The Omnipotence of Christ

Pastor Robert Hammond

In Christ, we have an omnipotent Savior — A Savior with unlimited power!

Isaiah asserts that he is "mighty to save" (Isa 63:1). Matthew adds that Christ is the one who "hath power on earth to forgive sins" (Mat. 9:6). And John records that he has "power over all flesh" to "give eternal life" (Jn 17:2).

The power of Christ is demonstrated in his creation. The Bible reveals, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (Colossians1:16-17).

The Lord's omnipotence is also viewed in his power over his creation. Christ is the one who "commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him"
(Lu. 8:25).

The unlimited power of Christ is also demonstrated wonderfully in his Resurrection. Christ is the one who has "power to lay … down" (his life), and "power to take it again (Jn 10:18).

Today, Christ is the one who is "upholding all things by the word of his power" (Heb. 1:3).

Let us join the "voice of a great multitude" in proclaiming, "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!" (Rev. 19:6).

Praise God for our omnipotent Savior -- the Lord Jesus Christ!

Learn more about knowing Christ as your Savior.

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"Why do I need Jesus since I already believe in God?"

Pastor Robert Hammond

"Why do I need to believe in Jesus since I already believe in God?" That is an excellent question, indeed!

The simplest answer I can offer is that Jesus taught that we cannot have a relationship with God the Father unless we have a relationship with God the Son. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Earlier, Jesus also said, "If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." I'm sure you'll agree that this raises an important question: Why did the Father send Jesus?

The Bible teaches that we've all sinned against God. The Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23). The Bible also teaches that our sin separates us from God and makes it impossible for us to have a relationship with Him. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Therefore, we have a problem that needs a resolution.

We understand from Scripture that God has always required a blood sacrifice to cover our sins. Hence the bloody animal sacrifices carried out by the Jewish people throughout the Bible in the Tabernacle and the Temple. We see that God's plan was for the Jewish animal sacrifices to forshadow the coming of Christ, the Son of God -- the ultimate sacrifice. In fact, the Bible teaches that God had worked out this plan even before he created the world. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you" (1 Peter 1:18-20).

Consider how the Jewish Temple and Tabernacle picture Christ. They both had one door leading into the outer court (symbolizing the idea that there is just one way to God). Also, they both had an alter (where bloody animal sacrifices were performed) between the door and the place of God's special presence -- picturing the idea that God can only be approached as the result of a blood sacrifice. We understand that this design was God's way of preparing hearts for the idea that Christ would come as the "one way" and the final, perfected blood sacrifice through which we may have access to God the Father-- and a real relationship with Him.

The good news of the New Testament is that Christ did come to die on the cross as the final payment for all our sins -- fulfilling all the prophecies of the Messiah in the Jewish scriptures. Jesus Christ came as the perfect sacrifice that satisfied God’s demand for justice against our sins. Because Jesus came as God in the flesh and allowed his blood to be shed for us, eternal life is offered to us as a free gift. God paid the price for our sin Himself! And Christ rose again from the dead, too!

Our responsibility in all of this is to choose to place our faith in Christ for forgiveness of our sins. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). The word "believe" in John 3:16 means to place your trust in Christ. God promises eternal life to anyone who places their trust in Jesus Christ alone.

Jesus taught that "...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." In calling us to repent, he calls us to make a conscious decision to leave behind our old sinful ways and to turn to him. Importantly, the Bible teaches that there's nothing that we can do to earn forgiveness of our sins. Christ has already done all the work. We simply need to receive him. The Bible says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesian 2:8-9).

When you're ready to repent, you may receive Christ as your personal savior by praying a simple prayer like this:

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I acknowledge I have sinned against a Holy God and that my sins have separated me from you. I believe that you, Jesus, are the Son of God, and I believe you shed your blood and died to pay for my sins on the cross.  And I believe that you rose from the dead. Today, I repent and place my full dependence and trust in You for my eternal salvation.  Please help me to live for you because you have loved me so very much.

Also see Identify the True Messiah by His Parents, Place & Point in Time

Have questions?  Please send e-mail to pastor Hammond at Hammond.Robert@gmail.com, or call / text to 203-543-7456.
 

The Absolute Truthfulness of God

Pastor Robert Hammond

To say that truth is absolute is to say that there is one verion of truth that is univerally applicable to all people throughought all of time — regardless of individual circumstances.

Today, we live in a world that increasingly rejects this idea. Many prefer to create alternative versions of truth that feel more relative to their circustmances.

And yet, the Bible reveals that God is both absolutely truthful and that his words are univerally applicable to all people throughout time. In fact, the Bible testifies to the truthful nature of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

The Truthfulness of God the Father

The truthfulness of God the Father is attested throughout the Bible by the prophet Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Christ, Paul, the Apostle John, and at least one of the angels of heaven. 

In Jeremiah 10:10, the prophet asserts, “...the LORD is the true God...”

John the Baptist also testified to the truthfulness of God the Father.  He asserted that those who accepted his testimony regarding Christ necessarily testified that “God is true” (John 3:33). 

Jesus proclaimed the same truth.  In his address to the unbelieving Jews at the temple, the Lord stated, “he that sent me is true” (John 7:28). Christ later described the Father as “the only true God” (John 17:3). 

Paul adds that “...God is true...” ( 2 Corinthians 1:18). 

John writes that Christ came so that we may know “him that is true” (1 John 5:20).  That same verse concludes with Christ’s description of the Father as “the true God.” 

The writer of Hebrews asserts that it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). 

In the book of Revelation, John records that both the tribulation martyrs and an angel of heaven ascribe truthfulness to the Father.  There, the tribulation martyrs address the Lord as “holy and true” (Revelation 6:10). In Revelation 15:10,  they proclaim, “ Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways.” In the following chapter, an angel gloriously proclaims, “ Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (Revelation 16:7).  

