theology

Thankful

Posted on November 25, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I have so much to be thankful for. The list is so long even the internet can’t contain it.

I love my apartment. It is important to me to like where I live, and my inside surroundings are beautiful, comfortable, and easy to take care of.

I love Pandora Thumbprint radio. Pandora is a streaming music station. Thumbprint radio is a collection of all the songs I’ve given a ‘thumbs up’ to across all my various music channels. So the song automatically played might be at one moment a Chopin concerto, then Mozart, then Patsy Cline southern gospel, then a Paul Simon, then a Gospel quartet, and so on. Since they are all songs I’ve given a thumbs up to, it means I like them all. So the mix of genres doesn’t bother me, I like the surprise.

In my nice kitchen, in the wee hours, I put on the music and read my Bible or write or eat oatmeal, and feel comfortable and relaxed. It’s important to like where you live, and I’m glad that the Lord gave me a place where I can do that. He didn’t have to.

I’m grateful for my church and the people who comprise my church. They are wise, diligent, eager, service oriented, Jesus-loving devoted people. They truly are a family.

I’m grateful for my work family. I am privileged to call the people I work with family, too. They are not just people I pass in the hall. When I was down with the flu, they prayed for me, emailed to check on me, some brought food, others brought medicines and necessities. They covered my duties without a murmur, and they were genuinely glad when I got well. I praise God for giving me satisfying employment, and I praise Him more for the good people at my job.

I’m grateful for digital cameras. No more waiting 2 weeks for the Kodak kiosk to develop them!

I’m grateful for the internet, one of the best inventions ever. And with that, streaming music, TV, and movies. Also for this introvert, for social media and email.

I’m grateful for birds, seasons, my years of pet ownership, the beautiful things I’ve seen in the world- the Andes with llamas running across the tops; rolling blue waves of the bright Caribbean sea; the northern lights, full moon over the desert cactus; northern pine forests; fall foliage; and so much more of God’s creation that I was privileged to view in my travels.

Bert and Luke, BEST CATS EVER. I miss them.

I am most grateful that even though a sinner, God loved me first, plucked me from my miry pit of sin, washed me with His blood, and stood me upright in HIS righteousness. He saved me from the wrath I was justly due. Even as the former things fade away, I will always have the eternal gratitude in my heart to Jesus for His salvation. It is the BEST gift and the first and the last thing to be grateful for.

theology

The alabaster vial incidents, and my “wasted” time

Posted on November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I usually write about the word, or encouragement, or prophecy. But today I’m going to give a peek into and share an anecdote about my Bible study.

As I was reading Mark 14 and I got to the part when Judas went out to betray Jesus. (Mark 14:10), I began wondering, why now? What was the precipitating event that finalized Judas’ apostasy and treachery?

(What works for me is asking questions of the text. Why this? Why now? What is that about? How does that work? Where are they? What is that plant/tree/animal like?)

I suspected the catalyzing moment for Judas was the alabaster vial incident, AKA the anointing of Jesus, recorded just prior to Judas’ departure. But the more I read the parallel accounts, the more confused I got. I could not sort them out. I didn’t know why.

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theology

Three words

Posted on November 23, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

No matter how crazy the world gets, chaotic, illogical, or unsafe, yet in Christ there are three words:

Reconciliation:

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens…. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. … ll this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:5, 11, 18-19).

Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

Joy

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 2:12).

Scripture is comforting. If you are stressed this week because of upcoming family reunions, worried about what’s happening in the world, sad, or even joyous in thanksgiving for the life Jesus has given us, seek Him in His word. Seek comfort there. Look unto Him in His word, and enjoy the peace that the Spirit will give through His word.

theology

Judas had had enough

Posted on November 22, 2021November 23, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

How often we see in the Bible warnings about greed or attachment to money, and how it corrupts. After all, we read in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

The prime example mentioned in the verse of ‘those who have wandered away from the faith’ is Judas.

Judas was “the epitome of failure,” said John MacArthur. “With the same opportunity that the others had, he failed.“

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theology

Discerning Joyce Meyer: reply to commenter

Posted on November 20, 2021November 20, 2021 by elizabethprata

Elizabeth Prata

When I make dogmatic comments on various social media about this or that person being a false teacher, invariably I receive push-back. It usually consists of one of two opinions- either they use ad hominem to accuse me of being critical, judgmental, or otherwise something negative. Or, they say they had a positive experience following the teacher and due to the experience they had, it proves the teacher is true. A sort of ‘I know s/he isn’t false, because s/he helped me!’

Either type of comment displaying zeal without wisdom also usually include some old chestnuts recycled from undiscerning person to undiscerning person. They include, Judge not, don’t touch God’s anointed, did you go to her … and so on.

I say zeal without wisdom and undiscerning, because these commenters know just enough of what is in the Bible but not at all what it means.

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theology

Is Today the Day?

Posted on November 19, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Is today that day that You will call for your global church to go to heaven?
Is today that day You will present a bride to Your Son?
Is today the day You will deal with sin in the world?
Is today that day You will send another warning to the unrepentant?
Is today the day You will quicken the Spirit inside me to grow in Christlikeness?
Is today the day You will send the Spirit to draw my family to the cross?
Is today the day You will grow me in the spiritual fruit?
Is today the day You will chasten me, your child?
Is today the day You will send additional ministering angels to help me, protect?
Is today the day You will give this land to Abraham and his offspring forever?
Is today the day You will bring Your people out from under the yoke of oppression by the god of this world?
Is today the day You will show Yourself in glory and power?

Today could be the day. For many of these, today IS the day. For others, soon will be the day. The Lord’s promises are true. They will be fulfilled. May His name be forever blessed.

theology

Who is this God?

Posted on November 15, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Who is this God who personally ministers to a sobbing Hagar in the desert? Who is this God who sends angels to an exhausted Elijah? And later Himself comes to Elijah in the cave?

Who is this God who judges the world in watery wrath, but chooses to save 8? Who is this God who creates worlds and the wind and waves obey Him, but goes after the lost sheep in the ditch?

Who is this God who restores a crushed Peter? Who saves murderous persecutor Saul?

Who is the One who is coming back again in wrath and judgment, but gently protects His own in the place he has prepared?

It is JESUS, the One and Only. Name above all names.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11).

theology

Foolish Peter is all of us

Posted on October 27, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Do I think more highly of myself than I ought? Of course I do! Just like Peter. Here’s Peter-

Peter: When Jesus asked the disciples if they want to leave Him too, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-68)

Peter again: But Peter repeatedly said insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Mark 14:31).

Also Peter: I never knew him! (Matthew 26:74).

We are warned not to think of ourselves too highly. There is only One who truly knows us inside out, and that One is Jesus. He knows what is in every man. (John 2:23-25). We may think we know ourselves, but we do not.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

Barnes Notes says of the Romans verse, "Not to over-estimate himself, or to think more of himself than he ought to. What is the true standard by which we ought to estimate ourselves he immediately adds. This is a caution against pride; and an exhortation not to judge of ourselves by our talents, wealth, or function, but to form another standard of judging of ourselves, by our Christian character"

The humility we are supposed to cultivate is for the good of the church. As believers walk with the Lord individually, we also walk with Him in unity. We are a congregation, and the local unit of believers comprising the church should reduce themselves in thought rather than elevate themselves for the good of the one anothers. This is because spiritual pride is deadly in the church.

Peter was given great insights by the Holy Spirit. Peter also thought he knew himself, but Jesus knew Peter would deny Him within hours, and with curses, too. James and John wanted to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in the kingdom. Jesus asked them if they were able to drink the cup prepared for Jesus and they said without hesitation, “We are able.” The two of them were thinking of themselves more highly than they ought.

We should not think too highly of ourselves. We don’t know ourselves as well as we think we do.

When pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2

theology

Show me the scripture!

Posted on October 26, 2021October 26, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Some things in the Bible are illuminated by the Spirit through concept. In these cases, there isn’t a specific Bible verse that says, THIS IS THE ANSWER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR! The answer is gained by being part of the great sweep and scope of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Some doctrines are learned from a concept rather than an explicit verse spelling it out. In these cases, the Bible student needs to make a logical conclusion. Paul spoke often of reasoning together, (Acts 17:2, Acts 17:17) and using terms like “so then”, or “therefore”. This was his way of announcing a conclusion was imminent.

This is called “necessary inference” and you come to understand it by inference.

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theology

Deborah does not prove women can rule. Women cannot be pastors, period

Posted on October 25, 2021October 25, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Alan Hunter the Polite Leader on Youtube takes 6 minutes to refute the oft-heard chestnut that since Deborah ruled (judged) then that means women today can preach. People who claim this are taking a big scriptural leap, but oftentimes we ladies don’t have an adequately scriptural rebuttal. Here, Alan does it for you.

God did not ordain women to preach in the church, nor to teach in authority over men.

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a wrongdoer. But women will be preserved through childbirth—if they continue in faith, love, and sanctity, with moderation. (1 Timothy 2:11-15)

Further Resources

What does the Bible say about women pastors?

Women are not to preach, be ordained as pastor, or be considered for any ‘office’ where she is in authority over men: Al Mohler explains–

In truth, the issue of women serving as pastors fueled the Conservative Resurgence in the SBC. The question was instantly clarifying. The divide over women serving in the pastorate served as a signal of the deeper divide over the authority and interpretation of the Bible. Simply put, the only way to affirm women serving in the pastoral role is to reject the authority and sufficiency of biblical texts such as 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2. There is more to the picture, but not less. Furthermore, the Christian church in virtually every tradition through nearly two millennia in almost every place on earth has understood these texts clearly. In most churches around the world, there is no question about these texts even now. Furthermore, there is the testimony of God-given differences in the roles of men and women in the church and in the home throughout the Bible. The pattern of revealed truth is not hard to follow.”

Voddie Baucham Provides Answers about Women Pastors, Teachers and Elders in the Church (Joyce Meyer)