FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2005:
I was reading a book on the Cross of Jesus.
In the preface a Preacher was discussing
the inclusiveness of Calvary.
He stated that mankind knows hunger in four
basic areas.
Hunger for Truth.
Hunger for Love.
Hunger for Justice.
And hunger for Forgiveness.
Whole industries in America have developed
around each of these Hungers.
But, the Preacher continued, there is only
one Place where all of these four Hungers are met simultaneously!
Where they are satisfied completely and
perfectly!
That Place is
Calvary ... where
Jesus died!
Calvary is the Place of Truth! In
fact, I believe it is the CENTRAL TRUTH of the universe!
Calvary is too the Place of Love!
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life." John 3:16
Calvary is the Place of Justice! God
did not compromise one iota of His Holiness or Righteousness in saving
lost sinners! Here's how it worked: "For
He (God the Father) hath made Him (God the Son) to be sin for us,
Who (God the Son again) knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him." 2nd Corinthians 5:21
And Calvary is the Place of Forgiveness!
Only Jesus' Blood washes away sin!
Friend, are you today in need?
Do you have a "Hunger" in your soul?
If so ... Jesus is The Answer!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2005:
The Bible doctrine of eternal punishment has nearly disappeared from
modern man's vocabulary!
The word "Hell" is still used a lot, but NOT in the right context.
Even those of us who strongly believe in a literal place of damnation for
the lost have failed to preach about it. We certainly in this area have
NOT followed our Lord's example!
Of the 23 times the word "hell" is used in the New Testament, 18 of them
are from the lips of Jesus (counting the Psalm 16 quotes)!
That is astounding!
The theologians and sociologists give 4 reasons why Hell has been removed
from contemporary thought.
1. The rise of a philosophy called "humanism." This belief lifts mankind
higher and higher ... which has the adverse effect of bringing God lower
and lower! The worldview of ages past ... with God at its center has been
replaced with a worldview that has man at the center (and God on the outer
edge somewhere)! Someone had better listen to Proverbs 14:12 ---
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but
the end thereof are the ways of death." Humanism just can't handle
the doctrine of Hell! Man is much too refined for such medieval belief
now, they say.
2. Next came a crazy teaching called "universalism." It suggests that
ALL of humanity will some day be saved! It distorts the character of God
as revealed in Scripture. Their reasoning goes something like this: God
is loving. He could never cast someone in hell, at least not forever!
They quote verses like 1st Timothy 2:4 --- "God our
Saviour, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth." Then they omit verses like Matthew 25:46 ---
"And these (wicked) shall go away into everlasting
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." They (or many of
them anyway) further wrongly teach that even if God punished sinners in
hell ... His love would not allow them to burn forever. They would soon
burn up and cease to exist. This all is a philosophy, not a Bible
doctrine! Listen to Paul in Colossians 2:8 ---
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after
the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ."
3. Then came along a so-called "science" that has torn the Bible to
shreds! "Higher criticism" began in Europe and spread westward,
discovering (it wrongly says) that our Bible was not based upon "truth"
but tradition and myth and fable! They tell us that the real historical
Jesus is NOT the Jesus of Scripture. This system has infiltrated our
seminaries and then our pulpits. Listen to me. The Bible does NOT need to
be corrected! We need to change and live by its precepts! (This crowd
says that Jesus' 18 references to Hell did not really come from His lips!
Some editor or scribe later added those stories to the ancient texts!)
I'll just quote Romans 3:4 --- "God forbid: yea, let
God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written."
4. Finally enters the popularity of a great big lie called "evolution"
and an American "school system" that is a slave to the teachings of Darwin
and his kin. For you see, if we do not have a Creator ... we do not need
a Saviour! If mankind slowly developed from lower life forms ... we are
not sinners! We are advancing species with superior intellect and will!
And if we are not sinners ... we certainly are not going to Hell! And
religion is just a man-made "crutch" that helped us along until we
"outgrew" it somewhere along the evolutionary pathway! Romans 1:25 tells
us exactly what we have done. "Who changed the
truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than
the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."
Who is right?
Jesus or modern man?
I'm going to keep on believing John 14:6 where Scripture relates:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and
the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."
Yes!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2005:
Twice Paul says it!
"Redeeming the Time!"
Ephesians 5:16
--- "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
And again in Colossians 4:5 ---
"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."
