A Conquering Faith

THE MEANING OF PROPITIATION

2012-02-14T07:48:00.012-06:00

JESUS' CHURCH IS BUILT ON PETER'S CONFESSION, NOT UPON PETER

2012-02-07T07:45:00.001-06:00

"Peter", Strong's # 4074, is the Gr. PETROS, a "rock or a stone" is the name Jesus gave to Simon the fisherman. This "rock" is not the same as the Gr. PETRA, a "large stone", "crag", "projecting rock" which Jesus declared His church would be built upon. Jesus play on names would sound like this to us: "And you are Stone, and upon your Boulder of a Confession that I'm the Christ of God, I will build my Church" Mt 16:16-18.

The church of Christ was not built upon the Stone Peter, but it is built upon the Christ who is the foundation and cornerstone. "The Stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone" 1 Pt 2:7. And, "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" 1 Cor 3:11. There is ample evidence that the church of Christ is built upon the person Jesus Christ.

There is no evidence that it is built upon Peter. Peter was a significant Apostle, but Peter had no higher position than any other Apostle. The objection says, "But Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter." The response is, "Not any more than He gave to the other Apostles. Compare the two passages in Matthew:

To Peter - Mt 16:19: 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

To the the Church - Mt 18:18 18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

In both instances, His kingdom/church are given authority to bind and loose sins. To open and close. The spiritual agents of God like Peter, the Apostles, and church members are doing God's will on earth to build and protect the kingdom/church. The authority Peter had in the first century to "bind" or "loose" sins is not changed today. The church of Christ must exercise the same authority today that the kingdom not be harmed.

Jesus called Peter, PETROS, but Jesus built His church on PETRA, the Gibraltar stone of a confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

THE WILL OF GOD

2012-01-25T09:37:00.002-06:00

We must proclaim the Living God. He is the God who will judge the world in righteousness, holding each one accountable for the deeds he has done in the flesh (2 Cor. 5:10). The judgement on the last day will be based on if we did the will of God through Jesus Christ. God's will is that the Gospel be preached to all creation and that men repent and be baptized for remission of sins. God is involved in all of these things. Providentially working to open doors that the Gospel have access to more people. God is working in and through His children to accomplish His will, show His glory, and convict the world of sin. God is the living God whose will must be done. As you pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven", remember what Paul said, "It is God who is at work in you to will and to work His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). To know that God is at work in us, showing us His kindness (Rom. 2:4) and saving us by His power (Col. 2:12) and giving us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us is awe inspiring. We know it's true by faith.

With that said, we must do our part. "Not everyone that says 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven. But he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter" (Mt 7:21ff). We by faith, knowing we live under the rule of the Almighty, Powerful God, must do His will. His will is that you pray to Him. Did you pray to Him today? He will not make you do it. He will work through your prayer and accomplish His will. But you must pray. Did you confess Christ this week? He will not make you confess Christ. But if you confess Christ, God will work His works through that preaching to rescue souls unto Him. By faith let us do the will of God. Let's be actively serving Him and others. We must proclaim the works of God and then watch what God accomplishes in your life.

VALUE WHAT IS VALUABLE

2012-01-14T17:09:00.000-06:00

I remember that in youth we give up things that are a valuable because we are young and dumb. My graduation year was 1977 and I recall that my parents bought me a pretty nice gold class ring with the purple birthstone for my birth month. When I ran off at 16, almost 17, and was on my own I pawned that ring for a measly amount. We won't say why I wanted the money but let's say I was't living the Christian life.

I think it was a lack of spiritual training and youthful idiocy that explains the following: "29 When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, 'Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished,' Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, 'First sell me your birthright.' Esau said, 'Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?' 33 And Jacob said, 'First swear to me'; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." - Gen 25

Things which we treasure and truly value we don't treat or speak of in such disregard as Esau did the birthright. It was to be his blessing from his father. Perhaps he took this all for granted as does a spoiled child, always expecting their inheritance no matter how little love and respect they give to the relationship. As parents, this shows we ought to be teaching our children from an early age the precious and eternal things that are theirs and to always value them. Don't sell your soul for a bowl of red stuff. Don't get distracted with silly things from peers who care for nothing but the carnal things they can get from you.

DON'T YOU GIVE UP ON JESUS CHRIST, DON'T YOU DARE

2012-01-07T21:10:00.000-06:00

Don't give up. You have had thoughts of giving up. Maybe thoughts of walking away from Him and back into the carnal pursuits. Things won't get better; they will get worse, 2Pt 2:20. Maybe you have thoughts of killing yourself because you think things won't get better. A hard life is better than no life.

Don't you know the source of this temptation? It's Satan who knows where you are weak. But don't forget that God is faithful and He will work all things together for you because you love Him, Rom. 8. Don't give up.

Don't turn away from God. Don't check out of your responsibilities. Don't turn away from your family. Don't do it. Don't give up. You may hurt inside, but it's nothing but growing pains. You can come out of it stronger and happier. Pray and trust in God's answer.

Too many give up just before the day dawns. They won't wait. They won't endure a trial or challenge even though life has always had these. Don't give up. Read about Jesus Christ who didn't give up. Read about Paul and Silas who prayed and sang in prison. While in prison for preaching Jesus, Paul said, "I've learned to be content". Is your life worse than theirs? "They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whome the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground" - Heb. 11:37-38. These were great heroes of faith who endured the horrifying punishments and did not denounce their Lord. Are your troubles worse than theirs?

Don't give up because tomorrow is a new day. Paul said "rejoice, again I will say rejoice". He wouldn't say it if there wasn't good cause to. Why give up when you have Jesus Christ? Why give up when you have Christian friends who can bear your burdens? Why give up when God's salvation is for eternity? Don't give up. Believe and stand firm because God is faithful. Don't you dare give up.

ENEMIES OF THE CROSS

2012-01-07T19:31:00.000-06:00

"For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ" Phil. 3:18

The enemies of the cross of Christ set their minds on the things of the flesh. Just watch them and see that they worship their bellies, take pride in shameful things, and set their minds on earthly things" -v19. They may preach and appear religious, but they do it from carnal interest. They act religious but only as a covering for their fleshly pursuits. They look out for their own interest and a detrimental to the cause of Christ. They don't care about others. They will divide and not unite God's people. When there's a split in the church, they are present acting as if they are the ones trying to do right. They learn nothing from the selfless sacrifice of Jesus. They only give lip-service to Jesus, but Paul says, "...they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus" - Phil 2:16. They are truly enemies of the cross of Christ Jesus who work to this day.

CLAPPING IN WORSHIP TO GOD

2012-01-02T09:33:00.001-06:00

The serious question is asked by many Christians and non-Christians if it is acceptable in Christian worship to add the clapping of hands and other noises to singing worship. Let's look at a few Biblical principles that guide us in this question.

Following the principle of not adding to what God has prescribed, I would say NO. God said not to add to or take away from His Word, (1 Cor. 4:6, Rev. 22; Pro. 30:6). Certainly these noises are an addition.

And following the principle that silence is not a license to approve of something, I would say NO to clapping. When God said to eat unleavened bread and drink fruit of the vine, He didn't say all of the things you couldn't (i.e. silence) include in the communion. Silence shouldn't be construed as a license to do something. If your boss says to be at work at 8 a.m., you can't construe that 7 a.m. is also acceptable just because he didn't exclude that time.

And following the principle that a specific command negates all others, I would say NO to clapping in the worship to God. This is similar to the principle of silence, but this is looking positively at what God commands. God said to be baptized into water. No other element but water will do for Christian baptism. When God says to "sing" (Eph. 5; Col. 3), then the Christian sees no point of doing anything else. Singing in Christian worship is clearly God's will. And playing a banjo is clearly not singing, so it is clearly not doing what God said to do.

And following the principle that EXPEDIENTS are not ADDITION, but are necessary to complete God's commands whereas additions are not, I would have to say NO to clapping in worship. This is a place where the novice gets confused by those who advance their position via confusion. So pay attention please so that I can explain it to you as best I can. A building or a songbook are ways to EXPEDITE God's command to Christians to assemble on the Lord's Day and to sing together. An EXPEDIENT helps to EXPEDITE God's commands. A song book is not an ADDITION to the musical worship God commanded. When God commanded to sing spiritual songs to each other, He did not give the specific songs. Therefore, it's logical to conclude from the limited direction which God gave - sing spiritual songs that speak the Truth - that Christians were to compile the songs in some manner (e.g. the song book). That allowance by God is called an EXPEDIENT. Make a note of that and remember it. Another expedient is the church building. God said to assemble but He didn't say where: by the river, in someone's home, at a public biulding, etc. When Christians purchase a building or when they meet in a home, they are not adding to God's Word. They are doing the natural and logical necessity which fulfills the command to assemble. Again, that's an EXPEDIENT and you should remember that. But the defenders of musical instrument do is very slyly try to lump their pianos and guitars in with such expedients which they are not. When God said to "sing", all of the instrument that is required is already present in the voice and in the heart. If you have the voice and the heart, then you can sing and fulfill the command. A piano or other mechanical instrument or clapping to produce similar sounds are an ADDITION to God's Word, and not EXPEDIENTS.

What about clapping in the general sense. Let me clarify though. All clapping is not an attempt to duplicate mechanical instruments. When clapping for someone for an achievement, the honoring of those who deserve it - as your parents do and as do many others - the applause is merely a means of expressing that honor. I don't particularly like it in the worship because it seems to promote the wrong attention for the period. However, in general, it's not a sin.

Let me further clarify. The clapping, or popping the lips, or clucking the tongue, or woofing of the armpit,... ( made that one up), or the stomping of the feet, or the blowing the trumpet lips, or the twanging the guitar lips is the vain attempt to skirt around that the Scriptures which only authorize vocal music unto God. So No is clearly the only answer to this kind of clapping. And this follows one more principle that it is IMPOSSIBLE to have unity when men justify such things.

God bless you!

BAPTISM AND CIRCUMCISION

2011-12-30T08:55:00.005-06:00

Baptism, by believing and repenting adults, IS like circumcision of the Old Testament. Just like in the Old Testament, It's become a mere work of the flesh for many: like the crowd that supports the unbiblical practice of baptizing infants which requires no faith, and like the "faith only" crowd that says baptism IS necessary for obedience while insisting it IS NOT necessary for salvation. These make or create the idea that baptism is somehow separate from real faith. Because Circumcision required no faith by the circumcisee, like infant "baptism", being done on the 8th day when the child was believing and choosing nothing, it became, as infant baptism has become a substitute for obedience to God. "I was baptized into my church as an infant and that's good enough for me." For the "faith only" people, who go to great lengths and twists to teach that salvation comes before baptism, it's become a mere work of the flesh. Because the Scriptures clearly show Jesus commanding baptism, they don't deny it's necessity, only that it's not necessary for salvation. Please don't try too hard to understand the position of the "faith only" people because it makes about as much sense to say obedience is and it is not necessary for salvation. So the Baptism of the New Testament has become like circumcision of the Old Testament - in this sense that it has been corrupted. The Baptism of Jesus is not to be a substitute for faith.

BUT Baptism is necessary for salvation because it involves a spiritual circumcision of the heart. Colossians 2:11 says, "and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ". You must be circumcised with THIS circumcision and there's no way around it. This needs to be said. The Colossians did not submit to the physical circumcision of the Old Testament, but they were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision. If you call yourself a Christian but you have not been circumcised, then you aren't really a Christian - your sin has not been removed by the hand of God. Every sinner must be circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by the cutting away of the sinfulness in our lives, by the circumcision of Christ. WHEN does this happen?

BAPTISM is the place WHEN spiritual circumcision occurs by the power of God. Colossians 2:12 says, "having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." The "having been" is building on the point in verse 11 (see above) that you must be circumcised with a circumcision made without hands. This part always trips up the "faith alone" people who can't decide if James is New Testament or not; who must wrestle with every single passage that talks about the necessity of obedience for salvation. But the Colossians "having been" baptized into Christ by faith meant they received a very real spiritual blessing from the hand of God when they got in the water because they put their faith not in their works, but believed in God. WHEN they were baptized in faith, God by His power raised them up into new life.

The circumcision of the Old Testament was an external sign of the covenant that males received on their 8th day of life. The circumcision of the New Testament is a spiritual circumcision where sin is cut away and forgiven by God's grace WHEN a believing person repents of his/her sins and gets into the water. Have you obeyed Jesus who said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" and "make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit"?

BAPTISM WITHOUT FAITH: A WORK OF THE FLESH

2011-11-19T20:00:00.000-06:00

It doesn't matter whether or not you are baptized if you do not believe. Baptism w/o faith - which is forced on infants and some adults too are immersed w/o faith - is a pointless work of man and of the flesh. For the Same reason, the Mormon "baptism for the dead" is a pointless and empty exercise. Because this is unquestionably true, that belief precede baptism, Mark 16:16 doesn't need to say "whoever does not believe and get baptized shall be condemned." If a person doesn't believe, baptism is a moot point.

The large portion of the denominational world argues against the necessity of Baptism (immersion) on the strength of the argument that Jesus only said unbelievers would be condemned: not that unbaptized unbelievers would be condemned. This argument would only work if the first part of Mark 16:16 did not say, "he that believes and is baptized shall be Saved." Jesus makes it clear in positive terms that Baptized believers would be Saved. This part of the verse makes it illogical to say baptism has nothing to do with salvation.

The first Baptist - early in the "reformation period" and long since passed away- believed two things: First, that immersion was for adults which put them at odds with the Lutheran & Catholic churches. Secondly, they believed & taught that baptism was for remission of sins which agreed with the baptism of the Lutheran and catholic powers. It's important to know the first Baptist believed, as churches of Christ do today, that believing Adults are Saved by God's grace AT baptism.

If you would like to be saved by grace, believe and obey Jesus by being baptized for remission of your sins. It matters if you are baptized or not. If you believe the Gospel of Jesus, then be baptized "for remission of sins."

RECEIVING CHRIST

2011-11-08T06:04:00.001-06:00

What does it mean to "receive" Christ? Do you know if you really received Christ? Be certain that there are many who think they have, but they have not. How can we know?

Jesus teaches that receiving Him is akin to receiving a child. Mt 9:46-48 says, "An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, 48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great." To receive a child isn't equal or alternative to receiving Christ. Receiving a child exemplifies, when done with love and sacrifice, what it means to receive Christ.

People do not always cherish the value of a child. They hinder them from coming to Christ. They are stumbling blocks to the children. Children are a gift or heritage from the Lord. And it takes a certain person who loves selflessly, who gives sacrificially of time and money and energy, to see a child for what it is and do whatever is possible to raise it and bring it to the Lord.

We are to "become like" the children, but we are also to receive Christ as we would a child. Mt 18:2-6 says, "2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Take note from the Matthew passage above that “becoming like children” and “receiving a child” are two different things. Both are equally important and each are great illustrations of what discipleship means. The focus on this short lesson is on the second part, the “receiving” Christ as you would receive a child.

There are many people who are too busy chasing their dreams and worldly aspirations to truly "receive" a child in the way Jesus is calling for. If "receiving" a child meant throw some crumbs at the child whenever it screams from hunger or take it to the doctor only when it's near death or cloth it only when its clothes are completely in tatters and shreds, then there would be many more disciples of Christ because that's about they mean when they "receive" Christ.

To "receive" Christ is a monumental, life altering, schedule clearing, finance evaluating, talents dedicating decision - much like "receiving" a child into your life. The question is therefore have you truly received Christ into your life?

THANK GOD FOR HIS GIFTS

2011-10-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. - Jas 1:17

Imagine that! Good and perfect gifts are coming down from above, from the Father of Lights. Do Christians see these gifts? Do the lost see these gifts? Certainly. It is the goodness and kindness of God that put eternity in our souls, that is revealed in all of the creation, that is proclaimed in the Cross, that is worked in and through God's children, that is opening doors and working "all things together for good", that gives us purpose and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

I wonder how many Christians will go through their day and give no thought whatsoever to the help and encouragement they received? When you pray to the Lord, remember you have many thanks to start with

THE LORD GOES BEFORE YOU TO CONQUER

2011-10-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

1 “Hear, O Israel! You are crossing over the Jordan today to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, great cities fortified to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’ 3 Know therefore today that it is the LORD your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the LORD has spoken to you." - Dt 9

It's natural before going into any battle to do assessments on the nature of the fight. How difficult? What assets will be required? Are the obstacles able to be overcome or are they insurmountable? Fleshly and spiritual people do this. God's people know they have an edge in the fight.

Yahweh knew His people like Joshua and Caleb would be doing this kind of battle assessment. He knew that the Israelites would have thoughts of the Anakim, the giants, and that there would be some who doubt a positive outcome for Israel.

Before the regiment or battalion of soldiers enter a battle to engage the enemy, military jets with their bombs have softened the enemy by taking out key installations and valuable assets. The enemy is weaker before the hand to hand combat begins. In our text above, Moses rallied and gave courage to the people by reminding them that God will be first in the battle. God has gone BEFORE them to destroy and subdue the enemies. Before the swords, armor, adrenaline and testosterone have met the enemy, God was already there, softening the enemy. Do you think about that when you have battles to fight in this godless world?

Remember that later when Joshua sends the two spies into Jericho that Rahab the harlot says to them:

“For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." - Josh 2:10-11

The people of Jericho with their fortified walls and all of their might were already softened by the works of God. This is not just rumor or weakness of character in the people; this is evidence that God is at work. We cannot even begin to measure all of the ways that the powerful God, the Almighty, works in this world to aid the people who love Him and who are called according to His purpose, Rom. 8:26-28. Do you think prayer accomplishes nothing! God hears the prayers of the righteous and He surely answers them.

So when you have a battle to fight. When fleshly men say that obstacles are insurmountable, do not forget that you have someone who fights for you because He goes BEFORE you to bring victory. Faith, John said, is the victory that overcomes the world. Believe it and live it.

DEAD, IF YOU AREN'T CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE DEAD

2011-10-28T06:14:00.003-05:00

DEADER than the scorched grass from the Texas drought. DEADER than the body that has ceased moving and will never speak or walk again. DEADER than my Snapper mower that gave up two years ago. DEADER than the deadest of languages. DEAD like the faith of the church of Sardis. DEAD. Before you believed in Jesus and obeyed His Gospel, "you were dead in your trespasses and sins," - Eph 2:1

Simon the Pharisee judged Jesus for not knowing what kind of woman washed His feet with her tears. Jesus told a parable to Simon about two people who were forgiven: one a small debt and one a large debt. Jesus asked him, "which one will love him more?" And Simon said the one who was forgiven more which was the correct answer.

Jesus said this parable to Simon to teach him something about his own love and appreciation for God. The sinful woman was more thankful for God's grace than was Simon. Simon didn't know his need for God's grace. Simon didn't feel as appreciative. He didn't know his sinfulness and so he respected less the favor of Jesus Christ.

"You have a name that you are alive, but you are DEAD" - Message to Sardis, Rev. 3:1

We are all at risk of not knowing the extent of our lostness. We may think we are more righteous than we are, like Simon. We need to know that our trespasses and sins against God have made us DEAD spiritually. And there's only one cure, Jesus Christ. And there's only one way to receive His grace is to know how desperately lost we are without Him and how much we need Him.

DEAD, without Christ, you are DEAD. Come to Christ today and He will make you alive. Listen to this verse:

12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, - Col. 2:12,13

That's right. God saves and raises you up and makes you alive. Bringing the dead to life is God's work when you put your faith in Him by repenting and obeying the Gospel. So believe Him, take Him at His word, by getting in the watery grave (the right place to lay the DEAD) and you shall be raised to walk in newness of life, Rom. 6:3-5.

BE SEPARATE AND HOLY FROM THE WORLD

2011-10-22T08:34:00.000-05:00

1 “When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, 2 and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. 3 Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. 4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. 5 But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. 6 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." - Deut 7:1ff

The holy people of God have always been distinct from the world. Their beliefs, lifestyles, and worship have been according to the will of God which is opposite of the world. The church of Christ is the New Testament equivalent to Israel, the chosen people of God. Peter wrote to the church:

9 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; 10 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. - 1 Peter 2:9-10

The principles Moses laid out for Israel to follow in regard to the world are the same principles the church follows today.

1. It's warfare. "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). "19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE" (1 Cor. 1:19). 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). This is a mindset which many Christians refuse to accept. They don't want to be at war with the ungodly world. Though Jesus said, "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword", they still want peace with the world. Don't be blind and foolish to think that the world isn't out to destroy you and your family. The world wants you to accept and approve of what it is doing. Homosexuality is just one example where this is being accomplished. Darwinistic naturalism is another. The world will undermine the authority of God if you do not accept that you are at war with the world.

2. Do Not Covenant with the World. "14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE" (2 Cor. 6:14ff). God said not to be unequally yoked to unbelievers, i.e. those who are not the body of Christ. Do we maintain the clear line between the church and the world, even between us and the denominational world? If not, are we not sinning? Do we care that our daughters and sons are marrying outside of the family of God? Moses said parents are not to permit it. But parents today submit to modern conventions instead of the will of God, and they act as if they have no say in who will be married into their family. Marriage is the 2nd most important covenant you will enter, second only to covenanting with God in Christ. Covenanting with those outside of the church are a danger that will draw your children away from God.

3. Destroy their Idols from Your Home. Moses was telling God's people how to go forward by conquering and destroy all vestiges of the pagan world. Do no bring them into your home. Do not adopt them and make them your own. The equivalent to this in the New Testament age is the practice of the home and church. Christians, both individually and corporately, are destroying the idols they encounter. The church of Christ cannot advance the cause of Christ if it becomes enamored with the graven images and seeks to adopt them into the church. These things are Trojan Horses that once invited in set the path for more and more to enter. Soon the church will not reflect the pattern given it in the New Testament, but will instead reflect the world. When so called Christians argue to adopt things that look good, smell good, feel good, and sound good because, according to their personal wisdom, it will help to engage the world for Christ, do not follow these Christians. Moses said destroy these images, not embrace them because they wouldn't help reach the lost. Moses said destroy them from your lives because you are a holy people. The church will cease to be the church if it looks to the gold and silver and hewn idols of the world and invite them into the church.

The world is creeping into the church and Christian home through television and movies, through sports, through school curriculum, through peers, through the biased media that hates God, through government controls, and through many others means. Anything and everything which seeks to turn the church and our families away from God are to be opposed.

Whose side are you on? If you are on the side of the world, then you are an enemy of God. If you are on God's side, then the world is your enemy. The world is your enemy that seeks to destroy your home. It seeks to take your children's mind and turn them against God. The world is the enemy of the church which insist that the Cross is the wisdom of God and no one comes to the God of heaven apart from Christ. Be separate from the world and draw near to all the ways of God.

JUDGING OTHERS?

2011-10-21T08:20:00.002-05:00

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
39 And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. 41 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. 43 “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. 44 “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. 45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. - Lk 6:37-45

You should not judge others....
...unless you just as readily forgive when forgiveness is called for.
Your standard of measure will be measured to you.
...unless your heart is good. A bad heart won't produce good fruit.
...unless your see the truth clearly. The "blind" only lead the blind.
...unless you have tended to the log in your own eye.
Then you may see clearly to help your brother.

Judging others is a snare to those who don't judge themselves. The first thing we should do whenever we see fault in others is consider our own lives. It is profitable to examine self first. Paul says that for worship to be pleasing to God, "a man must examine himself" and "if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged" (1 Cor. 11:28,31). Before I look for fault in others, I need to make sure I'm truly walking with God.

When you or I commit a trespass against God, we should not think that God or His people will overlook that sin. It will be addressed. Jesus said, "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private;..." (Mt. 18:15). When Brothers or Sisters in Christ points to your sin, be careful to listen to them and resist the temptation from Satan to justify yourself by dismissing Scripture and/or by the use of abusive ad hominem attacks: "Well! Are you saying you are perfect! You are not perfect either!"

If you are distorting Scripture, that doesn't change if the person who confronted you is a sinner. If you are committing sexual immorality, it doesn't matter if the world accepts your lifestyle. The Scriptures say that sexual activity is approved by God only in the marriage covenant. Are you lusting and engaged in fleshly pursuits? Don't cover it up or pacify your guilty feelings by telling yourself that everyone does it. It's not true.

There are some people who should not be pointing fingers because their heart isn't right with God. But when the godly man or woman confronts you about sin, it is a favor and act of love they show to you. Do not attack them because you will find yourself at enmity with God.

JUSTICE FROM HEAVEN FOR WHAT YOU SEEK

2011-10-17T07:48:00.000-05:00

"27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him" (Pro. 11:27).

Woe to those who resist the justice of God for they shall fail. The justice of God is rooted in the righteousness of God and it is the law of the universe. It is impossible for a man to escape the justice of God. No man is beyond or above it. Men who love truth and who seek to do good will receive a reward. But those who seek evil, they do great harm to themselves. It's unavoidable. God will not be mocked.

The fool that says there is no God and who does whatever is right in his own eyes will not understand when the justice of God catches him. The law of God is rooted in what is right and is opposed to what is wrong. It is giving and merciful. It comes from a loving God who gives and forgives. But the law of man who rejects God is rooted in fleshly pursuits and selfish desires. It fails and destroys itself.

When you are surfing the internet, what do you seek? When you "Google", do you search for evil or good? The justice of God applies and cannot be thwarted. The man or woman who seeks evil from the sinful world will bring evil upon himself or herself. Pray if this is an issue. Repent and pray and seek God's strength to overcome the temptations of the flesh. Seek what is good and honor God in all of your doings and you will receive the favor of the Lord.

A man, or a family, a church, a society, or a nation, can only hope to stand if he humbly submits to the law of God. Seek good and you seek the favor of God. Seek evil and you will find evil is seeking you.

HOW THE BREAD IS BLESSED - GET IT RIGHT

2011-10-16T21:29:00.000-05:00

It's not blessed unless you have given thanks for it; it is blessed BY giving thanks to God for it. John 6:11 says, "Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted." This miracle is recorded in all four gospels. Compare it with the Matthew 14 account Says, "...looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food." One account says Jesus blessed the bread and the other account says He gave thanks for it.

If you compare this thanks/bless language in the Gospel accounts with another passage in 1 Timothy 4 that says, "4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude (giving thanks); 5 for it is sanctified (i.e. made holy, blessed) by means of the word of God and prayer" and also compare with 1 Corinthians 14 that says, "16 Otherwise if you BLESS in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of THANKS, since he does not know what you are saying?", it's becomes apparent that food is blessed or sanctified by giving thanks for it in prayer.

When you lead the Lord's Supper and ask God to "bless the bread", you don't even know what you are asking. It is the eating of the bread that is blessed when you, the prayer leader, give thanks for it. Again, compare the Scripture in Mt 26:26 that says Jesus blessed the bread and the passage in Luke 22:19 that says Jesus gave thanks for the bread. It is blessed by God when you thank Him for it.

Our Catholic friends are misled to think that the bread and cup are blessed to become literal body and blood of Christ. It's a major error without any Biblical support. And our worship leaders have adopted the language by asking God to "bless the bread and cup" and the congregation has no clue what is being asked of God. So let's get this right. Before you eat and drink the emblems, be sure to give thanks for them and the eating and drinking will be blessed by the Lord.

JUST AS I AM - NOT

2011-10-08T10:58:00.001-05:00

"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." - Lk 5:32

I've heard it repeated often that "God accepts me JUST AS I AM." It's not really true that God accepts me without a changed heart and repentance. It's too bad that false teachers are able to use double speech -- he accepts you just as you are, not really, but we will get to that later -- to entice sinners into their organizations. Such a message appeals to many who still quite like the broad way and the worldly pleasures on it. Tell these same people the truth about their lifestyles and they'll start looking for a more favorable message.

It's true that Jesus loves the world and wants the world to be saved through the Cross, but He says we are sinners and if we stay "just as we are", we are going to hell. Jesus called "sinners to repentance". This unvarnished truth doesn't appeal to the masses. To tell these people that "God accepts you just as you are" is a big fat lie.

The godless world that trust more in the latest philosophies and theories is sinking children into this delusion. It is now becoming apparent that the self-esteem movement is a failed social experiment that makes kids think highly of themselves for no particular reason. I remember reading some time back that the San Diego (CA) school system voted to abolish failing grades and legislate failure out of existence. Think how foolish this is. If giving an "F" causes a student to lose self-esteem and the solution is not to give failing grades, then what about the "B" student who happens to find out that some other students make "A's"? Why shouldn't he feel as good as he would with an "A"? The only solution is to give all "A's" to all students and save their self-esteem. Telling the kids they are great when they are dumb as a rock is not helpful.

If you are not a Christian, God does not accept you just as you are. He loves you and gave His only begotten Son on a Cross so that you might be acceptable to Him if you believe and obey His Gospel. The book of Acts tells us that the Apostles taught a great crowd of people that they were guilty before God. Upon hearing the message of Jesus Christ, they were pierced in the heart and asked what could be done. Acts 2:38 is the answer for them and for you: "Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38) Today you can be acceptable to God if you hear His voice and obey Him. But it's a lie from the father of lies to say that God accepts everyone just as they are.

With love. Dan.

STUMBLING BLOCKS - PARENTING TRUTH HURTS

2011-09-29T07:40:00.001-05:00

"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 ! - Mt 18:7

If you are a parent, I have something to share with you. Being a grandparent of 6 and recently having some serious quantity and quality time with one of them - daddy has been deployed - I am reminded that little children have a will of their own. Of course it's natural. Humans, including little toddlers, are given a will to live, learn, and try new things. It's actually a good thing that is only a problem if the adults around the child are not up to the task of leading.

The will of the child must not have free rein. The child will bounce from this to that, touching toys and things that aren't toys; they are walking, running, reaching to both good and bad things. Again, this is all very natural and speaks to the vitality in a child. But the child doesn't have the sense to know right and wrong. The child doesn't have self-control. This is why God designed the child to be created by two adults.

God wants adults supervising children. God wants adults surrounding the children to guide, train, and discipline them. If you are a parent that hesitates to say "no" to your child, and in creative ways showing right and wrong, then you are simply unfit and not up to the task. Harsh words? I know. The words of Christ are pertinent where He warned against being a stumbling block to the little ones. Do not hinder them from coming to Christ. A parent that wont' guide and discipline his child, will be at fault when the grown child goes astray.

HAPPY?

2011-09-24T17:35:00.000-05:00

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." - Mt. 13:44

Most people are not happy. It's sad to say, but many believers don't act happy. They don't like hearing this, believe me, and so they make excuses, "you don't know the troubles I have." This is just excuse making and evidence of a weak faith. People who are filled with the love of God have an unshakable and contagious spirit of Christ. Jesus said stop worrying and be happy.

Most do not know the joy of following Christ. Why? Why do people require physical comfort, stimulation, carnal prosperity to be happy? A better question is why do they pursue such things that give only momentary satisfaction?

The answer is that most people, even professing christians put too much emphasis on this world. They value it too much. Jesus said "where your treasure is, there will your heart be." How can the transitory and vain things of this life be given so much importance that men never take hold of eternal happiness?

Do you know the value of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary? Are you washed in His blood and do you exult in being a member of His body? Are you not lifted up each moment by the promises of your heavenly Father!

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field that when the man found it, he received it with joy. So valuable and precious is the treasure of the kingdom that he gave up everything else to acquire it, Mt. 13:44. A heart set on the wonderful things of God cannot help but be happy.

EMBRACE YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS

2011-09-24T08:01:00.000-05:00

‎

17 As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem ; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up." - Mt 20

The crucifixion was cruel and unusual punishment. A slow and painful death, punctuated by sharp burst of writhing pain, lasting hours and hours. The subject fading in and out of consciousness, at times into delirium with mumblings, and other times to full sobriety to carry on conversations with friends and strangers who watched, talked, cried, prayed.

Jesus was crucified, suffered beatings and derision by the vilest members of society, and He died for you and me.

Jesus knew His future and warned the disciples so they would not be surprised.

It is almost shocking, if you stop for a moment and give it some thought, that Jesus said, 'If anyone wishes to be My disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me." It's fantastic that there would be any takers. Why did Jesus hearken to the instrument of death? Jesus who knew His own method of death would offer no candy coating, no rosie scenario, for following Him.

If we aren't willing to die to self and carry our crosses daily, we might just as well tell Jesus to get lost before we go stage left back into the world. There's no way to heaven except with a cross.

I want the rest of my days to be characterized by a biblical faith in Almighty God. I want to love God, my family, the church, the lost souls of the world. I want a cross. A cross was good enough for my Lord and it's good enough for me.

PRAY THIS MORNING

2011-09-24T07:59:00.000-05:00

PRAY TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD! God is real and He is active in the world. Faith believes He is AND that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, Heb. 11:6.

If you have not yet drawn near to God this morning by private prayer with Him, then you don't yet have the encouragement and focus you need to accomplish His will.

Pray for God to hear you. Pray for wisdom because He gives it liberally. Pray for the nation, for Israel, for your children, for the Elders to be wise and courageous. Pray for marriage to be preserved and restored to what God designed it to be. Pray at all times. Pray for God to be an abiding presence with you. Pray for Obama to come to his senses, like Nebuchadnezzar. Pray for justice to prevail. Pray to be God's instrument today to lead a soul to the Truth. Pray to fight the good fight. Pray for protection and deliverance from Satanic influences. Pray. Pray without ceasing. Pray without doubting. Pray with perseverance.

WHEN To Forgive?

2011-09-20T07:10:00.000-05:00

15"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private ; if he listens to you [FORGIVE HERE], you have won your brother.16"But if he does not listen to you [NOT HERE], take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.17"If he refuses to listen to them [NOT HERE], tell it to the church ; and if he refuses to listen even to the church [NOT HERE], let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. - Mt 18:15-17

A man was being tried for a horrific crime he committed. The only thing left was for the jury to say so. On Sunday morning, the preacher was saying, "Fellow Christians, we have been called to forgive. And so I forgive him for his crime." The preacher did a damaging thing by his words which makes light of true forgiveness. It costs him nothing but feel good words.

Why was the preachre wrong? First, the man is unrepentant. He's committed horrific crimes and he's not sorry to man or God. Second, God hasn't forgiven him. He's a sinner and he's going to hell for his crimes. God doesn't get things out of order by forgiving before the man has repented and been baptized. Third, the preacher does the easy thing which the Scriptures don't instruct him to do. The Scriptures say you bring him to repentance and then if he listens, you have won your brother.

Just like there is something called "cheap grace", there's something called "cheap forgiveness". It's forgiveness in name only. It's not the forgiveness of the Bible which restores souls and relationships. The preacher who forgives the person he hasn't even confronted and who isn't even repentant is only stroking himself. That's not what forgiveness is about. With forgiveness there is restoration. The preacher's pronouncement serves only to make himself look very holy and it places him above others who have the good sense to withhold forgiveness.

Did I say it's right to "withhold" sins? Yes because Jesus said, "whatever you retain, shall be retained in heaven." "Loosing" and "retaining" are the only two choices when it comes to church discipline. But let's not be confused by those who say "retaining" isn't an option. If you forgive your brother before you have confronted him, you have disobeyed the Scripture. If you forgive people of trespasses when it wasn't you who was harmed by the crime, you just make yourself feel good. No real good is done. In fact, you do harm.

GOD DOES NOT REVEAL THE TRUTH TO PHARISEES

2011-09-17T08:12:00.003-05:00

We are to be "workmen of the Word", as Paul said to Timothy, and handle accurately what is written. On a recent Wednesday night our class discussion was from Matthew 11:24,25 where Jesus praises the Father in heaven for HIDING the truth from "the wise and intelligent". This brought about some very good discussion on the manner of apprehending the truth. Jesus says that the Father has revealed it to children, i.e. those with a good and receptive heart who have a child-like faith. Hear Jesus:

"3 Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.4"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." - Mt 18:3,4

God's wisdom is to hide the truth from those who have an obstinate and proud spirit. It is man's own fault if because of a proud and haughty spirit he doesn't comprehend the wisdom of God.

Consider something else Jesus said on this same topic. In Matthew 12, Jesus is teaching by parables and says to the disciples, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted", Mt. 12:11. Why has it not been granted to the Pharisees to understand the message of the kingdom? Jesus taught in parables to cull out the close-minded. Though the truth seeker may not initially understand the meaning of the parable, because he has no agenda but to find the truth, it will be explained to him.

To summarize then. God DOES hide the truth from the wise and intelligent and "it has NOT been given to them to understand". Why? Because of their own hardness of heart. The truth that God has for all men sounds like foolishness to them.

14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND ; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE ; 15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.' - Mt. 13:14-15

If God were to reveal the truth to "the wise and intelligent", and if it were given to such people to understand the parables, God would need to spice it with worldly enticements and dress it with shiney trinkets since that is what stirs their passions. But because God doesn't cater to foolishness, His message is tailored to be heard only by those who seek Him. Jesus said, "Seek and you shall find" and the narrow way "few will find". God's Sovereign will and justice are uncompromised and man's free will remains because He speaks to those who "have ears to hear and eyes to see."
Would you like to know the Truth that will give you eternal life?

Put away your prejudices and biases. These are from man and should be dispensed with in favor of God's Word.
Pray and ask for the Truth. Jesus said, "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.", Mt. 7:8. Salvation comes to those who "call on the name of the Lord". Those who pray for salvation will ask, "What shall we do?" Acts 2:38 is God's anwer: "Repent and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins..."
Understand and acknowledge the greatness of Jesus and stand firm against those who lie because they only want to maintain their sinful lifestyle. The Pharisees spoke blasphemies against the Holy Spirit and Jesus said "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment" Mt 12:36
Become as a child, with child-like faith, embrace what is truly good and eschew evil.
Unplug the ears and open the eyes realizing that it is we ourselves who may hinder the search for Truth.
Be a workman of the Word, handling it accurately, 2 Tim. 2:15.

STOP BEING EVIL

2011-09-16T06:53:00.000-05:00

33"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad ; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good", Mt 12:33,34.

Because the Pharisees were evil, what came from their mouths was evil. They were evil in their hearts to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. They were evil to condemn the innocent. They were evil to speak against the truth of God. Being evil, Jesus said, nothing good would come from their mouths.

I was in a discussion with a couple of religious men yesterday who added to a similar discussion that we are all evil. I said that though we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, we are not all evil in the way Jesus is saying here.

The tree is either good and it has good fruit or the tree is bad and has bad fruit. Jesus says, "make the tree good" which will result in good fruit. Considering the context, the Lord is telling the Pharisees to stop being evil. Until they "make the tree good", there's going to be nothing good coming from their mouths.

God washes our sins away and makes us good. We can be right with God only by His grace. But the words of Christ here reveal another aspect of this truth that we must change our hearts and our minds to repent and follow Him. Because the Pharisees loved evil, Jesus called them a "brood of vipers". But if they quit being evil, the fruit of their lips will be good. Only if they quit their evil ways by repenting will God make them righteous.

APPREHENDING THE TRUTH

2011-09-13T10:42:00.005-05:00

"25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight." - Mt. 11:25-26

The words of Jesus are ripe for theological discussion on the means of and obstacles to apprehending the Truth.

Since Jesus is the embodiment of God's glory, God has revealed much to man, Jn 1:14. Since numerous passages of Scripture tell us of God's love for all men and of His desire for them to be saved, we have to conclude that He's not prohibited anyone from hearing and obeying the Truth. Consider the following passages as proof that God legitimately offers salvation to all:

"There is no partiality with God", Rom. 2:11, cf Gal. 2:6.
The Gospel is to be preached to the whole world, Mt 28:18-20.
God desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth, 1 Tim 2:4.
He sent His Son to live among us that Jesus might (subjunctive, offering the possibility on condition) taste death for everyone, Heb. 2:9.
Jesus is the propitiation for the whole world, but especially and particularly to those who believe in Him, 1 Jn 2:1,2.
"For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men", Titus 2:11.

For these and other reasons, including His lack of bias towards all, God makes Truth available to all.

Truth is powerful. Truth, in and of itself, is powerful and stands on it's own. Everything else, everything that is contrary to the revealed will of God, is UN-truth. Un-truth cannot advance as long as Truth stands in the way. Purveyors of Un-truth know this and must therefore deceive by adopting like terminology of Truth - albeit with entirely differing meanings. Un-truth says, "I believe in Jesus, I believe in Grace, I believe in 'truth and spirit' worship, etc" but only when the Un-truth is seen in practice does it become clear that something entirely different is being espoused. God has made his Truth visible so that men can agree on it and so that He may righteously judge men on the basis of whether they obeyed it. Jesus said, "31 If you coninue in my word, you are truly disciples of mine. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free", Jn 8:31,32. The power that is in Truth is not a mystery. Truth is powerful because it comes from the mind and mouth of God. Un-truth can not defeat it, but it can hinder the Truth from taking hold in individuals who are distracted, uncommitted, lazy, and otherwise hate - in part or in whole - the Truth. On that last part, a person can say that in general he loves the Truth, but he may hate certain aspects of the Truth. The person can claim to follow Christ, but if for example he hates what Jesus said about eternal punishment for non-Christians, then he doesn't really love the Truth. The Psalmist said, "the sum of Thy words is Truth." The Gospel of Christ, with all of the particulars revealed by His inspired apostles and prophets in the New Testament, must be accepted or else none of it is accepted. It's all or nothing.

When it comes to apprehending the Truth, we know that SATAN is the deceiver. His deceptions are designed by him with the goal of leading people away from the Truth. Paul said, "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God", 2 Cor. 4. The role of Satan in an individual's reception to the Truth is not to be missed or ignored. Satan does not want people to know the Truth and the "father of lies" will lead many astray. It's sobering to think about.

There's another important facet to be wrestled with in this important theological discussion: God allows people to be deceived. Paul said to the Thessalonians, "11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness", 2 Thess. 2. God sends a "deluding influence"! Yes, it's true. But this is not done by the Father in the arbitrary and careless way that a Calvinist embraces - based on a convoluted view of God's sovereignty - but God's involvement here does not violate his fair justice, nor His impartial offer of grace, nor does it violate the free will of the individual. In fact, the passages quoted here tells us this much. The "deluding influence" sent by God is only on those who "do not love Truth" and instead "took pleasure in wickedness."

So far, we see that Truth is powerful. In and of itself, having come from the mouth of God, it is powerful to save those who believe. It goes out from God and always accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent, Isa. 55:11. We have also seen that Satan is an important player against an individual apprehending the Truth. he's not all-powerful, but against the right person he's very powerful. We also see from Thessalonians and also from Romans 1 that God sends a deluding influence and "gives people over" to the degrading passions and wickedness if by free will, they reject His Truth.

Imagine therefore a Triangle where each corner represents God's Truth, Satan, and the Individual sinner. Satan is powerless and there's no deluding influence from God IF the free will agent, the sinner, loves the Truth and honestly seeks it. That's good news. If the free will agent, the sinner, prefers wickedness and pleasures of the flesh, then God's Word will permit the sinner to believe the lie.

To apprehend the Truth, be honest and give up the things that are carnal. The prayer by Jesus in Matthew 11 praising the Father for hiding the truth from the "wise and intelligent" relates to the principle or law that these have blinded themselves from seeing or discovering the truth. By justifying unnatural sexual appetites, they destroy any relationship with God. When they justify vain and unholy worship, they blind themselves to discovering a relationship with God. If we put our wants, our fleshly desires, above what God's revealed Truth, we will justly pay with eternal punishment. The second part of Jesus' prayer says that God reveals His Truth to children. "Children" are the open and honest folks out there who desire eternal things above whatever this life can offer. Therefore, pray and open yourself to God's Truth, and you will be saved. Open yourself to the Truth and you will recognize it. That's good news. The Truth of God is powerful to save those who believe it, Acts 22:16.

THE HARD WORK OF JUDGING

2011-09-07T23:29:00.004-05:00

Judging fruit when it is people is burdensome and tiresome. I'm not complaining but it is the most challenging part of being a minister of the Gospel. A soldier doesn't quit when it gets hard.

It's easy to share good news and "let your light shine" when everyone's receptive and accepting the Truth. But sometimes the minister or the Elders will judge someone not receptive. This is hard work. Jesus said to His disciples who went town to town preaching the Gospel, "If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace" (Mt 10:13). The preacher is instructed to judge the "worthiness" of the house. Sure, ultimately God is the judge but He's put some responsibility in our hands to spread the Gospel. We are expected to determine who is receptive and who is not.

"Taking back" your blessing is equally important. Deciding it's time to leave and "shake the dust from your feet" is very hard. Deciding who is "swine" and not "cast your pearls" before them is so very hard. But these decisions must be made.

"Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them" (Rom. 16:17).

I think there are many who have quit the work of the Lord because it's so hard to "turn away" from those who cause troubles. They call it "burnout" but they are just tired of the fight. Sometimes it's just fear. There are many who are afraid and so they don't "take back" anything. It's hard but don't quit because it was harder the Lord, Jesus.

PRAY FOR LEADERS WHO SHEPHERD SOULS

2011-09-06T06:59:00.001-05:00

In a short span of time, Jesus helped many people. Wherever He went there were throngs of people with afflictions. They were attracted to Him. Jesus cared for them all having great compassion, but He saw more than their physical needs. There was a scarcity of spiritual leaders for the people. The people were starving to be led by people of faith.

Matthew says,

"36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest" Mt 9:236,37.

Because the religious aristocracy was pretty useless having become something superficial and worldly - for the most part - the people were sheep without shepherds. Jesus answers the most important need for the soul. When the people heard and saw Jesus, the hungering people were compelled to draw near.

Jesus says the problem is perennial. Prayer is an important sign that we understand this because people have the same needs today. They need spiritual leadership. We should pray for leaders who shepherd: who feed and water, who heal and help the feeble, who watch over and protect, and know the truth and guide souls to God.

SANITY, COMING TO SANITY, COMING TO ONE'S MIND, COMING TO ONE'S SENSES....IS NOT POSSIBLE IF YOU DENY GOD...

2011-09-03T18:15:00.001-05:00

Don't doubt it. There is a madness that is rampant among humanity that is related to denying reality, even the greatest and ultimate reality that there is a Sovereign God. The lives of young and old are lived on the frazzled edge. Medications soothe but don't fix. Things material, pretty things offer only a momentary respite from it. The fixes from men don't satisfy because they don't answer the true need, the yearning of the soul to know God.

Men claim atheism, agnosticism, and they shake their fists at God. They challenge and they spit and swear at Him because they don't know Him. They run from Him as fast as their legs and minds permit and they plunge themselves into a darkness that is a foretaste of hell. And once they have thrust themselves into the pitiful condition, they again curse God. It's madness.

The Prodigal Son came to his senses and found redemption. Jonah turned to God in the belly of a great fish and found redemption. The king of Babylon was driven to insanity because of his pride and rejection of God. Only when he lifted up his eyes to God and acknowledged Him did he get well. "But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation" (Dan. 4:34).

Men are going crazy. They are going nuts. Dumping their wives. Abandoning their children. Worshiping money. Pumping massive quanities of alcohol into their finite and mortal bodies. Men and women cannot be happy if they think they are animals. They cannot have self-worth if they despise the human flesh in the womb. Destroy the baby and you dehumanize yourself. The life of the godless becomes less and less of value. Satan is having a field day in the minds of men.

Jesus said "Come to Me". Jesus said God "If I be lifted up I will draw all men to Me." Sanity comes through the Son of God. Sanity comes through denial of self and the exaltation of God and His eternal truths. If you are going crazy, you aren't praying. If you are going crazy, you are not trusting in God's Word. If we have faith to believe in God and to believe in His promises, we will find a sanity that is real and tangible. God's sanity is comfort and peace, joy and love. Come to God and come to your senses.

JESUS IS DISTURBING AND UNNERVING TO THE RELIGIOUS PHONIES

2011-09-03T09:31:00.001-05:00

"When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, 'Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?'", Mt 9:11.

How rude and obtuse! But it was the shining example of the vain superiority of the Pharisees who judged Jesus for eating with common people, the wrong people.

Jesus gave a common sense answer that to them would be profound. He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick", v.12. This would be a profundity and deeply challenging to those who do not have the heart of God. Which is why Jesus said, "But go and learn what this means : 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Alas, they would not "go and learn".

Instead they soothed their consciences with lies. Their carnal interest could not suffer loss. Their power positions must not, would not be unsettled! They would kill this truth speaker who challenges and unnerves them to the core of their soul.

JESUS WITHOUT APOLOGIES

2011-09-03T09:02:00.001-05:00

Jesus was confrontational. Jesus did not say "you're ok, i'm ok". Jesus said repent. Jesus pointed the finger of judgment on corruption and trespass. Jesus said his way was/is exclusively right. "I'm the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me", Jn 14:6. Deal with it.

The only say you or I have in the matter is to accept or reject. We can't soften or undo the force of Jesus. Believers make no apologies for Jesus. He is the Savior and there's no other. If we truly represent Jesus, we will be confrontational - "speaking the truth in love", Eph 4:15.

"15 And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved ; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned'", Mk 16:15,16.

Salvation or condemnation are the only choices. Believe and obey Jesus' Gospel or don't.

It's all about love for souls. Considering the obvious truth of Jesus and His words, I conclude that Believers need to be confronting people more and more so people can make the choice. To keep them unaware would be cruel or uncaring. To preach Jesus to the Lost isn't a pride thing and it's not crazy mission to see how many we can make mad. It's got to be love. Love for the Gospel. Love for souls. Believers are the watchmen appointed by God to warn the Lost of impending danger. If we don't speak up, there is guilt upon ourselves. Believing in Jesus, we see that we have no options but to go out and declare Jesus while we have the opportunity. The night is coming when no one can repent.

Let's go out and speak of Jesus without apologies.

KEEP THE HOLY HOLY

2011-09-03T08:18:00.001-05:00

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).

God's name is holy. it is not to be said in vain. To use God's name - not for calling on Him but to make a buck is a vanity on the order of setting up tables in the temple. Seeing the Dove Awards before and hearing many of these "contemporary Christian artists" (CCA, CCM), I believe they have capitalized on a good thing - the name of God. There might be a kernel of love or appreciation for God in it all, but they have followed the temptation impulse to be in the world too.

Declaring something "Holy!" an admixture of spiritual and fleshly world is rather like plastering Jesus' name on a bottle of beer and calling it good.
Instruments are divisive and non-spiritual. The history of instruments has been to divide congregations. It's always the case that the love and passion for instrument is the culprit. "Do you suppose the church can be my venue for advancing a lucrative career in music?" The answer is no, repent and pray that perhaps God will forgive you for your corrupt mind. The lust for the ears and for the eyes is everywhere seen in the industry. Just like in the general entertainment field it is the beautiful people who get the dough, so it is with this special field of CCM. Packaged and marketed to appeal to the flesh. For spiritual people, the hook is the holy names being used. Ha, Southpark did a great parody on this whole thing. Cartman became a huge CC artists.

Other things that are holy besides worship? Our bodies are holy and our lives are to be holy. We are holy temples of God. And we are told to be holy because He is holy. The work of spreading the Gospel is holy - anything that has eternal rewards is holy. Life is holy and to be preserved. Life is a gift from the Lord. Babies are the closest thing to heaven being so innocent and pure. We are warned not to defile them or cause them to stumble, Mt. 18. Marriage is holy, being joined together by God is such a strong bond that it's not to be torn asunder. In Malachi we learn that the breaking of the covenant of marriage was defiling even the worship they brought.

Keep the holy holy. Be devoted to God because you are to be holy. Resist the temptation to mingle the world and holy things. God bless you.

GOD HAS A MESSAGE FOR US THAT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING IN LIFE

2011-09-02T09:20:00.003-05:00

"Tax collectors and sinners were all
crowding around to listen to Jesus.
So the Pharisees and the
teachers of the Law of Moses started
grumbling, "This man is friendly with
sinners. He even eats with them."
- Lk 15:1,2

"This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" - Luke 9:35

Through the sleepiness and fear of walking through clouds, through misled promises of devotion, God spoke to Peter, James, and John. His message? Listen to Jesus my Son, my Anointed.

I focus on this because it was to the point and unmistakable. The men hearing this would not go through with building a monument to Moses or Elijah because as the words were leaving Peter's mouth, God made them to disappear and said for Peter to focus on Jesus and listen to Jesus.

I wonder a couple of things. How many of our religious friends are still being schooled and indoctrinated into building monuments to Moses and Elijah? The "law and the prophets" themselves pointed to Christ, e.g. Deut 18:15-18. And yet many churches make the 10 Commandments the prominent centerpiece of the Christian life - you know it's true. This is wrong as Christ nailed that cold tablet to the cross in order to establish something better - the law of the Spirit, the law of liberty, the law of faith.

Secondly I wonder if we Christians take to heart the message of God to "listen to Him"? Do we listen to Jesus as a guide for daily life?

Is our worship in spirit and truth, or is our worship patterned according to the desires of unconverted souls? Worship-tainment, the perversion of God's music and message for the sole purpose of making people feel good and entertain them is as DAMNABLE a practice as gorging on Old Testament sacrifices which were meant to be burned up, as DAMNABLE as taking the incense home that God made holy and for the single use of burning in the Holy Place. If you take God's name or the name of His Son and craft it in a song for your entertainment, you are guilty. Leave alone what is holy and worship in spirit and truth.

But what about the way we conduct ourselves in the home. Do we listen to Jesus who said if you are a stumbling block to your children, your fate will be worse than if a millstone were tied about your neck and then thrown into the sea! How seriously are mommies and daddies taking their job to bring the children up to know the Lord? Frankly, my experience is not very seriously. I mean look at junior over there. He's sitting next to his friends on the front row and he's not singing, not praying, not giving, not listening to the beautiful words of God. He's somewhere else. He's a product of the world, not a Christian immersion at home. The transformation is complete for junior who doesn't love God and would rather be any where else. This is mommy and daddy's fault because they watched the transformation occur and at most only wrung their hands. Parents, if you buy junior his every want - he's wearing the "right" clothes - and if you only demand that he get good grades and doesn't break the law of man but you don't emphasize even more the necessity and blessing of listening to Jesus, then YOU ARE A STUMBLING BLOCK to your children, and you are guilty.

Jesus has said for the Gospel of the Kingdom to be preached to the whole world. I wonder how many or what percentage of Christians even care about that? Jesus said to preach the Gospel unto all creation and to baptize them all for the remission of sins. Is that our passion? Is that where we put our time and money? Do we care that souls are lost and on the path to eternal hell? God has given us a mission. We must listen to Jesus and carry the message of the cross to the world before it's too late. People are lost. The greatest need of mankind is the salvation of their soul. If our food and clothing drives and other outreach is not a means to preach the Gospel, then we have turned away from Christ and WE ARE GUILTY of not listening to Christ.

Jesus' words are being ignored! instead of listened to. Jesus said to keep your marriage covenant. Stay married. He said do not put asunder what God has joined. The marriage covenant is a lifetime covenant, as we rightly say, "for better or for worse." The high powered preachers who dismiss this are going to answer for the damage they did to the family and to society - as the family goes, so goes the church and the society. Remember the wife of your youth and stay married to her. Remember what Jesus said that for the sake of the kingdom, some people even made themselves Eunuchs in order to avoid the sin of adultery, Mt. 19. Yes, the sexual trespass of adultery is ignored in many churches because the Leaders are cowardly to speak up. They are faithless, too afraid to confront and possibly suffer a financial hit. You can't forgive a son, you haven't won your brother, unless he has repented. God doesn't wash away a sin that is still embraced. Listen to Jesus.

Yes, the words of Jesus are powerful. "When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth." God's message to us is to listen carefully to Jesus and do it.

PROPS (i.e. "proper respect") TO MATTHEW

2011-09-01T10:05:00.002-05:00

"As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth ; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him." - Mt. 9:9

And "he just got up and followed him", simple as that! How many of us have made such a drastic change in our lives? Collecting taxes one minute, walking with Jesus the next. Selling bread and cakes one minute, preaching the Gospel the next. Participating in the debauchery of the world one minute, cleaning up the next. Hopeless one minute, inspired and lifted up with new purpose the next.

Jesus has issued the invitation to you, "follow Me", but have you heard it? No matter your position or station in life, to follow Christ will be monumental. Following Christ will change your recreation. Your motives for work will be altered. Your relationships will be stronger in some cases and broken off in others. When we follow Christ, nothing stays the same. The calendar is affected. The movies we watch are changed. The way we look at people is changed.

Jesus said "follow Me". Have you? Or is Jesus like a novelty or trinket you collect to add to your collection. Do you wear Him like a bracelet or necklace or tattoo, a decoration? Have you only conformed Jesus to your life? Well this won't do.

Jesus said "follow Me". Matthew heard the call and he left his little collection booth. He dealt with family for sure. He dealt with friends and associates who wouldn't understand such zealotry. The conversation of his life changed from night to day. Matthew is our example. Jesus said "come" and Matthew responded.

If you are addicted to internet porn, come follow Jesus and leave that sin behind. If you are double-minded, worshiping on Sunday, but acting like the devil on Monday, come follow Jesus. If your Christian friends don't see the cursing and swearing that your children do, follow Jesus today. If you work more to please men and if your trust is in money, follow Jesus today. Leave behind the mind of the flesh and fix your mind on the things of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew heard the call from Jesus and it changed his life. Props to Matthew.

FOLLOWING JESUS AT ALL COSTS

2011-09-01T09:12:00.001-05:00

"Then a scribe came and said to Him, 'Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.'" - Matthew 8:19

The excitement of the moment, at the first hearing of the Gospel, in the grasping of a deep spiritual truth, can so deeply affect us that our life is altered forever. It's happened zillions - exact figure not available - of times by the power of the Gospel.

Following Christ is life-altering and, whether at first we are aware, it requires a full appraisal of the costs before us. There are many times in our lives when we jump deeply into something only to leave it behind when the luster and reality of it settles in. Following in His steps on a beach sounds fun and cool - who wouldn't want to be on the beach? But the steps of Jesus go places where there's sin to be confronted, truth to be proclaimed, forces of evil to be defeated. It's here that many promises are broken and distance is put between ours and His steps. Following Christ CAN'T be like this.

Jesus lovingly challenged those who say they will follow Jesus. Really? Even if it means there's no comfy bed to sleep in? Even if your family threatens to cast you out? Following Christ is the greatest decision one can make, but it is costly too. When you say you will follow Jesus, mean it. Understand that His disciples will have enemies in this world. Of course there will be difficulties! Stand firm through it all.

When you said you would follow Jesus, did you mean you would follow in His steps wherever they lead?

FAITH IN THE UNSEEN THINGS OF GOD

2011-08-29T09:14:00.004-05:00

Bible study is very uplifting and gratifying if done with seriousness. Combine study with prayer and the direction of your entire day will change.

Speaking of Bible study, you all know what Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is the "conviction of things not seen". Well that Greek word for "seen" is also in verse 7 of same chapter: "Noah being warned about things 'NOT SEEN' prepared an ark." Now the little insight that gives into the meaning of saving faith is priceless. "Faith" in Hebrews and through out the New Testament is not mere assent or acknowledgement that Jesus is the Son of God. That's important to believe, but faith is the acting upon the Word of God to do His will. Without "preparing" the ark, Noah wouldn't have had saving faith. Noah acted on things not seen because He could see it by faith. When you are convicted that Jesus is the Christ, you DO what the Christ tells you to do.

"He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" Mk 16:16. "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe that I commanded you..." Mt 28:19.

If we believe in God, then we believe in the promises of God. We believe to the point of acting on His Word in favor of the traditions of men and the allurements of the world. People of faith "walk by faith, not by sight". Faith is not inactive. It's active, just like carnal pursuits of men are active. But the difference is obvious. Do we pursue the things I can see, touch and taste in this world or do we pursue the things of God and eternal life? Faith in the unseen God is obedient faith. Without obedience the ark wouldn't be built and Abraham would have remained in the land of his fathers.

Beware of those who preach a dead faith, the kind of demons, which doesn't include repentance and baptism. Beware because they do not understand what Hebrews 11 and 12 are saying. If we are "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith", then we cast away the shackles of sin that entangle us and we "run with endurance the race that is before us". Anything less that this is not "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not SEEN." God bless you.

WORRYING IS SINFUL - THE OPPOSITE OF TRUSTING IN GOD

2011-08-18T09:03:00.004-05:00

Faith in God shows in what you do and don't do. The farmer built a bigger barn because he trusted in himself. The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus because he trusted in his wealth. The worried and anxious are sick and make a mess of their lives because they do not trust God to care and provide for them.

Worry is the same root sin committed by the farmer and the rich young ruler. Jesus said, "do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things" (Lk 12:29,30). Before I get to verse 31, let's think about what Jesus is saying. When we get caught up in the wants and desires of the flesh, we neglect putting God in charge. Worrying is the action of the faithless. No one is perfect but the chronic worrier makes this sin a practice. We worry if we are weak in faith. This is not even negotiable; it is not a matter of debate. Worry is not a chemical imbalance (though it may manifest itself that way at some point in the future). Worry is selfish and results in men building bigger barns so as to feel more secure. Worry will make men abandon their desire for eternal life in favor of material things. Worry is sin.

Chronic worrying is spiritual myopia. It is the failure to see the big picture. Worry is about focusing on the immediate over the promises of God. Consider Jesus' words: "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom" (Lk 12:31,32). In heaven there are no worriers. And in the Kingdom of Heaven there are no worriers. Chronic worriers are tempted to dismiss or minimize this sin - as we are prone to do with most weaknesses - but don't do it because you stop any chance for spiritual growth and happiness. Worry is all about being wrapped up in things and thoughts of this life. Worry is the antithesis of faith. Worry and faith do not mix. The farmer did not seek first the kingdom of God. The rich young ruler could give nothing more than lipservice to his desire for eternal life. His worrying about things is what controlled his actions. Worriers are enslaved to their fleshly thoughts. The person who believes in God and seeks the things of God will be immediately liberated from worry. If you insist on worrying about your life, your food, shelter, and clothing, and a multitude of things, then it's not possible that you are seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.

If you worry, then you aren't much impressed to hear that God knows what you need and will take care of you. The rich young ruler wouldn't trust that God was going to provide for him. Like the worrier rationalizes his problem, so the farmer or the young ruler could rationalize the fleshly choice they made. "Well sure I believe in God, but who's going to take care of me when I'm old?" "For sure I want eternal life but how will I live without all of my wealth?" The worrier, like the worldly people who rationalize holding on to their riches, can't trust that God is going to richly bless them. The worrier doesn't trust in God.

When we trust in God, then we have to invest something in Him. The worrier lays all of his treasures up on earth. The treasures of time are spent minute by minute, day by day, churning and toiling over things in the mind. Worry requires so much investment that there's nothing left for serving others and for advancing God's kingdom. The worrier is inwardly focused. There's no time to write an uplifting letter to someone else. Worry requires you invest all of your energy in yourself. There's no energy to lift someone else's burdens. Worry can't lay up treasures in heaven unless those "treasures" require no money, time, or energy to be invested. The worrier can only give lipservice to faith in God because everything else, everything tangible, must be utilized to make the worrier feel secure.

Worrying is inexcusable to God. Stop it. Pray now. Turn everything over to God now. Be truthful. Are you worrying because you don't trust your man is going to be faithful and you need him to take care of you. Are you worrying that your woman will leave you if you do the right thing? You might be worrying because you fear you won't have enough savings for the future. You might be worrying because you want to live to an old age. You might be worrying because people don't accept you and you want to be accepted. You might be worrying because you aren't as pretty or handsome as some. You might be worrying because your dreams are slipping away. These are not the result of chemical imbalances but they will destroy you and your spiritual life. Don't defend these things and lie against the truth. I am speaking this way because I care. Worry and faith can't mix. Tell Satan to leave you alone. Seek first God's kingdom and trust that your Father in heaven knows what you need. He will provide for you. You will be happy.

MARRIAGE: RESPECT YOUR COVENANT WITH GOD

2011-08-17T08:50:00.004-05:00

If you believe God, it shows in your covenants. If you believe in God, you wouldn't make a covenant with the devil or with his workers. The covenants we make in this life say something about our faith in God.

Marriage is a big part of who we are. It will influence much that we do in this life. If you then marry an ungodly women, you insult the God you claim to follow. Marry a godly woman.

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD." - Pro. 18:22

The covenant of marriage is from God and He expects us to keep them. Marriage is for life and "let no man separate it." So marry good because you will be with this person for a long time.If you grow tired of your wife and dump her, it's an insult to God. If you won't respect marriage, you betray your covenant with God. Don't think for a moment that God will ignore these trespasses. "Judah has dealt treacherously....and has married the daughter of a foreign god....against the wife of your youth you have dealt treacherously..." Mal. 2:11,14. God "hates divorce".

Large churches are filling up their pews with people who have been in multiple marriages. I guarantee you that most of these divorces, not all, but most were not the result of sexual infidelity which Jesus gave as the only exception. Preachers, get it right. Parents, get it right. Husbands, get it right. Respect the covenant you have with God by respecting the covenant of marriage.

NOT ALL WORK IS EQUALLY GOOD

2011-08-10T10:07:00.000-05:00

First, God wants all men to work. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "If a man won't work, neither let him eat." The energy, talents, and needs for living dictate that each man must labor for his own bread and for supporting his family. We are created by God to be productive. The lazy slackard is a disgrace. Solomon said in Proverbs 10:4, "Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich." There's no excuse for able-bodied men to not work. None.

Second, not all work is created evil. There are many people whose work encourages immoral and destructive behaviors as in the alcohol trade and drug business. There are many ways to make a living, but some are better than others. If you make a good wage but it costs you your soul, that’s not better. If your living is earned at the costs of the relationship with your children and wife, that’s not better. If your living is a negative to the life and health of others, that’s not better. Proverbs 10:2 says, “Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death.” Righteous living is profitable and better. If a man lets righteousness dictate his manner of life, it will be profitable to him in many ways. It will save his life, it will save his family, it will give him a good name, it will be an asset to him more valuable than gold or silver.

FAITHFULNESS WHEN THE LORD RETURNS

2011-08-05T09:40:00.002-05:00

Jesus asked, "...when the Son of man returns, will he find faith on the earth?" - Lk. 18:8

There's going to be a 2nd coming of Jesus and it will be a day of salvation and a day of wrath for those who have not obeyed the Gospel, Heb. 9:27,28; 2 Thess 1:6-9. The question is a good one: will God find people ready? Will their wicks be trimmed? Will they be clothed in Christ? Will they be awake or asleep? It's a good question question, nay, it's the most pressing question.

Will he find faithful Christians who are considered fanatical and a little weird by the world?

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 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. - 1 Pt 2:11,12

Will he find humble servants who give and contribute more than they receive?

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." - Mk 10:45

Will he find the Gospel being preached without the subtle but damning distortions required to fill the stadium churches?

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed ! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed ! - Gal. 1

Will He find men still loving and supporting the wife of their youth? The faithful fidelity of the church should be pictured in the marriage.

"31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great ; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church." - Eph. 5:31,32

Will he find New Testament churches that haven't become entertainment driven imitations?

"...Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing ; but that she would be holy and blameless." - Eph. 5:25-27

Will He find Elders and Preachers who remember what their job is to attend to prayer and to ministry of the Word. Speaking to Elders, Paul said,

"32And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." AND "11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." Eph. 4:11-13, Acts 20:32, cf 1 Pt. 5:1-4

Will He find holy people or will he find his people watching people undress in the latest R-rated movie or surfing the web for smut?

"16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;" - 1 Peter 1

When the Lord returns will He find people who are eagerly awaiting?

"27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." - Heb. 9:27,28

If our Christianity has been made palatable to the unrepentant, when the LORD returns will He even recognize us? Will He say, "Welcome!" or will He say, "I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness." - Mt. 7:23 By faith I know that the world is not eternal and I know that this world will have an ending. The Lord Jesus who is risen from the grave and offers victory to Believers is coming again in the clouds. I want to be ready for that day. Will the Lord find us ready?

PARENTS BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO GOD

2011-08-04T23:15:00.001-05:00

Children need daily to see faith in their parents. Young people aren’t always in the mood to learn what they need. A mixture of rebellion and selfishness and hampered by a lack of parental training has established the habit of following what they want. They ignore their elders and reject tried and true ways. Their mentors are peers and the pop culture icons of the day. This is allowed and even encouraged by many Christian parents. But it leaves the young people wide open to attack for the destruction of their souls.

Solomon said to his son, “...if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you,” then you will “discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God”, Pro. 2:1-5. Solomon knew that children are to be led to God. To discern and discover the reality of God isn’t hard, but it’s more than a foolish son can do on his own. He needs parental guides who give wisdom and knowledge that leads to God.

Parents want their children to respect the LORD. Solomon shows the by “receiving” instruction and “treasuring” wise words and by directing their ears and heart towards these things, the young will cry out for understanding and treasure wise sayings, and then they will they discern and fear the Lord.

The education in spiritual things therefore is the responsibility of parents. Instead of encouraging our children to play hours and hours of video games and to become pop culture experts, instruct them in the truths of God. Young people need godly parents who both instruct in and exemplify the ways of God.

Texas Governor calls for prayer and fasting "like Jesus did".

2011-07-19T10:16:00.002-05:00

Truly, a step in the right direction....HERE

THE BIBLE SHOWS MIRACULOUS CREATIONISM IS THE ONLY CHRISTIAN POSITION, THE ONLY FAITH POSITION

2011-07-19T09:59:00.000-05:00

To make a single cell is so complex - the information necessary to, the design for each interdependent part so complex and perfect, that it’s nothing short of a miracle.

Without God, the Creator, life is so complex that it couldn’t happen by chance. But the evolutionists insist that given enough time and enough chances, life could begin.

Michael Behe says the problem evolution has is “irreducible complexity”. The tiny motors, the wide array of complex systems in every cell, the information, transportation, sythesizing, energy production is so complex that multiple miracles had to happen all at the same time or the evolution argument dies along with the “accident”.

The point is that the miracle of a single cell had to all come together at a single instant. Evolutionists want us to believe that the miracle happened without God. That it had all the processes in place, to access food, to survive in a hostile, oxygenated, caustic environment, and had the built in ability to reproduce and multiply itself before the end of its life span.

Jesus said “In the beginning" was Adam and God designed man and woman in the beginning for marriage. The reason the Pope and Anglicans and others accept evolution as the process God utilized to create everything is less about science and less about faith and more about societal pressures.

We believe that the God who could make a single, complex cell, could made a single, complex, multi-cell organism called man. Life is a miracle and there's no way to get around that. If you say you believe in God, then believe in His works. He made energy, he made light, he made the processes of life, he made the tiny motors in that contract, spin, propel, synthesize. Believe in God.

He raised the dead, didn't He? He cured blindness and leprosy. He made the lame walk. God is still working his will in our lives. We need to start believing in a powerful God. He made you. He made all of the teeming life on this planet. He made the water and the oxygen and the He invented the processes of photosynthesis. He gave us so much good that we might grope for Him and find Him.

Evolution is a detestable philosophy and a doctrine of demons. I'm certain of this. I believe life is a miracle of God. I will not sell God short in the vain attempt to make faith more palatable to people who don't love God.

In christian love, Dan

AN APPEAL TO OBEDIENT FAITH IN BAPTISM FOR SALVATION

2011-07-19T08:29:00.001-05:00

In the church of Christ, everything is connected to the cross and to the will of Christ. In other words, all we do is completely motivated by faith. "If it is not faith, it is sin." When I'm explaining salvation, I help the person to see that I am not going to say anything that is anti-grace, anti-faith, anti-Jesus, anti-Bible. Religious folks today have been conditioned to believe things about the church of Christ which aren't true. When I study with a truly sincere and religious person who says he or she knows something about the church of Christ, I know what they think they know isn't true. There is a certain disinformation campaign going on against the church of Christ. It's heard in statements by opponents who say, "they believe that baptism 'in and of itself' saves." Those words can be seen in Bible notes/included commentary to explain away 1 Peter 3:21 and other passages. Those who say such things like "if it's all about baptism then why did Jesus die" have been misled. I and all members of the church of Christ recoil at such an attitude. Truly. What it's all about faith in the sanctifying work of Christ. More on this in point 3.

Second, God in His sovereignty, always acts according to His nature which means he remains perfectly just while also respecting the free will He's given to each of us. He's just because when He condemns people to hell, it's due to their trespasses against His will and just to save people of faith who also commit sin, but God's righteousness determined that One could pay the debt of others if the others believed. This second point is important because we mustn't think we have no say in our salvation since the alternative would ignore some important characteristics of God. God is not a respector of persons which He would be if he by fiat, separate and apart from anything we have done, decided specifically the person who goes to heaven and which go to hell. Also if we have no say in our salvation it would make a mockery of faith since faith is what God requires of me and all sinful men who would be saved. It's nonsensical to think that God is just to judge the world but to offer salvation to those who have faith WHICH He then gives to those He wants to save. There's no place for Biblical faith to fit into such a theological position. So "sovereignty" from a kind and loving God truly holds out salvation to ALL men because He loves them ALL. He desires for all to be saved, Jn 3:16; 1 Tim 2:4,5. That "desire" and "love" of God would be just words and more like mocking if God in His sovereignty only gives faith to some people and the rest go to hell because He didn't give faith to them. So the second point here goes to being consistent with God's nature and with the nature He has given to us. Unless WE have something to do -- in faith, NOT according to fleshly motives -- then it's all on God and WHEN you teach that salvation, from first to last, is in and on God's hands alone, then it betrays what we know about Him.

Third, all of the things that we say WE must do to be saved are "a work". But before you jump ship or close your mind, let me explain further. "Works" fall under two categories, works of the flesh and works of faith. When a person adopts the doctrine that salvation is by "faith alone" he has committed a couple of errors. First, he or she has adopted a view that contradicts Scripture which says clearly "we are NOT saved by 'faith alone'". That's one error. The other is the mistake of lumping all works together; sounds like "faith alone" makes simple obedience a bad thing. "The obedience of faith" which Paul says he's been made an Apostle to bringing about isn't a bad thing; "obedience of faith" is NOT "works of the flesh". Let me explain why there's a distinction between works. Works of the flesh are works where faith is not in God, but are instead faith in the flesh - boasting about, pride in beautiful voices, smooth tongues, doing many good deeds, following man's traditions are all the work of the flesh. Works of faith are about faith in Jesus instead of self; the faith isn't in the work itself, but in God's power to save.

Everything we do is IN faith. When we believe in Jesus Christ, it's belief in the Cross and in the resurrection of Christ. To be saved we need to go to the Cross. Belief happens when we believe in something bigger than ourselves. A man who still boast in himself, still believes in the goodness of his own works. He's not ready for salvation. Belief is believing in His Sonship, his perfection, and in the power of His blood to cleanse. When we stand before the cross, we are like the Centurion who said 'this truly was the Son of God.' This is the only thing faith can do when you realize who Jesus is. And we tell people they must repent, turn away from sin in order to be saved. But this requirement isn't antithetical to faith. It's part and parcel to it; you can't pick up one end of a stick without moving the other end. You can't believe in Christ as one ought to without thinking repentance. Before the Cross a person is struck by the thought that the innocent Jesus died for the sins of others. If I believe in Jesus - before the Cross - then it's simply unthinkable and unreasonable that I continue in my sin. When I go to the Cross, repentance is necessary for salvation (see Acts 3:19 "repent and return in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord"). Repentance isn't a work of the flesh unless the person is saying, "I'm good, look at me repenting, I deserve eternal life." Repentance must be an act of faith or it's pointless in regard to salvation. Building on this, Romans 10 and Matthew 10 say we must confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and if we don't, if we won't confess Him, then He won't confess us before the Father. So it's very true to say that you must not only believe and repent of sins, but YOU and every sinner must confess in order to be saved. When we go to the Cross and are struck with the message of the Gospel, that He came and died to save sinners, that's called 'Good News'. If and when we believe that the Cross is good news, then confessing can no longer be considered a work of merit or of the flesh. When we believe in the message of salvation through Christ, we can't help but confess it. Confession, like belief and repentance, are NOT separate from faith - they are the faith. A person of faith doesn't resent God because God expects him to confess to receive His salvation. When it's faith, confession is integral to that faith. In the most absolute and complete sense, repentance and confession CANNOT be separated from the faith God requires of sinners in order to save them.

Baptism is not an act of the flesh. Baptism is an act of faith. It's the only reasonable and appropriate thing to do when a person understands what the Gospel is: the death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is so integral to saving faith that the forgiveness bestowed through the blood of Christ is said to be received AT baptism - not before or after. God's salvation through the cleansing blood of Christ is for those who "obey the Gospel" and the Scriptures make this very clear. As we saw before, the "obedience" God requires is not a demand for fleshly merit, but it is the obedience intrinsically tied to faith. Let' s take a look at the passages which say the Gospel must be obeyed, not believed alone. All 3 instances of spoken of in negative, i.e. what happens to those who DON'T obey the Gospel:

--- 2 Thess 1:8 "dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."

--- 1 Pt 4:17 "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God ; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"

--- Rom. 10:16 "However, they did not all heed the good news ; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" (note: "heed" is the Greek for "obey" and "good news" is the same as "Gospel".

No one can be saved who stands before the Cross and isn't moved to repent, confess, and obey the Gospel in Baptism. See the Gospel is defined as "the death, burial, and resurrection" of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:3,4) and in Baptism "we obey the death, burial, and resurrection" of Jesus. It is AT baptism that a person truly passes from death to life - not before or after.

We must preach faith in Jesus and the Cross. That's why we preach like Philip who "preached Jesus" starting in the book of Isaiah. When the Ethiopian Eunuch was taught Jesus, the Eunuch's very next words are, "Look, here's water, what prevents me from being baptized", Acts 8:36. Philip the inspired preacher didn't say, "Whoa, hold on there, you are in jeopardy of confusing faith and works" because when taught properly, baptism is the act of faith where God first applies His saving grace. We preach the faith as Paul did. Passages like Romans 6:3-5 and Colossians 2:11-13 shows that Baptism is the participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In Baptism we see perfectly how Paul says in Ephesians 2:8,9 that "we are saved by grace, through faith". God is the only one that can save. Only the Holy Spirit can renew and make us new in Christ. The cleansing power in the the blood of Christ and my soul knows it very well. WE TESTIFY THAT WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE. But God's saving grace is applied when He says, which is AT the baptism of faith.

Let's make something else clear that God's grace is actually experienced by all men. Perhaps it's more accurate to say that ALL men witness the grace of God so that they might see Him. But to be saved by grace is only for those who have the obedience of faith. To all men God shows a degree of love and kindness so that men may find Him. SAVING grace is for those who obey the Gospel. It's God's righteous choice to save only those who believe and obey the Gospel. Romans 2:4 says that it is the kindness of God that leads to repentance. That kindness and patience which God shows to all men is that they might seek Him. Romans 2:11 says God is not a respecter of persons. Acts 14:17 and Matthew 5:45 shows that God shows Himself and His goodness to all men that the ALL might understand His true nature and come to trust in Him, Rom. 1:20. To love even your enemies is to be like God towards them but not to the point of accepting their evil deeds. SAVING grace is for those who believe and obey the Gospel revealed at the Cross.

Sincere people, sincerely misled people, are dismissing or diminishing what Jesus said in the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:14-16). Jesus said we must "make disciples" of men. We are to preach the Gospel to all creation because God desires that all men be saved. We go about fulfilling this work by preaching to them the Gospel, where the saving power is, Rom. 1:16. After we have given a sinner the low down on His spiritual condition, the sinner chooses to believe or not. If he believes, he's immediately confessing, repenting, and looking to be baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If we are in a church that tells people they don't need to be baptized or that they can put off baptism until a later date, then we are in a church that's not preaching like the Bible. Baptism is essential. It's why 3,000 were baptized on Pentecost and their sins were washed away. It's why there was immediacy in the Eunuch's words. It's why the jailer was baptized in the same hour of the night that he was taught about Jesus. It's why Ananias said to Saul "why do you delay? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on His name." Jesus commanded what the church of Christ teaches that "he that believes and is baptized will be saved." Baptism isn't contrary to the Gospel, it's interconnected to the Gospel by Jesus' own words.

We in the church of Christ do everything by faith or we don't do it at all. Baptism is a holy command and not a work of the flesh. A person is added to the church of Christ by God; he doesn't join it. A person is saved by the grace of God, not by His works. Baptism is a work of faith, just as are confession, repentance or belief. We in the church of Christ do not diminish faith by teaching the person to be baptized - in fact, we uphold it.

Peter, the great Apostle said, "Baptism now saves you", 1 Pt 3:21. He explains that baptism saves a person through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The power is not in the water. It's by faith in the work of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

Many of our religious friends today who are opposed to teaching "baptism for remission of sins" are relying on false reformation theology. The "reformers" like Luther, Wesley and others were rightly rejecting the traditions of the Catholic church that taught penance and paying the debt for your own sins - e.g., purging them away in purgatory, saying so many "Hail Marys", etc. But the "reformers" went too far, swinging to the other end of the spectrum to the point of teaching another error: namely, "faith alone". The pendulum swing to the other extreme caused Luther to regard James, not as the practical inspired book that it is, but as an epistle of straw, a work of man, which burns up in the fiery judgment. For those who adopt his "faith alone" doctrine it becomes nearly impossible to see works and obedience through the proper optics of Scripture. By embracing reformation theology, works of faith don't register (but see 2 Thess 1:3). "Faith alone" theology doesn't quite know how to handle Paul's words in Romans 1:5 and 16:26 that His work is to bring about "the obedience of faith". "Faith alone" doctrine has real difficulty with words from Christ like "whoever does not deny himself is not worthy of me." These teachings of Christ, Paul, and James are not in opposition to saving faith -- they are in perfect harmony when we realize the Scriptures don't teach "faith alone" doctrine. The Bible shows us that we are all doing either works of the flesh (which bring death) or we are doing the works of faith, of the spirit, which brings life and peace, Rom. 6:13. All of us, none are excluded, are either presenting our members to do sin and works of the flesh OR we are presenting ourselves to God, as instruments of righteousness to do works of faith. Later in the same chapter Paul says, "thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you BECAME OBEDIENT FROM THE HEART TO THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE TO WHICH YOU WERE COMMITTED, AND HAVING BEEN FREE FROM SIN, YOU BECAME SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS." See Paul had no issue with directly connecting obedience with forgiveness. He wasn't betraying Biblical "salvation by grace through faith" theology. Paul knew that there's no salvation until we stop sinning and start doing God's will. Romans 6:3-5 shows WHEN they became obedient from the heart - when they were united with Christ in baptism and were raised to walk in newness of life.

Baptism that is taught in the church of Christ is in perfect harmony with God's saving grace. It's in perfect harmony with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It's in perfect harmony with the works of faith

God requires that we demonstrate faith for salvation.

All that I've said here is the Truth. And I have said it with a spirit of love. May it be received for what it is, the effort of a humble servant of God to help others find the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ.

ARE WE REALLY ON GOD'S SIDE?

2011-07-16T09:08:00.001-05:00

Are we really on God's side? If our attitude about sin and wickedness is touched or colored by modern sensibilities, then perhaps we are not. David said something in the 139th Psalm words which are worth reading again.

"19O that You would slay the wicked, O God ; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. 20 For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD ? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with the utmost hatred ; They have become my enemies." - Ps 139:19-22

The modern sensibility, even being heard in pulpits and in devotional books is to love, to love and not hate, to avoid such harsh and critical words, to be at peace with those who oppose God. This attitude is dangerous to faith.

The truth is we quite simply will not and can not do God's work with such an open-minded and non-judgmental attitude. Jesus said we are either on God's side or we aren't. He minced no words that you cannot have two masters - you hate one and love the other. If you love the worldly masters, you hate God. And if you love God, then you hate the worldly ones.

Satan is evil and we hate him. The workers of darkness, the wicked who suppress truth and righteousness are enemies of God and we hate them.

Don't misunderstand or confuse this point. It's true that God wants evil men to repent and be saved. And we appreciate that, unlike Jonah who resisted preaching to Nineveh, and we don't hate to the point that we wish for them to be lost. But be clear on this matter than those who are firmly on the side of evil are our enemies because they are God's enemies until they repent. If we want to be on God's side and accomplish the work He has ordained for us, we must resist the temptation to be more accepting and forgiving than is God. Resist everything and every attitude that is contrary to God.

David loved God. He was loyal to God. When he saw the wicked blaspheming and perverting the truth, it provoked the spiritual man. It is not unspiritual to be provoked by evil men and their works. We cannot love what they are doing. We cannot see the consequence of their works and feel good. When the Gospel is perverted, we say with Paul, "let them be accursed", Gal. 1:6-9. David loved God and it hurt him to see men shaking their fist at the authority of God. The evil men hated God and David hated them for it.

This is not unspiritual. The 139th Psalm is so spiritual and so necessary that without such encouragement we all might misunderstand where we are to stand. If the wicked in the world are confused about where we stand, then we are not making it clear. People of faith let their light shine and they are hated by the workers of darkness. They hated Jesus and they will hate His disciples. The words of David are spiritual. They are not the rants of a man who doesn't have the spirit of God.

Yes, I will say it, I hate the workers of evil. Those who pervert the Truth for their own fleshly interests, I hate.

If we love what God loves and if we love what God hates, how does that help us? It doesn't.

Don't misunderstand. We are to speak the truth in love. We are to love our neighbors and do good to our enemies: "heap burning coals on their heads". But they are our enemies. We are to pray for those who do us evil. We are to be at peace with all men, as much as it depends on us. Don't misunderstand to think that you have to love evil, not hate it, in order to accomplish these things and have the right spirit.

I'm tired of seeing Christians taking on the attitudes of the world. We won't get off of our seats until we know and acknowledge in the clearest terms the evil that we face. You do not suit up with the armor of God to make nice with the enemy. It's warfare. By the weapons of righteousness, we are pulling down strongholds. We are taking every thought to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Say Amen if you are on God's side. Say Amen if you love what God loves and hate what God hates.

THE TONGUE AND THE HEART

2011-07-15T22:41:00.001-05:00

Our tongue tells a lot about our faith and if we have God in our heart. There is wisdom from God if we will ask, but we have to speak up and ask Him, Jas 1:3-5. Some people are weak in faith and they foolishly blame God for all of their troubles - they speak foolishly. It’s why James says, “Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak....” The “quick to speak” usually transgress with their tongues and are not mature. Sometimes we just need to bite our tongues and shut up. A tongue that speaks evil is a problem of faith and of the heart. As we mature spiritually, we increase self-control in what what we say. Pro. 15:28 says, “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” God gave us a tongue to be guided by the heart. Usually whatever we say is a reflection of what is in our heart. That’s why it’s good to have God in our hearts. That's why we need His word in our hearts. If we would not transgress, then we need to meditate on His ways. Then our tongue will speak what of faith and glory in the things of God.

DO NOT DIVIDE GOD'S CHURCH

2011-07-14T12:11:00.001-05:00

Unity among Believers is sweet. God is one and God wants His people to be united. Consider the following verses:

"10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment." - 1 Cor. 1:10

"1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." - Eph. 4:1-3

"1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;" - Phil. 2:1-3

"20 I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." - John 17:20,21

What are some things that would divide God's Church? Anything that is not faith is divisive. Paul said, "17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another,", Gal. 5:17. When Christians like the Galatians or Corinthians start thinking and acting according to the flesh, it is divisive, 1 Cor. 3:1. For example, a haughty and proud spirit is not faith. Such a spirit is the works of the flesh (see Galatians 5:19ff) and is completely contrary to what is found among God's people. Take note that the divisive spirit is counted among sins like sexual immorality, idolatry, and sorcery, Gal. 5:19,20. Such people are dangerous to Church unity. Disobedience to God is not faith. Resisting God's commands is rebellion and by definition places the person at odds with God and His people. Adding to or taking from God's word is not faith. Sectarianism and divisive spirit is not faith. Anything that is not faith in God and in the things of God is fleshly idolatry. Authorizing what God did not authorize is speaking with presumptuous spirit and it is divisive. Being friends with the world while claiming to follow Christ is divided and necessarily divisive. The closer we cling to God and walk with Him, the closer we will all be to one another.

THERE IS A GOD THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

2011-07-14T11:00:00.001-05:00

I want the world to know God. I want the world to know His goodness. I want the hopeless and despairing to be lifted up. I want the wise and worldly to see that they owe all they have to Him. I want the proud to humble themselves. I want the humble to be exalted by Him.

God is not a god. He is the God, the only true God. He's not like the idols of modern culture. He's not limited in his abilities. He's everywhere at the same time. The thoughts of every man are known by Him. This is not too much for Him. His arm is powerful. He made a tree out of things not visible. In a fraction of a second he thought out the workings of the entire universe. All of the forces of nature, gravity, thermodynamics, the mysteries of the woman's mind, a human eye that would see stars billions of miles away, the fruit bearing tree, the newborn baby!!!.

David thought about the works of God and said, "6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it....14I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well....17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" - Ps 139:6,14,17

There is a God in heaven. He's made Himself known so that men are without excuse, Rom. 1:20. So let's talk passionately about Him. Let's be the people of faith who show the way for the lost souls of this world. All of His works are marvelous and I am committed to Him.

If you are not living by faith, then you are trusting in the flesh. The fleshly acting man relies on his own wits and strength. And when his wits and strength run out, he's run out and there's nothing to hope in. People of faith trust in God who is teacher, counselor, deliverer, savior, friend, king, and much more. A man of faith will do more than a man of the flesh. A man of the flesh receives only the wages of the flesh. But a man of faith receives from God eternal rewards. God makes all the difference in the world. And He's ever so close. His salvation and help is being offered to all.

There is a God. We call Him Jehovah. He came and lived among us for a while to show us the way to live. By His life and death, Jesus Christ understands our every need, fear, and hope. Of these things I am certain. God is more real than the keys on this computer. He's more real than the screen you are looking at. God is the ultimate reality. Acknowledge Him before it's too late. Open your eyes of faith. Seek Him and His righteousness. Separate yourself from the world. Repent of the sins you have committed against Him. Obey Jesus' Gospel by being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your sins will be forgiven and you will be brand new. God is real. Don't doubt it. God has a will for you. Don't resist it.

BAPTISM AND FAITH = FAITH IN GOD'S SAVING GRACE

2011-07-14T10:49:00.002-05:00

I have studied with a few "Baptist" - they borrow their name from John the Baptist, which is ironic (Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3) - who have adopted the line that Baptism is necessary for obedience but it's not necessary for salvation. Put another way, it's not necessary to be saved, but it is necessary to show that you have been saved. Since most Baptist say that Baptism is necessary for church membership, then put another way, it is not necessary for salvation, but it is necessary for membership in the church. Since the Baptist believe that a person is saved before Baptism - and church membership isn't possible until after Baptism - then Baptist believe that there are many people that are saved without being members of the church (despite that the Scriptures say Jesus is the Savior of the church). This is a tenuous position based believing that baptism is necessary but it's not. Baptist reject the position that baptism and salvation can in any way be connected.

The ones who call themselves Baptist think that their position is the truly "faith" one: expecting anything of the sinner would be antithetical to faith in their view. They teach that salvation is apart from works. So if salvation is not at (indicating time and location, not that the water is the power or cleansing agent for only the blood of Christ and grace of God can do this) baptism, when does a Baptist believe a person is saved? The common and quick answer - which changes - given is that a person is saved in the Baptist Church when he says a prayer and ask Jesus in his heart. This answer is supposedly rooted in the Scriptures that say "and everyone that calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:9,10). I said the answer can change with a Baptist. If you show the Baptist that saying a prayer, especially one that can't be shown by example in Scriptures, is also a work, then the Baptist might (and this has happened in my studies with them) say that a person is saved "by faith" before any prayer or anything. This has led to the Baptist asserting that nothing is required for salvation, that even faith is a gift of God (erroneous position confusing the grace and faith of Eph. 2:8,9, the grace is the gift of God, not the faith). At this point, moving this direction as the Baptist has done, places an individuals salvation solely in God's hands apart from ANYTHING the sinner has done or ever will do (this is radical Calvinism) which makes God a respecter of persons and makes a mockery of so many passages that say God's loves everyone, God desires for everyone to be saved, that say Jesus died that He might taste death for everyone (Rom. 2:11; 1 Jn 2:1,2; Heb. 2:9; 1 Tim 2:1-5).

If you are a Christian, everything is faith. You must believe that Baptism is about faith or else it must be works alone. If our Baptist friends reject the Baptism being taught and practiced in the church of Christ because they believe we are practicing "works alone", then they are simply mistaken and uninformed. Alternatively, when Baptist say that Baptism isn't about salvation, then it is a mere work they teach (which explains why some Baptist don't require baptism any longer, their position is more consistent with their "faith only" doctrine than is the position of those Baptist who still require Baptism). If a Believer in God and believer in the sanctifying work of Christ on the cross thinks that there are some works that are unrelated to faith, he is misled and still not understanding that "by works of the flesh shall no man be justified": baptism without faith is a work of the flesh (which is why infant baptism is also unchristian).

The Scriptures teach that Baptism is about putting faith in God for one's salvation. The passages in Acts 2:21 that says, "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" sounds like it is connecting prayer and salvation. If you think so, you are right. But the "prayer" or calling on God for salvation is done in and through Baptism. Less than 20 verses later, Peter responds to those who are pricked to be saved, saying, "repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38, cf 41). This connection between the prayer, i.e.g "calling on the name", and Baptism is seen again in Acts 22:16 where Ananias is speaking to Saul/Paul, saying, "Why do you delay? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on His name." Saul still had his sins and they wouldn't be washed away until he called on God for salvation. But Ananias commanded Saul to do what no modern Baptist would command, "Arise and be baptized" to wash away His sins. It's very clear from the Acts 2 and Acts 22 passages that Baptism is the place or point in time that SAVING grace is received WHEN a person realizes his sinfulness and then by faith calls on God (a prayer?) to wash away his sins.

I said that the answer from a Baptist for WHEN salvation occurs can change depending on the study. The quick answer they give is that salvation is received at the "Sinners Prayer" but when pressed on this, the answer can lead to the extreme Calvinistic position that God saves the person apart from anything the sinner does (because God is Sovereign and because you don't have free will). This extreme position makes a mockery of what it means for God to require faith or obedience to His Son, Jesus Christ.
But further, the answer from a Baptist for WHEN a person is saved changes in the other direction as well. When the Baptist quotes Romans 10:9,10 which says you must not only believe it in your heart - that Jesus is Lord - but that you must also confess it with you mouth, that answer obviously requires more than "faith alone" or believing only. To "confess with your mouth" is the act of converting your mind's affirmation into something vocal. The vocal chords and the lips and tongue must be engaged to be saved. But the answer can change again depending on the situation because the Baptist will say that the unrepentant will not be saved. So the "faith alone" position that requires a "Sinner's Prayer" and confession begins to subtly press for repentance - or else you prove you aren't saved.

The conclusion is that the "faith alone" position is a facade which will sometimes not even require faith - not from you anyway, since it's confused to also be given from God - to the other extreme of requiring confession and repentance (notice it stops short of requiring baptism, which Jesus' commanded in the Great Commission, that is until you want to be a member of the Baptist Church and then their baptism IS required).

This brings me to another point that is related. There is no place in a person's life where he's not working. A man is either a servant of sin or of the Spirit (Rom. 6, whole chapter). The only works that exist in all of the world are the works of the flesh and the works of the Spirit - one brings death and one brings life. There's no middle ground. The teachings and commands of the Scriptures are works of the Spirit. The teachings and activities that are contrary to Scripture are works of the flesh and of man. When a person wants to be saved, everything he does falls under one or the other category of work. If a person is obeying Jesus Christ and His apostles, then he is not doing a work of the flesh (is it not stupendous and provocative that the Baptism in the church of Christ is said to be a work of the flesh by our Baptist friends?).

If you love the Lord, He will save you. If you seek Him, you will find Him. Just knock, and the door will be opened to you. Don't you know that God loves the world and is patiently waiting for you to be saved. He's just waiting for you to stop putting your faith in yourself and to start putting your faith in Him. Do this by repenting, confessing Him, and being baptized into Christ. I will finish here with the words that Ananias said to Saul, "Now why do you delay? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on His name", Acts 22:16. Now if your preacher won't say that to a lost soul, then he's not on God's side. With love. Dan

THE GODLESS - CAN THE GODLESS BE GOOD

2011-07-09T00:35:00.003-05:00

The godless are those who have banished the thought of God from their lives. In every way they act as if He doesn't exist. They act as if they are nothing more than an animal, a creature of instinct, destined to be destroyed. The godless believe in the survival of the fittest and they think nothing of dominating the weak. Men are to be used and enslaved if possible. They seek and destroy in order to satisfy their carnal passions. The godless do not speak truth; they know not what it is. The godless do not love. Charity is foolish to them, instead they acquire anything and everything that will gratify their wants. The burdened and weak, voiceless, abandoned souls are to be dispensed with and tossed into the trash. They have no regrets about the past and they have no hopes for the future. The godless are a miserable multitude who hate and despise anything good or innocent. If they see the innocent, they defile it. If they see light, they blow it out. If they see an upright man, they smear with intent to destroy him with his past, with lies, and distortions. The godless destroy with their mouths, Pro. 11:9. They run down and tear to pieces those who oppose them. They speak flattering words and they use the words of truth and holiness, but they use words only to conceal their true meaning. The godless speak of progress and evolution, but their work is about regression and devolution -- de-evolution. They do not build up people or things. They destroy because building up things that are lasting means caring about posterity, about others: that's too much that is not invested in themselves. The godless dress up in ties and polished shoes, but they are filthy and unholy in their minds and in hearts. The godless are the enemies of Christ. Just look at the fruit of the godless on the macro level and you see enslaved, despairing, and unproductive society. The end will come upon the godless and they will not be spared the wrath of God.

"19 Do not fret because of evildoers Or be envious of the wicked; 20 For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out." - Pro. 24:19,20

The God-fearing have no fellowship with the godless. It is a sin against God when His people become too familiar with the godless. Godly people represent everything good and decent. As God's will is done in heaven, so it is done on earth through the godly. God distinguishes between the holy and the profane and he distinguishes between the Christian and non-Christian. Godly people draw near to God. They are people of faith. They long to see the eternal promises of God. Godly people are not easily shaken. They do not fear the threats and intimidations of the godly. They walk by faith, not by sight. They speak truth with love. They care not only for themselves, but for others as their Savior exemplified. God knows the godly and they are always in his sight. Some day the godly will hear the words "well done, good and faithful".

Which side do you want to be on? It is the godless who callously legislate that there's no moral question in literally ripping a baby to pieces from the womb. Why? Because the baby is an "inconvenience". It is the godless who legislate there's no moral question in robbing a man of the fruit of his labors. Why? In the name of equality and fairness they steal from one and give it to another. It's the godless who dress up their sales pitch in carefully crafted words from marketing and public relations experts. Why? So they may conceal the truth.

CHRISTIANS LOVE AND HATE

2011-07-08T15:58:00.003-05:00

"The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,", Pro. 15:33

Fear and love and hate all reside in the child of God. This is not being taught today, not in the world that's pushing diversity and non-judgment. But what the world teaches is often wrong. And it's not ever surprising that people distort the Gospel.

The normal relationship with God includes love and fear. Jesus said to, "fear Him who can destroy body and soul in hell", Mt. 10. Fearing God means the abolishing of a lot of fears, like the fear of Satan and the forces of the world. "Perfect love cast out all fear" because fear involves punishment - from Satan and the world, 1 Jn. 4:18. The reason some are silent, not confessing Christ, is due to their fear or punishment from those opposed to Christ. What it means is they fear the world more than they fear God. But when we love God, we fear Him, and we fear the world less.

Two other things also reside in the Christian: love and hate. Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate." When we love and fear God, then we love and hate the things which God hates.

I have heard people say that "Christians don't hate." Well such a blanket statement is inaccurate. It is true that Christians should be very loving. But there are some things that Christians hate. Look at the verse again. Love and hate are the opposite of each other. And it's impossible that we can love evil. It's impossible that we can love arrogance or the perverted mouth.

The Psalmist said he hated God's enemies. "20 For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies" (Ps 139:20-22).

When someone makes the blanket statement that "Christians shouldn't hate", kindly ask them if they want to clarify their position. Jesus said that you can't have two masters because you will hate one and love the other. It's impossible to love God and love your enemy. If you love God, then you must hate His enemies, just as the Psalm says.

So let's make it clear and make the proper distinctions lest we be fooled to thing we are to love "everything" or that "Christians don't fear God." If we love "everything", then we are on the opposite side of God. And if we don't fear God, then we do not understand Him. Solomon said, "Fear God and keep His commandments is the whole duty of man."

MY EXPERIENCE SAYS START LISTENING TO GOD: AND STOP MINIMIZING WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT PARENTING

2011-06-29T18:00:00.005-05:00

"6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it" - Pro. 22:6

Like few other verses, this verse in consistently watered down by Christians. It's not surprising though when we consider that majority of their children are not following the Lord when they leave home.

Read the articles and hear the comments when this verse is read and you would think this verse means nothing. "Children have free will and parents can't help it if their children are unfaithful." This passage doesn't talk about the children going astray from what they have been taught. If we aren't careful, we are in danger of taking away from God's word.

I have watched many children grow up in the church. I have observed these things with great interest. And the more I know the parents of the children, the more clearly I see how parents do consistently teach their passions. They teach their children fashion. They teach them to get along with the world. They teach them that Christians don't have to proselytize. They teach the names of Hollywood Actors and words to popular music. And you know what? The children do not depart from these things.

This passage from Proverbs talks about "training". Training works. It works in the workplace. It works in civic organizations. It works in athletics. It works in rehabilitation centers. It works in college and technical schools. But people dismiss God's word suggesting that training doesn't work in the raising of children! Even though parents have control of their children at their most impressionable ages, they want to dismiss the influence of training. That doesn't fly. Parents to be successful have to stop making excuses and start doing what God said.

But many, maybe even the majority of Christian parents do not passionately instill a righteous faith in their children. They do not passionately teach their children about the living God. They do not uphold the Word of God in their home. And these Christian parents often see their children turn to the world. If we train up a child in the way of the world, in the culture of our day, in the thoughts and attitudes of Hollywood, when they are old they will not depart from it.

God's word is true. I have seen a number of examples of truly dedicated Christians who live and breathe their faith. They teach their children with love. They love and honor their wives. They don't compromise at work. They don't fill the pulpits and serve as Deacons and project one image while at home projecting a worldly image. They discipline their children and guide them to adulthood. I have not ever seen these parents lose their children. That is my experience.

THINK ABOUT GOD'S WILL IN ALL YOU DO

2011-06-29T16:30:00.002-05:00

“In all your ways acknowledge the Lord, and He will make your paths straight” - Pro. 3:6

In everything we do there should be a consideration for the will of God. Paul wrote, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord..." Col. 3:17. This command encompasses all of our actions. There's nothing we do that which must not pass this high bar of righteousness.

We don't think enough about God. Some people acknowledge God only when it's too late. They've gotten themselves into all kinds of trouble and then they call on Him to get them out of it. We need to start considering God more. When we wake up. When we work. When we play and travel. When we lie down to sleep. Our lives will be happier if we begin consulting God. Our lives must be filled with the thoughts of God.

More broadly, the Scriptures teach us that everything we do, we should do for the Lord. Our work is to be done for the Lord, Col. 3:23. Our worship is done for the Lord, not to please men, Mt. 6:2. When we contribute or pray, it's not for gaining approval of men. Christians are not man-pleasers, they are God's pleasers, 2 Cor. 5:9. The help we give to others is really a sacrifice to the Lord, Phil 4:18. When we gave someone a glass of water or a piece of clothing, we did it for the Lord, Mt. 25:40. The kindness we show to the poor is lending to the Lord, Pro. 19:17. That's how God sees it. Because God is our justifier, we do not do what we do to seek the approval of men, 2 Cor. 10:18. God's will is primary. We must obey God rather than men, Acts 5:29. Carnal men lay up treasures on earth. Spiritual men trust in God and lay up treasures in heaven.

God instructs us in all that we do. We always rise in the morning, and lay down at night, and walk by the way with the Lord's will on our minds. He instructs us in our business and in our play. Our home is God's residence. And we take God as our guide and helper at school. In all of our ways we acknowledge Him, and he promises to establish our way, Pro. 3:6. All things which we do can be done in His presence. Before Him we are open and laid bare. If we are ashamed of anything, then put it away. Do what you know is pleasing to Him. Truly, WHATEVER you do, do for the Lord.

ALL PRAISE IS A TEST IF WE ARE PRIDEFUL OR FAITHFUL

2011-06-28T09:32:00.003-05:00

Herod died because he did not give glory to God.

21 On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died." - Acts 12:21-23

The angel of the Lord represents God. He is on the watch to see if men acknowledge God. The small and the great of all the earth are being watched and weighed. Herod failed the test and took upon himself the glory from men when instead in his heart and in his words he should have praised the Lord. The Proverb says,

"The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him." - Pro. 27:21

The crucible imagery is showing that getting praise is a very serious matter. So serious that when we are receiving it our ears should perk up and our spirit should focus quickly on the matter. It's a test that shows if we are positively trusting in God or if we are negatively oriented towards the flesh. A spiritual man will be praised and it's not anything that can be helped. A spiritual man passes the test of the crucible of praise because he's ever poised to pass it on to God.

Man is the only creature in all of God's creation who must choose to acknowledge and give God glory. The stars do it. The trees, rocks, and rivers do it. The beauty and complexity of all living creatures do it. But man alone has free will that he might choose to honor God. Indeed He must for it is a sin for man to receive honor and not give it to God. It is a test that many, like Herod, fail.

Sometimes praise is sincere and sometimes it is flattery. If the praise you receive is only flattery, you will regret the praise later when the motive is exposed: you will have been trapped by your pride.

When a man sincerely praises you, be careful because even then is a test. You have been placed in the crucible. It's not necessarily that you are being set up, but be careful because what you do with it for it tells if you are carnal and prideful or if you understand yourself to be a servant of the Lord. Be careful with all praise, because even if it is sincere, there's an unintentional pit you may fall in. Even deserved praise, "the praised accorded him", should be received with your eyes open in a way that your spirit considers the Lord. Give God the glory and let the praiser know you are thankful to be His servant. A servant of the Lord wants the Master to receive the praise. You are the light of the world, not so men worship you, but so that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Herod took the glory for himself and failed the test.

We will fail the test if we are weak in faith. That's an unavoidable fact. This is such an important matter that it deserves to be addressed immediately in our prayers. If we are walking with the Lord, we are going to bear fruit. We must be ready to give thanks to God. Talk to God and ask for His help. Ask Him for forgiveness if we have trespassed here. Pray for wisdom and a discerning heart to avoid the pitfalls of pride. To be safe, let us consider the Lord's workings in all of our affairs and give Him glory. We never know all of the ways that God's hand is at work in our lives.

IT IS SHAMEFUL TO NOT WORK

2011-06-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

Satan encourages laziness. He knows that God has ordained for men to work by the sweat of their brows. Satan knows God has ordained that "you shall reap what you sow" and if a man can be tempted to sow little, he will reap a little. Such a sluggard might be easily tempted to also curse God for not providing for him.

Proverbs 24:33-34 says, "33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest, 34 Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man."

Too lazy to get out of bed? Get ready to be hungry. Christian parents, do you encourage your children to relax and take it easy because "they will have to work for the rest of their lives"? Well, be prepared for them to do later exactly what you have trained them to do today. They will live off of you and off of others. There's no reason that a child should not learn labor very early. They should pick up their toys. They are participants and partners in the household. They can dust, or help in the yard, or in taking out the garbage. If you want your children to prosper, warn them what God has said "he that sows sparingly shall reap sparingly." It's the law of life. God is not mocked.

Certainly, the outcome comes from the Lord. He blesses us with our bounty if we are faithful. But if we are faithless, we cannot expect that God will give us anything. "If a man won't work, neither let him eat", 2 Thess. 3:10.

Satan is a liar and deceiver. He wants people to live in confusion and to blame God for their own mistakes. God makes it clear that we should work with out hands, 1 Thess. 4:11. Anything less is shameful.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT FOR THE LORD

2011-06-24T06:51:00.000-05:00

Paul wrote, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord..." Col. 3:17. This command encompasses all of our actions. There's nothing which we can do that must not pass this high bar of righteousness.

The reality is that we are tempted to do our deeds to please men. Satan tempts us to care more for the favor of men. But this is not pleasing to the Lord. While it's true that we must live among men in peace, we do all that we do to please God - if it so happens that that pleases men, you just killed two birds with one stone. Great!

Everything we do we should do for the Lord. Our work is to be done for the Lord, Col. 3:23. Our worship is not to be done to please man, but it is done for the Lord, Mt. 6:2. Our gifts to men are really to the Lord, Phil 4:18. The kindness we show to the poor is lending to the Lord, Pro. 19:17. When we give someone a glass of water or a piece of clothing, we do it for the Lord, Mt. 25:40 When we contribute or pray, it's not for gaining approval of men. We are not man-pleasers. God is our justifier and we do not do what we do to seek the approval of men, 2 Cor. 10:18. We must obey God rather than men, Acts 5:29. Carnal men lay up treasures on earth. Spiritual men trust in God and they by faith lay up treasures in heaven.
If men are pleased by your generosity, that's great but you are doing it for the Lord. If your employer is pleased with the work you do, that a by product of serving the Lord. Our aim in all we do ought to be to be pleasing to the Lord.

Our lives must be filled with the thoughts of God. God instructs us in all that we do. We rise in the morning and lay down at night and walk by the way always with the Lord's will on our minds. He instructs us in our business and in our play. Our home is God's residence. And we take God as our guide and helper at school. In all of our ways we acknowledge Him, Pro. 3:6. All things which we do can be done in His presence. Before Him we are open and laid bare. If we are ashamed of anything, then put it away and do what we know is pleasing to Him. Truly, WHATEVER we do, do for the Lord.

PARENTS MUST BE PASSIONATE FOR GOD [Updated]

2011-06-22T08:27:00.003-05:00

It never fails to impress me. I have watched many parents and their children. Parents ALWAYS pass something on to their children. Parents pass on to their children their own passions. Passionate about football? Watch the son. Passionate about paying your bills and saving? Watch the daughters learn. Passionate for the mission of God? Watch the children.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." If you have God pigeon-holed to occupy only a part of your life, just watch how your children receive God. If you care more for your children's fun and popularity, just watch how your children grow. If you have a gentle spirit at church but scream and curse at your wife, just watch and see what your training instills in your sons. If you love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength so that your sons and daughters see the beauty of God in the home, just see what is trained into them. They will never leave what you train into them.

Think honestly about who rules your home? I have seen homes where the children rule. Parents skip church because their children rule. Parents are driven to poverty because their children rule. The children say 'jump', and the parents jump.

Proverbs 22:15 says, "15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him." Don't fail to take charge of your children. God has placed them in your care so be sure to discipline them and bring them up in the nurture and instruction of the Lord.
[Updated]
I knew a man, a family member, who was completely exasperated when it came to controlling his children. They were like uncontrolled monkeys, running here and there, touching what they shouldn't, screaming and fighting. And the dad - and mother - was almost red-faced with embarrassment when they sensed others were seeing the ridiculousness of it all.

However, and this is instructive, I saw the same father take on a seriousness and control towards the children WHEN THEY TOUCHED HIS THINGS. Oh, I noticed and learned that he was selfish. If it was HIS books, the children learned quickly not to touch. But the same man didn't have the same respect or regard for others. I wonder what he passed on to his children.

Steady and godly discipline will train the children up and drive foolishness from children. Don't treat children as if they are in charge of the home.

SINCERE WORSHIP - INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

2011-06-21T09:53:00.001-05:00

The Proverb says, "To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice" Pro 21:3

Some carnal men think they may please God with a gift to appease him when they know they are living contrary to His will. They treat people corruptly and they are filled with all sorts of sinfulness. God wants them to know that their sacrifice is pointless.

Other carnal men think they may withhold their sacrifice - because they are selfish and cling to their possessions - as long as they do righteousness and justice. What God desires is both. Jesus said as much:

"23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others" - Mt. 23:23

Jesus spoke of "spirit and truth" worship which is an imperative if we are to be pleasing to God. Carnal men rationalize their bringing one or the other to God. Inwardly they might be full of zeal but their flesh continues to be satisfied so that they rationize bringing will-worship, Cain worship. They say, "God is pleased with whatever I bring to Him." God who weighs the heart knows they are neglecting His will and replacing it with their own. They are offering to God whatever they want to. Perhaps the false worshiper isn't so convinced on the inside but outwardly he goes through the show of piety. Offering worship by this person is not in spirit and truth. They are going through the motions, but because their spirit is not right, the outward worship is defiled too like Nadab and Abihu worship, or Hophni and Phinehas worship. It might be according to the truth, but it is certainly not according to the spirit.

We must offering God sincere worship that is pleasing to God both inwardly and outwardly.

BEFORE JUDGING BE SURE TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR

2011-06-16T08:12:00.000-05:00

The godless world cannot escape the judgment of God. We see stars in politics and hollywood - Schwarzenegger and Weiner - crash and burn and we think it's justice. We are reminded in Scripture that, sure enough, God is not mocked and every man reaps what he sows. The godless world can shake its fist at God and the hedonists can ridicule Christians for their moral stand, but judgment day cannot be denied.

There are consequences to taking the moral high ground in a godless society. First, the world will hate you if you do. They hated Jesus and they will hate anyone who lets his light shine. The prophet who stands up and says, "it's not lawful for you to do that!" is going to be attacked. But silence isn't an option either.

Second, and corollary to the first point, the world will not miss the opportunity to bring a Christian's morality down on his head. When a religious person is caught in a public trespass, the godless world won't miss the opportunity to label him "hypocrite!" It's imperative that Christians practice what they preach, not only for conscience sake (Rom. 13:5), but also out of concern that they may invite ridicule.

Look in the mirror. Walk by faith. Confess your sins to God before your sin is found out and the consequences are worse. We may stand back and watch the world burn down in sin and we may rightly express shock and derision because the world has been so foolish to deny God, BUT be sure to look in the mirror. Let's be sure to remove the log from our own eye. We cannot hope to advance the cause of Christ unless we are willing to sincerely and honestly examine our own lives.

IS YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST OR SOMETHING ELSE?

2011-06-15T07:57:00.000-05:00

By God's grace we have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ, Col. 1:13, cf Col. 2:12,13. The question is, Is that our reality? Do we live daily with Jesus as our king and do we submit to His rule? He rescued us from the Satanic realm of darkness and from being eternally lost and placed us firmly in His kingdom. But do we live that way? Do we arise each day and greet our King and ask Him for His will to be done in our lives? Do we live by faith or do we live pretty much like the faithless world?

Keep the faith because faith is the victory. Paul wanted the Colossians to have unshakable faith. But in what is our faith? Faith is confidence and assurance in the invisible God and in His promises.

Christ is the object of our faith. We have redemption in Christ, Col. 1:14. He is preeminent in all things - the first born of all creation; the first born from the dead, Col. 1:15,18. Why? "So that He might come to have first place in everything." He is creator of the universe and all things in it, including dominions and powers and all rule. There's no king above Him. There's no god above Him. There's nothing in the creation above Him. Jesus is the object of our faith.

Faithless people, and all those who have "little faith" and those who have doubting faith cannot have their eyes on Jesus, the preeminent Savior. In Christ is their salvation but they doubt that in Him they are complete and lacking in nothing. The faithless they are filled with worries and fears; they trust in their wits and strengths; they offer tiny prayers and expect nothing from God; they put more faith in the teachings and doctrines of men; they don't give Christ a lot of thought.

We profess Christ but do we walk by faith or by sight? Do profess faith in Christ but in reality act more like people who are carnal? Does fear or love control us more? Do concerns for this life control us more than the promises of God? Do we look for the scientifically plausible explanation for the miracles of the Bible or do we believe in the powerful God who works providentially in our lives today? Are we led by the flesh or by the Spirit? Paul highlighted "the Incomparable Christ" to make it clear what should be the reality of the Christian.

Paul was concerned for the Christians and he made it clear that Christ was sufficient for them. He made it clear that they were complete in Christ AS LONG AS THEY REMAINED FAITHFUL.

"22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister." - Col. 1:22,23

Our salvation is secure if we continue in the faith. Today pray the prayer of faith. Submit to God's rule. Seek His will and humble yourselves under His mighty hand. Repent of the things that are contrary to His will. Walk fearlessly and speak fearlessly because God is on your side.

THE OUTCOME BELONGS TO THE LORD

2011-05-30T08:54:00.003-05:00

Faith is confidence in the living God. The Scriptures are urging us all to have greater faith in God, in the invisible but knowable God. Faith not in ourselves - our strength or intellect - but in the works of God. Jesus marveled when he saw great faith in a person, Mt. 8:10. He lamented at times over the weakness of it in others, Lk 12:28. Faith is the thing which set apart the Bible greats like Noah, Abraham and Moses (Heb 11). By faith in God and in His promises, they acted in ways that set them apart from the carnal, faithless world. Without faith we can't be pleasing to God. By faith men of old gained God's approval. Hebrews 12:1-3 is a call to run our lives by faith in the victorious Son of God. So all the Scriptures urge us to have greater faith in God.

A faithless world sees nothing beyond the grave and sees no works beyond what can be explained naturally. Though we might rightly say that that's a great faith indeed to believe that things designed and made themselves, still it's not a faith which the Scriptures point to. Carnal man has faith in the impossible; but the spiritual man has faith in the possible. The "faith" of the world is a foolish and idolatrous thing. The "faith" of the godless world is rooted in a denial of God Almighty and so there's no trust that God is doing anything. But people of true faith believe otherwise that there are outcomes - in this life and in the life to come - which relate to the working of God.

This brings me to the truth which I related in my sermon that "the outcome belongs to the Lord". Faith is not faith in what WE do, but it is in what God does. We don't put our faith in our repentance or in our good deeds. To do so would be akin to the faith of carnal men who deny God. Faith is believing that God saves, that God delivers, that God hears, that God works, that God does many things, and is not merely an observer. Hence the point, the outcome belongs to the Lord. We do not trust in the arm of the flesh because the battle belongs to the Lord. The mind of man makes his plans but God directs His steps, Pro. 16:9. Faith is in Almighty God and in the things which He does. This we understand, acknowledge, and proclaim that it is so.

God works in ways which we can't and He does beyond what we can. My soon to be son-in-law pointed out to me his favorite passage of Scripture from Ephesians 3 which says, "20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Faith is to glorify God because we know He is doing things in and all around us in our lives. This is a cause to glory, to rest assured, to be confident and convicted knowing that God is at work in our lives. Paul said to the Philippians "to work out your salvation with fear and trembling", Phil 2:12. It's true that we work by faith in God, but it's not true that our faith is IN our work or in what WE do. The faith to work out our salvation is in the next verse which says God is working in you to accomplish His good pleasure, Phil 2:13. To move towards greater faith is rooted in doing the revealed will of God which we find in Scripture. By yielding our will with humility, we trust that God begins to perform His work in and through us. Faith is in God's works at the Cross, in prayer, and through servants who have yielded to Him.

God works through humble servants. It's why Jesus said "the greatest among you will be the servant of all." Paul wanted only to be considered a servant of the Lord, 1 Cor. 4:1. He didn't take credit for God's work in His life. He said "he planted, and Apollos watered, but God was bringing the increase", 1 Cor. 3:6. He reminded the Romans that God is the potter and the One who moulds the clay. People of faith understand that God is molding and developing them into His image. By faith in this working of God we are justified and are pleasing to the Lord. The humble servant doesn't take credit for the good accomplished through him. He readily and happily gives God the glory for working through him. Christian servants understand that God is at work in them.

When a man or woman has faith, there's a greater willingness to let go of some burdens. Because "God cares for you", there is less doubt and more certainty that God is about to do what he can't do. If we pray for God to do what we can already do, that's not faith. If we insist on fretting about the past or the future, then we refuse to give up vain and worthless things. All of our labor spent in the past and in future "what ifs" can't add a single cubit to our lives. It's vain and related to the carnal ways of men. The person of faith improves the quality of his prayer with anticipations and the list of important things to mention before His throne grows. He spends his time working the works of God and leaving the rest in God's hands.

We have known Christians who list and founder and we wonder what is the cause. But if we ask them, they usually admit that they haven't given God much thought or attention. No they haven't been praying as they should. No they haven't been reading the inspired letters from God. In other words, no they haven't been giving God much thought at all. Often times, nay, most times, I would say that the struggling Christian is gone back to his old ways of trusting in his flesh. He has doubted in the working of God. He hasn't prayed the prayer for God to do what He cannot do. He has turned back to relying on his own goodness and filled himself with pride. He has turned back to worrying about the future against all reason and against the wise instruction from God that today has enough troubles of it's own. He has turned to carnal pursuits - even if unwilling to honestly admit it - and so he has loved the world and the things in the world. He has turned to building bigger barns not remembering that his life is but a vapor. To making his plans without considering "if the Lord wills". The foundering Christian which we lament and pray over is headed backward into the world of sin and flesh. He might say "I believe in God" but all of his actions say otherwise. It's easy to see why some Christians fall back into the world because they have denied the work of God in their lives. Their god is not powerful. They are still operating very much on their own.

If we do not want to fall into the same ruin as such faithless men do, we must keep the faith that acknowledges the outcome belongs to the Lord. If we are faithful we can make it through great difficulties knowing that God works all things together for good. We must acknowledge that we have a God who shows his attributes, power, and nature through the creation that He might lead us to repentance and salvation, Rom. 1:20; 2:4. We must not worry about the future or the past because God is at work in us. Faith "seeks first His kingdom and His righteousness", Mt. 6:33. Don't fail to acknowledge the providence of God the way carnal men do who prefer to credit chance or coincidence. Believing in God is believing in the rewarder of those who seek Him, Heb. 11:6. Pray without doubting. Speak as it were the oracles of God, not because you are powerful, but because the Word is "living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword." Work and do good not to receive glory, but so that men glorify God. Choose the path of faith, the straight and narrow, which carnal men cannot do. Work not for this life, but lay up treasures in heaven. Be faithful no matter what men say or do to you because your reward in heaven will be great. Confess Christ to men, and do not deny Him, and God will confess your name before the Father.

Men are going to hell because they trust not in God and trust only in themselves. Knowing there is a God is the essence of faith. Knowing that the outcome belongs to the Lord is the essence of faith.

A person of faith never gives up. Only when we give up our faith that God is working in our lives do we then consider to give up the things of God. When a person believes God is at work, he cannot quit working the works of God. If you are at the point of throwing up your hands, to lash out at people, to let hate or bitterness control you, then you have stopped believing in God. For if you still believe that God's working in these matters, how can you do these carnal and faithless things knowing that they can only get in the way and be an obstacle to the work of God? The trusting person sees by faith the possibilities of God working in even the most difficult circumstances and resolves himself to endure. Never give up your faith that God is at work.

HOW GOD CHANGES ME

2011-05-24T10:14:00.011-05:00

How to make meaningful change in our lives is a question we all ask. We know how habits are hard to change. Think about how many people you have known who never seem to change. Though we haven't seen them for years, they haven't changed for the better. We sometimes look in the mirror and worry that that will be us. But we should take heart and not be discouraged because God helps and changes people who trust in Him. Through what means do we see this change in us?

PRAY - The Bible says to "pray at all times"; in communication with God you are not wrapped up in yourself. Effective prayer accomplishes much. God hears and answers the prayers of those who are righteously seeking Him. The road to change always starts with seeking God. Before he was a Christian, a man was introduced to one of our Elders the day after he sat crying in solitary confinement in a local jail, and was crying to God, "I just want to believe". God answers the prayers of those who seek Him. "Seek and you shall find." The Bible is filled up with examples, recorded especially for us, that show how God helps those who seek Him. Wherever you are, pray and pray hard. Pray until you have nothing left to say. That's the time in prayer when our intellect, verbal skills, grammar and syntax fail us by failing to adequately say what's in our heart. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;" (Psalm 139:23). Stay in prayer before the throne of God even if you have nothing to say. God searches the heart and knows the things you want to say and can't. God will hear the unspeakable pains and joys of the heart "with groanings too deep for words", and He will answer you.

REPENT - Jesus said, "unless you repent, you shall likewise perish"; repentence is the change you do in your mind. James 4 is written to some rather carnal Christians who are acting hostile towards God because they want to be friends with the world. Yes, sometimes our failure to change is unrepented of attitudes and habits. God is jealous for His people and His grace is only given to those who address their sins and draw near to Him. "8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you" (Jas 4). Now may be the appropriate time to mourn and confess to God just what a pitiful sinner you are. When we repent, the heart, mind, and body must be engaged or it won't be lasting. David said, "17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (Ps. 51).

God's grace is for the humble. He's opposed to the proud, but He exalts the humble, Mt. 23:12. "Exaltation" means to lift or raise up to a very high position. Now what if God's blessings were all more like platitudes without any tangible or measurable effects? When God exalts you, you are in a very real way changed. It's a matter of faith in that you must acknowledge it and give Him credit. You must believe and not doubt. God doesn't lift up and help the proud and arrogant of heart. But the humble person who lifts his or her spirit up to God will be blessed in this life and in the life to come.

Humility is at the heart of meaningful repentance. When we change our minds about sin, God changes us inside and out, now and forever.

DON'T WORRY - The Scripture says, "do not be anxious"; fretting about the future where you will be or about the past that got you where you are isn't a bit helpful; live in the moment because each day has enough worries of its own. There is a time for mourning and grieving over the sin we have committed, but not to the point that we cannot move forward. Start living positively and see the change God makes in your life. When we fast forward to the future, our mind, body, and soul become intertwined in what is largely unknown. When we rewind to the past and make that the abode of our mind, the regrets and pains from mistakes we have made can completely disable the self living in the here and now. After we have dealt with our sin and established that from here on out we are going to walk with the Lord, then we can really live. And then we will see the changes of God in our lives.

GOD IS NEAR - Remember God is with you and in you through His Spirit. "God dwells in you and you are not your own", says the Apostle. You are the temple of God through the Spirit and so be holy and sanctified. To be the temple of God is a meaningful reality. You are not alone for God is with you and He cares for you. David said, "7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence" (Ps 139)? The answer for David and for us is nowhere. He's the Father who knows exactly what you need and is "a very present help in time of trouble". An old Brother, I believe it was Roy Lanier, Sr. said, "Live in the presence of God". That's good advice if we want to make change in our life.

The temple which is you is made pure by God's grace. The God who purchased us so that "you are not your own", has called for us to be holy in all of our behavior. Treat God's temple well. If we are abusing and defiling our bodies with immoral living, we fail to connect in our minds with the reality of God's presence. If we are not loving ourselves - mind, body, and soul - it's not possible to love others. God says we are to love others, but it's not going to happen until we take care of ourselves. If our bodies are given to the passions and lusts of this world, it's hard to be God's instrument for righteousness. Be nice to yourself and treat God's temple pure and holy.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - Paul said a man ought to, "know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor"; self-control is a characteristic of people of faith. There's no such thing as a perfect Christian, so stop beating yourself up. But Christians walk in the light and have fellowship with God. "Walking in the Light" is the habit of someone who renews himself each day. I messed up yesterday and it was a mistake. But I love the Lord and want to be known for that. Christians sin, but they don't practice sin. If you are a Christian, love more today, rejoice more, trust more and have God's peace....and practice self-control. It's the fruit of the Spirit, it's God's work in you.

Want to make a change in your life? Like the title implies, the better question is how are you helped by God to make change in your own life or how is God changing you? We don't do anything without the help of God and that's why He alone deserves the glory for anything and everything we have done and ever will do. He saves us by sanctifying us through His Son. And He is active in the perfecting of each Christian until they are the fulness of Christ.

A most encouraging passage is Isaiah 41:10 which says, "10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." God says we don't need to be anxious or fearful because he will strengthen and give help to His people. Whatever is your weakness or need, God changes things around us and in us. Amen.

ACTS 2:38: EIS DOESN'T MEAN "IN VIEW OF"

2011-05-23T09:31:00.007-05:00

Denominations and Bible printers distort the Word of God. The following is a perfect example why not to trust them. The following commentary for Acts 2:38 was found in a NKJV study Bible at the Lifeway Bible book store.

"'for the remission of sins': is Peter saying that we must be baptized to receive forgiveness of our sins? Scripture clearly teaches that we are justified by faith alone, not by works (see Rom. 4:1-8; Eph. 2:8,9). The critical word in this phrase is the word FOR, which may also be translated 'with a view to.' A comparison of Peter's message in 10:34-43 makes it clear that 'remission of sins' comes to 'whoever believes.' Believers are baptized in view of God's work of forgiveness, not in order to receive that forgiveness. God's forgiveness in Christ gives baptism its significance. Baptism is a public declaration that a person's sins have been forgiven because of the finished work of Christ on the Cross. (bold added by me for emphasis)"

Let's examine this bit of sophistry.

1. Contradicts Acts 2:38: Clearly Peter is saying that the crowd is not saved, not yet, despite the "finished work of Christ on the Cross", not until the crowd "repents and is baptized".

2. Contradicts James 2:17-26: The commentary uses other passages of Scripture to disprove Scripture, which are distorted and interpreted falsely. It says, "Scripture clearly teaches that we are justified by faith alone, not by works". The assertion of salvation by "faith alone" is a contradiction to James 2:17-26 which says we are not justified by "faith alone". The passages cited in the commentary says we are saved by faith, but not faith "alone".

3. Confuses general and specific principles. Cherry picking passages from Romans and Ephesians which say we are justified by grace through faith DOESN'T answer the question "what kind of faith?" 1. The commentary might say "faith alone" if the discussion is baptism, but if it then calls for confession, or repentance, or a "sinner's prayer", the "faith alone" doctrine based on "the finished work of Christ on the Cross" is contradicted. The author in the commentary isn't only contradicting the 21st century churches of Christ, he is contradicting Peter. Without Scriptural support, saying that salvation is by "faith alone" ignores that pricked sinners weren't saved and Peter told them they must repent and be baptized. Now should we believe and say what Peter said, or should we accept erroneous reformation theology? Peter's specific answer calling for repentance and baptism doesn't contradict the general principle that salvation is by faith. This is common sense which reformation theology ignores.

4. Defines Greek word EIS and then changes the definition: The commentary correctly says that the Greek EIS can be translated "with a view to" but then it fails to explain the peculiarity of the preposition that it is always used "prospectively" (looking forward, future, "with a view to"), not "retrospectively" (looking backward, past, "in view of"). "With a view to" is prospective, so that repentance and baptism commanded by Peter are done in anticipation of forgiveness - not because (retrospective) their sins are already forgiven. So the commentary doesn't accurately portray this peculiarity of the preposition EIS. Additionally, it redefines the preposition in mid course saying, "Believers are baptized IN VIEW OF GOD'S WORK OF FORGIVENESS,... (emphasis added by author)" and therein we see the trick used by the false teacher. One of the oldest tricks in the book is to redefine the terms. The Sophists use the correct terms but they mean and he teach something entirely different. "IN VIEW OF" is retrospective, looking back, which the preposition, which was initially defined correctly "with a view to" doesn't do. The word isn't accurately translated "in view of"; it is "with a view to", or towards. It's a subtle trick the commentary employs to get around Peter's command to repent and be baptized.

The more we study denominational doctrines, the more we see how upside down is their theology and interpretation of Scripture. The commentary in question seems more interested in defending denominational doctrine than in defending the truth. Countless millions may be led astray by this suppression of truth.

James says, "1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment" Jas. 3:1.
___________

Dan Mayfield with an M.A. in Bible has preached the Gospel for the past 20 years in the same congregation in southern Minnesota while enjoying the support of a good woman for the past 31 years, who together have raised their five children, and have added a few sons-in-law and six grandchildren.

See http://www.aconqueringfaith.net/2008/05/eis-in-acts-238-and-matthew-1241.html">Meaning of EIS in Matthew 12:41 doesn't mean "because"

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER IN MY PRAYER

2011-05-16T18:35:00.001-05:00

GOD ANSWERS MY PRAYER IN MY PRAYER

God answers prayer. God answers. We pray and God hears us and He answers. GOD hears the prayers of those who cry out to Him and seek Him with all of their heart. David said, "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy" (Ps 86:1). There's no denying that God answers prayer. How He answers is a different matter.

I believe that God answers prayer in many ways, including in the prayer. I don't believe that my thoughts are God's thoughts. I am not confused to think that my thoughts are the voice of God. BUT I do have faith that there's an answer from God somewhere in my thinking. I have the faith that my prayer for wisdom from God is more than mental exercise and growth. For sure, God's wisdom is ascertained through the Holy Scripture, through the creation (Rom. 1:20), and through the example of faithful Christians. But there is a wisdom to be attained THROUGH prayer and IN prayer. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God" means there is SOMETHING which comes from God. Sure, study and study more in God's Word and that's important. But James said "let Him ask/pray" and God will give wisdom if you don't doubt. Learning God's Word is essential to the process, but I have a sense that God's answer to prayer isn't only received by turning back to the Scriptures.

It seems to me that somewhere along the process of a man being changed on the inside there must be something that God is doing on the inside. If God were not in the equation, then man would simply engage in academic exercises to perfect his walk. But God is in the equation. And Christians trust that God effects in them what they cannot do themselves. There is this "interface", if you will, between man and God. So while I'm not presenting a case for the supernatural or miraculous works of God to be still at work, God is at work in us because somewhere in the loop between praying to God, then consulting with His Word, and back to praying to God, and so on, there is something that God does. "He gives generously" His wisdom to those who pray without doubting. The giving of wisdom is connected to praying.

There might be more doubting than we want to admit that God truly answers us in our prayers. In the prayer of faith, there is peace and solace to be found. Perhaps the answer is a sense of clarity. The humble soul goes into the presence of God where there's no trouble, no worry, no fear. In some fashion, God is powerful and able to answer our supplications and prayers. When His face is turned towards us and when His ear attends to the prayer, there is a blessing which is real. It's not magic or voodoo, and it's not the supernatural type of communications God had with the prophets of the Bible; yet it's a spiritual connection between the Father and His children.

Must we believe that God's answer to prayers be only external? We believe that God gives us bread and fish when we are hungry. We believe that God answers prayers, opening doors, making "all things to work together for good", and so why don't we believe that there's an answer to God in our thoughts? Again, I am not confused to think that my thoughts are the voice of God. I am not a prophet. And God doesn't speak to us today through angels or prophets (Heb. 1:1,2). I know and believe that God speaks to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. So I'm not suggesting a dangerous position where men are lead by their dreams and imaginations. But I am suggesting that somewhere in our minds, there is a confluence of God's working thar becomes manifest in our thoughts - even while we are praying.

Parents parent better who have prayed to God. Workers work better who have spoken with God. FAITH demands that we NOT assign these improvements only to our own wisdom. Shepherds shepherd better when they talk regularly to God. Sure, Bible study is invaluable, irreplaceable, and required. The Scriptures are powerful, there's no question about it. But so is prayer.

Prayer is powerful. Prayer accomplishes much when spoken by the righteous (James 5). Let's make sure we aren't giving lipservice to prayer. We believe that the Word of God is powerful. Let's believe that prayer is powerful. Let's start believing that God answers prayer. Not just externally, but in our soul. God answers prayer in ways that manifest themselves in my thoughts. I'm not saying that my thoughts are God's thoughts. I'm not saying that God speaks to me in a "small still voice". But there's this inescapable idea in me that with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me (helping me in my prayers with groanings too deep for words), and through careful study of God's Word, that my thoughts are affected, altered, and enlightened when in serious prayer. Somewhere behind my thoughts and musings come the answer from God. I can't prove it but I believe it.

The answers from God can't contradict Scripture. We cannot exceed what is written in Scripture (1 Cor. 4:6). The answers from God can't be false or contradictory to His revealed Truth. God does not lie and there's no falsehood in Him. Like wise deductions from Scripture, so the wisdom of God can be manifest in our prayers. The truth is, it's really a mystery how God does it all. The wisdom of God that comes to me through Bible study, fellowship, and prayer is in conformity to the Bible. There can be no contradictions.

I believe that God answers prayers. Not just externally, through other people, by opening doors, by creating circumstances, but He answers prayers in my prayers.

APOSTLE PAUL'S PRAYER LIST

2011-05-14T16:53:00.003-05:00

The disciples of Jesus asked how they should pray. And Jesus taught them how to pray both by illustrating and by exemplifying prayer.

We can also learn how to pray by examing the prayers of the Apostle Paul. They are numerous and revealing. The frequency of his prayers and the content of his prayers are complex and full. Look at the following verses and fill in the blanks. Then go and pray.

To the Romans he said, “8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10 always in my _________ making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.” (Rom. 1:8-10)

To the Corinthians, “4 I thank my God _________ concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, (1 Cor. 1:4)

Praying for them to be enriched, to be confirmed until the end,

To the Ephesians, “15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease _______ ________ for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;” Eph. 1:15,16

“18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, ” (Eph 6:18)

To the Philippians, “3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 _________ offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,” (Phil 1:3,4)

To Colossians, “3 We give ________ to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your ______ in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven,....9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the ________ of His will in all spiritual wisdom and __________ , 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the ____________ of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” (Col. 1:3-5, 9-12)

To Thessalonians, “2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;” (1 Thess 1:2)

To Timothy, “3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly __________ you in my prayers night and day, 4 longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. ” (2 Tim 1:3,4)

To Philemon 1:4,5 “4 I thank my God always, making mention of ______in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;”

What does our Prayer List look like? Does it look like Paul's prayer list? Is it Filled with Thanks, Needs, Praise and Requests, Commitments, Plans, Lost souls, and prayers for the weak?

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PRAYING AND SALVATION - THE BIBLICAL VIEW

2011-05-14T16:03:00.001-05:00

"The Prayer and Salvation"

Building on our understanding that prayer is effective for change in our lives, it's important to see how prayer relates to salvation. Consider the three main points:

Praying that Men be Saved
Praying for One's Salvation
Praying and Staying Saved

A religious man told the story that he learned only late in his life that when he was a boy, his mother had made a pact with three neighbor women to pray together every day for their children to be saved. These mothers gathered together ever day to pray for their children's salvation.

Praying FOR Souls to be Saved - Consider a number of verses.

"He who seeks to teach God's Word without prayer is trying to do God's work without God's help." - The Bible Teacher, H. Leo Boles

Pray for your enemies.

“44 But I say to you, love your ________ and pray for those who ________ you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Mt. 5:44,45)

A person who prays for lost, misled, and even evil men is more like God - God cares for all souls. My sermon on full dimensional prayers reminded us of this.

“1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all _____,” (1 Tim 2:1).

They aren't Christian and they may not like us, but we must pray for them. The more we pray for the Lost, the more pronounced does our care for them become. Notice that Paul doesn’t say just to offer prayers, he says entreaties, petitions, and thanks too.

Christians are told to pray only for the good, “deserving”, righteous people.

Pray for all even the enemies of the cross. Jesus’ own prayer taught us this: “34 But Jesus was saying, 'Father, ________them; for they do not know what they are doing.' And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.” - Lk. 23:34.

Jesus cared about the souls of those who crucified Him.

Jesus cared that His disciples get involved in soul-winning. We pray for Christians to get involved.

“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore ________the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” - Mt. 9:37,38

What is to be harvested? Souls. If we don’t pray for souls, we don’t care about souls. Simple as that.
Jesus gives us direction here to be praying about soul winning.

Prayer is powerful and does more than we can do ourselves. A mother allowed her children to go to a party where there might be things unchristian. She drew them to her before they left the home and said for them to go, but to know that she would be praying for them the entire they were gone. She prayed all night and they were so moved that they all repented and sought the Lord.

Do you care about your soul? Do you pray for the souls of others? Do you pray for the children to know the Lord?

Pray for doors of opportunity to open.

“2 _______yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 ________at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; ” (Col. 4:2,3).

God opens doors to reach the lost if we pray.

Praying is Related to being Saved,

There is a false teaching that misleads many, which says you can't do anything to effect your salvation EXCEPT saying a prayer. From About.com:

“If you believe that the Bible offers truth about the way to salvation, but you have not made the decision yet to become a Christian, it's as simple as praying this prayer. You can pray by yourself, using your own words. There is no special formula. Just pray from your heart to God, and He will save you. If you feel lost and just don’t know what to pray, here’s a prayer of salvation that you can pray: Dear Lord, I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself. I am sorry and I repent. I ask you to forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life, I give it to you. Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you. Amen”

What’s the point of limiting the response to prayer as this does? Such a prayer leaves out requirements from God. Confession of Christ, Repentance from sin, being Baptized into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (more on this soon).

We reject the man-made doctrine that says to be saved you need only to utter a prayer. That’s as incomplete as a father telling his son that to drive a car all you have to do it get in it.

The “Sinner’s Prayer” doctrine is a tease, but wholly misrepresenting what God is looking for and requiring.

Men must seek God through His Word, read it, accept it, and DO IT to be saved

“Faith comes from _______, hearing by the _____of Christ.” - Rom 10:17

Paul said to Timothy, “and that from childhood you have known the _______ _______which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” - 2 Tim 3:15

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and _____on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.“ - Mt. 7:24

It’s obvious that a prayer alone isn’t sufficient at all. THAT SAID....

God wants to hear from the Lost.

Isa 55:6 says, “_______ the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.” - Is. 55:6

This Scripture is appropriate for every man in the world. Every lost soul should hear the words of Isaiah, as the Ethiopian did in Acts 8.

Lk 18:13 “God be __________to me, a sinner.”

Sinful men cannot approach God without the humble admission to Him that they are sinful and need Him. Jesus' parable shows that attitude in prayer leads to one man standing before God Justified and one not.

Psalms 145:18 "The LORD is near to all who ______on him, to all who call on him in _______.

Ps 86:5 “For you, Lord, are good and ready to ________, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who ______upon You.”

The Psalmist wrote, "I shall give thanks to you, for you have __________me, and you have become my salvation" (Ps. 118:21).

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked but he ________the prayer of the righteous.

Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive....for ________who asks, receives.” - Mt. 7:7,8

Cornelius was heard for his prayers. “Your ________and ______have ascended as a memorial before God.” (Acts 10:4)

The prayer didn't save Cornelius, the sinner, but it got God’s attention and led to his being saved. Peter had to come and, “... speak ______to you by which you will be _______,” (Acts 11:14)

Paul was fasting and praying for three days prior to his salvation, and Jesus said to Ananias to go to Him: “11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is _________, ” (Acts 9)

Baptism with Repenting and Confessing, is connected to a prayer for salvation

“________ now ______you -- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but AN APPEAL TO GOD FOR A CLEAN CONSCIENCE -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pt. 3:21).

In baptism, you are asking God for salvation. Yes or No.

“And everyone that ________on the name of the Lord shall be saved”(Acts 2:21)

But a person must read 17 verses later, vs 37,38 to see HOW to “call on the Lord” for salvation

“Repent and let each of ye be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:21,38)

When Paul was blind, fasting, and praying, he wasn't yet saved. The words of Ananias shows that the prayerful person at Baptism is the one who receives the cleansing of his soul.
“16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be ________, and ______away your sins, ________on His name.’” (Acts 22:16

If you tell someone to pray for salvation but don’t tell them to repent and be immersed in baptism, you have just misled someone and have made yourself a false teacher. True or False?

Prayer is integral to Staying Saved, Acts 8

A weak Christian takes God for granted. Too busy, unwilling, distracted, and poor communication. The path back to the world is away from God. When Christians stop praying, they hurt their relationship with God.

But God will hear if you come with sincerity.
Some don’t pray because they are lazy.
Some don’t pray because they really don’t believe.
Some don’t pray because they are disobedient. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God after they sinned. Some aren’t praying because that would be hypocrisy.
Repent and pray. Trust and pray. Let go and pray.
Be devoted to prayer, Acts 2:42; Rom. 12:12; Col. 4:2
Paul said to “pray without ceasing”, (1 Thess 5:17)

Christians should be devoted to prayer.

Acts 2:42 “41 So then, those who had received his word were _______; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ ______and to ________, to the breaking of ______and to ________.”

As a believer in God, are you devoted as you should be? Yes or No

To the Thessalonians Paul said, “as we night and day keep _________most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your ________?” (1 Thess 3:10)

It’s daily: Jesus taught to say, “_____ ____this day our daily bread” (see Mt. 6:11).

That implies daily prayer too.

Praying is normal to the Christian life of faith.

David: “I acknowledged my _____to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my __________to the Lord’; And you forgave the guilt of my _____. Therefore, let everyone who is godly _____to You in a time when You may be found, surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.” (Ps 32:5,6)

David’s hearkens back to the time when at a time when it was too late to pray to God, when the unrepentant masses were drowning in the flood.

Isaiah 55:6 "_______the LORD while he may be found; ______on him while he is near."

When Simon was called out for his sinful attitude regarding the gift that only the Apostles had, he was told by Peter,

“Therefore ________of this wickedness of yours, and _____the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.” (Acts 8:22)

When God was angry with His disobedient people, He said if, “14....My people who are called by My name humble themselves and _____and ______My face and _____from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14)

Can’t stay spiritually strong and protected from Satan without devotion to prayer. Prayer is warfare, Eph 6

10 Finally, be _______in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to _______ _____ against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our _______is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.....18 With all ________and _______at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” - Eph. 6:10-12,18

You can put all of the armor on but if you walk into battle without talking to God, it's a serious error.

Include God in all of your important decisions. The Scriptures say, "Consider the Lord in all of your ways".
Don’t marry without prayer, don’t purchase, don’t confront, don’t teach, don’t move, don’t enter contracts, don’t start your day, don't end your day, don't take a job without prayer.

Pray while you can, before it’s too late.

The Scriptures show that Christians are to pray for the Lost to be saved. The Scriptures show that only when the Lost seek God in prayer from their hearts does He hear them. The Scriptures show that staying saved requires maintaining close communication with God through prayer.

SAMSON'S PARENTS ARE LIKE MANY MODERN PARENTS

2011-05-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Want to see a Bible example of the modern parent and why we are losing our kids? "3 Then his father and his mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she looks good to me.” (Judges 14:3)

Now the modern parent doesn't understand my criticism because he or she is logically and emotionally very similar to Samson's parents. And his parents were doing things the way they felt was right and so other options were not visible to them. The modern parent who is like Samson's will read that verse and see a caring and concerned parent trying to steer their child right. But they do not steer their child right.

The critical juncture in the parents' decision making was the point that they were confronted with two wills - God's and Samson's. The parents are like the modern parents who lose their children because at that moment they give in to the will of the child and God's will has to be compromised. The modern parent is loathe to admit it, and might even become angry at the suggestion that this is the case, but that is what they are doing.

At this point the modern parent begins scrutinizing the text to find evidence that the parent isn't responsible, saying something like, "Samson was grown, there's only so much a parent can do." First off, the parents made him this way. The text says that the parents went along with the will of Samson. They went with him! The text shows us the modern religious parent too, which is to know the right thing to do, but the children come first and so the parents don't do the right thing.

A godly parent says to the children like Samson, "Today, you must choose between your will or God's will. If you choose to walk away from God, then we will not be a part of it. We will not support you. We will not encourage you. We will love you and pray for you, BUT WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS AND ALLOW YOU TO DESTROY YOUR LIFE. Such a strong stand is too much for the modern parent who places his child's will ahead of God's. The words are too harsh even though their permissiveness jeopardizes their soul.

The modern parent who loves God intuitively knows he has been trespassing against God by putting his child's will ahead of God's, and he has a part of him that truly wants to do right, but he falters time after time when he comes to that juncture where he stands before his child who is straining to chase after the fleshly and carnal appetites. Though he knows that he should stop it, he gives way and permits the child to have his way.

I have seen this phenomenon of the modern parent - looking weak like so many Biblical parents, Eli the High Priest was another - and haven't seen many parents with the spiritual backbone to do the right thing by God and for their child. If this little post is describing you, please resist the temptation to attack the words, and instead pray that you might have the wisdom to take a stand and truly lead your children to go the right way.

FORGIVENESS BY CHRISTIANS IS A COMPLICATED MATTER

2011-05-06T11:14:00.000-05:00

One Christians said the following in a Facebook discussion. Here she is clarifying what she meant about forgiveness being for us: "I meant that it doesn't help their (the one who sins against us) forgiveness with God. It has to do with our own forgiveness with God."

Here is my response to this lady: I now understand what you are saying. Unless we forgive others, we will not be forgiven. Indeed, the Scriptures ...teach that the harsh or tender approach we take with people will be shown to us by God. I agree with your point which relates to a general principle from God.

But God has also given a number of specific things to consider which also relate to our own forgiveness from Him. God doesn't offer blanket forgiveness to us just because we offer blanket forgiveness to all who haven't even repented. God remains true to His just ways. He will not forgive the unrepentant. Now if we do not forgive the unrepentant, we can expect that God will not forgive us IF we are unrepentant. God applies the same righteous standard to us that we apply to others. No harm is done to the teaching on forgiveness. So the principle to which you speak is true EVEN when speaking of these more specific caveats on this topic. If we want God to forgive us when we repent, then we must forgive our Brothers who repent.

Here's another example of applying your point to specifics, God instantly forgives His children who sin but who are walking in the light (1 Jn 1:6ff). The blood of Christ continually cleanses those who walk in the light. Our repentance is still necessary and we perhaps don't address the trespass until much later when it comes to our attention. A person of faith, with a tender heart for God, will do this when made aware of his trespass. But God knows the heart and forgives those who sin. And in similar pattern, when a good Brother trespasses against us, we forgive instantly but we still address the issue at the first opportunity and we will surely get the repentant response we expect. But sometimes, a Brother is intending to harm us and is not in the right spirit. These are not instantly forgiven because true forgiveness brings or continues the relationship, this isn't possible without going to your Brother and asking him to repent.

So the verse you allude to, Dawn, is vital for us to know and practice. Forgive others if you want God to forgive you. The only thing I would add is that we forgive HOW and WHEN God forgives others.
____________

Consider the consequences of forgiving someone who is unrepentant and you will see it's not helpful to anyone. Suppose your long time neighbor breaks into your garage and steals your tools and other valuables. Let's say he's not sorry but you forgive him. So what. You have an attitude of forgiving and you say to yourself that you forgive him. So what. Is anything really changed? If you invite the unrepentant thief into your home, then you may be following through on your forgiveness but it hasn't helped a single person - not even you. You have decided to jeopardize your property again, you have exposed yourself to an enemy, you have cast your pearls before the swine, you have forgiven someone that God hasn't forgiven. This unconditional, "radical" forgiveness is unproductive, unhelpful, and unscriptural. This is not what Jesus was doing on the cross. Those He prayed for still had their sins retained unless they repented. So it's not really, just about the forgivER, it's about the sinner and their repentance too.
______________

The Scriptures don't tell Christians to be forgiving the unrepentant. Christian forgiveness is extraordinary in the world, to be sure, but it's not contradictory to how God forgives us. There is a time to "retain sins". The reality is that forgiving the unrepentant is foolish and possibly even dangerous. Forgiveness is about restoring relationships, and while we might feel good about ourselves for "forgiving" the unrepentant, nothing is resolved as in true repentance and forgiveness. We should pray like Jesus and we should pray with the intent of Jesus that forgiveness and restoration be brought to all, but that forgiveness can only be realized as in Acts 2 when the crucifiers of Jesus repented.

Here's what Jesus said is the process: Someone commits a trespass against us. We go to that someone pointing out their trespass and calling for them to change. If they change, then we forgive. If they don't change, then the relationship is still damaged and unrestored. To forgive at this juncture means nothing. If we feel good about forgiving the unrepentant, it's just for us. God hasn't forgiven the person. And the sinner/trespasser isn't restored to us. In their unrepentant mind, the "gift" we have given them is like pearls to a swine.

Should we learn from the challenge to be more forgiving, to start extending true forgiveness? Most definitely we should. But there's a Biblical imperative to first approach the sinner and call for them to repent. If they don't, keep loving and praying for them, but don't forgive them.
_____________

WAR IS INEVITABLE

2011-05-05T07:05:00.001-05:00

As much as we might hate war, it is inevitable that evil will be at war with good and good will be at war with evil. The two sides cannot be reconciled.

The Scriptures show that Satan and his followers are on the offensive against God's people. God's people must stand firm and stand up for what is right. The conflict, even if it seems small for the moment, is very serious. The way of righteousness cannot submit to the coercive and manipulative efforts from Satan to be silenced. Christians remember that they stand their ground as Peter and John said, "We must obey God rather than men."

In the Revelation letter, the Christians are under severe persecution due to the war that Satan has declared on Christ and His elect. The Christians are struggling to remain faithful. And so John reminds the church that it is those who overcome who will receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10; cf 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21 "to him that overcomes").

God wants the Church to overcome through the trials and adversity placed on it by the hostile world. The nature of this conflict is the war between good and evil. This war cannot be avoided. There can be no compromise. The only question for each person is which side will I take. War is inevitable.

Revelation shows War is inevitable -

"the dragon...went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus" (Rev 12:17).

"the kings of the whole world...gathered together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon" (Rev 16:16).
...
"these will wage war against the Lamb...and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful" (Rev 17:14).

"11And I saw opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war....14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He iwll rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty" (Rev 19:11,14-15).

"19And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown ALIVE into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone., 21And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse,..." (Rev 19:19-21).

"7When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the eath, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9And they came up on thee broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever" (Rev. 20:7-10).See More

Against Calvinism - Answering Anonymous

2011-04-27T10:28:00.003-05:00

The following is an answer to "Anonymous" (HERE), the brave soul who is a true blue Calvinist who said the following to my previous post "Against Calvinism" (click link at top or search for it):

Your scriptural arguments are the dumbest I have seen in a very long time. Arminianism is Pelagianism. We cannot come to God unless he first acts upon us. This is the Gospel. We cannot reach God. The only reason we choose to follow is because of the regeneration of our hearts by the Holy Spirit first. You have a very low view of God's sovereignty.
Have you ever read Ephesians 1, Romans 8-9, John 15, Acts 13:48?
Take a look at especially the Acts passage...explain this to me?

OK, so let's look at the Scriptural support for Calvinism being offered by Anonymous.

Ephesians 1 says that God predestined the Christians to be Christians and God's plan for salvation was that people be saved through Christ. Ephesians 1 doesn't say that God elected specific individuals to be saved and therefore - by default - to elect the rest to be damned.
Romans 8-9 speaks of God's choice to show His mercy through His Son Jesus Christ. God by his righteous choice decides to save people through Jesus, His Son, and it does not say that God has established a path for salvation for only a few. Sure, a few will respond to the Gospel and so a few will find the way. But that's not what Calvinist mean. Calvinist believe God's sovereign choice requires that man has no free will in the matter. Now that makes no sense unless you want to redefine Faith and Love as something new. Forced salvation by God makes a mockery of faith and a mockery of love. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." To the Calvinist, the verse says, "The elect can't do anything but keep my commandments and we will call it love." The Calvinist shreds Romans 8-9. Romans 11 says God's demand for all men is to believe in His Son: "23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again."
John 15:16, Jesus says, "you did not choose me, but I chose you." According to folks like Anonymous, Jesus means that God hand picked who would be saved. Of course, Jesus here is talking to the disciples who were hand picked by Christ and Jesus is talking about the Brotherhood of Christians. Jesus is telling the disciples to love one another. Strange isn't it then that Calvinists like Anonymous would suggest that the elect could do nothing else! Why would Jesus tell the disciples to be sure to love one another IF He was a Calvinist and believed the Christians could do nothing else?

What He means. Jesus did not conform His plan to something men devised. Jesus decided to choose those who conform to Him. We did not choose our Savior or the plan for salvation. Jesus did and we conform to His gracious choice.
Acts 13:48 says, "48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." Here is the view of a Calvinist. God looked across the landscape of humankind, through all of the generations, and hand picked or appointed which men would be saved. Then Jesus came and died only for those appointed souls and He did not die for the ones not appointed. Although Scriptures say that God loved the whole world so that whoever believes should not perish (Jn 3:16), and even though Paul says in Titus, "the grace of God appeared, bringing salvation to all men", and though God desires all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4), and though God had Jesus to die that He might taste death for all men (Heb. 2:9), and though God Himself doesn't "wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Pt 3:9,10), and though the Scriptures say Jesus is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (not just Believers, 1 Jn 2:2), and though the Scriptures say there is no partiality with God (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; 1 Peter 1:17), and though the Holy Spirit says, "17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost", the Calvinist ignores all of THAT to accept the marginal and stunningly unwise Calvinist doctrine.

Let me be clear. The Calvinist believes he is saved though he can only base it on a feeling. The Calvinist believes that there are fakers who pretend to have salvation but they don't. The only way to know for sure that you are saved, if you accept Calvinist doctrine, is to see God's master list of chosen souls -- the only ones Jesus died for. Then Calvinist believing that he's a specially selected recipient for salvation, based on no free will offering of faith by him, rises up and praises God for being so good. That's not good. Calvinism isn't good. It is a mockery and a devilish interpretation of God's plan for redemption.
Here are some passages for Anonymous to answer. And while you are at it, understand that Biblicist, non-Calvinist believe in God's sovereignty. We believe in salvation through Christ and Christ alone. We believe that God's salvation is according to His choice and that salvation is to the glory of God and not to man's glory. With that said, Mr. Anonymous, I looked at your passages. Now you look at what the Bible says:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (Jn. 3:16)."

"3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:3-5)."

"11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men," (Titus 2:11)

"9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone (Heb. 2:9)."

"1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world (1 Jn 2:1,2)."

"9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Pt. 3:9)."

"30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, (Acts 17:30)"

John 3:16 is the most recognizable verse in the Bible. "God so loved the world". But you know what? The Calvinist thinks that God's love do not equate into God actually doing anything for the whole world to be saved. No, the Calvinist believes that only a few elect actually may believe and have eternal life.

Besides all of this, do some reading about John Calvin. The man used his coercive power to threaten and put to death those who didn't hold to his evil doctrine. I still believe that contrary to Calvinism, Jesus died for all so that all might believe and be saved. The Calvinist and My Anonymous still believes that Jesus did NOT die for all.

EXALTING OURSELVES

2011-04-09T21:52:00.001-05:00

“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted", Mt. 23:12

People are sheep and follow whatever they are told. The "Pastor" isn't a Pastor yet men often wear the title without meeting the qualifications for such (1 Tim. 3:1ff; Titus 1:5ff). Yet "his flock" calls him it anyway. And it's odd, very odd that men wear the title "Reverend" when the word comes from the Hebrew Yawray, meaning, "be afraid, stand in awe, revere, respect"? Psalm 111:9 is the only place in the Bible it is used to relate to God's name. It's just wrong.

Jesus said,

"5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men", Mt. 23:5,6.

There's a parallel today when men wears titles they shouldn't.

God's sheep hear and obey His voice. They recognize when men are speaking from themselves and not the truth. Jesus made it clear that the tendency in men to aspire to places of honor is a vexing problem to be avoided.

Remember, "God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble."

WE GO MAD

2011-04-05T08:57:00.003-05:00

Sometimes we go crazy because there's no relief from the troubles we have created for ourselves. Moses warned that if God's people turned away from Him, "34 You will go mad because of all the tragedy you see around you." - Deut 28. How real is that madness? Very real. And guess what? It's not popular to say.

The modern template for explaining insanity or emotional imbalance is that certain chemicals need to be managed and the person will come back to a normal functioning state. But what about the circumstances all around us that make us go crazy?

When a man denies reality by rejecting God, and aligns his thinking and doings according to his own vain reasonings, he ushers in mixed bag of nonsense to draw from when ordering his affairs. This life built on base reasonings is built on worthless chaff which eventually disintegrates before our eyes. With all of your works coming to nothing and with nothing real to turn to (having already ruled out God) the only option is desperation and insanity. Many of the mad, crazy, nutty people in the world are that way because they have opted to believe a lie.

You're an animal, a monkey's uncle. The unborn fetus is non-viable tissue. Women are the same as men. Homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle, equal to heterosexual relationships. Marriage isn't only for heterosexual couples. Government should decide what our children believe. Parents have very little say concerning the direction children go. Jesus is just one way to heaven, not the exclusive way to heaven. It doesn't matter what you believe, truth is subjective and private. God is a God of love and won't punish people for eternity. What lies have we accepted? It's an important question because God will let us believe a lie if we so insist. And Satan will be more than happy to feed us the lie if we don't love the truth. Madness will surely come upon those who reject God and the reality of His will for us.

God said to Cain, “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” - Gen 4. Cain's unbridled anger, his selfishness, his rejection of God's will was making him crazy. But if he would only do right, his spirits would be lifted.

God said for Christians to be happy. Paul said more than once not to be anxious and to rejoice always in the Lord. The is a certain mindset, a joyful mindset that accompanies the Christian life. If you aren't there yet, it might be time to stop trifling with God, to be still and listen to the Lord, and let His will overtake you. And the God of peace will be with you and your mind and heart will be overtaken with a peace that surpasses comprehension. That is not an idle, "pie in the sky" promise coming from the Lord. It's real and tangible. And so is the crazy, frenetic, condition of the mind that continues to resist the leading of God. Prayerfully consider these truths. It's time for us all to "be still and know that I am the Lord."

WHO CAN JUSTIFY DENOMINATIONS?

2011-03-23T07:26:00.007-05:00

Imagine the historical moment when a denomination began: "Sirs, Sirs, the people are clamoring to break free from the oppressions of men, to be free, and to worship God as they see fit. For too long they have been shackled to the precepts of men and they long to be free. Let us therefore boldly proclaim that we will go back to the Bible and leave the traditions, which are onerous, because they are not of God. Yes, truly, we are onto something! And what shall we call this new church which seeks to reattach itself to the founding root? I know, tis simple, we shall name it something which all men can rally around, a name that all men can at once say, "it's a glory to God!" Yes, a name that men will gladly wear. One that they shall suffer taunts and sword and flame to wear. We shall call it "___________"!!!

"The disciples were first called 'Christians' in Antioch." - Acts 11:26

"...the churches of Christ salute you." - Romans 16:16

What did you put in the blank? Anything other than the name of Christ wouldn't make sense. But men denominate and call themselves all sorts of things which don't glorify God.

Jesus built His church (Mt 16:16-19). So why shouldn't it have His name on it? He's the head over His church. And repentant, baptized believers are added to it ever since its beginning on Pentecost, 33 A.D. So Jesus' one church is the original and all the denominational divisions came hundreds and hundreds of years later. Jesus had nothing to do with building denominations. Foolish men did. So my question is this: Why do some Christians feel compelled to justify and legitimize denominations and their members? I mean that some Christians are afraid to take a stand against an obvious error by defending denominations.

I ask this because there's no way, no biblically rational way of justifying the existence of these groups since these groups are obviously the work of man. Jesus said he built one church (Mt. 16:16ff). Jesus prayed for the church to be unified (Jn 17:20,21). Jesus said to diligently keep this unity (Eph 4:4-6). It says in 1 Corinthians to NOT denominate (1 Cor. 1:10ff). So why do Brethren get incensed and irritated when a preacher of the Gospel of Christ says the truth about denominationalism, that it is the work of the devil? Why?

God is not the author of confusion. Satan is. God said "do not exceed what is written" (1 Cor. 4:6). Satan says, "but it doesn't say you can't do _______" (fill in the blank with whatever feel good practice denominations are justifying today). When men add and take away from God's Word, they make the worship of their denomination VAIN!! (Mt. 15:7-9). Please listen to me young Christians. These words of admonishment are spoken in love. We love these lost, deceived, misled souls as God has told us to, but we don't love them by telling them they are A-OK in their denominations. The evil of denominationalism must be spelled out, in the clearest of terms, so that the lost sheep may hear the voice of Truth.

Denominations divide over doctrine. Differing, opposing doctrines can't be right. Denominations confuse others on important doctrines related to faith, salvation, and worship. Take baptism for example. We aren't smarter or wiser than the Apostle Paul who spoke and wrote by inspiration. HE said that at their baptism/immersion in Rome, the Christians were buried with Christ and they died and were crucified with Christ AND it was there, at the baptism, that they raised to walk in newness of life because they were freed from sin. All of this from Romans 6:3-7.

When a denominational representative starts his verbal jockeying on this verse is when he twist Paul's words by disassociating the death and new life (God's grace) away from the baptism (the sinner's act of faith) Paul connects them to! Paul connects baptism (obviously adult, an act of faith) and salvation (grace) BUT the denominational agents and promoters use a sleight of hand to trick your mind to accept something other than the clear reality of what Paul says.

So who justifies and defends Denominations when their error is so obvious?

WHAT VERSE WOULD YOU SHARE?

2011-03-22T09:50:00.006-05:00

I understand that Christians feel unprepared to approach others on matters of faith and so they end up saying nothing. But what if they focused on memorizing a few important verses so they were handy on their mind for that just right moment?

So let me ask what verse would you share with someone if time was limited and this might be your only opportunity?

I have posed this question to others and I have been given the following responses: Ecclesiastes 12:13; John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 2:42; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 John 2:1,2.

What would you answer if different? Please leave a comment.

2011-03-19T11:33:00.002-05:00

WHO CAN BE BAPTIZED.....

The one showing True Repentance: “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance,....The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” - Lk 3:11. John recognized that the people coming to be baptized wanted to flee from the wrath to come, but he would not baptize them unless they sought it spiritually.

Y or N, I am REPENTING and turning away from past sins and want to walk according to God’s will.

The one that Believes in the Resurrection of Jesus: “14Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen 15 And he said to them, “God into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” - Mk 16:14-16

Y or N , I BELIEVE in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The one who wishes to be in Jesus’ kingdom: “3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he? 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly , I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” - Jn 3:3-5.”

Y or N, I want to be part of the KINGDOM of Jesus Christ AND I agree that those who believe and are baptized will be saved?

The one who wants to be a disciple of Jesus Christ: “19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” - Mt 28:19,20

Y or N, I am very interested in be called a DISCIPLE of Jesus Christ.

Those who receive Peter’s message to be saved from this sinful world: “38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” - Acts 2:38

Y or N, I need to be repent and be baptized to receive forgiveness of sins.

Those who are being taught to be a disciple of Christ: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the erverse world: “So then, those who had received his wod were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” - Acts 2:41

Y or N, I receive Peter’s message to be SAVED and FORGIVEN from this perverse world.

Men and women who believe the good news of Jesus Christ: “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized men and women alike.” - Acts 8:12

Y or N, I am an ADULT who believes in the good news that Jesus died for my sins.

Those who understand the sense of urgency to have their sins washed away: “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” - Acts 22:16

Y or N, I understand the urgency of being baptized to have my sins washed away.

Those who want to buried with Christ and want to be raised into a new life: “3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,” - Rom. 6:3-5

Y or N, I understand that to raised up with Christ I must first be buried with Christ in baptism.

Those who are not in the body of Christ but want to be: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaes or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” - 1 Cor. 12:13

Y or N, I understand that WHEN I am immersed into Christ the Holy Spirit adds me to the body of Christ -- the church.

Those who want to be clothed with Christ: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” - Gal. 3:27

Y or N, I understand that UNTIL I am baptized into Christ I am still unclothed.

Those who want to be resurrected into new life: “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” - Col. 2:12

Y or N, I understand that I first need to be buried with Christ so that I can be raised with Christ.

The unsaved: “Corresponding to that, baptism now saved you --not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” - 1 Pt 3:21

Y or N, I see that baptism saves me because my faith is in the resurrection of Christ.

Once you are born again, be devoted to God’s Word, to the church, to worshiping, and to prayer:
“42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” - Acts 2:42

Y or N, I will focus my life on being devoted to these things that characterize the New Testament church of Christ.

GAY MARRIAGE IS THE DEFILEMENT OF GOD'S MARRIAGE

2011-03-02T04:39:00.001-06:00

"Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted." - Titus 1:15

Animals don't marry. Darwin says we are animals. Darwinists always try to make us animals by talking about genetic traits, and habits, and appetites. Evolutionary Psychologists say we rape, sow our seed, and have multiple partners and much more in order to preserve the fittest. It's a perverse doctrine of man, I think.

And so why do these godless, anti-Christ work so feverishly to co-opt marriage? Marriage isn't explained by Darwin. Dogs "do it" with whoever. But marriage is designed by God. It's in the Bible from the Beginning when God "made them male and female." Marriage is the foundation of the family, and family is the foundation of society. Marriage is sacred to God. So why is our godless society - with the help of state attorney generals - pushing so hard for gays to marry.

"With the legal battle of the Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage promising to drag on to the end of the year and possibly beyond, California Attorney General Kamala Harris today asked a federal appeals court to allow gay marriages to resume in the interim." Calif. attorney general urges court to let gays marry

Isn't it interesting that these who devolve our natures are so interested in something that is the antithesis of the hedonistic, darwinistic lifestyles they lead? Yes, it's not really about their desire to be holy. It's about their aim to defile everything, especially the religious and moral institutions which continue to shine the light of truth of their base and corrupt lives.

Review of F. LaGard Smith's "Who is My Brother?" by Dan Mayfield

2011-02-14T07:21:00.004-06:00

F. LaGard Smith (FLS) is a well-known speaker throughout the brotherhood, the one mark often held against him being his association with liberal Pepperdine University (A Christian University). His expertise was Law, but he has made a name for himself as a writer. “Out on a Broken Limb”, a response to Shirley McClain’s book, gained him quite a bit of notoriety. His Chronological Bible, The Daily Bible, has been very popular. The subject of this review is a book that sets out to answer “who my brother is?’, but often deals more with “who may I fellowship?” The book proposes that there are different levels of fellowship while allowing that there is a special fellowship between Baptized Believers.

What is he saying? Throughout the book, FLS says things that leave you wondering where he stand on important issues. In one passage, after fellowshipping a denomination and being so moved by the worship experience, he ask, “are these my brothers and sisters?” What is he saying? Does sincerity or zeal make it right to LaGard? He answers mostly not, but he continues to worship with the entire group instead of calling the ‘few’-- who might possibly be Christian – to repent and worship in spirit and truth.

Another "what is he saying" moment is on page 19, when LaGard says, “It would surprise many within the churches of Christ to be told that virtually all Protestant denominations – including Baptists, Presbyterians,… -- speak in their various liturgies of the church of Christ (meaning the universal body of Christ) almost as naturally as we do.” So! What is he saying? Why would that surprise us and who really cares when we know there's more to being right than having the right name. This is the way LaGard scores cheap points on something that is irrelevant. I would say that most of us aren't confused to think we can fellowship them because they refer to the universal church of Christ? His point is irrelevant even if we are surprised, it doesn’t change our position against the vast errors in these same denominations? I’m not trying to be argumentative, but LaGard is leading towards a conclusion.

Where does he stand on important issues like divorce and remarriage? Where does he stand on this issue if someone who has not yet become a Christian? He remains ambiguous but seems to lead in a particular direction, saying, “for the moment, set aside the complicated questions surrounding the marital and spiritual state of those who come to Christ after already having been unscripturally divorced and remarried.” Does he believe there are two standards for Christians and non-Christians? He makes it clear that a Christian lives by Christ’s stringent standard (pg. 143), but he offers the possibility that “divorce and remarriage [for non-Christians?, DM], instrumental music, etc.,” might be “disputable matters” (pg. 145). This is not how the Bible is to be taught. But it's a perfect example of the manner a Lawyer in the Bible approached Scripture.

FLS does a poor job of establishing, with Scripture, that our fellowship extends outside of the church. This is one problem that arises in the book with FLS’s varying levels of fellowship. On one hand, he says,

“Given our particular beliefs regarding baptism, therefore, it would have been unthinkable for us to fellowship as Christians anyone who did not share our view of baptism, both in understanding and personal experience. Consequently, ours has been a closely-drawn, exclusive circle of fellowship” (pg. 18)

On the other hand, FLS so easily crosses the lines that he says do exist. How does he help the reader to distinquish the lines when he freely admits to fellowshipping with denominations who are clearly unlike the Lord’s church in baptism? He says one thing, but his example is something different for when he says, “ours has been a closely-drawn, exclusve circle of fellowship” he is not including himself.

FLS suggests that it is probably not our best motives that try to draw lines of fellowship. This is another attempt at making a cheap point based on what LaGard thinks are our motives. In his words, it might be more about our own "conceit” and “need for self-identity.” On page 14, he says, “If we could ever fully grasp who we are, and whose we are, and why we are, our perceived need or selfish desire to draw lines of fellowship would be so transformed in motive that we could not possibly draw such lines without tears and torment.” I don’t recall anyone saying it was easy or enjoyable, I believe the point being made was whether we should be drawing lines. It is curious how a book that attempts to establish "bright lines" of fellowship can accuse others for a ‘selfish desire to draw lines of fellowship.’ FLS is wrong and unkind to judge peoples' hearts when there are perfectly good reasons for drawing these lines. Paul says, “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11). FLS is a lawyer who confuses the legitimate teaching of the Bible that love and faithfulness can be our motive for drawing lines. The right motives for drawing the lines we do in the church don't seem to be part of LaGard's these. No, instead we are conceited, we are ignorant, and our narrow lines indicate something is amiss in us. That's the tone coming from LaGard.

Explaining the connection between baptism and fellowship, FLS says, “the more narrow one’s view of baptism, the more narrow the acceptable bounds of fellowship. Or to put it another way, there is an interdependent relationship between baptism and fellowship: an exclusive view of baptism prompts an exclusive view of fellowship; whereas an inclusive view of fellowship demands a non-exclusive view of Baptism” (pg. 19,20). I'm to conclude that I have an “exclusive” and narrow view of Baptism and FLS does not. When it comes to ‘fellowship’, I contend that there are only two places of fellowship: with God and with fellow Christians. From Scripture, the ONLY fellowship that is recognized is with Baptized Believers in good standing with God. 1John 1:3-10 shows that Biblical fellowship is horizontal and vertical: horizontal relates to Christian fellowship and vertical relates to our fellowship with God. We may associate with those who have not yet become Christians, and for Brothers who have fallen away, we may not even do that. We are not in fellowship with people just because they are religious. Fellowshipping these people would confuse the flock and bring trouble into the church. Fellowship doesn’t apply to erring brothers and it doesn’t apply to Catholics or Baptist. In Bible language, they are religious and wrong. They are not a Christian in the Bible sense of the word. To base fellowship on whether or not a person believes Jesus is the Son of God creates the situation where Christians are fellowshipping with those who are not yet in fellowship with God. Everybody believes something, even demons and non-confessing priests, but they are not who we fellowship. The Calvinist Baptist and the Popish Catholic Church, may be religious, but they do not help our effort to bring people to Jesus Christ. FLS’s ‘inclusive’ view of fellowship is not supported.

As someone once said, ‘control the language and control the argument.’ I am finding that FLS is unclear when it comes to the word ‘fellowship.’ For example, without ever establishing from the Bible that there is any fellowship, other than that shared by Christians, FLS regularly uses terminology like “’in Christ’ fellowship” (what other kind is there?) (pg. 120), and “sliding scale of fellowship” (pg. 104), and a “five-fold fellowship.” This is a recipe for creating confusion, not unity.

The way FLS misapplies verses helps to confuse, not clear up, the lines of fellowship. FLS mentions Jesus eating with tax-gatherers and sinners which has nothing in common with (as he tries to equate) laughing and joking around with the neighbors next door who buy Playboy and ‘knock back a sixpack.’ From what I can tell, Jesus kept company with people he could teach. But it is unwise to equate a fourth of July barbeque with Biblical fellowship. Jesus was not in fellowship with those who were not in fellowship with Him.

What is he saying about the importance of Scriptural Worship and Baptism? He justifies his worship with the Messianic Jews (MJ) in Jerusalem by quoting Paul’s words in Romans 15:7-9 where Paul says ‘receive you one another.’ Paul’s words have nothing to do with ‘receiving’ a religious body that still worships according to the Old Testament. FLS asks, “Could these Torah-chanting, yarmulke-wearing, Passover-observing Jews really be my brothers and sisters in Christ? The apostle Paul certainly thought so.” I disagree; Paul’s words would only apply if their practices were a matter of private observance, at home, not incorporated and institutionalized into the worship service. Why doesn’t FLS know that the Messianic Jews believe Christians are still under the Law (Torah) and congregationally observing the Sabbath? They are confused about the second coming of Christ, reestablishing a kingdom on earth. They are Calvinistic and seem to be confused on the doctrine of the godhead (see inset). They observe circumcision, though they do not bind it upon Gentiles. MJ’s should know that the New Testament doesn’t recognize Jew and Gentile or circumcision (Gal. 3:28; 1 Cor. 7:19). FLS should not be so confused to wonder if these are his brothers. They teach error about the nature of God.

God is Three Persons in that God is the Father. God is the Son, who was Jesus Christ in the flesh. God is the Holy Spirit present in each converted person. This means that, though the Holy spirit is not a separately unique third person, His ('His" because the Holy Spirit as seed is from the Father) presence in many men creates the Body of Christ.” (http://www.thesimpletruth.net/sentinel/trinity.html)

John's “don’t eat with such a one” comes to mind here. Perhaps LaGard feels some kinship with the Messianic Jews because they at least have baptism right. They are in error even on
this point. The following is a typical explanation of Messianic Jewish practice of baptism.

Figure 1, accessed 5/22/2002 at: http://www.bethhillel.com/what_we_believe1.html

When it comes to baptism, they immerse, but not for the right reason. They teach the false idea that baptism depicts a spiritual event that already occurred in the past. Why does FLS ask if these people are his brothers and sisters, and then affirm that Paul would think so?

FLS doesn’t seem to have a proper understanding of Baptism. He allows that people who are immersed for the wrong reason (not for the remission of sins) may still have received a valid baptism. One brother offers the following comments:

Figure 2http://www.seektheoldpaths.com/stop899.htm

That FLS would get this wrong is not defensible. The preceding analysis of Smith’s position is right on. Everything a Christian does must be done in faith. How can a person be baptized in faith when that person doesn’t know the purpose of Baptism. Wayne Jackson says Smith’s position is confusing, and I might say that a man with the intellect of Wayne Jackson is not easily confused. Jackson says, “Though brother Smith argues strongly most of the time for the essentiality of baptism for the remission of sins, on other occasions he suggests that "commitment to Christ" is "more important" than baptism. He contends that the issue of whether or not one must understand the "purpose" of baptism when receiving it, is one of those "grey" areas about which "we're simply not told." His 'tis/'taint mentality is quite confusing” (You may order a copy of Jackson's full review for $3.00 postage paid. P.O. Box 55265, Stockton, CA 95205).

In chapter six, FLS tells about his six month each year stay ‘by the rivers of Babylon.’ He describes the church he attends, Ashton-under-Hill. Free Church, in loving and brotherly terms:

“the congregation is not organizationally tied to any fellowship of congregations, but is local, independent, and autonomous….What I found was a mixed blessing. It was a congregation of some fifty souls, with committed, godly elders overseeing the work. Having no pulpit preacher, they often exercise a mutual ministry among the men of the congregation. These men are regularly augmented by outside speakers drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds. Each first day of the week they gather around the table for the Lord’s Supper. And on one occasion I was present at a baptism which was done with such emphasis and thoughtfulness that it put our all-too-perfunctory baptisms to shame. It occurred to me that we had been right all along to insist that the pattern of sound doctrine, wherever followed, would produce similar results. In fact, here was a group of people who had never heard of the ‘churches of Christ,’ yet they were very much like us. If they differed from us in any major respect apart from any particular doctrinal understanding, it was in what I sense to be a much more profound worship experience.”

I wondered about this congregation that FLS attends six months out of the year (I remember hearing FLS speak, I believe in 1994, about his attending this congregation in England). Was it true that the most important difference between this lone congregation in England and the church of Christ was their ‘more profound worship experience?’ In fact, the congregation does exist and times of services can be viewed on the web. I received an interesting e-mail from a preacher of the Gospel who lives in that region of the world. It sheds some light on the congregation that FLS speaks so highly of.

Dear Dan,
Ashton-Under-Hill-Free-Church.
I have learnt through hearsay brother Smith is no longer in fellowship with this little group of false disciples at Ashton-Under-Hill...
Now as I say, this is hearsay, brother Smith should announce to the brotherhood if he no longer worships with these people, especially when he seems to advocate that he does.
In Smith’s book, Who is my Brother, Smith brings to our attention that he worships with this church in England. I have visited this church with other good brethren. Ashton-Under-Hill-Free-Church is Calvinistic (predestination and direct action of the HS in conversion). They teach that baptism does NOT save. Women lead in prayer and give testimony. The instrument is used in worship, "but not when LaGard attends".
We have offered to preach the truth and this has been rejected.
They did consider Smith a member and a brother! Smith I understand has also given financially to the work there. Smith may well ask "Who is my Brother?" He would be wise to use the scriptures to determine the answer in this important question, because at the moment it would seem he is in error.
Smith has criticised Lucado on his stance of failing to preach baptism, yet Smith openly worships in England with people who teach much the same thing as Lucado.
FREE CHURCHES or CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES
A long history exists in Britain of congregations rejecting Catholicism and later Anglican ecclesiastical rule. Out of English separatism of the 1500s came the Puritan movement which was mainly Calvinistic in doctrine. The first Puritan ‘Free Church’ has been dated to 1572 at Wandsworth (London). Previous to that date the only congregational churches to my knowledge were the English ‘churches of Christ’ and continental Anabaptists (in eastern England) who were not and in fact rejected Calvinism. Examples of early ‘churches of Christ’ include Oxford, 1157 and Cambridge (Chesterton) 1450. These are typical of autonomous congregations teaching baptism for remission of sins by immersion for repentant believers. Over the years these and the Calvinistic churches has resulted in the Independent Free Church or Congregational Church movement. The term ‘Free Church’ reflects that such congregations are outside of the ecclesiastical polity of the Church of England and originally had no higher authority than the local congregation. These churches today are Calvinistic in theology excepting the Churches of Christ. The term ‘Free Church’ is peculiar to Britain because of the ‘State’ Anglican Church.
The main opponent to Calvinism in the reformed churches was Jakob Hermans (1560-1609) known as Jacob Arminus. Arminus originally a Calvinist rejected Irresistible Grace, Limited Atonement and Unconditional Election but retained Perseverance of the Saints (one saved, always saved) and Total (hereditary) Depravity (original sin).
Some Free Churches may hold to Arminian doctrine, though this is very, very unlikely. None to my knowledge in fact do so. The main objection to the Calvinism of the Free or Congregational Churches in the 1750s was the Wesley brothers who gave us Methodism.
The Free Church movement, using that name is represented in most large towns and cities in England. The congregational movement signed a joint agreement on the teaching of moderate Calvinism in 1832. Despite their appeal to congregational autonomy there are ruling councils for the various Free Church and congregational movements.
It is interesting to note that the congregation meeting at Ashton-Under-Hill, where brother F. LaGard Smith meets, as stated in his book ‘Who is my Brother?’ is a ‘Free Church’. This church has contacts within the main stream denominations, shown be their approval of the Tear Fund. This brother Smith does not tell in his book. On our visit to the congregation there were visiting and preaching Americans who were Calvinistic Baptist in their teachings.
It would be wrong to think of the congregation at Ashton being some group of isolated jolly Englishmen rediscovering Christianity in the beautiful Cotswold Hills, of England. Beautiful yes, isolated no. The church at Ashton maybe autonomous but is part of a greater world-wide movement, Calvinistic and primarily Baptist. They use the instrument, they reject believers baptism for the remission of sins teaching the direct action of the Holy Spirit in conversion. Have women leading and are denominational in their outlook towards other groups of religious people.
I am not aware of the church at Ashton having a web site.
Kind regards,
Brotherly, Keith.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Men occasionally stumble on the truth,
but most of them pick themselves up and
hurry off as if nothing had happened.
--Sir Winston Churchill

Keith Sisman¹ is a Gospel preacher who is compiling a history of the church during medieval times. He has visited the congregation that FLS speaks glowingly of and says it is nothing like the Lord’s church. It is misleading for FLS to say, “If they differed from us in any major respect apart from any particular doctrinal understanding, it was in what I sense to be a much more profound worship experience.” Why say, “apart from?” That is no small point that he is willing to set aside just to emphasize their worshipful spirit. FLS knows what this group believes (he gives a glimpse of it starting at the bottom of pg. 104) and still he says, “So I find myself among faithful, God-fearing, worshipful believers who have taught me much about the dynamics of worship, and yet their response to Christian birth is mixed at best” (pg. 105). Something about that statement just doesn’t ring true. From my reading of Scripture, it seems unwise to call someone ‘faithful and God-fearing” if they reject God’s plan of salvation. It is not exactly unique to find in this world religious bodies that have worship zeal. Why would anyone find it necessary to worship with a group of people who are biblically unsound? The apostle Paul visited synagogues (a parallel to visiting denominations), but he did it to teach and correct them. This did not keep Paul from worshipping with Christians or from establishing new congregations where the Saved worshipped God in spirit and truth. According to Keith Sisman’s experience, these people aren’t open to hearing the truth. It seems to me that FLS would be more effective if he went back and began a new congregation. It doesn’t sound like he has made much of an inroad with Ashton-under-Hill if they divert back to their false worship once he has left. Most of these people, by his estimation, are not Christian (few have been baptized in a way ‘pursuant’ to the New Testament).

FLS can’t find a passage that calls for shunning false teachers. Under the heading, “Looking Closely at the Text”, he examines 3 passages that are “bandied about” against him: Ephesians 5:11; Romans 16:17,18; 2 John 9-11. The first says, “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” FLS says, “not a single word about teaching doctrinal error,” and “Paul is clearly not talking about false teachers” (pg. 199). It seems that FLS’s “close” look didn’t look back just five verse where Paul says, “Let no man deceive you with vain words….be ye not therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:6-8). FLS says Eph. 5:11 says nothing about false teaching, but it certainly does. In context, the “fruitless deeds of darkness” result from the “vain words” of false teachers. The false teacher is to be exposed. Next, he quotes Paul,

“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.”

Then FLS says, “once again we look in vain for an inspired imperative to shun as false teachers those with whom we happen to disagree on some doctrinal matter.” I wonder if he read the verse while he typed it, because it warns against the false teacher. I have to wonder if he knows that something “contrary to the teaching you have learned” is a different teaching: hence, a false teaching? The “smooth talk and flattery” that “deceives” the mind is new teaching: hence, they are false teachers. For the last passage, 2 John 9-11, he allows that it does have to do with the false teacher. But he says it applies only to the major false teaching against the nature of Christ. He says it is wrong to apply this verse to doctrinal differences like, among other things, divorce and remarriage (1 Corinthians 5 says otherwise).

The not so ‘rare and special’ case that FLS suggest. He allows that the Bible does in fact teach that some teachers are so bad that they are no longer a brother, no longer fellowshipped. However, he works really hard to suggest that nearly everyone is fellowshipped and are our Brother: hence, the lines of fellowship are VERY broad. While he disagrees with Mike Cope, Rubel Shelly and Max Lucado, he says they are not ‘False Teachers.’ Using his standard, you have to be cousin to the devil to no longer be considered a brother. Under the heading of ‘A Rare and Special Case’ he literally distorts the Scripture. He makes Paul’s action in 1 Timothy 1:20 and 2 Timothy 2:17 (of delivering over to Satan) to be applied only in the extreme cases where a Christian has denied the very essence of the Gospel: Jesus’ resurrection. To make his case, he overstates and distorts the words of Paul. How so? If you look at those passages, FLS interprets their saying “the resurrection has already come” into denying “Jesus’ own resurrection" (pg. 124, also see inset).

Why does FLS say "Among their teachings"? Does Smith know what other teachings they held because this writer doesn't. FLS has no proof that the error went beyond saying the resurrection had already occured and he therefore has no point. The verse says that Philetus and Alexander and Hymenaeus had a difference of opinion concerning the coming of Jesus. Their teaching was destructive, it was heresy, but not more so than Cope, Shelly, and Lucado’s. These three men believe in Jesus, they just preach wrong about Jesus. FLS does not further his argument by exaggerating the sin of Hymenaeus. FLS misapplies the words of Paul to create a narrow but lenient line between fellowship and disfellowship.

In my estimation, his core error is spelled out in 2 John which says to have nothing to do with certain people. John says there are to be lines of fellowship, but FLS doesn’t draw that line. John indicates there is such a thing as ‘guilt by association.’ There is no evidence that the men ‘delivered over to Satan’ fit the strict requirement offered by FLS . On page 125, he says of those 3 men, “they are not just prodigal brothers, they are illegitimate sons.” I guess his point is that if the three were only out “sowing their oats” and wasting their inheritance (eternal), Paul would not have taken such drastic action against them. Personally, I don’t know how he concludes that one is worse than the other. The man who “had his father’s wife” in 1 Corinthians 5 was just as bad as the three men in Timothy and Paul took the same action against him. Paul concludes the chapter with a litany of sins and tells us to do the same thing with ‘so-called’ brothers who carry on this way. We are not to eat with such a person. So instead of Paul’s action being ‘a rare and special’ thing, it is what we do when we exercise discipline. But you would never know that by what FLS says. The same ‘rare’ case applies to the discipline described by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-18. The result is that any Christian who persist in sin (sinful behavior and false teaching) is out of the church, out of fellowship, and is effectively neither a Believer or Brother.

FLS doesn’t appear that to be confused about who is a Christian. Although, Wayne Jackson says FLS is unclear on whether a person must know the purpose of Baptism (thus, Baptist baptism would be acceptable). The book has some good points, especially on church discipline and his letter to Max Lucado is good. His point to Lucado about being united with Christ (through baptism) and unity of Believers was right on. And I agree with him that we can certainly learn from others. Each congregation of the Lord must strive to restore the New Testament church. Sometimes we Christians can get rusty and who would say that the denominations are doing everything wrong? However, FLS should be worshipping with Christians. And His confusing use of words like believers and fellowship is not helpful. Where the Bible says we must be in the world and associate with the world, FLS uses the word fellowship. And what is the purpose of calling a member of a denomination a Believer? Calling a denominational member, without qualifying it by pointing out their error, is unbiblical and misleading. They are lost and it doesn’t further the truth by suggesting otherwise. I do like Paul did in Athens, I allow that they are ‘religious.” Also, it is confusing to talk about a ‘sliding scale of fellowship’ when the Bible clearly shows our fellowship is with faithful Christians.

Wayne Jackson has done an in-depth review of ’s book; available for $3.00 postage paid. P.O. Box 55265, Stockton, CA 95205. also believes in the destruction of the soul, not the eternal punishment of it. also teaches that the alien sinner (unbaptized) is not amenable to Christ’s law on marriage, divorce and remarriage.

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¹ Keith Sisman is living in Huntingdon, Cambs England. He is writing a history of the Lord’s church during the dark ages. Brother Sisman writes in the current issue of The Voice of Truth International: “From the various available records, the following summarization can be made of the state and beliefs of the Lord’s people in Europe from the 1200s onwards:
They believed that baptism was by immersion for believers for the remission of sins, whereby entry is made into Christ’s church (the only true church). They taught that children are innocent, rejecting the teaching of original sin and proclaiming free will. They rejected the use of special buildings, altars and other paraphernalia. They rejected the idea of the clergy, teaching that all believers were of the universal priesthood of believers.
Each congregation was autonomous and, wherever possible, had elders and deacons. The Lord’s supper was taken each Sunday and was served as a memorial, not as an ordinance. They rejected the use of special holy days. They taught the triunity of the Godhead. These believers were spread throughout Europe, including Britain, and were also present in the east. They used their own vernacular versions of the Scriptures and were strongly evangelistic in promoting the true faith. They referred to themselves as Christians and members of the true church, in spite of the fact that other ‘names’ of identification were sometimes used by others in reference to them.”

-- Dan Mayfield

THE CONVERTED ARE KNOWN BY THEIR FRUIT

2011-02-13T01:10:00.000-06:00

Christ clearly stated that the spiritual condition of men is shown in their fruit. A good tree produces good fruit. A bad tree produces bad. It is impossible for a slave of the Devil to bear good fruit. And it is impossible for one who is led by the Spirit of God to bear bad fruit. The disciples of Christ have the fruit of the Spirit which is 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control" (Gal. 5:13).

Someone once told of a servant girl when asked how she knew she was converted said, "Because now I sweep under the mats." The unconverted do not care about doing right, for the sake it. The unconverted will act "faithfully" when he is watched. The converted "sweep under the mats" for they believe in the invisible God.

People who are converted are keen to listen to the words of Christ. They take on his manners and interests. They are known by their walk and talk which closely resembles the nature of Christ. Being brought up to maturity they exhibit a spirit of love and truth which can't help but bear the fruit of God. It is a blessing to have God working in us who believe to bear His righteous fruit for salvation.