Author: sgf1964

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THE MUSIC IN CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP

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Shelby G. Floyd

Sing and sing

The word “music” is a generic term and includes vocal and instrumental music. It occurs only one time in the New Testament. When the prodigal son returned home there was “music (sumphonia–ςυμφωνια), and dancing” (Luke 15:25). “Music” is generic and includes all kinds of musical sounds. This has no reference to a worship service, but to social activities in the home. If this one use of the word music authorizes instrumental music in worship to God, then it follows that dancing, killing the fatted calf, etc., would be included also. Since this is the only New Testament passage which uses the generic term music, and since it does not authorize instrumental music in worship, then instrumental music in worship is not to be found in this passage. Continue reading “THE MUSIC IN CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP” →

WHAT IS GOD’S NAME?

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Shelby G. Floyd

gods-name

God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and revealed himself to the great prophet. He promised Moses he world be with him when he went before Pharaoh to demand that he let the children of Israel go free from their slavery.

“I AM WHO I AM”

Moses replied to God that the Israelites would want to know God’s name. He asked what he should say. God’s answer was, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:13-14). “I AM” is God’s name and his name means “The Self Existent One.” God is also known by “God Almighty”—El-Shaddai; “Elohim”—Lord; and “Jehovah.” God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.” (Exodus 6:2-3). The name “Lord” in the Hebrew is equal to I AM (Exodus 3:15). Continue reading “WHAT IS GOD’S NAME?” →

THE HOUR

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Shelby G. Floyd

The Hour

There is a false doctrine being pedaled on those who are naïve and believe without checking the evidence to back it up. People searching for the truth should be like the Christians at Berea, who searched the scriptures daily to make sure Paul and Silas were teaching them the gospel of Christ (Acts 17:11).

PREMILLENNIALISM

Premillennialism is being taught in most denominational churches as the truth about the end times. The teaching is that Christ will come back and set up an earthly kingdom and reign for a thousand (1,000) years on the earth. They also teach that the dead in the graves will be raised at different time intervals.

This teaching was refuted and demolished years ago by Foy E. Wallace Jr. and other faithful preachers. I heard Wallace define premillennialism like this: pre—means before; millennial—means a thousand years; and ism—means that it is not so. It is false just like most “isms.” Continue reading “THE HOUR” →

RUN THE RACE

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Shelby G. Floyd

Run the Race

When Paul was completing his third evangelistic journey by ship, at every stop the Holy Spirit warned him of impending hardship and suffering when he would arrive at Jerusalem. But Paul made up his mind to go there because he also was compelled by the Spirit to do so:

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:22-24).

Continue reading “RUN THE RACE” →

SHOW UNUSUAL KINDNESS

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Shelby G. Floyd

Unusual Kindness

On Paul’s voyage to Rome there were 276 people aboard the vessel when they had a shipwreck that resulted in the loss of the ship and cargo (Acts 27:37). But in keeping with God’s promise to Paul, not a single person lost their life (Acts 27:22).

When they discovered where they were stranded it turned out to be the island of Malta (Acts 28:1). It was here that a war conference was held by Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin, during World War II.

Luke describes the reception they received by the native people:

“The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold” (Acts 28:2). We all enjoy the milk of human kindness, especially when we are in trouble. But it is “unusual” when total strangers show such kindness extended to those who can do nothing for them. Their “unusual kindness” involved building a fire to warm their cold bodies, giving them food and shelter and honoring them with an audience with the chief ruler of the island. But before they left for Rome, their kindness was rewarded in Paul healing the father of Publius (Acts 28:7-10).

Continue reading “SHOW UNUSUAL KINDNESS” →

THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

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Shelby G. Floyd

isaiah-7-14-scroll
The above title is a specific and accurate description of how God brought Christ into the world to be our Savior. Jesus Christ is both divine and human, “regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4).

Jesus Christ Was Human and Divine

From the divine standpoint, he has always existed and always will. Late in the first century, the apostle John spoke of the preexistence of Christ in these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). Then, later in the chapter, John described the human nature of Christ when he said, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1: 14). This is definitely a reference to the virgin birth of Christ. Continue reading “THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST” →

THE BATTLE FOR THE MIND

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Shelby G. Floyd

Mind Battle

We are in a war that is being fought around the world and here at home. It is a battle against evil, terror and fear. It is basically a battle for the mind of man. Paul describes this battle in his second letter to the Corinthians:

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV).

These words indicate that our warfare is not with conventional worldly weapons, but with the powerful arguments of truth that can demolish all false pretensions that array against the knowledge of God revealed in the Bible. Continue reading “THE BATTLE FOR THE MIND” →

COME CLOSE TO GOD

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Shelby G. Floyd

Close to God

Our God is great, but he wants a close relationship with all of his people. Sadly, many Christian people never realize the nearness of God in their daily walk with God. Many of God’s children feel that God is far away and not interested in their joys and sadness. However, this is not the case. God has demonstrated over and over again, that if we will seek him out he will be found to be close at hand.

Near the end of the New Testament revelation, the apostle James exhorted the Christians of the dispersion to, “Come close to God and He will come close to you” (James 4:8). Man left God, but God did not leave sinful man. Because of the great love, mercy and grace of God, he made the first and last move to reconcile man back to himself. This he did by sending his beloved Son from heaven to earth to redeem us from eternal separation. Now it is up to each one of us to make our move back to God and enjoy the close fellowship that was enjoyed in the Eden Paradise. Continue reading “COME CLOSE TO GOD” →

NO MORE EXCUSES

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Shelby G. Floyd

no more excuses

On one occasion, Jesus went to the home of a prominent Pharisee for dinner. A man sitting at the table with Jesus said, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15). His statement provided Jesus the context to teach the parable of The Great Banquet. The man giving the banquet sent out invitations and when it was time for the banquet he said, “Come, for everything is now ready” (Luke 14:16). But they all made excuses for not going to the great banquet: Continue reading “NO MORE EXCUSES” →

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

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Shelby G. Floyd

Light of World

We read in Genesis that God made the sun to rule the day and the moon—the lesser light to rule the night (Genesis 1:14-19).

We could not live without the sun. It gives the earth light and warmth that brings about growth in the plant and animal realms.

What the sun is to our natural world, Christ is to the spiritual world. Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). Without Christ we are destined to walk in darkness. With Christ as our polar star we can walk in the light of life. Continue reading “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” →