These verses clearly show us 3
things:
Notice the
REASON we are to redeem the time. Because the days are evil!
That adjective for "evil" ("poneros" in Greek) pictures an evil that
spreads and infiltrates and destroys as it grows! It is active and
malignant! Paul is telling us that if we do not redeem our time
(making it really count for the Lord) ... we will fall victim to some kind
of sin!
Then note the
REALM in which we must especially be careful! "Toward
them that are without!" When you are fellowshipping with a Brother
(you men now) or with a Sister (for you ladies), studying the Word of God
perhaps, you do not have to be as careful with your time! It is
already being wisely invested! BUT if you are on the job and around
that vile crowd ... be on guard! One unwise minute can allow some
filth to be planted in your ear or some lewd sight to be plastered in your
mind ... things hard to forget! Be alert!
Next see the
RESULTS of redeeming the time! The verb for "redeem" (in
Greek = "exagorazo") means to go to the market ("agora") and purchase a
commodity! We are literally to consider our "time" as something
precious ... which must be properly valued and invested to the Glory of
God! Additionally this verb is in the "middle" voice ... teaching us
that the "redeeming" process will impact us directly! We must
be involved! We will be changed as we seek to obey this
precept! The results ... changed lives!
Friend, today do not waste
your time!
Make it count for Jesus!
If the Bible had just told us that
once ... it would be well worth obeying!
But twice?
It carries double importance!
Remember what the Psalmist said to
the Lord: "My times are in Thy hand."
Psalm 31:15
So are ours!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21,
2005:
I was earlier today studying an old
English verb that has a lovely meaning!
It's found in Hebrews 2:18 ---
"For in that He Himself (Jesus) hath suffered being
tempted, He is able to SUCCOUR them that are tempted."
What does "succour" mean?
It's important because Jesus does this
to His children. As our great High Priest He "succours" us!
The verb in Greek is spelled "boetheo"
and means to help.
But it involves more than that too.
Our word "boetheo" combines two Greek
terms: "boao" (to call, to holler) and "theo" (to run)!
It pictures us being tempted to sin ...
growing weak in the process ... and "crying out for help!" This cry
Jesus hears and comes "running" to be of aid!
It's a real dramatic word! "To
bring aid in an urgent situation!"
It's so comforting to know that the Lord
hears our cries!
In Genesis 16:11 He heard Hagar's
affliction! "And the angel of the LORD said
unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and
shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction."
And when He hears ... He comes! He
comes to help!
What a Saviour!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8,
2005:
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica
the first scientific engineer who ever broadcast a picture via the television
airwaves was a man named Philo Farnsworth. He lived in Utah. This
feat was accomplished in 1927. And, after many years of research,
guess what was the first image broadcast over this new medium! A
dollar sign! A dollar sign $$$!
How appropriate that I should come
across this fact a few days after the football game called the
"Super-Bowl!" An event in which commercial advertising cost
$2,400,000.00 for every 30 seconds of airtime!
It's all about money!
Television is all about money!
But I'm so glad today there are things
more precious than money!
What, Preacher?
A godly wife!
"Who
can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above
rubies."
Proverbs 31:10
The Bible, the Word of God! Of the
words of Scripture Psalm 19:10 says: "More to be
desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter than
honey and the honeycomb."
One's faith in Christ!
"That the trial of your faith, being much more
precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might
be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ." 1st Peter 1:7
In fact, Paul says in 1st Timothy 6:10
that "The love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Folks, we had better get our priorities
right again in America!
In reality, even at 2.4 million dollars
per half-minute commercial, we're not talking about significant worth!
I'll give you a real example of
something costly: the whole world! Yes! Everything! When
compared to the value of one's soul ... it's all nothing!
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul?" This is found in Matthew 16:26
... but is repeated in Mark
8:36 and Luke 9:25!
Think about that today!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11,
2005:
I was reading in Proverbs earlier today.
Proverbs 11:3 says:
"The
integrity of the upright shall guide them."
We live in a day when men (and women)
seem to be "guided" by the strangest things! (If guided at all!)
Many seem to live their lives by what
they would call mere "chance" or "luck" of "fate." The Romans even
had a god whom (they thought) controlled one's good luck. The god's name:
Fortuna. (Fortune!)
Oh, how very different it is with the
godly.
