PRACTICAL HELPS ABOUT PRAYER

If you are serious about improving your prayer life, read the following. At first, these helps may seem to be frank and restrictive. Although our prayers will never be perfect, we should be willing to examine them critically and strive to improve them.

It is important to consider some bad habits to avoid in improving your praying. First, a safe rule is to never use the word “just” when praying. This habit has been passed around by evangelicals for years without any careful evaluation. Believers who will substitute just two synonyms for the word “just,” namely, the words “only” or “merely,” in their spoken sentences will discover how inappropriate its use can be. For example, one may pray, “Father, I just pray (I merely or only
pray . . .”). Is that really what you mean? Prayer is one of our strongest spiritual weapons. Please don̓t “just” pray; go ahead and pray! Another example is “. . . just (merely) bless Jane and just (merely) help her at this time.” Therefore, in order to communicate properly, especially in public prayer, try to avoid using “just.”

Second, avoid using trite and meaningless phrases when speaking to God. Nebulous over used phrases like “Bless the gift and the giver” are almost never said with heartfelt meaning. Moreover, when praying in public, pray to God. Do not use prayers to make announcements or to inform everyone of your position on an issue. For instance, a pastor once prayed something like this: “Please help Ruth recover, and Thou knowest she will be in the hospital at least another week.” He was actually informing his congregation to keep sending her cards and flowers. Congregational announcements and prayers are to separate things. Therefore, it is wise to remember that our Triune God is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit —each a real Person deserving reverence and respect.

Third, do not be afraid to pray with your eyes open, reading from the Scriptures. Our prayers should be full of the words of Scripture, especially the promises of God to His covenant people. Likewise, appropriate the Scripture you read and study. Pray through the commands, promises, attitudes, and truths that you discover in the Scriptures. Understanding truths is never enough; they must be appropriated and applied to your life.

Fourth, think through the parts of a prayer. Start with the address and discover how God is approached in the Scriptures (Dan. 9:4; Matt. 11:25). Likewise, notice how God is worshiped in the Scriptures (Ps. 2:11,12 “worship the Lord with reverence ...;” Heb. 12:28—29; John 4:21-24) and do the same. Therefore, realizing God is both transcendent (above us) and imminent (near us), we can pattern our prayers by Scripture.

Fifth, do not put on a pious voice when praying. Also, do not address the Triune God irreverently. Moreover, do not use the Lord̓s name as a punctuation mark for every sentence. For example, “Father, I pray, Father, that Lord . . . you would . . . Father and Lord . . .  It is not wrong to use the Lord̓s name in a prayer more than once, but don̓t use it to fill up every gap in every sentence. The Scriptures warn us against vain babbling (Matt. 6:7) and using the Lord̓s name without a distinct purpose (Ex. 20:7). Likewise, God the Father is a Person and we do not speak to our friends in that manner “Bill, how are you feeling, Bill, and Bill, will you, Bill. . .     

Sixth, we must realize that spiritual warfare is also part of our praying. Caution must be used when we are involved in this type of praying. We are not to shout at or order around or pray to Satan (Jude , Zech. 3:) [See How to meet the Enemy, by John MacArthur, Jr.] It is not wise to do so. Satan is not omnipresent, he might be in Haiti and never hear your prayer / words to him at all. The Bible never permits us to pray to angelic beings. Men are still lower than the angels and should not be ordering them around. Call out to God when you are confronted with evil spirits.  Ask King Jesus to bind, block, thwart demonic, worldly or fleshly activities and spirits.  The Bible says the Holy Spirit is greater than the enemy, not you in your present state before glorification. A praying Christian should be acknowledging God’s greatness and his own weakness and dependency upon God in his prayers. Ephesians 6 lists the offensive weapon of “all prayer” among our equipment for spiritual battle.  Use this weapon in a way that is God honoring and Scriptural.  Recognize that you are not the sinless God-Man, fully God and fully man, nor are you an Apostle of Christ in the process of writing Scripture. Realize what Martin Luther did, “the prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him, his rage we can endure, for lo his doom is sure, one single word shall fell him . . .We are not the right Man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing, Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus it is He. Lord Sabaoth, His name, from age to age the same, and He must win the battle.” As a general rule, speak to Jesus about the problem, and also the person who is under the power of a demon.

Seventh, the New Testament prayers recorded for us all have one emphasis that is missing in many prayers today. That emphasis is to pray for the spiritual growth of individuals and churches.  Of course it is proper to pray for those not yet converted (Rom 10:1; Col 4:3) for physical needs (Matt 6:11), forgiveness (Matt 6:12), for healing from sicknesses (Jam 5:13-14). However, we should be primarily praying for the spiritual growth, service, usefulness, and protection and steadfastness of other Christians (2 Cor 13:9; Eph 1:18-20, 3:14-21). If most Christians answered the question, “Do you daily pray that the Christians you know would grow spiritually?” The answer to that question would reveal this has become a lost priority among modern Christians. It is true that many believers are ignoring one of the most emphasized areas of praying for the New Covenant Believer in the Word of God. You can change that in your own life and prayers.

Last, never pray a prayer without realizing and stating that it is a prayer in Jesus̓ name (John 14:3). It is on the basis of the finished work of Christ that we can come into God̓s presence. Try cashing a check with the payee signature missing from the front of the check. The privilege of prayer was bought with the blood of Christ on our behalf (Heb. 10:19-22; 9:14). Because of the cross-work of Jesus we have direct access to the Father by prayer in Jesus’ name. We do not have to go to God through a chain of command. Therefore, remember and state that your prayer is in Jesus name (based on His person and redemptive work). It is good to begin the prayer in Jesus name and authority as well as ending with this reminder.

Prayer is vital to our spiritual life. We are commanded to pray, but we are not asked to pray perfectly. Do not be discouraged or compare your prayers to those of others. Learn from your leaders and from the Scriptures how to pray more biblically as you grow in your walk with our Sovereign Lord (Dan 9, Matt 6). But, remember, He is also our gracious Father and He hears our prayers even though they are less than perfect. So pray, and then pray some more. You do not gave because you do not ask in prayer (Jam 4:2). Relationships require communication. Talk to God. You will be glad you did.

When Were the Early Disciples Saved?

Redemptive History from 5 BC Including Gradual Covenantal Changes


I have a friend that I love a lot that is confused by the hyper-dispensationlist and United Pentecostal position that none of the disciples were saved until the day of Pentecost (Acts2). The following biblical historical events are highlighted that show this is not a correct view and creates many unnecessary contradictions in the New Testament. Both hermeneutics and historical theology show this view is wrong. It is also new. Moreover, the coming of the Spirit to baptize the three ethnic churches and bestow the New Covenant spiritual gifts is not the same as salvation for these early believers. The Spirit’s work of creation, anointing, miracles, inspiriting prophets, the virgin conception and opening the eyes of spiritually dead people happened prior to His coming on Pentecost. Consider these verses:

1. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit in Israel on earth 6-5 BC -Luke 1:41
2. Zacharias is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies -Luke 1:67
3: John the Baptist’s birth -Luke 1:57. John filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb -Luke 1:15
4. The Virgin conception caused by the Holy Spirit in Israel on earth -Matt 1:18, 20
5. Jesus the Messiah’s birth [Incarnation] (5 BC)
6. Simeon is filled by the Holy Spirit and identifies Jesus as the Messiah -Luke 2:25-29
7. John the Baptizer’s ministry. The last Mosaic Covenant Prophet in the spirit of Elijah
-Mat 3:11
8. The baptism of Jesus by John (25 AD). The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in a dove like form in Israel long before Pentecost -Matt 3:16; Luke 3:22
9. Beginning of the three year ministry of Jesus, the Holy Spirit leads Him to a barren place near Jericho -Matt 4:1
10. Jesus does miracles in Israel by the power of the Holy Spirit -Matt 12:28
11. Jesus forgives the paralytics sin. He did not have to wait for Pentecost. Anyone whose sins are forgiven is already saved from the penalty of sin. -Matt 9:22
TRANSITION PERIOD - The Mosaic Covenant administration is still functioning -John 4:23
12. The training of the 12 Apostles. They are sent out to heal -Matt10:5-8. The Holy Spirit gives the power to do miracles years before Pentecost. -Luke 10:1-18; 1 Cor 10:10-13; Gal 3:5
13. Nathaniel calls Jesus “Great Teacher, the Son of God and the King of Israel.” Jesus says that he is believing in him -John 1:49-50
14. Sinful woman, Jesus says “your faith has saved (past tense) you” -Luke 7:50
15. Peter call Jesus Lord by the Spirit. -Matt 17:4; 1 Cor 12:3; John 6:68-69, 1:49; Matt 16:15-19
16. Jesus declares all foods clean, but the Apostles do not change until later -Mark 7:19
17. Salvation of man born blind 1.5 years before Pentecost -John 9:38
18. Salvation of Martha and Mary revealed -John 11:27, 32
19. Last legitimate Passover feast of the Mosaic Covenant, First Lord’s Supper (prior to Messiah death) -Matt 26:26
20. Jesus declares the thief on the cross will be with him in the third heaven, (2 Cor 12:2-4) Paradise without waiting for Pentecost. No lost person enters heaven. But the Spirit open the thief’s eyes to call Jesus Lord, he is saved and enters heaven -Luke 23:43
21.  Death of the Messiah on a cross (28 AD) -John 19:30, Matt 27:54
22. CHANGE #1: The curtain of the Holly of Hollies is torn from top to bottom by God
Matt 27:51. The curtain was required in Mosaic covenant -Exd 26
23. Burial of the Messiah Jesus -Matt 27:57 -60
24. Resurrection of the Messiah (3 days later) -Matt 28:6
25. John believes in the resurrection of Jesus before others. Faith is a gift from the Spirit.-John 20:2-9; 1 Cor 12:9; Eph 2:8-9; Gal 3:4. He would not do this in human power alone. This was before Pentecost.
26. Forty days of the resurrected Jesus’ intermittent ministry. -Acts 1:3 Jesus gave orders by the Holy Spirit to the Apostles before Pentecost. -Acts 1:2
27. Willfully unbelieving Thomas declares Jesus as Lord and God. -John 20:28 Paul says no one can call Jesus Lord except by the Spirit. -1 Cor 12:3. This is before Pentecost.  
28. Jesus temporarily fills the Apostles with the Holy Spirit before the baptism at Pentecost. The Spirit has not been given the full sense yet, however, He is not absent either. -John 20:22
29. The ascension of Jesus the Messiah. -Acts 1:9-11 The return to heaven from earth.
30. Coronation of Jesus as God and Man in Heaven -Psa 24, Dan 7:13-14
31. The seating of Jesus on the throne to reign as the God/Man -Acts 2:30-36; Heb 12:2
32. CHANGE 2: First decree of the enthroned God/Man Jesus, ten days after the Ascension, the Holy Spirit comes  from the Father and the Son to bring power to the Jewish Church and serve as another Comforter / Helper, to fulfill the Mosaic Covenant feast of Pentecost, to return the shekinah glory that left the Holy of Hollies in Ezekiel to the twelve Apostles of Christ by the Baptism of the Spirit of the Jewish Church. -Acts 1:1-5, 2:1-34; 1 Cor 5:7. But the Spirit is not yet fully given.
33. The first Christian Baptism of 3,000 disciples -Acts 2:41
34. CHANGE 3: The Baptism of the Samaritan Church by the Holy Spirit. -Acts 8:14-19. The Holy Spirit is not yet fully given.
35. CHANGE 4: Peter is told in a vision to stop keeping the ceremonial law because it is blocking the flow of the gospel. -Acts 9:11-20
36. CHANGE 5: The Baptism of the Gentile Church by the Holy Spirit -Acts 10 [Note the pattern: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the ends of the earth Acts 1:8,which is the outline and plan of the book of Acts] See Hebrews 7-10. Now the Holy Spirit has been fully given.
37. CHANGE 6: The Jewish Church acknowledges Gentile Christians were not under the worship and purity regulations of the Mosaic covenant, but should limit freedom for unity and follow the moral guidelines (idolatry, adultery) -Acts 15; Col 2:11-23; Gal 2-3
38. Baptism of the Spirit of John the Baptizer’s Jewish disciples in Turkey that trusted that the Messiah was about to come, but did not know about Jesus or the Holy Spirit, the rest of the gospel. -Acts 19
39. TRANSITION PERIOD IS ENDED: from this point forward, the baptism of the Spirit occurs for each individual believer(not often in groups) [1 Cor 12:13] after faith, repentance and conversion without a gap -1 Cor 12:3-28 and Eph 1:11-14. New believer’s receive their spiritual gifts at conversion from this point forward. -Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; 1 Pet 4:10
40. CHANGE: 7: 70 AD the temple is destroyed by the Romans under Titus. The Jewish sacrifices are ended.
41. 692 AD The Dome of the Rock is completed, the Jewish temple restoration is blocked by Islam
42. Today 2021 AD
43. The future Tribulation Period
44. The return of Christ in the air with His church and the battle of Armageddon -Rev 19; 1 Thes 2
45. Jesus earthly reign for 1000 years -Rev 20
46. The Great White Throne judgment -Rev 20
47. The New earth and atmosphere, Heaven and earth joined together -Rev 21-22
 
That believers get the first parts of spiritual things now, but the full thing is ‘not yet’ is a minor theme repeated in the gospel of John -John 4:21-23, 5:28-29, 16:2, 25, 32. We are not yet glorified, so we too live with the contrast for the ‘now’ and ‘not yet.’

For Bible interpretation, always ask in what sense did the original author mean what he wrote to the original audience?

Without this, in the gospel of John Jesus would be a wooden door and his disciple’s cannibals. A wrong view of the Holy Spirit has totally depraved spiritually dead sinners getting saved and serving the Lord with their own power (Noah, Abraham, Joseph, see Heb 11), puts the Old Testament Scriptures inspiration in question (It is by the Spirit working in men before Pentecost) and introduces numerous contradictions into the New Testament. Nathaniel’s faith can only be explained by the internal work of the Holy Spirit regenerating him and giving the gifts of faith and repentance. The spiritual dead don’t believe in Jesus. Unbelief is an irrational commitment even in the presence of strong evidence.

John writes:

"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you," Jesus answered. 49 "Rabbi," Nathanael replied, "You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
 (Jn. 1:48-49 HCSB)

The ESV Study Bible note on John 7:39

    “As yet the Spirit had not been given does not mean that there was no work of the Holy Spirit in the world prior to Jesus’ resurrection, for already in Gen. 1:2 the Holy Spirit was present in the world, “hovering over the face of the waters”(see also Gen. 6:3; 41:38; Ex. 31:3; Num. 11:25). Some OT verses even speak of the Spirit of God at work within believer prior to the coming of Christ (Num. 27:18; Deut. 34:9; Ezek. 2:2; 3:24; Dan. 4:8-9, 18; 5:11; Mic. 3:8; cf. Luke 1:15, 41, 67). This verse must therefore mean that “the Spirit had not been given” in the full and powerful sense that was promised for the new covenant age (see Ezek. 36:26, 27, 37:14; Joel 2:28-29; cf. John 20:22; Acts 2:1-13).”

Furthermore, Paul writes the following verse primarily talking about the OT and the role of the Holy Spirit in the Prophet, Priest and King authors’ of the Old Testament when he wrote:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Tim 3:16 ESV). The Holy Spirit is the Bible’s divine author and inspired all the books of the Bible.

Peter writes:
First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation,21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Pet. 1:20-21 HCSB)

If no one is saved until Pentecost or is filled or empowered by the Holy Spirit, how did Abraham and Moses get the gift of faith and a supernaturally circumcised heart? See Hebrews 11 for many more believers walking by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.

However, the Old Testament proclaims that there is a saved remnant under the Mosaic covenant. See Isa 45:17, 22, 63:9, 64:5; Jer 17:14; Joel 2:32 (applied again in Acts 2:21 and Rom 10:13). The term saved in the old covenant prophets is used in the same way by the Apostles and NT Prophets (see Mark 16:16; Luke 7:50, 8:12; John 10:9 and Acts 16:31).

Luke writes:
“You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah.” (Acts 4:25-26 HCSB)

David wrote Psalm 2, which Peter quotes in Acts 2, under the control of the Holy Spirit (2 Sam 23:2) around 1000 BC, many years before the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. He feared losing His spiritual anointing to rule as king like Saul did by the removal of his old covenant spiritual gift (1 Sam 10:6, 16:14; Psa 51:11-12). Only kings (elders/judges, leaders), priests, prophets and artisans under the priests had spiritual gifts under the Mosaic covenant -2 Cor 3:6-18. However, in the greater New Covenant, every believer has at least one gift (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; 1 Pet 4:10), and some have several gifts.

In what sense was the Holy Spirit not yet given during the transition period between the Mosaic covenant administration getting ready to end and the New Covenant administration under the Messiah already partially started in some ways, but not fully instituted until Acts 10? This giving of the Spirit to spiritually baptize (John 1:33) the three church groups has nothing to do with salvation, effectual calling, regeneration or even inspiration of believers prior to Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit was not given yet to bring the New Covenant spiritual gifts that are accompanied by the baptism (Matt 3:11) of the three sample corporate churches---the Jews, Samaritans and then the Gentiles. The death, burial, resurrection, ascension and ruling session of Jesus the God/Man had to occur first before the New Covenant three fold inauguration ceremonies occurred. The woman at the well in John 4 did not get her spiritual gift in Acts 2 with the Jewish Christians. She had to wait until Acts 8. Gentile converts (e.g. the Roman Centurion at the cross) had to wait even longer until Acts 10.

The Jewish church did not acknowledge that the “hour is coming” when the male worshipers no longer had to go to Jerusalem three times per year to worship (John 4:19-26) had already arrived until the council in Acts 15. The Gentile Antioch church becomes the new model church for the world Acts 15:35. The gradual change has been completed at this point. The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians to prove to them that the New Covenant was now fully in place and that being a godly Jew without Jesus as his Messiah and Lord was no longer possible. The period of time when that was possible had ended. The New Covenant has now replaced the Mosaic Covenant as the functioning administration. This was hard for those who lived through the gradual changes to accept the old ways as now complete so they needed the book of Hebrews with its seven strong warnings to bring them to understand this truth. Peter struggled with this change and was rebuked by Paul for trying the operate under the old order (Gal 1-2) of worship and purity regulations.

OT Saints with the Spirit In them
Leader, Joseph -Gen 41:38
Craftsman under Priests, Bezalel -Exd 28:3, 31:2-3
Leader, Joshua -Num 27:18
Future Jewish Remnant -Ezek 37:14
Prophet, Daniel -Dan 4:8-9, 18, 5:11, 14, 6:3
Elizabeth, prophets’s mother -Luke 1:41
Zacharias, priest and prophet’s father -Luke 1:67
John the Baptist -Luke 1:15

OT Saints with the Spirit on/ upon them
Prophet, Moses -Num 11:25
70 Elders of Israel -Num 11:17, 25-29
Prophet, Elisha -2 Kgs 2:9, 15
Judge, Othniel -Judg 3:10
Judge, Gideon -Judg 6:34
Judge, Samson -Judg 14:19
King, David -1 Sam 16:13, 2 Sam 23:2; Psa 139:7
Leader, Amasai -1 Chrn 12:18
Prophet, Azariah -2 Chrn 15:1
Levite, Jahaziel -2 Chrn 20:14
The earlier prophets in Israel -Neh 9:20, 30
Some of the returned remnant in Judah -Mal 2:15
Messiah, servant of Yahveh -Isa 11:2, 42:1, 48:6, 61:1
Future Jewish Remnant -Isa 59:21
Future Jewish Servants -Joel 2:28-29 (partially fulfilled in Acts 2)

OT Saints Filled with the Spirit
Leader, Joshua Deut 34:9
Prophet, Micah, -Micah 3:8
Some of the Jews in the dessert after Egypt -Hag 2:5
Early writing prophets in Israel (eg. Moses, Joshua, etc.) -Zech 7:12
OT believers who grieved the Holy Spirit in their midst -Isa 63:7-13

Lifted by the Spirit
Ezekiel -Ezk 3:12
Daniel -Dan 10:2-21
NT Apostle Paul -2 Cor 12:1-10
NT Apostle John -Rev 1:10, 4:1-2

There is a evangelical debate between classic dispensationalism and covenant theology over the issue of the permanence of the Holy Spirit before the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Classic dispensationalism teaches that before Acts 2, the Holy Spirit did save, gift and dwell upon old covenant believers, but did not dwell inside them. Covenant theologians argue that because of the seven people listed above with the Holy Spirit in them and the continuity of the covenants and two covenant administrations, the Holy Spirit did not abandon elect believers in the older covenant or the new covenant. The definiton and understanding of what the eklesia actually means in bible is also a difference between the two views. However, neither group argued that the disciples remained unsaved until Acts 2. Modern dispensationalists often agree now with covenant theologians on this matter, allowing for no loss of salvation during the OT or the NT.

Albert Barnes wrote:
    “For the Holy Ghost was not yet given - Was not given in such full and large measures as should be after Jesus had ascended to heaven. Certain measures of the influences of the Spirit had been always given in the conversion and sanctification of the ancient saints and prophets; but that abundant and full effusion which the apostles were permitted afterward to behold had not yet been given. See Acts 2; Acts 10:44-45.
    Jesus was not yet glorified - Jesus had not yet ascended to heaven - to the glory and honor that awaited him there. It was a part of the arrangement in the work of redemption that the influences of the Holy Spirit should descend chiefly after the death of Jesus, as that death was the procuring cause of this great blessing. Hence, he said John 16:7, "It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send him unto you." See also John 7:8-12; John 14:15-16, John 14:26. Compare Ephesians 4:8-11.”

See “The Indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament,” Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., EQ 82.4 (2010), 308–315; “The Baptism of the Holy Spirit,” (1148) in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 2nd Ed, eds. James Orr and Grove Kyle, Grand Raids: Eerdmans, 1939; and commentaries by Matthew Henry, Lange, John Gill and John Calvin on John 7:39.

The Doctrine of Creation in Revelation and the Gospel of John

And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says (Rev. 3:14 NASB)

Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created. (Rev. 4:11 NASB)

And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. And the four living creatures kept saying, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshiped. (Rev. 5:13-14 NASB)

And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there shall be delay no longer (Rev. 10:5-6 NASB)

And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Rev. 13:8-9 NASB)

and he said with a loud voice, Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters. (Rev. 14:7 NASB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (Jn. 1:1-3 NASB)

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (Jn. 1:10 NASB)

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (Jn. 8:58 NASB)

 "Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. "If this man were not from God, He could do nothing."(Jn. 9:32-33 NASB)

And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (Jn. 17:5 ESV)

John is convinced that humans are created beings and the triune God is our Creator. God created by divine fiat at the beginning. The Word, the son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ was the special agent of creation. The same power that is used in the beginning is used at the ending. The power to make is no greater than the power to destroy. What God created in love in the past  is brought low by the power of God in holy wrath administering justice during His visitations throughout the earth’s history, but especially at the end of the age. There is no point in believing Revelation if your unbelief will not let you believe Genesis. The supernatural seals, trumpet and bowl judgments require no more divine power than acts of creation. The virgin birth and resurrection, also clearly taught by John, also require supernatural intervention as do the sign miracles John records.

Doc Belcher, Richard P., Sr. Homegoing

Rev. Dr. Richard Paul Belcher, Sr., TEGA CAY, SC - Richard Paul Belcher, 85, of Fort Mill, SC went to be with the Lord on January 3, 2020. Born October 12, 1934 in St. Joseph, MO, he was the son of Delbert and Virgie Belcher. He is survived by a son, Dr. Rev. Richard Paul Belcher, Jr. (Lu) of Fort Mill, SC and daughter, Ann Jeanette Gottman (Tom) of Springfield, MO; a brother Delbert Belcher of Scotts, MI, a sister Joan Teachout of Trenton, MI; five grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, and his wife Mary Anne Belcher. He attended Hannibal-Lagrange college for two years and graduated from Wheaton College. He became an evangelist before he pastored Washington Park Baptist Church in Washington Park, IL from 1961 to 1976. While pastoring he pursued an M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary and a Th.D. from Concordia Theological Seminary, both schools in St. Louis, MO. In 1976 he took a teaching job at Columbia Bible College (now Columbia International University) in Columbia, SC and taught for twenty-nine years. He authored many books, including his best-known Journey in Grace.

He had a heart for missions and went on numerous mission trips to India, Brazil, Africa, Taiwan, and other parts of the world. He became pastor of Covenant Baptist Church, Columbia, SC in the years before his retirement from teaching in 2005. The last years of his life he lived in Fort Mill, SC. Funeral service were conducted at 11 AM on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at Palmetto Funeral Home in Fort Mill, SC with Dr. Rev. Richard Belcher, Jr. officiating. The burial was conducted at 3 PM at Bush River Memorial Gardens in Columbia, SC. The family received friends prior to the service on Tuesday, from 10 AM until 11 AM at the funeral home. The family is being served by Palmetto Funeral Home and Crematory of Fort Mill, SC.

• Richard Belcher's students called him Doc
• He founded Evangelizing India for Christ in 1993
• Doc invested himself in numerous students for many years. He would call, email and meet them for lunch. He would come and preach at the churches they would pastor.
  
• He was a mentor to many young men. He would even pay for the lunch of students off campus who disagreed with some of his convictions and encourage them with matter upon which they both agreed.
• Doc would encourage men who had been rejected by others and were struggling. He never gave up on them. Doc rooted for the underdog, and if that was you, you greatly appreciated it.
  
• After teaching at Columbia Bible College during the day, he would preach at revivals and Bible studies during the evening hours or on weekends
• He founded Richbarry Press with a local Pastor to distribute his many written works
• He planted Covenant Baptist Church in West Columbia, SC
• He was Chairman of the Board of Christ for India for several years before founding EIFC
• He taught Bible, Preaching, Advanced Greek and Theology at CBC in the 1980s
• Doc wrote and performed the life of Bible characters and great Christians in music and script. He would read the narrative and punctuate it with meaningful hymns and worship songs. These include Adnorium Judson, David Brainerd, and Pontious Pilate and about 11 more. The Judson one is available online at Sermon Audio.com.
• Doc took many teams to India and Africa for a week or two of ministry and went alone to do specialized training for many years. It is estimated that he went to India over 35 times.
• J.A. Medders wrote: "Don't do ministry and missions as if it rests on you. Work and sleep like a Calvinist. Work like it is all up to the most powerful person in the universe. Work like you are God's humble coworker, pointing people to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Go the the nations, evangelize your friends, and plant churches because you know God is sovereign. Be a hard-working, expectantly-evangelizing Calvinist who trust God's sovereignty. Work hard for the glory of God. And enjoy watching what he lets you be part of." (Humble Calvinism, 2019, The Good Book Co., Loc. 1393). Doc did not write this, but he lived it.
• After teaching and meeting with students all day, Doc would work on books he was writing and travel to preach revivals and mini-Bible conferences. I rode with him to a revival he was preaching at in SC one hours' drive away on one occasion. He took time to share his faith at the gas station we had to stop at on the way home and gave the cashier one of his books. John Cummings drove Doc back and forth to preaching engagements many times when he had bad headaches or was too sick to drive, but he kept his ministry promise.
• Doc banked on prayer. On my first trip to India in 1994, our team was in a large diesel van heading to the airport. The driver ran it out of diesel fuel, and we had to pull over 0.3 tenths of a mile from a fuel station. Doc stood up and prayed. The van started after the prayer and made it to the fuel station and then to the airport. There were many other instances like this through the years.
  

