Are we a body that happens to have a spirit or are we a spirit that happens to have a body?

Years ago, while in graduate school, I taught Sunday School kids who came to church on the bus. The church I attended at that time had a bus ministry that brought several hundred kids and some adults to church. The first graders, although they had not been taught much about the Lord and His word, caught on very quickly. They learned that we were trying to teach them about God, Jesus and the Bible; therefore, the answer to every question we asked them in review was God, Jesus and the Bible!

A simple truth: The answer to every question we have in life has it’s answer in God, Jesus, and the Bible.

When it comes to answering the question poised above as title of this article, most Christians answer with confidence; God, Jesus, the Bible, just like the first graders!  Are we answering this way because we know it is the expected answer or are we answering this way because it is evident in our lives?

Do we compromise ourselves to relieve persecution?  Do we bow the knee to God’s enemies to regain lost favor?  Do we talk more about Satan’s opposition than we do victory in Christ?  Do we rush in to relieve pressure that God has imposed on others?  Do we unwittingly shield and protect loved ones and others from God’s chastening? 

When trouble pursues us, when persecution comes, when opposition rushes us, what do we do?   Do we meet it with emotion of our own, do we meet it with an exchange of our own wrath, or  do we meet it with some magnificent self-conceived manipulation of our own? 

If we know that God is in control, then we should be able to see God’s hand in suffering and we should be able to rejoice in the midst of trouble and opposition.

When trouble and opposition come it is an opportunity to participate in what God is doing.  It is an opportunity to demonstrate that we know He is in control by remaining calm, by being submissive to His will and by being obedient to His word.

Note:  Read through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekial looking for the faithful remnant and looking for what God asked them to do as He poured out the fury of His wrath upon Israel for their transgressions and unbelief.  Observe that Israel’s enemies were but instruments in God’s hand to accomplish His purpose.

II Chronicles 18

• Ahab is the king of Israel.  Israel as referred to here is the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom.  The Northern  Kingdom is religious but disobedient.  Their kings habitually practiced that which was not pleasing to God.  They were more influenced by the heathen cultures around them than they were by God’s Law.  They engaged in religious ceremony but they did things their way.  King Ahab did not practice that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.  
• Jehoshaphat is the king of Judah.  Judah is the Southern Kingdom consisting of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah.  Often the Kings of Judah did that which was right in the sight of God, but not always.  Jehoshaphat had been blessed of God for his obedience, but making a league with King Ahab was foolish.  It was dishonoring to God and it nearly cost him his life.
• Micaiah the son of Imla, was God’s prophet.  He was hated, pressured, outnumbered, mocked and punished for his faithfulness to God’s message, but he never wavered.
• Ahab’s four hundred prophets were “yes” men who told the king whatever he wanted to hear.
• God is always in control.

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria.  And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him (Jehoshaphat) to go up with him to Ramothgilead.

And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead?  And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.

 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear?  And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.

 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?

 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla.  And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear?  And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?

 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead?  And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him.  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.  And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me.  And he said, Hearken, all ye people.

 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes.  So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

If you believe in evolution, then you must believe that the idea of God came from man.  If you believe the Bible, then you must believe that the idea of man came from God.

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 

Daniel 4:17

• SILENTLY THEY STAND ALL BRIGHT AND GLEAMING,

SENTRIES IN ROWS, ALL STRAIGHT, NONE LEANING,

EACH GUARDING A TOMB, SO STILL….UN-BREATHING.

THE BEST WE CAN DO WITH SILENT WEEPING…..

HONOR OUR DEAD WITH REVERENT KEEPING.

• FLAGS FLYING HIGH, THEY FOLLOWED IN SEEKING,
  TO PROTECT OUR NATION, OF PRICE NONE THINKING,

EACH GIVING HIS LIFE, HIS BLOOD…….UNBLINKING,

THE BEST WE CAN DO WITH SILENT WEEPING,…..

REMEMBER OUR DEAD WITH GRATEFUL KEEPING.

• GUNS BURSTING LOUD, WE FIRE IN SALUTING,
  SERVICEMAN ALL, BOTH DEAD AND LIVING!

THE FREEDOMS WE OWN, THEY BOUGHT… BY GIVING!

THE BEST WE CAN DO WITH SILENT WEEPING,….

THANK THEM ALL, FOR OUR SAFE KEEPING.

Monty McCoy

Note: This writing was originally posted in 2015 as Field of Honor.

Many years ago I watched a film about a British missionary who carried the gospel to the mountain people of a certain country.  After laboring among these people for a period of time, the British missionary could only account for one conversion among them.  He eventually grew discouraged and left the mission field.

In the meantime this one convert sent his young son off on foot to travel some distance to a school where the boy could learn to read and write.  Eventually the boy turned into a young man and his skills at reading and writing enabled him to develop an alphabet and written vocabulary for his people.  The father then had the son travel to America where he learned the original languages of the Bible.  The goal was for the son to be able to translate the Scriptures into his native language of the mountain people, which he did.

There is a scene, which is burned into my memory, where the father takes the the Bible in his own language up to the mountain top where he spent time alone with the Lord.  In that scene the father holds the Bible up to God in heaven with great rejoicing!

The film did not end there.  On one of his trips to America the son searched for the whereabouts of the British missionary.  He found him in a small apartment in Canada.  The son visited the old missionary unannounced and in his native dress.

Imagine the astonishment of the old missionary who became discouraged and who may have thought his work was in vain!  The one seed that had fallen on good* ground had brought forth fruit many times over!

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  Isaiah 55:10& 11

*good ground – Ground that God prepared before the sower came.

*good – that which accomplishes God’s purpose.

The sower’s prayer: “Lord, lead me to good ground……”

Note:  It has been over thirty five years since I saw this film.  Some parts of it I remember vividly, other parts are not so vivid.  If you are familiar with the film you may find a discrepancy in the details. Details which I tried to limit due to memory or lack of it.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;

Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.  Jeremiah 9:23-26

What Is Ruckmanism?  By John P. McGraw, M.A.

Ruckmanism:  An obscure heresy mainly contained to southeastern United States and several midwestern states.  This heresy gets its name from Dr. Peter Sturges Ruckman (Ph.D., religious history) who has founded his theology on extreme antinomianism (the possibility of inner salvation without outward, visible holiness), a dedication to Bibliolotry, and many radical interpretations of the Bible.  Devotees of this heresy will stand for the most extreme interpretations of controversial subjects if they come from their leader, but under no circumstances will they stand for a critique of the underlying foundations of the heresy itself.  Among other heresies Ruckman teaches divorce and remarriage of Christians as Christian institutions.  Ruckman contends that all those partaking in physical union (“flesh joined to flesh” as he calls it) have been married, though maybe their marriage is not recognized in the eyes of man.  This of course is polygamy in a twisted form.  The clear teaching of the New Testament is that marriage is (1) a ceremony, John 2:1-10, (2) a spiritual union, Ephesians 5, and (3) a physical union, Hebrews 13:4.  Also the New Testament speaks of the marriage of Jesus to the church, certainly something other than “flesh joined to flesh”.  This aspect of ruckmanism is similar to early Mormonism which contended that indeed marriage is polygamous, and was even partaken in by Jesus Christ.

Though maintaining an orthodox pretense in the Baptist tradition, ruckmanism is clearly outside the tradition of both historic and Biblical Christianity.  Another aspect of ruckmanism is the concept that restricts the deity of Christ to Jesus being the manifestation of God in the flesh and not actually God, in that Christ the man was capable of sin and could have fallen.  Should Christ have sinned the universe it is surmised, might have exploded.  It is felt that were Jesus above the capacity to sin, His testing on the earth would have been a hoax.  This of course is a denial of the Godness of Christ just as so called Apostolic (Jesus Only) doctrine is a denial of His humanity.  The fact is that there was no possibility of Jesus falling for He was truly God.  His testing is a willing one to reconcile man to Himself, not of any necessity whatsoever to the blessed Trinity.  Other aspects of ruckmanism are: the English King James Version of the Bible is superior to the original Greek manuscripts, the antichrist may land in a spaceship in the Vatican, there are no women in heaven (all resurrected saints will receive bodies identical to the resurrected body of Jesus), and a vicious badgering and name calling of those who do not submit to Ruckman’s authority.  Another interesting innovation is that Judas Iscariot was not human, even though the New Testament shows Judas betraying human emotions, repentance and suicide.  Ruckman takes Christ’s statement, “one of you is a devil” to mean that Judas was not human.  Of course Jesus no more meant that Judas was not human than He meant that the Pharisees were not human when He called them serpents and children of vipers.  Interestingly enough Ruckman’s teachings on the non-humaness of Judas is a denial of the traditional and Biblical teaching of the antichrist, whom Ruckman thinks Judas was and is and will be.  For the Pauline teaching on the antichrist is that indeed the antichrist is human, specifically the “man of sin.” (2 Thessalonians 2:2)  In that the distinct element of this teaching revolves around a man, ruckmanism can be accurately described as a cult.

When I study Scripture, I am constantly asking what does this word or phrase mean?  For example, Ephesians 5 talks about being filled with the Spirit, but instead of defining what it means to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5, Paul gives characteristics of one who is being filled with the Spirit. 

In the book of Proverbs, much is written about wisdom and understanding, but wisdom and understanding are not clearly defined in Proverbs.  We are just told to get wisdom and to get understanding.  

Psalm 37:4 says; Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  What does it mean to delight oneself in the Lord?  How do I do that?

In John 6 Jesus is the bread of life.  He says to the Pharisees; Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:53&54)   What does this mean?  How can we eat His flesh and drink His blood!?  

At times the Scripture appears to be speaking in riddles by saying; this is what you need to have and this is what it looks like.  The Scripture also teaches that if you search for it, you will find it!  The wonderful thing about studying and searching the Scriptures is that somewhere in Scripture, the riddles are defined. 

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.  Prov. 2:1-6

Being filled or controlled by the Spirit is defined in the parallel passage of Colossians chapter 3 as letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 

Wisdom and understanding are clearly defined in Job 28:28.  And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Isaiah explains what it means to delight in the Lord; …….honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD;  Isaiah 58:13b&14a

Jesus explains His statement concerning eating His flesh and drinking His blood a few verses later in John 6; Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?  When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

The Lord continues; What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?  It is the spirit that quickeneth (makes alive); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  John 6:60-63

…….let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…….