Posts by Billy Hayes (Page 3)
God’s Plan of Salvation: FAITH IN THE WORD
The Bible has only one theme: the redemption of mankind. Everything encapsulated in the Holy Writ is to point each one of us toward God. To fully understand this is to understand the need one need man has—salvation. After a man hears, what is next? The answer is- that man will either believe or he will not. To follow God’s plan for salvation- faith is key! Man must have FAITH- John 8:24, Mark 16:16, Hebrew 11:6, John 16:31, 1 John…
Yet Another First…
God’s Holy Word holds for us many firsts. Today let’s explore the last first. The question is: “What happens when we die?” The only glimpse into this question is found in Luke 16:19-31. Let’s take a few moments and explore this topic. Two men are found in this passage, a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. We are told that this rich man had the ‘good life’. He ate well. He had plenty of money. He had a nice…
Another First…
God’s Holy Word gives the reader a unique insight to the human condition. By that, I mean that we now can look at the choices of mankind in the same fashion in which God looks at those decisions. As we study into His Word, we begin to see the first times certain things are recorded by God. One of the most compelling is the Sin in the Garden of Eden. This account is located in Genesis 3:1-15. So many things…
3 Gifts
Brandi is so much better at this than I am. She notices the needs of the young family so quickly. She is so compassionate toward that group of folks. My bride will make sure the babies have a gift. As we study and understand the birth of the Sacrifice for all of mankind, we are struck with the fact that the Son of God was given a few gifts. Matthew 2:11 records for us that those gifts were gold, frankincense…
New Year’s Resolutions
We all tend to make them. Perhaps your New Year’s resolution is to be in better shape or eat more nutritionally. Maybe it is to be a better student of God’s Word. We all have something we want to work on in the coming year. Brother Garland Elkins had a most unique resolution. As we were at the Memphis School of Preaching, we asked Brother Elkins what was his New Year’s resolution. His statement was sage. At the time it…
Put Yourself in His Shoes
A man walks down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. As he was walking robbers came up to him, beat him up and left him on the side of the road half dead. A Jewish Priest and a Levite walk by him and kind of stare at him. Finally, a Samaritan sees him, and has compassion on him. Helping this beaten man onto the Samaritan’s animal, he also pays for the care and attention this man needs. We all are…
The Plan of Salvation
As you and I study the Holy word of God, we are confronted with the fact of the duty of God in the salvation of man. Every sin that has ever been committed was a slap in the face of God. Sin is the culprit of the great gulf between sinful man and a holy God. Due to this fact, it was the task of God to redeem us back to Him and forgive us of our sins. Those sins…
Sum of Thy Word is Truth
We read so deliberately in Psalm 119:160 the following: “the sum of Thy word is truth.” It seems so easy to understand, doesn’t it? It almost seems so elementary that this idea does not need to be said. But, we as humanity, very often forget this idea. Let’s take a few moments to dissect this verse. First, it is essential to understand that God’s Word is the only source of truth. His Word holds true. John 17:17 continues this idea…
Is My Religion Pure?
We read the common definition in James 1:27. We look at our lives and consider the fact that so many around my say they are religious but we notice the fruit that their lives produce. We can tell those spiritual things are second at best in their lives… However, today I want you to avoid looking at anyone else. Stop looking around and look at your life. How is YOUR religion? Do you stand before the Almighty as pure? Are…
Yeah, but what about…
When a boy and girl start to date, perhaps they are not thinking about marriage. However, as they date longer their minds explore that fact. “I love you, me too…” Then a day rolls around to which a young man asks the father of his girlfriend if he can have his daughter as his bride. The engagement process begins and so does the wedding planning (mostly by the bride). On that day, he looks up the aisle and sees her…
Remembering the Risen One
When this day rolls around each year, the majority of the religious world takes some time to meditate and focus on the One called Jesus the Christ. Usually, this Sunday is the most well attended service of the year (This fact was shocking to me). We think of the unfair and unjust way our Lord was treated and paraded through the streets in shame. We recall the vicious nature by which the Romans and Jewish leaders had no regard toward…
What if Jesus had Come Back Yesterday?
Question: If Jesus had come back yesterday where would you be right now? 1. If married where would your mate be? 2. If you have accountable children, where would they be? 3. Were you about your Father’s business? – Lk. 2:49. 4. Were you expecting the Lord? – 2 Tim. 4:6-8. 5. As a Christian what was your attitude yesterday? 6. Were you indifferent toward the church? – Rev. 3:16. 7. Did you have coldness toward a brother or sister?…