The nineteenth-century Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon summarized the truth of God by writing, “... God is true. He is true in his very nature. There is no deceit, falsehood, or error in the essential nature of God” (Spurgeon, 1875, sermon 1265).

The Truthfulness of God the Son

The truthfulness of Christ — God the Son — is attested by Christ himself,  Paul, and John.  Christ describes himself as “the truth” (John 14:6) and “the true vine” (John 15:1). The Lord also attests to his absolute truthfulness through his use of the phrase “verily, verily.”  

In his gospel, John records twenty-five instances of our Lord’s use of this phrase.  In each case, “verily” is transliterated from the familiar Greek word “amen,” which is a transliteration of the Hebrew אָמֵן (amen). “Verily”  is used to characterize a statement as sure, firm and trustworthy.  Our Lord’s double-use of “verily” serves to emphasize the absolute truthfulness of his statements. 

Christ applied the phrase “Verily, verily” to his statements regarding both his eternality and his omniscience. In John 8:28, the Lord asserts the truthfulness of his eternality by declaring, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”  This wonderful expression of externality  alludes to the similar statement that the LORD made to Moses, in which he described himself as the eternal “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14).

Christ also employed “verily, verily” to signify the absolute truthfulness of his omniscience. In John 1:51, Jesus replied to Nathanael’s astonishment at the Lord’s knowledge by stating, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” 

Later, in John 13:21, Jesus demonstrated the truthfulness of his omniscience when he proclaimed to his disciples, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.” 

Finally, the Lord asserted the truthfulness of his prophecy regarding his  crucifixion by poetically revealing, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24).

Christ similarly employs the use of “verily, verily” to ascribe absolute truthfulness to his statements regarding his sonship.  When confronted by the unbelieving Jews who decried his claim of sonship, Jesus offered, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19).

Jesus taught his disciples “Verily, verily ... The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him (John 13:16). There, the Lord added, “Verily, verily, … he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.”

Christ also utilizes the phrase “verily, verily” to ascribe truthfulness to his statements regarding both sin and salvation.  In John 8:34, Jesus addressed the Jews who had wrongly placed their confidence in their Abrahamic lineage.  There, he states, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” One wrter observes:

The man who sins is a slave to sin and this whether he realizes it or not.  This means also that he cannot break away from sin. For that he needs a power greater than his own. (Morris, 1971, p. 458).

Thankfully, the power to be liberated from the consequences of sin is available to all men in the form of the true gospel. In at least eight verses, Jesus utilized the phrase “verily, verily” to signify the absolute truthfulness of various aspects of the gospel. 

In John 3:3, Jesus explained to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  In John 3:5, the Lord states, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus later proclaimed, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24-25). 

In John 6:32, Jesus preached, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.” In the same message, Jesus proclaimed,  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47).  Jesus added metaphorically,  “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” (John 6:53).  

Later, when addressing a group of Jews who had placed their confidence in Abraham, Jesus taught, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death” (John 8:51). 

Finally, when the Lord taught his disciples regarding prayer, he encouraged them with a promise:  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you  (John 16:23).

Both Paul and John also testified to the truthfulness of Christ. Paul taught the church members at Ephesus that “the truth is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:21). 

In his gospel, John describes Christ as both  the “true Light” (1:9)  and  “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).  In the same passage, John asserts that “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). 

In Revelation, John records the statements of Christ to the several churches.  In his statement to the Philadelphia church, Christ describes himself as “he that is true” (Revelation 3:7).  Similarly, in the Lord’s address to the Laodiceans, he describes himself as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14). Later, in John’s vision of the return of Christ at the conclusion of the Tribulation, John describes Christ as the one who is called “Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11). 

The Truthfulness of God the Holy Spirit

The truthfulness of the Holy Spirit is also thoroughly attested by Scripture.
Christ testifies to the truthfulness of the Spirit three times in John’s gospel (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13).  In each instance, Christ refers to the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of Truth.” 

In Acts 5:32,  Peter also asserted that the Holy Spirit testified to the truth of Christ and the gospel.  John also avers that “the Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6).

At least five times through the New Testament, Scripture also describes the truthful testimony of the Holy Spirit to saved individuals regarding their personal salvation.  Writing to the Romans, Paul states, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).

Paul similarly encouraged the churches throughout the region of Galatia. In Galatians 4:6, he writes, “because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

Finally, in 1 John, the apostle also wrote three times regarding the truthful testimony of the Spirit regarding our salvation (1 John 3:24; 4:13; 5:6). Writing of truth and the Holy Spirit, one writer concludes, “The Holy Spirit is marked by, gives it, defends it” (Robertson, 1930).

Responding to these truths
Praise the LORD for the absolute truthfullness of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Praise him for defining truth, revealing truth, and acting in a manner that is consistently faithful to the truth of his words.

Pray, LORD help me to accept your truth as applicable to me. Help me to live according to the absolute truth of your words — the Bible.

Copyright (c) 2020. Robert W. Hammond

Call the Witnesses!

(Meditations on John 5-6). The Old Testament establishes the principle that truth is discerned through the testimony of multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6,19:15).

Today, this principle is applied in modern courtrooms. The innocence or guilt of the accused is assessed through the testimony of multiple witnesses.

Jesus taught that this principle also applies to evaluating his claim to be the Son of God! In John 8:17-18, Jesus told the Pharisees, “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.” Jesus taught that his own testimony, combined with the testimony of the Father, establishes that he is the Son of God. Indeed, at Jesus’s baptism, the Father testified, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Today’s reading provides three additional witnesses to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God.

First, Jesus reminded his audience that John the Baptist “bare witness unto the truth” (5:31-35). John testified that Christ is both “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (1:29, 36) and “the Son of God” (1:34).

Second, Jesus asserted that his works are a greater witness to his deity (5:36, 10:25). Jesus healed a man that had been sick for 38 years (5:1-16). And he fed 5,000 with just “five barley loaves, and two small fishes” (6:9). Nicodemus was moved by this evidence. “We know that thou art a teacher come from God,” said Nicodemus to Jesus. “For no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2).

Third, Jesus used the authority of Scripture (Psalm 138:2, 2 Timothy 3:16) to testify of his divinity (5:39). He revealed that Moses wrote of him (5:46. Also see Genesis 3:15, Deuteronomy 18:15-19). In Luke 24:27, Jesus taught that he was revealed in “all the scriptures.” After Philip came to Christ, he proclaimed, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth…” (John 1:45, also Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2).

Praise God for giving us this five-fold testimony to the divinity of Christ: the testimony of the Father, the Son, the forerunner of Christ, the works of Christ, and the Scriptures.

Pray, Father, encourage us through this evidence. And help us use it to bring others to Christ (Romans 10:14-15).

Learn more about some of the Old Testament prophecies that testify to the identity of Christ. See bit.ly/prophesy-Christ

Copyright © 2020 Robert W. Hammond.

Why we still use the King James Bible at Long Hill Baptist Church.

Pastor Robert Hammond

At Long Hill Baptist Church, we praise God for equipping us with His words! We're aware that the debate around Bible versions has, at times, been less than gracious.  Our desire is to graciously communicate the rationale for a our decision to make exclusive use of the King James Bible (which is also known as the Authorized Version). We recognize at least four key reasons for using the King James Bible:

The Kings James Bible is an accurate translation of the correct version of the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament.

It uses the Hebrew and Greek texts that have been received by God’s people throughout history.  These underlying texts are commonly known as the Textus Receptus – which simply means “received text.” All of the other modern Bible translations used a different underlying Greek New Testament.    They made this decision because, during the 19th century, additional Greek manuscripts were discovered. 

The problem with those newly discovered manuscripts is that they were not consistent with each other!  Despite the inconsistencies, those newly-discovered manuscripts were judged to be “older and therefore better” than the words of God that have been traditionally received by God’s people.  Consequently, the newly-discovered manuscripts were used by academicians to produce a new version of the Greek New Testament (the so-called Critical Text). 

The Critical Text is the Greek that underlies all modern translations, including the English Standard Version (ESV), New Internal Version (NIV), New American Standard Version (NASB), New Living Translation (NLT), The Message, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), and the New Living Translation (NLT).

This Greek that underlies the modern translations is missing hundreds of words — and entire verses. For that reason, Bibles like the English Standard Version (ESV) are missing verses, including: Matthew 17:21, Matthew 18:11, Matthew 23:14, Mark 7:16, Mark 9:44, Luke 17:36, John 5:4, Acts 8:37 and more.

At Long Hill Baptist Church, we reject the notion that God could have hid his true words from his people until the 19th Century.

To do so would have made it impossible for God’s people to live according to His words – as required by Matthew 4:4.  In Matthew 4:4, Jesus taught that we are responsible to live according to his words:

“…It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Furthermore, the clear Biblical teaching that God promised to preserve His words obliges us to reject the idea that His true words would need to be restored by man through an academic process.  In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said that his words would never pass away.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) 

In the Old Testament, the Book of Psalms teaches:

“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalm 12:6-7)

We recognize that some of the modern Bible versions used an undesirable approach to Bible translation.

The so-called dynamic equivalence (or paraphrase) technique was used to produce many of the modern Bible translations, including the New International Version (NIV) and the New Living Translation (NLT).  This approach to translation attempts to preserve the basic ideas of each scriptural passage – without attempting to make a word-for-word translation.  While this approach produces translations that are generally easy to understand, it necessarily denies readers access to “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4).   Thankfully, our King James Bible uses a more rigorous technique – formal equivalence.  This approach attempts to preserve the meaning of each individual word and phrase – and therefore results in a translation that is closer to the original Greek and Hebrew.

The King James Bible reflects a level of grammatical precision that can’t easily be achieved with contemporary English.

In John 3:7, Jesus told a man named Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”  The pronoun “ye” is the second-person plural form of “you.”  Jesus used the plural form to make it clear that all men must be “born again” by repenting and placing their faith in him alone.  He desired for people to understand that it wasn’t just Nicodemus that needed to be born again.  However, most modern translations read, “You must be born again.”  By choosing to use more contemporary English, modern translations cloud the true meaning of the words that Christ spoke.

For more information:

• Plain Reasons For Keeping to the Authorized Version

• What Today's Christian Needs To Know About The Greek New Testament

• Which Bible Version - Does It Really Matter?

Encouraging Examples of Humility

Pastor Robert Hammond

Growing in our walk with Christ involves accepting the truth that life is more about humbly serving him than about pridefully living to serve ourselves. John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). In John 12-13, examples of Christ-like humility are contrasted with cases of self-centered pride. 

First, we find Mary humbly annointing Jesus’s feet with an expensive perfume called spikenard (12:1-8). John records that Mary then wiped his feet with her hair. Mary’s humble heart is seen in her willingness to use the expensive perfume on someone other than herself. And it is seen in her willingness to use her hair to wipe her Lord’s feet! Clearly, both actions reveal that she placed serving her Savior ahead of herself. 

Second, we find Jesus humbly riding into Jerusalem on a donkey (John 12:12-19). This fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy that Jesus would come “lowly, and riding upon an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).   Shortly thereafter, we find Jesus humbly washing the feet of his disciples (13:4-10). As Mary used her hair to wipe Jesus’s feet, Jesus humbly used the towel that he wore to wipe the feet of the disciples.  

Jesus’s humble actions are complemented by his humble words. “For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me,” said Jesus.  “He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak (12:49). Jesus humbly submitted himself to the Father. No doubt, this is an example for us. 

The humility of Mary and Jesus is sharply contrasted with the pride of Judas and the Jewish rulers. Judas pridefully asked “Why was not this ointment sold… and given to the poor” (12:5-6). He cared not for the poor, but rather coveted the proceeds from the sale. The Jewish rulers believed on Christ, but pridefully refused to serve him by confessing him to others (12:42). John records that they feared being put out of the synagogue. He explained, “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (12:43). They pridefully valued their power and position before men over humility and service to their Lord and Savior. 

Jesus calls believers to not only confess him (Matthew 10:32), but also to humbly serve him and follow him (John 12:26). He calls us to recognize that we are not greater than our Lord (13:16).  As such, we should not live to serve ourselves. Rather, we should live to follow his example of humble service (John 13:14-15).

Praise God for his promise to bless us as we humbly submit to serve him (John 13:17; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6,10).

Father, help us humble ourselves (Romans 12:3; Philippians 2:5-7). And help us to give ourselves to humbly serve you as we serve others (Romans 12:1; Galatians 6:10).

Copyright 2020 Robert W. Hammond.

The Shepherd, the Sheep, and the Lamb.

In John 10, Jesus portrays himself as both the shepherd of his sheep (10:2, 11, 14)  and the door of the sheep (10:7, 9). The Bible pictures the Lord’s people as his sheep (Isaiah 53:6, Matthew 9:36, 1 Peter 2:25). In Bible times sheep and shepherds were familiar to most people. They understood that sheep are vulnerable animals that depend upon a shepherd to provide for them and to protect them. What an apt depiction of God’s people and Christ our shepherd! 

Consider several aspects of the relationship of the shepherd to his sheep. Jesus says that he is the good shepherd (10:11, 14) who knows his sheep. He says that he “calleth his own sheep by name (10:3). Jesus also says, “I know them” (10:28). What a wonderful thought. The Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) knows every one of us by name!  

Jesus also describes himself as the shepherd who leads his sheep (10:3). In the twenty-third psalm, Jesus is portrayed as the Shepherd who “leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2). In John’s visions of heaven, we are encouraged that Jesus will lead his sheep “unto living fountains of waters” (Rev. 7:17). Praise God for a Savior who is also the Shepherd who leads his people. 

Jesus also describes himself as “the door of the sheep” (10:7-9). He is the only way into the sheepfold (John 14:6). Jesus states, “by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (10:9). Recall that the Old Testament tabernacle had just one door that permitted access to the place of God’s special presence. That door pictured Jesus as the only door to God the Father. Truly, he is the one and only way, truth, and life (John 14:6).

Jesus is the door that permits access to the Father because he laid down his life so that we could be forgiven by the Father. In John 10, Jesus twice states that he is the shepherd who gave his life for his sheep (10:11,17). He did that so that his sheep “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (10:10). Jesus came as a man precisely for that purpose (John 1:14). In that sense, he is the Great Shepherd who came as a sheep! He is the one who was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7). He is the “lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19) “which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus is the Shepherd who came as a lamb to save his sheep!  Father, help us to be sheep that know our Shepherd’s voice and follow him (10:4). 

Copyright © 2020 Robert W. Hammond.

Vision Trials & Victorious Testimonies

(Meditations on John 8-9). God has great purposes for allowing trials (Romans 8:28). In 2019, I developed an eye problem that left me without vision in half of one eye. An emergency surgery restored my vision, albeit with some lasting effects. I’m thankful that the Lord has worked through this trial to grow my dependence upon him.

Not long after my own vision trial began, I met a man who lost his vision after suffering a stroke. Although he had strayed from God, he evidently remembered that “he that is of God heareth God's words” (John 8:47). And so he allowed me to read Scripture to him. Thankfully, the words of God have the effect that God desires (Isaiah 55:11). After a short time, the man testified that God used his trial of blindness to open his eyes again to the truth of God’s words! Like the psalmist, he recognized that God used an affliction to call him back to obedience (Psalm 119:67). God had a great purpose for his trial!

In John 9, we see Jesus’s purposes for miraculously giving vision to a man who was blind from birth (John 9:1). Christ’s disciples asked if the man’s blindness had resulted from sin (John 9:2). The Lord replied that the man’s blindness had been allowed in order to create an opportunity for him to perform a miracle that would demonstrate his power (John 9:3). (Also recall John 5:36, John 10:25). Truly, the Lord had a great purpose for allowing this trial, too!

That man’s response to his trial also demonstrates God’s purposes for trials. First, the man responded by giving a testimony of Christ’s power to his neighbors (John 9:8-12) and to Jewish leaders (John 9:13-34). Because of his trial and his testimony of healing, many were challenged to consider Christ’s identity.

Second, the man came to faith in Christ as a result of his trial! After Jesus gave the man sight, the Lord asked him if he believed “on the Son of God” (John 9:35). The man humbly answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? (John 9:36). Jesus replied, “Thou hast both seen him and it is he that talketh with thee” (John 9:37). The man answered, “Lord, I believe” (John 9:38). Amen!

Third, the man’s trial and his miraculous healing by Christ resulted in his worship of Christ (John 9:38). To worship is to bow one’s heart in reverence and adoration. As a result of his trial, the man humbled himself before his Lord and Savior. Amen!

Believers should remember that the Lord has great purposes for trials. We should allow this truth to frame our response to every trial. Father, help us to “glory in tribulations” (Romans 5:3). And help us to be quick to testify to the grace that we have received from Christ to endure trials (2 Corinthians 12:9). Trials that result in victorious testimonies for Christ are victories indeed!

Learn more about why God allows trials at http://bit.ly/WhyTrials

See these Bible-listening tips for people with low vision.

Copyright © 2020 Robert W. Hammond.

Christ is Omniscient. So, Why Doesn't He Know The Timing Of His Return?

Pastor Hammond

Recently, I was asked to explain my understanding of Jesus' statement in which he indicated that only the Father knows when Christ will return:

Mt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

This is difficult because we understand that Christ is God the son and that he therefore has perfect knowledge (omniscience).  How may we reconcile his omniscience with his claim that he doesn't know when he will return?

Here's a short answer:  Christ has always possessed his divine nature.  He did not become less divine when he took on a human nature at his incarnation.  However, when he came, he chose not to fully exercise all of his divine attributes. This would include his omniscience – in terms of his knowledge of when he would return.

This answer is consistent with the idea is expressed in Philippians 2:6-8:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  

You may be wondering why Christ evidently chose to not possess knowledge of the timing of his return. 

First, note that the verses that follow Mat 24:36-37 appear to address the need for people in the Tribulation to maintain a state of readiness for the return of Christ -- not knowing exactly when he will return. No one in the Tribulation will know exactly when he is coming (Not even Christ!) -- and so all should take great care to get ready and maintain a state of readiness.

Secondly, Christ's choice to not know the time of his return may be intended to communicate his submission to the plan of the Father and his reliance upon the Spirit of God.  If correct, this is a wonderful example for us!    

The Greatest Gift of All

Pastor Robert Hammond

Over the years, I have read innumerable Christmastime articles that reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.  Predictably,  they contend that Christmas is less about receiving gifts and more about time for family, reflection, and, of course, for giving gifts. 

That all sounds good.  But, I really like to receive gifts.  

One Christmas season, I was invited to share the story of the best gift that I ever received.  A friend invited me to share my story with a woman in his family who has been fighting a terminal illness.   I quickly accepted the invitation to visit her at a local nursing home.

When I entered her room, I introduced myself and prayed with her. Then, I began telling her the story of the most wonderful gift that I had ever received.

I told her how, when I was a boy, a man took a book and told me the story of a Father who understood the importance of giving like no one else.  The man described a Father who was so concerned for others that he was willing to send his only son to die for them. 

I told her how that Father’s gift was motivated by unfathomable love.  And I told her that his son shared that love so perfectly that he was willing to shed his blood and to die for me. 

Puzzled, the women in the hospital bed turned away.  And then she turned back toward me. 

I explained that the book that was read to me was the Bible. And I explained that Father who was described to me is God the Father.   I continued that the son who was offered by his own Father is the long-prophesied Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I explained that God the Father sent his son both to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem and to die on the cross at Calvary – exactly as had been prophesied in the Scriptures.  And I told her why he did that:  According the Bible, I am a sinner.  Because of that, I deserve death – eternal separation from God.  But, according to the Bible, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I told her that I had received that gift and I explained how she might receive it, too.  I explained that the Bible teaches that our good works aren’t good enough to earn forgiveness.

I told her how Jesus said, “ye must be born again.”   And I told her that Peter, the Apostle, said, “Repent (turn away from sin) … and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” I explained that Salvation is a free gift that must simply be received by turning away from sin and by placing one’s faith in Christ. 

That night, she too decided to receive the greatest gift that I have ever received – the gift of eternal salvation.  She prayed and received Christ as her Savior. Because of her decision to receive Christ, she may know with certainty that, whenever her battle with illness ends, she will be in Heaven with her Savior.  That’s a great Christmas gift indeed.

Have you received the greatest gift of all – the Lord Jesus Christ?    

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Read "Why do I need Jesus?"

We Care About People Who Identify as LGBTQ+

Pastor Robert Hammond

Long Hill Baptist Church cares about people who identify as members of the LGBTQ community.  There’s several important things that we want you to know:

1. We love you.  And God loves you, too. If fact, Jesus proclaimed, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
   

2. In love, we share that, according to the Bible, a person doesn’t belong in the LGBTQ+ community simply because they lack a natural attraction to people of the opposite biological gender. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that some people are born without a natural attraction to people of the opposite biological gender.
   
   See for yourself: Matthew 19:12 says, “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb…”
   
   What does that mean? Historically, a eunuch was typically a man who was castrated so that he would not be distracted by physical attraction to women. We understand that, in Matthew 19:12, the Bible uses this fact to illustrate the truth that some people are born without a natural attraction to opposite biological gender (some are born so “from their mother’s womb”). Importantly , however, that doesn’t mean that God intends for those people to identity with the LGBTQ+ community.
   
   Why would we say that? In the Bible, God specifically prohibits homosexual behavior. For example, in Leviticus 18:22, God commands, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” And so the Bible makes it very clear that God views practicing homosexuality as a sin. This matters because, according to the Bible, any sin will condemn us to punishment in a very real and eternal hell (Romans 6:23) — unless we find God’s forgiveness.

3. The good news is that Jesus Christ offers forgiveness of sin when turn to to him in faith.

In Romans 3:23, the Bible says that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  God's perfect holiness and justice requires that a penalty be paid for sin.  In fact, in Romans 6:23, the Bibles teaches that "the wages of sin is death."  The good news is that the son of God -- the Lord Jesus Christ -- paid that penalty for us by shedding His blood and dying upon the cross in our place.  It is only through repentance (turning to Christ from sin) and placing one's faith in Christ that our sins are forgiven.  Romans 6:23 says, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  If you will repent and receive Christ as your savior, you can know for certain that you have been forgiven and that you have eternal life.

Thankfully, when we come to Christ with a humble, repentant faith, we find both forgiveness of all sin and strength to put off old sinful habits.

Click to learn more about knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior.

What's in a Name?

Whereas the gospels of Matthew and Mark portray Christ as King and Servant, respectively, Luke and John emphasize the humanity and deity of Christ, respectively.

Chapter one of John’s gospel contains a wonderful catalog of fourteen names and titles for our Savior. Ten times, Christ is called by his personal name, Jesus, which means savior (Matthew 1:21). Throughout this single chapter our Savior is also called “the Word” (1:1-4), “God” (1:1), “the true light” (1:7-9), “Jesus Christ” (1:17), “the only begotten Son” (1:18), “the Lord” (1:23), “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (1:28, 36), “Rabbi” (or Master) (1:38, 49), “the Son of God” (1:34, 49), “Messias” (meaning the Christ) (1:41), “Jesus of Nazareth” (1:45), “the king of Israel” (1:49), and “the Son of Man” (1:51).

These names are worthy of much personal study. They help us to better understand the nature of our Savior. For example, his title “Lord” refers to his supreme authority.  Because of his unique authority, Jesus alone is to be called “Rabbi” or “Master” (Matthew 23:7-8). Our Lord’s authority stems from the fact that he is “the Word.” John associates this title with Christ’s divinity and his role as creator of all things (1:1-3). Jesus was not created. Rather, he created all things (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16), working together with Father and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2). Mormons falsely teach that Christ is a created being who became a god. Similarly, the Jehovah’s Witnesses falsely teach that God the Father created the Son.

Please join me in praying for the LORD to help us to understand the meaning and significance of the names and titles of our Savior. Pray for the LORD to give us boldness to defend the truth that Christ created all things. And pray for the LORD to help us to submit to Christ as both our Lord and Savior!  

Copyright (c) 2020. Robert W. Hammond

How Should Christians Respond to Coronavirus?

Pastor Robert Hammond, Long Hill Baptist Church, Trumbull, CT

People around the world are understandably concerned about the coronavirus pandemic. 

According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC),  most people who come down with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms.  However, some people develop fever, cough, and trouble breathing. And sadly, many people have died.

This article provides information about avoiding infection, together with information about how we can be physically and spiritually prepared for COVID-19.  

Avoiding infection.  The CDC recommends that we wash our hands frequently with soap. Health officials also suggest that we take reasonable steps to limit our exposure to sick people. See more details about current recommendations at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/

Being Prepared Physically. Public officials have recommended that we attempt to maintain a two-week supply of medicine, food, cleaning supplies and personal care items. That’s wise advice to help manage the physical aspects of the situation. We would also be wise to prepare spiritually.  

Being Prepared Spiritually

Be reminded that God has an answer for our anxiety.  In Philippians 4:6, the Lord commands us to not be filled with worry about anything. “Be careful for nothing,” writes Paul. “But in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”  

Instead of worrying, we are to pray about our worries. And we are called to do so with thankfulness. Be thankful that God desires to hear our worries.  And be thankful that he desires to answer our prayers. Believers who obey these commands are promised a blessing:  “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:8).
Note also that the Lord commands us to focus our minds on godly things rather than fearful things (Philippians 4:8).

Remember that God sometimes uses illness to bring people to Christ.  The blind man who received sight in John 9 came to faith in Christ as a result of his trial!  Pray that many people will come to Christ as a result of COVID-19. No doubt, this disease is causing many lost people to be more willing to hear your testimony of salvation and eternal life in Christ.  Be prepared to share the truth that the the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true way to be prepared for the possibility of death.

Be reminded that God sometimes uses our physical illnesses to grow us. In James 1:2, we are commanded to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” The word “temptations” has the idea of trials. The Lord desires that we be grateful for trials because he uses them to grow us spiritually. 

Understand that God sometimes uses illnesses in order to demonstrate his power. In John 9, the disciples learned that a certain man had been born blind in order to create an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate his power by giving the man sight (9:3). When Christ chooses to heal, he has power to heal.

But also understand that the Lord sometimes allows illnesses to continue so that he may continue demonstrating his power! That was the case with Paul's “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:6-7). Paul prayed for healing. But instead of healing Paul, Christ answered Paul’s prayer by promising grace (power) to endure the trial. And so Paul did not despair. Instead, he proclaimed, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”  (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul continued, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities... for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

When the Lord chooses to allow an affliction to continue, rely upon his grace to continue -- knowing that he has good purposes for the trials (Romans 8:28). 

Understand that God sometimes uses physical illness to protect us from spiritual danger. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul revealed that he was tempted to be prideful about his ministry. He understood that the Lord used a “thorn in the flesh” to protect him from that spiritually-dangerous pride.  Ask God to help you accept that, in his wisdom, he sometimes uses illness to humble us. 

Understand that God sometimes uses illness to encourage us to testify of him. Sometimes, the Lord uses physical trials to encourage his people to testify to others about his power in our lives. After the man in John 9 received sight, he testified to others about the power of Christ. Paul also testified to the Corinthian church about the power he found in Christ to continue despite not being healed. Whether or not God chooses to heal us, we may testify about his power in our trials (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Be reminded that illness is not always the result of our own sin. According to the Bible, illness and death are a direct consequence of Adam’s sin in the garden (Genesis 3). Prior to Adam’s sin, there was no death (Romans 5:12). When Adam sinned, God placed a curse upon all of creation.  Illness and death are two of the results of that curse. Some of the illnesses that we experience simply reflect this truth.

Understand that some illnesses are the result of spiritual attack. Job is an example of a man who suffered illness that was not related to his own sin. His friends repeatedly insisted that he suffered because of his sin.  However, the Bible records that Job was “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). Job’s illness was the result of spiritual battle rather than his own sin.  

Remember that God sometimes uses illness to correct us. While not all illnesses are the result of our own sin, our personal sin can indeed result in God correcting us through illness. For example, Paul told the Corinthian church that some of their members were weak or sick because they had sinned by participating in the Lord’s Supper unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:30). He also told them that some had died because of that sin!

What’s the biblical answer for illness that results from our personal sin? In James 5:13-15, we are instructed to pray and to confess our sin. The afflicted are instructed to “call for the elders (pastors) of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” Throughout the Bible, oil pictures the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you about some specific sin, take a moment to confess your guilt. Ask the Lord to give you grace to turn from sin to obedience.

Be reminded that Christians should be prepared to demonstrate love to others. Christ commands all believers to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). He taught that people would be able to identify his disciples by love they exercised (John 13:34-25). In the event of a growing epidemic, God’s people will have many opportunities to demonstrate love to both to one another and to the lost. Bear in mind that the Lord himself makes this love possible as we yield to him (Galatians 5:22).

In conclusion, Christians would be wise to remain prepared both physically and spiritually. Bear in mind that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).  Lord, help us to be prepared to glorify our Savior, to reach others and to benefit spiritually from the trials that lay ahead. 

Our Certain Hope for Heaven

When I share the gospel I often ask people if they are certain if they will go to heaven.  They typically answer, “I hope so.” They lack a certain hope. That’s because people who don’t know the biblical way of salvation are usually trusting in their good works to earn their way into heaven. They lack confidence about going to heaven because they lack confidence that their works will be good enough to earn entry into heaven.

Our job is to share the truth that our works can never be good enough for heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). The only work that matters when it comes to heaven is the work that Christ completed on the cross. Only those who come to Christ in repentant faith may know a certain hope of heaven (John 14:6). 

In the opening verses of John 14, the Lord comforted believers with the certainty of heaven. “I go to prepare a place for you,” said Jesus. “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).  

Are you looking forward to heaven? Heaven is a perfectly holy place (Psalm 20:6). It is a place without sin or sinners (Revelation 21:8). None of the evil of this world will be there. Heaven is a place of spectacular beauty (Revelation 4:2-3, 21:18-21). None of the ugliness of this world will be there. Heaven is a place of humble worship (Revelation 4:8). None of the pride of this world will be there. And Heaven is a place where God’s people will rest from our earthly labor (Revelation 14:13).  

Heaven is the place where God’s people “shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more” (Revelation 7:16). It is where “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Revelation 21:4). 

Consider your response to the certainty of heaven. Believers are called to “rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Believers are called to “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). And believers are called to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). That involves faithfully serving our Lord on this side of heaven.  

Father, help us to find comfort in our certain hope of heaven (Romans 15:13). And help us to humbly tell others how they may also know our certain hope! 

Learn more about the certain hope that we find in Christ.  See bit.ly/CertainHope

Copyright © 2020 Robert W. Hammond.

Feasts that Encourage our Faith

Although we no longer celebrate the Old Testament feasts (Galatians 4:9-10), we praise God for using them to both picture Christ and to encourage our faith.

In John chapter 7, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles (or ingathering) (John 7:2, 10). This was the last of seven annual feasts that the LORD directed his people to celebrate (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:41). During this seven-day celebration, the people lived in tents (or tabernacles) as a reminder that God rescued them from Egypt (Levitus 23:42-43). This feast occurred at the end of the autumn harvest season. That made it an ideal time to celebrate God’s bountiful blessings. It also pictures Christ and the blessings that he will pour-out upon his people during his future thousand-year Millennial reign on earth (Revelation 20:4; Isaiah 11:6-10; Zephaniah. 3:15, 17).

Take a moment to consider how the other Old Testament feasts picture Christ. First, see how the four springtime feasts picture the first coming of Christ.

Passover is the first spring feast (Exodus 12:7-14; Leviticus 23:4-8; Numbers 28). It pictures Christ’s death upon the cross. Passover celebrates the night in Egypt when the Lord “passed over” his people as he smote the first-born of the Egyptians. The Lord spared his people when they obeyed his command to take the blood of a sacrifice “and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post” of their houses” (Exodus 12:7). What a clear picture of both the blood that Christ shed upon the cross and the safety of those who trust in him and his blood! Not surprisingly, Paul called Christ “our passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The feast of unleavened bread is the second spring feast (Ex. 23:15; Lev. 23:6-8). It pictures Christ’s call for his people to live righteously. Paul commanded the Corinthian church members to “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened…”(1 Corinthians 5:7).

The feast of firstfruits is the third spring feast (Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:9-14). It pictures Christ’s resurrection. Paul taught the Corinthian church “now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Just as the firstfruits of the spring harvest encouraged hope of a greater fall harvest, Christ’s resurrection encourages the certain hope that all believers will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

The feast of weeks (or Pentecost) is the fourth spring feast. It pictures Christ sending the Holy Spirit from the Father to indwell, comfort, and teach believers, which prepares us to go into all the world to carry-out the Great Commission (Acts 1:8). This demonstrates the love and faithfulness of our Savior and his desire to equip us for his service.

The remaining three annual feasts are celebrated in autumn. They picture the second coming of Christ. The feast of trumpets is the first autumn feast (Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers. 29:1-6). It pictures Christ’s return at the Rapture. Paul taught the Thessalonian church that the Lord “shall descend …with the trump of God …” (1 Th. 14:6). On that great day, believers will receive a heavenly body that is eternal and incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)!

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is the second autumn feast (Leviticus 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11). It pictures Christ as the way of salvation for Israel. Zechariah prophesied , “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin…” God is not finished with the Jewish people (Zechariah 13:1).

As we have seen, the feast of tabernacles (or ingathering) is the third autumn feast. It pictures Christ as the source of future Millennial blessings.

The prophecies pictured by the spring feasts have been fulfilled in Christ’s death, resurrection, and sending of the Holy Spirit. The fulfillment of those prophecies should encourage our faith that the future events depicted by the three autumn feasts will indeed be fulfilled. The trumpet will sound! Israel will find salvation in Christ! And Christ will bless his people in the Millenium!

Copyright © 2020 Robert W. Hammond.

Bible Listening Tips for People With Low Vision

People who are learning to live with low vision or blindness may encounter difficulty finding a good solution for listening to the Bible. While various apps and other solutions are available, many users have difficulty learning to navigate the content without the benefit of vision. Some potential solutions are discussed below.

