If you are a photographer, then you need to check out his gear or if you know a photographer, tell them to check out his website.  His work is amazing.

Job 14:9 – “Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant (the water of the Word can bring it back).”

Job was one of the sons of Issachar (Gen. 46:13), and the grandson of Jacob.  It is believed that Moses, in collaboration with Job, wrote this great Book.  As well, many theologians believe that Job was the first Book of the Bible to be written.  If that is true then Job is the oldest Book, not only the Bible, but the oldest Book in the world.

THE THEME OF JOB

The theme of God’s Word is man’s Creation, man’s Fall, and man’s Redemption through Christ’s Sacrificial Atoning Death on Calvary’s Cross.  However, it’s interesting to note that Job’s theme, if in fact it was the First Book of the Bible to be written, is not the conversion of a sinner, but the Sanctification of the Saint.  The Holy Spirit wanted us to see what it takes to live for God.
    
George Williams, a noted Bible scholar, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1850, wrote of Job in his book, “THE COMPLETE BIBLE COMMENTARY”, saying:
    
“Job presents to us the discovery of the worthlessness of self, which should be the first step in the Christian experience, and the worthfulness of Christ, the last step.

“Job does not symbolize an unconverted man, but rather a converted man.  It was necessary that one of God’s Children should be chosen for this trial; for the subject of the Book is not the conversion of the sinner, but rather the consecration of the Saint.  It is evident that an unconverted man needs to be brought to the end of himself; but that a man who feared God, who was perfect (not sinless perfection, but doing his best to live for God), and who hated evil, should also need this, is not so clear; nevertheless, it is a Scriptural fact.  Here we see in the mystery of the Book, God using Satan, calamity, and sickness to be His Instruments in creating character and making men partakers of His Holiness.  Such were the Instruments; but the Hand that used them was God’s; and the facts of this Book explain to Christian people, who, like Job, are conscious of personal integrity, why calamities, sorrows, and diseases are permitted to afflict them.
    
“The effect of the Divine action was that Job abhorred himself (Job 42:5-6).  This language shows that he had thought well of himself.  His creed was orthodox for he approached God through sacrifice (a type of Calvary), and his conduct was faultless, for he was a just man and eschewed evil.  But these sharp trials, and especially the anger, which the unjust accusations of his friends stirred up in his heart, revealed to himself unknown depths of moral ugliness; and finally, his being challenged to measure himself with God, made him conscious that in him, that is, in his ‘flesh’ there dwelt no good thing.  This is a deep and painful experience, which all Christian people have reached.”
    
Williams closed out his comments on Job in Chapter 40 by saying:
    
“Everybody had to change except God!  Job had to humble himself and to pray for God to bless these three Christians who had so despitefully used him and persecuted him.

“Job’s latter end was better than his beginning.  God gave him twice as much as he had before; and such is even the result in the Spiritual Life.

“Thus this Book sets out the Action of God in Leading His Children into a higher Christian experience.  The subject of the Book is not how God justifies a sinner, but how he sanctifies a Saint; and, hence, none but a good man could have been chosen for the process, or profited by it.  It is plain to all that a wicked man should die to self, but that a perfect man should also need to die, is not so clear.  And yet, this is the offense of the Cross.  All that goodness and beauty which men recognize in themselves, and in others must be nailed in death to the Cross; and the only Man that is to live must be in the Risen Man, Christ Jesus.”

SELF

Self-will is the Believer’s greatest obstacle and death to self is never pretty, pleasant, or desired.  Actually, we really can’t see “self” in us until we are squeezed just as Job was.  John would say, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30).  The dying to self is a process, it’s not instant, and no matter what the Lord must do, must use, or allow, is worth it if we become more like Him.

"FOR THERE IS HOPE OF A TREE”

Job is a broken man, his children dead, his wealth gone, his body riddled with sores, his supposed three friends calling him evil and a hypocrite, and even little children mocking him.  He sees no way out but death.  He is the tree that is cut down.  Yet in the midst of what looks like destruction, the Holy Spirit speaks through him and says, “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.  Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs (limbs) like a plant” (Job 14:7-9).
What the Holy Spirit is saying is when the “water of the Word” is applied to the stump, the Word of God through the Power of the Holy Spirit, “will bud, and bring forth boughs (limbs) like a plant.”
    
We all at times are cut down, the adversities of life weigh on our shoulders, but no matter what Satan says, no matter what false friends may do, if we don’t quit, if our Faith remains in the Lord and His Word, “The tree will sprout again.”

HOW IS THIS DONE?

The Holy Spirit is God and He can do anything.  However, we must never forget that the Holy Spirit works exclusively within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ, i.e., Calvary.
    
The Cross of Christ must ever be the Object of our Faith.
    
The Cross of Christ is God’s Way, and His Only Way, therefore, our Faith must be squarely centered up in what Christ did at Calvary’s Cross.
    
Don’t give up, “For there is hope of a tree.”

Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart

“‘You shall raise up the foundations of many generations,’ refers to the fact that all the great Promises of God given in past years will now be brought to pass, because of the present Move of God.

“‘The repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in,’ proclaims the Preacher directing the people back to the Bible.)”

The Prophet Isaiah was a bold uncompromising man of God.  He did not seek the favor of the people or the religious leaders of Judah; he only sought the favor of the Lord.
    
His Ministry was to Judah, the Church of that day.  He prophesied the Coming of the Messiah.  From Moses to Christ was a time span of about 1,500 years.  If one was to measure from Moses on one end and Christ on the other, they would intersect at Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  This is not a coincidence but it shows us that the Cross must be the central theme of life, living and Ministry.
    
His message was not a positive feel good, motivated speech to make people feel good.  This is what he said under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Chapter 1, Verses 2-6:  “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O Earth:  for the LORD has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.  The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib:  but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.  Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children who are corrupters:  for they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they have gone away backward.  Why should you be stricken anymore? you will revolt more and more:  the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores:  they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”
    
The rebellion the Lord spoke of through Isaiah was the abandonment of the Word of God.  When the Lord spoke of the “head” and the “heart” of Judah it was to represent the intellectual and moral nature of the people.
    
The deadly “bruises” and “sores” of Israel was a spiritual analogy and could not be cured by anything except the Lord.

THE MODERN CHURCH

This is a perfect picture of the modern church of today.  We try to cure man’s problems with psychoanalysis, therapy, counseling, religious feats, and foolishness.  The Bible has been thrown aside.  In some churches today the people are told not to even bring a Bible to church as the rustling of the pages make a disturbance.  And there are so-called Pentecostals or Charismatic churches that won’t allow anyone to speak in Tongues out loud, or raise their hands as it might offend someone.  I have one thing to say to these so-called preachers and self-appointed prophets who lie and fleece God’s People.
    
In Isaiah 56:10, the Prophet would proclaim:
    
“His watchmen are blind:  they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”  Israel lost her way because of blind watchmen, i.e., preachers.  Israel forfeited all the great Promises of God because of “dumb dogs” that “cannot bark,” which means preachers do not preach the truth and warn the people of false doctrine.
    
C.H. Spurgeon said, “Preachers of false doctrine dislike nothing more than the premature detection of their doings, and anyone who refuses to speak out must be held as partakers of their evil deals.” 1
    
As the old song says, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye Soldiers of the Cross, lift high His Royal Banner, it must not suffer loss, from victory unto victory, His Army shall He lead, till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.”

THERE WAS A BREACH IN JUDAH

“Breach” in the Hebrew means “a break or gap that has arisen.”  That breach was a lack of fidelity to God’s Word.  As there was a breach in Judah, there is a breach in the church today.  We have pushed the Bible aside and embraced new fads, and new philosophies. 
    
This breach is not new but it has been long standing, slowly evolving until the crack has grown into a complete rupture.  The church must come back to the Bible and to the Cross.

WE MUST REPAIR THE BREACH

Notice the Text does not say the Lord is the one who would repair the breach, but the Text says we are the ones who must repair and restore.  It’s our job to pray, it’s our job to seek the Face of the Lord, it’s our job to know the Word and proclaim the Truth of God’s Word. 

“And they who shall be of you shall build the old waste places.  You shall raise up the foundations of the many generations.”  This tells us that the great Moves of God in the past cannot continue unless this present generation has its own revival.

AND YOU SHALL BE CALLED THE REPAIRERS OF THE BREACH

The Lord has designed it that the breach cannot be repaired unless it is repaired through willing and obedient hearts.  It is our job to repair the breach.

THE RESTORER OF PATHS TO DWELL IN

The paths spoken of are the paths of Righteousness.  We must come back to the Bible, come back to the Cross, come back to the Blood and shun every foolish wind of doctrine.
    
You and I must repair the breach; you and I must restore the old paths.

Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart

1Lewis A. Drummond Spurgeon, Prince of Preachers, Kregel Publication, Grand Rapids, MI, 1992.

There is much confusion among non-Pentecostals regarding I Corinthians, Chapter 14.  Paul wrote this chapter to regulate and give instruction as it regarded the three Spiritual Gifts:  “Prophecy,” “Tongues,” and “Interpretation of Tongues,” which are called the “Vocal Gifts,” a part of the nine Gifts of the Spirit.
    
Next, are the three Revelation Gifts, which consist of:  “Word of Wisdom,” “The Word of Knowledge,” and “The Discerning of Spirits.”
    
And last, the three Power Gifts:  “The Gift of Faith,” “The Gift of Healing,” and “The Gift of the Working of Miracles.”
    
There is a difference in the Gift of Tongues and the Tongues one receives at the moment of their infilling.  All who are filled with the Spirit Baptism will speak in Tongues, but not all who speak in Tongues have the Gift of Tongues.  Just as one who has the Gift of Prophecy does not mean that person is a Prophet.
    
There was no regulation or order given to the Early Church regarding Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues.  The gist of Paul’s command is very simple:  a message in Tongues does the Church no good if there is no one to interpret it.  Therefore, Paul states that the Gift of Prophecy would be of greater benefit to the Body as all in attendance would be able to understand.  He is by no means denigrating or dismissing Tongues as the Chapter will clearly bear out.

SPEAKS UNTO GOD

I Corinthians, Chapter 14, Verse 2 says, “For he who speaks in an unknown Tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God:  for no man understands him; howbeit in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.”
    
The phrase, “For he who speaks in an unknown Tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God,” tells us the following:

1.  The word, “unknown,” was supplied by the translators, as it was not in the original Text.  It actually means that it is unknown to the speaker and most of the time to the listeners as well, but not unknown as far as a language is concerned.
“Tongues” are always a language known somewhere in the world.  It is not babble or gibberish as some detractors say.  There are many languages, actually, the Bible has been translated into 2,179 different languages, but there are many more than that spoken in the world.  Linguists state that there are 6,809 distinct languages.

2.  The term, “speaks not unto men,” means that if the Lord is speaking to men, He will speak to them in the language they understand.  Tongues are not meant to be understood by men, unless it is intended by the Holy Spirit to be interpreted.

3.  The phrase, “But unto God,” is meant to say that one can speak in Tongues silently or in praise and worship because it is only to God to whom one is speaking.  The phrase, “Howbeit in the Spirit he speaks mysteries,” is to be understood in this fashion.  “Mysteries” in the Greek is “musterion” and means “a secret.”  A secret between God and man.

THE BIBLE EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

There are five recorded instances of people receiving the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts, they are:  Acts 2:1-4, Acts 8:14-18, Acts 9:17, and Acts 10:44-46.
    
The verses given record the five instances of people being filled, covering a period of about 20 years, and involved from one to many individuals.  Three times out of the five it is recorded they spoke with Tongues and the other two instances infer they spoke with Tongues. 
    
Paul himself said in I Corinthians 14:18, “I thank my God, I speak with Tongues more than you all.”

IS IT NECESSARY TO SPEAK IN TONGUES?

For Salvation, no, but if one wants the true New Testament experience, then one should want to speak with other Tongues exactly as the Bible says.  Don’t make the mistake of seeking Tongues, we don’t seek Tongues, we seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit with Tongues being the initial physical evidence one has been filled.

SEVEN STEPS TO RECEVING THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1.  You must be Born-Again:  There is only one requirement for one to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and that is to be Saved.  No other requirements are needed.  Salvation now prepares one for the Holy Spirit to come and live and work in a new and dynamic fashion.

2.  You must decide that it is Scriptural:  You must settle it in your spirit once and for all that this great Gift is for all Believers for all time.  There must not be any doubt in your heart.  Don’t let Satan fill your mind with all kinds of negative thoughts.  Don’t let those who are not believers of the Spirit Baptism influence you negatively.

3.  You must have Faith:  Everything we receive from the Lord is always by Faith.  We are to believe what He has promised in His Word, and He has most certainly promised the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, Joel 2:28-29, Isa. 28:11-12).  Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without Faith it is impossible to please Him:  for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.”

4.  You must not fear:  Don’t be afraid of opening yourself up to the spirit world, fearing that something of Satan will come upon you.  Luke 11:11-13 says:  “If a son ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:  how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask Him?”

5.  What to expect:  You are to expect the Holy Spirit to put supernatural words (Tongues) into your spirit, and then for the Holy Spirit to move upon your vocal organs.  The Lord will not force you to speak in Tongues.  He will give the utterance, but we have to speak.

6.  We must yield:  By yielding I am meaning that in your heart you should say to the Lord, “I am asking You Lord to fill me with the Holy Spirit and by Faith I now receive.”  We are not to beg, for the infilling of the Holy Spirit is a free Gift; neither are we to continually pray out loud in our own Tongue because one cannot speak in two languages at once.

7.  Receive:  You must understand that God has already given the Spirit and that it is a Gift and, consequently, the only thing one is to do respecting a Gift is to receive it.  So you must say, “I am going to receive this Gift of God.”

So now if you haven’t received, then go through these steps and by Faith receive.

Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart

If one is diligent they will notice that Paul in this Verse begins with the Cross: “I am crucified with Christ,” and it ends with the Cross: “Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
    
Never forget Calvary was the greatest day in human history.  Everything, as it regards Salvation and all the benefits the Lord has willed for us, come exclusively through what Christ did on Calvary’s Cross. Therefore, the preaching of the Cross should be the foundation of every message that is preached, but, sad to say, religious man attempts to improve on what the Lord has already done.  They resort to preaching psychology, self-help, comedy, and even plain old worldly presentations calling it the Gospel.
    
Recently, one preacher referred to our preaching of the Cross as “Greasy Grace.” Now, let me be blunt, that man is a fool and in my opinion is edging close to blasphemy. There is nothing greasy about Grace. That statement shows how little he knows about Grace and how much He needs Grace.
    
Today in the Church there is a growing hostility towards the Message of the Cross. Why is that? The answer is the following.

THE CROSS REVEALS THE HEART

The Cross reveals the true heart of man as it regards sin. Paul said in Romans 6:17, “But God be thanked, that you were servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered to you.” Notice that it begins in the past tense, “you were the servants of sin.”  We were slaves to sin, but at Calvary, Jesus Christ paid the price to deliver humanity from sin. You can’t stand at the foot of the Cross Spiritually speaking and deny who and what we are.
    
To better explain this Verse the word “delivered” in the Greek Text is somewhat different in how it is normally used. The Greek Text says it this way, “the form of Doctrine into which you were delivered.”
    
He is actually saying that the Believer was delivered into the “form of Doctrine,” that is in Salvation.  The Doctrine of Salvation is all in the Cross, not works, not good deeds, but one coming to Calvary’s Cross and admitting they are a sinner and accepting the precious atoning Blood of Jesus Christ as the only means of Salvation.

THE CROSS EXPOSES FALSE DOCTRINE

Paul said in Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the Grace of God:  for if Righteousness come by the Law, then Christ died in vain.”  All false doctrine constitutes some form of man-made doctrine or law that is false and does not lead man close to Christ but away from Christ.  All false doctrine deviates from the Cross in some way. Let me make it simple, if it’s not the Cross, it’s false doctrine.

THE CROSS EXPOSES THE FLESH OF MAN

Paul said in Romans 8:3, “For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (doesn’t mean Christ was sinful but fully human, conformed in the appearance of flesh, which is characterized by sin, yet He was sinless), and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”                     

Religious man loves to feed the flesh:  sinful man in vice and religious man through his supposed good works.  Religious man loves religious pomp and ceremony, but the Word plainly says, whether the law of Moses, which preachers are trying to bring back into the Church, which is a sin for the Law has been done away with and a new and better Covenant has taken its place.  But, Paul says if you try to keep the Law, whether the Law of Moses or man-made doctrines, or denominational rules that are not Scriptural, “you are fallen from Grace” (Gal. 5:4).
    
Yes, the Cross is hated by some preachers, but as for me, I like what the great Hymn of the Church says, “I will cling to the old rugged Cross,” and so should you.

Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart

1. THE LAST STAND:  The newest book concerning Custer’s last stand at the Little Bighorn in Montana.  It was a very interesting book with new information.

2. OMAHA BEACH, JUNE 6, 1944:  This book concerned the allied landing at the Omaha Beach head, regarding the allied invasion of Nazi occupied France.  It was a very factitive book giving an in-depth description of the fighting for that Beach head.

3. RORKE’S DRIFT:  This book was about the battle fought between the British and the Zulu’s of Natal, South Africa, in 1879.  I’ve been to South Africa nearly thirty times and am keenly interested in the history of the country.

Just as soon as I finished reading those books, I made the mistake of going to Barnes and Noble and left with three more books that I am planning on reading.

Keep me in your prayers as I start back on the road traveling in Ministry soon.  I have a full schedule and I covet your prayers for God’s protection and anointing.

I also want to let you know that THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE is now available in Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, Sony eReader, and iBooks, so if you have one of these devises, get THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE for easier reading.

II John 9-11 – “Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the Doctrine of Christ, has not God.  (The ‘Doctrine of Christ’ is in brief ‘the Cross.’  If one leaves the Cross, one transgresses, and no longer has the Lord, which means that the soul will be lost if such direction is continued.)  He who abides in the Doctrine of Christ, he has Both the Father and the Son (Gal. 5:1-6).

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this Doctrine (Jesus Christ and Him Crucified), receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed (to receive such shows acceptance):

“For he who bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.  (To help or finance false Apostles makes the person doing such a part of the false doctrine, which is serious indeed!)”

John begins this letter to “the elect lady.”  This states that she was a Christian woman of some prominence.  The word “lady” in the Greek is “Kunia,” it is the feminine form of “Kurios,” which means “lord master.”  It was a common name in those days.  It is the Greek form of the name “Martha.”

It is believed she was a devout Christian who lived near Ephesus and from the wording of the Text, it appears that her home was a meeting place for a church and, as well, she probably was the pastor.

WOMEN IN CHURCH

    
It should be obvious from the accounts given in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit makes no distinction between men and women in the Work of God other than what Paul said in Ephesians 5:22-24:  “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the Church:  and He is the Saviour of the Body.  Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”  But that submission only goes as far as that which is Scriptural.

Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:  for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Some claim that it is not proper for a woman to preach, however, the Bible does not bear that out.  Peter, quoting the Prophet Joel in Acts 2:17 said, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh:  and your sons and your DAUGHTERS shall prophesy.”  The truth is, whatever men can do, as it regards Work for the Lord, women can do as well, as there is no discrimination in the Bible.  However, there is one caveat to that.  Nowhere in the New Testament do we read of women being called Apostles.  As well, I do believe as it regards pastoring a church, I feel it would be better for a man to fill that position; however, sometimes a man is not available.

“LET YOUR WOMEN KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES”

I Corinthians 14:34 says, “. . . for it is not permitted unto them to speak. . . .”  This is one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible.  One must understand the context of Paul’s statement.  For Paul also would write in I Corinthians 11:5, “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth. . . .”  The word “Prophesieth” in the Greek is “prophetaia,” and means to predict or foretell or “to serve God as an inspired speaker.”  This one verse tells us that women can prophesy, preach, or teach, for prophesying is preaching.  The Bible speaks of Prophetesses’ in Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4, II Kings 22:14, II Chronicles 34:22, Isaiah 8:3, and Luke 2:36.  There are many women mentioned in the Bible as preachers, such as Miriam, Deborah, Anna, and Philip’s daughters.

Paul’s statement concerning I Corinthians 14:34 had reference to the fact that in the Early Church, which was then almost exclusively Jewish, the men sat at one side of the room and the women on the other.  Many of the women were not very educated and knowing nothing but the Law of Moses were calling out to their husbands as Paul was trying to teach, asking their husbands what Paul was meaning, so Paul was just saying wait until you get home and ask, don’t disrupt the Service.  If we are to take Paul literally, then the moment a woman walks into church they would not be able to speak to anyone, sing, or pray.  So let’s use wisdom and appreciate the role of women in the Church.

“MANY DECEIVERS ARE ENTERED INTO THE WORLD”

In II John, Verse 7, John warns us of deceivers in the Church.  The word “deceiver” here means “fraudulent,” one who is a “fraud,” one who misrepresents himself, one who pretends to be one thing or teach that which they say is correct, but is, in fact, false, a false teacher who leads the Church into heresies.  These fraudulent teachers function with the help of seducing spirits, teaching doctrines of devils.  They boast great revelations, at times there is even some supposed manifestations taking place, intending to prove they are God’s men.  But don’t forget Pharaoh’s magicians produced manifestations, but they were not men of God.

John was so adamant about not tolerating false prophets, that it is said of John that while visiting a public bathhouse he saw Cerinthus, a noted false teacher, and crying aloud stood up and shouted, “Let us flee, lest the building fall; for the foe of truth is within.”  Now listen to me, if the preacher you are sitting under is not preaching the Cross in all its fullness, he is a “foe of truth.”

WHAT IS DOCTRINE?

In the Greek, “doctrine” means “instruction,” or “teaching,” as it regards a specific matter.  It is a “principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief.”  “Doctrine” is fundamental truths of the Bible arranged in systematic form.  “Bible Doctrine” is God’s Revelation of truth as found in Scripture.

Myer Pearlman, a noted Bible scholar, said: 

“It is often said that it does not matter what a man believes so long as he does right.  This is one way of dismissing doctrine as having no importance in relationship to life.  But every person has a theology or doctrine whether he knows it or not; man’s actions are influenced by what he believes.”

D.C. Hodge, another Bible scholar, said:

“Let no man think error in doctrine a slight practical evil.  No road to perdition has ever been more thronged than that of false doctrine.  Error is a shield over the conscience, and a bandage over the eyes.”

WHAT IS THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST?

Simply put it is, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

The Doctrine of Christ pertains to:

1.  Who Christ is; and,
2.  What Christ has done.

Who “He is” is God.  He is God manifest in the flesh, which means He is “very God and very Man.”  He is the Living Word Who was made flesh, “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world,” John the Baptist would proclaim. 

What He did was to die on Calvary’s Cross to atone for man’s sin.  The Blood of the Law (lambs, bulls, goats, and turtledoves) couldn’t take away sin but only cover man’s sin.  But one drop of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, could and did take away all sin, past, present, and future.

That’s the Doctrine of Christ, not silver or gold and baubles that will better no one, but the Cross, man’s Redemption from sin is, was, and shall ever be the only Doctrine that can save mankind.

Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart

This coming March, my daughter, Jennifer, is having her first baby.  It’s going to be a little girl and her name is going to be Harper.  Debbie and I are so happy for her and Cliff, who is a wonderful son-in-law. 

This will be number five, four girls and one boy.

As well, Matthew, my youngest son, who is a fantastic photographer, has just started a new company manufacturing Camera gear for photographers.  His website for his company is www.holdfastgear.com.  It’s amazing that in just a few short weeks of launching his business website, he has received orders from all over the world.  If you are a photographer, be sure and check out his site.  His gear was mentioned by one of the Myth Buster’s hosts as his personal tweet.  I thought that was really cool.  Matt is such an ingenious and creative person.  Needless to say, Debbie and I are very proud of him, Jennifer, and Gabe.

In other news, my back is in the best shape it’s been in for the last couple of years.  One can’t imagine how painful it is to be flying and your back hurting so bad you want to jump out of the plane (except for the messy landing)!

In closing, let me wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

This has been the musings and ramblings of a proud father and grandfather.

Mark 8:27-30 – “And Jesus went out, and His Disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi (places Him about forty miles north of the Sea of Galilee, and about forty miles south of Damascus):  and by the way He asked His Disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?  (Constitutes Who He really was, and the drawing out of the Disciples, as to Who they thought He was.  The Greek Text says, ‘He kept on asking,’ meaning that the question so startled them that at first they did not answer.)

“And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elijah; and others, One of the Prophets (their answers were strange, but reflected the thinking of much of Israel at that particular time).

“And He said unto them, But whom say you that I am?  (Concerns the greatest question that could ever be asked.  It is a question that all must ultimately answer.) And Peter answered and said unto Him, You are the Christ (Peter actually said, ‘You are the Messiah,’ because that’s what the Word ‘Christ’ actually means; it was the Great Confession).

“And He charged them (commanded them) that they should tell no man of Him (relates the fact that it was now obvious that Israel had rejected Him, and consequently, there was no further point in projecting the issue).”

The question of Jesus Christ to His Disciples, “Whom do men say that I am?” is the most important question in the world.  How one answers this question will determine their eternal fate, “Heaven” or “Hell.”  How one answers this question will tell you if one is truly Spiritual or just religious.  The problem in the modern church is that many know about Christ, but don’t know Christ.

WHO JESUS CHRIST IS TO ME

I cannot answer the question of Jesus Christ as it regards the reader, as I have no way of knowing your heart, as Salvation is a personal and individual act.  However, I can answer the question as it regards my own life.  To me, this Man is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, and this is what He has done for me:

•    He has Saved me from sin, and given me Eternal Life.
•    He has baptized me with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other Tongues.

WHO IS THIS MAN?

•    He is the One Who healed me of the most severe form of migraines.
•    He is the One Who has sustained me and kept me safe in His Arms when I was broken and wounded.
•    He is the One Who has given me joy and peace.
•    He is the One Who has brought me through the storms of life.

WHO IS THIS MAN?

•    He is my strength when I am weak.
•    He is my eyes when I cannot see.
•    He is my legs when I don’t think I can take another step.
•    He is my compass, when I don’t know which way to go.

WHO IS THIS MAN?

•    He is my Hope, my sure Foundation, an ever-present Help in time of need.  He is my Elder Brother, He is my King, Provider, Doctor, and Lawyer.  He is my great High Priest, my Mediator, and Intercessor.

WHO IS THIS MAN?

Isaiah said, “He is a nail in a sure place” (Isa. 22:23).  He is my Strong Tower, He is my Shepherd Who “makes me to lie down in green pastures:  He leads me by the still waters and restores my soul” (Ps. 23).  He is my Rod and Staff that I lean on in times of distress and travail.

WHO IS THIS MAN?

He is the Branch, the Bread of Life, the Comforter, Counselor, and Cornerstone.  He is my Deliverer, He is Faithful and True, the Gift of God, He is my Blessed Hope, He is the Horn of Salvation, and the Hope of Glory.

WHO IS THIS MAN?

He is the Righteous Judge, the Lamb of God, the Light of the world, the Lily of the Valley, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, He is the Living Stone, He is Living Water, He is my Master, my Mediator, my Passover Lamb, and the Prince of Peace.

WHO IS THIS MAN?

He is Prophet, Purifier, Redeemer, He is the Resurrection of Life, He is the Rock, the Root of David, the Rose of Sharon, the Son of David, the Son of God, the Star out of Jacob.  He is my Teacher, He is my Truth, my Way, my Wisdom.  He is my Great Physician, my Balm in Gilead.

Who is this Man?  He is Jesus Christ my Saviour.  That’s Who He is to me and I pray you can say the same.

THE TIME OF THE QUESTION

This event, as recorded in Mark, Chapter 8, took place about six months before the Master’s Crucifixion.  Please understand, His Disciples had been with Him now for three years.  They had seen the Miracles, they had sat at His Feet as He spoke as no man had ever spoken, as One having Authority not of this earthly realm.  Yet, at this moment He would probe His Disciples as to their own personal belief and understand as to Who He was, and what His True Mission on Earth was.

ASSOCIATION VERSUS RELATIONSHIP

One must never forget that association doesn’t always mean that one has a relationship.  Untold numbers in the modern church “associate” themselves with Christ, but they have no true relationship, in other words, they may be religious but they are not Born-Again.  Too many church goers are interested in dating Christ, but not marrying Him.  We must be vigilant that we don’t become complacent as it regards our relationship with the Lord.  Jesus Himself said in His Sermon on the Mount, “But seek you first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat. 6:33).

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

    
The question, “And by the way He asked His Disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?” constitutes Who He really was and the drawing out of the Disciples as to who “they” thought He was.

The Greek Text says, “He kept on asking,” meaning that the question so startled them that, at first, they did not answer.

The answer to this great question, as to who He actually is, constitutes the entirety of His Ministry, from the Incarnation to His glorious Resurrection and Ascension.  If the Disciples had a misunderstanding about this great Truth that Jesus is God manifested in the Flesh, then they would misunderstand everything else as well.

As Christ was drawing out His Disciples, we as well must be drawn out by the Holy Spirit, we too must not have any misunderstanding concerning Who Christ is, “God manifested in the Flesh,” and what He did, “die on Calvary’s Cross to redeem man from the curse of sin.”

Someone once asked me the question, “What is the New Covenant?”  The answer is very simple, the New Covenant is Jesus Christ and Him Crucified for the sins of humanity.

MOSES

To further explain the idea of being “drawn out” let’s look at Moses for a moment.  The name “Moses” means “to draw out,” or “to be drawn out.”  As an infant he was “drawn out” of the water, at the age of 40 he was “drawn out” of Egypt, at age 80 he was “drawn out” from the backside of the desert.  Then he was anointed to “draw out” the Children of Israel from Egyptian bondage.  Let the reader understand that the Lord is in the “drawing out” business.  We are drawn out of sin to Salvation.  Then we are drawn out by the Lord to the mighty infilling of the Holy Spirit, and then the desires to “draw us out” to a closer fellowship and deeper relationship.

“SOME SAY”

    
The Disciples answered and said, “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others one of the Prophets.”

This answer shows us how blind Israel was to Christ even though He was in their midst.  Many had seen the Miracles, many had heard His Words spoken in Power and Authority, yet they still did not believe He was their Messiah.

Edward Bickensteth, a noted Bible Scholar who lived many years ago, said this:  “The Great Body of them (Israel) were offended at His poverty and humility; for they thought that the Messiah would appear among them with royal state as a temporal king.”

Israel’s problem was they couldn’t accept the fact they needed a “Saviour” before they could have a king, and why was this the case?  They simply couldn’t believe that a carpenter’s Son from Nazareth was their Messiah.  How many in the modern “seeker sensitive” church and “Emergent Church” is in the same boat?  They really don’t believe in Jesus Christ or the Bible anymore, for if they did they wouldn’t be ordaining homosexuals or condoning abortion, and following the ways of the world.

“BUT WHOM DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”

Notice how the Lord brings the question down to a personal level.  You see Salvation is personal.  It all comes down to the individual.  You must know the answer to that question yourself.  You can’t make it to Heaven because your mother or father is or was a Christian, you must know and accept Jesus Christ as the only means of Salvation.

“YOU ARE THE CHRIST”

In the Greek, Peter actually said, “You are the Messiah” because that’s what the word “Christ” actually means.  Who is this Man?  He is God’s Son and man’s Redeemer.  He is the Mender of broken hearts.  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is a Father to the fatherless, He is the only One Who can break the chains of sin and liberate mankind.  He is all knowledge, hope, and peace.  He is the Bread of Life and the Great Shepherd who watches over His Flock.  He is Grace and Mercy, He is Everything, He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart

John 20: 14-15 – “And when she had thus said, she turned herself back (would have been better translated, ‘she was caused to turn back’; perhaps she noticed the Angels looking past her at someone else; Williams said, ‘to a wounded heart seeking Christ Himself, Angels, however glorious, have no interest’), and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus (regarding our Lord’s appearances after the Resurrection, there seem to have been two reasons He was not easily recognizable; the first was unbelief, and the second was that His Appearance was changed, at least to a small degree; but unbelief was the biggest problem!).

“Jesus said unto her, Woman, why do you weep?  (This is identical to that asked by the Angels.  By virtue of His Death and Resurrection, He for all practical purposes had removed the cause of weeping.)  Whom do you seek?  (This presents the second question asked by Jesus, and really gets to the heart of the matter.)  She, supposing Him to be the gardener (evidently means she thought this man worked for Joseph of Arimathaea, who owned this garden; still, there is no thought of Resurrection!), said unto Him, Sir, if you have borne Him hence, tell me where you have laid Him (in her mind, the Sacred Body was to be embalmed with the precious spices, which quite possibly she had spent her all to buy; she probably knew that the Jews desired to take His Body and place it in the garbage dump, so she was concerned), and I will take Him away (simply means that if they will allow her, she will give Him a proper burial).”

John 20:19 – “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week (proclaims the first gathering on a Sunday), when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews (the ‘fear’ expressed here pertained to the idea or thought that the religious authorities having now murdered Jesus, may very well seek to do the same to His closest Followers; the Day of Pentecost would remove this ‘fear’), came Jesus and stood in the midst (gives us no information as to how this was done; He just seems to have suddenly appeared), and said unto them, Peace be unto you (presents a common salutation, but coming from Him, and especially at this time, it spoke volumes).”

John 20:25 – “The other Disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord (was the greatest announcement they had ever made, at least since their conversion).  But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His Hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His Side, I will not believe (unbelief ever takes us lower and lower; the problem with untold millions is that ‘they will not Believe’).

