The Miracle of the Dead Sea Scrolls

I may be one of a minority that care, that's ok.  In 1948, some shepherd boys stumbled upon some scrolls in a cave by the Dead Sea.  The result of that discovery was objective proof that the wonder of oral tradition and the transmission of the Old Testament was clearly telling the revelation of God to man. Now,  this week, 63 years after that discovery, ANYONE can study the Dead Sea Scrolls.  I won't tell you how, I'll just let you click on the links:

Dead Sea Scrolls Online   What an amazing time we live in,   The Israel Museum in Jerusalem; the Shrine of the Book, has just partnered with Google to present the Dead Sea Scrolls to the world.     This just happened this week. Watch a video about it.     The Great Isaiah Scroll   View where Dead Sea Scrolls are stored.     History and  significance of the Scroll. When you look at it, make sure you navigate from right to left, it's Hebrew!

When Peter was writing to the Church at the close of the first century, after Christianity had spread over the known world and as the New Testament was being written, he linked up the power of Scripture in the Old Testament with what God was doing then.  Even as Nero was persecuting Christians, Peter declared this truth about the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament revelation:



2 Peter 1:16–19 (NASB95)

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—

18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

Now because of this gift from the Nation of Israel.  You can study the "word of the prophets" by simply clicking on a section and watching an pop-up translation in English.

May the Lord bless you as you encounter His word.

The Truth in Two Verses

I read the other day that Salvation is a compilation of many little salvations as we learn over the course of our spiritual journey to "convert" to Christ.  Having been raised in a Pentecostal and somewhat legalistic environment where I was saved every weekend, this blessed me.  It also reminded me of what Billy Graham identified in his own spiritual journey.  In his autobiography, "Just as I Am", Dr. Graham talked about how he made a confession of Christ in a revival service as a youth, but later was "converted".  It could be that this is the normal process of maturing in Christ.  The Bible says if ANY man is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things are new (2 Corinthians 5:17). I'm personally convinced that many believers are not experiencing the abundant life that Jesus promised.  I think this is because of three reasons.

First, they do not understand that the grace of God is sufficient for EVERYTHING.  They are still trying to live out their life on their own terms and suffering because of their decisions. These devoted believers are trying to live for Jesus under their own power. When Jesus was finishing his remarks about abiding in the Father in John 15, He also revealed His purpose for us in verse 11  (John 15:11)

Mrs. Cecil Alexander wrote the hymn, "Jesus Calls Us", the verses help to understand the message of the New Testament to trust Jesus and follow Jesus in everything.

Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea; day by day His sweet voice soundeth, saying, “Christian, follow Me.”

Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store, from each idol that would keep us, saying, “Christian, love Me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease, still He calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love Me more than these.”

Jesus calls us: by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Thy call, give our hearts to Thy obedience, serve and love Thee best of all.

Second, they reject the power of the Holy Spirit.  The key to purpose for believers is the baptism in the Holy Spirt.  When Paul arrived at Ephesus, he asked them if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed?  They responded that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 19:2-7)  If Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until you receive power from on high (Acts 1:1-8), then why would that not be necessary for us in our day?  The Spirit provides the ACTUAL presence and power of God in the believers life.  When Jesus was talking about the Spirit to the disciples, He said this:

John 7:37–39 (ESV)

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 14:17 (ESV)

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Third, they are content with knowing about Jesus, but not knowing Jesus.  What do I mean by this?  They have correct doctrine, they have checked the theological blocks and may actually be saved, but that is all they want.  They don't really think that serving Christ is a daily activity, just an important religious exercise.  This too, is contrary to what Scripture says.  When Jesus was trying to help His disciples understand the difference between doctrinal religion and true relationship, He quoted from Isaiah 29:13 and said this:

Matthew 15:8 (ESV)

8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

Thankfully, there is a better alternative than these three perspectives.  We do not need to be content with a nostalgic Jesus, live under our status as believers and ignore the power of the Holy Spirit.  When Paul was writing to Titus.  He identified the essence of Christianity in two verses.  That's right.  Just 2.  Consider the magnificent truths of Titus 3:5-7

Titus 3:5–7 (ESV)

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  

How did He save us?

Not by works of righteousness, but according to His mercy (by the washing of regeneration AND renewal of the Holy Spirit)

What's our status now?

 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  

The truth is in these two verses.  Today, right now we have the Spirit available to remind us of the grace, love and presence of God.  He's available to release power (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-46) in our lives for God's purposes.

At the same time, we are justified in the sight of God until the transition to eternal life.

May God help us all to rise above the ugly negativity of a lost world and find in Him all that we need.