I was driving early one morning, going to see a Biblical Museum. And as I traveled through the Kentucky countryside I saw a noisy little manufacturing plant. It was a distillery, I am told. It produces bourbon whiskey, whatever that is. I stopped the car and photographed their sign.

Today’s Bible Lesson …

I am often told that Jesus drank wine, fermented grape juice.

Personally, I do NOT believe that.

Many think our Lord created some wine one day, the kind that makes a man drunk.

I do NOT believe that, either.

But Preacher Bagwell … “Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.” John 2:7-10

Still, I don’t think it was intoxicating wine!

Why?

Because the very fermentation process involves rot, decay, a form of death!

And I see nowhere death ever (permanently) existed in the presence of Jesus!

Or even could exist in His Presence!

Folks … dead men couldn’t even stay dead … when our Lord was around!

Think of the little (dead) 12 year old girl! Temporarily dead, wasn’t she? “But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.” Matthew 9:25

And the Widow’s son? “And he (Jesus) came and touched the bier (casket): and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.” Luke 7:14-15

Lazarus too! “And when he (Jesus) thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth ….” John 11:43-44

I am just thinking that nothing dead could coexist with Jesus … Who is Life itself! (He said so! “I am the Life.” John 14:6)

And if I am right, grape juice could not have decayed in the Presence of the “Prince of Life!” That’s Peter’s Name for Jesus in Acts 3:15.

No wonder then even the Old Testament commands: “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Proverbs 23:31-32, a clear warning!

Wow!

This one will be controversial!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Colossians 1:17 says of Jesus: “By Him all things consist.” The verb “consist” used there is the Greek “sunistao,” meaning “to stand together, to hold together.” Virtually, “to exist!” Therefore, as I said, He is NOT the Lord of putrefaction, disintegration, or decay! No, not at all.

 

I just made this picture, right out the front door. Nothing unusual about it, I guess … except the weather forecasters are all SHOUTING snow! Now look at that yard, the sloping hill down to the creek, the driveway. Do YOU see any sign of … snow?

But still, winter weather WARNINGS are in effect in all our area!

Today’s Bible Lesson …

The snow warnings in north Georgia have NOT gone unheeded! Again, even though no empirical evidence exists indicating the coming (they say) storm!

The grocery shelves are empty, the milk and bread isles anyway!

Schools have been dismissed today, that decision having  been made as early as yesterday afternoon, with not a flake of snow having hit the ground, not yet!

But the weather man’s (or woman’s) warnings have been taken seriously!

All this is good, I suppose. It helps keep us safe.

After all, science is always on target, we’ve been told. Especially the science of meteorology!

BUT … seems we don’t take God’s warnings all that seriously!

Ezekiel the Prophet centuries ago preached, quoting God Himself: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them WARNING from me.” Ezekiel 3:17

Warning from God!

Another: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Jesus’s wise Words (of Warning), quoted from Luke 13:3.

This one is particularly powerful! “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15

The skeptical world chimes: “But there’s no sign of any such approaching danger, the Judgment of God!” (Remember my picture above, please.)

Wow!

Whose warnings should carry the most weight?

The Weather Channel’s … or Almighty God’s?

Think about it.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I end with John 3:36, Jesus again: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” God’s Wrath, that means eternity in Hell Fire!

What a warning!

 

 

This is merely a photo of one of my book storage cubicles. But those boxes … precious material indeed, at least to me! They contain duplicates of my last 27 CD Sermons, recordings, lessons on the Book of Revelation! I can now make “sets” of the whole series. I’m sitting here at the laptop wondering how many hours of study and preaching these involve. (We record and mail a new Sermon to each of our financial “supporters” every single month. These CDs are the fruit of that endeavor, over two years of it anyway.)

Today’s Bible Lesson …

There is a Book in the Bible that comes with a built-in Promise! A multiple promise, really. And I  know of no other (65 more Books are in the Bible) that claims this for itself. At least not as explicitly!

Here’s what I mean. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of THIS PROPHECY, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3

Now I grant you, Revelation has 7 such “blessed” statements. Often called the “beatitudes” of Revelation, and each is beautiful in its own right.

But still, this one is unique in ways.

A blessing if I just read it?

Yes.

A blessing if I just “hear” it read, listening to its content?

Yes.

A blessing if I “obey” its words? (The Greek verb “keep” is “tereo” and simply means “to observe, to attend to, to guard,” thus to follow scrupulously.)

Yes.

No wonder the Lord led me to preach Revelation!

By the way, the adjective “blessed” is “makarios,” translated “happy” 5 times in the King James New Testament. And “happier” 1 more time! But it’s “blessed” 44 times.

It was mostly used in early Greek as a condition only the gods (and goddesses) could enjoy. No one could be as “blessed” as they!

But the Holy Spirit seized that word and converted it (sanctified it, I sometimes say) and put it in the New Testament.

We, by reading and hearing and living by the Word of God, specifically the Book written for the last days … and be as happy as (more happy than) even the (false) deities of ancient Rome and Greece!

This is quite an amazing concept, folks!

Blessed indeed … via the Book of Revelation! The “Scripture of Truth,” quoting Daniel 10:21 now.

My challenge to someone today …

Read anew the Book of Revelation.

Its 22 chapters, 404 verses, get them all!

Then listen to someone read it to you. Numerous “free” apps can do this, via your phone. Or record it yourself, your voice, and have a time!

And, by all means, live its truths and principles, follow its teaching!

And you will (not my promise, but God’s) be BLESSED!

Probably in ways unimaginable!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

What’s the first word that flashes into your mind when you think of Fort Knox? The US Army Installation in Kentucky? By the way, the town in which it is located is also called Fort Knox.

Last week I preached near (within 10-15 miles) the Base, and went there! This tank is situated at one of the main gates, heavy armor indeed!

But I suspect that’s not the first image you picture!

No … not me anyway.

Gold!

Fort Knox!

Yes, I made this photo too, but NOT in the Federal Depository itself. They wouldn’t even talk to me about a tour there! It is a “mock” display in the Fort’s Welcome Center! But I did see the building in which our Nation’s “gold reserves” (if we still have any) are held, guarded.

It’s a strange world now. People can burn our Nation’s flag at will, with no repercussions, consequences. But you even can’t see the few bars of gold that (so-called) secure our monetary system!

Today’s Bible Lesson …

The first mention of “gold” in the Bible surprised me. It’s in the second chapter of Genesis! Pretty early in the Book! “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is GOLD; and the GOLD of that land is good.” Genesis 2:10-12 here, King James Version.

And the last mention? Revelation 21:21, the next-to-last Chapter in all Scripture! “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” Astounding!

A Land with gold!

A City with gold!

What else about gold in the Bible is impressive?

Something about Wisdom, the very Wisdom of God! “How much better is it to get wisdom than GOLD! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” Proverbs 16:16

And God’s Word, too! Every Word He has ever spoken, His “Words” specifically! “More to be desired are they than GOLD, yea, than much fine GOLD: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:10

And our faith in Jesus, especially when it is being tested! Peter wrote: “That the trial of your faith (Christian friends), 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. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1st Peter 1:7-8

Job agrees with Peter. “But He (the Lord God) knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as GOLD.” Purified, even more valuable!

The word “gold” is found in the Bible a total of 417 times, if I’ve counted correctly!

Wow!

Good teaching, the Truth, is worth a lot as well! Like hearing God’s man Sunday after Sunday, expounding the Scriptures! “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.” A wise teacher to her pupil, Proverbs 8:10.

All I am trying to say today is this … consider the things you have in Jesus! Their value!

The Wisdom God is imparting to you day by day.

The Bible you love and study.

Your faith in Christ, and the tests it faces from time to time, further proving its reality.

Next week’s Sunday School Lesson too, for that matter.

And family devotions when you teach your child (or grandchild) the things of God.

ALL THESE THINGS (AND NO DOUBT OTHERS AS WELL) … WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD!!!

More gold that Fort Knox has ever seen, I suspect.

Count your blessings, today.

Oh, the “riches” we enjoy in Christ Jesus our Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Beginning a Revival, on January 1st?

That’s exactly what the Pastor has done where I’m preaching this week. So Debbie and I gladly drove on New Year’s Eve … from our home in north Georgia to central North Carolina, arriving around 10:00 pm I guess!

We are in Burlington, at the New Hope Baptist Church which is led by Pastor Randy Hobbs. His Wife is named Lisa. Here’s a picture of them, made last night after the Service. Brother Randy is willing to “push the envelope” sometimes, in Christian service. And I mean that as a compliment. I’ve had Pastors tell me there would be “no way” they’d ever try to have a Revival Meeting on a holiday!

And they’ve even used the Choir, every Service so far! Faithfully lifting their combined voices to the Glory of God! Singing songs that match the “theme” of my Text this week, too! I am impressed. This photo was made Sunday, New Year’s Day, folks!

And I’ve had sweet liberty preaching, too! So far three nearly sixty minutes Sermons, verse by verse expositions of Scripture … expounding the Bible “line upon line.” The picture I snapped with my phone after the Service Sunday night. That sanctuary was full both Services Lord’s Day past. Nearly “packed!”

Today’s Bible Lesson …

Why all this “news” today?

Because of the Bible Principle it illustrates.

A Church starting a New Year … with a concentrated emphasis on the Word of God, with a time of seeking God for genuine Revival!

Paul believed in giving God the “firstfruits” of one’s labor. Read with me his instructions to the Corinthians about when to give their offerings, finances, to the Lord. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” 1st Corinthians 16:2

See that?

The “first” day of the week!

In the Old Testament God always wanted Israel to give Him  the “first” of their crops, too!

In Exodus 23:19 God clearly commands: “The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God.” Wow!

Maybe having a Revival at Church the first week of the year, or at least near that time, is not such a bad idea! In fact doing such may be building on a deeply embedded Bible Truth!

We’ve already given God our trust.

And our talent.

And our tithes.

Maybe now, give him our time, including the first week of every year.

Starting right, in prayer and Bible study and faithful attendance and praise, all to the honor of the One Who saved our lost souls from Hell!

Just an idea.

Do or say or give something “special” to/for your Saviour today, tomorrow, all week, perhaps all month.

They (the sociologists) believe that if you do something often enough (21 times I’ve heard) it will become a habit! Then for sure … start the New Year right, for Jesus’ Sake!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell