A different kind of Bible Study. Are you interested?

I’d like to start a weekly Bible study group. The format would be different than what most are probably accustomed to.

FORMAT

1. Pick a passage from the Bible to read and discuss.

2. Pick a Biblical/Spiritual/Religious subject to discuss. For example regeneration, election, justification, transubstantiation, sin, love, forgiveness, etc.

3. Read and discuss the wisdom of a great expositor such as Adam Clarke, John Calvin, Augustine, John Wesley, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, Thomas Aquinas, Frances Schaeffer, etc.

4. Discuss an issue of the day, Christian interpretation and appropriate response. Issues such as the death penalty, homosexuality, drug abuse, homelessness, poverty, Islam, government, education, etc.

5. Hermeneutics. Words and phrases mean things, but what? How do we properly interpret scripture?

The specific passage, spiritual topic, expositor, issue would be published in advance so folks would have time to familiarize themselves with each before the study group meets.

The format of discussions would be friendly, conversational and based on the Socratic Method.

God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). The goal of this Bible study is to step further into His word so as to increase, “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” of our knowledge, understanding and love for Jesus Christ and to be able to apply all of this in a real world setting.

If anyone is interested in participating in such a group on a weekly basis please send me a private message, email or text. If there is enough interest then we'll proceed forward.

God Bless!

Bill

Thrice Removed From The Truth

(WARNING! This is typically incomplete, long, but hopefully worth the read.)

In Book 10 of Plato’s Republic, Socrates makes a statement of, “…imitations thrice removed from the truth, and could easily be made without any knowledge of the truth”.

The principle of being “thrice removed from the truth” is discussed in detail using poets, writers, (Homer) and painters as an example. In concept, the “removed from truth” principle speaks of emulation of the original, but not being the original itself or able to reproduce the original in its natural or pure form. They (artist & writers) imitate imperfectly, and not replicate completely.

People who we often esteemed as creators are often nothing more than imitators. This carries over into all of life, not just poets and painters.

 An imitator can be a person of great intellect and creative powers. They could also be a dolt.

Are we copying or are we creating?

Professionally speaking, whenever I discover that I am in fact, an imitator and not a creator, is when I make a quantum shift into another direct. It isn’t an issue of a need for uniqueness, it’s much more utilitarian than that. If there are 1,000 widgets all attempting to clone the original, what use is 1,001 widgets? Why not become a wadget that is original in thought, creativity or function?

It seems that everyone, consciously or not, wants to be like (Fill in the blank), if not a specific person, then their idea or caricature of someone, some essence or being.

Why copy what exists?

For example, what are your thoughts and opinions? Not Rush Limbaugh’s, or Obama’s, or Aquinas’s, or Thomas Payne’s, or Charles Spurgeon’s or Carl Sagan’s, but yours. What do you think and why?

Don’t be an imitator and regurgitate what someone else thinks and call it your own. Well, in a sense, it would be your own, for as we learned in Plato’s example of being thrice removed from the truth, the act of imitating makes an imperfect facsimile of the original. No matter how exacting you are, you will always fail, falter or alter the “truth”, as Plato calls it.

The Exception

There is one exception. We are to strive to the best of our natural and supernatural abilities to be imitators of THE truth, the truth which is Jesus Christ.

Christ is our perfect example of being a perfect imitator of the truth.

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19)

“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” (John 12:49).

Jesus imitated and emulated God, perfectly.

And when it comes to the Bible, be an imitator as well. Jesus was. All Jesus did when He preached in the synagogue was to open the Bible, read, and then sit down.

“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him” (Luke 4:17-20).

Jesus imitated and emulated the Bible, perfectly.

We must understand, accept and proclaim the truth of Jesus and the Bible as they are, and not as we would like them to be or think them to be. Any deviation from the Word leads us away from the truth. It is a lie, not the truth.

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2).

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18).

Now here’s something to ponder. The Apostle Paul in Chapter 10 of his epistle to the Romans made it very clear the need for preachers.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Romans 10:14-15).

A preacher is to preach the word of God. He is to be an imitator of that word and spread the gospel and not create a new one.

But Paul says something else of great importance

.

“But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world” (Romans 10:18).

So what is the function of the preacher then if the world has already heard the message? Why is the gospel preached to folks that have already heard it? Is it a matter of reminding? Is it a matter of understanding? We find an example of this in the Book of Nehemiah after the discovery of the long lost law.

“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading….And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them” (Nehemiah 8:8-12).

Is it a matter of quickening the spirit with the word?

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Does hearing the word quicken the spirit within us and open our eyes to truth and reality? So is that the purpose of preaching? Not so much to inform, for we already know, but to awaken? Is it to take us from knowledge to belief, which hopefully will lead us to faith in Jesus Christ?

For the devil knows and the devil believes in Jesus, but he doesn’t put his faith in Christ.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).

 Why do we preach? To what purpose? What are we doing and what are we trying to accomplish?

This leads us to predestination. Those who know are destine to God. Those who do not know never will be.

So are we preaching to the elect to awaken and excite the spirt within them? To stir God’s chosen so as to go out and do the same? Is God’s elect the chosen imitators? Is this why we preach?

I’ll stop here for now.

Bill Hitchcock

Hallelujah

I feel a strong wind coming. It’s the power of the Lord swooping across the land. He’s coming to heal the sick and save the lost. Hallelujah! I see sick people getting healed. I see the devil being cast out. And with this strong wind that’s coming it’s bringing a mighty revival. Hallelujah! I feel it! It’s an unction! Praise the Lord. The indwelling of the Holy Ghost tells me that the sightless will see with their eyes and with their hearts of the salvation to come, the washing of the spirit, the covering of Christ, and the riches of the kingdom. I see with the rising tide of the Holy Ghost, the lion will laying down with the lamb, swords beaten into ploughshares and a brotherly love taking hold of the land.

I see a strong wind coming. It will clear the threshing floor of the chaff. This holy wind will gather the wheat of the Lord and give them all a crown of glory. Hallelujah!

If I wrote and preached like that I would have a following, a congregation that would grow exponentially. So many people get their religious engine running with preaching like the example above. But look at it again. Not one word of God. Not one principle or precept from the Bible. Just a bunch of spiritual chewing gum to motivate the listener to move, to act. But to what? Also notice how “I” centric that sermon was.

The “I” preachers are attempting to motivate you to follow them, to believe in them and their power.

Be careful out there. Always listen for that one little word “I”. Preaching should never be “I” based or religion based. It should always be Bible based.

Jesus didn’t preach religion, in fact he did the opposite. Jesus only did and said what the Father told Him to do. So should we. We have an example from the Bible of one of the most power sermons Jesus ever gave. All Jesus did was read directly from the Bible and then sat down.

“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him” (Luke 4:17-20).

We also have an example from the Bible of an “I” preacher. It came from the devil.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14: 12-15)

Be careful out there. Beware of the “I” preacher and the religion teacher. Beware of spiritual chewing gum.

Bill Hitchcock

The Moral Authority and God-self

When self is the moral authority then self is also God, for all true morality comes from the one true God (See Decalogue). Self as God and moral authority will try to contort all around itself so as to fit into its own personal world vision. Any moral, philosophical or theological conflicts with that vision are rejected as “immoral” or invalid.

Sin, by definition is selfish. The moral authority/God-self person doesn’t try to conform to the world, but rather attempts to conform the world to suit him and his wants and needs.

Nothing survives a conflict with the one true God. The choices for survival are change or perish. God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). God is infinite in space and time (Jeremiah 23:24 and Psalm 90:2). But God also wants us all to “Choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

That mean choose Him and that means we must change.

“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye” (Ezekiel 18:32)

Bill Hitchcock

Not by Love or Works but by Faith

The lovers don’t enter heaven. The doers don’t enter heaven. Only the faithful do.

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)

Not his love of God. Not his works for God. But his faith and belief in God were counted for righteousness.

Only the righteous enter heaven. But man is forever carnal, depraved, and sinful. In short, he’s forever unrighteous. This is why God gave His only Son to be our covering, our propitiation, to be our righteousness, for it is impossible to do it on our own.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

“for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

If whatever is not faith is sin, and sin is the opposite of righteousness, then our faith in Jesus becomes our righteousness and salvation.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:20-25).

It is not by love or works, but only by faith in Jesus Christ. Love and works are a result of our faith, but that’s a topic for another time. Just keep in mind for now that to be saved we must have faith in the power and promises of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Bill Hitchcock

Psalms 6: How Long O Lord

How Long O Lord! David repeatedly calls to Jehovah. He brings himself willingly to the Lord as a sinner asking for mercy. With body and soul, “sore vexed” his pleas are heard. The Lord responds and David was healed. This Psalm was written for our benefit.

Psalms 6

Title: To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.

“To the chief Musician on Neginoth” is a simple instruction to the chief of musicians that the song is to be played with stringed instruments.  But there is much intrigue surrounding the word, “Sheminith”. It has been interpreted to mean many things. Some believe it means an eight-string instrument others the key in which it was set, still others believe that it is the eighth psalm in a collection of psalms.  Sheminith has been more commonly believed to mean an octave, which is a series of eight notes between two notes of the same name.

The 1599 Geneva Bible has interpreted Sheminith to mean, “upon the eight tune”. The Wycliffe Bible simply states, “on the eighth” but never clarifies as to the eighth what. According to Adam Clarke the Chaldean’s translate it, “a harp of eight strings”.

The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon states simply, “…to the eighth key, or on the octave, but wholly dubious.”

The Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon says it is a musical term meaning the, “lowest and gravest note sung by men’s voices”. If this is so then we have stringed instruments playing with male voices singing an octave below it. This would run consistent with 1 Chronicles 15:21 which reads, “And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel”.

The only other time “Sheminith” Is used in the Bible is in the title of Psalms 12. But no one knows for sure what it means. It is pure speculation.

“We probably lose but very little by our ignorance, and it may serve to confirm our faith. It is a proof of the high antiquity of these Psalms that they contain words, the meaning of which is lost even to the best scholars of the Hebrew language.” Charles Spurgeon.

Psalms 6

King James Version (KJV)

1) O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2) Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

3) My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?

4) Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

5) For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

6) I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7) Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

8) Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9) The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

10) Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Commentary and Exposition on Psalms 6

1) O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

To rebuke is to bring to the forefront, to bring to light. David is asking to be reproved by Jehovah. It is as if he is asking and telling the Lord something at the same time. He is telling him, “Yes, I am a sinner” and “Yes, I need correction”. But he is also asking him to do so without anger. This is not an uncommon request by David or of other prophets.

“O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure” (Psalm 38:1).

“O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing” (Jeremiah 10:24).

David understands two very important things and is why he is going to the Lord for correction. First he goes to the Lord for guidance. “Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24)

Secondly David knows full well that righteousness is life and unrighteousness is death. “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” (Proverbs 21:16).

David admits to no specific sin or predicament but inherently knows he is a sinner. He goes to the Lord for open rebuke for course correction and salvation. But David is bold and he is honest. He calls for open rebuke from the Lord, “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin” (Psalms 38:18). How many of us are that bold and that honest as to call upon God and confess?

2 & 3) Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?

“Have mercy upon me” is a request. It is a personal plea to Jehovah for favor. David knows that he is a sinner and that all mercies come from Him because God is, “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort”. (2 Corinthians 1:3)

“I have no merit. I deserve all I feel and all I fear”. That’s blunt but very accurate description by Adam Clarke of the human condition. Only by the grace and mercy of God do we even exist.

 “for I am weak: O Lord, heal me”.

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29 &31).

A more literal translation for “weak” is to droop, which shows the spiritual condition as well as the physical effects it has on the body. “Heal me” is more accurately sew me back together again. Mend me! Sewing, stitching and weaving in regards to the human body and how it is put together is a common thought in Psalms.

“Thou hast covered (interwoven) me in my mother’s womb” (Psalms 139:13). “I was made in secret and curiously wrought” (needlework) Psalms 139:15.

“for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed” David’s bones trembled. His soul was in fear. The inner man, the soul has caused the structure of the man, his body to shake. The bones, the very foundation of the human structure are rattled by the troubled and invisible spirit.

“but thou, O Lord, how long?” This will cause all to think. A statement begins and ends radically and shifts to the question, “how long”.  Was the statement “but thou, O Lord” or was the question, “O Lord, how long”? Either way, a statement by David was stopped abruptly. Was it pain and fear that interrupted his statement that caused the question, “how long” to erupt out?

“How long?” is a question of pain and endurance that excludes no one. “How long” shows that the threshold has been met and its past time to correct the problem.

God asked how long. “And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me?” and “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me?” (Numbers 14:11&27)

Jesus asked how long. “And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.” (Luke 9:41)

David asked how long a lot. “How long, Lord? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire.” (Psalm 89:46)

“The affliction of his body will be tolerable, if he has comfort in his soul. Christ’s sorest complaint, in his sufferings, was of the trouble of his soul, and the want of his Father’s smiles”. Matthew Henry

4) Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

Here are a couple of points that need to be brought up. First of all, this is the fifth time in four verses that David has evoked the name, “Lord”. Literally translated to Jehovah, David is having a very personal conversation with our God whose name is Jehovah. How about it? Are you on a first name basis with God? All of us should be.

This is also the second time David has asked for mercy. Repetition in supplication is fine just as long as it is done in faith and sincerity. “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7).

“Return, O Lord, deliver my soul” The fact of the matter is that God never left. Maybe this is why David asked Jehovah for correction and rebuke at the very beginning of the Psalm. Sin is the only thing that can separate us from our God. David evidently felt the disconnect and asked God for His mercy and His rebuke to restore His presence.

5) For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

“For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth” (Isaiah 38:18).

“What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?” (Psalms 30:9).

It’s sometimes amazing how truth is universal and, like the seasons of the year will show itself at the appropriate time.

Death is a reference to being physically dead. The grave the home and place of it.

“What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?” (Psalms 30:9)

God created man to praise and glorify Him. We are his creation and a result of His workmanship.

The very last chapter in the Book of Psalms is only 6 verses long. But within those 6 brief verses is a call to praise the Lord 12 separate times. “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord” (Psalms 150:6)

6) I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

David is exhausted from the mourning and anguish and tears and shakes and sweats from all of the grief and anxiety boiling inside of him. He has his bed swimming in his tears and his couch to liquefy under the deluge. This is poetic of course, but clearly communicates the sad condition that he is in.

7) Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

“Mine eye”, although David has been talking about tears, “mine eye” is a reference to state of mental and spiritual being. He is consumed, eaten up from the inside out because of anger, vexation and provocation. His spirit and being are growing weary and defeated because of his enemies. The word used for enemies means to press, compress and to bind. “Enemies” is the root word of which the word tribulation is derived.

Job had a similar experience, “Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow” (Job 17:7).

8) Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

Go away all that do evil. Those who purposely cause unrighteous! Away! Here we find a change in the Psalm. No more tears and fears from David. Power and control have been restored to him by God.

“The best remedy for us against an evil man is a long space between us both” Charles Spurgeon.

Does weeping have a voice? Yes! A voice does not need words to be heard, felt or understood. A voice expresses thought, ideas and emotions. Crying is extremely expressive.

9) The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

David’s tears and turmoil have been due to sin. His prayers and supplications have been heard because of what he did at the very beginning of the Psalm. David straightway went to Jehovah. He asked for His attention and mercies. He asked to be judged and rebuked and he got it. Did David suffer for his sins? Yes! There is always a price to be paid. Was he forgiven? Yes!

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

10) Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

“Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed” while ignorant of their sin they will still suffer the consequences for their sin.

“let them return” is to come back to God, to repent. And as when all sinners are brought into the light, they will instantly realize the sin in which they were perpetuating. What we didn’t see in the darkness of unrighteousness becomes our shame in the light. Repent of our sins and the lord Jehova will remember them no more.

Bill Hitchcock

Depression and the God Solution

Usually when we think of a medical problem we think in terms of something tangible; a stuffy nose, a broken arm, a heart condition, etc. But it can be very difficult to think of something as a medical problem when there is no specific body part involved and the only symptoms displayed are feelings. Depression is a serious ailment but often presents itself in a vague, can’t quite place your finger on it type of fashion.

According to the World Health Organization, “Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease”.

Do Christians get depressed? Should Christians get depressed? Is it a sin to get depressed?

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The word “tribulation” that Jesus warned “ye shall have” comes from the Greek word, “thlipsis” and means pressure. It is used as a metaphor for oppression, affliction and distress. What Jesus spoke of is in every way associated with depression.

“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14)

Solomon in his Proverbs makes it clear. Depression or a wounded, stricken and afflicted spirit is something no one can withstand and obviously presents itself to all.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3).

The spirit of heaviness is a brilliant description for depression. It is a weight that easily besets us. Here again Jesus Christ is our Lord AND Savior.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Jesus Christ is a ready, willing and able solution for depression, but only if we lean not unto our own understanding and trust in the Lord with all our heart. Let go and let God and in every way acknowledge and give glory to Him.

Jesus Christ has as part of His character, “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2). Lean not unto our own understanding and trust in the Lord explicitly! But realize it is the spirit of Christ and our spirit. The physical realm is temporary. The spiritual realm is perpetual and universal.

Look how the Apostle Paul describes Jesus and what He created:

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:15-17).

With the exception of the earth, all things described by Paul that Jesus created was of the supernatural spirit realm. Never forget, physical is temporary and spiritual is forever.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of god: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Just permanently embed this in your heart, mind, body, spirit and soul: “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit”. In The Spirit!

Back on about depression. Psalms 42 and 43 are two brief psalms with one common theme; “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (Psalm 42:11)

The Psalmist speaks of turbulence within him but has no idea as to why. Does that sound familiar? But he has hope in God. He has full expectation that God will be and is, “the health of my countenance”.

Psalm 69 is another psalm with depression as its theme. The psalm is somewhat lengthy. Here are just the first three verses so as to get a feel for the beauty and power of the Psalmist description of depression.

“Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God” (Psalm 69:1-3)

Jesus Christ himself got so depressed when He came to pray at Gethsemane that He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death”. Jesus’ level of sorrow and depression were so great that it could have actually killed! Maybe that’s why God sent an angel to comfort Him.

Jesus got depressed, King David got depressed, King Solomon evidently did too. Depression is not a sin and anyone can be affected by it especially Pastors and Ministers.

A report released by Duke University in 2013 showed that clergy suffer from depression at a rate of almost twice the national average. The primary reason for the depression was a “pastors’ sense of guilt about not doing enough at work”.

Each year about 6.7% of U.S adults experience major depressive disorder. Women are 70 % more likely than men to experience depression during their lifetime.  Non-Hispanic blacks are 40% less likely than non-Hispanic whites to experience depression during their lifetime.  The average age of onset is 32 years old. Additionally, 3.3% of 13 to 18 year olds have experienced a seriously debilitating depressive disorder. Source: National Institute of Mental Health

What are some of the symptoms of depression?

– Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions

– Fatigue and decreased energy

– Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness

– Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism

– Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping

– Irritability, restlessness

– Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex

– Overeating or appetite loss

– Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment

– Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings

– Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

Source: WebMD

The devil’s job here on earth is to kill, steal and destroy our lives. He does this through lies. Jesus said the devil, “was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

The devil is our adversary. And as our adversary, “the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Depression is but one of his many tools he uses against us. It’s an effective tool if 350 million people around the world suffer from it.

So what do we do? First a couple of things we must get right with ourselves. Introspection is part of repentance. We should always be in this mode guided by the light of God’s word.

Question 1

“And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?” (John 1:37-38).

This is the big question; “What seek ye?” We are to be seeking Jesus Christ, His life, light and way all of the time. If you are seeking the answer to your problem first and foremost then we have a problem. Seek the Lord first and all other things will be added onto you. Seek a relationship, a loving relationship with Christ. That is what He wants. The unrighteous and the stranger he will turn a deaf ear to. But to one of His loving children he is all ears.

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” (Psalm 18: 1-6)

Question 2

“For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me” (John 5:4-7)

“Wilt thou be made whole?” or better put, “Do you want to get well?” Think about it, depression is a spirit that wants to perpetuate itself. As the saying goes, “Misery loves company”. When someone is depressed they generally do not care about themselves. They don’t care about their personal appearance, hygiene, diet, treatments and medicines and sometimes whether or not if they even want to get better. It is a spiral down that speeds up as more time goes by.

So you have to make a conscience effort and decision about, “Wilt thou be made whole?” It is my belief and firsthand experience that the key to addressing depression is to put it number two on the priority list. Make Jesus and His word, way, life and light the priority. Think about Christ and his ways all of the time. What would he think, say or do if He was in your place and do that. Meditate and reflect on any and all things good and helpful. Avoid the negative, do not engage with evil, do not speak to hate and in all things maintain peace in your heart.

(Philippians 4:4-9)

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you”

Paul wants us to have so much joy in the Lord that he says it twice. Paul wants us to know that the Lord is nearby so do not fret or worry. Here is critical point number one. In EVERYTHING by prayer, supplication and thanksgiving make it clear to God. Tell Him! This is what God wants us to do! Go to Him! Now look what happens when you do.

“The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

Peace, that tranquility of soul which can only come through a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. Serenity and gravity rolled into an anchor during any storm.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:7).

But all of this comes through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Pray like you mean it. Let it all out. Discuss your problems. Discuss your victories. Praise Him and thank Him. Pray without ceasing! Listen to Him and for Him constantly. Be aware and discern.

Critical point number 2. Whatever we think about we head towards. Spiritually and emotional speaking whatever has our attentions has our emotions and thought process, or in other words, our soul. So think about good things, true things, things of benefit to all. Dwell, ponder and occupy yourself with the pure and virtuous. Don’t murmur, complain and hold grudges. Find the positive or think the best of any and all things or train your mind off into a more helpful place.

This brings us the third item. It isn’t a question but rather a statement.

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

We are a three part being. Our spirit and soul occupy a body, but one day our bodies will be gone while the spirit lives on. But we are not a body of one spirit!

Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you….But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:16-18, 26)

We are a spirit. We have received the Holy Spirit and it mingles with our spirit allowing us full access to Jesus Christ. With Jesus Christ as our mediator we now have full access to God. Not only are all of us a spirit being, Jesus Christ said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

The spirit brings life. The words that Jesus speaks are spirit and they are life. Anything physical is temporary. All things spiritual are forever; they are life.

Now, let’s get back to, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth”. Do not confuse religion with the Spirit of God, or church services or choir practice, bible study, volunteering at a homeless shelter, tithing, Sunday school-None of these things necessarily have anything to do with God much less the Spirit of God. Don’t misunderstand; all of the above mentioned are a natural result of our spiritual relationship with the Divine. Unfortunately too many people are caught up in the works, deeds and protocol of church and religion. They go through the motions looking, feeling and acting Godly but in fact are doing nothing but going through the motions. There is no personal contact or relationship with Christ or God. The spirit, the very heartbeat of life has no contact with the Lord.