Notice the word the Spirit uses for the
righteous man. He is a person of "integrity."
That noun here is "tummah" (in Hebrew)
and has the idea of that which is completed ... or whole ... or unified!
It, in the Hebrew tongue, came to mean the one who is not divided, not
"split" in his heart, non-hypocritical. He is "for real" in what he
professes to be!
Our English word "integrity" has the
same idea. It is: the state of being whole, undivided or
sound! (That's from the dictionary!)
"Integrity" has a Latin background.
Integer = whole, entire, intact! It literally is built by two words:
"in" (in Latin meaning no, not) + "tangere" (in Latin meaning to touch)!
NOT TOUCHED!
Character that is untouched by the
filthy world!
A heart that is pure and solid and
completely given to God!
That man ... or that woman ... will be
guided by the Lord in every way!
I've seen so many people (like the
politicians, for example) who are guided by nothing within them ... but by
popular opinion. (The latest poll!)
Many today are guided by their own
feelings!
Or their "peer" group!
But some (a few anyway) are guided by
their God Whom they love whole-heartedly!
The word "upright" (in Hebrew = "yasher")
means straight or level or equal (in God's sight)! Right with the
Lord!
These are "saved" people ... when we
express their condition in New Testament terms!
And the verb to "guide" (in Hebrew = "nachah")
means to lead or to bring or (once) even to govern!
It's used 40 times in the Bible.
The first use (Genesis 24:27) is when
Abraham's servant, looking for a bride for Isaac, was LED of the Lord!
Led very successfully I might add!
I just thought that today someone might
be a bit discouraged. Maybe feeling lonely in a wicked age.
Cheer up!
You will be led every step of the way!
Trust God!
He will guide you ... leading that
single-minded heart of yours with blessed assurance!
After all, He has promised His Own:
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way
which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." Psalm
32:8
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2005:
Proverbs 31 beautifully describes the
"Woman of Wisdom."
One part of a verse stands out to me this
morning!
"She openeth her
mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."
Proverbs 31:26
When this godly lady speaks, she utters
wisdom wrapped in kindness!
The word for "law" is "torah," the name
Israelites yet use for the first five Books of the Bible!
This lady speaks so kindly so often that it
has become a law (a habit, a practice, a lifestyle) with her!
And the noun "kindness" is a familiar
little word: "hesed."
It's the very term used for God's "mercy!"
(That's the way "hesed" is translated 149 times in the King James Bible!)
It also is the word for God's "lovingkindness!"
(Another 30 times!)
She always speaks with kindness!
Preacher Bagwell, to her husband? To her
children? Even to the animals?
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Like her Lord, "grace
was poured into her lips!" See Psalm 45:2.
How many times do we Christians today get
"unkind" with our words? We too often "bark" at those whom we love
dearest!
May this godly lady, on this last day of
the year, be an example to us.
In 2005 ... let the "law of kindness" rule
your tongue and lips!
Even when teaching the children, Proverbs
says: "The wise in heart shall be called
prudent: and the sweetness of the
lips increaseth learning." Proverbs 16:21 (The
sweeter we talk ... the more they learn!)
Ladies and gentlemen, let's use our
tongues to minister "grace" to those around us! Listen to Paul in
Ephesians 4:29 --- "Let no corrupt
communication proceed out
of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may
minister grace unto the hearers."
What words!
No wonder they said of Jesus:
"Never man spake like this man."
John 7:46 (And it was even His enemies that said that!)
Now enough has been said.
Let's go be "doers" of the Word in this
vital area.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
FRIDAY, DECEMBER
3, 2004:
In the Bible Book known as
"Song of Solomon" we have a love story.
A young man loves a godly
young lady.
Through the ages that young
man is a picture (or a "type") of the Lord Jesus Himself!
And the young lady ... a
symbol of the Church!
Here we have the Bridegroom
and the Bride!
His statement is located in Song of Solomon
4:7. "Thou
are all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee."
What a compliment!
I really believe that is still Jesus' view
of His Blood-washed, godly, separated, Spirit-filled and revived Church,
even in these last days!
We often hear much about this church or
that one. And usually the "news" is given in a gossiping, critical
manner.
And realize that being filled with such
humans as you and me (yet saved by Grace), churches are NOT perfect by any
means!
I also am aware that today many former
houses of worship have degraded themselves into mere social clubs or
sports centers or concert halls!
