Welcome to BibleTalk

You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord (YHWY) their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.’
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Of course God was speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the nation of Judah—to His people in the land of His promise. It is of course a message to all nations and people today!
The entire chapter is a litany of God’s response to their disobedience and their rejection of His word and His love. And that resulted in the absence of joy and gladness from the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem in that generation. And the land became a ruin! {Jer.7:28,34}

I have not only been a Christian since 1976, but I have been a dedicated student of the Word of God and the state of the church ever since. Directed by and made possible by the Lord, I have been blessed to have had the exceptional opportunity to spend time in graduate level studies in a denominational university, a seminary, where I saw a real lack of regard for the truth of the Scriptures; my reason for leaving after a few semesters.

I have shared the Word in churches of many denominations as well as preached and taught on the streets of major cities in many, many countries, started churches and Christian schools, I have taught groups of pastors on four or five continents… I am speaking from experience. It really does not matter what I have done or said; what matters is what the Lord has said and done! I have nothing that I have not received!{1Cor.4:7}

All too often if you look for a barometer on the health of a church you will be provided with statistics on church attendance, building projects or even (heaven forbid) cash flow! That in itself is a commentary on the sad state of affairs in the Body of Christ. Were you to look for the single most successful church in the New Testament based on the above criteria you would surely award the blue ribbon to the church of Laodicea. That was a congregation that boasted that they had become rich—they had become wealthy and had need of nothing—they believed they had it all! {Rev.3:17} If they believed they had need of nothing they must have thought they had great preaching—except for the fact that the Word of God was literally outside, not in that place! {Rev.3:20}

Our fellowship (real church) is all about Jesus. No Jesus, no church! Our gatherings—which is the Greek word used throughout the New Testament, are now replaced by ‘the church’. The Greek word ekklesia meant an official assembly of citizens, It still does! But it is a gathering of citizens of heaven {Php.3:20} consisting of a very special people: the family of God!

Someone once said to Him, (Jesus) “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You. But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, Who is My mother and who are My brothers? And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, Behold My mother and My brothers!” {Mat.12:47-49} What we call church is simply nothing more than a family get-together, gathered by Jesus and focused on our Father!

There is a structure, and it is well ordered; God is a God of good order. {1Cor.14:33} Jesus taught His apostles that truth, saying that even He had come to serve and not be served. {Lk.22:24-27} It has always been a blessing to me in my travels to meet ‘leaders’ of the churches, pastors, bishops, apostles, etc. who have a servant’s heart. Unfortunately, that is less common than it should be.

Jesus dramatically drove that point home when He, the King of Kings and the Lord of lords got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He then poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Followed by saying “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” {Jn.13:4-5—15} That literally shocked the apostles, especially Peter, and would still shock people today.

In contrast to the Pharisees and the scribes Jesus said to His disciples and all who will hear,

“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:8-11)

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE See less