Being a Follower

Man’s Idea of Angels vs. God’s Reality

Continuing the book Angels by David Jeremiah, he paints a picture of a spiritual guide through various angelic encounters in Scripture. He finishes, “divorced from any credibility forever in our minds are the thoughts of plump baby ‘cherubs’ or pale ladies with see through wings traced in glitter across our Christmas cards.”

Again, the other book I read points this out as well. These are all man made images that are CALLED angels. As a reminder, angel means ‘messenger’ - it is a job title, not a physical description. Think of the angels that are warriors for God. I don’t see them in my mind’s eye as ‘baby cherubs,’ do you?

Let’s put it another way. Would you fall smack dab out at a cherub appearing? No! No more than a fairy or a goblin. But what Ezekiel saw? Jacob? John? Others? They fell as if dead.

After Pentecost: Angels Still Active

At this point in the study, Pastor Jimmy asked us to look up some homework — are angels even mentioned after the Day of Pentecost, once the Holy Spirit is released into the world?

The answer? Yes. Angels didn’t suddenly “retire” because the Spirit was poured out. Scripture after Pentecost still shows angelic activity:

* Acts 5:19–20 — An angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought the apostles out.

* Acts 8:26 — An angel told Philip to go south on the desert road, which led to his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch.

* Acts 10:3 — Cornelius saw an angel who told him to send for Peter.

* Acts 12:7–10 — An angel freed Peter from prison.

* Acts 27:23–24 — Paul, in the middle of the storm, said an angel of God stood beside him and told him not to be afraid.

* Hebrews 13:2 — Believers are warned that some have “entertained angels without knowing it.”

* Revelation — John’s visions are filled with angelic messengers carrying out God’s orders.

Notice something? The angels in these accounts aren’t decorative ornaments. They’re warriors, deliverers, and messengers on assignment from God. A far cry from chubby cherubs on a Christmas card.

Angels in the Fire and the Lion’s Den

And if you need one of the strongest reminders of that, look no further than the fiery furnace in Daniel 3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol, and for their faithfulness they were thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. But they weren’t alone in the flames.

Daniel 3:25 records the king’s shock: “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Some believe this was an angel sent by God. Others say it was a Christophany — Christ Himself present before His incarnation. Either way, the point is the same: God did not leave His servants alone. He sent help from heaven, right into the fire.

And then in Daniel 6, when Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, he testified the next morning:

Daniel 6:22 – “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.”

Did the angel become visible? Scripture doesn’t say. But here’s the thing — it doesn’t matter. In the fiery furnace, the angel (or Christ Himself) was visible, because Nebuchadnezzar needed to see it. But here in the lions’ den, only Daniel experienced the miracle. Visible or not, the point is the same: God sent His help, right when and where it was needed.

Angels on Mission

And then in Acts 12, when Peter was miraculously freed from prison, Scripture says:

Acts 12:10 – “They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.”

Why did the angel disappear so suddenly? Simple — the mission was done. Angels aren’t here to hang around for applause or admiration. If they lingered, people might be tempted to worship the messenger instead of the One who sent him. Their task is clear: show up, carry out God’s command, and then step aside so the glory goes to Him alone.

Immediate Obedience

In each of these stories — Elijah with Ahab’s captain (2 Kings 1), David receiving God’s word through Gad (1 Chronicles 21:18), Joseph warned to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt (Matthew 2:13) — there’s no hesitation. The message is clear, the source is God, and the response is instant obedience.

Now pause and let that sink in.

If the Creator of EVERYTHING tells you to do something, why would you hesitate? Even if it pushes against what the world calls “common sense.” Even if it makes you stand out. Even if it runs against the grain of your traditions.

I’ll be honest here. I believe God has been leading me in some ways that don’t always line up neatly with “traditional Baptist beliefs.” This isn’t just theory for me — it’s something God has been pressing on me personally, and I can’t ignore it. Even when it pushes me beyond the comfort of tradition, I know obedience has to come first.

The point is this: if I’m sure it’s His Word and His Spirit that’s guiding, then obedience is the only faithful response.

So I’ll put the challenge back to you:

What has God already told you to do that you’re still putting off?

Is it forgiving someone who hurt you? Is it stepping forward to serve where you’ve been dragging your feet? Is it sharing your testimony with someone who desperately needs hope?

Partial obedience is just delayed disobedience.

When God speaks, the only right answer is yes, Lord.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

Do You Believe?

Continuing the book Angels by David Jeremiah, there are some stories of encounters with angels. One in particular is a man named Walt that was saved from a fire by two strangers who disappeared after rescuing him. He then came to follow Jesus, and his dad suggested that they were angels sent to him.

Why? So that he would have the chance to do what he did - to turn to Jesus. Jeremiah asks, “Do you believe Walt’s story? I do.” Well I do too! Were they angels in the sense of spiritual beings? Or were they people - human beings - that God sent at the right time? Does it really matter?

Yes They Exist

Next, Jeremiah goes into the fact that angels (spiritual beings) are REAL. Do you believe it? Do you still wonder? Quoting the book, “in the Scriptures - from Genesis to Revelation - the existence of angels is simply assumed. The Bible contains more than three hundred direct references to them.”

If I remember correctly, the other book I read on this topic had a similar opinion from the author. We aren’t given a full diagnostic description because when the scrolls were written, people didn’t doubt! They also didn’t doubt the existence of witches, demon possession, etc. But our modern day ‘scientific’ perspective leaves no room for such ‘superstition.’

The Sadducees

Something I had never ‘caught’ before in my reading of the Bible (side note - isn’t it great that when you go digging, you learn EVERY time you open yourself to the truth of the Word?).

Acts 23:6–8 – Paul knew that some of them were Sadducees and others were Pharisees. So he called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee. I am the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When Paul said this, the Pharisees and the Sadducees started to argue. The people in the meeting were divided. The Sadducees say that people will not rise from the dead. They don’t believe there are angels or spirits. But the Pharisees believe all these things.

Did you catch that? The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection, nor angels or spirits. It’s no wonder that when Jesus and the disciples were casting out demons and ‘unclean spirits’ that they didn’t believe Jesus. Do you know anyone that claims to believe in God the Father - the Most High - the Creator - but not in other spiritual realms? It’s a dangerous place to be…

There’s an old quote that fits here… “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” — often attributed to Charles Baudelaire.

This isn’t Scripture, but it captures a truth the Bible makes clear — Satan works in deception. If he can convince a person that there is no spiritual realm, no angels, no demons, no need for a Savior… then he’s already won the battle for that soul.

No Choice But to Believe and Speak of

Jeremiah quotes theologian M.J. Erickson - “The teaching of Scripture is that he has created these spiritual beings and has chosen to carry out many of his acts through them. Therefore, if we are to be faithful students of the Bible, we have no choice but to speak of these beings.”

This applies to other topics as well. Do I talk timing of the Rapture when I am witnessing? No! But Jesus talked about the End Times, so it shouldn’t be ignored either. Actually there are MANY things that are ‘discussed’ and different people will draw different conclusions, and I’m happy to ‘respectfully disagree’ on these secondary issues, but when it comes to Jesus being the Way, the Truth and the Life? No compromise!

When Eternity Is at Stake

I would like to share another longer quote from Jeremiah… “Most Christians agree demonic activity will increase as we near the last days. It’s a viewpoint grounded not only in simple observation of what the world is coming to, but also in Scripture. ‘The Spirit clearly says,’ Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 4:1, ‘that in latter times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.’”

Now of this, I have no doubt! I don’t know that the demons are stronger, or that the church is weaker, but at the very least the church does NOT have the influence on the secular United States that it once had. Is the same thing happening worldwide? I can’t say for sure, but I do know that reports are coming in of people being converted in every part of the world!

Let me be VERY very clear in something. The church is made up of believers, and believers that don’t FULLY COMMIT to following Christ will not have the effect on the world that they could have - and SHOULD have! Is it too late? Not at all!

2 Chronicles 7:14 – if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Can God really hear us and heal the land? YES! What will it take? His people - Christians - doing the things mentioned. Humble themselves is the first thing listed. Are you humble? I am definitely trying to be humble towards my fellow man and especially towards God, but I fail sometimes…

Do we pray and seek His face? Do we turn from our wicked ways? That last one is especially hard. It means turning away from your sin - from your wrongdoings. This is harder and harder to do as things become more enjoyable.

Why is pornography so prevalent? Why is alcohol so accepted in society? Why is abortion simply called a “choice” and no longer called murder? Because we are selfish. We love our sin. As long as we can have a moment of pleasure, we tell ourselves God can wait.

But He won’t wait forever.

We can’t keep sowing our wild oats and telling God we’ll deal with Him later. Souls are at stake. Every moment we delay, people are slipping into eternity without Christ.

The time for excuses is over. The time for obedience is now.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

Continuing the ‘study’ of the book Angels, David Jeremiah shares an interesting view. He says that his personal lack of a personal angelic manifestation might be a ‘backhanded compliment’ from God. He says, “God may be telling me, ‘Jeremiah, you don’t need an angel. You’ll be fine. You know who you are and Who’s is with you - and that’s enough for now.’” I have to say, I can relate to this!

John 20:29 – Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you see me. Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed.”

I always felt like John recorded these words and Jesus was speaking about ME! Is He speaking of you as well?

This also reminds me of something that happened to me in the world of ‘spiritualism.’ I have mentioned before that I read a book as a young, impressionable teen-ager that told how to communicate with spirits. One way was with a pendulum that I created myself, with the book’s instructions.

Did it work? YES! Am I proud of this? Not at all. I have repented of it and know it is against God’s teachings…

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 – Don’t let anyone among you offer a son or daughter as a sacrifice in the fire. Don’t let anyone use magic or tell fortunes. Don’t let anyone try to explain the meaning of signs. Don’t let anyone take part in witchcraft. Don’t let anyone who does those things cast spells. Don’t let them try to get messages from those who have died. The Lord hates anyone who does these things.

Now, does God really HATE these people? I believe it means they are an abomination to Him - that these are wicked things to do. That being said, does it mean someone can’t be forgiven of this? Not at all! Jesus paid the price for all of these things - for all of the times that I tried to communicate with the dead.

But the story I wanted to relate is this. When I had family members that were using the Ouija board to communicate with what we all believed were the dead, I decided to try to speak to one of them with my old pendulum trick. Now by this time I might have been not STRONG in following God, but I had committed myself to Jesus. I believe that this caused things not to work correctly for me.

There were four self identified guys in this group. One of them I felt was in the car with me as I was sitting and waiting for the lunch hour to be over. I grabbed a pendulum and started talking to ‘him.’ The answers were supposed to come via the pendulum, but it wasn’t working… Not at ALL. Now today I believe this is because of the indwelling Holy Spirit preventing ‘it’ from controlling even a little part of me, but I don’t know for sure.

At any rate, what did happen was I would ask a question and ‘it’ wouldn’t be able to respond, but I still felt the presence right there in the car with me. After several failed attempts, I got frustrated. I felt the ‘presence’ in the car was me telling me I didn’t need that. I was speaking out loud and again being frustrated until I realized I was communicating already.

Now, was this the spirit or soul of a dead person? No - I believe it was an angel, but not one of the good ones. I believe it was a spiritual being of course, but it was one that, when ‘tried,’ did NOT profess Jesus as Lord.

1 John 4:1-3 – Dear friends, don’t believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they belong to God. Many false prophets have gone out into the world. Here is how you can recognize the Spirit of God. Every spirit agreeing that Jesus Christ came in a human body belongs to God. But every spirit that doesn’t agree with this does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist. You have heard that the antichrist is coming. In fact, he is already in the world now.

Now some Christians would tell me today that it was just my imagination. But ask someone that has done ‘automatic writing’ if the written words were their imagination. See someone use automatic writing to let the channeled spirit write something that can only be read in a mirror, or in another language that the person doesn’t speak.

These are all things that exorcists will see manifest in people that are possessed by what we call demons or evil spirits - often understood as fallen angels, or messengers of the enemy (Satan.) Sensationalized or not - it’s still real. Why would God forbid something if it couldn’t be done in the first place?

Jeremiah continues, “I don’t have a fixation on angels, but I’m more convinced that ever that they are far more involved in our world than most of us realize. I believe they certainly do intervene here, both visibly and invisibly.”

I personally agree! The spiritual world is closer than we realize — perhaps just one veil away. If demons can whisper temptations, what stops angels from guiding and protecting us too?

I believe that these created beings are endowed with certain powers, just as we are! We have the ability to write, sing, create, think, build and so very much more! We can’t fly or walk through walls, but being spiritual beings they can. Those who followed Lucifer - the fallen - didn’t lose their abilities when they rejected God. So let me ask: when we reject God’s will and chase after our own pride, greed, or lust… do we lose our gifts, or simply misuse them?

In closing, I’m not sharing these things to glorify the past or stir up curiosity - quite the opposite. I share because deception is real, and the enemy still whispers. But greater is the One who speaks truth.

So test the spirits. Be alert. Trust God’s Word. And most of all… remember what Jesus said:

John 20:29 – Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you see me. Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed.”

That’s a blessing meant for us. Walk in it.

Let’s pray together…

Father God, I thank You for each person reading or hearing these words right now. You know their hearts. You know their fears, their past, and their questions. Lord, I ask that Your Holy Spirit would move in them - not with fear or confusion, but with clarity and conviction. Let Your truth rise above every lie. Let Your presence be louder than any whisper of the enemy.

Lord, if anyone is dabbling in the things You’ve called unclean - whether knowingly or unknowingly - I ask that You bring them into Your light. Show them Your mercy and lead them to repentance, the kind that brings life and freedom.

May Your Spirit guide them, protect them, and fill them with wisdom and discernment. And may we all learn to trust You more - not because we see signs and wonders, but because we have believed without seeing.

Thank You, Jesus, for being enough.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

Back to the Wingspan

This is where I’d normally apologize for no post in a few weeks - but I’m not going to do that. As some of you know, I get the bulk of the summer off work so things have been out of routine, so to speak. We have had the pleasure of our grandson from out of state with us, and the responsibility of discipling him on the nature of God and what it means to be a ‘believer.’

But to dive back in… We are still discussing the book Angels by Dr. David Jeremiah. To recap, this is the book that the men’s Bible Study (some folks calls it small group, but I calls it Bible Study) has been discussing. As before, I’ve made a ton of notes that are more for THIS audience - YOU - than for that audience. That being said, let’s jump back in with both wings…

Why Angels Matter (But Aren’t the Main Point)

Jeremiah says something very important! Actually it is repeated all throughout the book so you don’t miss it. “Everything Scripture says concerning angels is in connection to something else as the main theme. There are no pages or passages whose central purpose is to spell out a doctrine of angels. So we can’t uncover as much about them as we might like. Unfortunately those who don’t understand or appreciate the Bible’s wisdom and authority have been quick to jump in and try to fill all the gaps with fanciful conjecture.”

I have another book on angels and that author says the same thing. To paraphrase, when we read of angels, they are performing a larger work. The goal is NOT to teach us ABOUT angels, but that God loves us and takes care of His own!

So remember as you think about ANY spiritual being, what is the PURPOSE behind it. Is it to point to God and His grace, or is it to deceive and ensnare?

Don’t Chase Shadows - Chase the Source (of Truth)

The next point I want to bring out is something Jeremiah quotes John Calvin on - “Let us remember that on the whole subject of religion one rule of modesty and soberness is to be observed, and it is this - in obscure matters not to speak or think, or even long to know, more than the Word of God has delivered.”

Now let me get OFF the subject of angels for a moment and say that this is such a great point overall! To search outside of God’s Holy Word is to invite lies and deception, as well as confirmation bias. In other words, do you trust what God says in His Word? Or do you trust what someone else has TOLD you it means? Do you read it for yourself and ask God to reveal it to you? Or do you ‘listen to preaching’ or ‘go to church and hear the Word’ - as delivered by someone else…

Don’t get me wrong, we are COMMANDED to get with a local group of believers and grow in our spiritual journey! We are told to disciple others - to preach the gospel to the world. As you’ve no doubt heard me say over and over and over again, how can we do this if we are not grounded in the Word?

John Calvin Was Right (and Also Not Always Right)

Take these very quotes I am sharing. Jeremiah believes in a ‘secret rapture’ - a pre-tribulation (before the seven year period) rapture that could occur at any moment. I don’t agree with this interpretation, but that doesn’t mean he is a heretic or not worthy of attention. None of us know it all, and I believe there are a lot of us - me included - who will stand before the Lord one day and go “oh - that’s what you meant - well I guess I got that part wrong.” To believe anything else is to believe you are infallible.

And then the latest quote from John Calvin. I agree completely with what he says here, but I do NOT agree completely with what he taught about predestination. Doesn’t mean I can’t learn from him, but it does mean that I shouldn’t take anything ANYONE says and run with it without verifying. And friend you shouldn’t take anything that I say on faith either. I am saying what I believe God is leading me to say, but I also know my views have changed over the years, and I am humble enough to know that I could be wrong.

A Message for One Heart - But Maybe Yours Too

One more point and I’ll move along… There is someone HEAVY on my heart that I pray reads this post. She once told me she was ‘looking for God’ and I was too immature as a Believer to be able to point her in the right direction. Now it’s years later and she has been deep in the occult and ‘spirituality’ ever since. I believe she respects me enough to listen to me, but I’m not getting through. I want her to hear this if nothing else…

I believe God is real. Jesus is God in the form of a man. Not a person that ‘kept doing it until He got it right,’ but is the eternal Creator come to earth. He told us this, and then proved it by resurrecting Himself. Any other ‘spirit’ that tells you something contrary to this can’t be trusted.

Neither can I be trusted, in the sense that MY views are not guaranteed to be correct. But listen PAST the words you’ve read and heard from others, living and dead, and search out the ultimate truth! I don’t want you to blindly believe something, because that’s only surface-level belief at best. I want you to KNOW it in your heart, as I do!

Spiritual Beings Are Real—But So Is Deception

One last point for this post - one that ties directly to everything above. Jeremiah says, “Wonderful as the presence of an angel might be, God has given us something better. In fact he’s given us the greatest gift of all: his presence through his Holy Spirt, and in his Word.”

Might an angel just be yet another sign? And they are all there - in history! We don’t need a sign to know God is real - or said another way, Creation itself testifies to a Creator. We don’t need to personally see everything God has ever created.

The angels are created beings - just like us! Do you have to see someone in every country to know they are there? Or do you believe that since others have seen people in another part of the world that it exists?

Are there spiritual beings? Yes! Have I seen one? Not that I am aware of, but I have experienced things from the spiritual world. I have experienced what we Believers call the indwelling Holy Spirit, and I have experienced the uneasiness of created beings in the spiritual world that are NOT working for God. I have been deceived and I have also seen the Truth.

Do ‘angels’ always point to God? No!

1 John 4:1 - Dear friends, don’t believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they belong to God. Many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Corinthians 11:14 - Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light.

So test the spirits. Trust the Source. And never chase shadows when the Light is already shining.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

The Danger of Belief Without Truth

We are still discussing the book Angels by Dr. David Jeremiah. Jumping right back in, he makes a point that I’d like to share. “Because belief in God is no longer “popular” in America, it is possible to believe in anything. People are searching for spirituality-but not if it involves God.” I heard it said recently that, “People will believe anything - as long as it is not in the Bible.”

When Heaven Comes Near

Jeremiah quotes part of the 1975 book Angels from Billy Graham, where he speaks of his maternal grandmother’s death. “The room seemed to fill with a heavenly light. She sat up in bed and almost laughingly said, ‘I see Jesus. He has his arms outstretched toward me. I see Ben [her husband who had died some years earlier] and I see the angels.’ Then she slumped over, absent from the body but present with the Lord.”

Now modern ‘angelism’ or spiritualism would have spared her life - not watched her cross over. As I have tried to point out time and again, this world is temporary! To a Christian, going to be with Jesus is a glorious thing, not something to be saved FROM!

You might have heard me point out in my previous teachings and writings that in mainstream media, death is the worst thing that can ever happen to you. Hurting someone, stealing from them, lying to them - these are all bad, but death? Well that has to be the worst, right?

Matthew 10:28 NIRV — Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

To paraphrase my pastor, “If Christians spent as much effort in prayer trying to keep lost people out of hell as we do saved people out of Heaven, it would be a much better place!”

And there’s also the fact that God heals in many different ways. Sometimes it’s with an earthly healing that no one sees. Maybe a doctor gives the right diagnosis; maybe someone prays for healing and they receive it; maybe they are healed to go and be a witness.

But every one that has ever been healed has either died, or still will die. The only TRUE and ULTIMATE healing comes in the presence of God when we are given Glorified bodies. Until then, it’s temporary, so don’t get hung up on that.

This truth reminds us: healing is a gift, but eternity is the goal.

Angels as Messengers

But we were discussing angels. Before I continue, just understand that angels are messengers and they don’t always have a message of healing. God knows, not us, what is best in the long run.

Graham continues, “as an evangelist, I have often felt too far spent to minister from the pulpit to men and women who have filled stadiums to hear a message from the Lord. Yet again and again my weakness has vanished, and my strength has been renewed. I have been filled with God’s power not only in my soul but physically. On many occasions, God has become especially real, and has sent his unseen angelic visitors to touch my body and let me be his messenger for heaven, speaking as a dying man to dying men.”

Let me ask you something. Can God speak it, or think it, and it be so? Yes! Does He use human messengers to sow the seeds? Yes! So it would make sense that He would use His angelic messengers to carry out His instructions as well.

Heaven is ‘somewhere else.’ God became human to walk, talk, teach, die, be resurrected… And to ascend. To do these things, He had to limit Himself. He had to remain God the Creator, but take on the form and flesh of a human man. Perhaps He limits Himself in other ways, to use angels - messengers - to help facilitate free will for us.

God’s Protection Through His Messengers

I think a perfect example of this is brought up next in the book. I’ll paraphrase it here. A man and wife missionary team were surrounded by hostile natives one night. The natives were intent on burning them out and killing them. The missionaries prayed all night that God would deliver them and when the morning came the attackers had left!

About a year later, the chief was converted to Christ and the missionary asked the chief what kept the natives from burning down the house. The chief said they were afraid of the “hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands.” So it was obvious that God had sent angels to protect him and his wife!

Now again, God could have struck down the natives with a thought, but He didn’t. Could the angels appearing have been part of a bigger plan? Part of the plan of converting the chief? I believe they were there for a PURPOSE and a much bigger purpose than just protecting life; they were there as witnesses of the power of God.

Let me be clear - life is sacred. God does not look favorably on those that would murder. Jesus even said if you have hatred for your brother in your heart you’re already guilty of murder. In the old testament the Hebrews were warned not to let their children pass through the fire.

I believe we are to value life! We are to protect the unborn and the born in equal measure. But once someone has given themselves to Jesus? They are no longer home here. It’s not an excuse to end their life, but their life is no longer the most important commodity they have.

1 John 3:15 NIRV — Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life.

Deuteronomy 18:10 NIRV — Don’t let anyone among you offer a son or daughter as a sacrifice in the fire. Don’t let anyone practice evil magic. Don’t let them explain dreams or get messages from the dead.

Mark 8:36 NIRV — What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses their soul?

Faith and Action: Digging into the Word

Jeremiah goes on to give other examples and even mentions that we can learn about angels in the Scripture. He points out that the Holy Bible contains “rich and inspired messages” that tell us about angels. I would say that it does more than that, of course, but the focus on this book is angels. “Through careful study, anyone who truly seeks the Lord with a good and honest heart can find these riches.”

God’s Word is rich, but it isn’t surface-level. He invites us to dig. I have heard it said, you don’t lean on a shovel and pray for a hole - you have to dig!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

Men’s Study Group

Been a bit since I’ve written. My sister in Christ Debbie says I have a calling for this, and I agree in that I feel led to do it, but life has been busy! To be honest, I’ve not been the studying person lately that I know I should be. Yes, daily I have recommitted to Christ, but I’ve also fallen down on that, and my ‘ministry,’ of sorts, has suffered for it.

So, jumping right in! Our men’s study group is reading and discussing a book by Dr. David Jeremiah called Angels.

I more or less lead this discussion every other Tuesday, and I have made notes with the intent of sharing them. I’ll go ahead and say that not everything I note makes it into the Tuesday night sessions. As I make notes, I feel some of them are led to share there, and others are specifically for here. This will perhaps become evident as I proceed.

Background

For background, Dr. David Jeremiah is a well known speaker, pastor and author. When our pastor made the suggestion of moving to this book, I commented that I thought it would be an interesting one to read and that, on a personal note, it would prompt me to study more. Why? Because I don’t personally agree with everything that Jeremiah has to say.

If I agreed with him 100%, it would be an echo chamber. It would simply be “amen!” and “that’s right” and I wouldn’t learn anything. Since I don’t agree completely with him on SOME things, it will cause what I do read to be evaluated and tested against the Scripture. Think of the Bereans and how they are well known for DAILY searching the Scriptures, even testing Paul’s teachings to make sure they aligned with God’s Word.

Acts 17:11 NIRV — The Berean Jews were very glad to receive Paul’s message. They studied the Scriptures carefully every day. They wanted to see if what Paul said was true. Many of them believed. A number of important Greek women and many Greek men also believed.

Now, do I want you to take what I say and simply believe it? NO! Test it! Compare it with the Word of God. Find where I am wrong and tell me so! Allow me to challenge your beliefs and please challenge mine as well!

Another Book

There is another book on Angels I had started reading as well. Very well written, even though I haven’t finished it yet. I set it aside to start on this one to be able to stay with the group. I do reference it from time to time though.

Like Jeremiah, Gilhooly attempts to share what is in the Bible ONLY and not pull from popular culture or historical beliefs. We find from BOTH authors that there is really not as much information as we would expect, based on the popularity of angels in the world.

Another World

On page 15, Jeremiah is discussing the DANGERS of belief in Angels. Sounds weird, right? Well, let’s follow along. People are turning to spirituality for answers that science and rational thought can’t give them. Much like in the days of the Romans or the Greeks, or even going back to the Egyptians, they had a knowledge of things that we call science. How water works, the rain cycle, making machinery to power things with wind or water - the list goes on. But they also had ‘many gods’ - that’s lower case “g” - to look to for things that they could not explain. Are we any different today?

Mankind wants to explain things - the human race wants to explore and learn. What if there is no scientific explanation for something? Then a dimension beyond the one we have in front of us is a possible answer. Lately, mainstream science fiction has turned toward ‘the multiverse’ to explain other realms we can’t see. Now lest you be deceived in this, this is NOT something that Marvel came up with for the movies. The idea of a multiverse, or infinite realities, is something that science fiction writers have used for a long time.

Remember that I enjoy time travel stories and movies? One of the explanations of time travel in these is the ‘alternate reality’ explanation. That is that if you were to travel into the past, it’s not your own past you’re going into, but an alternative one. Now as a young science fiction reader, I saw nothing wrong with this. As I’ve matured in my spiritual walk, I still see it as complete fantasy, just like any fiction you read or watch.

Mission Impossible might deal with current events, but it’s not ‘our world’ because we don’t actually have a guy that looks like Tom Cruise riding motorcycles and saving the world. Same with sitcoms… There is no Jerry Seinfeld living in New York with a neighbor across the hall. There might be SIMILAR things, but that sitcom takes place in an ‘alternate world.’

Geeking Out

Okay - sorry for the geek out there. Those of you that read this and know me in real life know I can get like that, and I apologize. Where I’m going with this is that a Biblical Worldview says that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all that is. This includes the spiritual realm as well. If God’s Throne Room that the Tabernacle was to be a copy of exists somewhere, then it’s not on this earthly plane of existence.

Hebrews 8:5 NIRV — They serve at a sacred tent that is only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. That is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tent. God said, “Be sure to make everything just like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.” (Exodus 25:40)

If in Daniel when the angel mentioned ‘fighting’ with the Prince of Persia and being delayed, this obviously doesn’t happen in a way that we would have seen the fight itself, so it was in another plane of existence. Same for when the Angel appeared to Mary before God became man to be born of her and Joseph - and the dreams that Joseph and the Wise Men had… I could go on and on with examples.

Daniel 10:13 NIRV — But the prince of Persia fought against me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the most important angels, came to help me. I was left there with the kings of Persia.

Luke 1:26-38 NIRV — In the sixth month after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel greeted her and said, “The Lord has blessed you in a special way. He is with you.” Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago. The Son of the Most High God will rule forever over his people, who came from Jacob’s family. That kingdom will never end.” “How can this happen?” Mary asked the angel. “I am a virgin.” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that is born will be called the Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is old. But even she is going to have a child. It is said that she cannot have children. But she has been pregnant for six months. That’s because what God says will always come true.” “I serve the Lord,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me just as you said it would.” Then the angel left her.

