Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” (Jeremiah 8:22) Is prayer a weapon for us to use? Many Christians seem to think so. I don’t happen to be one of them. I think it is the “ balm in Gilead ” which, when used, heals our broken spirits. Don’t get me wrong, I pray, and ask God to do things for me or others. But it is not a weapon. A weapon is a tool used by people to overcome and defeat an enemy. The bigger the weapon, the better chance of winning the battle. Prayer is not like that…at least to me. God is not waiting for me to pray long enough or hard enough to get Him to act on my behalf. Such an assumption is foolish to me. God knows what I need before I ask so prayer is not a weapon to get him to help me defeat an enemy. “And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you...

Prayer Warriors – Who are these folks?  The term “prayer warrior” is not used in Scripture. Nevertheless the term is often used by many well-meaning Christians. I suppose the idea is that certain people or methods have more sway with God so that their prayers and methods get more results from God than the average Joe Sinner. Really? “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive. But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner! I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14) I ...

The apostle Paul was an "evangelist" in the true meaning of the word - a bearer of the good news from God. I do not find any evidence that those who consider themselves evangelists today even know what the "evangel" (good news) is so here it is from Paul, the evangelist. "God commends His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) “When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son.” (Romans 5:10) “For the wages of sin is death,but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “For even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22) “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19) “And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself.” (Colossians 1:20) “God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unt...

“Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all welcome, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15) “I am entreating, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, pleadings, thanksgiving be made for all mankind…for this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Savior, God, who wills that all mankind be saved…” (1 Timothy 2:1-4) “Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome…that we rely on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind.” (1 Timothy 4:9-10) “For the saving grace of God made its advent to all humanity…the advent of the glory of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:8-14) “For there is one God, and one Mediator of God and man, a man, Christ Jesus, who is giving himself a correspondent Ransom for all, the testimony in its own eras…” (1 Timothy 2:5-7) “For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified…that God may be All in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28) “And I perceived a new heaven and a n...

“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked declares the Sovereign LORD? Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23) God takes no pleasure in enforcing the wages for sin – death. And the death of the sinner settles all wrongs. But in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus God demonstrated his love as only a loving omnipotent Father can do. He reveals the rest of the story, the resurrection of the sinful child to make him brand new! “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body….just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man…for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensib...