Two Minutes With The Bible ~ The Sword of the Spirit

The Sword of the Spirit 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society

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“The Sword of the Spirit… is the Word of God” (Eph. 6: 17).

Of all the spiritual armor which believers are told to “put on” in Eph. 6:11-18, there is only one offensive weapon. This is “the Sword of the Spirit… the Word of God.” The Bible is called “the Sword of the Spirit,” because the Spirit of God is its Author. It is called “the Sword of the Spirit” because, thus written by God who knows all, it can cut deeply. This makes it, for the believer, a formidable weapon against Satan and the forces of evil. We are told in Heb.4:12,13:

“The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

As David said long ago:

“O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. 

“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off” (Psa. 139:1,2).

It is because God knows and understands us so thoroughly that His Word can sometimes cut us so deeply. How wise, then, to bow before that Blessed Book, acknowledge its condemnation of sin and trust the Savior it presents! And, having done this, how wise to “put on the whole armor of God” in our stand against Satan and sin, not forgetting to “take … the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”!

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Funny And Not So Funny Friday ~ Therapeutic Screen Saver

I have temporarily sprained, or I have arthritis in, both hands. Riding is out, for now. Typing is also painfully difficult so I will be off-line, hopefully only for a spell. I pray it doesn't take long to heal. Isn't growing old fun!? NOT!

Plus, next week we will face the agonizing decision (I think ... if I don't change my mind ... again) that we will have to send Lucy the boxer to Rainbow Bridge. I can't even say the word. It hurts too much. Anyway, she's just in too much pain to continue. If she can't get better it's cruel to drag this out. She's old and it's "time". *sigh* I'm trying not to think about what faces us. I'm gonna miss that big, sweet dog.

But, life goes on. Here's something to tickle the funny bone for Funny Friday. Might as well laugh. Beats the stew out of crying.

Enjoy! ~:)

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This is a relaxing and therapeutic screen saver.

 As you watch this screen saver, if the falling figure gets stuck, all you have to do is drag the figure to the side a bit to avoid the obstacle. You can also grab the figure with the mouse and bash it into things. I made sure to beat mine to a pulp a few times.

Or, you can place the figure between the obstacles and watch it flail helplessly, which may make you feel better.

Therapeutic Screen Saver

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Salesmen And Soldiers

Salesmen And Soldiers 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society

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It is true indeed that salvation is bestowed by grace and received through faith — entirely apart from works, religious or otherwise. But it is equally true that it costs to embrace the truth and costs even more to stand for it, rather than selling out. This is why Proverbs 23:23 exhorts us to “buy the truth and sell it not”. In this sense we are not to sell the truth. Yet in another sense we are salesmen of the truth, urging men to buy it.

As we do this we find that there are those who would actually seek to hinder men from buying the truth. Yet it is not primarily they who oppose our efforts, but Satan and his hosts.

“FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD [age], AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS [wicked spirits] IN HIGH PLACES” (Eph. 6:12).

This is why God’s salesmen must also be “good soldiers of Jesus Christ” (II Tim.2:3). We must make the glorious message known despite the opposition. We must “put on the whole armour of God” and meet our adversaries with “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”( Eph. 6:11,17). When they would shut our mouths we must pray for ourselves and each other:

“…that utterance may be given unto me, THAT I MAY OPEN MY MOUTH BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the [Paul's] gospel.
“…THAT THEREIN I MAY SPEAK BOLDLY, AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK” (Eph.6:19,20; Rom.16:25, 26).

This, by the grace of God, is our prayer and our resolve.

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Family Survival In A Nuclear Age

Family Survival In A Nuclear Age 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society

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There has been a great deal of discussion of late as to whether property owners should build fall-out shelters for their own families. Some have advocated building such shelters and providing them with all the necessities for survival, including even weapons to keep others from intruding or overcrowding the quarters! Others object to this, however, as a savage viewpoint, and feel it would hardly be worth survival to have to turn a deaf ear to the cries of neighbors or friends who might need shelter too.

Soviet Russia, however, is not the only threat to family survival. There are other forces at work, just as deadly but generally ignored. When this writer was a boy, dad read the Bible and we prayed and gave thanks to God at every meal. One result of this has been that today not one member of our large family shares the fears of the world as to the atomic bomb.

America as a whole is not so well off. She is departing from God and the Bible. As a result, a constantly increasing number of its families are being broken up through juvenile delinquency, alcoholism, dope, divorce, etc., and with these a chilling fear of the future.

St. Paul said to the Philippian jailor: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). This, of course, does not mean that if a man trusts Christ as his Savior, the rest of the family will be automatically saved. The sense is rather: “Believe in Christ and you will be saved, and this goes for your household too — if they believe they will be saved” (Acts 16:31). As Rom. 14:12 says: “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God,” but it is a wonderful fact that nothing is so apt to keep a family together as mutual faith in Christ and a mutual love for the Bible. Let’s be more concerned about this type of family survival. Let’s make God our “fall-out shelter.”

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

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Dear Readers: I know that this lesson may seem outdated, but with Obama and crew at the helm he is leading us over the cliff to ultimate complete disaster. PLEASE pray, and witness to those that are lost like there's no tomorrow! I have no special insight, and the Lord may chose to tarry another 1,000 years, but I do believe we have very few tomorrow's left. Unsaved souls must be our primary concern.

God bless you all. Ride safe.

Obama Air Force Nominee Is Non-Pilot Female

Unbelievable! In yet another obvious attempt to further weaken the US military, Øblasphemer has picked a female non-pilot to head the US Air Force in the Pacific:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/17/air-force-command-nominee-is-1st-woman-non-pilot/

A non-pilot heading the Air Force? That will do wonders for morale, I am sure. What’s next? Perhaps a person who has never been on a boat leading the Navy and a person who has never shot a gun leading the Army? He's already stuffing the military with Muslims, deviants, and other non-American's.

I am very worried. 

Ride Safe,

Winfield Farms Vintage & Now Shopping Spree #antiques

We enjoyed a lovely lunch today with good friends at the local Garden Cafe' in downtown Blackshear. After engorging ourselves on their delectable fresh homemade sandwiches, chips and sweet ice tea and a hour of friendly conversation, we all took our leave to go run errands. However, upon leaving the Cafe, I noticed a new antique store in the little strip of businesses. Yep, made a bee line for it too!

The store uses the title of Winfield Farms Vintage & Now. I meant to ask them if they where Winfield's but was so excited about the new finds, completely forgot myself.

Oh, yeah, life is good.

Also, prayers for all the families and friends with loved ones on the airplane in the terrorist attack in the Ukraine today. Our thoughts are with you.

Ride Safe,

Throwback Thursday: 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 #tbt #motorcycle

This week I'm featuring my old 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 750.

04 June 2005

GA Highway 94

Columbia County, Florida

These where the Cruiser Years in the Sparky household. That was before I discovered Adventure or Dual Purpose Bikes. My husband calls cruisers Butt Jewelry. Men! *lol* He's right, though, because it's similar to changing from riding ponies to race horses. Adventure Bikes are a whole new ball game.

I was "bikeless" (horrors!) for the many years we lived in the Big City. I bought this cruiser style motorcycle shortly after moving to the Georgia countryside. It was easy to ride in a straight line, but it was a bear in the corners. The advanced fork rake made it hard to handle and it always felt like it was going to tip over. At least I had strong arms back then. Anyway, I thought it looked cool. I kept this little gem until it was traded for the 2006 Kawasaki 900 Vulcan LT Classic. 

Ride Safe,