“Liberty or DEATH?”

One of the most used watchwords of the American Revolution which was, “No King but King Jesus!

The date was March 23, 1775. The honored statesman Patrick Henry had all eyes riveted upon him as he spoke the famous quote, “Give me liberty or give me death!” His purpose was to arouse the Second Virginia Convention to arms against the tyranny of Great Britain!  Henry noted that America had done everything she could do to avert the revolutionary storm that was now upon them! Through the years of 1765-1776 they endured taxation without representation, searches and seizures without probable cause, and the confiscation of fire arms --- (to name just a few atrocities!).

“SECULAR Proof; THE BIBLE is AUTHENTIC!”

 Through the centuries, tens of thousands of copies and thousands of translations have been made. This is the transmission God has allowed humans to use which DID introduce some error! HOWEVER, the process ANY SECULAR HISTORIAN uses to determine and do away with historical error was easily applied to God’s Word –because over 5300 manuscripts exist --- (2/3 of the Old Testament is found in the “Dead Sea Scrolls” alone) -- in regard to ALL 66 books of the Bible! In comparison, the number of manuscripts that exist and applied to the writings and evidence that points to the existence of Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle DO NOT come any where CLOSE to the secularly, historically PROVEN accuracy of the Bible! Yet, these writings are accepted as authentic and empirical evidence with no questions asked! Because of the ABUNDANCE of existing Old Testament and New Testament manuscripts, the exacting, secular science described above, of textual criticism has been able to RECLAIM the content of the ORIGINAL writings---the revelation and inspiration of God---to the EXTREME DEGREE of 99.99 percent, with the remaining one hundredth of one percent having NO EFFECT on its content!

So, what does this mean? If EVERYONE accepts other writings—which have a much less number of manuscripts used to apply the exacting textual criticism, The Bible should also be accepted as truth! What else does this mean?

There IS a Man named Jesus. He did live 33 years upon the earth. He was and is the God –Man who was crucified, died and three days latter rose from the grave. 40 days later, He appeared before over 500 hundred EYE-WITNESSES, and ascended to sit at the right hand of His Father! His purpose for coming to the earth is described in John 3:16 of the above, historically proven, textually criticized writing: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that who-so-ever should believe on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!”  

STOP SAYING THERE IS NO PROFF THAT JESUS EXISTED! There is NO OTHER writing that humans have been given the ability to prove more than the Bible! Secularly and divinely as its name correctly translates it is, “The Book without peer!”

 

GO & GROW WITH GOD!

 

Pastor Tim

NKJV Mark 3:7-8 -- 7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. (Emphasis added by Pastor Tim!)

 

Oswald Chambers, the son of a Scottish Baptist minister, died at the young age of 43 years old! The more I study and learn about him---the more I realize he was much like Enoch---who walked so closely with the Lord, that God just called him home ---though Enoch NEVER DIED! In regard to miracles he is quoted as saying, “Indiscernible—you cannot discern exactly why the power should take the turn it does. The old divines spoke of a miracle as “the public power of God.” God emerges suddenly and does something beyond human power. Our Lord’s miracles were cinematograph shows to His disciples of what His Father was always doing (see John 2:1–11). Our Lord never worked a miracle in order to show what He could do; He was not a wonder worker, and when people sought Him on that line, He did nothing (Luke 23:8–9).

Recently, I was called to the hospital as one of my parishioner’s families was in a serious car accident. One minute the driver looked away from the road and the next few seconds the vehicle careened out of control, hitting a concrete abutment and turning end-over-end, until the vehicle rested on it’s top—UNDER WATER! THIS is precisely when God stepped in! She, along with both her nine year old daughter and almost 2 year old, who was strapped into a car seat, were all three submerged in 3-5 feet of water that had gathered in this particular area! Imagine the panic in this parent when she quickly realized, she couldn’t get her baby out, strapped in a car seat, hanging up-side-down, submerged in the murky water! The nine year old had found her way out and was standing on top of the overturned vehicle screaming for help! The actual sound of the crash and these screams for help brought someone nearby, who simply reached in and quickly, without much effort, pulled an unconscious 2 year old from the vehicle! No pulse was found and not knowing what to do they quickly moved to the road—and within critical seconds, there JUST SO HAPPENED to be an individual pull up who is a CPR TEACHER! They immediately performed CPR on the child who was revived and taken to our local hospital ---where no water could be found in her lings---and then by helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Kansas City---where NO WATER was found in her lungs! Children and parent were at church Sunday---a little bruised –but no worst for wear!

Now, I know that some reading this would just chalk this up to a series of great coincidences. But when medical doctors from two hospitals say that they have no explanation --- (other than a miracle) that this baby had no water in her lungs---this, alone, would be considered miraculous. You see, when the brain is unconscious and the body is submerged under water, the muscles that close off the esophagus and airway relax and this results in drowning! This child’s throat remained closed off, even though she was unconscious! Everyone involved happens to be healthy, walking, talking, playing miracles!  (1 Corinthians 2:13-14!)

GO and GROW with GOD!

Pastor Tim