God-Breathed.....

Dr. Mike Murphy

February 26, 2023

He had served the church for many years.  For the last twenty-two years he had given the sermon every Sunday, and led the Bible study every week.  He had baptized many of the faces he saw each Sunday.  He had been there as many of families in the congregation had grown, and he had sadly watched as many of the same faces had faded away.  He had been there to smile with them in the good times, and to share tears with them in the most trying of times. Through it all, he felt he had faithfully been there.  But as he contemplated the two questions he had been asked just minutes before, he began to wonder if all he had done even mattered.

He had started that Sunday like any other.  He greeted all as they arrived for Sunday School, and he made last minute preparations to his sermon.  As the service started, he welcomed all, and opened in prayer.  He heard the choir sing, and he watched as the tithe was collected.  As he made his way to the pulpit, he gave a sermon he had given years before.  He talked about the Flood.  He told the congregation each detail of the story.  A story in his eyes that was among the greatest of fables, a way for the Lord to show us that He would not make the same mistake twice.  

He finished the sermon, and watched as the congregation smiled, and looked on as they rose for the final hymn.  He gave the closing prayer, and wished all a great day as they made their way out the door.  It was as he stood by the door that his day took an unexpected turn.  A young man, in his early twenties, approached him.  He had been coming to the church for several weeks now, and as the young man reached for his hand, he asked if he could help him with a few questions he had about the sermon.  He wished his farewells to a few others, then made his way to his office with the young man.

As the young man sat, he looked over and began to ask him about the sermon he had just given.  He still remembered the words the young man asked. “Why do you think God made a mistake?  And why do you think the Flood is just a story, nothing but a fable?” He smiled as he heard the questions, questions he had heard before.  He told the young man, that the Bible was filled with many such stories.  Stories that were nothing more than a way to teach right from wrong. Stories that were created by men to help us better understand God.  A way to show us where God had went wrong, and as a way of showing us how He desired to make those things right.  He explained to the young man how the Bible was not perfect, flawed like the men who had written it.  That although they had been inspired by God to write it, the words they placed on the paper we filled with their opinions, with their own imperfections.  He told the young man how years of study had shown him this.  How years of discussion with his fellow pastors had led most respectable theologians to accept this.

As he finished, he watched the young man gather himself.  And as the young man began to speak, he was not able to prepare himself for what the young man would say. With just two questions, the young man rocked him to his very core, and made him begin to question all he held as certain.  The young man asked, “If the Bible is not perfect, and we are learning more each day about those imperfections, then how do you know what you teach as truth today will not be proven as a lie tomorrow?  And if God makes mistakes, then how do you know if He is making a mistake with you here today?”

With two questions, he had been left silent.  Questions he was not prepared for, and questions he did not have the answers for.  Questions that made him greatly question himself.  Questions that eat at his very soul.  Had he been ministering to and serving his congregation all these years?  Or had he been misleading them, leading them down a path that did not have any answers?.  With two questions he realized that all the wisdom he thought he possessed, had just been shown to him as foolish.

In every church across our country today, a question is being asked.  With each sermon, with every Bible study, the question is proclaimed.  Many choose to ignore the question, claiming they do not hear it.  Others deny the question, claiming the question is not one that should ever be asked.  But through it all, the question can be heard echoing through every sanctuary.  Is the Bible the Word of God, or is it the words of men?  Did men simply write their impressions and thoughts of God, or did God move their hand as the words were written on each page?

No book or publication holds a place in this world like the Bible does.  The Bible is by far the world’s best selling and most widely distributed book.  It has founds its’ way into almost every crevice of this world, and has been translated in over two thousand languages. No other book has been as influential, and no other book has dared to make such incredible claims.  The Bible tells us the exact purpose of our lives, and holds all the answers the future will show us.  It explains man’s greatest questions, and it puts an end to his greatest doubts.  No other book that man has written answers all our questions with one hundred percent accuracy, and no other book has dared every to try.

The Bible contains sixty-six books, from over forty different writers.  Those writers include men that range from nobility to the working class, written in three different languages over three continents.  And through it all, these men were of same mind, with each of their words weaving together perfectly.  By all human standards, this is not just remarkable, but humanly impossible!  If you went into a college classroom today, picked out forty students, and asked each of those students to write a chapter for a book you were doing titled “Who is God, and what is He doing in the world today?”. What do you think you would get back from each of those forty students?  Do you think you would get back a compatible, a conforming, and a consistent theme in each of their chapters?  Of course not! They would give you back works that would be all over the board!  And it would be expected, because in each you would read their own influences and their own opinions.  Only if you had chosen a single writer would you expect to see a unified and singular message.  The same is with the Bible! We see one unified message because it came from One author, God!  Man may have penned it, but only the Lord could have provided the words!

The Bible tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Greek word here for “inspired” actually reads “God-Exhaled”, or “God-Breathed”.  No better word could Paul have used in describing who wrote the Bible.  God created man when He breathed life into Adam(Genesis 2:7).  It was through His breath that Christ brought the Holy Spirit to the disciples(John 20:22). So it should be of no surprise that God would breathe life into His Word.  His breath shows us that the Scripture is from God, and is of God, having nothing to do with human origins.  Scripture can never be a matter of our interpretations, but is a fulfillment of God’s teachings.  

Those who would teach the Bible falsely, claiming the pages are filled with the mistakes of a man created fable, would come in direct conflict with the words of 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  In seeking to quote the Bible in their own words, on their own terms, they draw the breath of God out of the Scriptures and replace it with their own breath.  How easily they forget, only if Scripture was given by God, trustworthy and perfect in every way, could the Holy Spirit use it to inspire us and to direct us.  If Scripture was the word on man, flawed and opinionated as man will always be, then the Holy Spirit could never reach us through it. If the Bible was not perfect, flawless in every way, it would not point us in a direction toward God, but lead us on a path away from God.  But the words of this verse make it very clear, each word of Scripture carries the same authority as if the Lord were to come down and speak them directly to you today.

Each word, of each verse, of each chapter, of every book is overflowing with similar claims as the one we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Sometimes the words were heard in the voice of God Himself.  Over thirty-eight hundred times the Bible records God speaking directly to man, revealing His love, His guidance, and His direction.  So many times we read, “The Lord spoke”, or “the word of the Lord came to me saying”, as God stated with clear authority that He, and He alone, was communicating His message to us. Other times, we read in His Word, as He spoke to man face to face.  Giving clear messages to them that they were to tell all around them.  Other times, He voice was heard, calling on man to spread His message to anyone who would hear. 

Although God was the author of each word of Scripture, He often used man to pen those words for Him.  Many times, we are told those men by name. Other times, we look to tradition and similar clues to determine and understand who those men were.  For years, many have looked to the Psalms and other Books of the Bible questioning who these men could be.  Often claiming that not knowing the name of these men leads to confusion in the Scriptures.  Stating that the uncertainty of the writer causes doubt in the words.  But when we look on these men truthfully, we are not debating the author, only whose name will appear in the credits.  God alone is the author, it is just a debate as to who He called on to write down His words.

As Christ walked this earth, He gave us the key to determining exactly Who the author of all Scripture is.  Christ said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.”(John 7:16-17). Christ tells us that man is incapable of authoring one word of Scripture.  Nowhere do we see that stronger than in each word of prophecy.  Peter tells us, “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”(2 Peter 1:21).  Man is incapable of telling you what he will be doing the next minute.  And if like me, can barely tell you what he was doing yesterday.  On our own, we do not have a clue what tomorrow holds.  We are lost to be able to accurately tell you what the future will bring.  Only One who knows tomorrow, can tell you about tomorrow.  Only One who has already seen tomorrow, can give you the details of what tomorrow will bring.  Prophecy is living proof of just how accurate and flawless Scripture is.  With each word it shows us just how perfect the Bible will always be.  Each word of prophecy not only points to the author of the Scriptures, but it announces His perfect presence.

James tells us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”(James 1:17).  Anything we know as perfect, anything that is good in our lives, has been given to us by the Lord above.  One of those perfect gifts that He gave us was His perfect word, the Bible.  And with each word we read in it, He speaks to us.  He leads us.  He guides us.  He commands us.  He instructs us.  He warns us.  He blesses us.  And He perfectly loves us. Each word shows us that our God is not just good, that He is not just great, it shows us that He is perfect.  God breathed His Word to us in a perfect way, bringing life to that Word without flaw or errancy.  In His Word, He answers every question we may have in a perfect way.  In it, He gives us perfect direction in an imperfect world. .And what else should we ever look for or expect from a Perfect God!

Every day, all of creation proclaims the perfection that is found in His Word!  Every moment, the Heavens sing about the perfection His Word brings us! Each word that is sang proclaims a love and a hope that can only be found in His perfect ways.  That hope shows us that perfection can never be found in us or in our words, not even a small amount of it seen if we were to offer our life to God. But hope shows us that perfection can always be seen in Him offering His life for us, so that every word He gave us could be fulfilled perfectly. Perfection can only come down from above.  Perfection was found in the pen the prophets and the apostles held.  It was found in the print as it rolled off of Gutenberg’s press.  And perfection is found each time you turn the pages of His Word today.  With each word you read, you can see the perfection in His breath!

Praying with each word of the Bible you read, you see Perfection!

GUILTY!

Dr. Mike Murphy
February 12, 2023

“I am guilty, and pray I am found as the guiltiest man in this room!”  As the words came from his mouth, the only thing that could be heard louder than the gavel were the sighs that filled the courtroom.  He watched as shock was seen in the faces of the jurists, and he could hear the murmurs of disbelief that now filled the court.

He never would have thought he would have found himself on trial.  He had lived a simple life.  He had married his high school sweetheart, and they had been happily married for over twenty-three years now.  He had worked at the same job after completing college for almost as long as he had been married.  He had raised a family with three kids, two they were now starting their own life as they were away at college themselves.  For years his life had revolved around his kids.  Between dance recitals and baseball games, he never had time to give anything else a second thought.  And that was exactly how he wanted it.  His biggest fear had always been making sure the kids always had everything they needed, and providing them with every opportunity he could give them.  His life was a series of routines. Or so he thought!  On a faithfully day, almost two and a half years earlier, he would meet One who would forever change his life!

His brother had always been the rambunctious type.  A man who had no patience, who was always looking for the next adventure.  A man who was quick to tell you what he thought, and did not care what your opinion was.  He was always rough and crude, never giving a second thought to anyone but himself. One Saturday, his brother surprisingly dropped by to see him.  As he looked into his brothers eyes, he could see that something was different.  There was a peace and a calm in his eyes that had never been seen before. As his brother sat down to talk to him, he told him just how much his life had changed.  As his brother spoke, he could hear a compassion in his voice, and for the first time, he could see a comforting smile on his face.

“What has been going on in your life?  Have you meet a woman who has calmed you down?”, he jokingly asked of his brother.  His brother answered, “No, but I have found a love, and I have meet One who has touched me like I never thought I could be touched!”  As he finished the words, he watched as his brother reached a book over to him.  “A Bible? What is this for?”, he asked his brother.  It had been years since he had held one, almost as long since he had seen one. Their parents house had several, and they would watch each night as his mom would read from it.  But in the years since, the Bible had all but been forgotten. Just another book that filled the shelves of the local library, for nothing more than collecting dust. Society had moved on from it, and no longer saw a need for it. Society did not need a book that restricted them, or a way that showed them how they should live. They no longer needed to believe in a God, science and life provided them with all the answers they would ever need.

But as his brother placed the Bible in his hand, he placed a bookmark at the start of the Book of John.  “Just read John, and I can promise that you will see exactly what has changed me.  I will be praying for you, and with each word you read may the Lord fill you with the same peace and love He has shown me.”

The rest of the day, he never gave the Bible his brother had given him a second thought.  He already was a good man, what did he need with God?  What possible change could help his life?  But as night fell, he noticed the Bible again, and remember that he had agreed to at least read a little.  As the house grew quiet, he sat down and began to read. And with each night, he found himself reading a little more.  He soon found himself with more questions than he had answers.  And without realizing it, he found himself each day thinking about what he had read the night before.

Without him even realizing it, the day had come when he found himself talking to God.  Asking the Lord questions about the words he was reading.  Each question seemed to lead him to another question about his life, and all he thought he knew.  And each answer seemed to lead him one step closer to the Answer. As he talked out loud to God one night, he realized that his ‘talks’ were actually prayers.  It was during his prayer that night that he asked Christ into his life.  He asked Christ to fill his life, to fill him with the answers to questions he had not yet asked.  To not let him live as just a good man, but a man filled with the peace and hope that only salvation and grace could bring.  He asked the Lord that night to place the smile on his face he had seen on the face of his brother.  And he asked the Lord that night for others to be able to see in him the peace and comfort that could only be found in that smile.

As the days turned to weeks, and the weeks turned to months, he found the Bible in his hand more times than he found that hand empty.  With each word, his eyes were opened a little wider, and his thoughts became a little clearer.  The words of Proverbs 16:25, began to make sense.  The ways of man is not the ways of God. He began to see that God’s ways were proven, and He gave us those ways not to restrict us, but because of His love for us.  A love so abound that it could not stand to see us mired in the destruction the sin of this world would bring. 

With each verse read, he realized that he could not contain the words within him. They were bursting to get out, to be shared with all those around him. He wanted the world to know the truth the Lord had presented to him.  The love that the Lord had given him.  And the hope that only Christ could offer him.  Soon he found himself telling everyone around him of that truth, of that love, and of that hope.  But the more he spoke, the more the people ignored him, and the more society shunned him.  They simply did not wish to hear the truth, as the truth would lead them down a different path than the one they were walking on.  A path he could no longer walk, because he had been shown where that path would lead.  But it was a path that society was ready to force him to walk.  A path that led him to the court he found himself in that day.

“So you admit that you are a Christian?”, the prosecutor asked.  “Yes, I am a follower of Christ.”, he answered.  “So you openly admit to the hateful words you speak?”. the prosecutor followed.  “I admit to telling anyone who would listen the truth, but a truth that is filled with love, not hate.  To be a Christian would not lead me to speak any other way.”, he gently answered back.  With a pompous stance, and sneering look, the prosecutor asked, “So tell all of us, just what does it mean to be a Christian?”

In that split moment, he prayed before he spoke.  He prayed that the words that he would answer would not be his, but would be those of Christ.  “I am a follower of Christ, and with each breath I breathe, with each word I speak, with each movement I make, and with each step I take, I pray each is a reflection of Christ.  As a Christian I have placed all my faith and my trust in the life and work that Christ brought to this world.  My whole life is but a small reflection of the words He taught us, of the actions He showed us, and of the wisdom and truth He gave us.  He died on the Cross so I might have life, and He rose again so I might see the promise of that life.  I am a child of God because He loved me so much He came to this world to give me life that night.”

“His death paved the way for me to be that child, and His sacrifice paid the price for all my sins.  This court and this jury may proclaim me guilty, but I will hold no arrest record. My sheet has already been wiped clean of every sinful thought and action I have ever committed.  The Judge above all judges has already proclaimed me innocent of all my charges, and nothing this court could do to me can add one word to my guilt.”

“Before I knew Christ, my sins controlled me.  The ways of the world drove me.  My sins made me an enemy of my Lord.  But the minute I fell at the foot of the Cross, He wrapped His arms around me, pulling me into His presence. He forever forgave me, He restored the relationship He had with me, and He eternally secured me.  He showed me the truth of His ways, and He showed me a love that can only be found in those ways.  He made me perfect, a perfection that is beyond all guilt.”

“He taught me that I will never know a greater pleasure than seeking to please Him. That when I put Christ first, it does not matter that I am second.  He showed me that obedience to His truth does not restrict me, it opens every door of Heaven for me. He showed me that happiness can never be found in myself, but is always there when I look into His eyes. He taught me the truth about love, it is not an emotion but an action.  An action that can only be seen in me when I am following His truth. And He taught me to show and share that love.  To show those around me the changes I could not bring in myself, but changes than can only be seen in me because Christ is now present in my life.”

“With all I have said and so all may hear, I am guilty!  I am a guilty man!  I am guilty of proclaiming His truth, and I am guilty of being filled by His love.  You do not have to look deeply to see that in my guilty is found that truth.  In my guilty is found that love.  And in my guilty is found that hope.  A hope that He longs to see in each of you!”

If you were on trial today for you faith, what would the verdict be? Would your trial have to be heard over a matter of days, or could it be concluded in a matter of minutes?  As the gavel fell, would the evidence the jury heard profess your guilt?  Or would the lack of evidence leave the jury no choice but to proclaim you innocent?  As the verdict was read, would the Heavens rejoice at your guilt, or would the world smirk at your innocence?  With each day, I pray the Lord and the world finds me nothing short of being undeniably GUILTY!

Praying the day will come when you are proclaimed guilty!

Beauty Of Berea!

Dr. Mike Murphy

February 5, 2023

The views from the city were simply breathtaking..  The Vermion Mountains that surrounded much of the small town.  And the running streams that flowed out of these mountains, pouring into the small city.  As Paul looked around him, he could not but help to be in awe of the beauty of God’s handy work.  But as in awe that Paul was of the views, he was even more so of the people that filled the streets of this small town.  People who reflected an even greater beauty in the handy work of the Lord above.

The Bible describes Berea as a place like few others.  In six verses, Luke paints for us an incredible picture of the people that made up this small town.  We are shown their character, their intelligence, what drives them, and what they most desires.  Luke tells us in Acts 17:10-15, “The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.  But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.  Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.”

In these verses we see what Luke saw in the people of Berea. The example that was seen in these people of God, the example that was recorded in God’s Word for all of us to follow today.  In these verses we see six characteristics that every church in this nation should strive for.  Six traits that should be found inside the walls of every church today.

Eagerness to receive the Word

  Luke tells us that the people of Berea received the Word of God with great eagerness. The Greek language describes the receiving of this with eagerness as an act of great zeal, to do so with acceptance and a welcoming nature, to find a place for it in our heart..  As Christians, we are called to approach the Word with an open heart, willing to find a place in our heart for God’s Truth.  We are to seek an understanding of what the Scripture says, and turn to the Holy Spirit to show us the truth in that understanding.  1 John 2:20 tells us that we have an anointing from the Holy Spirit.  The Greek translation of this verse says we have a “special endowment” from the Holy Spirit,  In other words, when we honestly seek God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will lead us to the truth in that Word.  

These verses tells us that the Bereans did not turn Paul and Silas away, but received them with an eagerness to understand and know the truth in the Word. We must approach the Word of God with the same eagerness today.  As we fill our church each Sunday, we should expect the Word to be preached.  As we hear this message, in each of us should be found a hunger to understand and know the truth in that message.  We should open our hearts to make room for that Word, and allow that Word to mold and shape each of us. When we are true to God, that “special endowment” will them take that Word, and put it into practice in each of us.

Examine the Scriptures for God’s Truth  

When the people of Berea heard Paul and Silas speak, they were excited by what they heard.  But they did not let this excitement drive them, they let God stay in the driver’s seat! When they heard the Good News of Christ, the first thing they did was turn to the Scriptures. They went back to the Old Testament to make sure that what they were hearing was confirmed and fulfilled in God’s Word.  And look at the results!  Many within the synagogue came to accept Christ, and from this truth the Word quickly spread.  We are told that others, Gentiles in the city, were led to Christ also.

As Christians, we must always find ourselves as students of the Word.  We must always seek the truth, and we must know that the truth can only be found in God’s Word and Word of God alone.  Isaiah 8:20 tells us, “ To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”   And Christ told us, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”(John 5:39).  We are commanded to search the Scriptures!  We are to subject all that is taught to us against the authority of the Word.  There is not a preacher worth his salt, that does not welcome this subjectivity and questioning.  It brings a smile to most of their faces, because they know that the words they spoke led someone to turn to God’s Word.  

God does not call us to a blind faith, but to a rational one.  Our faith can withstand any test this world may throw at it.  It can hold up to any intellectual scrutiny, and will always shine bright no matter what question is thrown its’ way. God wants us to never forget, an unexamined faith is not worth anyone’s time or their devotion.  Truth is never afraid to be examined!

Christians must have a discerning heart

Just as the Bereans searched the Scriptures to find the truth, we today must search those same Scriptures to make sure we are not being deceived.  We watch today as people proclaim many things in the name of God.  Our televisions and or computers are filled with evangelist claiming to speak and explain the Word of God.  So how do we know who is speaking the truth, and who is just looking to make a fast buck at God’s expense?  The same way the Bereans knew to trust the preaching of Paul and Silas!

1 John 4:1 tells us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”   This is why the example the Bereans set is so important for us to follow today.  The world is filled with those who will come to deceive us, and they are lead by the master of all deceivers(1 John 4:1). Satan has deceivers among us today, those who teach another Gospel, and who preach about another Christ.  The example of the Bereans grounds us, it teaches us to trust what God has written, not what man has proclaimed.

God’s Word is our Daily Bread

“Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”(Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4).  Before the Bereans even knew Christ, they knew the power of these words as Moses spoke them.  Luke’s words tell us that the Bereans examined the Scriptures daily, that they spent time in God’s Word each day, When we spend time with God each day, our relationship with Him grows.  Just like any relationship, when we spend time with someone we understand them better.  We know their likes and dislikes, we learn their tendencies, and we notice and appreciate all the things they do for us.  The same is with God!

Psalm 119:11, tells us, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”  The closer our relationship to God, the greater distance sin finds itself from our lives.  The more time we spend with God, the more His Words fill our mind and our thoughts.  And as each word of Scripture enters our mind, the more His truth becomes our truth.

God’s Way must be is our way

Luke’s words tell us, “Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.“  When the truth of Christ and the fulfillment of God’s Word was presented to the Bereans, they not only clung to it, but proclaimed it!  His Word did not stop at their hearts, but filled their thoughts and their voices.

Today we often forget, God’s Word is not passive, it is alive.  When we accept Christ, we do not find ourselves at the culmination of our calling, but at the beginning of it.  Before He ascended into Heaven, Christ gave us a command that we were all to follow.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:19-20).  We know these words as the Great Commission.  When we look closely at the words of this command that Christ gave us, we see words that are far from being passive.  “Go”, “make”, “baptize”, and “teach”, are all words that call us into action.  We are to be disciples and witnesses for Christ, fulfilling the Great Commission to all the world today.  

The Church must stand strong on the Word of God

We are told that enemies of Paul came to the town of Berea, trying to stir up trouble.  As this happened, we see the Berean church rise to the occasion, defending Paul and providing for his safety.  We are also told that Timothy and Silas continued to stay in Berea for awhile longer, so they would have continued to defend these men also.  We are also told that the men that stirred up this trouble came from the synagogue in Thessalonica. Since Paul and those with him came to Berea from that city, these troublemakers would have been very aware of what was being preached.  It is not a reach to believe that the church of Berea was more than capable to stand up to these men, and defend what they believed.  Had they not, the church would have been shut down from the start. But from the words of Luke, we know this did not happen.  The church of Berea continued, as we are told that a man from this church named Sopater, likely a Gentile Christian, accompanied Paul on his mission(Acts 20:3-4).  The church of Berea continued to grow in their faith, able to produce men who could be sent out to spread the message of the Good News.

Like the Bereans, we are called to give more than a welcoming presentation of the Good News, we are also called to be able to give a strong defense of our faith.  We should not only be able to answer why we believe(1 Peter 3:15),  but be willing and able to tell others why they should also believe.  A verse of the Bible we all know, gives us the perfect example of this. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”(John 14:6).  We must be able to show others not only why Christ is the way, but why He is the only way.  Why no other religion that man has created can meet the standard that Christ set.  In this all inclusive, interfaith world that surrounds us today, we find ourselves in tremendous need of believers who will rise to the occasion. Those who are willing to stand up, and tell all who will hear that every road does not lead to Heaven.  Those who are informed, able to tell a deceived world that all “gods” are not God.

Like the Bereans, the Church today needs to be willing to step out on that ledge for Christ and stare danger in the face.  We must become the willing example of a witness that the Bereans showed us.  Most today do not understand what being a witness for Christ truly means. The term witness, comes from three Greek words of the same origin.  “Martyreo”, meaning “to bear witness or testify”. “Martyria”, meaning “for the record”.  And “Martys”, meaning “the person bearing witness”.  We find these words used one hundred and fifty times in the New Testament. All three forms of the word are used when describing Christ, and those who have and will accept Christ as their Savior.  The last form of the word is where we get our word today “martyr”.  Now I am not saying that a witness is a calling for us to run off and give our life, but what I am saying is that we should be willing to give all for Christ.  As a witness of Christ, we should testify to the difference that He alone has made in our life.  We should be willing to put this testimony on the record, for all to see and hear. And we should be willing to be accounted for, quick to stand up for Christ, each of us bearing witness and defending our faith.  Like the Bereans, this task may not always be easy.  Risk and ridicule may come our way.  But with the Truth on our side, the rewards will always be great.  The Church today must be willing to join the Bereans on that ledge, with a Cross in one hand, and God’s Word in the other!

Berea, an ancient city filled with such grace and beauty. When we look at Luke’s words, we soon begin to see Berea as Paul must have seen Berea.  The beauty of Berea did not lie in the landscape that surrounded it, but the true beauty of Berea was found in the hearts of those that made up that early church!

In each of you may the beauty of Berea be found!

The Dinner Guest

Dr. Mike Murphy
January 22, 2023

There are no coincidences when it comes to God!  When you begin to see things come together, know they are doing so with a purpose that He has in mind.  A purpose that should cause each of us to take pause, be quiet, and listen to exactly what He is telling us. To hear His voice, to take the time to seek why He needs our attention.  I had one of those moments this week, and the events that led to it came about in a way that could only come from the Lord.  

I was reminded this week of a movie I have watched many times.  A movie that most do not know and have never seen, but a movie that will touch the life of anyone who takes the time to watch it.  The Perfect Stranger is a movie unlike any other.  The story of a wife, mother, and attorney, whose life and routine is on the verge of spinning out of control.  As she arrives at her office, she finds an invitation on her desk.  An invitation to dine at her favorite restaurant.  An invitation that she sees as a joke, as the invitation is from Jesus Christ.  Thinking this as a prank by her husband, she decides to go to the dinner.  And what ensues, forever changes her life.

Within minutes of watching this, I saw where a survey had been taken. The questionnaire had inquired of all who would listen , “If you could ask God one question, what would you ask?”.  Most of the questions were those we have all heard time and time again. What is my purpose on this earth?  Is there really a Heaven and a Hell?  Why is there suffering and evil?  Are all religions the same?  How can we know that You are real?

When we look closely at the questions, we realize that most are not asked in search of an answers, but are seeking affirmation.  Most are not looking to know the Truth from God, but to make the Lord fit their own version of the truth. To each of these questions, God has already given us the answer.  The problem is, many do not like the answer the Lord has given, or simply do not desire to study and read His Word for the answers,  They find it easier to make the Lord fit their questions, not to make their lives fit God’s answers.

Looking again at these questions, we soon realize that to know the answer to two of them, we have the answer to all of them.  How can we know that You are real?  It does not take two seconds of looking in any direction to see the hand of the Creator at work. To know there is a God, we simply need no further proof that to look at all the Lord has made.  The world around us shouts of His intelligence, the purpose and plan that comes from His hands(Psalms 19:1).

If someone was to lay all the parts of a car on the ground, what would it take for all those parts to be put together and made into a working automobile? No amount of time or chance could ever bring those parts together on their own. It would take someone with the necessary intelligence to know how the parts work, and how the parts could best fit together. If this much intelligence is necessary to put the parts of a car together, than how much intelligence is necessary to put all the parts of this world, and this universe together? It could only be done by One with an intelligence far greater than any we will ever know!

Not only do we see His handwork when we look at this world, we see it in the eyes of those around us.  In each of us, God has created a sense of eternity(Ecclesiastes 3:11).  In each of us is a sense that there is more to this life than just what we see.  We see a greater purpose and a greater calling, that this life holds more than just living and dying. Each time we read His Word, that sense comes to life.  We see it play out in every story, prophecy, and promise the Scripture gives us.  And we watch as that sense took form as the Lord came to this earth, and gave His life so that each of us could be a part of His eternal purpose and plan.  All the proof we ever need of God can be seen in the world around us, and can be found within each of us.

The other of these questions also have just as obvious an answer.  Are all religions the same?  The history books are filled with page after page of man’s attempt to make numerous “gods” into the One True God.  But those same history books also show us that only the Lord God could ever fill that role.  And He has chosen only one way to bring that role into our lives, through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Of all the infinite proof I could give you of God, one word separates the Lord God from all other gods.  One simple word, love!  

No other religion can define the love that God has for each of us.  A love that knows no boundaries, and a love that is individual and personal within each of our lives.  Only through the teachings of Christ, do we see, feel and experience a personal God.  Through no other way can man know that love.  We cannot know it through the many New Age and Eastern based religions.  And in the Quran, the word “love” does not even appear.  It teaches of a god you can never fully know, and one who is distant from you at all times.  A god of rituals, not a God of love. Only One God did not just create you, but desires to have a personal relationship with you.  And created a way so you may have that relationship with Him.  Love is the ultimate proof of God, and the ultimate proof that only through Christ, can we know the One True God!  It is only through His love for us, that our questions can be turned into answers.  That our doubts can be turned into prayer.  And our inquiries can be turned into conversations with Him!

After seeing the movie again, and reading the questions of the survey, the purpose behind the “coincidence” of the Lord showing me both became crystal clear!  I did not need a dinner with the Lord to ask Him the questions of my heart. For the last twenty-two years of my life, I realized I had dined with the Lord many times.  I had shared more meals with Him than I could begin to count.  And I had not shared with Him just meals, but all the moments of my life.  In my lowest moments, He was there to lift me up.  To pick me up, dust me off, wipe away my tears, and lead my back on my way.  And during my greatest moments, He was also there.  To share with me in my joys, to relish with me in my laughs, and to keep me humble in each of those moments.  Every moment of my life, He has been there!

As many may know, I have stage four cancer.  And as I face what the days ahead of me hold, this “coincidence” served to remind me that I would not face a single moment of these days alone.  No matter what I may face, no matter how this body may fail me, I know that I will never eat another meal alone.  I know that as I sit at the table, there is One already waiting there for me.  One who has answered all my questions, and One who explained away all my doubts.  One who loves me more than I am ever capable of loving myself. One who defines loves.

As you sit at the table today, twirling your spaghetti, or savoring that last bite of your burger, enjoy the company of the One who shares that meal with you.  Let every word hold you captive, and cherish every moment you sit at the table.  Let His Word speak to you, and do not let a single question you may have go unanswered.  And with each meal, I pray that you will always leave an open plate at every table you find yourself at. There is a very special Dinner Guest, who would love nothing more than to share a meal with each of you!

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm. 16:11

Waiting On The Real Superman

Dr. Mike Murphy

January 8, 2023

Much of my childhood was spent saving the world!  Almost daily I had on some form of a cape pretending to patrol Gotham City or flying over Metropolis.  Like so many other boys my age, I would always manage to swoop down just in time to save the city and all of its’ terrified citizens, who were fleeing one of the many evil villains.

How else could we have possibly dreamed of filling our playtime each day?  We watched the cartoon Super Friends every Saturday morning.  Every weekday evening, like clockwork, we were glued to the television screen.  We watched as Batman battled the Penguin, the Riddler, Catwoman, and more for the heart of Gotham City.  Everyday, same bat time, same bat channel!  Then it was time for Superman. And for the next thirty minutes we would hear the call, “Superman will soon save us!”  We watched as evil would siege the streets.  The people frozen, helplessly in panic.  Then Clark Kent would emerge from the familiar phone booth, just in time to save the world.

As an adult, I look back and wonder about those people of Metropolis. They often knew evil was coming, but did little to prepare for it.  You never heard them warn others of what dangers would soon be coming.  Then they stood in the streets almost icebound as the evil approached.  But through the screams of hysteria and terror, you always heard the proverbial words,. “Superman will soon save us”!

As we grew up and put our childhood dreams of play aside, we soon realized that the citizens of Metropolis were just fiction, designed to draw a young boy to that television screen everyday.  But when we look at them closely, we also have to begin to realize that they were not very different from us, the Church, today.

The people of Metropolis were fully aware of the evil around them. They saw it destroying their lives and their society, recognizing it for what it was. They would turn their faces up, looking to the sky in search of, and waiting for, one who would come and save them from the evil that surrounded them.

When we look at the world around us today, we see a situation not much different from the one the people of Metropolis were faced with.  Daily, we see evil becoming more and more ingrained within our society.  We look in every direction and see the face of evil rising from our very streets.  And with each glance, we often find ourselves looking to the sky for a bright flash of light, knowing that One will come to save us.

But what does the Bible tell us about this situation?  Paul wrote of this very issue in 1 Thessalonians 5.  Here he wrote, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”(1 Thessalonians. 5:6)  There are three parts of this verse we need to take a very close look at. First, "not sleep".  The Greek word here means "to be aware, not to be ignorant or unconscious of the situation around us".  Second, "watch".  The word here means "to be alert and vigilant, to make sure nothing destructive should suddenly overtake us".  Third, "sober". The word here means "to be in self-control, to be calm and collected in spirit".  In seeing the meaning behind all three words, we form an incredible understanding of what Paul was telling us in this verse!

Paul shows us that we are to be aware and awake to the events of the world around us. Although our future does not lie in this world, we are a part of this world.  We should always be conscious and informed of the actions this world is taking everyday.  The Bible tells us we should be able to answer and defend our faith at all times(1 Peter 3:15). And unless we are aware of the events that surround us we cannot do so effectively. This is a world that needs to hear the answers that only God can provide, and He has called us to work vigilantly to reach the world with these answers(Matt. 28:19-20, Luke 19:13). We can only achieve this when we are aware and able to recognize evil, and are filled and collected in the Holy Spirit, who is the only One that can provide us with the needed answers as we go about the work God has called us to do.

We can look at the early Church to see this very example.  Life for early Christians who lived under the rule of Rome was not easy.  They daily faced persecution, knowing that they might have to give their life for their faith at any moment.  Rome required all to proclaim Caesar as god, putting Christians at odds with the very heart of their faith. Rome looked upon early Christians as traitors and outlaws, and many were lead away to their death because they refused to acknowledge Caesar as “Lord”.

Despite all the hardships they faced, the early Church continued to grow. The early followers worked diligently to proclaim the Good News of Christ to all those around them. Even at great risk, they followed the Lord’s command to bring His message to a needing world.  But in this message they also found great hope. The common greeting of the early Church became ”Maranatha”, an Aramaic word  meaning “the Lord is coming”.  They lived for the promise that one day the Lord would return for His followers and to set up His kingdom.  In this greeting was taught, when we look down we see the earth and all of its’ problems.  But when we looked up, we see the promise and hope that the Lord will one day bring. They knew until that day came, much work had to be done. There was a world out there that they had been called to reach, and people all around them in urgent need of their One true hope. But the message they had for those in need became clear.  To those who were discouraged by all the world held around them, Maranatha!  To those facing problems they saw no way out of, Maranatha!  To those who saw no hope in this life, Maranatha!  The word became so much more than a greeting, it held the promises, the anticipations, and the desires that only Christ could bring!

Today, we need to follow the example our early Church forefathers set for us so many years ago.  It is time we, the church, rolled up our sleeves and got to work.  We have a world to reach and a short time to do it in.  But while we are working earnestly on all the Lord has called us to do, we need to keep an eye on the sky.  Because,one day, very soon, we will look up and see “The Real Superman”!

MARANATHA!!!