Alan

Brethren,

Hope you like the photo of the Lionfish.

In my scuba (certified PADI), days, I was privileged to see a school of Lionfish in the waters of southern Taiwan. They are very colorful, a slow moving fish, poisonous, and breathtaking fish to behold.

Lionfish Pterois

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterois

Photo taken at the Taiwan National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium at Kenting, Taiwan, the Republic of China

https://www.rtaiwanr.com/kenting/national-museum-of-marine-biology-aquarium

Photo by Alan

Photo Editor: Linux, GIMP 2.8

May the Lord bless all of you.

Alan

Brethren,

I had a request for the song, "I Come to the Garden Alone." I hope that it will bless you soul.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him.

Alan

Glad to hear that the sermon was a blessing to you. I am still learning more about Joseph and his walk with the Lord.

I also noticed in the lives of several men in the Old Testament that had a similar attitude.

When Samuel was a child, and God spoke to him, Samuel said, "... Speak; for thy servant heareth." 1 Samuel 3:11

Isaiah said, "... Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:8

The attitude of some of the most godly men of God is simple, humble, and noteworthy.

Alan

Brethren,

Hope you enjoy the photo of the Male Pheasant with the scripture passage.

"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." Psalm 150:6

Photo by alan

Linux, GIMP 2.8

The photo is not copyrighted and yours to enjoy.

Alan

Some good thoughts from Hosea 4:6

Irishman said, "I thank God that He gave the New Testament church a special promise; that he would never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13: 5 c), which is an indirect quote from Joshua 1: 5. Our God is “there” for us all the time. The first part of this is still true today, (of course) we are destroyed for lack of knowledge. We do not hear enough “truth” and when we do, we do no believe it easily. We need to be convinced. God’s Word is truth, from the beginning to the end; it is true all the way through, word by word in the King James Bible, so that that Book is all we need of truth."

Good devotion on the subject of kisses. I especially appreciate your thoughts on Psalm 2:12

4. The kiss of faith: This is also a kiss of loyalty and love. Again we see the word “kiss” used metaphorically, as an act of endearment, but aimed in the right direction. The verse I refer to is Psa. 2:12:

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

To “kiss the Son (note the capital “S”) is to draw close to Jesus; it is to hold Him in our heart, and admire Him greatly in our thoughts, and it speaks of intimacy with our Lord, without which we have nothing.

Thank you for the devotion.
 

2 hours ago, Alan said:

 

1 Corinthians 9:5-14 says, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? for it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it together for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”

 

The Apostle Paul quoted the Old Testament Law as his authority. “Thou shall not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” Deuteronomy 25:4 The authority for the church receiving the tithes and offerings from the saints in the New Testament is a precept of Melchizedek and the Levites receiving the tithes and offerings from the saints in the Old Testament. “But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.” Deuteronomy 18:24

 

The Apostle Paul, and the other apostles, are examples of men in the ministry in the New Testament church. The apostles had the power, the authority, to receive, as the Levites in the Old Testament, the tithes and offerings to live on and take care of the ministry, and function, of the local New Testament Church, or the local assembly. In a reference to the bishop, or pastor, being the elder of the church, the Apostle Paul reiterated this ordinance in 1 Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders that rule well be counted double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

 

Besides quoting the law in Deuteronomy 25:5 Paul the apostle quoted the Lord Jesus, “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.” Luke 10:7 So, we not only have the precepts of the Old Testament on giving the tithes and offerings for the furtherance of the ministry of the church, but Paul used the words of the Lord Jesus, the founder of the church, as a second authority, in the giving of the tithes and offerings as the means of furthering the ministry of the church.

 

God has ordained that the ministry of the New Testament Church is maintained by the tithes and offerings of the saints as Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham, as Jacob gave tithes, and as the Levites received the tithes and the offerings of the worshipers in the temple in the Old Testament. The word “tithe,” means ten per cent. It can be ten percent of money, animals, grain, or any physical object.

 

Psalm 119:128, “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” The precept, not a command, of giving tithes and offerings is seen in the life of Abraham and Jacob before the law. Abraham willingly gave a tithe to Melchizedek. The tithe given to Melchizedek was a tithe and not a tax. Jacob, Genesis 28:20-22, willingly made a vow to tithe.

 

In the law of Moses the precept of giving tithes and offerings was given to the Jews for the service of the Temple by the Levites. In the New Testament church, the precept of giving tithes and offerings for the work of the ministry is an ordinance of God. The giving of the tithes and offerings by God's people, in any age, is a good and right precept. “I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.” Psalm 119:168

 

This ordinance is a direct command from God to the saints in the New Testament Church. And, this ordinance does not mean in any sense of the word that we are under the law, are to sacrifice animals, nor keep the other commandments of the ceremonial law. According to Hebrews 8:4-13, 9:1-23 and 10:1-11, the ordinances of the temple service and sacrifices are done away in the New Testament church. Therefore, since the New Testament saint is not to offer animal sacrifices, or grain, as an offering, as according to the law of Moses, money is the most common, and appropriate, means of tithing.