Matthew 1:18-25 NIRV — This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. His mother Mary and Joseph had promised to get married. But before they started to live together, it became clear that she was going to have a baby. She became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph was faithful to the law. But he did not want to put her to shame in public. So he planned to divorce her quietly. But as Joseph was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. She is going to have a son. You must give him the name Jesus. That’s because he will save his people from their sins.”…

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

Sunday School

I’m typing this on Saturday morning. Tomorrow’s Sunday School lesson is called Our Relationships.” I studied last night and made several notes that I’d love to share with you - the reader and listener. As a believer living in the world, I think there’s a lot of good we can glean from this!

The scripture is from 1 Peter -

1 Peter 3:1-12 NIRV - Wives, follow the lead of your own husbands. Suppose some of them don’t believe God’s word. Then let them be won to Christ without words by seeing how their wives behave. Let them see how pure you are. Let them see that your lives are full of respect for God. Fancy hairstyles don’t make you beautiful. Wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes doesn’t make you beautiful. Instead, your beauty comes from inside you. It is the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Beauty like this doesn’t fade away. God places great value on it. This is how the holy women of the past made themselves beautiful. They trusted in God. They followed the lead of their own husbands. Sarah was like that. She obeyed Abraham. She called him her master. Do you want to be like her? Then do what is right. And don’t give in to fear.

Husbands, consider the needs of your wives. They are weaker than you. So treat them with respect. Honor them as those who will share with you the gracious gift of life. Then nothing will stand in the way of your prayers.

Finally, I want all of you to agree with one another. Be understanding. Love one another. Be kind and tender. Be humble. Don’t pay back evil with evil. Don’t pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay back evil with kind words. You were chosen to do this so that you might receive a blessing from God. Scripture says, “Suppose someone wants to love life and see good days. Then they must keep their tongues from speaking evil. They must keep their lips from telling lies. They must turn away from evil and do good. They must look for peace and go after it. The Lord’s eyes look with favor on those who are godly. His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord doesn’t look with favor on those who do evil.”

Huge Evangelism Point

The writer uses this passage to speak about wives submitting to their husbands, but I see it more of an evangelism tool. For example, the writer says, “many who were born into the class of the weaker power had to learn how to relate to others around them in a way that would advance the gospel and bring glory to God.”

(((Weaker power here refers to those in the society at the time born as workers, or Jews, or non-royalty. Many of the classes that were around then are around today, just called something different. For example, you may not have the power to make policy at home or work or in the government, so even though you are no less a person, your earthly influence is limited. Understanding this helps us approach evangelism wisely, because it shows us how influential our actions can be, even when our authority seems limited)))

Now this is a HUGE point for us that take evangelism seriously. You must learn to be firm and not waver on the truth, but you must still be diplomatic. Remember, not everyone agrees with you or your worldview, but bridging division is KEY, not creating division!

Looking back at verses 1 and 2 specifically - Wives, follow the lead of your own husbands. Suppose some of them don’t believe God’s word. Then let them be won to Christ without words by seeing how their wives behave. Let them see how pure you are. Let them see that your lives are full of respect for God.

There is so much truth here to unpack! First, let’s change wife/husband to brother/sister, friend, colleague, etc. For example -

Workers, follow the lead of your boss. Suppose they don’t follow Christ. Then let them be won over not with words, but with how you behave! Let them see how pure your thoughts and actions are. Let them see that you respect God.

Put your own situation in there!

Daughters, follow the lead of your mother. Suppose they don’t follow Christ. Then let them be won over not with words, but with how you behave! Let them see how pure your thoughts and actions are. Let them see that you respect God.

If you have read or listened to me much at all, you know that I believe evangelism is job one for a Believer. If you agree, then let that guide your thoughts and actions as well! Let it guide your relationship with non-believers all around you!

Living in Obedience

The writer points out later in the lesson, “they (wives) could not expect unbelieving husbands to live in obedience to the Word of God.” This is very true, so how does it affect us as believers?

First of all, we SHOULD expect believers - church family - to live in obedience. We are charged as a fellowship of Christians to make sure our members are living as they should. But we must remember that so many that come to church are lost! And the goal is not to get them to ‘live better,’ but to find Jesus!

So to clarify, what I’m saying is that if you encounter visitors at church, or people you work with, or go to school with - don’t expect them to follow a Biblical worldview just because you do or because you know it to be TRUTH. If they were believers of Christ as you are, then expect it.

2 Peter 2:22 NIRV - What the proverbs say about them is true. “A dog returns to where it has thrown up.” (Proverbs 26:11) And, “A pig that is washed goes back to rolling in the mud.”

Is this running down non-believers? Not at all! It is simply accepting the fact that people that follow evil will continue to do evil. They may ‘turn over a new leaf’ one day, but unless there is a change of heart, they will continue to return to evil. This is to be expected and planned for.

You have probably heard it said by secularists that ‘people are basically good at heart.’ I disagree with this!

Jeremiah 17:9 NIRV — A human heart is more dishonest than anything else. It can’t be healed. Who can understand it?Isaiah 64:6 NIRV — All of us have become like someone who is “unclean.” All the good things we do are like dirty rags to you. All of us are like leaves that have dried up. Our sins sweep us away like the wind.

So the Bible makes it clear that the human heart is evil. If someone begins to ‘do good deeds’ to make themselves feel better, they aren’t offsetting the evil in their heart; they may do good for a while, but if the heart isn’t changed, then they will eventually show their true selves. How is the heart changed? Only through a relationship with Christ, which transforms the heart rather than just the outward behaviors.”

Submission to Authority

The writer continues, “submission did not imply inferiority, nor did it encourage wives to participate in sinful activities or remain in threatening situations. As much as possible, the wife was to voluntarily submit to the authority of her husband for the purposes of leading him to Christ.”

