DIVINE DIAGNOSIS

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matt. 15:19 NKJV).

While folks in society often have difficulty in diagnosing where problems lie, the Lord Jesus Christ never had that problem. He knew with great accuracy where the problem existed and how to correct it. Thus, we want to note the location of the problem and the list of problems.

Location of the problem – “Out of the heart.” The heart of man’s problem is the heart of man. “Heart” here does not mean the physical heart, but the spiritual heart. Hence, the problem in our society is not physical or material but spiritual. As a result, man’s problems will not be corrected by a new job, urban renewal or spending more money on schools. Man’s problems will only be corrected when the heart is right with God. Any other solution is superficial at best. The boasted solutions of man are nothing but cosmetics on a dead body. Yet these experts strive to solve society’s behavior problems through every method possible except dealing with the heart. When government officials are confronted with a problem, they throw money at it to solve it. But money does not solve the problem. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ will solve more problems in five minutes than gold will solve in five millenniums. Man need a new birth. Fix the heart and you have fixed the problem. The Lord Jesus Christ is the solution to fixing the heart.

List of the problems – “Evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Notice that the first problem on this list of problems is “evil thoughts.” Evil contemplations are the seed bed of evil conduct. Yet, today, folk play down the peril of evil thoughts. But Scripture says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). We are the product of our thoughts. Thus, we need to guard our thought life. We need to keep it clean and pure if we want to be pure and clean in conduct.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins!”

Thomas Brooks (1608 – 1680)

English Non-conformist Puritan Preacher and Author

Word Study

Exacting (austere)

In Luke 19:21 we read, “For I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow” (NASB).

Exacting (austere) is the Geek word austērós (αὐστηρός =ow-stay-ros'). The word means harsh, rough, rigid. Figuratively, it means severe and metaphorically, it means stern. In classical Greek austērós referred to making the tongue dry and rough, harsh, bitter. In the Septuagint, austērós also carries the idea of harshness. In the New Testament, austērós was used to mean strict. Here in Luke 19:21, the lazy servant accused his master of being austēros, an austere man.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isa. 41:14 KJV).

Did You Know…

King Solomon decided to build the Temple of the Lord on Mount Moriah; it is the exact location where God had appeared to his father David (2 Chron. 3:1). It was also the same place where Abraham was told to offer his son Isaac (Gen. 22:2).

Bible Quiz

According to Daniel 6, what was unique about the laws of the Medes and Persians?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: In the Book of Malachi, why was God angry with the priests? They were offering sick animals as sacrifices (Mal. 1:13).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“HORN OF SALVATION”

"And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David!” (Luke 1:69 NKJV).

1. Meaning – HORN OF SALVATION speaks of the Lord Jesus as the powerful Savior, the One who has the might and strength to save.

2. Insights – The phrase “horn of salvation” means strength of salvation, or mighty salvation; it is a quotation from Psalm 18:2. “Horns” in Scripture are the well-known emblems of strength, glory, and power because the strength and beauty of horned animals consist in their horns. Here Zacharias used it to refer to the Lord Jesus, Israel’s Messiah and hope for deliverance. However, the Lord Jesus is not just Israel’s Messiah, He is the strong and powerful Savior of mankind.

Did You Know – Christian History

Haldor Lillenas was born November 19, 1885, on Stord Island, near Bergen, Norway. He was an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, author, song evangelist, poet, music publisher and prolific hymn writer.

As an infant, Lillenas’ family brought him to the United States - first to South Dakota, but eventually the family settled in Astoria, OR. Like most Scandinavians, he grew up in the Lutheran church (his family was religious). Lillenas was confirmed at the age of fifteen. From a very young age, Lillenas began to write his own songs, however it was not until he was 19 years old, that he attempted to have them published.

But there was something lacking in his spiritual life. Lillenas found the answer he was looking for when he was converted to personal faith in Jesus Christ at age 21. Almost immediately, he felt called to preach. He entered Deets Pacific Bible College in Los Angeles (later known as Pasadena College). Meanwhile, he began to acquire musical knowledge through self-study and correspondence courses. But it is as a hymn writer that he is best remembered.

Lillenas married Bertha Mae Wilson who was also a song writer. They traveled as evangelists for many years. Both became elders in the Church of the Nazarene. Together they furnished words and music for over 4,000 hymns and Gospel songs. Rich in spirit, they were poor in possessions. When they were finally able to afford a home, Lillenas looked about for an instrument on which he could compose. A neighbor sold him an organ for just five dollars. It was on that organ that Haldor composed his best-known hymn: “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” Coincidentally, the sale of Lillenas’ hymn brought him just five dollars - the same amount he had paid for the organ.

After leaving evangelistic work, Lillenas pastored churches from 1914 through 1924. In 1924, he founded a music company which later became the Nazarene Publishing Company. He worked there as an editor for 20 years. In 1941 Olivet Nazarene College awarded Lillenas an honorary Doctor of Music degree in recognition of his contributions to American hymnody.

Lillenas died August 18, 1959, in Aspen, Colorado. In 1982 Lillenas was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.

A Little Humor

During his sermon on Jesus’s teaching that we should love our enemies, the pastor asked the congregation to raise their hands if they had enemies. Everyone did so except for Mrs. Watson in the front row, who had just turned 95. “Mrs. Watson,” the pastor asked, “how could you possibly live for 95 years and have no enemies?” “That’s easy,” the senior citizen replied, “I just outlived them!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Christ has replaced the dark door of death with the shining gate of life!”