Cornerstone

II Timothy 3:14-17 (16)

¹⁴But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Employee benefits that we often think of first are health insurance, paid vacation time and paid sick leave.  Other perks might include the use of the company car, free meals, discounted products, a retirement program, free or discounted daycare for your children, etc.  Your employee benefit package will vary depending on your employer and on how many hours you work.  Some employers cut benefits for part time employees while other employers realize that benefits for part time employees may guarantee that they will be able to retain the employee.  It is cheaper to retain than to retrain.  Other employers feel that the wage is the greatest benefit and offer no additional perks.

The Word of God has its own benefit package.  Although many things could be listed Paul mentions seven, in 2 Tim 3:14-17:

1. It is able to lead us to salvation through faith vs. 15
2. It is profitable for doctrine vs. 16
3. It is profitable for reproof vs. 16
4. It is profitable for correction vs. 16
5. It is profitable for instruction in righteousness vs. 16
6. It will help us be more complete as a disciple of Christ vs. 17
7. It will help us be thoroughly prepared to do all good works vs. 17

God’s Word offers benefits that are significant and lasting.  They offer true value.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Psa 85:1-13

In a seminary class entitled “Revivalism” we conducted research on the movement of the Holy Spirit in awakenings among the Christian people. The subject matter was fascinating. The variety, the spontaneity, the powerfulness of these times was exciting. The personalities involved were glamorous. The astounding thing that surfaced during this time of research, however, was that it appeared that revivals seem to come in cycles of seventy-five years. As we plotted not just meetings but awakenings of various intensity it seemed that the pattern held true for the most part. Every seventy-five years in some part of the world a spiritual awakening was in progress. This is not to say that the Holy Spirit would not be willing to keep His people stirred to a red hot heat with revival fervor. It is to say that in the frailty of our humanity, and in an environment of depravity the human race has to learn and re-learn its intense need for God. Another thing that surfaced during this research complimented this thought. Each period of revival was preceded by a prolonged period of intercessory prayer by a group of people who were sick of sin and desired to feel the flame of God’s presence once again. Revival, drift, apathy, apostasy, destitution, repentance, revival seems to be the cycle that we follow. Where are we now in this cycle? Can we skip a step or two in the cycle if some of us get serious and begin to plead the blood of Jesus Christ for a revival of spirituality? I believe so.

Dr. Gayle Woods