Author: Jim

Personal Standards for Music Part 3

Music in the Church
I believe that Music in church should be sacred. The easiest way to put it would be that I believe all churches should only use a good old fashioned hymn book. However, that will not satisfy most people. These days people want to know why we can’t use projectors, and why the choir can’t sway back and forth, and why Chuck can’t play his electric guitar in the orchestra. My answer to all of those questions is why should we? Why would independent, fundamental, soul-winning, Bible believing, separated, Baptist Christians want to resemble the world in any way? John called out for Christians to be set apart from the things of the world.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15
No one can refute that the verse clearly states that if we love the world and wish to be like them, than we do not love God. So if you want to bring contemporary music into the church, you must not love God, so why do you even go to church? However, my belief of old fashioned music in the church goes far beyond just that point. The old hymns were written by Godly men and woman such as Fannie Crosby, John Newton, and Charles Wesley. These people knew God, they walked with him daily, they had life experiences that God brought them through and they wrote about these experiences through songs. They praised God and brought glory to God. The types of songs we should sing in church are hymns such as “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Nearer my God to Thee.” These songs are what bring people to their knees at an altar instead of just waving their hand back and forth in a pew.
Music in the Home
I believe that Music in the home can differ from music in the church to a certain extent. There is a time and a place for everything. You would not play Happy Birthday at a funeral just like you would not play certain songs in church. I do believe that there are songs that can be played in one’s home that are not songs about God.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Classical music is an example of music I deem appropriate in the home. There is nothing sinful about the structure of classical music, and studies have proven that it increases the creativity of the mind. I also believe that certain romantic songs are appropriate for a husband and wife to listen to at certain times. Bluegrass, Southern Gospel (with discretion) and songs with acoustic guitars are also acceptable music for home listening.

⇛continue reading Personal Standards for Music Part 4
⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Personal Standards for Music Part 2

Ezekiel tells us that Satan knew it since the day that he was created.
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.” Ezekiel 28:13
Since we know that the Devil knows how to use music, we can also know that he will use it against us.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Satan has been using music to capture God’s people since Bible days. When Aaron crafted the golden calf for the people of Israel to worship, they danced around naked acting wild and satanic. It was certainly not God worshiping harps that caused their sensual dance.
When Nebuchadnezzar built an idol of himself for all the people of Babylon to worship, he signaled worship through music. The Bible lists several different instruments that were used to cue worship towards the idol. (Daniel 3:15) These instruments may not have been sinful; however, they directed worship toward a statue instead of God, causing the sin of idolatry.
Even in the Bible times, Satan used music to infiltrate the minds and hearts of people.
One way the Devil has accomplished this in modern day is through the use of Rock and Roll. The genre of Rock n’ Roll music got it’s start in the late 1940’s, through such artists as Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Brenda Lee, and the Everly Brothers. Since that time many other types of music have become popular, music genres such as Pop, Country, Dance, Jazz, Punk, Blues, Rap and the list goes on. All of these music types differ just a little, but they have one strong bond. They are all the Devil’s tool to corrupt a Christian’s mind, his heart, his body, and ultimately his ability to do anything for God.
I strongly believe that music is a drug. It is the most addicting and destructive force in this world. Music is used more often, and reaches more people than caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, weed, heroine, gambling, porn, sex, and any other addiction known to mankind. The average amount of time a person spends listening to music is twenty to forty hours a week. Unlike alcohol or drugs, music can reach every age. Rap music blares through the car speakers as an infant is strapped in the back seat, and the parents think nothing of it. Pop music is running rampant through the headphones of America’s youth, and the police force, Alcoholic’s Anonymous, and rehab centers are doing nothing about it. These people who spend so much of their time trying to help people with their addictions are taking no action, because they don’t know that they have to. They do not realize that music is killing the souls of every single person on planet earth.

⇛continue reading Personal Standards for Music Part 3
⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Wine – Did Jesus Drink Part 4

FERMENTATION is a process of chemical change by which a molecule of sugar is split into 2 molecules of ethel alcohol and 2 molecules of carbon dioxide gas. The gas escapes and the alcohol remains.
Grape juice will ferment quite naturally left all by itself. Three things must be present for grapes to ferment and become alcohol: Juice, Saccharromyces, and Oxygen (air). The juice comes from the fruit. The saccharromyces form on the outside of the skin ad the fruit ripens. The wine the Bible speaks of is very easy to make. REMEMBER, Wine is a living thing. It is born, grows to maturity, and dies. How long is lives in unpredictable and depends on the ripeness of the fruit at squeezing time at sugar content. Until the wooden barrel was developed (cooperage) in the last days of the Roman Empire, (about 300 AD) Wine was placed in stone or skin containers and had to be drunk soon after squeezed or it would die (become vinegar). The wooden barrel prolonged the life of wine to a little over 3 years by keeping it out of the air, which causes aging. Full maturing of wine was impossible until the 17th century when the (cork and) bottle was developed.
It wasn’t until 1860 when Louis Pasteur discovered the hows and whys of fermentation did the wine industry enter into a new era.
REASON TO DRINK:
Well, I drink for refreshment — try water, milk, juice, soda
Well, I drink for my health yeah but don’t use the Bible as an excuse
Don’t say you drink Beer because Jesus did …… He didn’t.
Don’t say you drink Whiskey because Jesus did …… He didn’t.
Don’t say you drink Wine because Jesus did …… He didn’t.
WHAT DID JESUS DRINK? — Glad you asked.
Matthew 26:29 He drank fruit of the vine, He drank grape juice.
What did Jesus Create in John 2? Grape Juice.
He refused to drink wine as He hung on the cross John 19:29.
What does the Bible really say about Wine?
Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging;
whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 23:31 Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red, when it giveth
its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Every reference in the Holy Bible to someone drinking, beginning with Noah, lead to no good, to ruin, to sin.

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Wine – Did Jesus Drink Part 3

But the Bible does mention STRONG DRINK and does condemn drinking of it.
Lev 10:9, Num 6:3, Deu 29:6, Jud 13:4,7,14, Isa 5:11,22,28:7
Hebrew word is SHE-KAK and implies an intoxicant, intensely alcoholic.
Compare Luke 1:15 (Greek SIK-ER-A) intensely fermented liquor
Note: If the KJV Bible were translated today,
Whiskey could replace STRONG DRINK.
WINE (the last of the 3 words): The Holy Bible has lots to say about the subject of wine. The above quoted scripture condemned drinking of it, but just what is WINE when refereed to in Scripture?
Wine is the juice of fruits, mostly grape and comes in four classifications:

  1. Still or Natural wine is juice which fermented naturally
  2. Sparkling (Champagne, Burgundy) processed through a double fermentation
    Sparkling Wine was developed in the 17th century.
  3. Fortified (Sherry, Port) during fermentation, additional alcohol is added
    Fortified Wine was developed in the 1750’s.
  4. Aromatized (Vermouth) fortified & sparkling with a scent added for smell
    Aromatized Wine came along after the above.
    The KING JAMES VERSION of the Holy Scripture was published in 1611 AD when the only wine available was the Natural or Still Wine.
    Christian Friend if you are drinking Sparkling, Fortified, or Aromatized Wine, you are not drinking wine from the Bible, you are drinking BOOZE.
    Now, before you go looking for a bottle of natural or still wine, let’s define what these terms meant at the time Jesus walked on earth.

Wine is a living thing, in a constant state of change. It has life. It is born grows old and dies. What does this mean?
Fruit, usually grape, is gathered and put into a squeezing devise. As the fruit is squeezed or crushed, the juice is caught in a vat. This juice is now drinkable, fit for human consumption Depending. when the fruit was harvested, fermentation could have already started. The birth of wine.

⇛ continue reading Wine – Did Jesus Drink Part 4
⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Wine – Did Jesus Drink Part 2

The two Bible passages commonly used by Christians to defend drinking are found in Matthew 11:19 and John 2:1-11.
Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.
John 2:1-11 JESUS TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE.
Keep these two texts in mind.
Just what does the Bible mean when it uses the word Wine?
There are 3 basic types of (alcoholic) drink: Beer, Whiskey and Wine.
Beer and Whiskey are not found in the Bible. Does the word wine mean to include these? Just what does the Bible mean when it speaks of Wine?
SOME FACTS … PLEASE. All three, Beer, Whiskey and Wine have histories of antiquity. (That means nobody really knows when then they began).
WINE is first mentioned in Genesis when Noah over indulged and got drunk.
BEER and WHISKEY can be dated back to Egypt, the days of the Pharaohs.
All three of them were around in basic form when the Bible was being written and most defiantly when it was translated into English.
BEER – ALE (similar but some differences) not named in the Bible.
The word BEER came from Latin: bibere, which means to drink
Beer is made from malts and cereals. During the brewing process, the liquid is drained off for drinking. This liquid is high in food content, bitter to the taste and very low in alcohol content. During the 14th Century HOPS was introduced, which increased the alcohol content and the forerunner of today refined beer alcoholic drink began. THUS beer is not condemned by the Bible because it was non alcoholic or did not exist in Bible times.
WHISKEY (Spirits) is not named in the Bible.
Note: For ease of purpose, whiskey is used to mean all distilled liquor.
Whiskey is simply made by taking beer (before hops is added) or wine and distilling it. (Distillation is boiling the liquid, catching the steam and converting it back into liquid).
The word whiskey is an Irish work that came into existence (was coined) in the 14th century. THUS: Whiskey is not condemned by the Bible because the word did not exist in Bible times.

⇛ continue reading Wine – Did Jesus Drink Part 3
⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Lust Part 4

James, half brother to the Lord Jesus, warned Jewish believers about the dangers of Lust:
James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 4:1-5 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

The Apostle Peter, writing to the same people, also warned of the dangers:
1 Peter 1:14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1 Peter 4:2-3That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

And the Apostle John sums it up best:
1 John 2:16-17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Lust Part 3

The Lord Jesus warned of LUST:
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The Apostle Paul had much to say about Lust and what believers should do about them:
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error …
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Galatians 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

1 Thessalonians 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

⇛ continue reading Lust Part 4
⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Lust Part 2

In the Pentateuch are several forms of LUST. Be sure to put these verses back into their context to better understand:
Exodus 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
Numbers 11:4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
Numbers 11:34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
Deuteronomy 12:15 Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.
Deuteronomy 12:20 When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
Deuteronomy 12:21 If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
Deuteronomy 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

Another form of Lust:
Judges 3:29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.

A rehearsal of God’s Dealing with Israel:
Psalm 78:18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
Psalm 78:30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
Psalm 81:12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Psalm 106:14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

A warning to men:
Proverbs 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

⇛ continue reading Lust Part 3
⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Three Days Part 5

Luke 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, …
Matthew 15:32, Mark 8:2 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: …
Matthew 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Matthew 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save…
Matthew 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mark 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Mark 15:29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
John 2: 19-20 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will …Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Acts 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Acts 25:1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended
Acts 28:7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
Acts 28:12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
Acts 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews
Revelation 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Revelation 11:11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw …

Old Testament (41)
Genesis (6) Exodus (6) Numbers (1) Joshua (5) Judges (2) 1 Samuel (5)
2 Samuel (2) 1 Kings (1) 2 Kings (1) 1 Chronicles (2) 2 Chronicles (2) Ezra (4)
Nehemiah (1) Esther (1) Jonah (2)
New Testament (19)
Matthew (5) Mark (4) Luke (1) John (2) Acts (5) Revelation (2)

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Three Days Part 4

Judges 14:14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
Judges 19:4 And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
1 Samuel 9:20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy …
1 Samuel 20:19 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down …
1 Samuel 21:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy…
1 Samuel 30:13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.
2 Samuel 20:4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, …
2 Samuel 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and …
1 Kings 12:5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again …
2 Kings 2:17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
1 Chronicles 12:39 And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: 1 Chronicles 21:12 Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD,…

2 Chronicles 10:5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And
2 Chronicles 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in …
Ezra 8:15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
Ezra 8:32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
Ezra 10:8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to …
Ezra 10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day…
Nehemiah 2:11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
Jonah 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.


⇛ continue reading Three Days Part 5
⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