The Homegoing of Mary Anne Belcher

Mary Anne Belcher of Fort Mill, South Carolina, was born on May 1, 1935 in Troy, Missouri, and went home to be with the Lord on September 30, 2016. She was 81 years old and was the daughter of Robert and Edna Casner.

Mary Anne is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Dr. Richard Paul Belcher, Sr. of Fort Mill, South Carolina; a son, Dr. Richard Paul Belcher, Jr. and his wife Lu of Fort Mill, South Carolina; a daughter, Anne Jeanette Gottman and her husband Tom of Springfield, Missouri; a sister, Mae Martin of St. Louis, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Frances Haley of Troy, Missouri; five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Her mother and father, sister Jeanette Hamlett (Tom), brother Marvin Handlong, and brother-in-law Walter Martin, all preceded her in death.

Mary Anne was in banking most of her life, was an accomplished mortgage loan officer, and was Vice President of Service Corporation of South Carolina after moving to Columbia, South Carolina from Missouri. When her mother-in-law needed extra care many years ago, Mary Anne and Doc took her into their home. Mary Anne faithfully provided the care she needed for many years until the Lord took Doc’s mother home to heaven. Her story as a prayer warrior is told in Dr. Belcher’s book, A Journey in Christian Heritage.

Mary Anne was a big help to her husband in his publishing business. She typed many manuscripts and after she retired she helped manage Richbarry Press. She also provided many hours of support for Evangelizing India for Christ (EIFC). She was a volunteer bookkeeper and also provided secretarial support for several years as well. She made numerous sacrifices for the work in India with a willing servant’s heart.

Mary Anne loved working in the nursery at church and served as nursery coordinator for many years. She also enjoyed singing hymns. After Dr. Belcher retired from Columbia International University, they moved to Fort Mill. She also enjoyed crocheting, reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and feeding birds.

Mary Anne was also an excellent housekeeper and a gracious host. She may have been too gracious of a host, at times, for Dr. Belcher’s liking, as the following story will illustrate. Dr. Belcher used to pick up board members at the airport and train station in Charlotte twice each year for the EIFC board meetings held in Rock Hill. On one occasion, after stopping for an early lunch, Doc drove a board member he was transporting to his house for a short visit while he worked briefly on a project with a deadline. Those who know Doc well know that he has a special love for ice cream. (He used to even eat ice cream in India, even though they don’t pasteurize their milk, and this involved a risk of “Delhi belly.”) As the story goes, when Doc came downstairs, Mary Anne and the board member he left downstairs were enjoying two of his Dove bars. He used to tell others how great they were. He would say, “D-O-V-E, Dove bars—you need to try one.” When Doc saw the Dove bars being consumed, he noted, “Now you know how good they are.” This board member would tease Doc on the way to Rock Hill from Charlotte for the next few board meetings that he dare not stop at his house in Fort Mill. Mary Anne was such a gracious hostess that she would give away all his Dove bars, significantly reducing his inventory.

Mary Anne is greatly missed by her husband, family, church family, the board of EIFC and many friends. We are looking forward to spending time with her in heaven and joining her in the resurrection on that great day. Please continue to pray for Dr. Belcher and the extended Belcher family as they reorient their lives over the next several years without Mary Anne’s special presence.

How to Use a Tactical Plan with Difficult Skeptics

Helps for the Answers Class: How to Use a Tactical Plan with Difficult Skeptics

Columbo Questions[1]

Bring these questions with you to the Answers Class. The right tactics can assist you in staying in the driver’s seat by directing the conversation.  Questions are a good way to approach group members with diplomacy rather than with verbal combat.  Use questions to make your case without a lecture and making claims you will be responsible to defend when dealing with skeptics who have not thought out their own positions carefully. The truth is on our side!

Once a participant answers a question about your topic stating a non-biblical point of view, ask them a series of questions.

1)      What do you mean by that? [You are asking, “What do you believe?”] Make them define their terms.  Gather information by using clarification questions.

2)      How did you come to that conclusion?  (or)

·        Why do you say that?  (or)

·        What are your reasons for holding that position? (or)

·        I am curious, why would you say such a thing? (or)

·        Why should I believe what you just stated? (or)

·        Can you give me some reasons why I should believe that is truth? (or)

·        What makes you think that is the right way to see it?

·        And what would be your evidence for that? 

·        And what support do you have for that idea?

·        The essence of this second type of question is: How do you know that is true? What are your reasons for coming to this conclusion?

