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| "Old Testament Saints and the Cross" | "Our Bible" | "Thirst and Pain" | "What Christianity Looks Like" |
| "Increase Our Faith" | "Gideon Continues The War" | "Tyranny" | "God Can't Lie" |
| "Perilous Times - Covetousness" | "Perilous Times: Part Two" | "Perilous Times, continued" | "Jesus Is Better" |
| "God's Return On His Investment" | "New Life Through Reconciliation" | "Promises To Abram" | "The Purpose of Our Ministry" |
| "Exercise on Joshua 1:8" | "Moses' Veil" | "God's Word" | “Living by the Living Word.” |
| "The Stability We Seek" | "God At Work" | "Pillar of Truth" | "Too Many Wicked" |
| "Sin Crouching" | "Owe No Man Anything" | "Salvation First" | "What Wisdom Does" |
| "Influencing Children" | "Special People - Special Work" | "Permanence" | "Who Wisdom Is" |
| "Living Green" | "Situation Ethics" | "A Life Worth Living" | "Judgments In The Earth" |
| "Faith's Basics" | "Holiness" | "When Trouble Comes" | "Suffering In The Bible Belt?" |
| "Unholy Blending" | "The Good Fight of Faith" | "Counting The Cost" | "Sin Unto Death" |
| "Destiny of the Great" | "Preserving Data" | "1 Peter 2:17 Unequivocal" | "Micah 6:8 The Purpose of Living" |
| "Job 1:8 "Suffering & Trials" | "Contending for the Faith" | "Matt. 13:23 The Enemy Among Us." | "1 Cor. 9:27 Why God's Spirit Leaves" |
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Proverbs 3:13-18 ( NKJV ) "What is Better Than Gold?" Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. Proverbs, chapters 1 and 2 promotes the concept of studying God’s Word in order to obtain God’s wisdom, secure safety, and provide for a person’s general welfare. Chapter three lays down some basic precepts: Internalize mercy and truth, live by these and be rewarded with the favor of God and man. (verses 3 & 4) Look to the Lord to lead you and don’t allow your own understand of the circumstances mislead you. In the process God promises that we won’t miss life’s best. (verses 5 & 6) The passage found in verses 7 and 8 assumes that evil possess our inner core and that we must somehow cast this out. It strongly suggests that fearing God is the means to do this. In turn, we are promised good health. Next we are taught to give to God before we take what he gives us for our own needs and desires. In turn, God promises that our bank account will be full and that we will continue to receive adequate income. (verses 9 & 10) All of this precedes our text beginning with verse 13 which reveals that we enjoy happiness when we observe and live by the words found in the Bible. This should be obvious for only misery can come from being held in low esteem by God and man. Chaos can only result from the missteps taken by now following God who knows the end from the beginning. Pain can only result from practices which are out of the bounds of Scripture and common sense. And anxiety results when the bank account is close to empty and the job situation is doubtful. This passage compares the Word of God with that which the world places value in: God, silver, precious jewels. The things in this world do not compare favorably with the things of God which brings peace, life, and happiness.
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1 Chronicles 13:2-3 What did King Saul Neglect? And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren everywhere, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul. Have you been puzzled by the life of King Saul. O yes, we observe his failures: not obeying God as instructed by the prophet Samuel and in taking a religious prerogative into his own hands which belonged exclusively to the Levites. However, this passage speaks about an issue that we don’t normally think about. The Ark, the only means of worship and sacrifice, was totally ignored during King Saul’s reign. Exactly how long King Saul’s reign lasted is open for discussion. Versions of the Old Testament based on the Masoretic Text has his reign pegged at three years and the only other Hebrew text says that it was two years. In saying this, they mean that the reign was valid until King Saul fell out of favor with God. The total years which David is referring to was much longer and again opened to interpretation: either 32 or 42 years. The point is that God’s Holy Ark was never a consideration for neither King Saul nor the Hebrew nation. His attitude seems to be like many today, which have dropped out of church and are saying, “I ought to get back into church.” If this describes you, let me share these words. “You need to seek the LORD while He may be found. Call upon Him what He is near: Let the wicked forsake his former ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7) The greatest insult is inflicted on a person when we ignore them, that is, behave like they do not exist or matter. But because God is merciful and gracious, he doesn’t react in the same manner that we would. Instead, we read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways may ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) That’s a good thing, therefore, heed God’s invitation and come back. Join us in church.
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Proverbs 29:4 ( NASB ) Divine Laws Concerning Government Part 4 The king gives stability to the land by justice, But a man who takes bribes overthrows it. When Congress receives campaign funds from special interest groups, isn’t that the same as taking bribes? Do you sense that our Republic is on a downward spiral? Both questions are rhetorical. There is nothing righteous about Special Interest Groups or Super Packs. Eventually, the govern will intercede and put a stop to it. It is difficult to accomplish this through legal and established means, therefore, the Republic may self-destruct. On the other had we read in Proverbs 29:14 (HCSB) “A king who judges the poor with fairness — his throne will be established forever.” How important is fairness? It is very important. Indeed, it is a dangerous moment when the average people making up a country perceives that the system isn’t fair – that it’s simply not working for them and people like them. Today, it is becoming fashionable to attack capitalism claiming that the distance between the wealthy and the middle class is widening. And the media is quick to exploit this perception. Unfortunately, the average person has little control over those who profit from the system. However, they can exercise power over those who rule, legislate and judge laws and when this perception of unfairness becomes excessive, not even the rule of law can preserve the government. Lastly, we read some profound words in Proverbs 29:16 (HCSB) “When the wicked increase, rebellion increases, but the righteous will see their downfall.” This passage confirms the previous passage. When people perceive that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches appear to be wicked; when the common good is no longer served; when government appears to serve only the elite; then the people will rebel. As observed in Egypt and Libya this rebellion resulted in the downfall of the establishment. Do I wish to see this occur? Not on your life. Our Constitution has been and is a blessing from God preventing the establishment from being self-serving and tyrannical. I believe you could argue from a historical perception that the normal course of government is Tyranny. However, the problem with the kind of downfall mentioned in Proverbs 26:16 is that an unrighteous, unbiblical people, void of truth is unlikely to form a righteous government bringing opportunity and justice to all. (Click here to return to subjects
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Proverbs 28:3 ( KJV ) Divine laws Concerning Government Part 3 A poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food. A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food. Prov. 28:3 ( HCSB ) I believe that the Holman’s translation does a good job of breaking this passage into small pieces of understanding. First we observe the leader who is described as being destitute. Holman’s adds a footnote which states that the destitute man is destitute because he is wicked. He is destitute lacking a righteous basis to govern. The King James calls him a poor man, not because he is impoverished, but because he is void of biblical understanding. That he is powerful in the eyes of the world is seen in that he has the ability to oppress. So we observe a wicked but powerful man, completely destitute of understanding and truth who oppresses his people. But what is the bottom line? What does this leader do? He enacts policies which hurts the public. His policies and directions are compared to a strong wind that wipes out the harvest. In our time he shuts down the construction of a pipeline which would bring the nation jobs and much needed energy. He makes it difficult for small businesses to survive by laying on them excessive rules and taxes. In turn, the public suffers. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. Prov. 28:12 ( NASB ) What do we observe? We observe a comparison between the difference of having either the righteous or wicked in power. When the righteous are in power, triumph, there is great glory. The King James Version says that the people rejoice. They are happy. But when the wicked rule, people hide. At this point we have to ask, who are the men who are hiding? And in the contextual understanding it is righteous men and women who back away. They don’t stand up for right and complain about wrong. Instead, they hide. They do not wish to make waves. (Click here to return to subjects
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Proverbs 25:4-5 ( HCSB ) Divine laws Concerning Government Part 2 Proverbs 25:4-5 Remove impurities from silver and a vessel will be produced for a silversmith. Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Who are the wicked described in this passage? I think you will agree that the passage is speaking about the leader’s advisors. A kingdom’s success is determined by the quality of the advisors surrounding the leader. The bad advice from Solomon’s successor led directly to the downfall of his kingdom and the split of the nation. Does the leader seek wise and godly men for advice or does he appoint cronies who will merely affirm his already prejudged beliefs? This is what makes a difference. Proverbs 28:2 ( KJV ) For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. HCSB translates “For the transgression” to “When a land is in rebellion.” I believe this is a better translation of the Hebrew. But how is a land in rebellion? Let me ask the question in another way. When a nation toss God out of education and the public place, legalizes the murder of the most innocent of people – the babies in the womb, whom do you think the nation is rebelling against? Do you think American is in a state of rebellion against God? Every life, every institution, every nation has a birth, life, and death cycle. But this cycle can be prolonged if, and only if, it is run by a leader who exercises good understanding and knowledge. Leader’s use to quote the Bible and seek answers from its pages. Did you ever stop to think that the Republic may soon cease to be? (Click here to return to subjects
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Proverbs 25:2 Divine Laws Concerning Government It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. We understand that God is omniscient, that is, He is all knowing. We cannot begin to fathom what it means to be all knowing. We don’t even know the questions to ask that would set us in the direction of exploring or seeking what God conceals. On the other hand God is in the business of revealing. All Scripture is revelation. This is the matter understanding leaders search. A wise leader would look into the Bible to discover the wisdom that God reveals. Refer to Deuteronomy 29:29 for more insight. Is the Bible the only place we discover truth pertaining to God? We find truth regarding God in nature. I love the mountains. I look at the mountains and I see something about ability of God to create beautiful things. On the other hand, idolaters look at the mountains and worship the mountains. When I look at sunsets, I get a glimpse of infinity because there are no two sunsets exactly alike. The same goes for cloud patterns. The cloud pattern you see now will never be exactly duplicated. To me it tells me that their Creator is infinite. Why is it important for leaders to understand the wisdom found in the Bible? Leaders make earth shaking decisions. And bad information will lead to bad decisions. For example, President invaded Iraq because he was told that Saddam Hussein was manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. This proved to be untrue. Then based on bad intelligence, the decision was made to destroy the Iraqi army – the very army which kept the radical Shiites from behaving like the Shiites in Iran. Therefore, after spending 800 billion and loosing 4500 American lives, and 100,000 Iraqi lives, we can only hope that the strong Shiite influence won’t unite Iraq and Iran into one great radical Muslim terrorist empire. Proverbs 25:3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. What are we attempting to do when we watch political debates? Aren’t we attempting to understand the candidate’s heart? But can we do that? Isn’t it true that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 I don’t know about you but I get frustrated when I vote for a person and he or she is elected then does the exact opposite of the promises made. But we shouldn’t be surprised. More to come. (Click here to return to subjects
