SPIRITUAL FAILURE

“Yes, you cast off fear, and restrain prayer before God" (Job 15:4 NKJV).

Job’s friend Eliphaz is here making an accusation of Job. While this accusation is wrong about Job, it is right about a lot of people. The charge is basically twofold – dishonor for God and disinterest in God.

Dishonor for God – “You cast off fear.” Eliphaz misinterpreted Job’s speech as lacking fear and reverence for God. He was wrong about Job. However, there are many people today who simply do not fear God - they have no reverence for Him. This dishonoring of God is evident in the immoral lifestyle that is prevalent and popular in our society today. It is even evident in the push to take God out of every area of our public life. Such attitudes, if not corrected, will bring Divine judgment.

Disinterest in God – “Restrain prayer before God.” The word translated “prayer” has a wide meaning. It can apply to prayer and also to meditation of God’s word (Psalm 119:97). Job was not guilty of this charge but many folk are. They fail in their prayer life as well as fail in meditation on the Scriptures. Few read their Bibles, even fewer study their Bibles with earnestness. The Psalmist said He meditated upon the Word “all the day” (Psalm 119:97). If folks would devote time to Bible reading and meditation, we would have a revival our churches could not contain.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“An upright man can never be a downright failure!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Disbelief (unbelief)

In Rom. 3:3 we read, “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?” (NKJV).

Disbelief (unbelief) is the Greek word apistia (ἀπιστία = ap-is-tee'-ah). It is made up of two words – “a” the alpha negative which means not, without, and “pistós” which means believing, faithful. Thus the word means disbelieve, to doubt or not to acknowledge, to betray a trust. Literally, it means without believing.

In Classical Greek apistia carries the idea of distrust and unfaithfulness in both a religious and nonreligious sense. In the Septuagint apistia carries the idea of a lack of faith and is expressly applied to man’s relation with God. In the New Testament apistia is used in the Gospels exclusively as a reference to a response to Jesus and His ministry. The apostle Paul on the other hand saw apistia as a counter to the actions of the faithful, i.e. this who trust God.

Belief is a central element in Christianity. A Christian is called a ‘believer,’ one who believes in Christ; not to be a Christian is to be an unbeliever, one who does not possess this faith.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would give gifts to men (Psalm 68:18)

New Testament Fulfillment – Eph. 4:7-16

Bible Facts

Animal instincts understood (Job 39; Prov. 30:24-28; Jer. 8:7). A newly hatched spider weaves an intricate web without being taught. A recently emerged butterfly somehow knows to navigate a 2,500-mile migration route without a guide. God explains that He has endowed each creature with specific knowledge. Scripture, not evolution, explains animal instincts .

Bible Quiz

After his meeting with the Lord on the road to Damascus, how many days did Paul remain blind?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: According to the Lord Jesus, what should a disciple of Christ do to his enemies? “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44).

That’s in the Bible

"Nail someone to the cross”

“Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14 NKJV).

“Nail someone to the cross” - The expression “nail someone to the cross” carries the idea of proving, accusing, or punishing someone. On the cross the Lord Jesus paid the full debt for our sins. His death met righteous requirements of the Mosaic Law. Because He fulfilled the requirement by taking the penalty of sin upon himself, God accepts the righteousness of Christ on the believer’s behalf.

Did You Know - Christian History

William James Kirkpatrick was born February 27, 1838 in the Parish of Errigal, Keerogue, Ireland. He was an American sacred music composer and publisher.

In 1854, Kirkpatrick moved to Philadelphia to study music and carpentry. It was here that he studied vocal music under Professor T. Bishop. Kirkpatrick was a versatile musician playing the cello, fife, flute, organ, and violin. He joined the Harmonia and the Haydn Sacred Music Societies where he was exposed to many great composers. In 1855, he became involved in the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church serving the choir with his musical talent and teaching Sunday school.

Kirkpatrick was also involved in the Camp meetings the Methodist churches. He led the music portion of the meeting and often enlisted the help of soloists and other musicians. Kirkpatrick was saddened by the fact that one of the soloist would perform the songs but leave without staying to hear the preacher. Fearing that this young man did not really know Christ, he began to pray that God would somehow get a hold his heart. One evening while he was praying, a song began to form in his mind. He quickly jotted down the lyrics and asked the soloist to sing the song that night. The lyrics of the song convicted the young man and he ended up accepting the Lord Jesus as His Savior. The lyrics was from the song: “Lord, I’m Coming Home.” The song is based on the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15, and has been used in many gospel outreach.

Between 1880 and 1897, Sweeney and Kirkpatrick published 49 major books. He wrote the music for such familiar hymns as “Lead Me to Calvary,” “Jesus Saves,” “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus,” “We Have an Anchor,” “Redeemed,” and “Meet Me There.” With John R. Sweney, Kirkpatrick published over eighty Gospel song collections during a period of seventeen years. He published many annual works such as anthems for Easter, Christmas, and children’s choirs.

William J. Kirkpatrick died on September 20, 1921. He told his wife that night that he had a tune running through his head and he wanted to write it down before he lost it. His wife retired to bed and awoke in the middle of the night to find that he was not there. She went to his study to find him slumped over on his desk, dead. Kirkpatrick is buried in Philadelphia’s Laurel Hill Cemetery.

A Little Humor

“I’ve just been to my husband’s cremation, said the widow.” “Oh, you poor thing,” cried the single lady sitting next to her on the plane. “I’m so sorry for you.” “He was my fourth husband,” confided the widow. “I’ve cremated them all.” At this the single lady burst into tears. “Have I said something to upset you?” asked the widow anxiously.” Oh, no,” she answered, still sobbing. “But I was thinking how unjust the world is! I never had a husband and you’ve had husbands to burn.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Some people have tons of religion but not one ounce of salvation!”