You are reversing the burden of proof.  The person who makes the claim bears the burden of proof.  Challenge their commitment to unbelief.  Don’t go into a defensive posture when the skeptic makes a claim.  Ask them for their reason for holding their view.  If they change the subject, navigate the discussion back to their reasons for holding their view.  They have made an argument; they should do the work of proving why their view is the most reasonable solution to the evidence. Once they make a claim, the burden of proof is on them.  Don’t fall for the trap to have to defend your view.  Ask them to slow down and give you their view and the reasons for it, and let you think about it.  Don’t let them reverse the burden of proof when they made the claim, they must give reasons why their view is the most plausible, not just possible.  It is their job to not only make a point; they must also give reasons why this is the best understanding of the facts.  An alternative explanation is not a refutation.  He must show that his explanation is the best explanation, most plausible pointing to the facts, evidence, and truth.  Don’t let them dodge the issues.  If they make a controversial claim, they should be able to defend it with reasons. 

We should all listen while they explain why they think what they are claiming is true.  Ask them to carefully explain their view and the reasons why they hold this view so that you can think about it.  Ask simple leading questions that are interactive, probing, and amicable.

3)      Have you ever considered (or),

·        Can you help me with this? 

·        Maybe you can clear this up for me. 

·        The third type of Columbo question is to use more questions to find a flaw, a clear weakness, a wrong assumption, or a contradiction in their thinking. (Carefully listening to how they reason from the # 2 question above)  Here is sample conversation using this third type of question:

Participant: “You should not push your morality on me.” 

Facilitator: “Why not?”  Notice they just pushed their morality on you by saying there is something you should not do.  Everything they say next will be attacking themselves.

Participant: “You are intolerant because you believe in absolute truth.” 

Facilitator: “What do you mean?” 

Participant: “Well, you think you are right about this and others are wrong.”

Facilitator: “Help me out, here.  Something is bothering me.  How is it when I think I am right I am intolerant, but when you think you are right, you are just simply right?  You can’t have it both ways.” 

Participant: “That is just your interpretation.” 

Facilitator: “What do you mean by ‘just’?”  If they mean all interpretations are equal, then misinterpret something they just said to force them to admit that some interpretations are incorrect and some are correct. 

Participant: “How can there be evil if there is a good God?” 

Facilitator: “What do you mean by evil?  How can there be an objective standard of good and evil if there is no great lawgiver?” 

Facilitator: “Would you be willing to consider an alternative explanation?”  Anticipate objections and think of questions in advance (see Luke 20:1-8, 20-26). 

Facilitator: “Let me ask you a question.”  You as the facilitator are going on the offensive in a disarming way by the repeated use of questions.  Your plan is to point out errors with questions rather than with statements.  When they evade your questions by making other claims, question those claims as well.  What if they start using the Columbo method on you?

Facilitator: “I am sorry; I am not prepared to answer that question tonight.  Why don’t you tell me what you believe about this and the reasons why you believe it.  Once I understand your view, I will see if I can offer an alternative or state my agreement with you.”

After the session, think through the false claims that were made.  Think through the questions that you could have asked to make the person think about the self-contradictory and illogical statements that class members made.  Write these down for the next time you teach this session.  Pay close attention to ideas that have internal contradictions and learn to expose these with questions to get the entire group to think.  For example, Participant: “There are no absolutes.”  Facilitator: “Are you absolutely certain about that?”  Participant: “There is no such thing as truth.”  Facilitator: “How do you know that what you just said is true?”

See www.str.org for more information on using questions to expose error.

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[1] The material in the section is adapted from Gregory Koukl’s lecture, “Tactics in Defending the Faith,” available from Stand to Reason, at www.str.org .

Doctrines of Grace Acrostic from Roger Nicole, 6 Points

   WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

Grace -                                      God has freely given us His love and has powerfully drawn us to Himself; when we deserve His punishment for our sin.  We are saved because He bestowed His loving favor on us, giving us the opposite of what we deserve.

Original Sin -                             (or Omnipresent Depravity) Depravity is Radical and Pervasive.  It has affected all of man's body and soul, including his will, mind, and emotions.

Sovereign Selection -                God has selected some people out of the sea of lost humanity from every people group, this choice being based only on His own good pleasure, glory, and His Sovereign will.  See Abstract of Principles, # 5.

Particular Redemption -            (Definite Redemption) Christ's Substitutionary death was particularly intended and planned for His people.  It actually accomplished the full redemption of everyone who will trust in Christ.  His death paid the price in full for all our sins, past, present, and future, including our unbelief.

Effectual Grace -                       Everyone whom the Holy Spirit draws to Christ, comes to Him.  It is Grace that works every time and can not fail.  The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to the people of God.

Lasting Grace -                         God’s people are kept by the power of God from departing from Him.  Furthermore, He will not abandon us at any time or for any reason.  God is the One who perseveres, His grace lasts forever.  Everyone who has been chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and drawn by the Holy Spirit will persevere to the end.   
              

These beliefs drive one to be involved in evangelism and missions.

 adapted from a message by Dr. Roger Nicole