Article
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver: of a whole piece shalt thou make them.”—Numbers 10:1–2
What is it that we need first and most, if the months that lie ahead of us, if the Lord will, are to be fruitful in the things that are pleasing to God? How are we to fulfill the relationship of life, and in them adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things? What is it that lies at the basis of all spiritual life and service, and without which we can only fail in every …
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“Unto the tribe of Levi, Moses gave not any inheritance. The Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them” (Joshua 13:33).
The first verse of Joshua 13 begins with the Lord’s reminder to Joshua, “there remains yet very much land to be possessed.” We have seen how true that is in relation to the spiritual experience of us all. We remind ourselves that possession of the land by Israel was by lot. In other words, God determined the precise area which each tribe was to occupy, and each was responsible for applying the principles they had …
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An address by Dr. Herbert W. Bieber at The Moody Church during the first week of the opening of the new church building in 1925.
I have with a great deal of thought chosen my subjects for these three nights. I suppose you believe with me that there are favorite sugar sticks that we Bible teachers like to suck, but I want to bring you messages from the Word of God which I believe would be helpful. My own desire is that in this magnificent church there shall never anything be preached but the gospel of the grace of God. …
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Throughout the world, many have described personal visions and near-death experiences, including conversations with Jesus, meetings with deceased loved ones, and even tours of heaven or hell. Such experiences are possible, but subject to deception and wishful delusions.
God did utilize visions in the Old Testament (Genesis 46:2; Numbers 12:6, 24:16; Psalm 89:19; Daniel 7:1-15; Isaiah 6:1-8), and the New Testament is abundant with examples as well (Acts 11:5, 16:9, 18:9; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4). The prophet Joel even speaks of the expanding frequency of visions in relation to the Day of the Lord (Joel 2:28-32). But visions were not to …
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The Bible not only presents divine ideals but also sin-caused realities. In the Old Testament, divorce and remarriage were permitted under specific regulations. The question is whether or not any of these guidelines are applicable today within the context of the New Testament. Two instances demonstrate that divorce can, under certain conditions, be considered scriptural today.
1. When One Partner Develops a Pattern of Sexual Immorality
Christ said, “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, (fornication) and marries another, commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9). Several observations should be noted:
(1) A spouse who divorces his/her …
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As the youngest child in our family, it was customary for me to read the Christmas story in our home before we opened our gifts. As you might guess, I probably had my mind on the presents under the tree rather than on the words I was reading. Even so, I often was puzzled by the promise of the angel, “Peace on Earth.” Even back then I knew that there was little peace in the world.
I’m sure you know the story. The shepherds are tending their flocks on the outskirts of Bethlehem at night. They are startled when suddenly …
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My subject tonight is “Bright Lights”—not Christian bright lights, but what the world calls “bright lights”—the “big bugs.” I want you to see how they go out—so suddenly, so surely. The switch goes off very easily, the connection is broken, and they vanish into darkness. They shine like diamonds; then they envy the sun, and out they go. Notice this verse in Numbers 16:2: “And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown.”
Man’s Choosing
Here is a crowd of “bright …
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“The land which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.” —Numbers 14:7
Our inheritance in Christ Jesus is more than we can ask or think. Since He has so richly provided for us, it behooves us to believe and accept His provisions. “Must I go on in this up and down life?” cried a young man the other night as he threw himself to his knees in a struggle with the old flesh. What joy to point the struggling Christian to the Beulah Land of the soul: a place of rest and victory in the Holy …
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God’s holiness is unmatched. He responds to sin not only with grace, but also with holy judgment. When we observe the nature of sin and punishment in the Old Testament, the prophets record that God treats sin harshly. Sin affects more than merely the perpetrator, it spills over into the community, especially the family. Thus, God speaks of visiting and punishing sins to the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5, Numbers 14:18, Lamentations 5:7). Achan and his family’s punishment is one extraordinary example of God’s tenacity for purity, but it should not be considered as a normal response (Joshua 7). …
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The Old Testament institutes tithing as an obligatory act of worship by God’s people. Israelite tithes supported the landless tribe of Levi and the priesthood of God (Numbers 18:25-32, Nehemiah 10:38). They also served the giver’s family and the nation’s disadvantaged (Deuteronomy 14:22-29). This command of God was often abused or ignored (Malachi 3:8-10). As in the case with all visible acts of worship, self-righteousness cropped up among the Israelites who actually did tithe (Luke 18:12).
Through the fulfilling work of the Messiah, New Testament believers are no longer obligated to perform the particulars of the Law. Tithing is never …
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