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Ephesians 4:1-10 ( KJV ) Old Testament Saints and the Cross I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) I was compelled to explored verse eight which reads, “Wherefore he said, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” When Jesus ascended, he led a captivity captive. Who are these described as “captivity captive” and where were they held captive? It continues to say that as he ascended he gave us gifts. The passage is sufficient to puzzle the inquisitive and compel us to seek answers. A rule of scriptural interpretation is a text without a context is a pretext. And the context explains the meaning of the passage we read, “and gave gifts to men,” for the very next passage reads, “And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Remember, Jesus told the disciples during the evening prior to his crucifixion that it was necessary for him to leave so he could send the Holy Spirit which would supply supernatural help in the form of gifts to enable the church to prosper. So he gave gifts of the Spirit to individuals so that the new Christian could grow in the faith which enabled them to do the work of the ministry, and provide the church continuity through making new disciples. These, in turn, became the leaders of future generations. The text reads that Christ ascended after descending. What does that mean? Did Jesus really die? Of course this question is rhetorical. Jesus died and in dying went to the same place that all dying men went prior to Calvary, Hades, deep within the earth. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man we learned that Hades was separated into two parts: Paradise where the righteous or save waited for Jesus to accomplish the most vital sacrifice for sin. It was here that Abraham, as well as, all righteous men waited for the day that they in their glorified bodies could enter into heaven. The second part is Hell where the lost are tormented while waiting their final judgment. Another rule required in order to understand scripture instructs us to match scripture with scripture. We must look elsewhere in the Bible to find scripture which helps to explain the passage we wish to understand better. The book of Matthew sheds light on our study at Calvary, “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27:50:53) This passage clarifies that at the death of Jesus, the Old Testament saints received their resurrected bodies. Can you imagine the thrill of being in paradise as all of the Old Testament saints gathered in the presence of their Creator and Savior? Can you imagine the joy they experienced? Can you imagine the hopelessness of the lost in Hell as they observed what was happening in Paradise? Luke 16 makes it clear that those on one side were aware of what was going on the other side. Then when Christ came forth from his grave, The Old Testament saints wandered through the streets of Jerusalem talking and fellowshipping with those on earth. The wonder this brings to my mind is beyond me. Perhaps, this was preparatory to Pentecost and the following early days of the church age when faith exploded with thousands turning to Christ. Christ not only arose, but he also victoriously led his own out of Hades into eternity to be with him forever. Amen! (Click here to return to subjects)
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2 Timothy 3:16 “Our Bible” All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. I was naïve to believe that I could choose two primary verses to describe the most wonderful book of life, our Bible, God’s Word. I find that I would have to include several other passages like Psalms 12:6 and 7 which reveal the purity of God’s Word and the fact that God promised to preserve His Word from the time it was given continuing forward forever. We might wish to include Proverbs 30: 5 and 6 which reveal that the Bible’s purity includes every word written and that if we add to the text, we are liars. Jesus added that every jot or title would be around for our inspection, forever! (Matt. 5:18) The reason why this is so is found in the reality that all scripture is God breathed. For no portion of the Bible was derived by the thoughts of man. 1 Peter 1:21 (NASB) clearly says, “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” The Bible’s purpose is partly given in 2 Timothy 3:16. First it is profitable for doctrine or for teaching us the truth God wishes us to embrace. Secondly it is profitable to us by reproving us. That is, the Bible teaches us to replace bad behavior with good behavior. Thirdly, the Bible corrects our thinking. Along life’s journey we pick up beliefs and philosophies that are erroneous. Lastly, this passage prepares us by teaching us how to serve God. Hebrews 4:12 continues to expand the purpose of God’s Word by speaking about its impact on our live. In short, it impacts the immaterial part of our being (soul and spirit), it impacts the physical part of our being (joints and marrow), and it impacts our thinking (thoughts and intents of the heart). It is a double-edged sword. As it dives into our being it can have both good and bad consequences. Being convicted is a good consequence which leads to us embracing Christ and his work of salvation. The Bible is quick to speak about the bad consequences of disobedience. Many were told of their impending doom because of the wickedness they chose to embrace. Read Deuteronomy 28 which speaks about the blessings and happiness which results from obeying the scriptures and the cursing and unhappiness resulting from disobeying the scriptures. I think that most of all, taken to heart, the Bible brings us to the place where we embrace, enjoy God but also fear Him. We are like the frog who described the large shadow and the shaking of the ground when God walked by. “But weren’t you afraid?” he was asked. “O yes,” he replied, “but Oh how I loved Him.” (Click here to return to subjects)
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Jeremiah 2:13 “Thirst and Pain” For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. Because God created us as a relational people, we thirst for relationship. We not only thirst for relationship, we thirst for perfect relationship. Larry Crabb in his book, “Inside Out” points out there are three levels of these relational thirsts. There is “crucial” relationship which only Christ can satisfy. There are “critical” relationships involving family and close friends. There are “causal” relationships. In Jeremiah’s account, God complains that the Jews were looking to something or someone other than Him to satisfy this need. People who seek answers to the thirst in the wrong places are as broken as the broken cistern that cannot hold water. Christ is the only one which satisfies by meeting this crucial need. Jesus clarifies this in the New Testament by revealing that he is the source of satisfying water which will quench our thirst. The truth that we were made for relationship is seen when God saw that man was alone without a wife. Every aspect of relationship could not be supplied by having a relationship with God alone. So God rectifies this by instituting the family. These critical relationships can and do go bad as observed in the life of Cain and Abel. No one can measure the depth of pain Adam and Eve felt. The Bible doesn’t tell us. But being human, we can rest assure that Adam and Eve felt deep, deep, hurt the kind that deprives us of sleep at night and joy during the day. Larry points out that we can usually cope when casual thirst or relationships lead to disappointment. But more often than not, much of what we think of as being sin occurs because we have substituted some practice, self-centered protective measure, some toy we purchased, or sinful activity, instead of understanding the deep need we have inside. This is the meaning of changing from “Inside Out,” the title of Larry’s book. I believe Larry has a point and I strongly urge you to read the book. (Click here to return to subjects)
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What Christianity Looks Like (1 Peter 1:8) And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:8 NASB) What does Christianity look like? How does it play out in our lives, in the appearances of what others see? Is it un-Christian to be real, transparent or should we hide what is going on by placing a plastic smile on our faces? Larry Crabb speaks about these issues in his book, "Inside Out." Below are a few lines taken from the book's introduction and will give you something to chew over. "We are told sometimes explicitly but more often by example, that it’s simply not necessary to feel the impact of family tensions, frightening possibilities, or discouraging news. An inexpressible joy is available which, rather than supporting us through hard times, can actually eliminate pressure, worry, and pain from our experience. Life may haves its rough spots, but the reality of Christ’s presence and blessing can so thrill our soul that pain is virtually unfelt. It simply isn’t necessary to wrestle with internal struggle and disorder. Just trust, surrender, persevere, obey. The effect of such teaching is to blunt the painful reality of what it’s like to live as part of an imperfect, and sometimes evil, community. We learn to pretend that we fell now what we cannot feel until Heaven. But not all of us are good at playing the game. Those whose integrity makes such pretense difficult sometimes worry over their apparent lack of faith. “Why don’t I feel as happy and together as others? Something must be wrong with my spiritual life.” To make matters worse, these people of integrity often appear less mature and their lives less inviting than folks more skilled at denial. “And churches tend to reward their members who more convincingly create the illusion of intactness by parading them as examples of what every Christian should be. Beneath the surface of everyone’s life, especially the more mature, is an ache that will not go away. It can be ignored, disguised, mislabeled, or submerged by a torrent of activity, but it will not disappear. And for good reason. We were designed to enjoy a better world than this. And until that better world comes long, we will groan for what we do not have. An aching soul is evidence not of neurosis or spiritual immaturity, but of realism." (Larry Crabb, “Inside Out.”) When Bev’s mother died, ladies in her church said, “Don’t cry! Christians don’t cry!” And so Beverly didn’t cry… not once. After all she wanted to be a good Christian. But this didn’t mean that she didn’t have the need to cry. Real Christianity would say instead, “Go ahead and cry,” and then cried with her. What is needed is more empathy. What Larry Crabb says is so, so true. Listen to Paul’s next to last remark from the book of Galatians while in prison waiting the inevitable. “From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I carry the marks of Jesus.” (6:17 Holman’s) Paul didn’t say, “Say something mean so you can add to my joy.” John understood Larry Crabb when after seeing the ultimate horror’s awaiting a sin-cursed humanity said, “Even so come.” And let me remind you that Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet for good reason. Too many of us are looking for a formula that will remove the pain and suffering, but what they find instead is Christ working in our lives, often bringing or allowing suffering. Peters provides understanding. “After we suffer we will cease from sinning.” What then should a Christian look like? Larry Crabb tackles this question in his book, “Inside Out.” But I think I understand what it is. I’m going to read the book again to make sure I understand. But the Christian life is this, in spite of life’s circumstances, in spite of ship wrecks, whippings, having stoned strike our bodies, or a wayward children or heart attacks, or whatever, we so love Jesus, we are so thankful for his cross, that we are unstoppable. When we are down we get back up. And when up, we are so looking for our Savior who shall change our vile bodies that they may be like unto His own glorious body. Along the way we are going to have our car side-swiped after spending thousands to have it fixed up. We are going to lose $5000 when that new car is totaled and the insurance company gives us the Blue Book value. We have these financial things going on but we move ahead believing that somehow God is going to meet our needs. The ultimate question is this, “What does it take to stop us?” Along the way, we will feel discouraged, disappointed. Others will seem discouraged and defeated. And when this occurs, it is not our job to “see through people,” but to “see other people through.” (Click here to return to subjects)
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Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
The foundation of their work was two old and corrupt Greek manuscripts. They were corrupt in that they were held in doubt by the Christians living then. One manuscript was literally snatched from a fire. They also had an Alexander influence. Alexander does not have a good reputation for guarding truth from error. It is the source of Gnosticism, the source of biblical interpretation that is figurative instead of literal, and the source of replacement theology (God has replaced Jews with Christians.)
I could go on, but let me address why the subtle changes to our theological understanding matters.
In Psalms 11:3 we read this question, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The answer to this question is plaguing me. The answer may very well be, “Nothing!” (Click here to return to subjects)
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Matt. 13:24-26 “The Enemy Among Us” Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. Satan isn’t omnipresent. It is impossible for him to be in every single church congregation simultaneously. Instead, he sows his seed into the church’s membership. Then he leaves, knowing that these whose allegiance is with him will do his dirty work for him. Does this mean that the enemy has entered our church membership, become members of the various committees and governing bodies? Not necessarily. The text tells us that this occurs if the righteous sleeps, that is, fails to practice due diligence. This can only occur if the church accepts members who do not give evidence of salvation. But the seriousness of this can be observed in an Old Testament story involving David. When David fled Saul who wanted to kill him, six-hundred men and along with their wives and children fled with David. David was not alone. The story explains that David and the six-hundred men had to leave their families behind. And while they were away the Amalekites destroyed the city they were staying at and carted off their families as spoils of war to use as they desired. But God had their back and God told David to hunt them down and fight. God promised David that they would get their families back safely. But of the six-hundred men, two hundred were too weak to fight. Observe what occurred when the four-hundred return.
I applauded their sacrifice and courage after I read about the six-hundred who followed David. God was providing a core that would help David, then, and well into his future. The reality is observe in that within this six-hundred men also included the “wicked” and the “men of Belial” a term describing those who were sold out to Satan. It seems that sowing tares among the wheat, as he does today, isn’t a new trick but was found among the 600 who followed David. (Click here to return to subjects)
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1 Cor. 9:26-27 “Why God’s Spirit Leaves” I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. No one can function in this physical world without a physical body. It is essential. It is absolutely necessary. It is also a great liability. Using the body incorrectly by feeding its tendency to lust, or doing something contrary to Scripture, can result in God declaring that he or she is no longer “unqualified.” This came to my mind as I was reading 1 Samuel, chapter ten, concerning the anointing of Saul. Following his anointing, Samuel described whom he would meet and what he should do. Samuel told he that as he obeys, the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him, the Lord would be with him, and he would preach and become a new person – a champion. We read further that as he went the words of Samuel came true, “God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.” 1 Samuel 10:9-10 Saul begins well. But at half-time with your team ahead, does this mean that your team will win? Of course not! How many times have we seen a team come from behind and win the game. The ending, not the beginning, is what counts. And this is true for Saul as well. The Bible tells us that after Saul disobeyed God, the Spirit of God left Him. We make decisions to obey or disobey with our minds, but we carry them out with our bodies. This is why Paul said that he was concerned about being disqualified. |
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Job 1:8 “Eight principles: Suffering & Trials” Principle #1: Being perfect through faith in Christ is a start. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil. (Job 1:8) The imputed righteousness of Christ is the only reason God can declare anyone perfect. This is true whether you look forward in time to the cross and believe or you look back in time to the cross and believe. Job’s clear testimony of faith in Christ is clearly stated throughout the book of Job. He understood much about his Redeemer, the last days, and his bodily resurrection. (ref. Job 19:25) He was trusting in the Mediator who could lay His hand both on the Father and himself. (ref. Job 9:33) His life’s testimony was trusting in Christ. Taking back the control of his life now that things were going badly was not an option. Then he adds, even if my Redeemer slay me. (ref. Job 13:15) Principle 2: Trials are designed to bring more into balance our perfection with the reality of our earthly existence. But he knows the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10) Job, according to God’s own words, was an extraordinary believer. He is described as being an upright man who feared God and successfully shunned evil. But God doesn’t stop the work He begins in working in us until we reach a human perfection described, “as being conformed into the image of His Son.” (Romans 8:29) God uses the fires of human experience to accomplish this. This brings us to the third point and the real purpose behind suffering. Principle 3: Suffering makes us teachable. For God maketh my heart soft, (Job 23:16a) Chastisement softens our hearts which, in turn, makes us teachable. This is the main purpose, but not the only purpose, of chastisement. Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah when He spoke about those who have eyes who see not, and who have ears who hear not. Neither do they understand spiritual truth because their hearts are hard. (ref. Matthew 13:13-16) It stands to reason that if God is in the process of softening Job’s heart, in some way his heart must have been hard. There was something deep and troubling in Job’s life that Job wasn’t aware of. Principle 4: When taught we will discover what it is that needs changing. When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! 8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. 9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: (Job 29:7-11) When young men saw Job coming, fearing him they hid. Moreover, the princes and nobles went to great lengths to avoid speaking and making Job angry. And when people listened to Job speak, the they pronounced blessings upon Job. And when people saw Job, they gave witness to him. When I first read this I said, “No Job! You mean when the ear heard you it blessed God who gave the region a great leader. When the eye saw you, they gave witness to God who through providence, using you provided safety, economy, and organization for the area’s citizens. I believe that in desiring people to exhibit this kind of fear, to behave as if every mouth of the elite should be stopped – attributed as belonging to Christ, (ref. Rom. 3:19) amounts to worship. Sadly, after suffering for approximately one year, nothing changed. Job still desired this behavior from others bordering on worship. Job felt that his great contributions to society and his moral character was the prerequisite for worship. God thought differently. Principle 5: Restoration begins by seeking godly advice from someone truly godly. Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. (Job 34:31-32) Job had no idea that he was offending God by receiving worship which belongs to God and God alone. Job had the idea that the prerequisite to worship was doing extra-ordinary good works. God would later show him that the prerequisite for worship is doing supernatural works. A young man by the name of Elihu spoke to Job, Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad, and those who came to listen suggesting that perhaps he is being chastised. “Ask God to show you what’s wrong and stop it.” There is good evidence that Job followed Elihu’s advice because Elihu continued by paving the way for the appearance of God (Jesus) in a tornado. Principle 6: Suffering leads to teaching which brings a Word from God. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4) “Or who has shut up the sea with doors? (Job 38:8a) “And said, ‘you shall come this far but no further: Here shall your proud waved be stayed?” (Job 38:11) “Have you commanded the morning since you were born?” (Job 38:12a) In chapters 38 and 39 God reveals that mere human works cannot be compared to His supernatural works. Doing supernatural works is just one of many revealed truths providing the reasons why God and He alone is the only one deserving worship. Principle 7: Acknowledging truth is not the same as repentance. Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said: “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.” 3Then Job answered the Lord and said:4“Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer I lay my hand over my mouth. 5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer. Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” Job 40:1-5 Prize fighters are referred to as contenders. God said that Job was contending or fighting Him for something that belonged only to Him. Job is now enlightened and responds with, “Behold, I am vile.” Job is correct. But the mere recognition of wrong doing is insufficient. God demands a change in behavior. Job could be like many who make it to the altar rail and cry out for forgiveness but once in the street finds means to commit the same offense over and over again. Which brings us around to the very first point. God says, “You can save yourself. The chastisement will end and restoration begin when I see a change in your behavior." Summing up, great prayers and application of faith will not change things for the better if God is demanding change. What does God want you to change in your life? Principle 8: Nothing changes in your life’s circumstances without the appropriate changes in your behavior. Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee. No, I’m not being blasphemous! Great faith in God, His Omnipotence, His mercy, His grace will not bring and end to our suffering if the underlying reason for our suffering is chastisement God desired Job to make a permanent change in his thinking and behavior. God is saying that Job’s future is in his own hands. According to the context in chapter 40, three changes needed to occur. First, Job’s situation called for cleanliness. He’s not going to get well sitting in dirt and picking at lesions. Second, he had to set aside the burning rage that festered resulting from all the hurt which he believed to be unjustified. Indeed, Job blamed God for his suffering. “As God lives, who has deprived me of justice, and the Almighty who has made me bitter.” (Job 27:2 Holmans) In Job’s last words found in chapter 31, he examined all of his life’s work and concluded that God had no cause to do what He did to him. Third, he had to work at continually denying the pride in himself which goes to the heart and cause of Job's suffering. Click here to return to subjects)
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Micah 6:8 ( KJV ) “The Purpose for Living” He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? God purpose for us is far greater than the pursuit of happiness as we define it. We desire freedom in order to seek happiness. However, few people find it because left to ourselves we bark up the wrong tree. We miss our goal because we begin with the focus on the wrong person. We make ourselves the focus as seen in the questions, “What do I want to do with my life? Where do I want to live? If I marry, what kind of person would make me happy? How do I achieve fame and respect?” Seeking the answers to these questions will never completely satisfy and may lead to complete failure. It is not because these are “bad” pursuits. It is because we miss the point that God is the first priority! We were created to have a relationship with Him! Happiness is only found in Jesus Christ. The purpose of living is clearly defined in the passage from Micah 6:8. There are three points: We are to behave in a righteous manner; We are to embrace mercy; We are to walk in a humble manner with the Lord Jesus. Let’s examine this more closely. Following a righteous path results in happiness because we avoid the pitfalls and dangers in following unrighteous life styles. Many examples are found in the book of Proverbs one which describes the unrighteous pursuit of sexual sin with a prostitute this way, “yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way of hell, going down to the chambers of death.” (Prov. 7:26-27) And one of the many passages dealing with the reward of righteous living reads, “He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.” (Prov. 21:21) Righteous living must be accompanied by mercy found only at Calvary. Because of Jesus’ sacrificial substitutionary death we enjoy the reality we observe in Psalm 85:2&3 “You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people, You have covered all their sins. Selah. You have taken away all Your wrath: You have turned Yourself from the fierceness of Your anger.” Because our sins are forgiven we can now walk humbly with the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, and humbly it must be because we have nothing in ourselves to boast. Jesus did it all. And fellowship found in walking with Jesus is not a suggestion. It is mandated and begins with loving God. “And thou shall love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut. 6:5) We can only love someone we know. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Phil. 3:10 ) Finally, Jesus told His disciples, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” ( John 15:4 ) The biggest battles we fight on the road of faith and life is over the answer to the following questions: “Who will we believe? Whom shall we follow? Is real happiness found in Jesus, who said He is the abundant life or Satan, who Jesus described as a liar and murderer? |
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1 Peter 2:17 “Unequivocally Commanded” “Honor all men, Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King.” Certain thoughts came to me as I was reading this verse. The first is that these instructions are unequivocal. The passage doesn’t say honor men who we believe deserve honor. The passage doesn’t say love other Christians who are devoted to Christ, tithe and support the church, who show up for prayer meeting, or who do service to Jesus. The passage doesn’t put qualifications on fearing God. Nor does it demand that we respect the political leader of the country when he is a member of our party or when we are in agreement with his policies. These commandments are unequivocal. This passage teaches that all men, all Christians, our political leaders, and above all, God should be respected. In addition, our response to mankind, other believers, and our political leaders is tied directly to the commandment to “fear God.” If we fear God, respect Him reverently, we will do as He commands. We should do this when we don’t exactly feel like it. The Bible teaches that God is not a respecter of persons. He desires that no one perishes and that all come to repentance. The Bible teaches that God can turn the heart of the king and gives us the kind of government we deserve. And Christ added only a couple of new commandments, one being to love the brethren. |
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Numbers 23:19 "God Can't Lie" "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do it? or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good? The promises God made, even our greatly love and expected salvation, is guaranteed by His infinite holiness. One proof of this holiness is that God cannot lie and neither will He change His mind. The New Testament confirms this for in Titus 1:2 we read, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” In addition, observe that when God makes promises, they are fulfilled by He, Himself. "Has he said, and shall he not do it? or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" God promised to save us and He accomplished what we could not do for ourselves. Each, and every promise is something that He will accomplish. On a sheet of paper, write as many promises that God has made concerning, Christians, His Church, and the world. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Acts 26:16-18 ( NKJV ) “The Purpose of Our Ministry” But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ The purpose of ministry is the same as it was for the Apostle Paul: to open their eyes, I went to church for the first 12 years of my life, yet I didn’t have a clue about God’s saving faith found in faith embracing Jesus Christ and His Almighty work at Calvary. One afternoon, my mother sent me to a neighborhood Good New Club. The lady did an outstanding job of explaining John 3:16 in flannel graph. However, none of it registered. The Bible explains that Satan blinds the mind of lost people and that only God can open our eyes to spiritual truth. in order to turn them from darkness to light In the book of Job, Elihu revealed three ways that God reached people in order to saved their souls: Dreams and visions; Death Bed experience; Suffering, as a result of sinning. He sums up this discourse by saying, “Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man, 30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.” Job 33:29-30 What a wonderful way to describe what occurs when a person leaves the kingdom of Satan and enters the kingdom of Christ. and from the power of Satan to God, Literature tells of battles between the supernatural power of evil and the sweet power of good. Thus we have a insipid view of the battle between the supernatural power of Satan and the omnipotent power of God. The various stories usually have God or good element winning. In reality, God always win. But in these stories, a person who is captured or ensnared by Satan’s power rarely if ever escapes. Salvation is all about escaping! But we don’t escape into a vacuum. When saved we possess God who indwells us, “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power which dwells within us.” Eph. 3:20 that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ You would think that forgiveness would be a gift from God infinity more than anything we could desire. But amazingly, we become heirs of Christ’s creation – joint heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ. How is this accomplished? This is accomplished, as proclaimed by Jesus, “by faith in me.” |
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Hebrews 1:1-4 “Jesus is Better” In today’s Scripture below, you can discover eight ways that you could complete the phrase, “Jesus is better because” Take a sheet of papers and write eight lines beginning with the above phrase and then attempt to complete the answers. A link is provided enabling you to check your answers.
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had £by Himself purged £our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. |
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Proverbs 4:20-27 “Living by the Living Word.” My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. Jesus gave us the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount which included the sentence, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, For they shall be filled.” (Matt. 5:6). The passage above helps us to understand what hungering and thirsting after righteousness means. It means that we eagerly seek to hear, understand, and live by God’s words. Doing this will put us in agreement with Job who said in the midst of suffering that he, esteems the words of God’s mouth more than the food that was necessary to sustain life. We dine on God’s Word by hearing sermons, and reading, and meditating upon God’s holy Bible. The benefits are enormous, both in this world and in the world to come. It benefits us spiritually and in practical down to earth ways. Allow me to ask, Do you seek out and faithfully attend church and classes within a church where great biblical teaching occurs? After having your hearts touched through a sermon, do you fear missing a service because you might miss a word God desired for you to hear that would be beneficial to you? Do you build on the church’s faithful teachings by studying God’s Word on your own? The Bible instructs us to “Study to show thyself approved of God.”(2 Tim 2:15) And following this, do we meditate, internalize, the intent of God Word, and allow these to become core principles which are worked out through our lives? If our answers are yes to all of the above, our walk with Jesus will grow sweeter. With Jesus at our side we will guard our words carefully. We know from both Scripture and personally how difficult this is to accomplish. We will walk through life with Christ carefully, allowing the Word of God to direct us for it “is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” (Psalm 119:109) The desired path lies straight ahead. But like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress, there will be a lot of distractions along the way. The Bible says, “Do not turn to the right or the left;” Remove your foot from evil. Let’s reduce this to a few words: Hear, read, and internalize. And for direction meditate on these: mouth, eyes, and feet. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Proverbs 29;2,16 “Too Many Wicked.” Proverbs 29:2 ( KJV ) When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn. 16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases: but the righteous shall see their fall. How refreshing and timely is God’s Word. The wickedness in the political world, even here in the upstate, has pressed down on my senses. Watching our local politicians jockey for favorable constituents, those who will guarantee their continued presence in state government, and in the process divide Spartanburg County in two, is depressing. As the passage says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn.” Moreover the Bible teaches that even when it appears that there are so, so many wicked people running the show, that we should not allow depression to control us because we, the righteous, shall see their fall. 16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases: but the righteous shall see their fall. Psalm 91 speaks about a day when one deadly arrow at a time brings destruction. This arrow is a snare, a sheet metal device. In additon there are chemical, and biological agents. this event appears to be a global event because both night and day are involved. The passage provides this sure promise, "We shall escape!" Psalms 91:7-8 A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. |
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Proverbs 9:1-6 “What Wisdom Does” Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat. She has mixed her win. She has furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens. She cries out from the highest places of the city, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Come eat of my brad and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.” Proverbs, chapter nine begins by describing “Wisdom,” as a builder. In the last lesson we learned that wisdom is more than an attribute. Wisdom is the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. But how can this be in light of nine feminine pronouns used to describe the word wisdom? The answer is obtained when we discover that these nine feminine pronouns are not part of the original Hebrew. In Proverbs 9:1, the phrase, “her house” is transliterated from the Hebrew word, “bayith” which means, “house, dwelling, habitation.” It can also mean “family house.” No where do we find the word “her” in the meaning of the Hebrew word. In my opinion, the insertion of the word “her” is in error. This is true for all occurrences of feminine pronouns in our Scriptural selection. Jesus is, indeed, a builder. He has built His Church on the foundation of the Apostles. He, Himself is the chief cornerstone. He has gone away to build a place for us so that where He is we may be also. Jesus is building a permanent Heaven, a New Jerusalem, some sixteen-hundred miles cube. The city will softly settle on a brand new earth which he will also build. Those living in nations outside of this New Jerusalem will enter each Sabbath and on each new moon to worship. (ref. Isaiah 66:23 and Rev. 21:1-4) And let us not forget that Jesus is the Creator, or builder of all that exist. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for Him.” (Col. 1:16) or “All things were made through Him. And without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:3). |
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Proverbs 8:23-36 “Who Wisdom Is” The chapter begins with wisdom crying out to people. It continues by talking about the benefitsof possessing wisdom. And as we continue towards verse 23, something wonderful occurs. Wisdom becomes the person of Jesus Christ. With this in mind read the remainder of the chapter. "I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;" “Brought forth” is not a good interpretation of the Hebrew word “chuwl” which describes a powerful, active person. Jesus is the “everlasting”, which means before the “vanishing point.” In other words He was, and is, active in the creation and continuous molding of the earth. 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. 32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord; 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.” Now that you read this portion, and in view of verse 30a, would you say that I was correct or incorrect in my prior comment? Who does Christ love? (v31) Name four verbs in verses 32 through 34 which describe what we need to do in regard to Jesus: What does the lover of Jesus receive? (v35) Do you see the word “grace” in this verse? In what way, (v36) can a person sin against Jesus that wrongs his own soul? What does the passage mean, (v36b) “All those how hate me love death?” (Click here to return to subjects)
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1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV) “Suffering In The Bible Belt?” For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Someone recently remarked in my presence that they could not understand what God was doing seeing that the April and May tornado events occurred in areas where a great majority of Christians live. It is with this realization that I thought about the three priorities that God has placed on the earth. These priorities are found in Jeremiah 9:24: “..loving kindness, righteousness, and judgment in the earth, for in these things I delight says the LORD.” God desires that we live righteously so that He can rightly disperse loving kindness. But, in the absence of righteousness, His same holiness demands that He follow through with judgment. The passage makes it clear that judgment begins with God’s own. Christians don’t necessarily escape but they will survive. This same passage also reveals the horror waiting those who refuse to come to Jesus and thereby escape widespread destruction when Christ rids the world of wickedness. There is an interesting passage found in Isaiah 26:9 “With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” Righteous thinking, righteous behavior, must begin in the churches across America. |
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Psalms 19: 9b-10a “Judgment In The Earth” The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. (v10) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:” The belief in God’s providence is sorely lacking in today’s post Christian world. I’m speaking about the Providence, the colonial term for the “hand of God.” Ben Franklin said, “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire cannot rise without His aid?” And Abraham Lincoln said, “if God wills that it (the Civil War) continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’” But why would judgment which leaves 620,000 young Americans dead be desired, more valuable than Gold? Why would judgment that leaves a country broke, as in the great depression, be desirable? For that matter, would anyone deny that it is God who brought countless tornados across our country while simultaneously flooding the mighty Mississippi while simultaneously turning parts of Texas and other areas of the south west into a desert? This follows Katrina, countless wild fires, severe droughts, and floods like the one which in recent times inundated Chattanooga. How can we call this true and righteous and more to be desired than gold? One answer is found in this passage: With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:9 The night speaks about darkness. The results hint at the nature of this darkness. The civilization has forgotten the meaning of living righteously. Judgment at the hand of God is good because the end result of Providence is that the inhabitants of the land learn righteousness. God is especially interested in Christians living righteously. Satan fights this knowledge with every lie imaginable. It’s Mother Nature, not an act of God. The cause of these weather events is global warming or climate change brought on by the misuse of carbon. It is not God asking us to change, to give up our perversion, our self-centeredness, our failure to love Him and our neighbor, and to seek His forgiveness and salvation found in Jesus. But as I listen to Brian Williams (NBC) interview the survivors I hear another story. I heard survivors explaining how thankful they are that God protected them. I heard people who told of praying for protection while their world was coming apart around them and God not failing them. Other reports I’ve read on the internet confirm the same. I believe that God will use these judgments to pull believers back to Himself. And when He is finished, we will behave righteously. Our priorities will be righteous. One more thing. Abraham Lincoln was correct. There is a price to pay for the suffering society inflicts on others. The time will come when America will pay the price, in blood, for every infant they have tortured in the womb. If the blood of on one man, Abel, cried to God from the ground, what is God hearing that we can’t hear from the blood shed of millions of babies murdered in the womb. God’s judgments are good. |
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1 John 5:16-17 ( KJV ) “Sin Unto Death” If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. The following is derived from a note to Brian Grose in regard to our discussion on the above passage. Can we agree that verse 16a 16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, is probably explaining that normal sinning is not fatal? (I detest the word normal when used this way.) We are speaking about the non-habitual sins resulting from our devotion to self and our fallen nature. Can we also agree that this passage is not speaking about the unpardonable sin. The unpardonable sin, sinning against the Holy Ghost, which renders one lost. That is why there is no pardon. The unpardonable sin occurs when we is believe that the witness of the Holy Spirit about Jesus is not true even going so far as to say that the Holy Spirit’s witness is from the devil. The passage also says, “if any man see his (who?) brother.” The context makes it clear that the person who has sinned the sin of death is a believer. Okay, then what does There is a sin unto death: refer to? And I can do nothing more than look for an answer in the Bible. 1st, There are habitual sins against the our bodies, living Temples of God. “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of god dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Cor. 3;16-17) Surely habitual sins kill believers. I remember one college age man, who was sold out to Jesus until some people at work got him hooked on cocaine. He could not shake this habit. He died as a direct result of his addiction at the age of 42. 2nd, There is the rare occasion, when a person refuses to repent, that one who is sufficiently holy literally turns the believer over to Satan for the destruction of the body. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife…….. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. 5:1-5 3rd, Believers who take communion unworthily are in danger of dying. "For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drink damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." 1 Cor. 11:29-30 There are other deep biblical principles which when violated leaves the believer vulnerable to Satan. This is why we are warned that Satan seeks out believers whom he can destroy. For example, there is a passage in Proverbs 16, verse 6 “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be a peace with him.” In other words, our enemies are the wicked. Protection is guaranteed to those who please God. It is withdrawn from those who do not please God. This could lead to one being killed. It is important to live biblically and therefore please the LORD. The bottom line is this: The subject is as vast as our study as we wish to go. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Psalms 12:6-7 "Preserving Data" The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shall keep them, O LORD, thou shall preserve them from this generation for ever. Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. The Library of Congress contains more than 142 million manuscripts which includes every book printed in the United States. And as you can well imagine, great efforts are taken to protect these books from the elements like humidity, heat, and other elements which will hasten their destruction. Yet, for all of our efforts we can merely delay the day of reckoning when all that is left is a pile of dust. So how do we preserve the words written by men? You would think that the electro-magnetic age would be better. It isn’t! First, magnetic materials also deteriorate with time. More devastating is the technological pace in which the magnetic media changes. Do you remember those old eight inch magnetic disks which contains a mere few kilobytes of data? And do you suppose that the records they contained were transferred to five inch, and later three inch disks, and later to flash memory or whatever the current standard happens to be? It might surprise you to know that the ancients had the most endurable means of recording and preserving information: Clay tablets and hieroglyphics painted on walls in dry desert climates. These far exceed the ability of ink on paper and bytes on magnetic media. Perhaps none of our historical works will survive. Can this be what the prophet Isaiah met when he wrote, “For, behold, I create new heavens and new earth: and the former shall not be remember, nor come into mind.” Isaiah 65:17 What is lasting and will be found in eternity is God’s Word. (See above). National Geographic may mock the Bible. Educated man may claim that David and Solomon were, at best, minor figures in history and not the game changers claimed by the Bible. But never fear, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words (which include the entire Bible) shall not pass away.” Observe the word is “shall” not “will.” God, in giving us His Word uses the stronger of the two words to describe the future He plans for us. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Isaiah 14:9-11 (NKJV) “Destiny of the Great.” “Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet you at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the nations. They all shall speak and say to you: ‘Have you become as weak as we? Have you become like us? Your pomp is brought down to Hell, and the sound of your sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, and the worms cover you.’ They appeared in every age wielding great power, quick to make life and death decisions, and believing themselves to be both, invincible and accountable to no one. Their names are found in history books that speak of infamy: Hitler, Nero, Eichmann, Osama Bin Laden, Henry the Eight, and Stalin just to mention a few. But in death they found out that they weren’t invincible for the Bible says that all the power brokers (kings) of history rise to meet Satan, who in turn, enters hell covered with worms. “The maggot is spread under you, and the worms cover you.” (Isaiah 14:11b)
The world’s former power brokers now being the weakest of human nevertheless are horrified by what they see. In amazement they ask Satan, “Have you become weak like us?” (Is. 14:10) And this might help to explain why for the most part they hate Christians today. I believe they have not mistaken the words of Jesus, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5) also the order of things will be turned upside down. “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (Matthew 19:30) In a large part, we who now are commanded to honor the current king and pray for those in authority shall be the authority. The elite realize this more than the elect. And they resent it. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Luke 14:28 & John 6:66 “Counting The Cost”
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and count the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (Luke 14:28) “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (John 6:66)
The cost of our salvation was bore by Jesus alone. There is nothing we can do to make our salvation better. Hebrews tells us that Jesus despised the cross hating the shame. Any normal person would hate hanging naked before a gawking and jeering crowd. And having been there, I know that Jesus was not hidden high on a hill out of focus to the depraved mob who desired to gawk at every detail. It was so close up and personal that the onlooker could have easily walked up and stood within his personal space if it were not for the guards. The personal shame and the physical suffering, though I can’t fathom it, is nothing compared to having the sins of the world pour onto He that is infinite holiness. And as He became a curse for us, we in turn, received His righteousness through faith alone. After three hours Jesus cried, “Tetelestai,” that is, "It is finished!" Nothing could be added to this.
But appropriating His sacrifice requires belief that calls for repentance. Paul in his farewell address at the great preacher’s conference in Ephesus said that he went from house to house teaching “repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 10:21). Repentance calls for a change in direction. It calls for surrender that says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Cor. 6:19-20.) It is acknowledging the biblical statement which says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matt. 6:24)
I don’t remember the message. I do remember trembling through the entire sermon. And the thing I had so successfully avoided so many times before was now happening. I was marching down the church isle to stand at the front and offer myself as a living sacrifice. From that moment on my life would be different. No longer would I live for myself. No longer would I pursue happiness in the world. From that moment forward, I began to live for Jesus. Harmless pursuits and hobbies were given up for ministry. But looking back, I found serving Jesus Christ so much more fun than any hobby. The only thing that I would have changed is that I would have surrender to my Savior at an younger age.
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1 Tim. 6:12 "The Good Fight of Faith"
“Fight the good fight of faith.”
Biblical Christianity is not the Christianity that most church attendees sign up for. Biblical Christian is war! The fight of faith is a struggle that requires focus. Jesus gave us His Great Commission saying that we were to make disciples. Paul wrote to Timothy explaining what this meant, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim. 2:2) This is not a task for the faint-hearted as Paul continues “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Tim. 2:3-4).
In order to please Christ we must fight the good fight of faith. This means disengaging our selves from the attractions of the world. Instead, I see Christians purposefully engaging themselves with the attractions of the world. And by this I don’t mean that they are seeking contacts in this world in order to be the witness for Christ. “….and you shall be witnesses unto me..” (Acts 1:8)
A soldier preparing to be used by the military necessitates being disengaged from normal societal pursuits. Basic training separates the warrior from his or her family. Hardship, for the soldier, means loosing a good deal of freedom. He or she is at any moment may be snatch away and placed in battle. This is hardship! Why should it be any less for the Christian?
Paul reminds us that battle hardship often requires dying. “This is a faithful saying: For if we die with Him, We shall also live with Him.” (2 Tim. 2:11) Living with Him is one reward; another is, “If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.” (2 Tim. 2:12) Paul suffered immensely at the hands of people who hate Christ and His gospel.
Fighting the good fight of faith often means contending for the faith as
declared by Jude.
The faith delivered to the Nicene Fathers is being attacked. One professor from an elite seminary, wrote me in an email regarding the “church age theory” found in Christ’s letters to the seven churches, said, “I don’t know anyone who believes that church age theory anymore.” And when archeological discoveries are made which confirm the Bible, skeptical archaeologist are quick to place their spin on the discovery with the aim of removing the victory by placing doubt on the interpretation given to the discovery. Skeptics say that David never existed. And when they discover archaeological confirmation they say, “David wasn’t a key player in history.” It will be interesting to see their unholy spin now that David’s majestic palace has been unearthed which disproves the minimalist theory. Nevertheless, contending for the faith once delivered to our fathers is another part of the warfare.
Are we in the battle or are you actually lending support to the opposition? Are we contributing to the solution or are we part of the problem. (Click here to return to subjects)
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2 Corinthians 6:14-16 ( NKJV ) “Unholy Blending”
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?”
Some things which we attempt to pursue are just incompatible. They have no real connection with each other. This passage provides examples: light and darkness; Christ and Satan; believers with unbelievers; and that which is holy with that which is not holy. And yet, this is exactly what I observe occurring in Christianity today.
One person revealed in their face book profile that they love church and teaching Sunday School. But one of their favorite television shows is two and one-half men. This show is vulgar, no vile. We see this in the manner in the way women and sexuality are presented. Another face book profile of a prominent Christian states that one of his favorite shows is “House.” This medical drama is wrapped in wall to wall lasciviousness coupled with an appealing story of medical mystery and emotional life and death issues. Oh, I almost forgot, Doctor House, the hero, is a drug user. The administrative head of the hospital is a physician chosen for her well-endowed body which is emphasized by the clever use of camera techniques.
We are led to believe that education and professional accomplishments does not restrain our filthy mouths, and sexual practices. By continuing to view a show like this, we are telling our children and ourselves that these things are okay. The problem arises from our human nature which seeks to internalize these filthy views and without realizing it, we are attempting to blend faith with the perversions found in the world. In reality the blending of world and faith doesn’t work. Before long the worldly attitudes and philosophies prevail. These have forgotten or never taken serious the truth a “Little leaven, leavens the entire lump.” (1st Cor. 5:6)
The church will not be salt and light and its prayers will not be filled with power, until there is genuine repentance. Again, we read “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump.” (1 Cor. 5:7) If and when this occurs, only then shall we know the power in which the forces of hell will not prevail against. Are we part of the solution or are we part of the problem? (Click here to return to subjects)
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(Nahum 1:7) “When Trouble Comes.”
“The LORD is good and a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”
The Bible emphatically teaches that the LORD is good. He is good because He continues to meet the needs of those who trust Him – who have placed their faith in Him and who live in obedience to Him. And He provides this hope in the day of trouble.
While writing this, Texas is burning, burning in a way that’s goes beyond the memories of their elderly. It describes theses fires in hundreds, even thousands of square miles, not thousands of acres. Surely for those living in Texas this is a day of trouble.
I spent part of yesterday compiling the statistics on national disasters covering 1950 through 2010. During the first decade of the current century America suffered 13,865 confirmed tornadoes. Surely these were days of trouble for someone. The statistics for 2010 was horrifying and they didn't include the Gulf oil spill. Surely these were and remain days of trouble for many. Recorded over the first decade are a host of floods, droughts, wild fires and tornadoes. The amount of damage in billions and the number of deaths is staggering. Yet, the LORD is good.
Not only is He good because He keeps His eye on those who trust Him, who have made him LORD of their lives, who offer their bodies as living sacrifices. He is good because He rewards wickedness with these very disasters. Bear with me because our passage is found in this context.
The context proclaims that the LORD is good because doesn’t get angry easily. “The LORD is slow to anger,” While Christians attempt to blend righteousness with worldliness, and the heathen promote a society that void of God, God sits back and watches. Both become affluent, if not rich, and conclude that either God doesn’t care about their behavior or that He doesn’t exist. What matters to them is the wicked lifestyle they embrace. They mistake God’s slow response with license. This is a big mistake for God says, “I will not at all acquit the wicked.” And finally he brings tornadoes, “the LORD has His way in whirlwind and in storm,” He brings droughts drying up streams, rivers, and lakes.
I can remember a few years when the Brandywine Creek in Wilmington, Delaware ceased to exist to the point where one step was all it took to cross the small trickle of water left to the other side. This is the same forceful river that was used to start DuPont’s black powder business which was the foundation of their wealth. The same year, every feeder stream in Fair Hill State Park, consisting of 8000 acres, dried up. Such is the nature of droughts.
God continues, . “ 5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.”
During 2003 3700 homes were destroyed by wildfires in California. In 2006 wildfires appeared in 29 states. During that same year, six states in the Northeast suffered extreme flooding. The following year another 3000 western state homes were destroyed by fire. These are clearly days of trouble. The mountains quaking, mudslides, rocks crumbling, are other signs of God displeasure with our sinfulness. Oh, but we don’t call these acts of God anymore. We refer to these as bizarre acts by Mother Nature, or attribute these to global warming.
God tells us to look to Him. He is the cause… or perhaps not really the cause. We are the cause. And God declares that He is good because He brings suffering to the wicked and at the same time remembers the righteous. This does not suggest that the believer is immune or is spared. An area drought affects the righteous and unrighteous farmers alike. But the passage does speak about survival and recovery.
If there is any time when it is prudent to walk with Christ it is now. The LORD is indeed a stronghold to the faithful. I believe this. I’ve seen this. Are you among the faithful? (Click here to return to subjects)
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“Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”
We are instructed in the Lord’s Prayer to remember the holiness of God’s name. Our meditation leaves us to understand that our Lord’s holiness is just as infinite as is His attributes of Omnipotence or Omniscience. To be holy knows no limits. God isn’t calling us to embrace a holiness that is less than His. God is calling for us to embrace the same kind of holiness that He enjoys. And this is the great wonder of salvation. Jesus received our iniquity and sins, I believe in the Garden of Gethsemane, and carried them to the cross where he received the punishment we deserved. We who embrace Jesus through faith, trust, love, and thankfulness receive His righteousness. This imputed righteousness renders us holy as Jesus is holy.
The positional concept of holiness is a wonderful gift in which we give thanks to God. But this gift of holiness is to be matched by holy living. Referencing Leviticus 11:44 Peter wrote “Be ye holy for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).
Can I say without making someone mad that I believe that most Christians have little if no concern about living a holy life. Our concern lies with being saved without the commitment. We seek forgiveness for daily sins by confessing our sins. But living holy lives? No! I don't believe too many are looking to embrace holiness. But if were to embrace holiness, what would holy living look like?
Practical Holy Living:
Holiness begins by striving to be like Jesus. It grows as we internalize God’s Word. Along the way we learn to hate what Christ hates and love what Christ loves. In Jeremiah chapter nine we are told to take our focus off the drivers of this world: wealth, worldly knowledge, and power. We are to fill this vacuum created by rejecting the world’s drivers by knowing Christ and understanding and searching what He loves: Judgment, loving kindness, and righteousness. Jeremiah 9:23-24 ( KJV ) 23Thus says the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24But let him that glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD.
Obedience at this juncture will place us on the road leading to holiness.
A holy man is a man who delights in the precepts found in the Bible and rejects every false philosophy. Psalms 119:128 (KJV) 1 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
He delights in being in the presence of the Lord, as well as, reading and understanding God’s Word. The words Paul wrote, “I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” (Rom. 7:22) becomes a reality in his own experiences.
A holy man’s mind is bent on doing God’s will. Furthermore, he will strive to even think like his Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, of vengeance, like Christ he will offer forgiveness. Instead of anger he will endeavor to walk in love as Christ walked in love. He will not seek the praises of men remembering that Christ made Himself of lowly reputation.
A holy man will expect nothing more than suffering remembering the words
written by Peter,
A holy person will seek to control his body, his tongue, his mind, his attitude. He will choose self-denial. He will seek to be meek, patient, gentle, and kind. He will strive to crucify the deeds of the flesh, to curb his passions, to restrain his carnal desires. He will not abuse his body with drugs. And he will remember that when a man of God falls greatly, that it isn’t just he that is disgraced. His very Lord and Savior, let alone his family and church is also disgraced.
A holy man cares deeply about the “Great Commission” and seeks to carry this with him into his daily walk with lost men.
A holy man has purity in heart. He is not crafty or deceitful. And when it comes to business, he will remember that everything he does is spiritual and must be done as unto the Lord. That slothfulness is condemned in the Bible as unfitting for believers “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord:” (Col. 3:23) and “Not slothful in business.” (Rom. 12;11) This means that when hired to complete a task, it must be done as if he was doing it for Jesus. The goal is perfection. Nothing less will do.
A holy man makes the perfect spouse. When the Bible says that the virtuous woman will never bring shame to the husband and he will reap nothing but good all the days of his life, the same is true for the woman married to a holy man. A holy man remembers that God hates to see a middle age man divorces the wife of his youth for someone younger. We read of this in Malachi 2:13-16. “And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. 14 Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. 16 “For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” A holy man is not constrained by this passage. A holy man hates this very thing because he is truly holy. There is so much more to striving to be holy. I regret that I have not exhausted the concepts and revealed truth that undergirds this topic. I can see an entire book, no, volumes of books covering this subject. Holiness does take on the nature of the One who give the term “holy” meaning. But perhaps I’ve given someone something to think and pray about.
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Hebrews 11:6; 12:2; "Faith's Basics" Faith is believing that God is and demonstrating this belief by our actions. To fail at this is the most grievous of sins leaving us in a position where it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 ( NASB ) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. The King James version rightly adds “those who diligently seek him. Faith is not a casual pursuit. The author of our faith and the object of our faith is one and the same. Hebrews 12:2 ( KJV ) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Faith’s focus is Jesus Christ. Faith calls for trusting in Christ which begins by trusting him to saved you which is His right having bore our punishment for being sinful. Faith continues as we trust in Christ to meet every need in our lives. It’s the kind of faith we demonstrate when we enter an airliner. We trust the physics, we trust the mechanics, and we trust the pilot and staff. We rely on them getting us to the correct designation. This is what we do when we give our lives to Jesus Christ. How does one initially get exposed to faith? “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith comes when we hear the word, “Logos” of God or the words of Christ. In John 1:1, Jesus is the Word, “Logos.” Biblical faith has a purpose: God calls for obedience. Many times in the gospels, we are told to believe Jesus. We are told to believe on Jesus. Jesus refers to this as obeying his words. He often chides believers and unbelievers for their unbelief. Obedience is rewarded bringing power, blessing, further directions and guidance, and provision. We begin this journey trusting and, in turn, receive guidance. Sometimes it is providential. God is in control. More often than not, in a manner which is not unusual, we hear the Word (Rhema) which meets us at some circumstance in our lives. Have you ever heard a message that spoke to your need, gave you courage when you needed courage, been a blessing when you needed a blessing? Has God ever told you through some specific word – a preacher, friend, book, or something in your hearing that said in effect, “Don’t worry. It’s going to be okay?” If that has not occurred, you need to seek out someone who can help you spiritually. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Luke 17:1-10 ( NASB ) "Increase Our Faith." He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4“And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” 5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you. 7“But which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8“But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9“He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” 5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” I believe that the gospels record only two request that the apostles made of Jesus: “Teach us to pray,” and “increase our faith.” First, exactly what was the context which prompted the apostles request? And in this context, which may include chapter 16, Jesus taught about the harshness of hell, the harshness of the criminal penalty for abusing children, and the difficulty of forgiving someone, even though they may have harmed you in some manner multitude of times. These are the kind of issues that would prompt any thinking person to ask for more faith. It takes great faith to handle these issues. Jesus first answers their request with an illustration, secondly, with a teaching. Let’s examine the illustration. In this illustration Jesus compares faith with the size of a mustard seed. Some Holman’s translation uses the word “size” and the NASB translation uses the word “like.” Jesus must be referring to the size, which is very small, since there is no other attributes of the seed which fits. The object lesson is clear. The disciples may have sufficient faith to be saved, but their faith was smaller than the seed produced by a mustard plant. This is made clear by the five times that Jesus rebuked them for having too little faith. In the sermon of the mount, they worried about food, clothing, and shelter – the necessities of life. (Matthew 6:30 & Luke 12:28). While Jesus slept the shipped was tossed around by the angry winds. Their fears betrayed them. (Matthew 8:26) Did they not know that the Creator of the universe was with them? When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink into the water, Jesus saved him from drowning rebuking him for having little faith. (Matthew 14:31) Jesus had to rebuke them after warning them about the leaven of the Sadducees. Their small faith led them to think that Jesus was talking about table bread. (Matthew 16:8) In these illustrations I perceive a common thread. The scripture is clear on this matter of faith. Faith comes by hearing, understanding, and embracing the Word of God as the undeniable and unalterable truth it is. Therefore, if greater faith is required, and this faith is found in the Word of God, how is it acquired? Let’s continue with Luke 17, beginning in verse seven. “But which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8“But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; From this I perceive that faith comes to someone who is willing to go the extra mile. It belongs to someone who does more than expected. Faith must be exercised! Look at this example from the life of Hudson Taylor: When Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary, first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of some cannibal’s islands the ship was becalmed and it was slowly drifting shoreward unable to move. The savages were eagerly anticipating a feast. The captain came to Mr. Taylor and besought him to pray for the help of God. “I will,” said Taylor. “provided you set your sails to catch the breeze.” The captain declined to make himself a laughing stock by unfurling in a dead calm. Taylor said. “I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails.” The captain agreed to Taylor’s request. While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at the door of his stateroom. “Who is there?” The captain’s voice responded. “Are you still praying for wind?” “Yes.” “Well,” said the captain. “you’d better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can manage.” The kind of faith the Bible demands is what we refer to as “Stepping out when conventional wisdom would say, “Don’t!” Faith is exercised by hearing from God, knowing what is right, and doing it while not seeing any resource other than God in performing it. Waiting for the wind, waiting until we have the money, is not biblical faith. Yet, this kind of faith is tightly connected with receiving the Word and therefore greater faith. And who receives more of the Word? It is the unprofitable servant who does more than expected. He or she works all the day in the field and then waits again on their master. Then, finally, they are able to sit down and eat. In this case eating implies fellowshipping with the living Word. Let me share with you the words of David Wilkerson: If you want increased faith, you have to do the same thing Jesus told his disciples to do in this passage. How did he answer their request for faith? “Gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken” (17:8). Jesus was saying, in essence, “Put on your garment of patience. Then come to my table and sup with me. I want you to feed me there. You happily labor for me all day long. Now I want you to commune with me. Sit down with me, open your heart, and learn of me.” (Click here to return to subjects)
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Judges 7:24-25 ( HCSB ) “Gideon Continues The War.” Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim with this message: “Come down to intercept the Midianites and take control of the watercourses ahead of them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim£ were called out, and they took control of the watercourses as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan. 25They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb, while they were pursuing the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan. Gideon won the initial battle against the Midianites with a mere 300 men as God directed. But winning one battle does not achieve a lasting victory. A lasting victory required driving the Midianites out of the area and depriving them water from the Jordan river. In order to accomplish this he sought the help of the proud tribe of Ephraim who, in turn, captured two important Midianite princes, Oreb and Zeeb, and beheaded them. This was a significant achievement. However, the leaders from the tribe of Ephraim were insulted that they were not included in the original battle and let their displeasure known beginning in chapter eight. Judges 8:1 ( HCSB ) The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?” And they argued with him violently. Gideon was wise to exclude Ephraim from the original battle. Ephraim was second only to Judah in size. Their conventional wisdom taught that when it came to warfare all that mattered was size and power. Gideon’s army of 300 would have seem silly to them. Gideon might have been tempted to reason with his brothers, pointing out that it was God who limited them to 300 men and that Ephraim’s logic would have thwarted God’s plan. Instead, Gideon spoke softly, commending them for their great accomplishment of capturing the two most important Midianite princes. The Bible declares that this soft answer satisfied the people of Ephraim who now continued to assist Gideon by pursuing the Midianites. Judges 8:2-3 ( HCSB ) So he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage£ of Abiezer? 3God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he said this, their anger against him subsided. The result of these actions and the pursuits that continued resulted in 40 years of peace, prosperity, and freedom. Read the rest of the story in Judges, chapter eight. (Click here to return to subjects)
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2 Samuel 23:1-4 "Tyranny" Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. In his last spoken words, David provides the pre-requisite for those who rule without inducing tyranny during their reign. "He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." Sadly, the legislatives halls, the seats of judgment, and the executive offices seem to be totally void of God fearing statesmen. And without fear, tyranny raises its ugly head and is the only result we can expect. Politicians pushing through unpopular, expensive laws which raise the national debt to 14 trillion dollars is tyranny. And it is tyranny when a single judge in California abuses his power to supersedes the will of seven million voters because their wishes doesn’t jive with his homosexual leanings. It’s time to pray. (Click here to return to subjects)
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2 Timothy 3:1-2 "Perilous Times, continued" This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection…. I’m glad I live in the upstate. If what I observe in my church is true for the area, than we are far better off when it comes to children obeying their parents than others places I have lived. But generally speaking, we observe behaviors today unknown when I was growing up – even in unsaved homes. By this I’ve observed children who have absolutely no respect for their parents. I heard complaints by parents whose daughter walks into the house wearing head phones on, ignores them, and then march into her room slamming the door, daring the them to enter. Unthankful: I’ve heard children say upon receiving a gift, “Is that all?” We were taught to say thank you even if we didn’t like the gift. Years ago families didn’t have much discretionary money. Lawn chairs were obtained with the S & H green stamps pasted in a book and redeemed at a S & H Stamp Center. In more recent times this has changed. But the way people ignore God and His church reveals evidence of being unthankful. Folks who claim to know Christ, are too busy to come to church on Wednesdays or Sunday Evenings. In New Castle County, Delaware, I couldn’t find one Baptist church open on Sunday evenings. What a difference a decade made. What a statement we’ve made concerning our thankfulness to God who gave these things to us. Is it any wonder that our economy and nation is suffering today? When sin seems to reign in the hearts of people; When a society’s values are on a slide downward; the Bible provides the answer in Romans, Chapter one: “Because they knew not God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful.” Unholy:,
This ungodliness is observed when someone breaks into a church and tears up the pulpit Bible. I’ve observed the unholydeeds by someone throwing a fire cracker into the door of a country church during service. I once worked with a man who stole gas from church buses Without natural affection: My mom and dad loved my brother and I. They not only sought to protect us but tried to keep us innocent, even unaware of wickedness. Today, we constantly observed news about parent child abuse. “Mother drowns her two son in a car, sliding it into a lake.” A father strangles two daughters with a rope fearing his ex-wife will take them back to Japan. Of all things, one Ophra show was about a father fathering 13 children with three daughters with his wife laying beside him. Help us! And the fastest growing abuse is the abuse heaped on parents by their children. Movie star Mickey Rooney testified before Congress about the abuse he received from his children. And a breaking story recently featured the concentration camp like death fostered on parents by their children. The good news is this. All of these are to occur during the last days. Christ will return us to nor (Click here to return to subjects).
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2 Timothy 3 "Perilous Times: Part 2" This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers…. Boasting: The biblical concept of boasting goes way beyond a person merely taking pride in his or her accomplishments. Boasting centers around the abusive arrogance when the boaster gives the impression that he or she wields great power. They will say, “I make things happen!” or “When I show up, people jump!” This person will seek to support this impression through their swagger and possessions he or she shows up in. Why else would someone want a watch which cost $3,000 or more when you can purchase a knock-off for $100 or less? Most people can’t tell the difference and it tells time just as well. Oh, again, it’s not about time. Pride: Arrogance, is the common denominator embraced by the proud. Excessive pride, I use these word lightly because a little pride in the eyes of God is just as wicked as excessive pride, is observe in leaders who wield power to their gain and to the hurt of those they claim to serve: They push expensive programs on its citizens which the country can’t afford. They shut down government because they believe their agenda to be the only way. They authorize activities, like Water Gate, because they believe they are above the law; or that the law should be broken because the end justifies the means. Pride also has a more subtle side. In Leigh DeMoss’s book, Brokenness: “The Heart God Revives,” she listed some of the characteristics of proud people: Proud people focus on the failures of others. Proud people are self-righteous and look down on others. Proud people have a critical spirit. Proud people have to prove that they are right. Proud people desire to be served. Proud people desire self-advancement. Proud people have a drive to be recognized and appreciated. Proud people feel confident in how much they know. Proud people are concerned about the consequences of their sin. Proud people compare themselves to others. Proud people don’t think they need revival but everyone else does. The proud person is the person who prays like the publican who thanked God he wasn’t like those others who shut down governments, lay heavy laws and debt on its citizens or the business man who cheats his customer. The broken, not the humble, but the broken is the person who prays, “Woe is me, Father. I’m still a sinner. I see clearly that my attitudes falls short of your righteousness. Forgive me! Help be more like Jesus.” See this link for more: http://crockerchronicle.blogspot.com/2006/05/proud-people-vs-broken-people.html Blasphemers: Blasphemy is any statement, thought, written or verbal about God that is less than revealed truth. Blasphemy can be excised emphatically and it can be exercised in ignorance. Taking the name of Jesus in vain is a form of blasphemy because the vanity or emptiness represented is the antithesis of the character and person of the Lord Jesus Christ. I had the privilege of being acquainted with a missionary who ministered to the Chinese following World War II, was kicked out in the 1960s by the Communists, and continued ministering to the Chinese by teaching English to Chinese immigrants. She said that the very first words revealing a beginning of the knowledge of the English language was that without exception they would take the name of our Lord Jesus in vain. By nature we are blasphemous. But during the last days, it would be far worst. By the way, following the normalizing of relationships by President Nixon’s administration, well in her late 80s, she returned to China. More to come. (Click here to return to subjects)
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2 Timothy 3 "Perilous Times - Covetous"
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, We live in a time when people have fallen head and heels in love with themselves. The concept of what is the common good for family, society, and nation has been replaced with selfish desires and selfish pursuits. Marriages are falling apart because partners take no responsibility towards meeting the physical and emotion needs of their spouses, and therefore their spouses look elsewhere for fulfillment. Jeremiah 9:23 mentions three primes areas we apply covetousness: money (wealth and things money buys), power, and knowledge. And by knowledge I don’t mean the kind we need to survive. The knowledge the Bible is referring to is the knowledge that lets us climb the ladder of success. It is the mother lode leading to the maximum benefit derived from covetousness. My baby brother personified what it meant to be a Christian living without covetousness. He considered money as a vehicle to helping others. He chose to live with less so that he had funds to share with friends and family. His funeral was an eye opener. I suppose that when we think of covetousness we think of major ticket items like expensive cars, boats, etc. But the truth is Covetousness knows no economic boundary. Covetousness affects the poor. Years ago, taking a short cut home through the city of Camden, New Jersey, I would passage a group of row homes. One day, a brand new aluminum door appeared on one of the homes. It shined in contrast to the doors on the other houses. The people living on this street were the poorest of poor. Yet, in short order, the entire street displayed brand new aluminum doors. This, again, was proof that covetousness knows no economic boundaries. I can remember one neighborhood I lived in when younger. This was a time when people had a lot less discretionary money. One neighbor showed up using a Scotch Lawn Spreader. Soon the entire neighborhood found the means of purchasing Scotch Lawn Spreaders. Man calls this, “keeping up with the Jones.” God refers to this as covetousness and in another passage equates covetousness with idolatry. Unfortunately, our economy feeds on this traits. And without it, our economy would collapse. - More to Come - (Click here to return to subjects)
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Romans 11:36 - 12:6a ( NKJV ) "God's Return On His Investment' For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: In the brevity of the phrase, For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, God lays out the principle of what it means to receive a “return on investment” or “ROI“ “All things” means everything. God is the first cause of everything, visible and invisible (Col. 1:16). Nothing that exist can be explain by any other means than God. Through God, the universe, all of it, can be discovered and enjoyed by humans. Much of it is useful and makes human existence possible and often enjoyable. In return for these blessings, God seeks a return on His investment. This is observed in the words, “to whom be glory, forever.” (Rom. 11:36). And how does God receive Glory from believers? God receives glory when those who are His agree with Him that it is a reasonable request and, in turn, offers their bodies as a living sacrifice. (Rom. 12:1) And how are we to accomplish this feat of offering our body as a living sacrifice? First, we need a renewing of the mind which occurs when we study and apply the teachings found in the Bible. The Bible points the way to understanding, who God is, His purposes, and ways. (Rom. 12:2) Each time we learn truth from the Bible, it causes us to evaluate ourselves in the light of it’s teaching. This, in turn, encourages us to make adjustments to our behavior, bringing our lives in conformance with the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 12:3). Finally, a sacrificial life will always join with the mission of the local church in which the gifts provided by the Holy Spirit bring glory to God or a return on His investment as they assist in fulfilling the Great Commission, bring light and salt to a fallen world, and further reveals the blessings of obeying Christ, that is, we testify to being His friend. (Rom. 12:4-6a) (Click here to return to subjects)
