The prophecies Jesus related in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, written nearly 2000 years ago, could almost be composed from the news headlines of today; undisciplined youth running uncontrolled in the streets destroying other people’s private property, rape and plunder, ominous concerns about the political future of even ”Christian” nations. There is no such thing of course as a Christian nation. People become Christians, not nations. Even the Clergy and self styled ministers today often deny the deity of the Messiah, the very heart of the Gospel, they claim to represent. The headlines tell of wars, strange plagues and illnesses, starvation and nature gone wild in severity and frequency. Records are being broken from as far back as history has recorded them. Our world is building up to something disastrous, beyond our understanding. The world’s religions have no answers. Only the Creator of everything can save us, and that is His desire. “For (He) God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Yes Christ Jesus is both the Creator and the Savior of the earth. He is, He was, and He will always be so. “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God, All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3
The above things being so, it is time that we studied Matthew 24, yes, the entire chapter! If two pages are too much, start with verse six. After this, turn to the final book of the Bible, Revelation and read, (The whole book would be good, but in particular don’t miss Revelation 13:8, “and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,(the Beast), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Those that were written, were written there by the Lord. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:47. That is, those who had responded to Peter’s sermon through their faith, repentance of their sins, and being baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. Acts 2:38 and following.
The ecconomy of the world is already under attack, This is exactly what we should expect. “And he,(the beast),causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six. (666) Revelation 13:16-18. Christians must have nothing to do with that number for it is Satan’s mark. “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11.
In American history, Patrick Henry is quoted as having said, "Give me liberty or give me death."
In the Bible, a voice from heaven said, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Revelation 14:13. This is an eternal "life or death decision." Weigh the consequences.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
THIS FOOLISH WORLD NEEDS CHRIST
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND WILL BRING TO NOTHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRUDENT. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world knew by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many noble, are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-27
This is one of those wonderful scripture texts which just opens one after another thought to ponder, but we have more here than we can digest in our short time available. Before I say anything of my own, I would like to quote the first two sentences of Matthew Henry’s comments on this passage. They read: “Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning, but the plain preaching of the crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the foundation of all our joys, And by his death we live.”
Today, many universities have full courses just to search and study the ancient, Greek and Roman, philosophers. I remember that, several years ago, there was a Chinese man, we simply called “Uncle Sam”. I don’t think I know what his full name was. I doesn’t really matter. He had been obedient to the Lord Jesus in Christian baptism, but he was not able to shake off the grip that the ancient philosopher’s teachings had upon him. He was pulled by the wisdom of men on one side and of the Lord on the other. On one occasion he had to be rescued because he was standing in the middle of a dark, but very busy street. In his drunken state, he was shouting at the cars that narrowly missed him. The wisdom of men can not cope with the power of God.
On this occasion, Paul stood on Mars Hill, shared by an ancient pagan temple which we know as the Parthenon. He preached to the Greeks in Athens, a sermon which may say was a failure. I think not! He did not win the philosophers, granted, but there were others, probably bystanders, who did respond. Never discount the bystanders, for many times they do not have closed minds to the truth of the gospel. The seed of the Word scattered there may take root and grow with amazing results, not necessarily in that particular day, seed takes time to take root and grow. Sometimes the believer needs time to ponder the word, before coming to a decision. That is the way I shop. I look at several various merchant’s products, then think about it and often end up back at the first place. We are in that sort of position today. We live in a double wide manufactured home, and we love it, but increasingly it is more difficult to travel to and from the church, our doctors, the dentist, the hospital, and for Phyllis even navigate the steps to our home-deck. So, we have been looking at retirement apartments, and we have found a delightful one in Plano, just minutes from all our activities. This is where we can help one another. We need to sell our home in order to afford the exchange. Pray with us to that end, the Lord approving.
Tis morning I was led to a free on lineadvert for homes such asours. The timeing is right, perhaps thiss the answer. They placed on line a beautiful presentation complete with a picture.
As Paul asked for prayers, and so also do we. But above all else, mttay His will be done.
Jesus died for us, let’s be eager to share His message.
This is one of those wonderful scripture texts which just opens one after another thought to ponder, but we have more here than we can digest in our short time available. Before I say anything of my own, I would like to quote the first two sentences of Matthew Henry’s comments on this passage. They read: “Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning, but the plain preaching of the crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the foundation of all our joys, And by his death we live.”
Today, many universities have full courses just to search and study the ancient, Greek and Roman, philosophers. I remember that, several years ago, there was a Chinese man, we simply called “Uncle Sam”. I don’t think I know what his full name was. I doesn’t really matter. He had been obedient to the Lord Jesus in Christian baptism, but he was not able to shake off the grip that the ancient philosopher’s teachings had upon him. He was pulled by the wisdom of men on one side and of the Lord on the other. On one occasion he had to be rescued because he was standing in the middle of a dark, but very busy street. In his drunken state, he was shouting at the cars that narrowly missed him. The wisdom of men can not cope with the power of God.
On this occasion, Paul stood on Mars Hill, shared by an ancient pagan temple which we know as the Parthenon. He preached to the Greeks in Athens, a sermon which may say was a failure. I think not! He did not win the philosophers, granted, but there were others, probably bystanders, who did respond. Never discount the bystanders, for many times they do not have closed minds to the truth of the gospel. The seed of the Word scattered there may take root and grow with amazing results, not necessarily in that particular day, seed takes time to take root and grow. Sometimes the believer needs time to ponder the word, before coming to a decision. That is the way I shop. I look at several various merchant’s products, then think about it and often end up back at the first place. We are in that sort of position today. We live in a double wide manufactured home, and we love it, but increasingly it is more difficult to travel to and from the church, our doctors, the dentist, the hospital, and for Phyllis even navigate the steps to our home-deck. So, we have been looking at retirement apartments, and we have found a delightful one in Plano, just minutes from all our activities. This is where we can help one another. We need to sell our home in order to afford the exchange. Pray with us to that end, the Lord approving.
Tis morning I was led to a free on lineadvert for homes such asours. The timeing is right, perhaps thiss the answer. They placed on line a beautiful presentation complete with a picture.
As Paul asked for prayers, and so also do we. But above all else, mttay His will be done.
Jesus died for us, let’s be eager to share His message.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE
“Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.“ Matthew 7: 13-16
We live on a narrow, and heavily patched side street named Ace Lane. It is well named. Potholes spring up like mushrooms. Our community has space for more than six hundred homes, yet this is the only way to reach us. A fact that we often think of when grass fires flair up regularly.
The street that Ace Lane leads to has six lanes, three in either direction: typical of many arterial streets in the Dallas area. Why is there this contrast? In this parable, Jesus points out the obvious reason.
Because the broad way is where the majority of the people are travelling; it is more attractive, and well maintained. It is the easy way, easy to find, easy to follow, and usually faster. The light at the junction of the two streets definitely favors the broad way. We often have to wait for a second round of lights, because our timing is set low. We who live on the side street have to know where we are going. We know where the potholes are the worst. We know where most of the animals are killed on the street during the night. We know where the rainwater accumulates when it rains, for we have no storm drains, and we know where the crest of a small hill obscures approaching traffic.
Jesus compared such as Ace Lane to a gate, the favored way: the attractive way that most people are following is not really the best way, for it is leading to destruction. The famous line of an immature person is, “Everyone is doing it.” That simply is not true. If it were true, it would most definitely be a “red flag” warning not to do whatever is being referred to. The narrow way, the way that people have trouble finding, is the way that leads to life, and only a few will find it.
A number of persons coming to our home have ignored our instructions saying. “I will just follow my navigator”, or “I have a map.” Good, but it probably neither is up to date. Both show Ace Lane opening onto a major highway to the south and that is the tempting way, but Ace Lane has been a dead end street for a number of years years. People find their way, when they phone. “Few there be that find it.” We have been warned. Many who think they know the way, many who trust the assumed authorities, of those, many will go astray, because they do not check or don’t know a trustworthy guide. In verse fifteen is the admonition, “beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing.” They are not what they appear to be. They can’t direct the way to life, if they don’t know it themselves. Jesus compared such persons as "the bin leading hte blind."
Jesus was making a Spiritual application that we might make the right choices in our lives. Don’t follow the masses, don’t be afraid to consult the Word. It is reliable, even though it may seem to be pointing to a narrow, trouble strewn lane. Leave behind the broad, easy way. Jesus knew what lay before him, but instead of taking the easy way, he always took the way that led to life, being obedient to his Father. Life is too short for us to take shortcuts. Follow the Word. Follow the Lord who said, “Where I go ye know.” And, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” The broad gate, most people are using, is the wrong gate.
We live on a narrow, and heavily patched side street named Ace Lane. It is well named. Potholes spring up like mushrooms. Our community has space for more than six hundred homes, yet this is the only way to reach us. A fact that we often think of when grass fires flair up regularly.
The street that Ace Lane leads to has six lanes, three in either direction: typical of many arterial streets in the Dallas area. Why is there this contrast? In this parable, Jesus points out the obvious reason.
Because the broad way is where the majority of the people are travelling; it is more attractive, and well maintained. It is the easy way, easy to find, easy to follow, and usually faster. The light at the junction of the two streets definitely favors the broad way. We often have to wait for a second round of lights, because our timing is set low. We who live on the side street have to know where we are going. We know where the potholes are the worst. We know where most of the animals are killed on the street during the night. We know where the rainwater accumulates when it rains, for we have no storm drains, and we know where the crest of a small hill obscures approaching traffic.
Jesus compared such as Ace Lane to a gate, the favored way: the attractive way that most people are following is not really the best way, for it is leading to destruction. The famous line of an immature person is, “Everyone is doing it.” That simply is not true. If it were true, it would most definitely be a “red flag” warning not to do whatever is being referred to. The narrow way, the way that people have trouble finding, is the way that leads to life, and only a few will find it.
A number of persons coming to our home have ignored our instructions saying. “I will just follow my navigator”, or “I have a map.” Good, but it probably neither is up to date. Both show Ace Lane opening onto a major highway to the south and that is the tempting way, but Ace Lane has been a dead end street for a number of years years. People find their way, when they phone. “Few there be that find it.” We have been warned. Many who think they know the way, many who trust the assumed authorities, of those, many will go astray, because they do not check or don’t know a trustworthy guide. In verse fifteen is the admonition, “beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing.” They are not what they appear to be. They can’t direct the way to life, if they don’t know it themselves. Jesus compared such persons as "the bin leading hte blind."
Jesus was making a Spiritual application that we might make the right choices in our lives. Don’t follow the masses, don’t be afraid to consult the Word. It is reliable, even though it may seem to be pointing to a narrow, trouble strewn lane. Leave behind the broad, easy way. Jesus knew what lay before him, but instead of taking the easy way, he always took the way that led to life, being obedient to his Father. Life is too short for us to take shortcuts. Follow the Word. Follow the Lord who said, “Where I go ye know.” And, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” The broad gate, most people are using, is the wrong gate.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
WHERE TEMPTATIONS COME FROM
We have all heard such trite sayings as, “The Devil made me do it.” Adam even blamed God when he said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Genesis 3:12. There was no denying that he had sinned, so he blamed the only other person there Eve, and then indirectly God, for God had given him the woman. Where did the temptation come from in the beginning?
To be human, means that there will be temptations. Even our Lord was tempted as soon as he was baptized and began to fulfill his ministry, but being tempted does not automatically mean that sin follows. Our Lord lived a sinless life, even though he had taken on a physical body with all its needs and desires. His greatest temptations were those brought to him directly by Satan; not through an agency such as the serpent, or even one of his followers later, as when he said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan.” It was Satan, Peter was being used. Having said that, let us look at the words of James, the physical brother of Jesus.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:12-15.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” It is a fact that temptations are going to come to every Christian, and Satan is not going to delay. In nature, there is great loss when the very young are decimated. They become the prey of others in the food chain. Thousands of tiny turtles are hatched on the beaches of the world, but many never survive the short trip even to the sea. Tiny fish are eaten before they can mature. Likewise many new born Christians never make it to spiritual maturity. They need spiritual nourishment from the Word, and the care of their concerned brothers and sisters in the Lord. That is why churches have Elders. They are the caretakers, not only of the very young in the faith, but even the very mature until the Lord calls all his children home to be with him.
It is not that Christians just survive, but they look forward to that “crown of life” that the Lord has promised to all those who love him. This is the eternal life that will be the result of being able to eat of the “tree of life” that will be available in heaven. Revelation 22:2, “on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded the fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
Now Adam had said, “whom thou gavest.” This was an attempt to transfer his own guilt to someone else, even God who gave Eve, but James tells us, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” No, we cannot cast the blame at the feet of anyone else, not even the one used as the means of the temptation by Satan. Jesus spoke to Satan, not to Peter even though the actual words came from Peter who said that Jesus would not die for the sins of mankind.
