” he said. “The pastor at one point said, ‘I could see you being a preacher when you get older.’
“I laughed it off and said, ‘There’s no way.’”
At age 12, Chapman said he accepted Christ as his personal savior and entered a relationship with God.
After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1985, he entered the U.S. Army. Chapman spent four years at Fort Hood, Texas, before heading to Garlstedt, Germany.
During his time in the military, he said, his relationship with God faltered.
“I knew I had God’s protection over me, but I just wasn’t living for God like I needed to be,” Chapman recalled. “Every night, I prayed, but I knew I just wasn’t where I needed to be.
“There was just a void there. I wasn’t feeling complete.”
After leaving Germany, he returned to West Virginia and spent four years in the West Virginia Army National Guard.
“When I came back to West Virginia, I knew where the void was, and I immediately just surrendered everything over to God,” he said.
In 1991, Chapman attended a Christmas program at Cranberry Community Church.
One particular congregant immediately caught his eye, he remembered.
His future wife, Cecilia, was in charge of the program.
“She was just so ... I can’t explain it,” said Chapman. “She was so captivating that I was like, I’ve got to know who this is.”
Chapman called a friend who attended church with Cecilia and asked for an introduction.
“I met her and her son, Robbie,” said Chapman. “He was a good kid. We hit it off very well.”
The couple began dating in January and were married the following July.
In 2000, Chapman was working at WJLS AM 560, a Christian radio station. During his stint at WJLS, he was ministering to youth but felt the call to begin preaching, he said.
“In 2003, I really felt the calling of God upon my life to do more than just teach children, just reach teenagers,” he said. “I was feeling the call to minister on a broader range.”
Cecilia — who Chapman says is a “pretty good preacher herself” — told Chapman to “quit running and go ahead and answer the call God has placed on your life,” he said.
Over the next three-and-a-half years, Chapman said, he spoke at churches of different denominations about the love of Christ.
“I have found that when I told God I would go wherever He wants me to go, regardless of the denomination, God opened the doors for me,” said Chapman.
When he began pastoring Beckley Praise Church in 2007, Chapman said he kept his belief that different denominations are all part of one body of believers.
He said the greatest message he believes Christ is sending to the world is, “Get ready.”
“You do that by accepting Jesus as your savior,” he said. “A lot of times people want to say, ‘If I’m a Christian, I have to give up a whole lot of stuff, I have to dress a certain way. You know, it ain’t about that. It’s about getting our hearts right. It doesn’t matter what you wear, it doesn’t matter how long your hair is or how short it is.
“It’s about having a right relationship with Jesus Christ and communicating with Him on a daily basis.”
Chapman said Beckley Praise Church is a “vibrant church” of around 60 people.
“We believe that we live up to the name of the church,” he said. “We love to praise the Lord.”
The church welcomes visitors, and Chapman has remained true to his open denominational roots.
Twice a month, ministers from various denominations are invited to speak, he said.
“I have a different minister, just whoever God tells me to get,” he explained, “I bring ministers in who will preach.”
Chapman said that women ministers play an important role in the work of the gospel, and Christian women ministers are often invited to preach at Beckley Praise Church.
“God is calling all to preach his word, whether they be male or female,” he said. “I fully support women ministering in the pulpit.
“There is so much work that it’s going to take all of us to proclaim the gospel,” he said.
Chapman also works as a supervisor for Raleigh County Home Confinement.
He said he supervises individuals who are “trying to get back into society from being either in jail or in trouble with the law.”
Chapman said he enjoys working with his clients in the program.
“There are opportunities that I can minister even on the job,” he said. “They need direction, and I have found that I have been able to do that, and it has been very successful in changing peoples’ lives.”
Chapman said Beckley Praise Church, located at 250 Elm Street, welcomes visitors. BPC Sunday service is at 11 a.m., and Wednesday classes for all age groups begin at 7 p.m. Sunday school classes meet at 10 a.m.
On the second and fourth Friday of each month, BPC hosts ministers from other churches.
He said BPC also offers a Youth Explorer Club for kids on Wednesday evenings.
More information is available at www.ourchurch.com/member/b/beckleypraise or by calling Chapman at 304-573-4009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)