MS Peabooks

16/05/2023

On May 14, 2023, modern Israel became 75 years old.
Ezekiel 37:12–14 (NKJV) I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”

For 1,810 years (from 138 AD to 1948) the “land of Palestine” was not Israel. Then, out of the blue, that same piece of dirt (the size of New Jersey) was resurrected to become a nation of the world.

In the Jewish scriptures, the people of Israel are sometimes represented as figs on a fig tree (Hosea 9:10, Jeremiah 24). Jesus referred to them this way when answering the disciples’ question, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” His answer: “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”

In 1948 the twigs of the nation Israel were tender and its leaves were just coming out. Now, 75 years later, the boomer generation that witnessed those things is growing close to passing away … but Christ’s prophecy says it will not – until “all these things” –– ( false christs, wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution of Christians, decrease of church attendance, world-wide gospel witness) take place. These things have happened.

YET to occur before the end of the Boomer generation is: world-wide tribulation, darkening of the sun and moon, and (as fast as lightning) The Return of Jesus, The Christ, to the planet.

In Modern Israel today (May, 2023), they are preparing for war. Iran will make a nuclear weapon before the end of the year. Israel has promised the world, they will not permit Iran to use it upon them. Something WORLD-WIDE-BIG will happen before Israel turns 76.

Truly, if you feel that Christ has chosen you to be one of His Assembly (church), THE TIME to repent and recognize His choice, is NOW - before time runs out…

In this week’s live Q&A, we talk about whether the USA is more like Israel or Babylon in the Old Testament. And much more!

13/04/2023

The falling away…
The apostle Paul predicts that His coming and the gathering of the existing Body of Christ will not occur until the “rebellion” – the apostasy – the “falling away” from the faith. According to The Gallup poll, that has already happened…

Hence, we faithful (still staying) are struggling to support these large church buildings left over from the “more attended times”… why?
“The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” (2 Peter 3: 9-10)
We, “leftovers” stay because we actually believe Christ will be here himself at the final gathering and we want to be caught… waiting for Him … and living faithfully…
“I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”(Luke 18:8)
Gallup says in America … not very much…

For the first time in Gallup's polling history, less than half of U.S. adults report belonging to a church, synagogue or mosque.

23/03/2023

The message of the 21st. Century churches changed from, “you need atonement for your sins,” to, “you just need a little help from God…”

Attenders today don’t want to hear about their sin, they want to hear about how God can help them be more successful, wealthier, healthier, more socially acceptable…

So … 21st. Century churches – with big buildings to light, heat, cool, insure, – changed the Gospel message to take the edge off… The apostle Paul predicted it:

"Brothers and sisters, we have a request for you concerning our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming and when we are gathered together to be with him. 2 We don’t want you to be easily confused in your mind or upset if you hear that the day of the Lord is already here, whether you hear it through some spirit, a message, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. That day won’t come unless the rebellion comes first and the person who is lawless is revealed, who is headed for destruction."(2 Thessalonians 2: 1-3)

The rebellion is a falling away from the original faith … from
the need for Christ’s atonement ... to
…getting by with a little help from my friend, God…

Differing theories exist as to why Jesus died and how he paid for sin. We must explore Scripture's explanation for the truth.

08/01/2023

Galilee of the Gentiles

Nonetheless, those who were in distress won’t be exhausted. At an earlier time, God cursed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but later he glorified the way of the sea, the far side of the Jordan, and the Galilee of the nations. (Isaiah 9:1)

Isaiah Chapter 9 refers to “Galilee of the Gentiles,” from which a king would come, who would cause the “people who walked in darkness” to “see a great light.” Galilee was a place, both in Isaiah’s time and in the time of Jesus’ ministry, where the Jewish people were a minority—the Gentiles (or the nations) predominated. Jesus's Earthly parents, Mary and Joseph were from Nazareth in the Galilee. He spent his childhood and teenage years in Nazareth learning the carpentry trade from his father, studying, and teaching about God. When he was about 30-years-old Jesus left the Galilee for the Judaean Desert where he met John the Baptist. According to the Bible, the Galilee was where Jesus felt at home. This is where he grew up, where his ministry began - away from the Roman authorities in Jerusalem - and where he performed many miracles. Jesus was a Jew, he came to /for the Jews, but he lived with the gentiles. Jesus was / is for all.

Read: Matthew 28:7; Mark 16:7 For many years now, I have found myself meditating on the words of God’s messengers to the women disciples at the empty tomb: “He has gone before you into Galilee.”  Seemingly simple words, but there … Read more

12/12/2022

The Book of Ecclesiastes proclaims the utter meaninglessness of life. It enumerates the “advantages” of living and declares each one to be worthless. Life, true life, eternal life, comes from an unearthly place – making all earthly options valueless. Yet, we are created to seek meaning, purpose, and contentment throughout our incomprehensible life. Only when we turn that searching towards Our Creator will we find our true meaning, purpose, and contentment.

http://www.thechristiancontender.org.uk/2012/12/the-wise-man’s-conclusion-life-is-meaningless/

Introduction Ecclesiastes is a startling book. The opening verses proclaim the utter meaninglessness of life. The writer has investigated every sphere of human

07/10/2022

Psalm 131
Lord, my heart isn’t proud;
 my eyes aren’t conceited.
 I don’t get involved with things too great or wonderful for me.
2
No. But I have calmed and quieted myself[a]
 like a weaned child on its mother;
 I’m like the weaned child that is with me.

More than all else, it is human pride that pits man against God. C.S. Lewis called pride “the great sin.” In Mere Christianity, he said, “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” The desire to lift up and exalt ourselves – beyond our place as God’s creature– lies at the heart of pride. Christ, as the human-form Son-of-God provided the model for human, humble behavior –– “Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:5–8).

Humility is a grace that is precious in the sight of God, who in due course will exalt all who embrace it all the days of their lives.

19/09/2022

Praise the Lord!
 Those who honor the Lord,
 who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!

They shine in the dark for others who do right.
 They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous.
5
Those who lend generously are good people—
 as are those who conduct their affairs with justice. (Psalm 112: 1; 4-5)

This psalm foreshadows God’s Blessing of Eternal Life through His Son, Jesus. It is inherited righteousness, the new human which is created in righteousness, the inward principle of grace which always continues, and also –the righteousness of Christ imputed to him, which is an everlasting one. The righteous are those who have received righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord. They do inherit eternal life in Him. Humans will live forever somewhere. If we recognize Jesus as The One who saved us to be one of His People, we inherit eternal life.

Psalm 112: This psalm is another acrostic and is written in the same 10-verse format as the preceding one. The contrast between the righteous man and the wicked man marks this poem out as a wisdom psalm. Almost all of the psalm, however, is taken up with the good fortunes of the righteous man (verse...

08/08/2022

“Will my Lord reject me forever?
 Will he never be pleased again?
8
Has his faithful love come to a complete end?
 Is his promise over for future generations?
9
Has God forgotten how to be gracious?
 Has he angrily stopped up his compassion?” Selah (Psalm 77:7-9)

In the Old Testament time of the psalms, the communication direction of God to his people was passive – through His Word or His prophets. The Holy Spirit had only been delivered to a few People of God at a time.

Now, in The Church Age, The Holy Spirit has been poured out on all humankind. As the apostle Paul says, “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

So, when we feel rejected by Our Lord, or out of His promise, or blocked from His Compassion, we have …. His printed Word and His Body of Christ filled with Spirit-active folks to listen, console, and pray for the enlivening of The Holy Spirit within us.

The is the way Our Lord has set it up for us … Lets Us Believers take frequent advantage of it and commune and pray with each other …

“Will my Lord reject me forever?
 Will he never be pleased again?
8
Has his faithful love come to a complete end?
 Is his promise over for future generations?
9
Has God forgotten how to be gracious?
 Has he angrily stopped up his compassion?” Selah (Psalm 77:7-9)

In the Old Testament time of the psalms, the communication direction of God to his people was passive – through His Word or His prophets. The Holy Spirit had only been delivered to a few People of God at a time.

Now, in The Church Age, The Holy Spirit has been poured out on all humankind. As the apostle Paul says, “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

So, when we feel rejected by Our Lord, or out of His promise, or blocked from His Compassion, we have …. His printed Word and His Body of Christ filled with Spirit-active folks to listen, console, and pray for the enlivening of The Holy Spirit within us.

The is the way Our Lord has set it up for us … Lets Us Believers take frequent advantage of it and commune and pray with each other …

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-77/

15/07/2022

In a sense, all illness is a result of sin. In Psalm 38 David specifically attributes his – to the results of his sin against God. In the tenth century b.c., without scientific medicine, all illness was attributable to God because natural healing was the only hope for recovery. Today in the 21st. Century and it’s “modern medical miracles” we first turn to our health system for healing only looking to God in terminal or insufferably chronic cases. In truth however, all illness is from sin. The original sin of Adam and Eve enabled entropy and the passage of time which leads all humans to age, illness, and ultimately death.

Psalm 38 A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance. This is another psalm by David, Israel’s great shepherd-king, and the one God chose to sit as Prince on the throne of Israel on earth during the…

06/04/2022

16 “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey thy commandments; 17 they refused to obey, and were not mindful of the wonders which thou didst perform among them; but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their bo***ge in Egypt. But thou art a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and didst not forsake them.” (Nehemiah 9:16-17)

Slow to Anger
How thankful we are that God possesses this attribute! How often do we regret acting rashly in anger, damaging something, or hurting someone’s feelings with our remarks? Imagine God, with his awesome power, acting as immature as we do, taking out frustrations on the objects and people around us. It brings to mind a vision of Creation reverted back to a state before Day 6. God’s steadfast love and long-suffering nature is nothing to be taken for granted.
What is it about us human creatures that compels us to make presumptions about God? We presume that God’s commands are merely suggestions. We suppose that God’s messenger (who delivers them) is as ordinary as us and his words are simply opinions. We find the requirements of obeying God’s commands too confining. We imagine that the rule-giver is only out to control us. We become stubborn — turning away from both God’s messengers and God’s message. We become complacent and attribute the blessings of a repetitive normal life to coincidence or something we caused — instead of God’s grace bestowed upon His Creatures.
This verse uses the phrase, “stiffened their neck.” This term refers to an ox hitched[…]”

Excerpt From: Mike Stair. “The World’s Favorite Bible Verses.” MSPeabooks, 2015. Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-worlds-favorite-bible-verses/id598479612

‎Religion & Spirituality · 2015

07/02/2022

Life itself is from God…
12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. 13 Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. (2 Chronicles 16:12-13)
These two little verses hidden in a book we seldom read, reveal an important attribute about God The Father … we must never forget that life itself comes from Him. The mysterious electrical charges that keep our cells alive, our brain communicating with our nervous system – our very heartbeat … are either there … and we live – or they are not .. and we are dead. It is not our doctors who make us well again. It is God The Father … sometimes … through – our doctors.
https://creation.com/the-human-body-gods-masterpiece

The human body reveals an amazing design; the human brain is the most complex and highly ordered arrangement of matter in the universe.

10/01/2022

Accord to Baptist News Global, The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the decline facing most congregations in America. In 2020 without vaccines and clear understanding of control of contagion, whole congregations became accustomed to staying home and to worship via “streaming.” Now, in 2022 significant numbers of congregants have not altered that practice, preferring to stay home Sunday mornings and worship comfortably in lounge-wear by watching worship on television. Jesus would say that as long as that worship is done in “spirit and truth” (John 4) it is acceptably unto Our Lord. Traditionally, however, worship has always been about sacrifice – personal sacrifice (ones own cow / sheep/ dove / bread had to be given…). After Christ’s culminating sacrifice, The Holy Spirit should be leading us to apply Christ’s sacrifice during our worship and give thanks for it, but is The Spirit also leading us to sacrifice … perhaps … our time, convenience, effort, security on Sunday – and return to worship with The Body of Christ in person … ?

https://www.crossway.org/articles/the-provision-of-sacrifice-in-the-old-testament/

Lesson number one on God’s holiness and the people’s sinfulness was delivered in the form of instructions for offering sacrifices at the tabernacle.

06/12/2021

In 2 Kings, the Lord is still angry with Israel over the sins of King Manasseh. In a sense, the evil of Manasseh overwhelmed the obedience of his son who succeeded him, Josiah. That’s a challenging idea. Sometimes repentance isn’t enough.
Judah’s repentance was insincere. By then they were a superstitious people – forsaken from their sincere faith into a faith based on “everything that might work.” Twenty-first century America has become like that. We have adopted a “universal all-concepts-of god” faith so as to cover us … The faith instruction from The Bible is exclusive and difficult… Christ taught, “Whoever isn’t with me is against me, and whoever doesn’t gather with me scatters. Therefore, I tell you that people will be forgiven for every sin and insult to God. But insulting the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven.”
https://peacetheology.net/the-bible-on-peace/15-sometimes-repentance-isnt-enough—2-kings-221-13/

Ted Grimsrud The prophets Amos and Hosea proclaimed their message of justice and love to the northern kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BCE. Their challenging words went unheeded, and withi…

07/10/2021

The appearance of Elijah (one of the powerful prophets) of the Old Testament occurs at the same time as Ahab and Jezebel – two of the most ruthless idolators of the O.T.. It is not a coincidence. God’s giving Israel over to their sinful disobedience results in a vast majority of the citizens participating in idolatry – setting up the great conflict of Yahweh vs. Baal – Ahab and Jezebel’s 850 prophets of Baal vs … Elijah. Note : those on God’s side were few … but then … that’s all God needed…

https://manchesterinklink.com/the-story-of-the-prophet-elijah-jezebel-and-king-ahab/

The story of the prophet Elijah, Jezebel and King AhabSunday, November 11, 2018Jim RobidouxPop's Art: The Bible Illustrated, The Arts, The Life Section0 Sign Up For Our FREE Daily eNews! First Name Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Elijah Being Fed by the Ravens. Oil/Herbert Man...

05/09/2021

some thoughts for Labor Day ...
The only time the term “retired” is found in The Bible (and it is certainly not universal) only pertains to The Levites and their work in The Tabernacle and The Temple. For the rest of us it is “work till you drop.” And in the new testament, Jesus never used the term at all. In fact His Commands were given with no expiration date…
He DID NOT SAY “Repent! … until you are 65 years old, then you never have to change again…”. He DID NOT SAY “Deny yourself… until you stop working, then you may spend the rest of your life just thinking of yourself…” And, He DID NOT SAY “Love your neighbor as yourself… until you have done it for 30 years, then you can hate everyone you don’t like…”
As disciples of Christ we aren’t ever free to retire from serving God and others. If we’re fortunate enough to be freed from the demands of working for a living, that opens a door of opportunity to do more work for the kingdom using the wisdom, experience, talents, and resources the Holy Spirit has given us through a lifetime of discipleship.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/christians-should-never-retire/

Don’t retire just to collect seashells. Retire into more work for the Lord.

04/05/2021

Samson was more than a “bit of” brute. He was egotistic, self-serving, and used his power for his own gain. He was also chosen by God. It reminds us of God’s complicated statement from Exodus 33: “I will be kind to whomever I wish to be kind, and I will have compassion to whomever I wish to be compassionate” … no matter how they behave …. We all know how the Samson story ended, and we all know how God triumphed over the Philistines. There’s no other way to say it … God used him. God is using some of us right now – despite of ourselves. Our repentance can change that and God’s decision to have compassion on us. Let’s be sure that occurs before God doesn’t need to use us anymore…

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/judges-14/

David Guzik commentary on Judges 14, where Samson poses a riddle at a party, and his wife extracting the answer from him to pass it on to her people.

03/05/2021

In Judges, chapter 13, an angel appears to Samson’s mother, but it is not just any angel, it is The Angel of The Lord. The Angel of The Lord appears infrequently in the old testament, and it is generally thought of as a theophany – God Himself appearing in human form. The pattern of His appearances are always related to God’s Covenant Promises to Israel – as He appeared to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon re: issues of Israel receiving the use of the land promised to them by God.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_26.cfm

Though all the good angels are angels of God, or angels of the Lord, there is one special angel who is distinct and unique from all the other angels, he is

30/04/2021

The Book of Judges is a disappointing narrative of the apostasy of God’s People after the death of their conqueror/leader, Joshua. Joshua summarized God’s intention – sadly, and in a very individual way – when he said in chapter 25, “But if it seems wrong in your opinion to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Choose the gods whom your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But my family and I will serve the Lord.”
Right away Judges reveals the choices that were made… “In those days there was no king in Israel; each person did what they thought to be right.”
God had just rescued them from slavery and nomadism through Moses and Joshua, and as soon as that generation had passed away, they became idolators and commandment-breakers. Human sin, without the indwelling Leading of The Holy Spirit always leads to apostasy. The New Covenant, through Christ, in which each individual is indwelt by The Holy Spirit is the only way humans on this planet can please and follow God.

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/judges/

The book of Judges details the corruption and downward spiral of Israel's judges, but this brutal history still offers future hope for Israel.