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2 Corinthians 5:17-21 ( NKJV ) "A New Life Through Reconciliation" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The average Christian probably believes the reason that Jesus died, suffered, and bore the wrath of His Father, in our behalf was so we could die and go to heaven. We have missed the point, if this is the sum total of what we believe. The purpose of salvation is reconciliation now, as well as, forever. The cross enables God to restore the kind of fellowship He enjoyed with Adam prior to Adam’s fall. The nature of this fellowship was seen when Christ came down and spoke with Adam during the cool of the day. I can’t help but wonder what they talked about? How sweet it must have been. Adam enjoyed this privilege because he, at this point, was free from sin. And being free from sin meant that he was righteous, thus holy. That righteousness, and therefore holiness, can be regained is observed in these words, 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This passage speaks of the great exchange. Christ takes upon Himself our unrighteousness and, in turn, gives us His righteousness. Imputed righteousness makes us holy and restores the possibility of fellowship. And what is the nature of this fellowship? It is to walk and talk with a loving, but holy, heavenly Father. It is too hear Him speak explicitly to our needs, concerns, fears, and desires. It is to hear and understand doctrine, rebuke, correction, and instruction. Augustine tells how in a distraught condition he “heard from a neighboring house a voice, as of boy or girl, I know not, chanting, and oft repeating, ‘Take up and read. Take up and read.’” He could remember no child’s game with these words. In tears, “I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God, to open the book and read the first chapter I should find.” He opened to verses that addressed his exact condition (Romans 13:13-14), which was immediately transformed. In Henry Blackaby’s book, ‘Experiencing God’ he reveals in the fourth reality how God the Holy Spirit speaks through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways. This is only possibly because of Christ’s work of reconciliation.. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Genesis 12: 1-4 "Promises to Abram"Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. At the age of seventy-five, Abraham was told to leave his comfort zone. It wasn’t until he left that comfort zone that he was fruitful. When God moves us in a major way, there is almost always a story. Josephus, a first century historian, in his book, “The Antiquity of the Jews,” expressed the oral belief of his day that Abraham through observation came to the conclusion that there was one God, not many gods. Polytheistic was the common opinion at that time. Abraham observed the precise motion of the sun, moon, and stars. He noted the benefits in time measurement, agricultural seasons, and concluded that there must be one God who controls these precise movements which provides these benefits. Because he was vocal about this “one God” belief, the Chaldeans rose up against him and threatened him leaving no choice but for him to leave and live in Canaan. Josephus gives God the credit for this knowledge and commandment which answered the question, “What should he do?” Is this true? I don’t know. Many of the background stories told by Josephus, who by the way, was Nicodemus’ brother, are plausible and backs up the Bible with precision concerning Jesus’ teachings on hell, the resurrection, judgment, the Lake of Fire, etc. Regardless, when God moves in our lives, and calls for major relocation, He does so for our good. No doubt there is more potential for fruit bearing following obedience to His will than prior to it. Abide in Jesus. Great things are in store for you (Click here to return to subjects)
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Joshua 1:8 ( NKJV ) “Exercise on Joshua 1:8” This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Open a second Browser Window and insert the following URL into the Browser area. http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/but-you-shall-meditate-mark-schaeufele-sermon-on-bible-study-43770.asp
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2 Corinthians 3:12-18 ( NASB ) "Moses' Veil" Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. 14But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains fixated, because it is removed in Christ. 15But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Moses’ relationship with God was so remarkable that a glimpse of God’s glory reflected from his face. You would rightly conclude that this was a great experience. But as the glow slowly faded away, those surrounding Moses falsely concluded that God, with His blessing, was leaving also. For this reason Moses countered this by wearing a covering over his face. This covering also represented the hardness of the Israelites heart. The Passover and the sacrifices spoke of the work God’s Son would accomplish at Calvary. But because of their hardness of heart, they failed to understand. They failed to see Jesus as the One who would fulfill the promise represented by these events and sacrifices. And without Christ it’s impossible to understand the Bible – now, as well as, then. When they turned to Jesus, as some did, the veil that clouded their understanding was taken away. The advantage of understanding the written Word which brings relationship with the living Word is two-folded: First, we are able to see the Glory of God as he reveals Himself to us in Scripture. Second, we slowly become more like Him as He applies the Word we ingest. (Click here to return to subjects)
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For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Answer theses questions: What three areas of the human person does the Word of God impact?
What are the three characteristics attributed to the Word of God?
You are correct if you said that the Word of God can impact the invisible, the physical, and mental parts of our being. It's ability to impact the invisible is observed in that it impacts the soul and the spirit. These two parts of our being are very real. The soul has the same attributes as our physical body as observed by the rich man's experience when he asked Abraham for a drop of water to cool his soul's tongue. The spirit is that which gives life to our being. It analogous to the air in a basket ball. Try to dribble a ball lacking air. The human experience is significantly lacking until the spirit part of us is filled with the Holy Spirit. The joints and marrow refer to the physical parts of man. We are told that obeying the Word of God brings life and disobeying the Word of God can result in misery, even death. And discerning the thoughts and desires of the heart deal with what we are thinking about and dwelling upon. The three characteristics attributed to the Word of God are: it is living, it is powerful, and it is sharp. The Word of God lives because the written Word is given by the Living Word - Jesus. Only that which lives can impart life. God's Word, as applied by the Holy Spirit, accomplishes this in an individual's life. It is powerful because of its connection to He who is omnipotent. It is sharp because it connects to He who is omniscient. When God applies His Word, it is difficult to shake off. It always gets to the heart of the matter. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Hebrews 13:8-15 ( NKJV ) “The Stability We Seek.” Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. 10We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. The recent elections reflected the fears of many that our country is extremely broken. We long for someone to fix our country and our economy. And some people do believe that the economy is improving. “After all,” they argue, “the stock market is climbing.” But is the economy improving? How can you say the economy is improving when gasoline is over three dollars per gallon and heading back toward four dollars per gallon or higher? How can you say the economy is improving when interest on savings is measured in tenths of a percent and one year certificate on deposit yield lest than one percent? How can you say the economy is improving when your prescription cost have risen forty percent over last year? In a recent a News Week magazine is a picture of our president with six arms, standing on one leg attempting to balance the demands made by the military, the national economy, the massive debt our inept representatives have placed on our heads, peace demands, and banking problems involving mortgage defaults just to mention a few. Printed across his image are the words in caps, “GOD OF ALL THINGS.” The story inside claims that the demand placed on any one man is greater than his ability to deliver. No doubt they are correct. Sean Hannity has recently painted a bleak picture of business inside the West Wing pointing out the frustrations that drive people to leave government service. Meanwhile, one recent publication, entitled “The American Bubble Crisis” predicts the last bubble to burst is our entire American economy. What is going on in America? Why can’t Christians see that the hand of God’s blessing is gone. In this regard Chuck Colson recently wrote the following:
Look in the mirror. The Church, the bride of Christ, has been unfaithful. WE are at fault. We-collectively and individually-have chased after every idol the world has to offer. We have tried so hard to be relevant that we've become almost completely irrelevant. We offer no other way, there is nothing distinctive about us.
We have not been what Jesus called us to be: Salt and light. We have blended in with the world so well that we are practically invisible. That's why so few nonbelievers can see what Paul wrote about in Colossians: "the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
The drastic changes in our country could leave us greatly depressed if it weren’t for the words in Hebrews 13:14 which reminds us that “for HERE we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” We long for stability! We long for fiscal and political sanity. We long for success as we pursue happiness. But we find none and should expect to find none – at least not in this life. Where do we find stability? We find stability in Jesus - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Are you seeking stability in this life? Where are your treasures stashed? Do we live for today or do we serve our Lord believing that He will bring us a great tomorrow? (Click here to return to subjects)
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Isaiah 8:17 and 9:13 ( NKJV ) 17 “God At Work” And I will wait on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him. 13 For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. Because people are wicked, even depraved, God has all but disappeared from public life. We who love God like to blame the judges who cast God, His Word, and prayer out of the public schools. And we blame the educators who promote reasons for our being apart from the hand of God citing natural causes. We blame the Church which has compromised truth, embraced the world, and shrunk from the responsibility demanded by the gospel. But the truth is found in God who cast a cloud over mankind whereby they don’t even recognize Him let alone acknowledge Him. These passages do not mean that God is no longer working. God is always at work. He is seen in constant catastrophes that appear week in and week out. He is seen in the mud slides that kills hundreds. He is seen in the wildfires that destroy thousands of homes. He is seen in the floods that have inundated Australia, Pakistan, and western Tennessee. He is seen in the crippling ice storms that brought the east coast to its knees this winter. He is seen in the tornadoes that strangely appeared this winter. God is at work. But strangely, Isaiah 9:13 reveals that the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, nor do they attend church so they may hear from Him. 13 For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. The context of these passages reveals the extreme spiritual darkness that a beleiver may be dealing with. A believer can get very discouraged by merely looking around. So what should we do? The text states, “and I will hope in Him.” The King James Version says, “and I will look for Him.” The only hope for real meaningful change is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Remain connected to Him. (John 15) Only He can bring the change that this world needs. And by this I don’t mean that the only way for Christ to enter the scene is found in His second coming. I am reminded that the Laodicean Church was told that Christ is standing behind the door waiting for us to open it. When we, the church, open the door, Jesus will come in and save us from sin. But we must open the door. The context of Isaiah 9 provides a lot of hope. In the midst of this darkness we are reminded, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) and “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulders: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) (Click here to return to subjects)
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Genesis 4:1-5 ( NASB ) "Pillar of Truth." Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD.” Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 4Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Yesterday we spoke about Cain’s reaction to God's rejection of his offering and the first mention of sin in the Bible. Today I want to address what the ruckus was all about. The Bible is explicit. Cain brought an offering of works; Abel brought and offering of blood and fat. Abel's offering required the death of the best lamb in his flock. His offering was accepted. Why? Old time commentators leaned on typology when giving an explanation. Abel's offering was a picture of God giving His very best, His only begotten Son. As I said, modern theologians reject this explanation. But consider with me. Truth, especially about the coming of Christ to take our sins upon himself and die in the process is progressive. This pillar of truth began back in the Garden of Eden when God told Adam and Eve that the Seed of the woman would bruise or fatally wound the head of the serpent. But the Seed of the woman would be gravely bruised but not ultimately be fatal in the sense of final. In the process, the price of sinning, death, to the sinner would be paid by the Seed of the woman – Jesus. God added more detail to this pillar of truth by covering Adam and Eve’s nakedness – a figure of their sin, by killing animals and spilling blood and using the tanned furs to cover their nakedness. This pillar of truth concerning Christ and His cross continued with Cain and Abel’s offering. More details were added at the Passover where the blood forming the sign of the cross was painted on the Israelite’s door enabling the Death Angel to pass over that house. This pillar of truth was further strengthen as the teachings of the Law came into being. This great pillar of truth pointed to Jesus. Today’s scholars aim to knock that pillar down by kicking out one of the foundational teachings. Shame on them. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Genesis 4:6-7 ( NKJV ) ""Sin Crouching" So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” In this passage we find the first use of the word “sin.” The fact that God had rejected Cain’s offering and accepted Abel’s was too much for Cain to bear. Cain was very, very angry. But the anger is not the sin God is referring to. Sin is that menacing emotion built upon Cain’s lust for recognition that is crouching along side of him. It is menacing because it is lurking, ready to pounce and do hurt even murder. We wonder what has occurred in the past between these two boys that would lead to this confrontation. The Bible is silent. However, as students of human nature, and a close examination of the words found in this passage we can assume there was much, much more to this story. God ask Cain, “Why is your countenance fallen?” Why did he look hurt, sad? What was going on? No doubt Adam and Eve had many other sons and daughters but these two were close. Could there had been sibling rivalry? Regardless, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. So God pleads with Cain. Do as your brother did and I will accept your offering as well. However, pride prevents him from doing this. Apart from the pride, God addresses the sin issue. Sin is ugly! It is consuming your passions. It will push you into action and this will be bad. You need to master your passions. You must keep this under control. We know the story. Cain failed to heed God’s words and that which was crouching was put into action as the stone slammed into Abel’s head. This story is played out every day. Road rage, lost of a girl friend, lost of money, the desire for revenge, to release the anger, changes from sin crouching to sin in action and a life is lost. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Romans 13:1-8 ( NKJV ) "Owe no man anything." 1Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. 8Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. The phrase, “owe no man anything” is most often taken out of the biblical context to teach that a Christian should by no means borrow money. And that is exactly what the passage means when taken out of context. In the context, the passage is speaking about what we owe those in authority: taxes, customs, fear, and honor. And then continuing, Paul instructs us to go beyond these by loving them. We should also remember that in the context of the entire book of Romans, Paul wrote that he was a debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians (Romans 1:14). He held something that they desperately needed – the gospel. We owe others when we who hold the blessings and privileges of the gospel fail to share it. In this context we are told to “owe no one anything except to love one another.” How can we say that we love others when we fail to share the gospel? (Click here to return to subjects)
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Romans 10:14-17 ( NKJV ) “Salvation First” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace. Who bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The lady talked non-stop. And since it was next to impossible to engaged in a conversation with her, I did the next best thing and listened. And as I listened, it became apparent that there was something seriously wrong with her and that it had damaged her social life. She explained that one church she had attended frankly told her that they didn’t think they could stand to be on the same bus with her and her son for the four hour round trip to the zoo. The mother blamed her son for this social stress. However, upon observing the interaction between her and her son it became apparent that her son wasn’t the problem. Through her constant criticism of her son combined with the nagging that continuously poured from her mouth, she created an atmosphere that people surrounding them found uncomfortable. It’s been my experience that most loving Christians, when confronted with a person like this, would attempt to fix the problem the best way they know how. They might sympathize or the might go so far as to give advice and suggestions. However, I believe a person with serious problems first needs to hear the Gospel. No real change can take place until the light of the Gospel of Christ breaks through and they react positively by believing the report. (v16) But how can they hear unless we tell them? Salvation is a good starting point. Being saved allows the Holy Spirit to bring greater measures that we all require for healing. Do we have our priorities correct? Why attempt to give people spiritual instruction when the Bible is clear. The lost person cannot receive the things of God. Get them saved! (Click here to return to subjects)
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Matthew 18:5-9 “Influencing Children”
“And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into the fiery hell.
