Episodes
Monday Dec 25, 2017
Christmas People - 5. Jesus
Monday Dec 25, 2017
Monday Dec 25, 2017
Christmas People
5. Jesus
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, ‘This is the one I spoke about when I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.”’)
16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
(John 1:1-18)
Happy Christmas Day! Today we have arrived and, hopefully, are giving some thought to the spiritual meaning of this celebration. This is Christ’s Mass. It’s about God sending ‘his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.’ Those words are found in 1 John 4:9, and are closely followed in verse 14 by these words, ‘The Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.’ As was hinted in the last talk, about the visit of the Magi, Christmas is about incarnation. Listen to or download the mp3 to hear more about this most extraordinary man we know as Jesus Christ - no longer a baby...
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Sunday Dec 24, 2017
Christmas People - 4. Wise Men
Sunday Dec 24, 2017
Sunday Dec 24, 2017
Christmas People
4. Wise Men / Magi
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:
6 ‘“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
(Matthew 2:1-12)
These men were travelling towards Christmas and probably for quite a long time, for it seems they originated in what we now call Iran but used to call Persia. These Wise Men, or as they are also known as Magi, were sort of priestly group - not kings, as is usually supposed in traditional Christmas presentations. They were men who studied the night skies for signs of what was going to happen. We would label them astrologers today, however they were much more than that. Listen to or download the mp3 to hear more about these mysterious visitors from the East!…
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Saturday Dec 23, 2017
Christmas People - 3. Shepherds
Saturday Dec 23, 2017
Saturday Dec 23, 2017
Christmas People
3. Shepherds
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
(Luke 2:1-20)
Listen to or download the mp3 to hear more about the visit of these ordinary men of the time… People just like you and I...
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Friday Dec 22, 2017
Christmas People - 2. Joseph
Friday Dec 22, 2017
Friday Dec 22, 2017
Christmas People
2. Joseph
Whenever we look at Christmas, it is inevitable that we begin to think about the characters involved in the original events surrounding the birth of Jesus. We start with Joseph, quite often the forgotten man of the story.
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’
22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name, Jesus.
(Matthew 1:18-25)
Listen to or download the mp3 to hear more about this man of humility…
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Thursday Dec 21, 2017
Christmas People - 1. Mary
Thursday Dec 21, 2017
Thursday Dec 21, 2017
Christmas People
1. Mary
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end.’
34 ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’
35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.’
38 ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.
(Luke 1:26-38)
Ahhh here is Mary. Mary, to whom was given the great privilege and awesome responsibility of carrying and giving birth to God’s Son, the Messiah.
Listen to or download the mp3to hear more about this most extraordinary yet ordinary woman…
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Wednesday Dec 20, 2017
Jehovah Witnesses 06
Wednesday Dec 20, 2017
Wednesday Dec 20, 2017
Part 6 - Is the New World Translation Reliable?
To answer that question I would like us to consider what Jehovah Witnesses say about Jesus Christ being the co- creator of the World. They say that "all that exists was created by Jehovah; Jesus was the first to be created then God used Jesus as His working partner to create the rest of creation."
The apostle Paul writes in Colossians 1:15-16, referring to Jesus Christ: "He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the first born from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."
Jesus Christ - created or Creator?
So the subject here is the supremacy of Christ. When you read the verses here in context this is easily seen without trying to make it say something else . To do so would make it a perversion. If God is the creator of heaven and earth then Jesus Christ can be no lower than God . Genesis1:1; "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" In Colossians 1 there are several important verses that Jehovah Witnesses twist to try to prove that Jesus was not eternal. That he was created. Colossi ans 1 in their New World Translation is differently interpreted to fit their "reasonable" beliefs. You will see the words "first born of all creation" but what do they mean?
Yes they most definitely refer to Jesus Christ but what is being said about Him here? The Greek word 'prototokos' does not mean created. as we may think but rather refers to sovereignty. Jesus was pre-eminent over all creation. I am given to understand that this Greek word 'prototokos' occurs 8 times in the New Testament and no where does it mean 'creation' If Paul had wanted to say that Jesus was created then he would have used a different word, 'protoktistos' Jehovah Witnesses have given the wrong meaning to the word 'first born' in this verse.
New World Translation embellishments!
Sadly I have to add that The New World Translation with no legitimate justification adds the word 'other' into Colossians 1:16; and into five other places in this first chapter of Colossians in an attempt to make it appear that Jesus was a created being , lesser than Jehovah.
- v16. "Because by means of Him all (other) things were created in the Heavens and upon the earth (NWT)
- v17 "Also He is before all 'other' things and by means of Him all (other ) things were made to exist."
- v20 "And through Him to reconcile again to Himself all (other) things."
There is no need for adding the word other to the texts here referred to. To do so destroys the natural context of the passage and improperly implies that Jesus Christ himself is a creature. Since Jehovah God created the heavens and the earth and all that is therein (Isaiah 44;24; Hebrews 3;4;) and Paul's letter to the Colossians calls Jesus Christ the Creator we can justifiably declare that Jesus Christ is Jehovah God.
The only conclusion we can come to when seeing what the translators have done here is that once again for them it is not reasonable to accept this truth as it does not fit into their "reasonable" thinking so they had to change it. It is clearly seen that The New World Translation is not the work of competent scholars bur rather the work of those who want to push the doctrines of the Watchtower.
New World Translation Inconsistencies
In the forward of the NWT it states "It is a very responsible thing to translate the Holy Scriptures from the original languages." We would agree very much to that but we wish they had lived up to that high principle. The word 'other' is in brackets in the NWT and the reason is given as follows "Brackets enclose words inserted to complete the sense in the English Text."
The truth is that the bracketed words alter the meaning of the text. Likewise in Revelation 3:14; the NWT translates that verse wrongly, referring again to Jesus having been created. A more accurate translation renders it this way "These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the Ruler of God's Creation."
As we draw to the close of this study may I say how deeply concerned I am to all those Jehovah Witnesses who have been led along a downward slippery path of deception. I meet in the same coffee house as they do twice a week and I know they believe what they do is right and believe in what they are told but if I try to show them a better way they have ears closed because they are taught they are the teachers and the only holders of truth. I persist as I know I in myself alone will never convince them of truth but by the power of the Holy Spirit and through prayer they may well come to the knowledge of the truth and be set free.
Is it any wonder that one who has come out from that organisation has written a book with a startling title "I was a Watchtower slave" That is how he saw himself and how they need deliverance and someone to tell them the simple plain gospel that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and that Christ is the only Saviour we need. No organisation can save. Jesus Christ said "I am The Way, the Truth and the life no one comes to the Father but by me. " He alone is worthy and trustworthy. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Next time we shall be thinking about 'The New Birth, Life after death and Salvation .
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Sunday Dec 17, 2017
Exploring the Bible - 44. Old Testament - Isaiah
Sunday Dec 17, 2017
Sunday Dec 17, 2017
Exploring The Bible
44. Old Testament
Isaiah - 740BC - 680 BC
G'day and welcome to our series, "Exploring the Bible" This is also the title of our latest book available on Amazon by clicking here or visiting PulpTheology.com
Key Verses:
- Isaiah 9:6–7
- Isaiah 53:4-6
The book of Isaiah, is perhaps the most outstanding of all the Old Testament, particulalry in looking ahead to the coming of the promised Messiah. It has been called the fifth Gospel. The first 39 chapters of the book tell of God’s judgement upon immoral and idolatrous men. They are however interlaced with positive messages of great grace and power. Isaiah preached to both Israel & Judah from 740 BC. - 680 BC.
Together with the surrounding nations and the whole earth, they have sinned against God. God’s judgement will come, because sin cannot go unpunished forever. The final 27 chapters foresee a different time when the people have returned from exile. They declare a message of hope - the Messiah is coming as a Saviour and a King to both die and bear a crown.
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Saturday Dec 16, 2017
Gems in Revelation - Part 126
Saturday Dec 16, 2017
Saturday Dec 16, 2017
Part 126 - Revelation 1:16
All of which gives us some major problems in this 21st century. As never before including the time John was living, the emphasis of communication is switching from spoken and written words to pictures. Never before have people been able to produce pictures as easily as they can now in this age of computers, laptops, ipads and smart-phones. There used to be a saying that a picture was worth a thousand words but that is no longer true. Too many pictures are how too many people want to be entertained and informed. Pictures, moving pictures on these devices, suffer one great disadvantage - they are swiftly gone and cannot be easily recalled while a book can be read, referred to, looked back at and generally thought about before one moves on.
What would a truly modern day image of Jesus look like? He would not have a sword representing words coming out of his mouth; he might well be carrying a laptop shining with golden radiance all around it!
We must not avoid the implications of this remarkable change. In this country the original job of Sunday Schools was to teach the children of the poor to read so that they could read the Bible. What must we do to encourage people not used to reading to turn to the scriptures and read them, regularly consistently, in big chunks so that they get the sense of them properly, with true understanding so that their ideas are personally developed and not those implanted from some other authority?
Then there are the many millions round the world who cannot read anything in their own mother tongue because it does not yet exist or they are illiterate anyway. Do we support the agencies that are constantly working to try and remedy that situation?
The crucial part of the discipling that Jesus instructed us to do (Matthew 28: 19) is to lead people to understand something of the wonders of the Word that he has given us. That is easy for those of us who are written word oriented in much that we do. It is not so easy for the many more people who do not naturally turn to reading for their pleasure but prefer the many images of today. Our, your - the readers - task is to lead many more people to a proper understanding of the Word of God.
The seven stars and seven lampstands amongst which John stood, and was to work, were representative of all churches of all ages. Let us stand amongst them with something of the same sense of urgency and devotion that John did in his day and generation that we should teach those struggling with words.
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Friday Dec 15, 2017
Friday Prayers 15 December 2017
Friday Dec 15, 2017
Friday Dec 15, 2017
Partakers Friday Prayers!
15th December 2017
We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray together!
The feast day of your birth resembles You, Lord
Because it brings joy to all humanity.
Old people and infants alike enjoy your day.
Your day is celebrated
from generation to generation.
Kings and emperors may pass away,
And the festivals to commemorate them soon lapse.
But your festival will be remembered until the end of time.
Your day is a means and a pledge of peace.
At Your birth heaven and earth were reconciled,
Since you came from heaven to earth on that day
You forgave our sins and wiped away our guilt.
You gave us so many gifts on the day of your birth:
A treasure chest of spiritual medicines for the sick;
Spiritual light for the blind;
The cup of salvation for the thirsty;
The bread of life for the hungry.
In the winter when trees are bare,
You give us the most succulent spiritual fruit.
In the frost when the earth is barren,
You bring new hope to our souls.
In December when seeds are hidden in the soil,
The staff of life springs forth from the virgin womb
A hymn / prayer of Ephraim the Syrian (AD306-373)
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Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
Jehovah Witnesses 05
Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
Part 5 - Jesus Christ' Resurrection and the Holy Spirit
Please keep that point in mind as we continue to study the Person and work of Jesus Christ and when we come to see what they say concerning the Person of The Holy Spirit. Yes, I said Person not energy source which they call it. We shall see clearly from Scripture that The Holy Spirit is a Person. A He not an it.
1. What do Jehovah Witnesses believe about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Note the title of their book "Reasoning from the Scriptures". So if we find verses of Holy Scripture that conflict with their 'reasoning' ,which takes preference? Are they not saying that all that is in the Bible is not God's Holy Word to be accepted by faith? Only if it is reasonable to our way of thinking is it to be accepted? Please bear that in mind as we continue.
Resurrection of Jesus Christ
There is clear testimony of Jesus appearing in human form after his resurrection. Jesus came to his fearful disciples after his resurrection and appears to them. Initially they first could not believe their eyes and supposed they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus assured them he was not a spectre. He said to them "See my hands and my feet that it is I myself, touch me and see, for a spirit (spectre) does not have flesh and bones as you see I have" (Luke 24:39-40) You cannot touch a ghost but you can a physical body.
Much earlier in his ministry Jesus had forecast that He would die and then rise from the dead. Speaking to his enemies who wanted him dead he said "Destroy this temple(body) and I will raise it up" (John 2:12;) If you are saying he was speaking about the physical temple Jesus knew people would think that way so he added these words to clarify what he meant. "But The Temple he spoke of was His body" (John 2:21;)
The Bible teaches that the atoning death of Christ and the bodily resurrection of Christ are the two main pillars on which the Christian faith stands. We read in Romans 4:25; "Jesus Christ was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised again for our justification."
Again in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 1-5 (the great resurrection chapter), a very long chapter ,where Paul makes it abundantly clear that Jesus was raised from the dead and not only Him but all shall be raised from the dead. There in that chapter Paul makes a special point of saying that these two major doctrines are of first importance (verse 3) "That Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He was raised on the third day. He appeared to Peter and to the twelve and to five hundred on one occasion!!!
Jehovah Witnesses say it is not important what happened to the body of Jesus after His resurrection yet the Apostle Paul went to such lengths to prove the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In John chapter 21 Jesus , following his death and resurrection not only appeared to his disciples by the sea of Tiberius but also provided breakfast for them. Is The Bible true? Every word of it. So why do Jehovah Witnesses deny such clear evidence? Because it conflicts with what they are taught by Jehovah Witness Leaders. And for good measure the resurrected Jesus performed another miracle in causing a great number of fish to come into the nets of Peter and his other fishermen friends.
Finally on the day He ascended into Heaven his disciples witnessed the event
and were told by two angels as you see Jesus taken up into heaven so one day people will see His descent from heaven in similar fashion. (Acts 1:9-11;)
2. What do Jehovah Witnesses say about The Holy Spirit?
The Person of The Holy Spirit
In Acts 5:1-3 we read the account of a man and wife who lie about a business transaction concerning the sale of some land. Peter having received from God the gift of discernment rebukes them saying "How is it that Satan has so filled your hearts that you have lied to The Holy Spirit...you have not lied to men but to GOD."
Further on in the book of Acts in 8:29; The Holy Spirit SPEAKS to Philip giving him instructions and directions in his work as an evangelist as he is brought into contact with the Ethiopian Eunuch.
In chapter 13 The Holy Spirit is instrumental in setting apart Barnabas and Saul for a special work of ministry.
In Acts 16:17; The Holy Spirit actually prevents Paul and Silas going in one direction and re-routing them in the direction of Europe and Macedonia. Paul then says and these words are so important as to Who The Holy Spirit is.."We concluded that God had called us to preach the gospel unto them"
May I again say we are each one responsible to study to show ourselves approved unto God so search The Scriptures and see if not what I have put to you is true. I am a mere mortal but God is immortal and always speaks The Truth. Search the Word diligently and it will reward you with understanding that will bring you great joy , satisfaction and peace. Jesus is God and The Holy Spirit is God and they are joined to a loving Heavenly Father, blessed Trinity.
Next time we shall look more closely at the Jehovah Witness translation of the New World Translation and see why it cannot be trusted.
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