John 21:3 – “Simon Peter said unto them, I go a fishing (even though the Scripture is not clear, it seems this fishing expedition was not for pleasure, but rather the necessity of making a living for their families; however, a Ministry which originates in the energy of the carnal will is fruitless; but when under the Governance of the Head of the Church, it brings forth rich fruit). They say unto him, We also go with you (represents the other six Disciples present; we aren’t told where the remaining four were at this time).  They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately (probably referred to one of the vessels formerly used by Peter and the sons of Zebedee in their former fishing business); and that night they caught nothing (points to the fact that they were doing this for income, not for pleasure).

Everything Jesus Christ did during His earthly Ministry had a specific purpose and meaning.  Nothing was done by chance or happenstance.  As well, after His Resurrection from the Garden tomb and appearances for 40 days, all that transpired had purpose and meaning as well.

In John, Chapters 20 and 21, after the Resurrection the Scripture records four appearances of the Lord that addressed four great enemies of the human heart.  They are:  “sorrow, fear, doubt, and care.”

SORROW

The first appearance recorded is found in John 20:14-15 and concerns Mary Magdalene.  Mary’s heart was broken and filled with sorrow.  The Master was gone, His Body disappeared, or so she thought.  Sorrow had gripped her and her grief was overbearing; this is a perfect picture of the world today because of sin.  How many in the world today have no hope, no joy, no peace, and their hearts are troubled and filled with sorrow because of the Fall.  The Text tells us that Jesus stood before her and yet, because of her overwhelming sorrow and grief, she doesn’t recognize the Master.  In her weeping, the Lord responds to her and says, “Woman, why do you weep?”  What a statement, and, in fact, the Lord is asking the same question to us all.  Why?  Because His Resurrection and Ascension shows us the fact that Calvary is a Finished Work.  At Calvary all sorrow ultimately was banished.  Jesus Christ, by virtue of His Death and Resurrection, has taken away the cause of weeping and sorrow as it regards the great difficulties of life.

FEAR

This great truth is found in John 20:19.

The Text says the “Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.”  The fear expressed by the Disciples pertained to their fear of the religious authorities who had crucified Christ.  They feared too that they would be put to death next.  This fear the Disciples were dealing with was a test of their Faith.  They knew the Lord had told them He would die for man’s sin and be Resurrected, yet, they were human, they let the circumstances of the day rob them of their Faith and joy.  But all of a sudden, without warning, Jesus Christ appeared in their midst and said, “Peace be unto you.”

Peace and fear cannot cohabit together.  His appearing to them was telling them that everything was going to be alright.  True Faith and trust in Christ will bring peace to one’s heart.

The greatest loss to a Believer is the loss of one’s Faith.  Everything is turned upside down, one’s confidence is shaken, but proper Faith placed exclusively in Christ and what Christ did for us at the Cross will then bring in the Holy Spirit to guarantee the Peace of God.  Christ proved this by showing them “His Hands and His Side.”  In effect, saying, “Not only do I have the Power to come back from the grave, but I am more than capable of handling the problems of life we face.”

DOUBT

Verse 24 says that Thomas was not present when the Lord appeared to the Disciples.  When he was told that the Lord had appeared to the others, he replied, “Except I shall see in His Hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His Side, I will not believe” (Vs. 25).  Verse 26 says, “After eight days again His Disciples were within, and Thomas with them:  then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”  In Verse 27 the Lord says to Thomas, “Reach hither your finger, and behold My Hands and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into My Side:  and be not faithless but believing.”  By doing this He was taking Thomas back to the Cross.

Doubt is faithlessness in action.  How many today in the Church doubt the great Miracles of God, or doubt the Lord can handle the problem they are facing?  The phrase, “but believing,” simply means have Faith, never forget Faith begets Faith, while doubt begets doubt.

The Appearance of Christ to Thomas shows to us today the Love of God, He could have written him off, but He didn’t, and He won’t write you off if you keep believing.

CARE

The last appearance recorded by John is found in Chapter 21.  Verse 3 says the Disciples had fished all night and caught nothing.  This act of fishing was not for sport, but as a means to make a living and to care for their families.  They didn’t know how they were going to provide for their families.  Verse 3 says, “They caught nothing.”  Can you imagine their thoughts, how are we going to put food on the table, how are we going to provide for our families?

Verse 4 says, “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore:  but the Disciples knew not that it was Jesus.”

Get the picture; the night was over, morning has now come, and there stands Jesus.

Jesus says to them, “Children, have you any meat?”  In this statement, Jesus was directly addressing their livelihood.  In essence, the Master was saying, “Do you know how you will care for your families?”  Their answer was, “no,” but then Jesus said, “Cast your net on the right side of the ship and you will find.”  The Text says they obeyed “and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.”  Jesus then said, “Come and dine” (Vs. 12).  He wasn’t inviting them to an empty table, but He was telling them “I can provide for you, I will take care of you,” and so no matter what problems of life you face, Jesus has already handled the situation. 

Sorrow, fear, doubt, and care be gone – Christ has risen, and HE will take care of His Children.

Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart