Bible Devotional

[Administrator]

'Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord , contrary to his command. '
Leviticus 10:1

When God sent fire down on the offering brought by Moses and Aaron, it was a glorious moment. The people fell on their faces and worshiped God. But later, Nadab and Abihu brought another kind of fire, not approved by God. They may have been drunk, but clearly, they were irreverent and careless and did not follow God’s instructions.

And God destroyed them. This may seem harsh to us, but it is a reminder that God holds those called to leadership to a very high standard. This is why James writes, “Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).

It is not for us to pick and choose what we like or don’t like from the Bible. Nor should we substitute human effort or godless compromise in the place of the real fire of the Holy Spirit. There is a right way to do God’s work.

Taken from Start! The Bible for New Believers

 

[Administrator]

'But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. '
Numbers 14:24

God promised to do for Caleb what He refused to do for the rebels. Why? Because Caleb followed his Lord “fully.” God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him wholeheartedly. The difference between success and failure comes down to: Is the Lord with you and are you with the Lord?

Taken from The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible

 

[Administrator]

The Church​

'saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it . But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, And the people imagine vain things? Acts 4:16-25


One of the tragic aberrations of so-called modern religion is “Churchless Christianity.” The assertion is that it is Christ who saves us, not the Church, so “all you need is Jesus.” Few who claim to be Christians would argue against the statement that it is Christ who saves. For He is the eternal Son of God who has assumed human flesh, and has done so “for us and for our salvation” (Nicene Creed). Thus Paul writes, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1Ti 2:5). But because this Mediator established the Church which is His body, we who are joined to Him are joined to His Church as well. To say we love Christ, who is Head of the Church, and at the same time reject His body is to deny New Testament teaching.

The Gospel and Acts. The first use of the word “church” (Gr. ecclesia) in the New Testament comes in the Gospel of Matthew, when our Lord gives His approval of Peter’s confession of faith and promises, “I will build My church” (Mt 16:18). Jesus Christ builds, and we cooperate with Him. . . .

The Epistles. Paul’s instructions in his letters to the churches throughout the eastern Mediterranean clearly show what it means to be members of Christ: to be the Church and to be in the Church. Nowhere in the New Testament is Paul’s teaching on the Church more fully disclosed than in Ephesians 4. He instructs us that:

1. The Church is one, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (4:3). There is one Church, one God, one doctrine, one baptism.

2. The Church is people, men and women who are energized by the Holy Spirit. For “to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (4:7). We are not all given the same gifts, but together we are equipped to do God’s will.

3. The Head of the Church is Christ, “from whom the whole body [is] joined and knit together” (4:16).

4. The Church is “the new man” (4:24), the new creation, made to be righteous and holy. We are no longer alienated from God (4:18); we are being renewed together (4:23), “members of one another” (4:25).

The Church, then, is that place established by Christ where we each may become what we are created to be, maturing and being perfected, while the Church receives what it needs from each of us, so that it too is being perfected. The Church as the body of Christ carries us beyond our petty and worldly personal concerns, stretching our vision to the eternal and the heavenly as we ascend together to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Taken from The Orthodox Study Bible

 

[Administrator]

The Four “Orders” in Church Government​

'Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 1 Timothy 5:17-22

The New Testament teaches that all four “orders” which form the government of the Church — laity, deacons, presbyters, and bishops — are necessary to the proper functioning of the body of Christ. All four are clearly visible in Paul’s first letter to Timothy.

1. The laity are also called “saints” (Rom 1:7; 2Co 1:1; 1Ti 5:10), the “faithful” (Eph 1:1), and “brethren” (Col 1:2). The laity (Gr. laos) are the people of God, the “priesthood” (1Pt 2:4–10). Technically, the term “laity” includes the clergy, though in our day the word usually refers to those in the Church who are not ordained. It is from among the laity that the other three orders emerge.

2. The deacons, literally “servants,” are ordained to serve the Church and must meet high qualifications (1Ti 3:8–13). The apostles were the first to take on the service tasks of deacons, and when the workload became too great they called for “seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3). Besides serving the material needs of the people, deacons occupy a crucial role in the liturgical life of the Church.

3. The presbyters, or elders, are visible throughout the New Testament. Their ministry from the start was to “rule,” “labor in the word,” and teach true “doctrine” (1Ti 5:17) in the local congregation. Paul “appointed elders in every church” (Acts 14:23) and later instructed his apostolic apprentice, Titus, to do the same in Crete (Tts 1:5). From the word “presbyter” came the shorter form “prest,” which finally became “priest.” In no way is the ordained Christian priesthood seen as a throwback to or a reenacting of the Old Testament priesthood. Rather, joined to Christ who is our High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 5:6, 10), the Orthodox priest is likewise a minister of a new covenant that supersedes the old.

4. The bishop is the “overseer” of the congregation and clergy in a given area. Often the terms “bishop” and “elder” are used interchangeably in the New Testament (Acts 20:17, 28), with the bishop being the leader of the elders. The qualifications for bishop listed in 1 Timothy 3:17 and Titus 1:7–9 underscore this role. Nonetheless, the bishopric is a specific office both in the New Testament and in the early Church. The Twelve were the first to hold this office (in Acts 1:20 “office” could literally be translated “bishopric”) and they, in turn, consecrated other bishops to follow them. For example, Timothy and Titus are clearly of a separate order from that of elder (see 1Ti 5:17–22; Tts 1:5). Early records show James was bishop of Jerusalem by AD 49 and functioned accordingly at the first council there (Acts 15:13–22). Peter is on record as the first bishop of Antioch prior to AD 53, and later the first bishop of Rome, where he was martyred about AD 65.

Taken from The Orthodox Study Bible

 

[Administrator]

Heresies​

False Doctrines in the Church​

'For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. '
1 Corinthians 11:18-19


Heresy (Gk. hairesis) is properly defined as “the taking” of a choice, option, way, plan, or philosophic set of principles. The basic idea is “choice.” The word most often denotes the existence within a parent body of a group of self-willed individuals who have a sectarian spirit. However, the term was also used in the New Testament to refer to Christians who were considered separatists or sectarians by some of the Jewish religious leaders (Acts 24:14; 28:22).

Paul refers to heretic parties appearing within the church and implies that these divisions demonstrate the falsity or genuineness of our faith (1 Cor. 11:18, 19). Heretic divisions occur when God’s people are not walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:20), and heretics are to be admonished twice, then disciplined or rejected (Titus 3:10).

“Heresy” in the sense of doctrinal error occurs when the person and work of Jesus Christ is denied (2 Pet. 2:1). Gnosticism (Col. 2:8–23; 1 Tim. 6:20) and Docetism (1 John 4:2, 3; 2 John 7) are among the doctrinal heresies challenged in the New Testament.

Modern heresies show a startling resemblance to the ancient ones. The New Age movement tends to regard everything as a part of God rather than acknowledging God as transcendent. Heresies often reject the full deity or full humanity of Christ and typically add some form of human works to the finished work of Christ on the Cross.

Taken from The Woman’s Study Bible

 

[Administrator]

The Reason for Participation in the Local Church

'not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. '
Hebrews 10:25

The ultimate reason that we should participate in a local church is that it is specifically commanded by God. Even in NT days, there were those who yielded to the temptation of absenting themselves from the worship services of the local church. The writer of Heb. points out that members of a local church have an obligation to one another.

They are to provoke one another to good works and to exhort one another to live consistent lives worthy of God. This can best be done within the context of a local church; so believers are commanded not to forsake the assembling of themselves together.

Taken from The Open Bible

 

[Administrator]

The Origin of the Church

'And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. '
Matthew 16:18

The church was a mystery (that is, hidden, not revealed) in the Old Testament. It was first prophesied in these words spoken to Peter, “on this rock I will build My church.” In this prophecy, there is a play on the word “rock” which also happens to be Peter’s name. Jesus said, “you are Peter” (masculine, petros) and “on this rock [feminine, petra] I will build My church.”

But when did the church actually begin? Again, many suggestions are offered for varying reasons. The simplest view is to understand the New Testament church as beginning on the Day of Pentecost in response to Peter’s Pentecostal sermon when “that day about three thousand souls were added to them [that is, the apostles]” (Acts 2:41). This group for the first time is called “the church” in Acts 2:47, and God added to their number daily those who were saved.

Taken from The Open Bible

 

[Administrator]

Church​

church, ecclesia (ek-klay-see-ah); Strong’s #1577: Used in secular Greek for an assembly of citizens and in the Septuagint for the congregation of Israel.


'which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
3 John 1:6-10


The Greek term simply means “an assembly.” It was used in secular Greek to speak of any gathering of people to a political or festive assembly. It was used by the NT writers to mean a local assembly of believers or the whole body of believers. In John’s third epistle we see an example of both uses: “the church” in v. 6 connotes a large, unspecified group of believers, whereas “the church” in vv. 9, 10 has to be a specific local church. According to the overall pattern of the NT, it appears that the Christians of each city were unified under one group of elders (see Acts 14:23; 15:2, 4; 20:17, 18; Titus 1:5). Within the local church in the city, there were probably several “assemblies” or “meetings” of believers, held in various homes.

Taken from NKJV Study Bible

 

[Administrator]

'But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. '
Hebrews 3:13

Being a part of the church is vitally important, for it is there that we “exhort one another” (among other things). The word “exhort” comes from the Greek term parakaleo, which literally means, “to call alongside.” Some translations render it “to encourage.”

God consistently instructs us to exhort one another, and in this verse, He directs us to do so “daily” and “while it is called ‘today.’" This indicates He wants us to schedule regular, even urgent contact with one another.

Why? Because when we avoid significant contact with other believers, it’s a lot easier to slide, unnoticed, into destructive patterns of sin.

Taken from Start! The Bible for New Believers

 

[Administrator]

God-With-Us​

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
And they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:23

Jesus is Immanuel, “God-With-Us” (Is. 7:14).

Rather than demanding that we attempt the impossible task of reaching Him, God came to us as a human being and took up residence in our world (John 1:14). He brought salvation that invites us not to escape the world but to engage our surroundings. Because God is with us, we can undertake the tasks He has for us right where we live and work. Because He is with us, we have the power to face the world. And rather than taking us out of the turmoil of life in this world, Jesus walks with us through it.

Taken from The Modern Life Study Bible

 

[Administrator]

'And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. '
Matthew 4:2

As a man, Jesus became tired, just as we do. When He needed to get from point A to point B, He walked, just like everybody else. Jesus felt physical hunger.

We know that after He fasted for forty days and nights, He got hungry. He got thirsty. When He hung on the cross, He said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). I think we can safely say that Jesus was a man’s man, but even so, He could grow weary and weak.

He died like a man when His battered body ceased to function. And although He never flew off the handle or lost His temper, Jesus sometimes got angry — with genuine righteous indignation. When Jesus came to the tomb of one of His closest friends who had just died, He also felt deep, deep sorrow. The Scripture says simply, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

Taken from Start! The Bible for New Believers