Today’s Devotional – March 20th (Shouting Good Words!)

By admin On March 19th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – March 20th

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Shouting Good Words!

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“The words of wise men are heard in quiet

more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.”

Ecclesiastes 9:17

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A lady once made a comment concerning some of the more boisterous evangelists and preachers that are often heard on television today… “I just don’t like people shouting good words at me!”

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And it’s understandable why this lady felt the way she did!

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After all, it’s very easy to turn the channel, only to hear some religious television or radio station, with somebody “shouting good words”!

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Sunday preaching – Wikipedia – US public domain

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ADOLPH ALSO A POPULAR SHOUTER!

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Now obviously, there must be a lot of people who like this kind of preaching, because some of these more boisterous preachers are among the most popular on television and radio!

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But that doesn’t prove anything! After all, during the 1930’s, and 40’s, a whole lot of people also loved to hear Adolph Hitler shout his “good words”.

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Now this is not necessarily to compare these modern-day evangelists to Hitler; but hopefully, to mainly illustrate that having a large following does not necessarily vindicate the practice of shouting at one’s audiences!

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Adolf Hitler – blued image – courtesy of Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-2008-0922-500 – CC-BY-SA – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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WHAT IS THE CRITERION?

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So just what is the criterion for how a Bible preacher should speak?

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Let’s listen to the Wise-Man…

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“The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.” Ecclesiastes 9:17. This verse seems to have a particular significance in a day in which there is so much shouting, doesn’t it?

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And all this current shouting is quite often accompanied by a lot of prancing back-and-forth, joking and sarcastic jesting, and asking for money.

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Those things should be a tip-off that something’s really wrong!

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Nicodemus – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WHAT IS THE TRUE STANDARD OF CONDUCT?

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Now just what is the true standard? Just how should a preacher or evangelist conduct himself? After all, there were evangelists, such as George Whitefield, who preached to tens of thousands of listeners at one time!

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But back in those days, there were no microphones, so he, no doubt, had to shout! But today there are microphones. So that’s no longer an excuse!

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But even if some of those great evangelists of days past did shout, they are not necessarily any sort of justification for how we should conduct ourselves, either!

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Mere humans, no matter how famous, are just not the standard for behavior.

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George Whitefield preaching by John Collet – www.wikigallery.org – US public domain

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LOOKING TO JESUS

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So just what is the true standard for behavior?

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Well, in all such puzzling questions, it is best to look to the Bible, as well as to the life of Christ, since He is our great role-model. Listen to Scripture…

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“Charity…is kind…charity vaunteth (to boast) not itself, is not puffed up,” 1st Corinthians 13:4. Now this verse doesn’t directly speak about shouting. But it does speak about boasting, and about pride (“puffed up”). And it is not hard to see that so much of today’s preaching is literally dripping with pride.

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Sunday preaching – Wikipedia – US public domain

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“HE SHALL NOT CRY (SHOUT), NOR LIFT UP HIS VOICE.”

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**And so, the question needs to be asked, “Is that how Christ behaved, when speaking publicly?”**

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Did Christ prance back and forth, shouting His good words at people? Did He make sarcastic quips? Did He laugh loudly? Did He constantly intimidate His audiences concerning finances?

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Or was He a quiet man? And was He soft-spoken? And was He solemn and reverent?

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Listen…“Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry (shout), nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.” Isaiah 42:1, 2

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This prophecy from Isaiah in about 700 B.C., foretells of Christ’s future earthly ministry.

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Notice that it conveys the idea of quietness, and not shouting.

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Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license..

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“A SOFT TONGUE BREAKS THE BONE”

Proverbs 25:15

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Listen again to Scripture… “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1.

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No, Christ didn’t need to shout His good words. He knew this proverb very well, because He was the one who gave it to Solomon, in the first place!

And Jesus knew this next verse as well… “By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.” Proverbs 25:15. Here again is confirmation of the efficacy of speaking softly and euphemistically.

And just one more… “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17.

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Notice that the wisdom from above is, “first pure, then peaceable, gentle…”

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Jesus’ Exhortation to the Apostles 1886-94 – by James Tissot – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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IN THE QUIET SOLITUDE OF NATURE

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Just go into a forest and listen to the sounds. The bubbling brook, the songs of birds. The wind’s quiet song it whispers through the trees.

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Yes, the good things in nature are a reflection of God’s character. And even though there is a time for thunder, yet the morning returns with sounds of healing and quiet renewal.

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Eaglecreek – Wikipedia – GNU License

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WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

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“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1st John 2:6

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Now in these turbulent and perplexing times, there are many gospels blowing through Christendom, from every-which direction! And it is a veritable Babylon of confusion these days, to say the least!

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Many true worshipers of God have been misled by Satan and are the unwitting victims of modern-day deceptions.

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But this above verse from 1st John is a great acid-test, when deciding who to listen to: to walk, even as Jesus walked!

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Is their life in harmony with Christ?

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Can you envision Christ living their lifestyle?

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Are they a fit representative of Christ?

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Have they been changed into the image of Christ?

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Yes, Jesus Christ is our great heavenly role-model. Jesus says… “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life…” John 14:6

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USMC prayer before study – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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“Come out of her, My people”

Revelation 18:4

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Well, today’s devotional gives just one more evidence that the current-day church-world has devolved into a “Babylon of confusion”. And this is one more reason why God is calling His people to, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

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ABOVE PICTURE – fall & winter Constellations – Woman of Revelation 12 flees to the mountains – (Ursa Major, a winter constellation) flees to the mountains – Mark 13:14 – Dragon comprised of Hyades, Pleiades, etc…Valley of Decision mountain comprised of Cassiopeia, etc… (This is not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture since this mountain is not in this position, but is actually seen in the fall months)

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To read part 2, click here…

APRIL 14 (Shouting Good Words! Part 2: Emotionalism)

Sunday preaching – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I have been misled in many ways in the past. But help me now to be like Jesus in every way. Help me to use words wisely and sparingly…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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THE HOLY GHOST RIDER CONSTELLATION

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This newest Signs Of Heaven Constellation (Fall, 2013) is by far the faintest of constellations, but is a very incredible and awesome in a number of ways (which this article will explain).

Holy Ghost Rider (above western horizon)

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It is primarily comprised of the Camelopardalis Constellation (head and upper back), plus about 5 stars from the Cassiopeia Constellation (his leg), plus some random stars. It appears as an outline of a rider. Only the back of his head is detailed. And his back and the back of his legs are also detailed. Both sides of his arm are visible, and his hand is gripping the horses mane, and that is detailed by three stars (which are also part of the horse’s mane). The rider is in a position vaguely similar to a race-horse jockey. The two brightest stars in this constellation, are from the Cassiopeia Constellation, and are part of his leg. All the rest of the stars are very faint, and must be viewed on a very starry night.

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But if you can locate the Goodly Horse in Battle Constellation, then you shouldn’t have too much trouble locating this Rider Constellation, provided you have excellent star-watching conditions.

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A GENTLE BREEZE

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“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James

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Yes, as this above passage indicates that the Holy Ghost works so imperceptibly in the lives of Believers, that His presence is mostly impossible to detect. (Now those who are of a signs & wonders gospel might just say just the opposite: that the Holy Ghost is very detectable even to the point of having a powerful presence.) But the Lord is just not an In-your-face God, to say it in a popular vernacular. He’s just the opposite. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21.

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Snakehandling – Wikipedia – public dom.

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ANOTHER JESUS

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There are many today, who use this above passage to justify the fact that they are hearing an audible voice in their head, claiming to be God. But read this verse carefully. It says, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee”. People today are not hearing an actual voice with their actual ears. But in the signs & wonders gospels, they are hearing a non-descript voice in their head, which claims to be Jesus. And so this verse must be taken spiritually signifying that we hear God in our conscience. God doesn’t literally speak with an audible voice. We don’t hear Him with our literal ears. And God certainly doesn’t actually say the words, “This is the Way, walk ye in it” in an audible voice, every time we tend to swerve off the heavenly pathway! Nobody is even claiming that! They are hearing a voice in their head which gives them advice.

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But God comes to us in a still small voice in our conscience: a conviction which prompts us to do this, or don’t do that.

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Braet von Überfeldt woman with bible 1866 – Wikipedia – US public domain.

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TOMORROW:

“March 21st (Pilgrim’s Progress: Passion & Patience)”

patience and passion pilgrim’s progress

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #79 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo.

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