| Have you responded yet to the loving sacrifice of the LORD JESUS CHRIST on your behalf to save you from the tyranny and domination? |
| My old hose: | God’s L. W. Hose: |
| Was broken at the connection to the water faucet. | Never disconnects from Him, the Eternal Source of living water.[1] |
| Had some cracks and leaks. | Never cracks or leaks, so His living water flows completely into the thirsty heart.[2] |
| Was not designed to last | Is designed to last forever.[3] |
| But what about my new hose? Shouldn’t there be some similarities between it and God’s Living Water Hose? Well, let’s see. | |
| My new hose: | God’s L. W. Hose: |
| Has a life-time warranty except in cases of: | Has an eternal guarantee with no exceptions! [4] |
| Abnormal use, Unintended use, Any modification I might make Incidental damage, An act of God Has these warnings: | Is an act of God! [5] |
| Not for drinking from | Is the conduit of everlasting life from Jesus. [6] |
| Not for hot water use | Is the means of rescue from troubles. [7] |
| Do not leave under pressure unattended | Is designed to withstand pressure. [8] |
|
700 Years before Jesus Was Born: Isaiah 7:14 – He would be born to a virgin. |
When Jesus Was Born: Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4 – He was born to a virgin. |
|
650 Years before Jesus Was Born: Jeremiah 31:15 – Children would be slaughtered. |
Matthew 2:16-18 – Herod the Great slaughtered children in the Bethlehem area. |
|
600 Years before Jesus Was Born: Micah 5:2 – He would be born in Bethlehem. |
Luke 2:4,5,7 – He was born in Bethlehem even though His parents lived in Nazareth, about 75 miles to the north. |
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Bartimaeus | a. A gate-keeper whose gorgeous adopted daughter saved her people from death |
| 2. Micaiah | b. A business woman whose lovely home became th became the head quarters for missionaries in her town |
| 3. Epaphras | c. A man who was not afraid of a whole nest of giants |
| 4. Caleb | d. A man who kept who kept bringing people to Jesus |
| 5. Jaaziniah | e. A run-away slave whose life was changed by God |
| 6. Ebed-melech | f. An evangelist who left a huge gospel campaign at God's command, to witness to one man |
| 7. Obadiah | g. A blind man who used his last opportunity to be healed by Jesus |
| 8. Andrew | h. A man who hid 100 prophets of God and fed them during a drought |
| 9. Mordecai | i. A man who contributed a large amount of money to the church with no strings added |
| 10. Josiah | j. A skilled artisan you name it, he could do it |
| 11. Barzillai | k. A man who kept his vow to God at the cost of his only daughter |
| 12. Onesimus | l. A man who put his duty to his country before his own natural desires |
| 13. Othniel | m. A man who saved a prophet's life using old rags and old rope |
| 14. Philip | n. A king who cleaned up his kingdom from the evils of idol worship |
| 15. Jochebed | o. An extremely resourceful mother who was paid for nursing her own son |
| 16. Bezalel | p. A prophet with a keen sense of humor |
| 17. Jephthah | q. A man who proved himself capable as a young man, and went on to bigger and better things |
| 18. Uriah | r. A wealthy senior citizen who refused to cash in on his “social security” |
| 19. Barnabas | s. A man who refused to take advantage of a loophole that provided freedom from restrictions in his life |
| 20. Lydia | t. A man who really worked at praying |
Hello, World!
Grissom, the star of the television series “CSI”, often cautions his co-workers to “Follow the evidence.” Wherever the evidence takes you will be the truth.
Good advice! Let’s apply it to the Bible. Where does the evidence take us in trying to decide if its writing was controlled and inspired by God?
It was written by approximately 40 men from all walks of life, from servants to kings.
It was written over a period of about 1500 years.
It was written on three continents.
It was written in three languages.
It is comprised of 66 books and letters.
Many of its human authors had no knowledge of nor had met each other.
It addresses many very controversial subjects.
and yet,
IF YOU WERE TO BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING AND READ IT THROUGH TO THE END,
YOU WOULD FIND TO YOUR AMAZEMENT
THAT IT BEGINS AT THE BEGINNING AND ENDS AT THE END,
THAT IT IS ONE BOOK, UNIQUELY UNIFIED.
THE EVIDENCE LEADS TO THE FACT THAT IT HAD TO HAVE ONE AUTHOR
WHO LIVED FOR AT LEAST 1500 YEARS
AND WHO CONTROLLED WHAT WAS WRITTEN.
NO OTHER INTERPRETATION FITS ALL THE FACTS.
By contrast, if you were to choose 40 men, all residents of the United States all living in 2006, all speaking English, all with university degrees, and were to ask each of them to write his own book on one controversial subject such as “love”, and then were to take their writings and bind them into one book and read that book from beginning to end, what would you have? A HODGEPODGE! No continuity among the books! Little agreement regarding the subject! Many contradictions! Certainly, nothing like the Bible!
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine [what is right],
for reproof [what is not right],
for correction [how to get right],
for instruction in righteousness
[how to stay right],
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.- 2 Timothy 3:16,17