However,
in His eyes ... those who
constitute the True Church are "all fair" and
have "no spot!" (No "credit" to humanity ...
but all Glory to Him!)
That little adjective "fair" (in Hebrew = "yapheh")
means beautiful! In the King James Version it is translated "fair" 21
times (of a total of 41 times in the Word of God). It is also rendered
"beautiful" 5 times and "well" 5 times and "comely" once and "pleasant"
once!
The noun "spot" (in Hebrew = "mum") means a
blemish or a defect. It is translated "blot" twice in Scripture.
In Old Testament worship, anyone with a
"blemish" ("mum") could NOT approach God! (The Book of Leviticus uses our
word 9 times!) Animals with such "spots" could not qualify for sacrifice
either!
God our Saviour has taken away our
"ugliness" and our "filthiness" and changed them (miraculously) into
"beauty" and "purity." That only happens at Calvary!
He gave me "beauty
for ashes!" Isaiah 61:3
Listen to what Paul says is the end result
for the Church. Jesus will see to it! "That he
(Jesus) might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish." Ephesians 5:27
Praise His dear Name!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
MONDAY,
NOVEMBER 15, 2004
Psalm 37:31 says it.
"The law of his God is in his
heart; none of his steps shall slide."
David here is talking about the righteous
man.
The word for "law" is in Hebrew "torah,"
and means instruction or direction ... therefore law!
The phrase "in his heart" indicates that
the godly man has memorized and meditated on the Word of God to the point
that he's literally "internalized" it! He has "hidden God's Word in his
heart!" (See Psalm 119:11.)
And there is a
RESULT, a CONSEQUENCE to his making so much of God's Law! (To his so
loving the Bible!)
His steps ... none of
them ... will slide!
(Here's a man who
will not slide backwards or slide sideways or slide any direction at
all! He will plod straight forward, faithfully!)
And the noun for
"steps" comes from a background verb that means to be straight, to be
forward, honest or proper!
The verb "slide"
literally means to waver, to stagger or to totter! (In the King James
Bible it means to "slip, slide or shake!" 3 times, 2 times and 1 time
respectively!) Its background means "an appointed" time or place! It
actually implies this reverent man will NOT miss (slide away from them)
his appointed places and times of life. (Places like Church and times like
the Lord's Day!) I think we nearly have a parallel to Hebrews 10:25 here
this Monday! "Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another
...."
Our verse has just
presented another of the by-products (or side-effects) of living for God!
The one who obeys
God's Word, putting It in his or her heart, will be ... FAITHFUL AND
STEADFAST! (AND SPIRITUALLY SUCCESSFUL IN HIS OR HER CHRISTIAN WALK!)
Meet us here
regularly with an open Bible in your hand!
Get it "in your
heart!"
And kiss "sliding"
and "slipping" and "staggering" goodbye!
Again, here's the
verse: "
"The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide."
Psalm 37:31
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
NOVEMBER 3, 2004
(WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON):
It is often said that Paul does not
emphasize the great doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Jesus.
I do not agree with that assessment at
all.
Of course the "liberals" will pin you to
the wall on this one!
They just say: "Show me (in reference to
Jesus' birth) the word "virgin" in Paul's writings!"
Well, I can't.
BUT I can show you something rather
interesting that seems to point to a Virgin Birth for Jesus!
Here goes ...
Every time Paul discusses the physical
birth of our Lord (which he does 3 times), he expresses it in unique
terms!
Here they are:
"But when the
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made
of a woman, made under the law." Galatians 4:4
"Concerning his
Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which
was made of the seed of David according to
the flesh." Romans 1:3
"But made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and
was made
in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:7
The verb here in each case for "made"
is "ginomai" and means "to come into existence!"
It is NOT the word for a baby being
"born!"
That word stem is "gennetos,"
denoting physical birth!
See the similarity in Matthew 1:18
where we are told that Jesus is born of Mary. "Now the
birth (in Greek = "gennesis")
of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to
Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy
Ghost."
So, what is Paul telling us?
Is Paul who (truly) never writes the
term "virgin birth" of "born of a virgin" or "a virgin conceived" teaching
us in yet another way that Jesus' arrival on earth is via a miracle of
God?
Galatians 4:4 says "MADE" of a woman.
That's nearly an awkward way of expressing birth! But ... that's the
point! Paul did not want to say anything that would imply that
Jesus' birth was normal or natural or commonplace! So He worded it
this way! (Rather, the Holy Spirit did so!)
He speaks of Jesus' birth in a unique
manner! He's telling us there's something SPECIAL about it!
Again ...
Romans 1:3 speaking of Jesus says He
was MADE of the seed of David according to the flesh! Again, we have
an unusual vocabulary here!
Paul is again deliberately avoiding
all words that suggest a human birth. Jesus as man came into being
of the seed of David! God sent him via the womb of a virgin, a once
but only once event.
And thirdly ...
Jesus WAS MADE in the likeness of
men!
Not born as men (millions of them) by
husband-wife relationships. But MADE (by a miracle of God ... via
just a lady's womb) in the likeness of men!
See the distinction Paul is seeking
to maintain here!
The word group he is avoiding ("gennetos")
means physical birth only!
The word he is insisting upon using
("ginomai") strictly means "to come into being" or something like that.
Paul is showing us that Jesus' birth
is NOT like normal human births!
He is miraculously sent from God
in a special way (virginal conception) to be the Saviour of the world!
And note this ... all three times "ginomai"
is an aorist participle! It is picturing for us an event that has
occurred in the past and is a done deed! The virgin birth does not
have to occur ever again!
It is special!
Don't tell me that Paul does not in a
number of ways teach the special birth of Jesus ... the Virgin Birth!
The Scriptures insist that one has to believe it in order to be saved!
If Jesus had not been BORN RIGHT ...
He could have never DIED RIGHT ... to save our lost souls!
Thank you, Paul!
Here's a thought ...
"But when the
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made
of a woman, made under the law." Galatians 4:4
THIS EMPHASIZES JESUS AT BETHLEHEM!
With Mary His mother according to the flesh! (Here's Jesus and one
woman!)
"Concerning his
Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which
was made of the seed of David according to
the flesh." Romans 1:3 THIS
EMPHASIZES JESUS AT JERUSALEM! Sitting some day on the Throne of
David! (Here's Jesus and one man!)
And ...
"But made himself
of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and
was made
in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:7
THIS EMPHASIZES JESUS EVERYWHERE! Where
men are ... Jesus is, willing to save their lost souls! (Here's
Jesus and one world!)
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
SEPTEMBER 15, 2004
(WEDNESDAY --- FROM SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI)
I have about heard all I want on the
subject of "Transcendental Meditation!"
It is an Eastern religion technique
brought here to America by immigrants through the years.
Oh!
Preacher Bagwell, you are so
old-fashioned!
Don't you know the Bible teaches us to
"meditate?"
Yes, it does!
BUT there is a vast world of difference
between new age meditation and Bible meditation!
The basic premise of this false
religious meditation taught by Buddhism and such religions is one of
"clearing" your mind (emptying your mind of all thoughts) and yielding
yourself to the first "spirit" that moves you!
I am telling you ... often that well may
be an evil spirit, even a demon! Stay away from that kind of
thinking, dear Christian friend!
The word our Bible uses for meditation
is "hagah" and it means to quietly mumble or mutter or speak certain words
to oneself!
What kinds of words?
The very words of Scripture!
That's WHY we are told to meditate in
the Word of God ... day and night! (See Psalm 1.)
Another word for "meditate" (in Hebrew =
"suach") means to commune! It's often thought to mean praying to the
Lord God Almighty!
There is a big difference between lowly
speaking God's Word to yourself ... or praying quietly to your Heavenly
Father and (both of which keep your mind FULL ... full of the things of
God) and emptying one's mind only to yield it to some passing "spirit!"
TM (transcendental meditation) is WRONG
for the Christian!
Bible Meditation is RIGHT for the
Christian!
A study reported in a prominent medical
journal has now proved wrong the claims of some who told us that this new
age meditation (TM) has many physical benefits! For example we have been
told for years that TM will lower one's blood pressure. Now medical
scientists are telling us that this is not so! In a study done on
2100 men and women suffering from high blood pressure, TM proved
ineffective is relieving their condition! (According to a Bible
believing science author I researched.)
Now don't misunderstand me.
Mediate all you can!
But not by emptying your mind!
No! No! No!
Meditate by filling your
mind ... with the precious Word of God!
The Psalmist got it right in Psalm
119:148 when he said to the Lord: "Mine eyes
prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy Word."
Try it for yourself!
God promises to bless it abundantly!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
AUGUST 31, 2004
(TUESDAY)
David said it in Psalm 139:14 ---
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right
well."
The Psalmist has been reflecting on
God's Hand of protection upon us ... even while we're still in our
mother's womb!
He has just said:
"Lord ... Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."
That verb "covered" means "to hedge, to fence in, or overshadow or even to
protect!" Thank you Lord!
That adverb "wonderfully" means "with
distinction." (Unlike any other!) Dear friend, YOU are a
special design ... by Almighty God!
Yes! God is the unique Creator!
And not only is this so with humans ...
but with His animal world too!
Take, for example, the "turtle."
No, that's too broad a subject.
Let's take the Leatherback Turtle for
our focus a minute.
Those little creatures can dive over
4,000 feet into the sea! (No scuba diver can do that!)
And they travel all over the world!
Scientists have studied one single Leatherback who was electronically
"tagged" off the coast of South America and was later found on the African
coast, a distance of over 4,000 miles! (Wonderfully made!)
Listen to these facts about this turtle.
I found them as I researched this material: "Leatherbacks are uniquely
designed, inside and out, to travel the world's seas. Their bodies are
teardrop shaped. This gives them nearly ideal efficiency traveling through
water. In addition, they have seven ridges along the length of their upper
shell, further increasing the efficiency of water flow around them. Their
bodies, including the shell, are covered with a very smooth, leathery
skin. Studies of leatherback hatchlings show that they use 20 percent less
energy to swim through the water than any other turtle hatchling."
This sounds like deliberate design to me!
Furthermore, "Leatherbacks live their entire lives in the open sea, except
for a trip to shore to lay eggs every few years. They almost never stop
moving. Scientists who attached radio monitors to leatherbacks were
astonished to find that they swim and dive day and night, never stopping
to sleep. Their front flippers are more than half the length of the entire
body. They are driven by powerful pectoral muscles that can make up as
much as 30 percent of the turtle's weight."
Aren't they amazing?
It all makes me want to stop and worship
God!
In fact, I'll just repeat David's verse:
""I will praise thee; for I (along with all Thy
creation) am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and
that my soul knoweth right well."
Let's just praise the Lord, our Creator
and (if saved) our Redeemer!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
AUGUST 26, 2004
(THURSDAY)
Music and
musical instruments go back in time nearly as far as recorded history!
The first human
incident concerning music is mentioned in Genesis 4:21 ---
"And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle
the harp and organ." This first musician was of the ungodly line of
Cain! (The devil using music already!)
In fact the
devil is even more associated with music in Ezekiel 28:13!
"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every
precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the
beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the
carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was
prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created." Wow!
BUT even
before that ... the angels of God sang when He created the earth!
Describing creation Job 38:7 tells us:
"When the morning stars (angels) sang
together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy!"
God loves
music!
Even He has
been known to sing! He sings to His chosen people!
"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will
rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over
thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
Much of Bible
music is made with "reed" instruments.
Even today
clarinets, oboes, saxophones and other woodwinds have those little reeds
inside them!
Since reeds
from plants and shrubs are so fragile and wear out so easily ... man has
started using plastic and other synthetic materials to make his music!
BUT the professionals still demand the real thing! (Naturally grown
reeds!) Reeds crack, break or splinter quite readily!
Let me share
with you a paragraph I found on such "reeds." I quote: "Reeds are
fashioned from the giant reed plant. This large grass grows to a height of
seven or eight feet. Reeds are made from the sections between the nodes.
However, a seven-foot stalk may have only 25 sections that are the right
dimensions for an oboe reed. After harvesting and curing, a process that
takes nine months, sections are selected on the basis of size and color.
One plant may produce only one oboe reed. The goal is to obtain a reed
that has a crisp tone over a wide range of notes. Out of a box of 100
reeds, which can cost hundreds of dollars, the professional musician may
find two that he considers excellent."
Why all this
talk about music on today's Bible Nuggets Page?
Because of this
verse of Scripture: "A bruised reed shall he not
break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth
judgment unto truth." Isaiah 42:3 Did you get that? Isaiah is
prophesying about the coming Lord Jesus! He tells us that the Saviour
will be so very gentle ... that He will not even break an already bruised
reed! By definition: Even a crushed reed He will not destroy!
What the world
would throw away on the trash pile ... Jesus "salvages" (I should say
"saves") and set to making godly music!
Am I just
making too much of an obscure verse?
Don't think so!
It is
quoted again in Matthew 12:20! And again applied to the dear and kind
Lord Jesus! "A bruised reed shall he
not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth
judgment unto victory."
Someone today
is hurting and broken and crushed!
You feel you
will never be able to make music again!
Come to Jesus!
He will NOT
throw you away on some landfill of sin!
He will
tenderly touch you and "fix" you and deliver you and USE you to His honor
and glory!
Come ... and
see!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
AUGUST 24, 2004
(TUESDAY)
Look at what
God can do with common dust! "And the LORD said
unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the
dust of the land, that it
may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt." Exodus 8:16
It seems lately
that there are some atheistic scientists who want to believe that they've
found some stars with "dust" circling them ... no doubt in the process of
forming "planets" ... just like (they wrongly say) our earth was formed
billions of years ago.
Now remember
that there is not one shred of proof for this! Just scientists'
imaginations!
If I were these
men (and women), I would be careful!
God can take
such "dust" theories and do strange things with them!
Like turning
"dust" into lice!
Or changing
"dust" into boils and sores! (Exodus 9:8-10)
I truly believe
that evolution as a theory has fallen flat on its face!
And I'll assure
you that it (evolution) has always been a theological issue rather than a
scientific one!
Atheists who
are scientists will believe all of creation "happened" by luck all their
lives! They WILL NOT acknowledge God as Creator!
For, you see,
if one has a Creator ... one needs a Redeemer!
And that
involves the Blood of our precious Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
Then that
involves being saved and living godly lives!
And there's the
whole issue!
Men love their
sin too much!
I've got a
feeling it's going to get "dusty" around this old world before too much
longer!
In closing let
me tell you how God did create the world ... not by dust but by ... "the
work of His Fingers!" See what I mean in Psalm 8:3 where David says:
"When I consider thy heavens,
the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained." Or maybe better
yet: "In the beginning God created the heaven and
the earth." Genesis 1:1
So much for
dusty stars!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
AUGUST 20, 2004
(FRIDAY)
It's just a
short statement in Proverbs 12. In fact, it's not even a full verse. But
it IS a full thought!
Solomon, under
Holy Spirit inspiration, says that "The root of the
righteous yieldeth fruit." Proverbs 12:12
He obviously is
using a word picture, a metaphor.
The godly man
or woman is being symbolized as a plant or a tree. One with roots! And
those roots are producing some good things!
I was just
reading on a Christian web-site and discovered something amazing.
Scientists (pharmacologists
really) have learned that God has stored within the root systems of many
plants (and herbs) substances with amazing chemical properties.
Periwinkle hair
roots make 75 different alkaloids, including 2 now used in cancer
treatments!
Antidotes for
travel sickness and some nerve gases (biological warfare) are made by
henbane roots!
Certain
cucumber roots make anti-fungal chemicals!
In other words,
for a plant or a tree, its "roots" may contribute to its health and
stability more than we've ever known!
But the Creator
knew!
That's
one reason WHY He wrote Proverbs 12:12 ---
"The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit."
Glory to God!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
JULY 4, 2004
(SUNDAY)
Here's the
"Source" Verse that Jesus used:
Deuteronomy 8:3 --- "And He
(our Lord God) humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee
with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know;
that he might make
thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."
Jesus used part
of it to battle the devil in the wilderness temptation:
Matthew
4:4 --- "But he (Jesus) answered and
said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Here's Luke's
account:
Luke 4:4
--- "And Jesus answered him, saying,
It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
of God."
We live in a
day when much is being said about diet.
Jesus nearly
startles us here when He declares that men MUST have more than just food
(bread) to really live!
God's Word is
essential to real life as well!
The verb
"written" is so beautiful in this text! It's a "perfect" verb in Greek
... suggesting something done in time past ... but with continuing
results!
The Word of God
was written in the past! It is complete! BUT it still has influence and
power today!
Glory to God!
"Alone" here
can mean just "by itself!" Jesus is not saying for us to quit eating.
Just be sure that we eat God's Word as well as solid food!
What parts of
God's Word would then be best "to eat?"
EVERY word!
The adjective is "pas" and means all or the whole of something!
(Entirely!)
The noun "word"
is not "logos" as one would have imagined! It is "rema" (or "rhema") and
of course means word or saying ... but it has a particular nuance. It
hints at "specific" words chosen for a certain occasion. Surveying ALL of
Scripture and selecting just what is needed for the moment! Here's an
example: Paul said we are to take "The Sword of the Spirit (ALL the
Bible), which is the WORD ("rema") of God (A specific verse)! Ephesians
6:17
And "proceedeth"
translates a Greek word that means to go (travel) from one point to
another. From God's mouth to my heart (through the Scriptures)! It's a
present tense verb too! (On-going action!)
This is being
written on a Sunday. Christian friend, be SURE to feed on the Word of God
today! (That means tomorrow is Monday also. Feed on it then too!) It is
necessary for your spiritual health!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
JULY 2, 2004
(FRIDAY):
I thought it was a very unusual
verse!
Here it is:
"Sanctify the LORD
of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread."
Isaiah 8:13
The verb "sanctify" (in Hebrew
= "qadash") means to reverence, to set apart, to dedicate, to hallow or
even to separate or keep different! (The "root" idea is something that is
"clean!")
The "Lord of Hosts" is the Name
of God that particularly emphasizes His ability to wage war! (His
fighting Name!) He is the Head of all the armies of heaven!
And, apparently, if we focus
solely on our great God ... He will become the focus of all our emotions,
goals and aspirations!
He even will be our "fear" and
"dread!"
I think the verse is saying
that we should let God be terminal focus (the "end" goal) of all our
feelings!
If we reverence Him completely
... our concern ("fear") will be pleasing Him in all things!
The Bible says a lot about the
FEAR of the Lord!
Our word here is "mora" (Hebrew
for "fear" in this verse) and can literally mean "terror!" Sounds like
Paul to me! He said: "Knowing therefore the terror
of the Lord, we persuade men ...." 2 Corinthians 5:11
The word "dread" is a synonym
as well. It comes from a root verb that means to tremble!
A wise old preacher once
said: "If we fear men ... it means
we don't fear God! BUT if we fear God ... we will not fear men!"
There you have it!
Let God be God in your life!
(He IS whether you let Him or
not, by the way!)
--- Dr.
Mike Bagwell
JUNE 24, 2004:
Jesus said it in John 17:17!
"Sanctify them
through thy truth: thy word is truth."
He of course is praying to His
Father.
The verb "sanctify" (in Greek =
"hagaizo") means to set apart, to consecrate or to regard as cleansed!
The verb is in the imperative mood! It's a command! Jesus prayed with
great energy and emotion! (And the Father answers His prayers too!)
The little pronoun "them"
refers to born-again children of God! In Greek it's "autos." And be sure
of this. We were sanctified (set apart) when we first got saved! At
least that's what Paul told the Corinthians, who yet had a ways to go to
live up to their position of being sanctified! 1 Corinthians 6:11 ---
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but
ye are sanctified, but ye
are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our
God." Being sanctified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30 says:
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is
made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption.") we are now to so live!
How can we live such godly
lives? By the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13 ---
"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of
the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation
through sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth.") and by the effectiveness
of the Word of God! (The "Truth" of our verse here today!)
Jesus here is plainly saying
that the WORD of God sanctifies us!
The preposition "through" is
interesting! It's the Greek word "en" and means within! Get INTO the Word
of God! There you will be more and more sanctified for pure holy daily
living! ("A fixed position of place!")
The noun "truth" means that
which is NOT concealing things! Nothing to hide! Jesus said
"If it were not so, I would have told you!"
(John 14:2) Again ... nothing hidden!
The noun "word" is "logos," our
word for "logic!" God is very Logic personified! When He speaks ... His
perfect thoughts are delivered word for word! That what we have in the
Bible! The literal Word of God! And it has POWER ... to sanctify us!
The more the Word of God gets
IN you ... the more you'll get OUT of the world!
The more the Word of God gets
IN you ... the more the Holy Spirit with have control IN you too!
The verb "is" ("Thy
Word IS Truth!") translates "estin" (a form of "eimi"), the Greek
verb "to be." It's an indicative present active 3rd person singular
form. It "is" now and will
keep on being (as long as the time is "now")!
That sounds like for ever to me!
Spend time IN the Word today!
The benefits are staggering!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