The guilt for submitting to temptation is laid directly upon the individual as he has permitted his “lust” to lead him astray. It may be physical lust, lust for wealth, lust for power, or fame, or whatever, but it all traces back to a weakness. “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.”
So, that is where the blame lies. The wages of sin is death. Let us rejoice in our Lord who willingly gave himself to pay that price for us. It was he, our Savior who said through Peter on Pentecost to the sinners, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38. In another place he also said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
To be human, means that there will be temptations. Even our Lord was tempted as soon as he was baptized and began to fulfill his ministry, but being tempted does not automatically mean that sin follows. Our Lord lived a sinless life, even though he had taken on a physical body with all its needs and desires. His greatest temptations were those brought to him directly by Satan; not through an agency such as the serpent, or even one of his followers later, as when he said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan.” It was Satan, Peter was being used. Having said that, let us look at the words of James, the physical brother of Jesus.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:12-15.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” It is a fact that temptations are going to come to every Christian, and Satan is not going to delay. In nature, there is great loss when the very young are decimated. They become the prey of others in the food chain. Thousands of tiny turtles are hatched on the beaches of the world, but many never survive the short trip even to the sea. Tiny fish are eaten before they can mature. Likewise many new born Christians never make it to spiritual maturity. They need spiritual nourishment from the Word, and the care of their concerned brothers and sisters in the Lord. That is why churches have Elders. They are the caretakers, not only of the very young in the faith, but even the very mature until the Lord calls all his children home to be with him.
It is not that Christians just survive, but they look forward to that “crown of life” that the Lord has promised to all those who love him. This is the eternal life that will be the result of being able to eat of the “tree of life” that will be available in heaven. Revelation 22:2, “on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded the fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
Now Adam had said, “whom thou gavest.” This was an attempt to transfer his own guilt to someone else, even God who gave Eve, but James tells us, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” No, we cannot cast the blame at the feet of anyone else, not even the one used as the means of the temptation by Satan. Jesus spoke to Satan, not to Peter even though the actual words came from Peter who said that Jesus would not die for the sins of mankind.
The guilt for submitting to temptation is laid directly upon the individual as he has permitted his “lust” to lead him astray. It may be physical lust, lust for wealth, lust for power, or fame, or whatever, but it all traces back to a weakness. “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.”
So, that is where the blame lies. The wages of sin is death. Let us rejoice in our Lord who willingly gave himself to pay that price for us. It was he, our Savior who said through Peter on Pentecost to the sinners, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38. In another place he also said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
Saturday, February 9, 2008
WHERE ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR HOUSE?
“…whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand: and the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27.
We have all seen, and some have lived in houses such as these described of Jesus in his parable. When we first married, my wife and I bought a small mobile-home. It was supported by crank-down jacks on whatever ground it happened to be sitting on at the time. We moved it several times so that varied with each place. Then, when we moved to Africa, my brother-in-law lived in it and it came to an unhappy end. While they were shopping in town, a tornado came along and because it had no foundation, and was in no way tied down, it was rolled over and smashed. Nearly fifty years later, when we retired back to live in Texas, we bought a double-wide manufactured home. It is supported on many cement pillars and anchored with a number of steel anchors, however the soil is still a problem. The soil is of clay and swells or shrinks depending on its moisture content. In the heat of summer it can resemble baked bricks, but after prolonged rain it becomes like mush. This adds to the problem of stability.
Jesus was likening our lives to such houses. There will be good times and there will be difficult times in every life. The life based on the firm foundation of faith in God, gained through a knowledge of his word, and making it our foundation in life, will stand, while the life that just takes whatever comes along and having no real foundation, may not survive the difficult times. The same conditions will exist for both, but the one with a firm footing of faith in God is the one which will stand.
In Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus used the same analogy, this time he is speaking of the church. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” In contrast to the two houses, each built by men, one built on a shifting foundation of sand and the other on firm solid rock, the church is built by the Lord Jesus Christ, its head. Peter was to be the instrument of its beginning and thus it was he who preached the opening sermon. This we can read in Acts 2. He opened the doors to heaven with the words, “God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:37-39.
The result of this sermon was that about 3000 “gladly received his word and were baptized.” “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” v-47. The church of Jesus Christ is founded on a solid rock outcrop, and even the gates of Hades, (death) shall not prevail against it. Persecutions, beginning in Jerusalem and continuing right up until the very present time, have not destroyed the church. It shall still be here when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead, and Hades shall give up the dead to be judged. Christ’s kingdom began with the church in Jerusalem and will continue even in heaven forever.
Let us build our lives on the firm foundation of His Word. A man can lose his faith and abandon the church, but the church will never abandon a faithful believer. It ll comes back to him. Is he a faithful believer?
We have all seen, and some have lived in houses such as these described of Jesus in his parable. When we first married, my wife and I bought a small mobile-home. It was supported by crank-down jacks on whatever ground it happened to be sitting on at the time. We moved it several times so that varied with each place. Then, when we moved to Africa, my brother-in-law lived in it and it came to an unhappy end. While they were shopping in town, a tornado came along and because it had no foundation, and was in no way tied down, it was rolled over and smashed. Nearly fifty years later, when we retired back to live in Texas, we bought a double-wide manufactured home. It is supported on many cement pillars and anchored with a number of steel anchors, however the soil is still a problem. The soil is of clay and swells or shrinks depending on its moisture content. In the heat of summer it can resemble baked bricks, but after prolonged rain it becomes like mush. This adds to the problem of stability.
Jesus was likening our lives to such houses. There will be good times and there will be difficult times in every life. The life based on the firm foundation of faith in God, gained through a knowledge of his word, and making it our foundation in life, will stand, while the life that just takes whatever comes along and having no real foundation, may not survive the difficult times. The same conditions will exist for both, but the one with a firm footing of faith in God is the one which will stand.
In Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus used the same analogy, this time he is speaking of the church. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” In contrast to the two houses, each built by men, one built on a shifting foundation of sand and the other on firm solid rock, the church is built by the Lord Jesus Christ, its head. Peter was to be the instrument of its beginning and thus it was he who preached the opening sermon. This we can read in Acts 2. He opened the doors to heaven with the words, “God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:37-39.
The result of this sermon was that about 3000 “gladly received his word and were baptized.” “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” v-47. The church of Jesus Christ is founded on a solid rock outcrop, and even the gates of Hades, (death) shall not prevail against it. Persecutions, beginning in Jerusalem and continuing right up until the very present time, have not destroyed the church. It shall still be here when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead, and Hades shall give up the dead to be judged. Christ’s kingdom began with the church in Jerusalem and will continue even in heaven forever.
Let us build our lives on the firm foundation of His Word. A man can lose his faith and abandon the church, but the church will never abandon a faithful believer. It ll comes back to him. Is he a faithful believer?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
IN THE BEGINNING GOD
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2.
Read on and you will find that what the scientists of today are searching for. They are looking frantically for the source of that elusive first cell. If you do not believe in the eternal God, who is without beginning and without end, you will never find that first cell, the basic foundation unit of all life. Two of the Trinity are mentioned right here in the first verse of the Bible. God was already in existence. He is the source of all that exists.
The unnamed third being of the Trinity is revealed by John the apostle in his Gospel account. “In the beginning was the Word, (Christ,) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.“ John 1:1-4. These three, God the Father, God the Spirit, and God the Son, are referred to as one which we know as the Holy Trinity, which words never appear in the Bible. They represent absolute unity. Jesus in his prayer, John 17, with his Father, said “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” John 17:20-22.
How can mankind so stumble over the fact of the Father, the Son and the Spirit of the Trinity, and still accept the statement that God made mankind both male and female and said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. In Eden there was complete unity of purpose, and they became “one flesh.” Man thinks in terms of material, physical man. God is spirit and the Trinity is spirit, not material. It was, and is, God’s wish that the unity of a man and wife be as strong as is the unity of Father, Son and the Spirit. Some things can become so totally blended, even in the physical, that they can never be separated back to their origins. When it comes to the spiritual, we are out of our element and can never hope to understand while we are still in this body. That part of man that is eternal is his spirit. It was of man that God said, “let us make man in our own image.” I particularly appreciate the words of Matthew Henry who wrote, “The soul was not made of the earth, as the body: pity then that it should cleave to the earth, and mind earthly things.” Then he added, “Fools despise their own souls, by caring for their bodies before their souls.” In the words of David, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.
We need look no further for the source of that first cell, than Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Read on and you will find that what the scientists of today are searching for. They are looking frantically for the source of that elusive first cell. If you do not believe in the eternal God, who is without beginning and without end, you will never find that first cell, the basic foundation unit of all life. Two of the Trinity are mentioned right here in the first verse of the Bible. God was already in existence. He is the source of all that exists.
The unnamed third being of the Trinity is revealed by John the apostle in his Gospel account. “In the beginning was the Word, (Christ,) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.“ John 1:1-4. These three, God the Father, God the Spirit, and God the Son, are referred to as one which we know as the Holy Trinity, which words never appear in the Bible. They represent absolute unity. Jesus in his prayer, John 17, with his Father, said “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” John 17:20-22.
How can mankind so stumble over the fact of the Father, the Son and the Spirit of the Trinity, and still accept the statement that God made mankind both male and female and said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. In Eden there was complete unity of purpose, and they became “one flesh.” Man thinks in terms of material, physical man. God is spirit and the Trinity is spirit, not material. It was, and is, God’s wish that the unity of a man and wife be as strong as is the unity of Father, Son and the Spirit. Some things can become so totally blended, even in the physical, that they can never be separated back to their origins. When it comes to the spiritual, we are out of our element and can never hope to understand while we are still in this body. That part of man that is eternal is his spirit. It was of man that God said, “let us make man in our own image.” I particularly appreciate the words of Matthew Henry who wrote, “The soul was not made of the earth, as the body: pity then that it should cleave to the earth, and mind earthly things.” Then he added, “Fools despise their own souls, by caring for their bodies before their souls.” In the words of David, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.
We need look no further for the source of that first cell, than Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
TEACH US HOW TO PRAY
We often hear the prayer found in Matthew 6, called “The Lord’s Prayer”. It is not. Neither is it an appropriate prayer for Christians today, as it was for the apostles who asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. They had seen him pray. and knew Jesus talked with his Father regularly, sometimes spending the night doing so. They were familiar with the prayers of the Pharisees and other religious leaders of their day and could not help but note the difference Just as Jesus’ teaching was different, so were his prayers different. This led them to ask to be taught by him how to pray. While this prayed will teach us “how to pray,” we must remember that we live under a different covenant than our Lord who lived under the Law of Moses. For example, the kingdom referred to in “Thy kingdom come,” came on the first Pentecost after this. (Acts 2.) Christians are a part of the kingdom. It is not something still to come in the future. We can, and should, praise him for his kingdom and that we are permitted to be a part of it. Jesus’ own prayer is to be found after his resurrection. therefore falls under the new covenant, and is recorded in John 17, “That they may all be one as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee.” He was praying for us all, even today and all to come. Let’s look for a moment at some points in that lesson on prayer.
It is a private conversation between man and his Father. It is not a display for the sake of being seen and heard by men. The difference is that if one is leading a group in prayer, he is speaking on behalf of all who hear. The man on the street corner is praying to be seen, and being seen is his reward.
Since it is a private conversation, find a place alone where you can open your heart to God. An inner room is suggested, and with the door closed.
A prayer need not be lengthy to be effective. What it must be, is to be sincere, and from the heart. Pagan religions thrive on long prayers, using any means to repeat them over and over as often as possible, even to the extent of small flags with a prayer written on them and placed where the wind will cause them to flutter, or prayer bells that jingle in the wind, or beads to be counted off so many times. Don’t forget, many “praise choruses” are really prayers set to music. Repeating them over and over makes them no more effective as prayers, and are certain to exhaust any elderly singers kept standing for long periods of time.
God knows our needs and sometimes lets us know so as happened to myself once several years ago. I had been praying day after day fervently several times a day about the need to replace our small Bible shop with something more suitable. In the middle of one of my prayers, God softly spoke in my inner ear, just once, “Be still and know that I am God.” I learned my lesson there and then. A little over a year later we owned a spacious Bible shop, including a church building, and an apartment all in one complex. Our Lord knew what we needed, and when the time was right, He provided it.
Compare these points with the scripture and the prayer Jesus taught his apostles.
Matthew 6:5-13 - “When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into the closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to the Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
After this manner therefore pray ye: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
This short, directly to the point, from the heart, meeting our needs, with praise to our Father.
Prayer is a private conversation with our heavenly Father who made all things and loved us enough to send His Son to die for us and pay the price for our sins. (John 3:16).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)