As I said before, replace wife with whatever you are. This goes for our job, our parents, the government… We are not to sin because our parents tell us to, or our job requires it, or the government makes it a law. We are to stand on God’s Word and do what is right, but as the writer says AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE we are to be subjects to the law.

Do you parents tell you not to pray? That this is all a bunch of lies? Then pray silently. God can hear your thoughts and definitely knows the intent of your heart. They don’t want to hear about or think about God? Then don’t bring it up, but be ready to respond if and when they do! And continue to seek God in your own heart!

When it comes to the government and laws, a good recent example of respectful civil disobedience was during COVID-19, when some governments placed strict limits on church gatherings. While many churches complied initially out of caution, ours included, others chose civil disobedience by respectfully gathering anyway. This showed prioritizing obedience to God’s call to worship over local laws. They weren’t defiant or belligerent; they quietly chose God’s authority over human rul…

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

Intro

In February, I led the service one Wednesday night. I’ve not put this on the blog/podcast yet, so here it is. I titled it, “The Testing of Our Faith: Strengthened to Serve.” The essence of it was finding joy in troubles and tribulations and how they can make us stronger Christians. I hope you find edification in this.

God Bless!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

The Importance of Guarding Truth

I have yet to record the last episode - my voice is not 100% - but I’m continuing with my journey through the Bible in chronological order, so I wanted to go ahead and put some things down as God reveals them to me…

First of all, there was a blog post by Ken Ham that goes along with Creation, and it led into another one that was just as timely. I’d like to share those now.

The first one is called Show Your Teen This Example of “Evolution in Action” and basically shows how words matter! What is “reported” as evolution is not, in fact, evolution at all. Once again the word is used because it is assumed that evolution is a fact, when the fact it is it is just a theory. If we call ourselves Christians and say we believe every word of the Bible, then we must stand guard against things like this! We must reject them in our personal beliefs and strengthen those we are charged with teaching!

I’m reminded of when I visited the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis. The dinosaur exhibits spoke as if it were fact. If you dig down, you’ll find that there is so much supposition and theory, but the ‘placards’ for the exhibits? They just talk about this dinosaur being in this period and that one being from that period. It’s up to you to dig deeper and find out WHY they say these things, yes, but it saddens me that it has become commonplace and never questioned. It is yet another way that society - secular society - has eroded Truth.

The Consequences of Belief

You might ask why does it matter and that is a valid question! Does it matter that scientists say dinosaurs lived millions of years ago instead of thousands? Well, did sin originate in the Garden of Eden with the serpent (the nacosh - the shining one) and death came about because of it? Or was death a part of Creation before Adam and Eve came on the scene?

If it’s the former, then Genesis 3:15 is a prophecy about Jesus and Satan. If it’s the latter - that death was a part of Creation before Adam - then why should we believe the rest of the account of Creation?

Ken has another blog post - Debunking Misconceptions About Creation. This one is also well worth your time to read! It is a very brief description of why Answers in Genesis teaches what and how they teach, and it should reinforce the Christian’s attitude toward the Scripture. Read it and ask yourself, “how many of these things have I fallen for over the years?” Then ask God to open your eyes - your mind - and especially your heart! Remember, if Genesis 1:1 is true, and it is, then the rest is at least possible! What do I mean by that? If God created everything from nothing, then it stands to reason that every other miracle in the Bible, from parting the Red Sea to raising the dead, is at least possible. Why should the creator of life and matter itself be unable to use or manipulate that matter in the way that He sees fit?

The Gift of Rest: Why the Sabbath Matters

Reading Genesis 2, we start with the seventh day and how God rested. Now, ask yourself, did God need rest? No! God sits outside of time and space; created the universe with a word, or more likely first a thought, so why would He need to rest?

Mark 2:27 NIRV - Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath day was made for man. Man was not made for the Sabbath day.

Now this was Jesus’ response to the Pharisees when they criticized His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath. It emphasizes that the Sabbath is a gift from God for human rest and spiritual renewal, rather than a burdensome rule. I personally take this very very literally, and just goes to show that God didn’t need a Sabbath, but He knew that we would!

God’s Breath of Life: The Soul in Creation

Then we move onto a retelling of sorts of when God created mankind. The first man, Adam, was formed from the dust. Taken literally, God spoke Creation into being, then used part of that creation (atoms, molecules, what have you) to FORM a human being. Then, and this is key, God breathed life into him! He became a living soul at that moment!

I just heard on a podcast where a priest was talking about the traumatic experience death can be. Why? Because we were not created to be souls in a body, but we ARE the soul. It is our essence. The Bible mentions the ‘heart of a man.’ This is not the blood pumping organ in our chest, but the thing that makes us - well - US. The heart, or the inner being, is where our thoughts and desires come from.

So God breathed life into Adam. This is not oxygenated blood - that is a physical thing. This life is what God shared with us. His breath became our life force! Amen!

In Conclusion

I lost my voice for a while and even though I was studying, I wasn’t sharing it here. To end this episode, I’d like to share another blog post. This was one I stumbled upon some time ago, but never shared it. I promised the author that I would, and more than that I WANT you to read it. Here’s the link - https://storykeatley.com/2021/04/12/that-night/#comment-13214

In closing, think about how you treat the Sabbath in your life. Is it for rest? Reflection on God? Or is it a chance to sleep late or go fishing… Where are your priorities?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com

A Warning from Experience

Let this be a warning. It is too easy to get out of the habit of Bible study. I have been ‘less than 100%’ for over a week now. Nothing contagious, per the doctor, but I’ve had trouble breathing and have missed as many days at work as I’ve been over the month of January.

Just before Christmas, I decided I was going to stop trying to ‘catch up’ with my daily devotionals and start fresh January 1. I regret to say that I have NOT kept up with them like I had planned. I also had planned to start a ‘chronological read through’ of the Bible. This was something I actually wanted to do in 2024, but let the first few weeks get by me. For 2025, I was going to do it!

