What The Bible Says About Dancing

I posted this on facebook, but for those not on facebook...

Tis the season... proms, weddings, parties - and DANCING. Yes even Christians (so called) get involved in the ungodly practice of dancing. What does the Bible say about it?

If you really want to know, check out the following link:

http://www.frmbc.com/biblestudies.html

then click on the PDF file "What The Bible Teaches About Dancing"

Hymn History - HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOR

HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOR
Philip Paul Bliss (1838–1876)

PHILIP BLISS was one of the most prominent hymnwriters in the heyday of gospel hymnwriting. Bliss grew up working on a farm and in lumber camps, but eventually became a music teacher. He sold his first song at age twenty-six and later worked for a hymn publisher. D. L. Moody urged Bliss to become a singing evangelist, and so he did, beginning in 1874. This hymn was published in 1875. In 1876, while traveling through Ohio, Bliss and his family were involved in a train wreck. Reportedly, Bliss went back into the fiery train to save his wife, but they both died.
It was a tragedy for hymn lovers around the world, but you might say that Bliss just changed his address. Certainly he continues, even now, creating new praises for our wonderful Savior in glory.

HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOR
“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood—
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Guilty, vile and helpless we,
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in heav’n exalted high:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Hymn History - GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN
Julia Harriette Johnston (1849–1919)

GRACE is one of the hardest lessons for us to learn about God. Some show their ignorance of God’s grace by working hard to be good enough. They pay lip service to the idea of God’s grace but cannot stop trying to earn their own way. Others display their misunderstanding of God’s grace by concluding it’s inaccessible to them. They know they cannot be good enough for God, so they despair of ever having a relationship with Him.
It is this second group that Julia Johnston was writing for. She knew how important it was to understand and experience the simple, yet difficult, truth of God’s gracious forgiveness. Johnston was a Sunday school teacher herself and became a noted expert in Sunday school curriculum. Though she penned texts for more than five hundred hymns, this is the only one widely known. It powerfully teaches this essential Christian truth: You cannot out-sin God’s grace.

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured—
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within,
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater—yes, grace untold—
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide—
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide—
Whiter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Persecution

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW HIS PEOPLE TO BE PERSECUTED?

BIBLE READING: Matthew 5:1-16
KEY BIBLE VERSE: 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

PERSECUTION BUILDS CHARACTER.
Jesus said to rejoice when we’re persecuted. Persecution can be good because (1) it takes our eyes off earthly rewards, (2) it strips away superficial belief, (3) it strengthens the faith of those who endure, and (4) our attitude through it serves as an example to others who follow. We can be comforted to know that God’s greatest prophets were persecuted (Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel). The fact that we are being persecuted proves that we have been faithful; faithless people would be unnoticed. In the future God will reward the faithful by receiving them into his eternal kingdom where there is no more persecution.


BIBLE READING: Matthew 24:1-51
KEY BIBLE VERSE: 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)

PERSECUTION STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH.
Jesus predicted that his followers would be severely persecuted by those who hated what he stood for. In the midst of terrible persecutions, however, they could have hope, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or fair-weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don’t do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm, and continue to live for Christ.


BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 1:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (1 Peter 1:6)

PERSECUTION BRINGS MATURITY.
Peter mentions suffering several times in this letter: 1:6-7; 3:13-17; 4:12-19; 5:9. When he speaks of trials, he is not talking about natural disasters or the experience of God’s punishments, but the response of an unbelieving world to people of faith. All believers face such trials when they let their light shine into the darkness. We must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ. Trials teach us patience (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-3) and help us grow to be the kind of people God wants.

SUBMITTING TO GOD’S GUIDANCE

HOW IS OUR OBEDIENCE RELATED TO GOD’S GUIDANCE?

BIBLE READING: Exodus 11:1-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE: 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. (Exodus 11:9-10)

GUIDANCE FOR THE FUTURE COMES WITH OBEDIENCE IN THE PRESENT.
When Moses gave God’s message to the people, they were too discouraged to listen. The Hebrews didn’t want to hear any more about God and his promises, because the last time they listened to Moses, all they got was more work and greater suffering. Sometimes a clear message from God is followed by a period when no change in the situation is apparent. During that time, seeming setbacks may turn people away from wanting to hear more about God. If you are a leader, don’t give up. Keep bringing people God’s message as Moses did. By focusing on God, who must be obeyed, rather than on the results to be achieved, good leaders see beyond temporary setbacks and reversals.


BIBLE READING: 2 Chronicles 18:1-34
KEY BIBLE VERSE: 12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak. (2 Chronicles 18:12-13)

SEEKING GUIDANCE WITH NO INTENTION OF OBEDIENCE IS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE.
Wicked Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to join forces with him in battle (18:2-3). Before making that commitment, Jehoshaphat rightly sought God’s advice. However, when God gave his answer through the prophet Micaiah (18:16), Jehoshaphat ignored it (18:28). It does us no good to seek God’s advice if we ignore it when it is given. Real love for God is shown not by merely asking for direction, but by following that direction once it is given.


BIBLE READING: Acts 8:26-40
KEY BIBLE VERSE: And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. (Acts 8:26)

GOD’S GUIDANCE SELDOM FOLLOWS OUR PLANS.
Philip was having a successful preaching ministry to great crowds in Samaria (8:5-8), but he obediently left that ministry to travel on a desert road. Because Philip went where God sent him, Ethiopia was opened up to the gospel. Follow God’s leading, even if it seems like a demotion. At first you may not understand his plans, but the results will prove that God’s way is right.

God's Guidence

HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S GUIDANCE?

BIBLE READING: Numbers 9:15-23
KEY BIBLE VERSE: At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. (Numbers 9:23)

DEPEND ON GOD’S GUIDANCE BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night guided and protected the Israelites as they traveled across the desert. Some have said this pillar may have been a burning bowl of pitch whose smoke was visible during the day and whose fire could be seen at night. However, a bowl of pitch would not have lifted itself up and moved ahead of the people, and the Bible is clear that the cloud and fire moved in accordance with the will of God. The cloud and the fire were not merely natural phenomena; they were the vehicle of God’s presence and the visible evidence of his moving and directing his people.
The Israelites traveled and camped as God guided. When you follow God’s guidance, you know you are where God wants you, whether you’re moving or staying in one place. You are physically somewhere right now. Instead of praying, “God, what do you want me to do next?” ask, “God, what do you want me to do while I’m right here?” Direction from God is not just for your next big move. He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. Begin to understand God’s purpose for your life by discovering what he wants you to do now!

BIBLE READING: Ruth 2:1-23
KEY BIBLE VERSE: “And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.” (Ruth 2:20)

GOD GUIDES US THROUGH EVERYDAY EVENTS OF LIFE.
Though Ruth may not have always recognized God’s guidance, he had been with her every step of the way. She went to glean and “just happened” to end up in the field owned by Boaz, who “just happened” to be a close relative. This was more than mere coincidence. As you go about your daily tasks, God is working in your life in ways you may not even notice. We must not close the door on what God can do. Events do not occur by luck or coincidence. We should have faith that God is directing our life for his purpose.