“Who were the twelve (12) disciples / apostles of Jesus Christ?”

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon


 The word “disciple” refers to a learner or follower. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent out.” While Jesus was on earth, His twelve followers were called disciples. The twelve disciples followed Jesus Christ, learned from Him, and were trained by Him. After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus sent the disciples out to be His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). They were then referred to as the twelve apostles. However, even when Jesus was still on earth, the terms “disciples” and “apostles” were used somewhat interchangeably.

The original twelve disciples/apostles are listed in Matthew 10:2-4, “These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.” The Bible also lists the twelve disciples/apostles in Mark 3:16-19 and Luke 6:13-16. A comparison of the three passages shows a couple of minor differences in the names. It seems that Thaddaeus was also known as “Judas, son of James” (Luke 6:16) and Lebbaeus (Matthew 10:3). Simon the Zealot was also known as Simon the Canaanite (Mark 3:18). Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, was replaced in the twelve apostles by Matthias (see Acts 1:20-26). Some Bible teachers view Matthias as an “invalid” apostle and believe that Paul was God’s choice to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth apostle.

The twelve disciples/apostles were ordinary men whom God used in an extraordinary manner. Among the twelve were fishermen, a tax collector, and a revolutionary. The Gospels record the constant failings, struggles, and doubts of these twelve men who followed Jesus Christ. After witnessing Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples/apostles into powerful men of God who turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). What was the change? The twelve apostles/disciples had “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). May the same be said of us!

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GRIN AND SHARE IT: “A Brand New You”

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon

A Brand New You

A middle aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the
hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death
experience. Seeing God, she asked “Is my time up?”

God said, “No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8
days to live.”

Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and
have a facelift, liposuction and a tummy tuck. She even had
someone come in and change her hair color. Since she had so
much more time to live, shefigured she might as well make
the most of it.

After her last operation, she was released from the hospital.
While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by
an ambulance.

Arriving in front of God, she demanded, “I thought you said
I had another 40 years?”

God replied, “I didn’t recognize you.”

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“Is there a heavenly language?”

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon


 There is some conjecture as to whether there is such a thing as a “heavenly language.” Is there a language unknown on earth but spoken fluently in heaven? If so, is it possible for someone to learn to speak this esoteric language? Is it possibly a gift of the Holy Spirit?

First, we should point out that the expression “heavenly language” is nowhere found in Scripture. Also, the phrase “tongues of angels” is used only once, in 1 Corinthians 13:1, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

Some have suggested that Paul’s reference to “tongues of angels” is proof that there is a heavenly language that only angels—and certain Spirit-filled believers—can speak. Let’s take a closer look at the verse and its context.

When Paul speaks of “tongues of men,” he is most likely referring to gift given on the Day of Pentecost when the apostles were imbued by the Holy Spirit to speak languages virtually unknown to them (Acts 2:4-12). “Tongues of men” is a reference to the various human languages in use at the time. The Corinthian brethren so prized this miraculous gift that it became severely abused and counterfeited. Paul addressed this problem in his epistle. The Corinthians needed to know that God gave the ability to speak a foreign language as a sign, and the gift had some restrictions (1 Corinthians 14:1-33).

When Paul speaks of the “tongues of angels,” he isn’t speaking literally of a “heavenly language,” as some want to believe, but was using a hyperbolic expression. Hyperbole is an exaggeration to make a point. Paul is saying that no matter how gifted one may be, whether in his own language, in foreign languages, or even in the hypothetical speech of angels, it’s all moot without love. In fact, without love, one’s speech is no better than the useless babble of the pagan religions. The pagan culture of Corinth honored their gods in ritualistic ceremonies accompanied by loud musical instruments such as gongs, cymbals, and trumpets. Their worship was a chaotic cacophony.

Speaking in “tongues of angels” is probably best understood as having the ability to speak with “divine eloquence.” As one well-known Bible scholar put it, “Paul is simply saying that, were he to have the ability to speak with the skill and eloquence of the greatest men, even with angelic eloquence, he would only become a noisy gong . . .”

The fact is that Paul used hyperbolic language elsewhere, including in the very next verse, with his mention of faith “to remove mountains.” His exaggerations serve to emphasize the necessity of love. Showing love is more important than the grandest, most miraculous action imaginable.

To suggest that Paul implies that “tongues of angels” is a kind of “heavenly language” is to go beyond what Scripture actually teaches. It is taking the expression completely out of context in an attempt to teach something other than what Paul actually said.

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GRIN AND SHARE IT: “Everything Is Big in Texas”

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Everything Is Big in Texas

There once was a blind man who decided to visit Texas. When he arrived on
the plane, he felt the seats and said, “Wow, these seats are big!” The
person next to him answered, “Everything is big in Texas.”

When he finally arrived in Texas, he decided to visit a bar. Upon arriving
in the bar, he ordered a beer and got a mug placed between his hands. He
exclaimed, “Wow these mugs are big!” The bartender replied, “Everything is
big in Texas.”

After a couple of beers, the blind man asked the bartender where the
bathroom was located. The bartender replied, “Second door to the right.”

The blind man headed for the bathroom, but accidentally tripped and
skipped the second door. Instead, he entered the third door, which lead to
the swimming pool and fell into the pool by accident.

Scared to death, the blind man started shouting, “Don’t flush, don’t
flush!”

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“Had it ever rained before the Flood in Noah’s day?”

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon


 Some interpret Hebrews 11:7 as saying it had never rained prior to the Flood: “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Rain could be the correct understanding of “things not yet seen,” or it could be referring to the Flood in general.

Genesis 2:6 says, “But streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.” Before the Flood (Genesis chapters 6-9), the earth was surrounded by a “firmament” or canopy of water, creating almost a greenhouse effect on the earth’s climate. These are the waters that God released, causing the Flood. It seems that before the Flood the dew and ample water supply were enough to keep creation watered. The Bible does not specifically tell us whether or not it had rained before the Flood. Noah seemed to understand what rain was when God mentioned it to him (Genesis 7:4-5). Genesis 2:4-6 mentions that God did not send rain on the earth until after He created Adam and Eve. We can speculate that it had rained before the Flood, but, again, the Bible does not specifically say.

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GRIN AND SHARE IT: “Two Elderly Women”

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Two Elderly Women

Two elderly women were out driving in a large car,
neither could barely see over the dashboard. As they
were cruising along, they came to an intersection. The
stoplight was red but they just went on through.

The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself, “I
must be losing it, I could have sworn we just went
through a red light.”

After a few more minutes they came to another
intersection, the light was red, and again they went
right through.

This time, the passenger was almost sure that the
light had been red, but was also concerned that she
might be seeing things. She was getting nervous and
decided to pay very close attention.

At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was
definitely red and they went right through it. She
turned to the other woman and said, “Mildred! Did you
know we just ran through three red lights in a row?
You could have killed us.”

Mildred turned to her and said, “Oh No! Am I driving?”

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“How should a Christian view environmentalism?”

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon


 There is a difference between the biblical view of the environment and the political movement known as “environmentalism.” Understanding this difference will shape a Christian’s view of environmentalism. The Bible is clear that the earth and everything in it was given by God to man to rule over and subdue. “And God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth'” (Genesis 1:28). Because mankind wasthey were created in His image, God gave men and women a privileged place among all creatures and commanded them to exercise stewardship over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:6-8). Stewardship implies caretaking, not abusing. We are to intelligently manage the resources God has given us, using all diligent care to preserve and protect them. This is seen in the Old Testament where God commanded that the fields and vineyards would be sown and harvested for six years, then left fallow for the seventh year in order to replenish the soil’s nutrients, both to rest the land and to ensure continued provision for His people in the future (Exodus 23:10- 11;Leviticus 25:1-7).

In addition to our role of caretakers, we are to appreciate the functionality and beauty of the environment. In His incredible grace and power, God has placed on this planet everything needed to feed, clothe, and house the billions of people who have lived on it since the Garden of Eden. All the resources He has provided for our needs are renewable, and He continues to provide the sun and rain necessary to sustain and replenish those resources. And, as if this were not enough, He has also decorated the planet in glorious color and scenic beauty to appeal to our aesthetic sense and thrill our souls with wonder. There are countless varieties of flowers, exotic birds, and other lovely manifestations of His grace to us.

At the same time, the earth we inhabit is not a permanent planet, nor was it ever intended to be. The environmental movement is consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever, and we know this is not God’s plan. He tells us in 2 Peter 3:10 that at the end of the age, the earth and all He has created will be destroyed: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up” (NKJV). The physical, natural earth in its present form, with its entire universe will be consumed, and God will create a “new heaven and a new earth” (2 Peter 3:13;Revelation 21:1).

So we see that, rather than trying to preserve the earth for thousands or even millions of years to come, we are to be good stewards of it for as long as it lasts, which will be as long as it serves God’s sovereign plan and purpose.

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GRIN AND SHARE IT: “Pig Toes”

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Pig Toes

In a small town, farmers of the community had gotten
together to discuss some important issues. About midway
through the meeting, a wife of one of the farmers stood up
and spoke her piece.

One of the old farmers stood up and said, “What does she
know about anything? I would like to ask her if she knows
how many toes a pig has?”

Quick as a flash, the woman replied, “Take off your boots sir,
and count them yourself!”

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“Does the Bible teach us to have self-esteem?”

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon

 Many define self-esteem as “feelings of worth based on their skills, accomplishments, status, financial resources, or appearance.” This kind of self-esteem can lead a person to feel independent and prideful and to indulge in self-worship, which dulls our desire for God. James 4:6 tells us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” If we only trust in our earthly resources, we will inevitably be left with a sense of worth based on pride. Jesus told us, “You also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’” (Luke 17:10).

This does not mean that Christians should have low self-esteem. It only means that our sense of being a good person should not depend on what we do, but rather on who we are in Christ. We need to humble ourselves before Him, and He will honor us. Psalms 16:2 reminds us, “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.’” Christians attain self-worth and esteem by having a right relationship with God. We can know we are valuable because of the high price God paid for us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

In one sense, low self-esteem is the opposite of pride. In another sense, low-self-esteem is a form of pride. Some people have low self-esteem because they want people to feel sorry for them, to pay attention to them, to comfort them. Low self-esteem can be a declaration of “look at me” just as much as pride. It simply takes a different route to get to the same destination, that is, self-absorption, self-obsession, and selfishness. Instead, we are to be selfless, to die to self, and to deflect any attention given to us to the great God who created and sustains us.

The Bible tells us that God gave us worth when He purchased us to be His own people (Ephesians 1:14). Because of this, only He is worthy of honor and praise. When we have healthy self-esteem, we will value ourselves enough to not become involved in sin that enslaves us. Instead, we should conduct ourselves with humility, thinking of others as better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Romans 12:3 warns, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

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GRIN AND SHARE IT: “Things to Ponder”

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Things to Ponder

Do cemetery workers prefer the graveyard shift?
*
How do a fool and his money GET together?
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How do you know when it’s time to tune your bagpipes?
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How is it that a building burns up as it burns down?
*
If the pen is mightier than the sword, and a picture is worth a
thousand words, how dangerous is a fax?
*
What was the best thing before sliced bread?
*
In a country of free speech, why are there phone bills?
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How come there aren’t B batteries?
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How do “Do not walk on the grass” signs get there?
*
How do I set my laser printer on stun?
*
How is it possible to have a civil war?
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If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
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If the #2 pencil is so popular, why is it still #2?
*
If I melt dry ice, can I take a bath without getting wet?
*
How can there be self-help “groups”?
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How do you know honesty is the best policy until you have tried
some of the others?
*
How does a Thermos know if the drink should be hot or cold?
*
What happens to an 18-hour bra after 18 hours?
*
Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
*
Why is it that night falls but day breaks?
*
What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it’s all about?

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