My love for my children is much deeper than my ability to express it. While they were growing I zealously guarded their welfare, especially that which would impact them negatively in matters of morals or spirituality. “Why does the single twenty-one scout leader wish to carry my son off into the woods every Sunday?” Aside from the fact that it was Sunday, church day, perhaps there was nothing more to it. But because it was Sunday and leaning on the side of caution I quickly put a stop to it.
During these formative years I’ve been grateful for the positive influences teachers, friends, and family had on my children. And I’ve tried to protect my children from those who would tear down the foundations of belief their mother and I have placed in their lives. Unfortunately, I’ve found negativity even in the Christian education environment I placed them in. Christ called these negative influences, “offenses” (KJV) but is more correctly interpreted as “stumbling blocks.”
In this regard John MacArthur said, “God is the perfect model of this kind of parental concern, because He has always been deeply concerned about the way His children are treated. It is of utmost importance to Him that they be protected and nurtured. He therefore promises blessing to those who treat His children well and gives dire warning to those who cause them harm.
This attitude of God toward His children goes all the way back to when He first called out a nation for Himself from the loins of Abraham and said of him and his descendants, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3).The Lord has always demanded good treatment of His people, commanding unbelievers to treat them well and commanding them to treat each other well.
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1 Peter 2:9-12 ( NASB ) "Special People - Special Work" But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of £visitation. In these few verses, God has supplied a good deal of what preachers refer to as “sermon seeds.” One seven point sermon outline might be offered as follows: 1. What we are; 2. What we once were; 3. What we were called out of; 4. What we are called into. 5. What we had not received; 6. What we have received; 7. What was not eliminated in the process. Using choice words found in the text he could fashion a second sermon with the following points: 1. A Chosen People; 2. A Royal People; 3. A Priestly People; 4. A Holy People. A Possessed People. These two sermons would attempt to express the unique value God places on Christians. John Peterson captured the intent of God’s great work of salvation and sanctification when he penned the song, “It Took a Miracle.” How could anyone remove someone born in the darkness of Satan’s kingdom whom he blinds to their real status and place them into His marvelous light. Elihu, describes this marvelous light by teaching that the work of salvation results in us being “enlightened with the light of the living.” (Job 33:30 KJV) Are you glad that while living in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation that you have been brought into the light of the living? We who were not the people of God, having belonged to Satan, are now the people of God. Peter emphasizes the word mercy. Mercy makes this possible. We had to receive mercy made available through Jesus’ who paid for our sins. We receive this mercy by placing our faith in Him and in Him alone. Our journey of faith begins with mercy and accompanies us for the remainder of our earthly existence. That is why we are instructed to come before “the Throne of Grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) Almost hidden in the meat of the text is the purpose behind this marvelous work of God. We are to proclaim, shout loudly so lost people near and far may come to experience the Excellency of God. But there is a problem and it is seen in which was not eliminated. 11Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.” And what is exactly the nature of lust? Lust is the chief component resulting from Adam's sin and, in turn, has been passed down to us genetically. It is focused in the words, “me!”, “my,” “mine,” and “I” It is clearly seen by the many personal pronouns observed in Job’s self righteousness as revealed in Job 31. He uses the word “mine” nine times; the word “my” twenty-three times; the word “me” twelve times; and the word “I” twenty-one times. Lust is a preoccupation with our desires and a total disregard for the desires and welfare of others. Lust entices us to defraud others, to take advantage of others, even to the point of murder. Lust is the preoccupation with self-worth, our hurt, our wounds, our revenge. Lust prevents forgiveness. But most importantly, existing in the life of believers, it impedes the purpose for our lives – bringing glory to God by proclaiming the Excellency of His Person. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Psalms 37:34-40 ( HCSB ) "Permanence" Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed. 35 I have seen a wicked, violent man well-rooted like a flourishing native tree. 3 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright for the man of peace will have a future. 38But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD, their refuge in a time of distress. 40 The LORD helps and delivers them; He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in Him. Why do the elite hate Christ and seek to remove Him from the public conscious? Perhaps it is because God’s Word teaches that their status is temporary whereas they seek permanence. They resent the message found in the sermon on the mount, when Jesus said that the meek will eventually inherit it all. Are all of the elite wicked? Certainly not! But the greater majority reach their lofty status in life by taking advantage of others. I personally knew one man who was one of the new elite. His philosophy, as he plainly told others, is that there are only two kind of people: Those who take advantage and those who are taken advantage of. God says that it appears that their power and position is well established and permanent, “well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.” But his position is temporary. 3 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.37 The issue is further amplified by the word, “future.” The blameless and upright man loves peace and has a future. Wicked transgressors will be eliminated and therefore have no future. Again, the key word is “future.” Our hope is established once Christ returns and we settle down into the new heaven and new earth. Today, we look for deliverance by taking refuge in God. The Bible tells us that He knows them that trust Him in a day of trouble. Psalm 37 teaches us how to trust and behave. “Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.” (v3) “Delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (v4) “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.” (v5). “Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by the one who prosper in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans.” (v7) “Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated – it can only bring harm.” There are times that I wish I could do something about our country’s deplorable situation. Evil men rule. But the Bible teaches that our warfare is not carnal. Going head to head with evil people will change nothing. Changes for the better come when we behave like trusting Children of God. And the best way to do this is through prayer believing that God has the spiritual resources to make a difference. Perhaps things are not going well because we do not pray. How about a few of you men come and join the few of us who gather at the church each Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. for prayer. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Genesis 1:26-31 (NKJV) "Living Green" Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over £all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
-Green Technology -Coal Plant lambasted for not being green -India has the potential to be a leader in green technology -Joining the Green Economy -Green Technology: Earth-Friendly Innovations. These sites were the first five of two-hundred and seventy-eight million sites returned by the search engine relative to the subject. This passage outlines the privileges given to Adam’s race regarding the administration of God’s great green earth. Attached to these privileges are responsibilities. We are responsible to promote behavior which guarantees a continuance of environmental health. We must foster an attitude which protects the earth; not exploit it. We can live green by accepting the God given control of the earth’s resources in a way that leaves the earth better for our stewardship, not worse. Living green means protecting the animals by using land in such a way that their habitats are not destroyed. Living green means using and protecting grains instead of changing their genetic makeup. Promoting green means being fruitful and having children and doing so in such a way that we do not negatively impact the environment. To do this we must discover sustainable solutions for using energy and traveling. Do the means exist to create a green economy? Perhaps! Will we put these to practice? Probably not in any meaningful way during the short term. The ground is cursed because of Adam’s sin. And in attempting to minimize this curse we heavily rely on herbicides and pesticides, as well as, the heavy use of energy based on carbon. But the one who has the means to solve these problems and bring these solutions to bear on the matter is returning soon. During Christ’s Millennial rule, we will see people putting these solutions into practice. And Scripture indicates that our ability to travel and use energy will not be sacrificed in the process of protecting the environment. The Bible teaches that Christ demands the people of the world to travel to Israel to worship the Lord Jesus for themselves. Zechariah 14:16 ( NKJV ) “16And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” This will obviously require an enormous amount of air travel. (Click here to return to subjects)
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Judges 15:1-5 ( HCSB ) "Situational Ethics" 1Later on, during the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat as a gift and visited his wife. “I want to go to my wife in her room,” he said. But her father would not let him enter. 2“I was sure you hated her,” her father said, “so I gave her to one of the men who accompanied you. Isn’t her younger sister more beautiful than she is? Why not take her instead?” 3Samson said to them, “This time I won’t be responsible when I harm the Philistines.” 4So he went out and caught 300 foxes. He took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. 5Then he ignited the torches and released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned up the piles of grain and the standing grain as well as the vineyards and olive groves. Samson was a man gifted by God, a Nazarite, who should have made godly choices as he ventured through life serving God. Instead, Samson made a series of ungodly choices including marrying a Philistine woman. This passage picks up the story when Samson returns to the Philistine village to consummate his marriage only to discover that his father-in-law had given his daughter to another man. Enraged, he decides to get even. He believed that circumstances justified him taking vengeance on the Philistines. He was wrong! There is never a God pleasing reason for doing something that is blatantly wrong. Her father was also wrong in committing his daughter to another man without obtaining Samson’s permission. Again, the axiom is true, “two wrongs do not make a right.” This passage seems so bizarre and out of touch with the common day by day life we experience. But a closer examination clearly reveals that little has changed since then. Samson was practicing situational ethics. And although we disavow situation ethics there are times in which it is easy to fall into this mode of thinking. Allow me to provide a couple of examples:
Whenever we attempt to justify bad behavior, we are entertaining the same line of thinking that Samson displayed. Can you think of a time that you attempted to justify something you now know was wrong? (Click here to return to subjects)
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2 Corinthians 4:8-15 (HCSB) "A Life Worth Living" We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 10We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12So death works in us, but life in you. 13And since we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak, 14knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and present us with you. 15For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God’s glory. One Wednesday evening Pastor Ron challenged us with the question, “What is the main purpose of living the Christian life? Of course, the reason is that through thankfulness, by God’s people, glory would overflow to God. This past week I received a surprise in the mail. My beloved baby brother, Don, who passed into heaven ten years ago, left his family a legacy of written experiences of what it was like growing up surrounded by love, faith, and family. Recently, his son, Donald Jr., who had been a ghost writer for Jerry Falwell, edited his notes and had them bound in a book, which is entitled, "Keller Family Stories: Tales & Memories." It struck me, as I read the book, that his words truly reflected the brother I knew, who had a thankful heart and sought to give God the glory for his salvation, his family, and life. My brother's final journey began when his family noticed that he was "dropping words." Sensing something was wrong they took him to the Kennedy Medical Center where a MRI revealed the malignant tumor in his brain. He was then sent to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital where it was determined that surgery was his only hope of survival. There were close to two dozen staff members, family, and friends in the room. Being the oldest, It was up to me to make him understand that he desperately needed surgery. His permission was required. Trusting that God would give me the correct words and my brother the comprehension I said, “Don! Listen to me Don! You need help! You have a tumor in your brain! You need surgery.” Over and over I repeated the message in different ways. (How very difficult it was bringing this sorrowful but necessary message to one of those I loved the most.) Then just as I was running out of steam the light in his eyes brightened and tears began streaming down his face. “God is sovereign,” he proclaimed. The surgery was performed, the pressure on his brain reduced, and his comprehension was restored. My brother had an additional year to live, love, share, and write. His once graceful athletic body was reduced to a shuffle but his brain was again sharp. This additional year brought much joy to me as we talked about remembrances that only he and I could fully appreciate having done them together. But more importantly, he continued to do what he did best, to continually thank God for all His goodness and thus bringing glory to His heavenly Father which He surely deserves. In like manner may it be said of each of us, For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God’s glory. (Click here to return to subjects)
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