Category Archives: Bible Study

An Open Letter to Hayden

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I receive lots of emails from people. I respond to those seeking information and assistance. When I receive other types of contact I normally disregard them, especially if they are of the argumentative type. I simply do not have the time or interest in engaging people who seem to have no point in the communication but to air their supposed grievances.

I am making an exception for Hayden if that is his/her real name. I received the following message from Hayden:

Why should I believe in your version of Christianity over the thousands of others that exist? Because the Bible says so? Your opponents will say the same thing. The Bible can be used to justify almost if not all interpretations and versions of Christianity. Every Christian believes that they’re right, god is on their side and if you don’t adhere to their interpretation the punishment is to burn in hell forever. Christians everywhere are all pointing fingers at each other threatening one another with the prospect of burning in hell forever. That being the case, why should any of us take the Bible and Christianity seriously?

For the record, I’ve never interacted with Hayden in any context. I do not know if he contacted me because he watched or listened to a sermon that I taught, a conference presentation that I gave, or a conversation that I had on a podcast. I simply do not know why Hayden would contact me with his questions concerning Christianity. I am glad that he did though because I want to provide Hayden with answers to his questions.

If Hayden and I had a conversation I would respond to his questions this way:

(1) Study the Bible for yourself and then choose what “flavor” you believe best reflects what you understand the Bible teaches.

(2) Refuse to take part in the behavior you cite and that you find abhorrent and criticize.

(3) Not all Christians are as you describe. Many understand that there can be some room for interpretation on lots of subjects.

(4) Neither I nor anyone that I am acquainted with, point fingers at other Christians and tell them they are going to burn in hell because they do not believe the same things that I do. There are people like that but not everyone and certainly not a majority of Christians.

(5) Hayden, you are responsible as an individual to understand what God has revealed to you. You cannot gauge Christianity, the faithfulness of God, or the veracity of the Bible based on what imperfect people do or say.

(6) #1 above will require that you are a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is based on the following three verses of the Bible:

John 3:5-7 –  5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Romans 8:12 – 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

1 Corinthians 2:6-14 – 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written,

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Hayden, I encourage you to read the Bible for yourself and ask God to help you understand what you are reading. He is willing to do that if you are willing to sincerely seek Him. I pray that you will.

Kingdom War Room #15 – Corrupting the Image II – Dr. Douglas Hamp Dr. Michael Lake, Dr. Mike Spaulding

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Click here to listen to this powerful conversation.

There are events in human history that not only shape the near future but can well extend beyond the millennium in which they occur.  Some are so powerful that they can stretch their influence from the very ancient world to today.  Such events are found in Genesis 3, 6, and 10.  Jesus reminded His followers in the First Century that:

37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, . . .

Matt 24:37,38A

Unfortunately, what those that first heard these words understood has been lost in the common consciousness of humanity.  However, Christian researchers have been laboring to unearth these trues in our day.  One such researcher is Dr. Douglas Hamp.

Dr. Michael Lake, representing the Kingdom Intelligence Briefing and Biblical Life TV.  www.kingdomintelligencebriefing.com

Dr. Michael Spaulding, who is the teaching pastor of Calvary Chapel of Lima, OH, the author of Upsidedown in America, more than ten other books, and the host of Soaring Eagle Radio and Dr. Mike Live.  Mike’s website is www.drmikespaulding.com

Dr. Douglas Hamp:  Douglas Hamp earned his M.A. in the Bible and its World from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his PhD in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University. He served as an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for six years, where he lectured and developed curriculum at the School of Ministry, Spanish School of Ministry and Calvary Chapel Bible College Graduate School. He is the author of numerous books, articles, & DVDs and has appeared on national and international TV, radio, and internet programs in English and in Spanish. He is senior pastor of the Way Congregation in Denver, CO. www.douglashamp.com

You may support The Transforming Word Ministries by sending your gifts to:

Dr. Mike Spaulding
PO Box 3007
Lima, OH 45807

Online at http://www.thetransformingword.com
Or by PayPal support@drmikespaulding.com

James: A Commentary for the Remnant Body of Jesus Christ

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My newest commentary is now available. From my Introduction:

The book of James is an oft-quoted and oft-misunderstood book. How can those two things be true simultaneously?

James is quoted often when it comes to passages of Scripture that inform us about our communication. James has much to say about how we should speak. James also warns us of the great danger ever lurking in the shadows to be unbridled if we do not guard our speech.

James is often misunderstood when compared to Paul’s writings. This is particularly true when it comes to discussing the doctrine of justification. Some admit to being confused by what Paul says and what James says. Let me be another voice in the many that say there is no contradiction between Paul and James. Paul speaks of justification by faith alone. James does not deny that. In fact, James’ focus is not on the means or process of salvation at all. James is focused on what the Christian life will look like after someone is born again. Thus arguably the most quoted passage in James – “Faith without works is dead.”

James reminds us that walking by faith with God is a call to action. Head knowledge alone is worthless. James reminds us that Christianity informs the culture in which it is present. True faith is not a cloistered, monastic, cerebral exercise.

Let’s get out into the streets of our communities and press the case of Jesus Christ, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which anyone can be saved.

That is our message in every age – only Jesus saves. I pray you will demonstrate Holy Spirit boldness and courage. We need you today more than ever.

I encourage you to have your Bible open and study along with me in these chapters of the book of James. May our great God and Father bless your efforts.

Blessings in the mighty name of Jesus!

Signed copies available for a suggested donation of $23 which includes shipping cost. You may send a check for that amount to me at:

Dr. Mike Spaulding

PO Box 3007

Elida, OH 45807

You may use PayPal by sending the suggested donation to – Or by PayPal studies@thetransformingword.com

Or credit card online through this link – http://www.thetransformingword.com

Daniel’s Seventy Weeks: A Commentary on Daniel 9 – Now Available

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What does the Bible say about the end times? Is there a timeline of events that are presented to us? Will the AntiChrist be a real person ruling over the earth for a period of time?

In my newest commentary on the incredible prophecies contained in Daniel 9, I answer those questions and more. For your signed copy please contact me at pastormike@cclohio.org

Suggested donation of $10 plus $2.50 shipping.

You may support The Transforming Word Ministry by sending your gifts to:

Dr. Mike Spaulding
PO Box 3007
Lima, OH 45807

Online at http://www.thetransformingword.com
Or by PayPal studies@thetransformingword.com

Learning From Jonah – Pastor Mike Spaulding

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When was the last time you studied the book of Jonah? It is a short read, with only four chapters. But, oh, how powerful are the spiritual insights contained in those four chapters.

I have referred to Jonah as a perfect party planner – a pity party planner that is. When we read through the book of Jonah the following points are significant for our understanding of how to avoid planning and carrying out our own pity party.

(1) Set up your self-centered shelter where you can sulk. We see that in Jonah 4:5.

Then Jonah went out from the city and sat east of it. There he made a shelter for himself and sat under it in the shade until he could see what would happen in the city.

(2) Seek happiness in what is unimportant. That is Jonah 4:6.

So the Lord God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant.

(3) Be dismayed when God removes what is hindering you from serving Him. Jonah 4:7.

But God appointed a worm when dawn came the next day and it attacked the plant and it withered. 

(4) Think the whole world is against you and life is not worth living when God is merely drawing you back to Himself. Jonah 4:8.

When the sun came up God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, “Death is better to me than life.”

(5) The result of your well-orchestrated pity party is misery. Jonah 4:9.

Then God said to Jonah, “Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to death.”

Throwing a pity party is a steady descent into an emotional abyss. BUT, there is hope even there! Psalm 69:14-15 says:

Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink;
May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. May the flood of water not overflow me
Nor the deep swallow me up, Nor the pit shut its mouth on me.

God is gracious and loving even when we are wallowing in self-pity. Jonah 4:10-11 shows us that God walks Jonah out of his emotionally distressed state and back into the reality of His love for people.

Then the Lord said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”

Have you considered who the 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and their left hand are? Those 120,000 persons are children. God concerned Himself with the children of Ninevah. Jonah was too focused on himself and his desires to understand God’s love for those Jonah thought untouchable.

What is God showing us today through this prophet? God is reminding us that He is the One who sets His love upon people and desires that they hear the life-saving message of salvation in Jesus Christ. We must never get to a place where we think God is mistaken for sending us to people we believe are not worthy of the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. What might have been the outcome of your life if people thought that way about you?

There is no benefit to resisting what God is leading you to do. When we allow our stubbornness to foment rebellion against God we are setting ourselves up for heartache and distress. Self-pity exhibits a heart that is not surrendered to God and does not have God’s perspective.

So how should we respond when God calls us to go somewhere on assignment for Him or do something for Him? We should respond by saying, “Yes Lord, I will go or I will speak as You lead me.” In our day of increasing darkness, the only light, the only hope we have to offer anyone is that God is in control of all the affairs of man; that God is still saving people, and that God is still calling His people to unity so that His mission in the world will be completed. What matters to God is that His people are found faithful to tell everyone He sends us to that Jesus saves.  Romans 15:7 reminds us to pursue the bond of unity with love for one another so that in our common lives we honor God.

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Ephesians 4:32 is of paramount importance for healthy body life.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Christians are strong when we love one another. May we increase our efforts to love God, obeying Him in all things for the salvation of all those yet to be added to His glorious eternal kingdom. While we are here in this world let us show appreciation for one another and encourage the brethren daily. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us of this.

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

God’s abundant blessings and favor be upon all of you today.

Pastor Mike

 

You may support The Transforming Word Ministry by sending your gifts to:

Dr. Mike Spaulding
PO Box 3007
Lima, OH 45807

Online at http://www.thetransformingword.com
Or by PayPal studies@thetransformingword.com