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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #1,009 January 16, 2004 Word Games I have a fondness for word games, especially on the computer. Two of my current favorites are Bookworm, which is a word search game. You look for hidden words and must keep certain tiles from reaching the bottom of the game or the library burns up. The other is Text Twist. You get six letters and must find all the words, including the six letter word within two minutes. As long as you find the six letter word before time runs out, you get more letters every two minutes. Both games remind me of one player versions of Scrabble. I'm also a Scrabble fan, albeit not a very good player. Boggle is another I enjoy playing now and again. I enjoy crossword puzzles as well, when I have time to sit and think about them. The word games in Reader's Digest can be a good way to kill a few minutes at a doctor's office. In the right time and place, word games can be a lot of fun. They can also be very dangerous. I'm thinking of the word games that some Bible teachers use to make Scripture say what they want it to say, not what is really intended. With a little work, you can come up with some Scripture to support almost anything you like. A classic example is the statement "there is no God." If you choose your texts carefully, these very words appear fifteen times in the NIV text ( For those who must know, you will find those words in: Deuteronomy 32:39; 2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Kings 8:23; 2 Kings 1:3,6,16; 5:15, 1 Chronicles 17:20; 2 Chronicles 6:14; Psalm 14:1; 53:1, Isaiah 44:6; 45:4,21, 1 Corinthians 8:4). Used in proper context, they mean anything but the fact that there isn't a God Scripture warns that false teachings and wrong doctrines will occur. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV How do you avoid these teachers? Whenever you hear or read Bible teaching (including Gleanings), make sure you compare it to the rest of Scripture to make sure the message is properly interpreted. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11 NIV When you read the Word, ask Holy Spirit for insight. He will help show you the truth. Until next times, may the only word games you fall for be those of the recreational kind. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin OUR GOD IS Our God is our salvation. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior -- from violent men you save me. 2 Samuel 22:3 NIV YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus as Saviour you are liberated. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you. HELP FOR THE HURTING Perhaps you've heard teachings that tell you that being Christian is all about being good, or nice. It's not! Many good and nice people are destined for eternity in hell because they don't know Jesus. If happen to be one of those people who is truly are good or nice, you can't depend on that to save you, you still need Jesus. Christianity about people who have sinned being forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God, which then brings Him glory. You don't have to be good or nice to be a Christian. You simply have to ask God to be Lord of your life. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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