Well, it hasn’t happened. Last night I was talking with a sister in Christ about this very thing and she turned me on to one published by Bellevue Baptist in Memphis. She got a late start too, but that’s the one she’s been following. I have made the commitment to myself to follow through this year. I’m not going to get discouraged if I miss a day or three, as I don’t want that to derail everything.

So why am I sharing this? Why am I admitting that I have failed myself, and you, and God? Because I want you to understand just how easy it can be to fall off of the wagon. I have recently made the comment that it is a DAILY recommitment, and I have failed to do this myself.

Now for the record, I’ve still been attending church, even when my body didn’t feel like it, and I’ve been keeping up with my Sunday School lessons, but not to the extent that I usually do; nothing extra, which means in my life, I’ve been failing. If you happen to be right there with me, then join me in recommitting RIGHT NOW! Join me as we dig deeper!

If you have NOT fallen to the side like I have, Praise the Lord!!! Keep it up! I commend you and am thankful for your journey! Please pray for me and others I share this boat with.

The Right Plan for You

Here’s the Bellevue page - https://www.bellevue.org/bible/ They have a hard copy available for purchase. As a lot of you know, I use E-Sword for my studies and have tried to find a ‘version’ or copy on it. No such luck. They do list a YouVersion though, if that would help some of you.

At any rate, there are several ‘plans’ available on the web. My dear Sister in Christ Darla was sharing how Bellevue has a podcast and other resources to help with study. She spoke highly of it, so I’m going to keep those resources in mind! I did finally find an E-Sword ‘Bible Reading Plan’ that gives me what I need, sans the study notes.

Please let me know if you choose to follow theirs and what your experience is! Meanwhile I’ll begin the E-Sword version.

Before “The Beginning”

Obviously, we begin with Genesis 1:1. This is the ‘beginning’ - the start of EVERYTHING, right? Not exactly… It is the story or account of the beginning of what we can experience. Not to be pedantic at all, but God Himself has no beginning. God is outside space and time. He is the Creator Being; He was here ‘before’ the universe. Of course time wasn’t created until the universe began, so ‘before’ is an odd term to use.

In our mortal, finite minds, we can only comprehend what we can imagine. We can imagine yesterday and we can even muse on tomorrow. But how can we fathom a time ‘before time began?’ We can’t! I can imagine what it was like on earth in a time before I was alive, but I have no personal point of reference for this.

Boy this is hard to explain. The act of explaining it means you are putting it into a definition, and it’s impossible to define. What was here before Genesis 1:1? There was no here. There was no there. There was God. Where did God come from? That question assumes there was a place to come from, but ‘places’ didn’t exist before the beginning. At least what we refer to as places.

Faith and Science: A Conflict?

I have huge respect for Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis. He has opened my eyes to see things in a Biblical context in a way I never had before. Schools teach that the earth is millions or even billions of years old, yet that doesn’t coincide with Genesis. Even if you take it as allegory, which was the first way I was given to understand it as a child, it still doesn’t fit with what scientists say are geological ages.

There are people that are so ‘stuck on science’ that they ignore miracles. They also ignore contrary science when it is starting them in the face. Take for example the almost universally accepted method of measuring the decay of certain isotopes to ‘date’ something. Many scientists accept the idea that the earth is millions or billions of years old based on certain dating methods. This is contrary to the fact that the same dating methods routinely show the ‘age’ of trees buried by volcanic eruptions to be millions of years old as well.

When I was younger, I remember when Mount St. Helens erupted. I had a brother in law at the time that even brought some of the ash back to Tennessee. Less than twenty years later, trees were uncovered and ‘dated.’ I remember when this happened and the tremendous pressure from the eruption caused a change in the buried items. Things were tested and dated and ‘proven’ to be thousands and even millions of years old.

Now, am I saying for a fact that the world is NOT millions of years old? No. I wasn’t around all that time. That’s the whole point. Observational science is where you can either observe something taking place, or you can observe it being duplicated in the lab. Fossils are another example. We are taught that fossils formed over millions of years, but in the lab we find that fossils are formed when conditions change rapidly, not slowly.

In other words we can recreate fossils in the lab by applying extraordinary circumstances, such as what would have happened during the flood of the Bible. Things buried in a short amount of time under a tremendous amount of water will have the scientific effect of creating fossilized remains that APPEAR to be millions of years old.

The First Verse: A Foundation for Faith

I’ll hold off on other flood talk for when we get to that. For now let’s just say that the first chapter tells the WHY and the WHO more than the HOW. We are not told if God used a ‘big bang’ event or not, and it doesn’t really matter. The fact is that God spoke it into being. How did He speak it? And was it really ‘spoken?’ How could sound travel when there is no space to travel through?

Again, these are all words we use to describe something in ways that we can understand. Did God simply ‘think’ and it happened? Did God create a heavenly council first and do things through them? There are many thoughts around these things and we are not told with complete clarity what the answers are. Keep in mind that we are not given the answers to everything we WANT to know, but God has given us what we NEED to know.

So what do we NEED to know from Genesis 1? That God is in control. That He created everything we know, see, feel, touch and think about. He formed the earth, then made it where it would sustain life. He made light, the sun, the moon. He made the plants and the animals. Think about that for a moment. Before mankind was created God set up plants and animals. The oxygen cycle was in place before Adam breathed his first. There was no evolving - it was just put in place.

A Challenge and a Truth

And one last thing. If the first verse of the Bible is true, and it is, then every other verse is at least possible. If God is the Creator of everything, then He has the power to do anything He wants. Just as God set everything in place with intention, we, too, must be intentional in studying His Word. Let’s continue this journey together! I challenge you to read Genesis 1:1 again, and maybe read some commentaries on it as well. Let it be the foundation for YOUR journey as well!

Blessings and Grace to you!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimmylogan.substack.com