 

The precepts, or principals, of tithes and offerings are ordained by God Himself as the means that the carnal, or physical, work of the church is to be maintained as according to the Old Testament. As with the temple in the Old Testament, the carnal, or physical, work off the New Testament church includes: the financial offerings for the minister, the physical upkeep of any church building, the purchase of property for the physical building(s) of the church, missions, evangelism, tract ministries, and those ministries under the direct leadership of the pastor. This precept, or principle, is by the direct ordinance of God.

 

 

The above study stands by itself and needs to further comment.

2 hours ago, Standing Firm In Christ said:

Not once in the entire Bible is anyone told to tithe their monetary income to the House of God... not once.  And yet, so many pastors continue to deceive with their using Scripture out of context to teach the monetary tithe requirement that is totally foreign to the word of God. Have you not ever read 1 Corinthians 9:5-14?

Shame on pastors that deceitfully use passages that speak of an agricultural tithe required of the children of Israel to teach a monetary tithe of their congregations today.  They are not rightly dividing the word of truth. Shame of those false teachers who reject the ordinance of God.

And shame on pastors that defend the deceitful pastors. Shame on those false teachers who reject the ordinance of God.

1 Corinthians 9:5-14 says, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? for it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it together for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”

The Apostle Paul quoted the Old Testament Law as his authority. “Thou shall not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” Deuteronomy 25:4 The authority for the church receiving the tithes and offerings from the saints in the New Testament is a precept of Melchizedek and the Levites receiving the tithes and offerings from the saints in the Old Testament. “But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.” Deuteronomy 18:24

The Apostle Paul, and the other apostles, are examples of men in the ministry in the New Testament church. The apostles had the power, the authority, to receive, as the Levites in the Old Testament, the tithes and offerings to live on and take care of the ministry, and function, of the local New Testament Church, or the local assembly. In a reference to the bishop, or pastor, being the elder of the church, the Apostle Paul reiterated this ordinance in 1 Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders that rule well be counted double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

Besides quoting the law in Deuteronomy 25:5 Paul the apostle quoted the Lord Jesus, “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.” Luke 10:7 So, we not only have the precepts of the Old Testament on giving the tithes and offerings for the furtherance of the ministry of the church, but Paul used the words of the Lord Jesus, the founder of the church, as a second authority, in the giving of the tithes and offerings as the means of furthering the ministry of the church.

God has ordained that the ministry of the New Testament Church is maintained by the tithes and offerings of the saints as Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham, as Jacob gave tithes, and as the Levites received the tithes and the offerings of the worshipers in the temple in the Old Testament. The word “tithe,” means ten per cent. It can be ten percent of money, animals, grain, or any physical object.

Psalm 119:128, “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” The precept, not a command, of giving tithes and offerings is seen in the life of Abraham and Jacob before the law. Abraham willingly gave a tithe to Melchizedek. The tithe given to Melchizedek was a tithe and not a tax. Jacob, Genesis 28:20-22, willingly made a vow to tithe.

In the law of Moses the precept of giving tithes and offerings was given to the Jews for the service of the Temple by the Levites. In the New Testament church, the precept of giving tithes and offerings for the work of the ministry is an ordinance of God. The giving of the tithes and offerings by God's people, in any age, is a good and right precept. “I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.” Psalm 119:168

This ordinance is a direct command from God to the saints in the New Testament Church. And, this ordinance does not mean in any sense of the word that we are under the law, are to sacrifice animals, nor keep the other commandments of the ceremonial law. According to Hebrews 8:4-13, 9:1-23 and 10:1-11, the ordinances of the temple service and sacrifices are done away in the New Testament church. Therefore, since the New Testament saint is not to offer animal sacrifices, or grain, as an offering, as according to the law of Moses, money is the most common, and appropriate, means of tithing.

The precepts, or principals, of tithes and offerings are ordained by God Himself as the means that the carnal, or physical, work of the church is to be maintained as according to the Old Testament. As with the temple in the Old Testament, the carnal, or physical, work off the New Testament church includes: the financial offerings for the minister, the physical upkeep of any church building, the purchase of property for the physical building(s) of the church, missions, evangelism, tract ministries, and those ministries under the direct leadership of the pastor. This precept, or principle, is by the direct ordinance of God.

Whisperingsage,

It was a blessing this morning to see your testimony. God blessed both you, your husband, and the church. I just finished reading the Book of Psalms yesterday and I was reminded to give God the praise continually for the many blessings of life, creation, the scriptures, many answers to prayer, and His work among the peoples of the world.

Your thoughts also brought to my mind what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:19, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." Paul quoted this from Job 5:13, "He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the forward is carried headlong."

I am sure that others appreciate your thoughts. As you feel led to comment on any other devotions I am sure that your testimony will not only be a blessing to me; but to others.

Brethren,

All of my devotions are written to help all of us in our daily walk with the Lord in this world of sorrow, heartache, troubles, and concern. Please feel free to comment, give a testimony, ask a question, on any of the devotions as you feel led. 

Alan

Brethren,

The words to the hymn, Simply Trusting Every Day, are very good and can help us develop a better relationship with the Lord.

Simply Trusting Every Day

Words by Edgar Stites, 1878

Tune by Ira Sankey, 1876

Sung by the Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-ddc-linuxmint&hsimp=yhs-linuxmint&hspart=ddc&p=youtube+congregational+simply+trusting+every+day#id=1&vid=749af4d129bc3e25c466447da3a5c2d3&action=click

May the Lord bless all of you.

Alan

Although Irishman has not posted in a awhile, I always enjoy reading his devotions.

The devotion  on the inception of the church is lengthly, but due to the subject matter, it must needs be. I will give one statement which concludes his reasonings and bible study. Irishman stated, "To claim Pentecost as the inception of the church is a haphazard guess at most; we do not know for sure when the church actually was finished, although we do know from Scripture, that it began with Christ."  Although the quote in not at the end of the devotion, it is a good conclusion.

Alan

7 hours ago, Standing Firm In Christ said:

Then, exercise faith that God will move in the hearts of His people.  Sometimes, I believe that the monetary tithe doctrine shows, and often results in, a lack of faith.  People don't have to trust God to move hearts if the know  that certain people are already dedicated to yielding to the lie.  That money is assured each month. 

It is then that the faith is seen in man,... not in God.

I have held of commenting on any of this thread due to a show of patience, you already know the thoughts of many of those who disagree with you, Christian forbearance, and I have previously shown you an error in some of your passages.

And, every time you discuss tithing you belittle the pastor of every church, as do most internet theologians, and call them hypocrites, lovers of Mammon, and in this "devotion," you call them "handling the word of God deceitfully." In my opinion, this is not a devotion, nor a Bible study, but your own disgruntled method of trying to belittle those who tithe and give to the local church and the pastors of local independent,fundamental, Baptist churches.

Many saints tithe and give to the Lord Jesus due to a heart of love and faith. Like Abraham of old, before the Law, they love the work of the ministry of God, through the man of God, to take care of the ministry of God. Like Abraham, they give by faith. For you to say that those who tithe and give are not doing it by faith is in complete error, repugnant, and a slap in the face. Those who give to the cause of Christ, through the local church, are doing so by faith; they are not doing it as you say by faith in some man.

In our age, the ministry of God is handled through the local church. "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. " 1 Timothy 3:15 Instead of trying to have a ministry through the internet as an internet theologian, belittling pastors, and spreading your venom on OnLine Baptist, why not try to learn "...how thou oughtest to behave in the house of God..." and stick to your criticism of pastors and those who tithe through the local church on own forum on the internet instead of Online Baptist.

I appreciate your kind thoughts and how the Lord used it in your life. The story is also to me very thought provoking every time I read it.

As you mentioned, envy and hatred will destroy any saint. Envy and hatred in the lives of the lost will prevent them from realizing the truth of the Gospel (just like the Pharisees).

The envy and hatred in the lives of the 11 brothers of Joseph also caused their relationship with God to be afar.  Those who hate the truth, and the bearer of the truth, need to realize their problem, ask forgiveness, and try to develop a closer relationship with the Lord in the process. We see the development of this process of asking forgiveness from Joseph (a type of Christ), and then a closer relationship with the Lord, as the story of Joseph develops. And, I am happy to say, as time develops, we will see this process in the live's of the Jewish remnant in the Tribulation Period as they come to the realization that Jesus is the Messiah.

For our non-Chinese speaking friends, xie xie is the Romanized English for 'Thanks,' in Chinese. The Chinese character (word), for 'xie xie' is: 謝謝

Alan

Brethren,

I do hope that the devotion on King Solomon, 1 Kings 4:29-34, and the scripture verse, is a blessing to you.

Bishopwood Tree - Chinese 茄苳樹

Scientific Name: Bischofia javanica

Location: Kenting Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan, the Republic of China

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bischofia_javanica

Photo by Alan

As usual, the photo is not copyrighted.

God bless!

Alan

BabeinChrist,

Glad to hear that the devotion was a blessing to you, the other posts, and the devotional photo.

Alan

Brethren,

I hope the hymn, 'Sweet Hour of Prayer,' is a blessing to you.

Sweet Hour of Prayer

by William Walford and Tune by William Bradley

God bless!

For some reason, the scripture references disappear (twice so far), after a period of time. I will try and add them if they are missing when I notice it.

Alan

Excellent devotion on and teaching, concerning the one, and only, effectual sacrifice for the payment of the sins of mankind; the 'better' sacrifice.

"Heb 7:11

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

If perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, then there was no need of the Saviour – It is stated quite plainly here that perfection was NOT POSSIBLE by the Law.

With this statement, we must come to one of two conclusions – either there was no way for them to be saved, or they were saved by a way other than the Law."

The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, the Priesthood of the Lord Jesus, is 'better' than the sacrifices and the Levitical priesthood. Thank you for the lesson and the conclusion.

Alan

Thank you for the devotion.

I enjoyed your thoughts. We do need to meditate on how God sees us as we really are. On how God is compassionate for us, and give this compassion to others, in order to help them as God helped us. Maybe this is the spirit of Matthew 10:8, "... freely ye have received, freely give." 

Brethren,

If anybody would like to have a PDF file of the tract, "The Word Listen in Chinese," free of charge, here is the website address: http://taiwanvbc.com/analyzingthechinesewordhear.pdf

If you would like to have a Chinese version of the tract in PDF format, free of charge, here is the link： http://taiwanvbc.com/heartractproverbs1.5chinese.pdf

There is another Chinese tract on 1 Corinthians 15:1-6, in Chinese or in English, in PDF format, free of charge, in the same webpage.

All of the tracts are not copyrighted. It is my hope that individuals, churches, and or organizations, would like to print the tracts in the States, or other countries, as the Lord leads.

Also, if any church, individual, or Christian organization, or Christian Newsletter, would like to put a link to any of the salvation tracts on their webpage I would consider it a blessing of the Lord.

God bless you all.

Alan 

Jake,

I appreciate your comments. It is a challenge to stay encouraged at times.

It is my hope that these devotions will be a blessing to you and your walk with the Lord.

Alan

Brethren,

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:4 & 5

As we trust in the Lord, delight ourselves in Him, commit our ways of life, our way of living, ourselves to the Lord; the Lord can mold us, change us, and restore us to a thing of usefulness. The Lord can change the evil desires of our hearts for good; and then bring to pass those good desires of our heart.

My friend, brother Stafford, "Faithfully Restored," made another video on the restoration of a 1940's Lowboy Chest. The video gives a graphic illustration of how God, the master craftsman, can restore a person from a life of decay and mis-use, to a life of usefulness, purpose, and beauty. The video is a blessing to my heart and I hope to your heart as well. I do want to thank brother Stafford for sending me the video for my devotion.

Here is the link to brother Stafford's website for videos on his furniture restoration with biblical applications.

  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV5HTN_favhjRSX5Ttxm77w/videos

May the Lord bless all of you.

Alan

Brethren,

I do hope that the devotion on 1 Kings 15:11-15, 'Right in the Sight of the Lord' is a blessing to your heart and an encouragement as you walk with the Lord.

Hope you enjoy the accompanying photograph with the 1 Kings 15: 11 scripture verse as a visual reminder.

Cedar Tree Clothed with Snow.

Note on the photo. I am in the process of learning how to edit my photos with the

Linux Gimp 2.8 Photo Editor. If you have any problem uploading the photo please let me know.

As before, all of my photos are not copyrighted and are are available as you see fit.

May the Lord bless you all.

Alan

Thank you Orval.

The woodwork is indeed beautiful and done by a master craftsman.

It is my hope that the Lord will use the video on the restoration of antique furniture by Bro. Stafford to encourage all of us to use our talents for the Lord.

And, that we we can understand that God can restore to us the joy of our salvation as we walk the the Lord. "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." Psalm 51:12 

Brethren,

Brother Stafford is an antique furniture restorer. He has made some excellent videos on the correlation of restoring antique furniture and the restoration of the soul, after salvation, in the heart of the believer.  I informed Brother Stafford that if he would like to add any of these videos to any of my devotions that he may do so.

Brother Stafford informed me that the videos are not copyrighted and also informed me that I may add them to the devotions myself.

I want to thank Brother Stafford for using his talents for the Lord and graciously letting me use his videos to give a visual demonstration on the work of the Lord in the heart of the believer.   

The videos give a visual representation of the restoration of a cane rocking chair can visibly show us how the Lord can restore, or recover, the abilities in the heart of the believer that the world, or Satan, took away from us. Just like David was able to defeat his enemies and recover all; the Lord can restore us to usefulness and give us victory in this life.

The Rocking Chair:

May the Lord bless all of you.

Alan