Author Archives: Andrew Bernhardt

Post-Examination Action

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But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. … (James 1:22-25 ASV) The word of God provides a thorough examination of the heart. If we were graded on the results of our examination, most of us (myself included) would not even receive a C-. (And the few who have A’s or B’s probably wouldn’t be aware of it anyway.) But even with a failing grade, this examination is a good … Continue reading →

Examination – Appearances Or Fruit?

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Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. (John 15:4-5 ASV) Jesus’ words search me in various ways here: As one branch connected to the Vine, I desire to look good, with lots of healthy green leaves. But God is not concerned with looks. He did not plant the Vine for decoration but for fruit. Am I concerned with appearances, or the goal at hand? Assuming I desire … Continue reading →

Examination – Sowing To My Flesh Or The Spirit?

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Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 ASV) As any farmer knows, if you want to harvest wheat, you need to sow wheat. You can’t sow one thing and expect something else to crop up. This God-given law has been in effect since the beginning of creation and it can’t be circumvented. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life (Galatians 6:8 ASV) Another sure God-given law is presented in this passage. I can sow to my flesh, or I can sow to the Holy Spirit. What I … Continue reading →

Examination – Thorns Or Fruit?

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And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them… … this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:7,22 ASV) These words of Jesus are frequently on my mind. The “cares of the world” and the “deceitfulness of riches” are the things that the world is concerned about: food, clothing, family, employment, a good retirement, entertainment, comfort, pleasure, happiness. These are not evil in themselves, but they become evil when they form the basis of my goals, desires and motivations. This happens all too often, and when it does, Jesus ends up taking the backseat in my … Continue reading →

Examination – Love Of The World Or The Father?

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Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15 ASV) I like to think I don’t love the world. But when it comes down to specifics, there are some things in the world I do find attractive and pleasing: certain foods, books, songs, movies, TV shows, philosophies, … rollercoasters. But Jesus presented an exclusive choice. I can either love the world, or I can love God. I can’t do both. I don’t even have the option of loving the world less than God. I am not to love the world at all. (I’m talking love here, not the mere … Continue reading →

The Examination Of The Scriptures

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Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 ASV) It is good to regularly take time to examine the Bible, but it is far better to let the Bible take time to regularly examine us. The former gives us knowledge of the scriptures that can puff us up. The later gives us knowledge of ourselves that humbles us, opening the door to repentance and the building-up that is of God. The former happens as we read and study the scriptures. The later happens afterwards as we take time to meditate on what we have read … Continue reading →

The Greater Miracle

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(I’ll be posting the full version of this later.) Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” – Luke 5:20 (WEB) There were two miracles when the paralytic was lowered through the roof into the room where Jesus was teaching. One was obvious: the man was healed of his paralysis. He took up his bed in full view of everyone and went home. The second was not obvious. Nobody in the crowd noticed it. But it was a far greater miracle. The man’s sins were forgiven. Here are four reasons why forgiveness of sins is a greater miracle than any physical healing: Forgiveness is eternal. If you get healed physically, it’s a great thing. But … Continue reading →

Idolizing God

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During the years Israel was in Egypt, they all but forgot Yahweh. I’m sure they heard stories of how God appeared to their forefathers in the distant past, and how He made promises to bless and multiply them. But 400 years of silence had turned all that into legends. When God appeared in a burning bush, Moses had to ask His name so he could tell his people which diety was going to deliver them. Then God revealed Himself to His people by delivering them from their oppressors through great and mighty works. There were the plagues, the death of the first-born, the parting of the sea, the water from the rock, the manna and the quail. By the time … Continue reading →

Derailing God’s Purpose?

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…you will conceive and give birth to a son. You must never cut his hair, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from birth, and he will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines. – Judges 13:5 (HCSB) Then his brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. So he judged Israel 20 years. – Judges 16:31 (HCSB) Sandwiched between these two verses is the story of the life of Samson. It began with a promise that God would use him to start to deliver the Israelites from their enemies, and it ended with the destruction of the rulers … Continue reading →