Category: Brother Bill

God Has Spoken To Us

On By Geri UngureanIn Brother Bill1 Comment

by William Oldham

“In the past God spoke to our fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1-2

          When God made man, He made him with the ability to see, to speak, to hear, and to think; God then endowed man with the breath of life and intelligence: a living creation to whom God could easily communicate with; and so He did. It was with words easy to understand that God gave to Adam instructions on caring for the Garden of Paradise.

It was with words that God directed Adam’s attention to the Tree of Life; and it was with words that God gave Adam a specific command to not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. And with words plain to understand, God warned Adam of the consequences of disobeying that command. When Adam disobeyed, it was with words clear to understand, that God told Eve, Adam, and the serpent what their fate was.

It would be the height of ignorance to suppose that Adam wasn’t given the knowledge of how all of God’s wonderful creation came into being; and it would be equally ignorant to suppose that God didn’t equip His man with the ability to write and record it all for the generations to come. It would be through Adam, with words easy to understand, that God would reveal Himself and His workings to the future generations.

We see the Lord speaking directly to Noah, giving him specific instructions on the building of the ark. We see the Lord speaking with plain words to Moses at the burning bush, telling him exactly what He wanted him to do. We find the Lord meeting with Moses on the top of Mount Sinai, presenting to him the Ten Commandments: plain words, written on tablets of stone, by the Lord Himself! However, throughout the words God spoke, one thing stands uppermost in His mind: the day of His Son’s appearance.

God’s only begotten Son would first appear to lowly shepherds as a babe in a manger in Bethlehem. Roughly thirty years later, Jesus would appear to the nation of Israel at the Jordan River as the Lamb of God. For the next three years, Jesus traveled throughout the land of Israel, speaking to the Jews with words directly from the mouth of God. Those words have a message for all of us: Jesus came from God to save sinners, not to condemn them.

God’s word to man was summed up in one, unspeakable act of love: Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners, taking upon Himself all their sins. God then displayed His mighty power in raising His Son from the dead. Jesus appeared to His disciples, giving them a command to go and tell the world of His great salvation. The work of building His church had begun; it will continue until He returns.

It is by His Holy Spirit and by His word that Christ is building His church. Any man or organization that contradicts the plain word of God, is neither a pastor or a church. Jesus specifically commissioned His apostles, and filled them with the Holy Spirit, in order to supply, with words, all that is needed for man’s salvation.

IT’S JUST THIS SIMPLE:

“…The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14

          God still speaks to us!

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net

FREEDOM THAT IS REAL

On By Brother BillIn Brother Bill, Uncategorized1 Comment

by William Oldham

          As long as this present age exists, there will never be real freedom for the citizens of the United States of America, or any other country. Our government may be called a republic, but its workings are governed democratically: the majority rules. Until the Day Christ returns to rule this world, and that Day is coming, evil men will rule the world. A country can have a constitution, a bill of rights, and a rule of law, but be certain of this: evil men will have their way. And their way for the masses is not freedom but tyranny.

          But there is a freedom that is real and it’s available to all. It is a freedom that brings a lasting love, peace and joy to all who partake of it. The freedom I’m speaking of is not obtained by war, or maintained by a police state. It is a freedom given by the One alone Who has the authority to give it and the power to maintain it forever.

          The freedom I’m speaking of comes directly and freely from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Here’s what He said:

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:31-36 What is the freedom that Christ speaks of here?

          God is sovereign and is free to do as He pleases. In creating man, God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness…”Genesis 1:26 God made man to be free; to freely walk in fellowship with Him; to be a partaker of all that God has and is. But, when Adam disobeyed God, the fellowship was broken, and man became a slave to sin and part of the devil’s rebellion against God. And so God rightly said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23

          However, throughout the Old Testament, we find men and women who were pleasing to God. They all had one common thread: faith in God; they feared Him and desired to obey Him; and they did, by faith. That faith set them free from the bondage of the devil. The devil’ work has always been to enslave men to a lifestyle that leads to the total destruction of their life here and their immortal soul for eternity.

          It was the work of the devil from the beginning to destroy man by getting him to believe God was a liar. God had told them not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; in the day they did, they would surely die. The devil said to Eve, “You won’t die.” Because of that one lie, the devil ensnared our parents, and brought sin and death into this world.

          Jesus came into this world saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 It is by the faith that God gives, that we come to Him Through Jesus Christ.

          Jesus is the way forward to perfect freedom in fellowship with the Father; He is the way to becoming true children of God. Jesus is the way to serving God with a clear conscience, free from our past sins and condemnation. 

          This world is filled with the lies of the destroyer. It denies the Creator; it denies His Son, Jesus Christ; it denies the need for a Savior, claiming men are basically good. It denies Christ’s coming; it denies judgment day, and the existence of Hell. But, Jesus has given us the truth; through the New Testament, we have the truth; all we need to know concerning how to live, walk in a manner pleasing to our God.

          Jesus Christ is the life; and to all who call on Him, He gives a real freedom, the freedom of a life that will never end.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net    

DOING THE WILL OF GOD

On By Brother BillIn Brother Bill, Uncategorized

When Christ came into the world He said: “…Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do your will, O God.” Hebrews 10:7

          The four gospels attest to the fact that the Father and His will were always uppermost in Jesus’ mind. Jesus consistently referenced His Father in whatever He said or did. Concerning His words, Jesus said this:

“…I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” John 12:49-50

          Concerning His works, Jesus said this: “…I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me…the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” John 5:30, 36

          It was the will of God that the Messiah of Israel should be His very own, first begotten Son, born of a virgin in Bethlehem, at the exact time in the history of this world that God chose. Then, at the age of twelve, we see Jesus sitting in the temple in the midst of the teachers of Israel. When His mother questioned Him as to why He was there, Jesus’ answer was: “Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know I had to be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49

          Twelve years old and Jesus was doing His Father’s will; sometime around thirty years old we find Jesus saving a sinful woman in Samaria. When the disciples asked Jesus about His need to eat, He said this to them: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” John 4:34

          When Jesus was about 33 years of age, nailed to a cross and dying, His last words were: “It is finished!” John 19:30 Concerning God’s will and Jesus’ death on the cross, we read this: “…By God’s will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…by one sacrifice God has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:10, 14 Praise the Lord!

          If doing the will of His Father was the focus and priority of Jesus’ life, what does that say about those who profess to follow Him? Here’s what the apostle Paul teaches to those who love Jesus, concerning the will of God:

“…I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

          Doing God’s will filled Jesus’ heart and mind all the days of His earthly journey. If you profess to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ; if you confess that you are a child of the living God—that Jesus’ God is your God, and His Father is your Father, then, how does the will of God fit into your heart and thoughts? 

          The Bible, God’s word, gives us all we need to know about what God’s will is for our life. In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles clearly lay out for us the will of God concerning our words and our lifestyle. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness [the will of God], so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“…Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net

MERCY AND GRACE by William Oldham

On By Brother BillIn Brother Bill7 Comments

 This is a true story that I am personally acquainted with. John, who is battling cancer, took his truck to a car wash. Afterwards, he decided to get a hamburger. As he pulled into the drive-thru, his wet foot slipped off the brake pedal and he rear-ended the car in front of him. The man in the car, Aaron, said it felt like an earthquake had struck. As he was getting out of his car, he said the Holy Spirit brought two words to mind: “Mercy and grace.”

          Both men got out and met in the drive-thru. John apologized, and Aaron said, “Let’s get our food, and then we can talk.” After getting their orders, they exchanged the necessary information. John explained what happened, and also told him about his cancer. Aaron then said, “Let’s pray!” They did, and then Aaron invited John to his church.

          John went to his church, and when it came time to pray, they asked John to come down and they laid hands on him and prayed for him. Needless to say, John was touched by God’s mercy and grace which was shown to him through a faithful servant, Aaron. The following Sunday, Aaron shared John’s story with his prayer group. It turns out, in that prayer group was a close friend of John’s sister. God never ceases to amaze me in how He connects people together.

          Mercy and grace are two precious commodities that we all need every day, and God is more than willing to supply them in abundance. Here’s what the Holy Spirit calls out to each of us:

“We have a High Priest Who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because He has been tempted in every way that we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with boldness and confidence, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

          Every day, in every way, God’s children need two things from the throne of God to help them make it through that day: Mercy and Grace! We don’t live a day without offending in one way or another. That’s why Jesus taught us to ask our Father in heaven to forgive us our sins, even as we forgive others: we are guilty and we need our Father’s mercy of forgiveness. And the Scriptures declare that our Father delights in showing mercy.

          Grace! “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and guilt, yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.” It is by God’s grace we are saved. And then, from the day of our spiritual birth, unto the day Jesus comes for us, God is faithful to supply the grace that is sufficient to help us face whatever comes our way. The grace we need daily is our God, through His Holy Spirit, helping us every step of our journey.

          Jesus gave these instructive words to His church: “…I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous…Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 Would we be perfect children? Think about this.

Aaron was sitting in his car minding his own business. All of a sudden—BOOM! He has been rear-ended. Through no fault of his own, he has been hit. How do most folks react to this kind of accident? Curse, threaten, and sue. But Aaron had it in his heart for God to give him the opportunity to witness and encourage others, so on that day, the Holy Spirit led Aaron to show mercy and grace to someone who needed it.

Life rear-ends us in many ways as we travel this earth. God help us to have the mindset to be vessels of honor, through which He can pour out His mercy and grace to those in need.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net