Author: hillturnfs

The Bible is historically accurate. For 2000 years scoffers have tried to debunk the Bible and failed miserably. No place mentioned in the Bible has ever been proven not to exist. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Archaeology has confirmed the Bible version of places numerous times.  Detractors said there was no such person as King David. This remained unproven until a few years ago when stones were unearthed referencing the house of David. The Bible mentioned the Hittites, a nation from modern day Turkey, and historians said no such people existed. Low and behold, excavations a few years ago discovered the remnants of the Hittite civilization.  Sodom and Gomorrah were said not to exist.  The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah have been discovered and the cities were destroyed by fire as God said.  

Most famous of all was the biblical account of the walls of Jericho which God caused to fall all at once with a blast of the trumpet. Disbelievers said no way. I don’t know how they proved it but years ago excavation at the site proved the walls of Jericho fell all at once and outward.  If walls are collapsed in a siege they always fall inward and only in limited areas for entry and not the entire circumference of a big city and all at once. If an earthquake occurred, who caused the earthquake, and in such a way that only the entire wall was affected but not the structures inside the city? Obviously Jericho was a divine occurrence, not only by the evidence but by the declaration of God Himself.  Unbelievers thought if they could prove just one thing false in the Bible they could claim the entire Bible is a fable. 

For 2000 years they hung their hat on the fact the Bible mentions Israel prominently in end time events and Israel didn’t exist.  That was true until May 14, 1948, when Israel was reborn as a nation in a single day, as foretold in prophecy.  No nation in history has ever done that before or since.  There are at least 18 prophecies about Israel that have been fulfilled and documented.  Over 500 Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and documented as historical fact.  No Bible prophecy has failed to be fulfilled in its due time which is a 100% success rate.  Therefore, we have confidence that the rest of the Bible prophecies will also come to pass.  No rational person can examine the facts and conclude anything other than the obvious, the Holy Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God.   

The unity of the Bible is amazing. The 66 books of the Bible were written over a period of about 1500 years. It’s possible the book of Job could be much older, maybe as old as 2600 BC. The Bible’s 40 authors ranged from scholars like Paul to illiterate fishermen like Peter and John. Writers included prophets, kings, priests and simple farmers.  The commonality between all the writers is that they wrote their particular book or books as they were moved by the Holy Spirit of God so that the text reflected the personality of the writer but also said exactly what God wanted said.  You don’t get a sense of the Bible’s unity until you read the entire Bible like I have (three times). People from different backgrounds, education and life experiences wrote in such a manner that when compiled together reads like there is a single author (there is!).

Every book of the Bible is woven with the story of God’s love for man, His special creation, and His salvation plan for us through the coming of Jesus Christ to redeem mankind from a sin-filled world. The entire Bible makes it clear our ultimate destiny is heaven where we will enjoy fellowship with God for eternity.  Most of these writers of the Bible had no knowledge of what others had written yet amazingly they never walked over each other or contradicted each other. In addition to the consistent message, the scriptural cross-references are without error.  This would be impossible for a single human author let alone 40 authors over a span of 1500 years.  In the New Testament alone there are hundreds of scriptural references to the Old Testament.  The books of Luke and Acts were written by a Gentile physician with no knowledge of the Law of Moses yet his text is flawless.  

The Bible is one third prophecy.  People don’t know what will happen in the future and if they’re writing prophecy it’s coming to them from God, the author of history.  All of the writers freely admitted they were writing as God directed.  God gave us prophecy so that we would know what is to come but also to prove that He is God and there is no other.  The Bible contains over 1000 prophecies, 500 of which have been fulfilled and the rest are awaiting their due time.  Not one single prophecy of any other religion has even been fulfilled.  It can’t, because they are all fake attempts by Satan to divert man from the truth of the gospel message.  The only logical conclusion is God Himself is the author of the Holy Bible, God’s Word.  Not only do I know this to be true by the evidence I know it to be true in my spirit as confirmed by the Holy Spirit that dwells within me.    

 

If you had a nuclear bomb in your house I think you’d know where it was at all times. You’d think about it often and look upon it with fear, knowing the awesome power could be unleashed at any moment. I think you’d be very respectful of it and careful who touched it.  The Holy Bible, God’s Word, is the most powerful instrument on earth and deserves the same kind of awe and respect. Think of it as a spiritual nuclear bomb able to condemn souls to hell forever or to save souls to heaven for eternity.  I think about all the times growing up I dismissed the Bible as just another book I ought to read someday. As an adult your life gets complicated and most of us never get around to reading God’s revelation to man. I didn’t get around to reading the entire Bible until I was in my 50’s. I missed so much! I lost so much time!

Unbelievers haven’t read the Bible or they would be believers. When someone tells me they don’t believe the Bible was written by God I know they haven’t read it. They are making an assumption or going on what someone else has told them.  You can’t read the Bible all the way through without the Holy Spirit communing with your spirit and verifying the Bible is God’s Word.  It’s impossible, if you have an open mind.  For  2-3% of Bible readers it could take a second reading to convince them if they have an agenda before starting.  Only 10% of Christians who attend church regularly have read their Bible in its entirety.  Fewer still actually engage in personal Bible study.  What does that say about non-Christians who don’t go to church?  Not one person in a hundred out there on the street actually has a good working knowledge of God’s Word.  The most important thing we can know and the source of all wisdom and nobody knows it.

What can we do?  Start now and read the entire New Testament and then start on the Old Testament.  Read your Bible daily.  See that your family does the same.  Attend church as a family and discuss the Bible.  Teach your children and grandchildren to pray.  If you don’t do it who will?  If you don’t the secular world’s education system will turn your kids into liberal atheists by the time they graduate college.  Never forget Satan is the god of this world and opposes God’s Word at every turn.  The younger generation, for the most part,  does not honor God as their fathers did.  God is Spirit and must be worshiped in spirit.  We must believe that God is, and that God rewards those who believe in Him with eternal life.  People have a tendency to believe only what they can see.  When you witness to people you can start with the Bible, something they can see, touch and read.  There is compelling evidence about the Bible that should convince any logical person that God is the author.  Learn the truth yourself and be ready to share the “good news”.

Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried.  On the third day God raised Jesus from the dead.  Jesus died in our place and accepted the wrath of God for the sins of all men, past, present and future.

1 Peter 3:18 – (Jesus died to bring man to God) – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.

Romans 3:23 – (all have sinned and all are saved by faith) – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

By His grace God has provided a way of salvation for man at great cost to Himself because He loves us.  But you must believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God, was crucified and raised from the dead by God and now sits at the right hand of God in heaven.  You must confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, repent of your sins, and commit your life to Jesus.

Romans 10:9 – (confession) – That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Mark 1:15 – (Jesus declares the good news) – The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent, and believe in the gospel.

John 10:10 – (Jesus has come to give life) – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 1:12 – (those who receive Jesus become children of God) – But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

I believe we are put on this earth to seek out God, find His salvation, and live out our lives witnessing and emulating Christ to the glory of our Father in heaven.

Micah 6:8 – (do right, love mercy and walk humbly with God) – He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Galatians 6:7 – (whatever a man sows, that will he also reap) – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap.

Ephesians 2:10 – (God prepared good works for us to do) – For we are all His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

If you know these basic facts and memorize these few verses you’ll be able to witness to anyone at any time.  God will lead unsaved people across your path so you can help them.  The Holy Bible is the unerring Word of God.  When you read the Bible God is speaking to you and when you pray you are speaking to God.  God created the heavens and the earth.  God created Adam and Eve for fellowship and placed them in the garden of Eden.  God gave Adam dominion over the earth.  Adam and Eve sinned when they disobeyed God and they were expelled from Eden because God is holy and cannot tolerate sin.  Through Adam all men are born with a sin nature that separates them from the loving God who made them.

Genesis 2:7 – (God made man) – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 

Isaiah 59:2 – ( all men are sinners) – But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

God knew the end from the beginning so He knew man would fall.  God had a salvation plan from the beginning.  In God’s economy there can be no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood.  The only one worthy of sacrifice was God Himself so He came to earth as Jesus Christ and died on the cross to remove our sins so man could restored fellowship with his maker and once again approach the throne of grace.  There is only one God.  The triune Godhead consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and they are co-equal and co-eternal.   All are separate and all are God.  If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came down from heaven and died on the cross for your sins and you’ve put your faith in Him as your Lord and Savior your sins have been forgiven and you have eternal life.

John 3:16 – (God gave His Son) – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 6:23 – (God’s free gift is eternal life) – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 – (God loves you) – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God knows you’re weak, after all, He made you.  God does not expect you to witness, emulate Christ or contend with the devil all by yourself.  You can’t unless God guides you and gives you the power to serve Him.  Devote yourself to personal study and the Holy Spirit will give you the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God’s Word.  The fallen angels are much more powerful than we are but they are no match for God.  Let the Holy Spirit grow your spiritual maturity  and strengthen you in order to prevail against the powers of darkness.  In addition to reading your Bible, pray continually to the Father and most important of all, take every opportunity to witness, witness, witness!

INDWELT HOLY SPIRIT:

Prov. 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Prov. 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls.

Jas. 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Ps. 119:104 – Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Jer. 24:7 – Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.

Most of God’s promises pertain to our walk with God while on this earth because this is where we need it.  We live in a sin-filled world dominated by Satan and his demons and without God’s protection we are helpless.  God promises to protect us and provide us with abundance.  Start claiming God’s promises for yourself and have faith in the mighty hand of the Lord.

ABUNDANT LIFE:

2 Tim. 4:18 – And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

1 John 5:14 – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

1 Pet. 5:6-7 – Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon /him, for He cares for you.

John 10:10 – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Phil. 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Phil. 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! 

 

I’ve been retired for several years and studying God’s Word faithfully.  Over that time I’ve created a lot of letters and emails.  I’m going to memorialize those that I have by creating a series of blogs so they’re in the archives for future reference:

ETERNAL LIFE:

God’s commands are for our benefit and obedience is not onerous.  Our obedience ensures the fulfillment of God’s promises contained in His Word.  We know anything God speaks comes to pass because the Word is truth and God cannot lie.  We are truly blessed by God’s promises.  God promises resurrection, glory and eternal life in heaven as sons of the living God and royalty in heaven.  Nothing is better than that.

Rom. 8:11 – But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through  His Spirit who dwells in you.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 14:2 – In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.

1 John 3:1 – Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!  Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Matt. 13:43  – Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!     

Human beings are aware of being self-existent in a world perfectly suited for our survival.  Our logical minds tell us there are only two possible answers to why we’re here.  We are here because a loving God created us along with the universe and placed us here on this earth fully formed for His own purpose.  God made us with eternity in our hearts so we know there is a God and want to seek him out.  We feel it in out gut.  The second option is life started as one-cell organisms in our oceans that moved to land and evolved into numerous complex lifeforms, one of which is man.  The universe itself was also created by chance.  There is no soul, no spirit and this life is all there is.  This is the humanist world-view.

I know the first view to be the correct one.  The three sure signs of God are the universe, Jesus Christ and God’s Word, the Holy Bible.  Study and meditate on all three of these signs from God and you’ll come to the same conclusion I have.  I’ve always said it’s impossible to read God’s Word through twice without becoming a believer.  Prove me wrong!  Belief in an omnipotent God is logical.  It’s a leap too far to believe a one-cell organism can morph into a complex human being comprised of thirty trillion specialized cells organized into tissue, bio-systems and organs with a brain to match that is the greatest supercomputer in the universe.  The universe is not old enough for that to happen even if evolution were true.  In all of recorded human history there is not one documented case of any species having evolved.  The theory of evolution is just that, a theory!  It’s preposterous on its face but it’s believed by most people because the humanists control our education system and have crammed it down our throats to the point people are brainwashed into believing it.  Think for yourself!     

 

I’ve been in overdrive since I started blogging six days ago.  I’ve been studying God’s Word for years and emailing my family and friends about it.  I was blogging before I even knew what blogging was.  Now I have an outlet so I no longer have to fill up the inbox of my family and friends.  I’ve posted 26 blogs in six days which I consider the bedrock of my blog site.  The purpose of this site is to WITNESS FOR CHRIST and to encourage and exhort others to do the same.  Of course to witness you need to be knowledgeable about the Bible so we must all continually STUDY GOD’S WORD.  Witnessing and studying are two sides of the same coin and we should never cease doing both.  Since the crucifixion of Jesus God has continued to spread the gospel message to an unsaved world.

It started with the disciples of Jesus who traveled throughout the known world preaching the gospel of Christ.  The pagan world was ready for a personal God who cared for them.  Small group gatherings continued to grow and morphed into established churches with leaders preaching the good news.  Those who by faith accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior became known as Christians.  Missionaries have fanned out throughout the globe sharing God’s Word.  We have Christian writers, revivals and then evangelists preaching to worldwide audiences on radio and then television.   We have Christian television stations broadcasting continuously.  God takes advantage of new technology as it’s created in order to spread the gospel more effectively.

We find ourselves at this point in history where blogging is the latest innovation to reach an unsaved world with God’s salvation plan for man.  Everyone doesn’t go to an established church and blogging is also a way to connect the with the body of Christ for those of us who know the truth and want to discuss it in a safe forum.  I believe God has been preparing me to be a blogger all my life.  My talents and mindset lean in that direction.  The Holy Spirit has been pushing me in this direction for some time now I just didn’t know it.  God had a fellow believer come to me with the suggestion that I start a blog site.  I thought, “Of course, that’s the answer!”  All I know is I love it.  I need to blog like I need food and water.  I have a continual thirst for God’s Word and I feel compelled to share it and discuss it with anyone who’ll listen.  I need to reach out to my brothers and sisters in Christ regularly.