It’s somewhat like a debt payment. The church goer feels or thinks heaven is owed to them because they have done good deeds and gone to church.

These people may believe in God but they have no trust or faith in Him. Just remember, the devil himself goes to church, he knows the Bible and he knows God and us too! But he certainly isn’t going to heaven.

God is a Spirit. Jesus is a Spirit. We have our spirit and the Holy Spirit mingled together. We are to be praying always with all prayer and supplication “in the spirit”

“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect” (Psalm 18:30-32).

Depression is also a spirit. It has within its realm spirits to do its bidding. Some of His servants include low spirits, despair, abasement, dejection, desolation, desperation, distress, dispirited, gloom, melancholy, misery, sorrow, trouble, anger, anxiety, fear, heaviness of heart, dejection, rejection and one of the most popular little devils of Satan, lies.

If we are constantly in the Lord and He in us then all of these devils and demons must and will go. Being in the spirit, praying in the spirit and constantly thinking about good and pure things will leave no room for the devil to enter or stay.

Jesus Christ explained it this way in a parable: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation” (Matthew 12:43-45).

When we get God, the devil gets gone. But if we do not continue in our relationship with the Lord then the house (us) becomes empty again. Even though the home is clean and swept (a good person), there is no God present. Spiritually speaking, there is no such thing as a vacuum. Either you have God or you’re getting (or already have) the devil. It doesn’t matter how “good” someone is, if they are not living and walking in the Spirit of our Lord then they are doing the same but for the devil.

In the parable the unclean spirit brings back with him “seven other spirits more wicked than himself”. What if one of seven unclean spirits was rage or drug addiction or even worse, murder?

Now to address the issue of depression head on; here is the direct benefit of receiving the Holy Spirit and in a loving relationship with the Lord: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Love, joy and peace sounds pretty good for someone who is depressed.

God works in a variety of ways but always in our best interests. If through prayer, supplications, Bible study, fellowship and Church, the dear Lord says go to the Psychiatrist by all means go! If you are thinking about professional help do not think that it is a sign of lack of faith or weakness. Just do everything from prayer, through Christ to God and all will be fine. In fact, it will be great!

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21:7).

Bill Hitchcock

Deny

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

The word “deny” here is the same word used when Jesus foretold what Peter would do to Him.

“Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” (Matthew 26:34)

Think about that. We are to deny our self with the same intensity and purpose as Peter did Christ.

“…and take up his cross daily”-The cross is our religion. That’s the easy part. The hard part is what comes next.

“…and follow me.” It can be difficult to follow Christ. Jesus is the way, but how easily do we get wrapped up in our religion and lose sight of and direction with, Christ?

We are to “abjure” or solemnly renounce our self, our carnal, sinful self. We are to take up our Christian religion (fellowship, doctrine, and principles) and be like Jesus Christ.

Religion and being like Christ can be two separate things, even polar opposites.

Our religion, like the cross, exposes us to the world. The world will try to use our religion to crucify us, through belittlement, condemnation, polarization and doubt. But if we just keep our eyes on the prize and follow the truth of Jesus Christ, then it won’t matter how far the storm knocks us off course, we will always be able to find our way back home in Him.

Bill Hitchcock

Good Is The Primary Principle

God is perfect, God is good. He alone can create and only creates like kind. Therefore, God can only create good and never evil as a first kind. There is a only a first good, never a first evil.

Think not of good versus evil in terms of primary principles. There is only good. Adam and Eve were created good, they did evil. The devil himself was created good and later became evil.

The fundamental and primary principle is always good. Evil is a deviation, a perversion, in philosophical terms, an “accident” of that first principle.

“There is then, no single primary and essential principle of evils; rather the first principle of all things is the one first good, in whose effects evil results accidently”. - Thomas Aquinas/Summa Contra Gentiles/Vol. 2/Chapter 41

We were created good. Our original nature is good. Evil for man is two things. A) A deviation from the creation. B) A choice.

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31).

Bill Hitchcock

Is there time without motion?

Is there motion without matter?

Is motion and matter nothing other than the rate of change?

Is therefore time the rate of change?

Bill Hitchcock

Racism Debunked

If a Black man embracing a rebel flag (the Confederate battle flag) walked up to a bunch of Southern, White good ol’ boys, these Caucasians of Dixie would embrace that Black man as one of their own, because he would be.

Currently, there are a couple of videos going around of a Black man supporting gun rights and the 2^nd amendment that white folks are applauding and helping to go viral.

If racism, as it is defined here in America as 1) Whites hating Blacks and 2) a systemic and inherent problem within the country, if racism is such a problem, then why would white folks so willingly receive and endorse a Black man on such hotbed topics as shown above?

It’s simple. The left has everyone convinced that it is the messenger (Black man/skin color) that is hated by the White man. It isn’t. It isn’t the messenger, it is the message of the left that is so hated.

Don’t buy into the propaganda, hate and lies that is heating up racial tensions. It isn’t about race (messenger). It has everything to do with the agenda being pushed (the message) and the end game the left is trying to accomplish.

Bill Hitchcock 

To be, but what is that being? For what we are (to be), is how we act. 

Our being is our essence which produces our action and defines our character.

Character is our form. Being is our substance.

Being - essence - action - character - form - substance. 

A Brief Conversation

“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17).

You mean God was before heaven and earth? Yes!

But what about the universe itself? Yes.

And the Big Bang Theo…..Yes!

God was before ALL things and by God ALL things are put together, in order and in place.

All thi….Yes!

So if God was before all things then what was before God?

You’re asking if God was before Himself?

Yes.

Didn’t you just answer your own question?

Look, God told Moses that His name was I AM. This means that He is, and always has been. There was no “before” God, that would be impossible because He is infinite. There is no beginning or end to infinity. God is omnipresent, there is no space/time boundary to Him. God is omnipotent, His power is boundless and perfected therefore just and good.

So God is before all things and by him all things consist?

Yes.

Bill Hitchcock

Is It Racism?

Is it racism? Prejudices?  Or is it the manifestation of resentment and envy? When one class of people receives a benefit from a government, school or business that another class does not get, resentment and envy will build in the class of have-nots, even if the benefit is compensatory to the haves. This resentment will eventually boil over into anger and rage if the have-nots are not given equal to or greater than benefit, or unless the benefit to the haves is stopped.

The have-nots move into action after they have reached their boiling point of discontent. This is the irrational stage. Verbal, vocal measures are pursued first followed by physical and violent measures next. Both verbal and physical measures are aggressive and are aimed at hurting the haves and those who made the benefit available to them.

This discontentment and acts of aggression from the have-nots over the haves is what many people call racism. It isn’t.

True racism is the belief that one’s race is superior. Prejudice is an unreasonable or unfavorable opinion of another group of people. Neither racism nor prejudice are rooted in resentment and envy.

Many social and political problems are a result of resentment and envy but are erroneously identified and treated as issues of racism.

Bill Hitchcock

True/False

The following is going to sound so silly simple, so bare bones basic.

“Only the false is opposed to the true” (Thomas Aquinas)

What do you know that is true? What opposes that truth?

Truth is of God. False is a reaction to the truth so therefore a reaction to God.

“Those things, then, are not the best by nature which are not from God, the Author of nature. Thus they are understood to be from the devil, from the corrupter of nature: for there is no other whose they can be, if they are not God's; because what are not God's must necessarily be His rival's.” (Tertullian)

Now you know false, its creator and motivation.

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

Pursuing truth is pursuing God. It is our nature to seek the truth, but act is a choice of our will. The opposite holds true as well. The devil, who abides, “not in the truth” and who is “the corrupter of nature”, still can only affect our will.

It is our choice. It is always our choice.

Bill Hitchcock