1. King James Bible Radio. iPhone users may use the Apple music app to listen to the “King James Bible Radio.” This online radio station provides a continous 24-hour-a-day reading of the King James Bible. iPhone uses who are comfortable using Siri may simply say, “Hey Siri, play King James Bible Radio.” The benefit of this solution is its simplicity. There’s virtually no set-up required. The main drawback is that you may only listen to the passage that’s being read at any given time, i.e. there’s no option to navigate to a specific passage.
   
   

2. Podcast Bible. iPhone users may utilize the Apple Podcast app to listen to the King James Bible. The “Faith Comes by Hearing - King James Bible” podcast is an excellent solution that treats each chapter of the Bible as a podcast episode. To begin listening, search for the title in the Apple Podcast app. Then tap on the desired podcast and tap “subscribe.” Chapters may then be downloaded in advance or streamed.
   
   Once the podcast is subscribed, iPhone users who are comfortable using Siri may simply say, “Hey Siri, play my podcasts.”
   

   The main benefit of this solution is that it enables users to select chapters to read. A care-provider may pre-select chapters to download. Alternatively, a user may simply begin playback at the first episode (Genesis 1) and automatically proceed through the Bible. Again, each episode is a chapter of Sctipture.
   
   

3. iPhone Accessability Features. The iphone has a number of so-called accessability features that are designed to help those with low vision. These feature range from increasing the size of text to bolding text to a feature that reads that text on the screen. To explore these features, tap on the grey “settings” icon then tap on “Accessibility” in the Settings menu. Some of the features include:

   1. Magnifier - Turn on this feature to use the iPhone camera to magnify anything in your surroundings. Once enabled, just triple-click the Home button to start the magnifier. When using the magnifier, you may use two fingers to “pinch in” or pinch out” to adjust the magnification.

   2. Display & Text Size. Within this section, you may access features that bold text, increase the size of text and more.

   3. Spoken Content - Turn this iPhone feature on to enable the phone to read text appearing on most screens. Once enabled, just use two fingers to swipe down from the top of the screen that you want to hear. The phone will automatically begin reading the screen.

Related articles:

• Vision Trials & Victorious Testimonies

Readers are welcome to send feeback, together with other helpful suggstions.

keywords: accessible Bible, blind, blindness, low vision, vision loss. temporary blindness

God's Great Purpose for Allowing Great Storms

GOD HAS GREAT PURPOSES FOR ALLOWING GREAT STORMS. See Psalm 107:23-31: They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28 THEN THEY CRY UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Is it OK for Christians to Vape or Smoke?

Pastor Robert Hammond

This short article discusses biblical principles that apply to the use of nicotine, together with practical help for people who desire to stop using nicotine.

Many have concluded that it’s ok for Christians to smoke or vape because the Bible doesn’t directly address this topic. However, the Bible does teach a variety of principles that should inform our decision.

First, we are called to yield control to the Holy Spirit rather than to allow ourselves to be controlled by a chemical substance. This is precisely the point of Ephesisan 5:18, where the Lord commands, “…be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” The point of that verse is that God desires us to yield control of our lives to him alone. When we yield control to alcohol or nicotine, we necessarily cease yielding ourselves to God — especially in the case of addiction to alcohol or nicotine (or any other substance).

Second, we are called to demonstrate love to other Christians. In 1 John 4:7, the Lord commands us to “…love one another: for love is of God…” Smoking or vaping around others is unloving for several reasons: (1) It may be an annoyance to others; (2) it may encourage others to smoke or vape and (3) exposure to second-hand smoke has been shown to be dangerous to others.

Third, Christians do well to consider that the Lord has provided our bodies for his purposes. (Revelation 4:11). We should work to remain healthy so that we may continue to serve God. Further, Christians should consider that our bodies our indwelt by the Holy Spirit. in 1 Corinthians 6:19, the Lord asks, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

Last, it is also worth noting that the cost of vaping or smoking can impede our desire to be good stewards of our finances.

In conclusion, Christians should refrain from smoking or vaping in order to (1) demonstrate love to others, (2) to avoid addiction — which necessarily involves yielding control to something other than God and (3) to be good stewards of our finances and our physical bodies so that we may serve God as long as he desires.

If you are already addicted to nicotine or any other substance, consider these suggestions:

1. Pray and confess the sin;

2. Ask God for grace to stop using the substance. And ask him to help you seek comfort from him;

3. Get support from your pastor or someone else in your church. In addition, ask your doctor about programs to help manage the physical aspect of the addiction. In the case of smoking or vaping, this may include using a nicotine patch for a short time to help wean your body off nicotine.

Praise God for his grace and comfort!

If your’re not certain that you know Christ as your Savior, please learn more here.

Copyright © 2020 Robert W. Hammond.

Dealing with Bitterness Biblically

Pastor Robert Hammond, Long Hill Baptist Church, Trumbull, CT

Nick Vujicic is a Christian evangelist who was born without arms and legs.

See these resources for overcoming bitterness:

Related Bible Verses:

• Bible verses that deal with bitterness

• Bible verses that deal with forgiveness

Free articles: (click titles to read)

• Dealing With Bitterness Biblically by Pastor Robert Hammond of Long Hill Baptist Church. This outline addresses topics including:

  • The definition and sinful nature of bitterness;

  • The causes and consequences of bitterness;

  • The Biblical way to overcome bitterness;

• How to Deal with Bitterness by Dr. Terry Coomer of Hope Biblical Counseling and Training Center, a ministry of Hope Baptist Church, North Little Rock-Sherwood, Arkansas.      

 Related Books:

• Life’s Toolbox:  Tools for Coping With Life by Dr. Rick Carter, Jr, Bethhaven Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK.