Hope Baptist Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Hope Baptist Church
Hope Baptist Church in Sunbury began solely for the purpose of bringing hope and understanding in a time of great confusion. The commission given by Christ was, in short, to preach the Gospel and to make disciples. Without distraction, this is the fundamental aim of Hope Baptist Church and pray it remains that same focus well into the future.
EXPECTED!How Close?
The Imminent Return Of The Lord Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 1:7–8
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Expected NOW (imminent)
Expected Then (Old Testament Prophetic Gaps)
Expected Why? (What are the signs before he comes?)
Expected When? (What is the evidence that it is NEAR?)
Introductionwaiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
In order to deny the pre-tribulational rapture of the Church there are several areas of the Bible that must first be rejected;
The evident Biblical Distinction between the Church and IsraelThe clear historical gap concerning the biblical prophecies of Messiah and Gods judgment which were not evident in the Old Testament but revealed in the New.The imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for his Church. Each one of the above doctrines must be denied by each and every pastor who rejects the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church.
Therefore we begin with one question; When is the return of Jesus EXPECTED?
The text certainly indicates at any moment.
Is there a way of knowing how close we are to his coming? Are there any parameters?
Can we even know how close we are? Are we ‘date setting’ if we try?
Paul is clearly exhorting the believers of the city of Corinth to be waiting EXPECTANTLY for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in this first chapter, MOTIVATING THEM, “that in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;**” (v5-7),
He writes to Titus in the same fashion, exhorting him to motivated the brethren, saying;
Titus 2:11–13
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;**
So there is in every way a ready EXPECTATION that they may indeed be present when he comes.
Our Purpose this morning is to consider if it is possible to know with any degree of confidence, excepting a miraculous intervention through a global repentance toward God, the “closeness of the hour”?
Are there biblical parameters?
In other words, is there a TIME LIMIT in the Scriptures by with the doctrine of IMMINENCY can logically be sustained?
Earlier, in the gospel accounts, Jesus tells his disciples that they ought to be “watching” and the link is directly related to the coming of Jesus, “the Son of Man” in v 34 of Mark 13; and he concludes the passage by extending that exhortation from his disciples TO ALL;
Mark 13:35–37
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.**
These are just a few short examples of the imminent return of Christ written of in the scriptures.
Matthew 24:38-39 likens to and condemns the times of Noah, that life went on oblivious to the trouble and evidence of the looming wrath of God upon a God forsaking world and the people “knew not until the flood came and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be“.
With so many more signs today that there perhaps were in the times of Noah, are we more accountable that they to KNOW? At least enough to “Watch”?
I Pray that in the sermon today you might KNOW that Jesus is EXPECTED, NOW, at any moment.
How are you to be found living your life?
Will you be found being “ enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:“?
Expected NOWThe Doctrine of Imminency
1 Corinthians 1:7
7 ….waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.**
Here we are in the 1st Century of the years of our Lord.
Paul indicates he is writing this letter from Ephesus (1 Cor 16:8-9) as part of his third missionary Journey. The date of this letter therefore has been narrowed down to a six month window between 55 and 56AD.
The writing of the letter to the Corinthian church is less than 25 years since Jesus had ascended, and already we have an encouragement from Paul to the Corinthian Church to be “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ“.
Beloved you will notice first of all that Paul does not give any contingencies to the Corinthian churches, there are no preliminaries, nothing that says “this needs to happen, then this and then Jesus comes“.
Paul does not indicate in this letter that there is anything they ought to expect prior to “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ“.
No CONDITIONS, no indication whatsoever that his return must first be predicated upon ANYTHING else occurring before “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ“
For the Imminent return of Jesus to BE TRUE, there must be NOTHING that needs to occurPRIOR to his coming. For if there is ANYTHING MUST MUST HAPPEN FIRST, then the EXPECTED return of Jesus Christ CANNOT BE IMMINENT.
Paul could not exhort the Corinthian Church to be EXPECTANTLY WAITING if something needs to occur FIRST.
Jesus could not exhort his disciples to WATCH if something needed to occur FIRST.
This same characteristic is seen everywhere we read of any form or waiting or ‘looking for‘, or ‘watching‘ or any other form of expectation for the coming of Jesus for his Church in the bible.
Philippians 3:20–21
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue allv things unto himself.
1 Thessalonians 1:10
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
2 Timothy 4:8
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.**
Titus 2:13
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Hebrews 9:28
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 10:36–37
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.**
James 5:7–8
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.**
Even Jesus spoke answered the question by his disciples of his return and exhorted them to be ready to ESCAPE the terrible time of the end of the world.
Luke 21:36
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
And there are many more, as those listed in your newsletters that I had time to find;
1 Cor 4:5, Mt 25:1, Lk 12:36, Rom 8:19, Col 3:4, 1 Tim 6:14-15, 1 Pet 5:4, 1 Jn 3:2, 2 Thess 1:7, 1 Pet 1:7.
In NONE of those passages is seen any teaching that “this needs to happen first and THEN Jesus comes“. If there were, then it is clear we would not be WAITING for Jesus FIRST, but waiting to see that OTHER EVENT as our priority for Jesus.
For example: if Jesus were not EXPECTED to come until AFTER THE TRIBULATION period indentified as Seven Years in Daniel 9, and TRIGGERED by the singing of the covenant the antichrist makes with “many” in the same chapter; we would FIRST be looking for, waiting, watching for ANTICHRIST as our priority for Jesus coming.
But none of these passages even a hint that something else needs to occur prior to the return of the Lord.
Those brethren who teach that the Lord CANNOT COME until a multitude of other prophetic items are attended to FIRST, must explain, with absolute clarity, why none of those passages I just read mention anything required to first occur.
And certainly, no mention of the most unique time of all history respecting the outpouring of Gods wrath, which is so easily identifiable.
IN FACT, quite to the contrary, Jesus himself exhorting that “ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (Lk 12:36).
No beloved, JESUS is certainly EXPECTED NOW!
Paul encouraging the Corinthian Church to be EXPECTING Jesus Christ, Not AntiChrist.
He encourages them to be sure not to come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:**
While there are MANY signs that are to come before Christ returns FOR JUDGEMENT on the world, there are NO signs for Christs return for his BRIDE, the Church.
Jesus is to be EXPECTED NOW,
Expected Then
1 Corinthians 1:5–7
5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
The Old Testament Prophetic Gaps
Jesus was EXPECTED THEN.
The Old testament clearly presented a continuous witness that the ourpouring of Gods wrath upon a god forsaking world would be IMMEDIATELY preceede by the coming of the messiah.
Messiah comes, Judges the world, rules and reigns for 1000 years.
This is why the question was asked of the Lord AFTER he rose from the dead, “… Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Acts 1:6–7
It was because he was fully EXPECTED THEN.
Again and again the Old Testament teaches that the Messiah comes and then the END of the world.
It is the failure however to recognise there is a GAP that has manifested as a direct result of the REJECTION OF the Messiah by the people for whom he came;
John 1:11
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Turn to Acts 13:46 to see this and what transpired;
Acts 13:46
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Interestingly the Old Testament does indicate Christ would be a LIGHT to the Gentiles In Isaiah 49:6
Turn to Isaiah 61:1
Recall, this passage was used by Jesus referring to himself as being the fulfilment of this prophecy.
Isaiah 61:1–2
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Something fascinating occurs in Lukes Gospel account when Jesus is given this passage in the synagogue;
Turn to Luke 4:17
Luke 4:17–19
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
We see that Jesus stops immediately before concluding the reading with “and the day of vengeance of our God“, closes the book, returns it to the minister, sits and states “this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”.
Jesus put a FULL STOP, where in Isaiah we have a comma.
That comma has lasted almost 2 thousand years so far.
But this is not all.
For the sake of time, I will not have you turn to these passage, but you do have them in your Newsletters under the second point HEADING “EXPECTED THEN”.
You see, Peter the apostle, at the beginning of the Church on the day of Pentecost, fully expected that the wrath of God was about to come as he quotes the book of Joel in its fullness concerning the coming of Christ, and testifies to its imminent fulfilment.
Acts 2:16–21
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
But the events from verse 19 here in Acts, or from verse 30 in Joel 2, has not yet occurred, even though there was a full expectation they would occur AFTER THE COMING OF CHRIST!
This is what was EXPECTED THEN!
Isaiah 9:6–7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
We see the child born, the Son Given and the Government eternally established. The Disciples clearly believed that “Christ abideth for ever” (Jn 12:34).
This is what they EXPECTED THEN.
Micah 5:2
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
This passage is spoken of as being PARTIALLY fulfilled in Matthew 2:6, but is Christ now the ruler of Judah?
Yet this is what was EXPECTED THEN.
Zechariah 6:12–13
12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
“The Branch” is Christ, and again he would RULE his people, even to BUILD the temple of the LORD;
The context refers to his MILLENNIAL rule and reign, not his RESURRECTION.
This was EXPECTED THEN.
Psalm 2:5–9
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.**
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
The Son clearly here begotten of God and the clear rendering of the passage as presented, set and ruling upon the “Holy hill of Zion”. Little question of what was expected then, even in Old Testament times.
Daniel 9:25–27
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Jesus himself addressed this passage, speaking YET FUTURE of the Abomination of Desolations. This DID Not occur when the Romans destroyed the City, and yet it was EXPECTED TO OCCUR THEN.
Again, Messiah comes and immediately followed by Judgement and Government.
Simply put, there cannot be found a single passage in the Bible where a clear representation of the coming of Messiah is not immediately followed by the imminent expectation of judgement upon this world.
TWO THINGS THEREFORE can be understood;
First; Even from the OLD Testament passages, there is not a single verse that indicates JUDGEMENT comes BEFORE the coming of Messiah, always AFTER or the direct RESULT OF HIS MANIFESTATION, but NEVER before.
Second: There has been an evident GAP, a mysterious parenthesis of history, an interruption of the time sequence of passages such as Isiah 61:2 and Daniel 9, Joel 2 etc when Israel rejected her Messiah.
Knowing that a part of those prophecies have been fulfilled, tells us with absolute plainness that the OTHER PART of those prophecies must STILL be fulfilled.
That the death and ascension of Christ after he was rejected as KING by Israel began or opened that parenthesis of history, clearly tells us that his return for his church will Close that parenthesis and begin to fulfill the OTHER PART of those prophecies that were partially fulfilled when he came and was rejected.
The parenthesis closes when he comes for his Bride.
Expected Why? (What are the signs before he comes?)
There are no completions of any event or sign that must occur before Jesus comes, but there is a huge array of events that occur during the tribulation period that we might see “Summer is near“
Mark 13:28–29
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.**
Jesus is using a parable to teach the basic precept that, by our knowledge of what the Bible teaches as a clear prophetic event yet future to us, we can observe with our own eyes, ears and understanding respecting our proximity to it.
The Disciples asked for “signs” respecting the coming of the Lord and “the end of the world” in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, not unlike ROAD SIGNS that give us the proximity of our nearness to an event.
We KNEW this same thing when we were children forever bothering mum or dad in the car with “are we there yet?“. Never did we answer, “well, we cant really know….“. No! Instead we gave a proximate answer, “almost there”, “about another half hour” etc.
So it is respecting the question of when JESUS is EXPECTED.
If the Bible teaches that the Church is the bride of Christ, is not appointed unto wrath, is distinct from Israel, is the mystery that created a parenthesis in biblical history and that Jesus is returning for his Church IMMINENTLY, then he must be EXPECTED before the beginning of The Seven year Tribulation Period.
This period is identified in Daniel 9:27 as the signing of the “covenant with many for one week” (seven years) by the one identified as The AntiChrist. An event that corresponds with and is understood with many other portions of Scripture.
In ONE MINUTE per section I will try to tell you what that end looks like.
Revelation 6 tells us both by declaration and by implication.
Ongoing Wars
Division will rule
Murder will be common
Food will be fully Controlled
Energy will be fully controlled.
Income will be fully controlled.
Prices will be fully Controlled.
Private property will be abolished.
Famine
Plagues
Mass Population Reduction
The beginning of a Murderous Persecution of new believers.
Geological and Astrological Events, frequent
Revelation 12 Tells us both by declaration and by implication.
NATIONALISM WILL BE ABOLISHED. There will be no more countries or nation states
There will be a Ten Region UNELECTED, Uncountable and Unrevocable World Government.
Satan and his Devils cast out of heaven to create a literal hell on earth.
Deception will govern with absolute authority. “They shall speak lies at one table” (Dan 11:27)
War declared against the remnant of Israel gathered from all the nations of the world.
Revelation 13 tells us
The AntiChrist will be THE WORLD LEADER of that time, will have partial power in the first 3.5 years, but given absolute power for the last 3.5 years.
That there is going to be a GLOBAL GOVERNMENT.
That there will be a GLOBAL Digital Identity Platform.
Therefore No Privacy, No freedom of travel, No freedom of thought, no freedom of expression or speech.
That there will be a GLOBAL Digital Currency system.
No National Currency
No Cash, No Privacy, No freedom, No Enterprise, Small Business will largely subcontract to Government sanctioned Oligarch businesses, No Wage Negotiations, No Unions, No Strikes, No Private Property, No Long Term Debt, No Banks.
Universal Basic Income regardless of employment status.
Social Credit Score to determine Class system of income.
That there will be a Global RELIGIOUS system.
All Bibles and contrary religious material will prohibited and punishable by death.
A ONE WORLD BIBLE
Enforced Worship of the “Creature” in all its forms, Universe, Air, Fire, Water, Sound, Earth, Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Man and mystic.
Enforced Worship of AntiChrist
There will be absolute and total control over every aspect of life without ANY HINT OF DIVERGENCE Tolerated.
Other parts of the Bible speak of
Lawlessness
Increase in violence
Increase of sexual debauchery
Schools from birth to university corruption the minds of all our children, effecting the Inversion of truth seen in Isaiah 5:
Worship of Satan
Replacement of God with Satan.
Increase of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Ministers of light.
Apostasy, Christians falling away, their Love for the Lord waxed Cold.
False Christs
False teachings
Deception on a global scale.
The Final World Government divided East and West but under the same rule.
Third temple reconstruction
War of Israel routing its near neighbours, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and even Jordan, reducing much almost to rubble, putting them to shame and making them afraid to touch them anymore. (Psalm 83)
Gaza Foresakened (Zeph 2:4)
Damascus destroyed. (Isa 17:1)
Rise of China, India and Russia as the Kings of the East.
Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Egypt and Sudan work to wipe Israel off the map, but will fail, God getting glory.
Division, division, division
Deception, deception, deception.
Expected When? (What is the evidence that it is NEAR?)
If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, how much of this is being witnessed today?
How many of those items mentioned gives to us perspective and a hint of proximity?
“Are we there yet???”
2 Peter 3:3–5
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, …
There will be three types of Christians in the last days.
1/ The vast majority who call themselves Christian will be apostates. The passage in 2 Peter 3 demonstrates their willful ignorance of what they see around them.
How much of Christianity this makes up is anyones guess, but it is by far the largest portion.
2/ Then there will be those so engrossed in the events of the times that they cannot help but feel they need to prepare, warn or work to slow down its rapid expansion around the world. They feel they have a duty to warn the world. These, like many of the rising stars of YouTube such as Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Candice Owens, Bret and Eric Weinstein, Neil Oliver, Russel Brand, Douglas Murray, Dennis Praegar and a host of others, trust they can alter the course of a giant ship that set sail several centuries ago and has already set the course of the world as we see it.
The saying “you cannot un-break an egg” is applicable here. But more importantly; Are these Christians reading their Bibles?….well that is another ship that sailed at the same time isn’t it?
Most no longer have a Holy Bible. The first silo fired by Satans ship of fools was against The Truth, “thy word is truth“.
The devil having created the doubt he needed published in 1881, then employing Pastors trained in his theological institutions to “spread the word” among congregations ready to abandon the book they don’t read.
3/ Lastly there are those who listen to Paul in this passage of 1st Corinthians;
1 Cor 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
To be blameless beloved will be to exercise the calling the Lord has called us to, to employ the gifts he has given us for his glory, and to wait EXPECTANTLY for that trumpet sound, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
The post PT 3: EXPECTED appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Pt 2: The Gift
Introduction1 Cor 1:4-9
(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
(5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
(6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
(7a) So that ye come behind in no gift;
waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Last week when we gave consideration to the second word of this letter, we realised two things that came from it most clearly;
The first was that not only Paul, but we are all “CALLED”, the first “calling” is to Christ, we are all “Called to be saints” as we are told in verse 2.
The SECOND calling was specific to that which God had for the life of the believer, to fulfill his purpose in life.
We saw that
“Paul, was called to be an apostle….”
And we came to understand that AFTER we have responded to the call for eternal life, the call of salvation, the “call to be saints“, we too are “called to be….”. And I made request of you to give consideration to what that calling may be for your life.
We saw in this word an authority outside of Paul that has “Called” him for that special work. We saw that this ‘calling’ was identifiable to Paul and also that it is a ‘calling’ Paul was to submit to by faith.We realised that this authority, not only has the “Authority” to ‘call’, but the ability to place that ‘calling’ upon the heart,*Furthermore, we came to UNDERSTAND that God has the POWER to *bring that calling into fruition. Romans 8:30 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
We saw therefore in the word “Called” a two fold use of the word. One to salvation the other to purpose.
Today we will see a similar two fold use of the word “GIFT”, and interestingly enough, it is not very dissimilar.
In the word “Called” we understood God doing the calling and we are to respond in accord with our free will.
In the word “Gift” and especially by its qualifying word “Grace“, we see the Sovereignty of God at work.
Today we will see how the context of the calling, identified by Paul in the second word, was a perfect introduction to show the Corinthian Church that they too are called and that such a calling was a “gift” of Grace that is accompanied by “Gifts” to fulfil the “calling“.
The point of this sermon is that both Eternal Life AND the gifts given you ARE BY GRACE. NEITHER have anything to do with our word nor our effort, both are given.
THE CALLING was to factor a free will response from all who are “called to be saints“:
THE GIFT is given through the grace of God “by Jesus Christ” to fulfill his sovereign purpose IN YOU and FOR THE WORLD.
BY GRACE it is understood that it is not of works, it is not merited nor deserved, but in accord with his sovereign will.
Those “called” seem to invite a free will response. But grace indicates the sovereignty of God.
Perhaps this is why Jesus used the phrase that “many are called, but few are chosen” (Mt 22:14)
The two fold theme therefore continues in this following passage to the Corinthian Church. Paul greatly encourages them that, in responding to the calling of God for the salvation of their souls, they now receive through “the grace of God which is given them by Jesus Christ” all they need so that they “come behind in no gift” as they await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Have you filled in those words from last week yet?
Your name, “called to be…”?
When those words are filled in, the gifts of God for the work you are to attend to are manifest in you.
Are you called to Teach? Is it Hospitality? Administrations? Care? Service? Do you have the ability to recall names well, if so then perhaps you ought to greet people as they enter the door. Do you have a desire for God to work in the hearts of people for his blessing, then perhaps you ought to spend good time in prayer.
Every member of the Church has a function and none are more valuable than the other, even though some carry greater responsibility.
You can read all about it in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. Paul goes into some welcome detail of the value of the local body of Christ to function AS a BODY.
1 Corinthians 12:18
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Pray
Grace is a Gift(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
Following the benediction of Paul as he blesses the Corinthians with “peace from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ”, Paul then thanks God on behalf of this congregation respecting what he refers to as “the grace of God which is given them by Jesus Christ“.
We see first of all that GRACE is first GIVEN, it is a GIFT. And there are two aspects of this grace that has been given.
The first is that grace that is for the salvation of the soul.The second concludes in verse 7a and refers to the temporal gifts distributed to all who have been saved.The first is PERSONAL, the second is FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. That is, the edifying of the Church. 4. “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:” 1 Co 1:4–7a.
Both the gift of enteral life , AND the temporal “gifts” that follow are given, not by merit nor by works, but BY GRACE.
Both for you PERSONALLY, but also for the BENEFIT of others.
Beloved, no man on earth DESERVES eternal life. We are not CALLED because we are “Good”, God is not obligated to save a single soul from the judgement and punishment of his sin.
And this Punishment we deserve is not PUNITIVE, it is not corrective, it is the final judgement that condemns all of mankind into that same condemnation as the devil.
We deserve damnation, we deserve hell. And the fact that we are all created as eternal beings, though with a mortal life, this damnation is eternal.
We have turned from God to live our own way, having no desire of God in our lives for the fullness of our lives and we would gain that eternal abode for ever…if it were NOT for the GRACE OF GOD
To Titus we have this written;
Titus 2:11
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
So that first aspect of Grace given is for eternal life to all who believe the gospel and the second is for the calling we are called to.
Paul stated this first in his introduction to the Romans, turn to Romans 1 Paul wrote;
Romans 1:5–6
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
ALL of this calling is by his grace for HIS PURPOSE.
AND THE “Calling” in both salvation and work is a GIFT.
According to verse 4 we NO CHRISTIAN could ever claim to DESERVE being “Called”, it is simply by the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)
It is grace that saved us and not we ourselves.
We cannot save ourselves, we have no ability to do so, it cannot be through our goodness, for the goodness of man is “filthy rags” to God.
“But we are all as an unclean thing,
and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf;
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isa 64:6)
But what is grace?
More will be entered into respecting Grace as we go through this letter, and it is not the purpose of this passage to expound it fully, but there is in this passage (as in all passages) context that will help us understand it.
Grace is FIRSTLY that which is UNWARRANTED.
(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
Grace is first and foremost a “GIFT”.
But not just a gift on its own, it is a gift that relates in this passage to TWO endowments, two BENEFITS,
The First is SALVATION, as we see here in verse 4.The Second is spiritual gifts, as we see in verses 5 and 7 Neither are given to us because we deserve them.
BOTH are RECEIVED BY US by FAITH!
The GRACE OF GOD IS A GIFT
WHY? Ephesians 2:9, “lest any man should boast“
Enriched To Share That Gift(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; (5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;**
What follows the gift of salvation is the enriching of our lives in ways that we might share this same gospel to many.
The enriching of our “utterance” is not for our benefit alone, but to speak the truth of God to others. The enriching of our KNOWLEDGE is likewise not for our benefit alone, but for the sake of others.
We are ENRICHED TO SHARE THE GIFT
That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
We glean a hint from this verse that the enrichment by him somewhat “PASSIVE”, in other words, it is not that something that we attend to actively, and this is true to a degree.
Turn to John 16
Jesus is here addressing his disciples, and in the passage of John 16, from verse 7, he speaks of the Spirit of God that is to come, but not until Jesus is “gone away” (v7),
In fact he says explicitly that
7 … It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7
But in respect to our passive reception of that which we are “enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge“, Jesus tells his disciples of that which is to come after he is gone away, take a look at verses 12-13;
John 16:12–13
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Now, care needs to be taken here, but while it is true that Jesus was addressing his disciples directly and speaking of the Spirit coming to guide them into all truth, this does not mean that we cannot be deceived.
Recall that we are warned against being deceived, and we are commanded to discern the truth and to read the Bible so as to have the ability to discern the truth. Later in this same chapter there is warning of division in the Church and error in the Church, so care must be taken.
Recall also that Peter and Barnabas themselves were rebuked for their error in Galatians 2:11-17.
The Spirit of Truth is given us to enable us to be enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge.
The point I am trying to make is that enrichment by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge” is FIRST passive.
Remember “the fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of knowledge… (Pr 1:7)
The fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of wisdom… (Pr 9:10).
Prior to our believing of the Gospel, we COULD NOT know anything concerning THE TRUTH because we had not received the Spirit of God that Jesus spoke of.
Paul explains this in the next chapter of 1st Corinthians,
1 Corinthians 2:12–14
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.**
Beloved, you have already been wonderfully enriched by the Lord in all utterance and in all knowledge concerning the gift of salvation that has been given you if you are saved.
The next verse explains how, but for now know that when it comes to the GIFT of Grace, you already KNOW the fullness of it if you are a Christian.
This WORK is passive.
We are yet charged to grow in our faith and to learn as we grow, to read the word of God and to mature in our faith. Paul rebukes the Hebrew Christians because by then they “ought to be teachers” “and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat” (Heb 5:12).
But Paul is addressing this church as BABES IN CHRIST not as mature believers.
And so he introduces his letter that they know enough of the Lord through his grace, to share the gift of him to others.
Beloved, are you sharing what you already know of the Lord? Has the testimony of God, confirmed in you, been testified by your lips to the Lost yet?
Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: ???
Testimony in You Confirms The Gift6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
Paul writes here of something that is vital to us all.
In this statement, Paul is telling the Church that the Testimony of Christ Confirms his GIFT of grace IN YOU.
Peter confirms that this change IN YOU is even evident to those AROUND YOU.
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Beloved when you are saved, when you are Born Again by the Spirt of God, you are CHANGED.
Not only have you been changed from death to life, but your heart has been transformed, you are not the same person you were before, your heart now inditing a good matter (Ps 45:1), the LAW you once spurned, you now desire with all of your heart to keep.
The sins that you had no problem ignoring, now convicts you and troubles you. If there was ever a “negative” about having the Spirit of God in you and a new heart given you, it is this, that you now hate the sin you once loved.
You are changed.
This is how “the testimony of Christ is confirmed in you“.
The person you are now is not the person you once were, and your OLD friends will notice the change;
Turn to 1 Peter 4
1 Peter 4:3–5
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
Beloved, this is the “testimony of Christ confirmed in you” if you are saved.
Turn back to Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2:1–3
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Turn back to 1 Cor 6
1 Corinthians 6:9–11
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
You see the passages that teach that there ought to be the testimony of Christ confirmed in you? A testimony that you are the recipient of the gift of his grace?
If you are born again, you are changed!
Now this leads us naturally to questions related to things we still do. Beloved, the BEST WAY to answer that question is with respect to the “testimony of Christ confirmed in you“.
Are you MORE aware of your sin since you have believed the Gospel, or not?
Do you hate your sin?
Do you desire now more than ever to live a holy life?
If your answer is YES to each of those, then the testimony of Christ confirmed in you
His gift of grace, the gift of eternal life is confirmed in you by the changed heart manifest in you.
THIS ALONE is all that is needed to share the gift of the gospel to all people.
You do not need to know the scriptures front to back, You don’t need all the answers, you only need to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Behind In No Gift7a) So that ye come behind in no gift;
The balance of this text moves into the imminent return of Christ that we will speak to next week, but in this first part of verse 7 Paul introduces an affirmation respecting spiritual gifts. Specifically teaching the Corinthians Churches that none of them who are saved, none who have received the gift of the grace of God, would come behind in the spiritual gifts that the Spirit of God distributes to every man.
Turn to Romans 12
Romans 12:4–8
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Turn to
Ephesians 4:4–7
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Go down to verse 11
Ephesians 4:11–16
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
You can read all about it in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.
The first gift you received was the gift of Grace that you may be saved. It was not a work, not an effort on your part, not to receive it and neither to retain it. It is a gift, “not of works lest any man should boast”.
But the other blessing which you have been blessed by is a spiritual distribution of gifts that are to be employed by the calling with which you are called, to bring the living gospel to a dying world.
Do you know what your calling is yet brethren?
Have you filled in those next few words we spoke of last week?
Paul, called to be…
Have you yet put your name their, added that comma and the words “called to be” then filled in that blank?
What do you think your gift most lily has something to do with?
What do you think the overarching purpose of the testimony of Jesus Christ confirmed in you is?
THE GOSPEL!
Whatever your calling, whatever your gift, it has one overall purpose.
This is not unusual beloved;
The overall purpose of a business is to provide a product or service and retain a profit. All employees, no matter their role, is to effect that end.The overall purpose of a football team is to win the grand final, all people involved in that team, from players to coach, from runners to trainers, from members to medics are to work to that end.The overall purpose of a Government is to serve its people (at least that is what it was). Staff and ministers join to fulfil the end for which it exists. The difference between all such entities and the church is that the Gift and Calling is directly of the creator of heaven and earth, and that the work is sacrificial not self serving.
What is YOUR GIFT?
The post Pt 2: The Gift appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Chapter 1 Part 1 CALLED
1 Corinthians 1 Pt 1: CALLED
Introduction
1 Corinthians 1:1–9
We don’t even get a single sentence into 1st Corinthians and we are already confronted with an incredible array of doctrine, not least of which is the purpose and calling of God upon those who belong to him.
Far too often we think to ourselves that the gaining of eternal life and the hope of heaven is all about us individually, but HERE we see CALLING, and CALLING infers PURPOSE!
Naturally we came to Christ AS individuals, naturally INDIVIDUALLY we wanted to be save. Individually we desired to ESCAPE hell.
ALL Christians became Christians because they did not want to face the wrath of Godthat abides on them for their sin, and we did so individually, Paul affirms this when he warned the INDIVIDUAL;
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart **treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Romans 2:3–5
SELF PRESERVATION naturally motivated us individually to heed the calling of Jesus Christ to believe the gospel…..But is it ONLY ABOUT YOU?
DID GOD SAVE you only for your own benefit?
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God,
Paul, CALLED…
An External PURPOSE is immediately presented to us in the second word of this epistle.
A word that testifies to an EXTERNAL AUTHORITY with a PURPOSEFUL PLAN that suits his own SOVEREIGN WILL.
1 Paul, called to be an apostleof Jesus Christ through the will of God,
In this very first sentence we come to a realisation, not only that Paul is the author of the letter, for so we see this in the first word, “Paul“. But Immediately after this word we get to a word that has an infinite depth of theological meaning,
“Called“…what? “Called“.
purpose and authority STRIKES THE READER as he sees this word, placed here in this context, and a question naturally looms…even though we know the answer;
Who “Called“?
Now PERSONHOOD is assumed on the word.
God is a person. We wont get into that too far, I point some of these things out that you might see the infinite value of the WORDS of God as you consider the text.
Nevertheless the answer to “WHO CALLED?” Must be a person who is far greater than Paul that “called“.
And the CONTEXT of the CALLING is one of infinate value.
Not like a mother calling her children to dinner, or a boss calling employees to work;
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ
The secular world of people live life largely for themselves.
We are by nature completely self absorbed.
This varies in degree one person to another, but you can tell how self absorbed a person is by listening to the topic of their conversation, the more they speak about themselves, the more you realise that is the focus of their lives.
But suddenly here we see Paul, and immediately after he introduces himself by name, and in the very next word, does not speak of himself, but completely defers the attention to an external source to which he seems to have completely submited himself;
1 Paul, called to be an**
Now brethren, in the place of the name “Paul” in our passage, and through the entirety of the sermon this morning, place your OWN name.
Then allow those next three words to be your consideration for your own life and purpose.
Do so until you can complete the sentence for yourself. Until you can at least add TWO MORE WORDS
Natalie, called to be a….
Elise, called to be a….
Jen, called to be a….
Cory, called to be a….
When you can finish that sentence, when the very next word is added to that line, then and ONLY then will you come to know the infinite purpose of your life. And WHO CALLED YOU!
Only in the next word or two will you know and be able to answer WHY YOU ARE HERE!
And beloved, when you have that answer, whatever life throws your way you will be willing to endure for the sake of fulfilling that for what you are CALLED
Pray
Called To Be…Called To Be….
1 Paul, called to be an apostle**
1 Corinthians 1:1
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Paul didn’t begin this way. He did not start life and know he wanted to be “an apostle“. He did not get to year 8 at school and the teacher pressed him with a vocation through which the rest of his education would qualify him.
Paul began his life like everyone else, attending to that which he desired to be the right career path and he excelled above many others.
Paul ticked every box of success and reached the highest heights BUT in the end counted IT ALL as less than worthless.
Turn to
Philippians 3:4–8
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.**
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. *8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung,* that I may win Christ,
Not only did Paul have great education, having trained at the feet of the great Scholar and Rabi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), but he also had practical skills by which he made his living.
Acts 18:2 tells us that he was a “tentmaker“.
So in the one area of life concerning that which occupied his heart and mind he was a great theologian and leader among the Jews, and in the area which occupied his hands he was a craftsman and earned his income through his physical employments.
But the point is that his exploits and efforts were SELF governed and SELF directed, he was not yet “Called“.
DRIVEN, he certainly was;
Having a zeal, even to the FIRST persecution of the Church that had scattered the brethren from Jerusalem that they should go even to the uttermost parts of the earth to preach the gospel.
In fact, it was only AFTER he saw the LIGHT on that DAMASCUS road that there was rest;
Acts 9:31
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
This is directly related to the conversion of Paul in its immediate context.
You and I had lived our lives in accord with our own desires and our own purpose,whatever that purpose was and whatever that desire was.
When were were asked respecting our occupation we had little problem answering;
I am a hairdresser;
I am a secretary
I am an accountant, a librarian, a carpenter, a builder, plumber, mechanic, business owner etc
Our OCCUPATION defined us to a large degree.
It gave an impression about us upon the minds of enquirers, about our character or nature to some extent.
You are what you are in your workplace because that it what you had chosen, to one level or another.
But it is something else ENTIRELY when you are CALLED!
“Calling” seems to imbue or infuse an innate purpose from an external source and that is so much more valuable that just a personal preference.
1 Corinthians 1:1
1 Paul, called**
As we read this the first time we naturally stumble, “Paul, called….“.
It’s like walking a road we thought we were familiar with and hit a rock imbedded in the concrete. “What was that?“
It naturally causes us to stop and look again, “I never saw that there“.
Indeed, we may have avoided it or chosen not to notice it, but now that we notice it we realise something quite different.
“Paul, Called to be…“
Paul didn’t call himself!
Suddenly in that one single word we come to realise that there is another driving principle at work, even an authoritative principle or AGENT involved to which “Paul” is submitting.
No person alive today would answer the enquiry related to occupation saying, ‘I am CALLED to be a …..(fill in the blank)’
No student in a secular school would refer to a “calling” to direct their choice of curriculum.
In that single word immediately after Paul introduces himself, Paul testifies BOTH to;
A person external to himself;A person he is wilfully subordinate to;A person that has both reason and purpose for Paul;A person that has the ability to fill the knowledge of that CALLING in the heart of PAUL.And finally a Person who has the POWER to BRING THAT PURPOSE to fruition. All of that can be testified to in that single word immediately after Paul identifies himself as the letters author. What is YOUR CALLING?
If you belong to Christ, you have one. Have you even asked?
1 Paul, called to be an apostle**
Of Whom?Of Whom?
of Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 1:1
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
An apostle is a messenger, but not just a messenger. The Bible gives to us the bounds of what a true apostle is. There are many vane men in Churches today who seek to have the preeminence over other men and are calling themselves “apostles”, none are, they cant be.
For an apostle is one who has seen with their physical eyes the risen Christ and have been directly charged by him (Ordained by him) to do the work of an apostle.
There are multitudes of disciples, but only 12 Apostles. You and I, if we have believed the Gospel, are disciples of Christ. All students are disciples, all students of the Bible who have believed the Gospel are Disciples of Christ.
Paul is “called to be an apostle“,
But of whom?
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ
Paul here testifies to an office that is outside the bounds of any person alive today.
No man in the world today can hold such an office as this, because no man in the world today has seen the risen Christ.
Jesus himself stated clearly that this will be the case;
Turn to
John 14:1–3
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.**
Here Jesus makes it clear that when he does he will also return to receive his Church, that is you and I who have believed his words, to be received to him again. This is nearing the end of his ministry, before he died and rose again.
But Jesus refers to a GAP and a condition, a condition he gives to the Jews, the people he came for as the promise is given in the Old Testament.
Turn to
Matthew 23:37–39
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Here we have Jesus holding the Jews accountable to have known of his coming, but then stating that he will not return UNTIL….
Therefore, no man since the time of Paul has either seen or been sent directly by Jesus Christ as an APOSTLE.
Yet each of us have another title.
The Book of Acts is the last place that we find the word Disciple in the Bible, but it is more than enough to show to us what a “disciple” is.
The first thing we realise is that it is not limited to gender. While the majiority reffered to directly are men, we know that both women and men are identified as Disciples;
Acts 9:36
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Just before this account we see the other “disciples” doubt the conversion of Saul (Paul) and related it directly to him become a Christian, even though at this time no one was yet called “Christians” who had believed the Gospel.
Turn to Acts
Acts 9:23–26
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
So we see a hint that the reference to being a “disciple” is a reference to being a person who has been both saved and transformed by the Gospel that they had believed.
Recalling that Paul who was first called Saul, was a persecutor of those who were disciples, Barnabas now testifying to a massive transformation.
But the clearest passage of all to confirm to you at the very least of what you are NOW CALLED to be at the first is in;
Acts 11:25–26
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.**
So beloved, as we begin to unravel this and to help lead you to learn what your specific calling in life is, and learning that Paul is the last of the Apostles, nevertheless you who have believed the Gospel are first and foremost called to be…. a disciple..
But a disciple of whom?
A disciple of Jesus Christ.
Put your name there.
Richard, CALLED to be a disciple of Jesus Christ…Sau, CALLED to be a disciple of Jesus Christ…Sonia, CALLED to be a disciple of Jesus Christ… While our specific work and purpose may yet to be sought after or revealed, we are first and foremost CALLED to be disciples of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
We are followers and students of the one who spoke light into existence,
Who “rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, Peace, be still” (Mrk 4:39)
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. (Job 9:8)
We are Christ-ones…Christians,
Teachers of HIM who came to seek and to save that which is lost (Lk 19:10),
and to give his life a ansom for many (Mt 20:28, Mrk 10:45)
WHO ELSE is BETTER to be CALLED BY?
Name the greatest and most admired leader of this world?….cant think we have any? Ok, name the greatest and most admired world leader of HISTORY… do you think it more honourable to be CALLED by them or by the one who say “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool” (Isa 66:1)
Beloved, we are the CALLED of Jesus Christ!
Through Whom?Through Whom?
through the will of God**
1 Corinthians 1:1
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
That stone imbedded in the path as we first read this passage manifests itself because of the word “Called”.
In this word we see something that naturally bothers us, because in this word we see an authority that is above Paul, but we also recognised that it is an authority he had willingly submitted to. All this is evident in that single word, “Called“.
You and I have just recognised that for you and I, we are called to be “disciples“, and indeed, that calling is for everyone in the world. All people in the world are called to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, “called to be saints“, take a look at it in the nest verse;
1 Corinthians 1:2
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
In this introduction Paul testifies in that single word both purpose and authority. In the next words he identifies BOTH.
The purpose is “of Jesus Christ”, the authority is “through the will of God”.
Beloved, Paul is introducing himself in this letter of having the both the highest calling and for the highest purpose and by the highest authority that is possible to exist.
God created YOU for a purpose, HIS purpose. You are not an accident, you are not a product of your enviroment, you are a creation of God for the spoecific purpose of God, not to do your own will but the will of the one who set you apart for HIS OWN PURPOSE.
The Psalmist wrote;
Thy hands have made me and fashioned me…” (Ps 119:73)
Psalm 100:3
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Turn to
Psalm 139:14–16
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
When we see the Bible tell us with such plainness of the delicate work of God to so perfectly make you and I for his loving purpose, who ha numbered all the hairs of our head and knit us together, fearfully and wonderfully made, IT IS NONE OTHER than SATAN who would deceive and convince us that we are nothing more than EVOLVED POND SCUM.
The Bible teaches one thing, SATAN and the secular world teach another, CHOOSE WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
The Bible tells us that OUR PURPOSE is called “through the will of God”
While the world tells us to “go our own way” “do our own thing” live for ourselves”.
God tells us our PURPOSE is found in him.
Joy is found in him
Peace is found in him
Comfort is found in him
Hope is found in him.
CHOOSE!
To whom?1 Corinthians 1:1–2
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:**
In addressing his letter; after introducing himself not only by name but by invoking CALLING, TITLE and PURPOSE and identifying who it is that, with all authority and power has given his such a calling, and not only himself but Sosthenes also, Paul addresses “TO WHOM” his letter has as its beneficiary;
to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,* with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:***
‘To them that are sanctified”, the context here is the same as the context found in the first mention of the word “Sanctified” in the Bible, it means “set apart”, “Separated”,
Genesis 2:3
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
God “Set apart”, he “separated” the seventh day from every other day for it was distinct from every other day of work to one of rest.
Paul identifying the beloved of the Lord as “Set apart”, “Separated” in Christ Jesus.
My dear friends and brethren, we are not the same as those who deny God, have turned their backs on their own hope, will not receive the love of the Lord and turn everyone to his own way like sheep having gone astray.
We are “set apart”, Sanctified in Christ Jesus.
We live in the world but we are not of the world. If we were of the world the world would love its own, but we are not of the world and so there will come a time when the hatred of the world will manifest itself against us, not because the world hates us but because the people of the world hate him who sanctified us, Jesus Christ.
Its incredible to me that while the Bible tells us that his name is the name above all names the world driven to insanity by Satan employs his name as a swear word. Blasphemy would darken the name of the light of the world.
to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Have you called upon the name of Jesus Christ yet?
There is no other name under heaven by which men ought to be saved.
Peter in quoting the Old Testament prophet Joel made it clear,
Acts 2:21
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Have you called upon the name of the Lord yet?
You say you already believe, but this has a limited bearing and carries little weight if you have not yet called upon the name of the Lord. Why do you say that Pastor?
I say that because there must be a distinction respecting how we believe, WHY?
Because James tells us that quote “the devils also believe, and tremble” (Ja 2:19).
Have you called upon the name of the Lord yet?
You will never be CALLED for the purpose of the Lord if you have NEVER Called upon the name of the Lord. Though you are indeed created for a purpose, if you are not yet truly a Christian, if you have not called upon his name to save you from your sin, you are yet in rebellion against him and he will NEVER share with you the devine purpose for which you are created.
Why should he?
You dont even think of him.
You dont think for a moment of how you have offended him.
Day after day goes by and you continue to ignore him.
Every breath you take is a gift from him…how do we know this, because the Bible tells us of GOD;
Job 12:10
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
How quickly can he stop just this one aspect of our lives and we fall down quick into hell, our time being done, every days moment by moment opportunity to call on his name now concluded.
The door closed and all hope abandoned.
“But I come from a Christian home” means little when the door to life is closed.
“But my good deeds have outweighed my bad” is the ignorant cry of those who have no idea what good is in God’s sight.
“There is none good but one, that is, God” said Jesus (Mrk 10:18 & Mt 19:17).
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We live our lives for ourselves and we think that our lives will work out the way we intended them to work out even though our lives are lived without any thought of God or hope for God.
We seek him for nothing, we don’t care about where we stand before him and then we have this vain expectation that he will welcome a relationship with him when we have lived deliberately apart from him all the days of our lives.
Those of you who know yourselves to be lost, you need to turn and call on his name to be found.
To the Christian who DOES know the Love of Christ and has lived apart from him for too long….(and anytime we live apart from him is always too long).
You don’t KNOW your CALLING for one reason and one reason only, you have never been truly willing to give up on your own desires to obtain his desire for you.
Miserable chasing after the wind, still hoping you can lay a hand on it while trying to grasp what God has CALLED you for, DOES NOT WORK!
GIVE IT UP, your wasting precious time.
Dont think for a moment that God cant use someone else for any work he desire to do.
Like the charge Mordecai gave to Esther when the threat of extermination was levelled against her people;
Turn to
Esther 4:14
14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
First, CALL UPON THE LORD.
Second, seek after the CALLING of the LORD.
The post Pt 1: CALLED appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
SurveyThe Book of 1st Corinthians Survey. ReproofPr Edi Giudetti
There is a wonderful structure to preaching that is seen repetitively in the scriptures, it is a structure that the scriptures themselves possess and as such it is a structure through which we preach. You can see it identified for us in Paul’s pastoral letter to Timothy.
Turn to 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
First: DOCTRINE
Second: REPROOF
Third: CORRECTION
Forth: INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
No man is able to take advantage of the fullness of the value of the scriptures without having EACH of these apply in his life as some time or another.
If we are willing to receive “DOCTRINE” and do so without ‘REPROOF” we become puffed up with knowledge and can impart nothing to others.
If we receive “REPROOF” and not “CORRECTION“, we become despondent and discouraged about the way to move forward.
If we receive “CORRECTION” but not “INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS” we become agreeable, but not unable to teach that which we have learned.
“All scripture is (present tense) given by inspiration of God, and is profitable….That the man of God may be Adequate??? Mature??? Well suited??? Equipped???…..no! “Perfect, throughly furnished unto ALL good works“
And for this to be as effective as possible in the lives of men and women there must be a willingness in each of us both to be taught the doctrines, but also to be REPROVED, CORRECTED AND THEN INSTRUCTED in RIGHTEOUSNESS.
I have been a father for almost 30 years, a teacher of the Bible for almost 25 years and a pastor for 8 years and I know for a certainty that this structure is TRUE.
The book of ROMANS gave us the DOCTRINES, today we begin our journey through the Corinthian letters, which provide the “REPROOF“.
Now don’t get long in the face, both 1st and 2nd Corinthians are incredibly encouraging and we will learn so much from them.
Nevertheless, it is a matter of interest that, though every book of the Bible seems to follow in some degree the outline of 2 Tim 3:16-17, it is fascinating that we can actually follow the theme of entire books that meet a similar structure;
For example:
ROMANS = Doctrine
1st & 2nd Corinthians = Reproof
Galatians = Correction
Ephesians = Instruction in Righteousness
It does not always fall out this way, but it is evident in these books.
Yet in each of them there is evidence of all four aspects of the effect of the scripture which Throughly furnish us unto all good works.
1st Corinthians is unquestionably a book of reproof.
We will see the Epistle broken up into four main categories, the first three are the “reproofs” with the last portion a reminder to refocus our attention on WHY WE ARE HERE, that is THE GOSPEL in chapters 15-16.
So the break down I have titled in this manner;
Reproof of Division (1 Cor 1-4)Reproof of Sin (1 Cor 5-7)Reproof of Idolatry (1 Cor 8-14)Reminder of The Gospel (1 Cor 15-16) 1st Corinthians is written for today’s world and todays Christians!
SETTING
Please first allow me to place you in the setting of that world, I am sure you will recognise it.
The City of Corinth is located on an Isthmus, a narrow neck of land only about 6km wide that separates the mainland of Greece from the Peloponnese Peninsula.
Corinth was a wealthy commercial centre that became the crossroad of travel to all sides of the compass.
As a result of their status as a commercial hub, the religion of the area was pluralistic, all manner of ideas and notions came to Corinth, it was a perfect melting pot of all forms of religious idolatry.
When we look at the world today we see little difference.
Wealthy and commercial with flowing ideas and communications at a faster rate than any other time in history. Social Media makes ideas of all religions and cults and errors together and on an equal plain, with most people eager “to hear of some “new thing” like the Athenians of Acts 17:21.
As a result of their idolatry we also discover that the city of Corinth is filled with all manner of debauchery.
The Greek word “korinthiazomai” is translated “to act the Corinthianian or to Corinthianise” and came to mean ‘to commit fornication” and fornication was as normal in Corinth 200 years ago as it is today.
The KJV Bible Commentary notes that;
“Corinth was a seaman’s paradise and a moral cesspool. Divorce was rampant. Prostitution plagued the streets, and the moral air was polluted with the luring aroma of sin. It was famous for all that is debauched. It was, no doubt, the inspiration for the catalogue of man’s sins in Romans 1:18–32 (written by Paul while a guest of Gaius in this wicked city)!
Corinth was also famous for the Isthmian Games, second only to the Olympic Games in the ancient world, it glorified sport and Gladiatorial contests played in the outdoor theatre that could seat twenty thousand people.
Those who preferred indoor entertainments could see plays and music performed in the indoor theatre.
During these times even the cooks were famous to the point of celebrity status.
They beatified their buildings and adorned their temples, they made the outside of the Cup appear rich and increased with goods, they thought themselves in need of nothing and they knew not that they were wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
The letter of Paul to the Corinthian Church seems perfectly addressed to the churches in today’s world.
In the 1st Century the Bible was a rare find, in this last century the true Bible is a rare find and many of those who have it, don’t read it.
Naturally therefore The Christians of today and those of Corinth have a great deal in common.
What rectifies all this in this last century however, is the same as it was in the First Century, THE GOSPEL.
O how I pray that we might return to the fever of telling that old, old story.
Reproof of Division (1 Cor 1-4)10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Cor 1:10-13)
Division is anything but strange among people in the world, but what is strange is division among Christians. This ought not so to be.
If Christians do not Judge “according to appearance, but Judging righteous judgement“, as Jesus told the people in John 7:24, then there would never be division in the Church, especially “partial” division among the brethren.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
“Partial” division is when we hear of people being “Calvinists” or “Armenians” or “Lutherans”, “Weslyans”, “Waldensians” etc.
Christians who, rather than read their Bibles, follow after some charismatic preacher with whom they have agreement and lose sight of Christ.
Whatever wind of doctrine blow our way, we follow.
Paul wrote;
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive(Eph 4:14)
Outside the Church. People followed dead philosophers and dead scientists, dead revolutionaries and dead presidents.
I have a book titled “Seven Men Who Rule the World From Their Graves”. People follow men and the world is moved by their teaching, long after these men are dead.
The problem is the men they followed had radically different doctrines.
The teaching of Karl Marx on Communism is different from the teaching of Friedrich Hayek on Capitalism.
And the teaching of John Maynard Keynes on Theoretical Economics is different from the teaching of Ludwig Von Mises on the same subject.
The teaching of Aristotle’s Philosophy is different from his teacher Plato on Philosophy, which differs again from Bertrand Russel and so on.
The father of Epicureanism (Epicurus) taught the exact opposite of the father of Stoicism (Zeno of Citium) in the 4th century BC.
These men ARE STILL FOLLOWED TODAY!
Are there likely to be divisions therefore?
Political divisions abound in the world today and they abound with passionate zeal. Many people are divided and most are deceived. Deceptive people divide people.
For all the talk of UNITY in the world, there has never been more division.
There will always be divisions both inside the Church and outside the Church when people follow men.
Paul addressed this at the beginning of his letter concerning the divisions spoken of by the house of Cloe.
The Corinthian Church was falling back to the prideful following of the wisdom of men and not the Lord.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Cor 1:13)
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:17-21)
Paul brings it all back to the gospel, and we see this as the thematic outline of 1st Corinthians. The people are divided, and we will also see the people are indulgent of sin, the people are idolatrous, but Paul brings it back to the unifiying focus of the Gospel of Christ.
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:
How does that which you are following enhance the preaching of the gospel of Christ? How does it motivate you to help to seek and to save that which is lost?
Satan desires throw you off course.
Satan may even use you to get the Pastor distracted from his work to “preach the gospel” and have me turned from the ministry.
The harm caused by the division of self absorbed and deceived people, who cared for nothing but the comfort of their own sensibilities, will be assessed eternally. Satan, the accuser of the brethren, is the one who works through carnal Christians to foster division.
Division in the Church, division in families, division in doctrine, division in politics, division in opinions….but what is it that unifies?
7 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:**
The PRIMARY JOB of the minister of Christ is to preach the gospel of Christ. The same is true for you.
If there is one thing that can unify a Church better than a gospel focus, I am all ears.
In closing this section;
Chapter 1 warns of division and returns our focus, chapter two testifies that;
1 Corinthians 2:5
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
For Paul made clear;
1 Corinthians 2:2
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.**
What was the main problem among the brethren in the Church?
Chapter 3 identifies it;
1 Corinthians 3:1–4
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Paul closes off this reproof of division in Chapter 4, consider from verse 6
1 Corinthians 4:6–7
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
If we have anything good beloved, it was given to us, we did not earn it.
Ministers may have fame and even titles before their names, it means nothing if they don’t save souls by the foolishness of preaching.
Reproof of Sin (1 Cor 5-7)1 Cor 5:1-6
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?**
The sin addressed in this portion is FORNICATION, it is pretty much the sin of the ages.
It transcends all centuries and all cultures, all languages and all lands.
Fornication is simply Sex outside the bounds of marriage. It is sex WITHOUT commitment in relationship.
All modern versions have deleted the word Fornication, Yes even the New King James Bible, in preference to the word immorality, or sexual immorality. But this word and term is ambiguous.
That which is considered moral today was not moral yesterday, morals are determined by the popular ‘mores’ of the culture, it is movable and shifts like the sand in the desert.
Fornication is very specific, and I guess just as naming names cuts direct to the heart, so too does highlighting the very specific nature of sin and idolatry cut to the heart.
Paul does not only deal with fornication in chapters 5 to 7, but he does reprove the church for not dealing with the sinner as they should have. In fact, he condemns them for doing the very opposite of what they should be doing;
2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned,
He says in verse 6 that they are Glorying in this rather than have taken him out of the congregation and handed him over to Satan to deal with.
No sinner should not be comfortable in his sin sitting among the congregation. Especially Iif he is KNOWN to the congregation to have not repented but continues in it, they are to put him out, rather than tolerate it.
6 … Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
When known sin abides comfortable in a congregation several things happen.
-
The sin is not preached upon.
-
Its relative acceptance is justified.
-
More people commit it.
-
Hypocrisy abounds
-
Gospel loses its efficacy.
This explains why the modern church congregation is growing in numbers but not in souls.
Sin, known sin, ought to be judged as such and brought to light as sin;
Paul clarifies in v 12
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
The duty of the Church is to rebuke and exhort with all long suffering that the Gospel of Christ is not hindered.
God judges the world that is ‘without’, that is, outside the Church. But it is the Church’s duty to judge itself from within.
Paul speaks to the value of the judgement of the Church in Chapter 6
He rebukes members of the Church for going to the secular world to judge between brethren, and he rightly condemns it.
This will be fun to get into when we get to it in the future of this series.
1 Cor 6:2-3
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Anyone can see today that the secular, godless world has lost all ability to judge anything rightly. You may be fortunate to have a just judgement available to you, but when men and women cant even judge what is a man or a woman, I have little confidence they will even now be able to discern anything with greater complexity.
But he sumarises it well to the Christians who are wronged by others;
1 Corinthians 6:7
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Well, why not? If it will be the Lord who will repay, and that for all eternity, why do you not rather take wrong?
This is a perfectly consistent thought respecting scripture.
I have eternal life, and if I am defrauded by a brother without reconciliation, then suffering the temporary loss of it will grant me the eternal benefit of it.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19
Paul returns his focus to the purity of the Body toward the end of chapter six, only to pick up the teaching of Godly fidelity to a spouse in Chapter 7.
Reproof of Idolatry (1 Cor 8-14)From chapters 8 to 14 Paul is dealing primarily with Idolatry but does so in the light of Christian liberty, True Christian worship and biblical spiritual gifts.
He does so by contrasting the idolatrous nature of the general population of the Corinthians, a nature that was beginning to permeate the Church itself.
1 Cor 8:4
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
an idol is nothing in the world
So many of our modern Christians who, rather than trusting the scriptures, trust the teaching of men, bind themselves up with fearfully removing any sign of idols in their homes.
I have spoken to Charismatic Christians who remove items purchased from foreign countries for fear that the wooden carvings are possessed of devils and will plague the home.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not in favour of filling my house with carved idols, but an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
We don’t need to fear them.
From chapters 12 to 14 the Apostle Paul begins to deal with the exaggerated use of a spiritual gift that may or may not be of the Lord.
It is a gift most identified in the pagan world as ecstatic utterances, what many Pentecostal Christians believe as the gift of Tongues.
Again, we will get into the detail of it when we come to this portion of the passage in time to come, but for now it is important to see the structure of chapters 12 to 14 to identify what form of idolatry Pau is highlighting.
At the beginning of chapter 12 Paul introduces his reproof by reminding them of their idolatrous leanings of the past, giving thereby a hint that they may naturally be still inclinedto indulge these same acts.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
FOUR times a list of spiritual gifts is given in the first two of these chapters to ensure we get the focus point, let’s look at the context of one of them.
1 Cor 12:7-11
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
How are the gifts distributed? Do all get the same gifts? Is one exalted above another?
No, Paul speaks to that stating all gifts are vital just as all the parts of the body is necessary for a fully functioning body.
Modern Pentecostals hold the notion that ALL who are saved must speak with tongues. But what saith the scriptures?
1 Cor 12:27-31
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
In each of the three lists we just read, where is the gift of tongues listed?
Last.
And yet he begins chapter 13 with it listed FIRST
1 Cor 13:1
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. …..
You cannot come away from this reading without recognising this IDOL is the focus of his reproof in chapters 12 to 14.
As people are generally very sensitive to their idol; for some it is money, others it is fame, others it is possessions and so on, SO IT IS THAT THE CORINTHIANS will be SENSITIVE TO reading of their idolatry respecting the manifestation of ONE misinterpreted and easily duplicated “GIFT” over others.
To read Paul speak of their idolised manifestation as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbalwould not have gone unnoticed.
Nevertheless, he closes chapter 13 telling them that their cherished “gift”, whether real or counterfeit, will come to an end.
8….but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Paul closes the section on Idolatry off in the final verse of chapter 14;
1 Corinthians 14:40
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Just like clucking like chickens, barking like dogs, laughing uncontrollably is anything but decent or orderly, so too is babbling incomprehensibly; Paul summarised it well;
1 Corinthians 14:19
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Reminder of The Gospel (1 Cor 15-16)1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Paul tells of the gospel, but his reproof of the Corinthian Church has not yet concluded.
While Paul finally turns the focus back on what matters most, while he draws their attention to return to keeping the main thing the main thing, he also takes the time to reprove them for on last error;
1 Cor 15:12
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
What salvation is there if there is no resurrection of the dead?
It seems that the old heresy that Jesus himself address with the Sadducees, has “resurrected” in the church of the Corinthians.
Notice the pure LOGIC that Paul employs in his answer to the question from verse 13.
This alone could give us one of the best lessons on pure logic, better than any of the teaching of Aristotle that is venerated in secular schools. Paul wins this hands down;
Consider;
1 Cor 15:13-19
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Why preach on eternal life if there is no resurrection of the dead?
If Jesus did not rise from the dead, none of us could have any expectation of rising from the dead, and so 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
I praise God for the reality of the resurection of Christ, the single most testified to historical event in all history. The denial of which would need to deny ANYTHING we have ever known of history that we did not see with our own eyes.
And so Paul answers;
1 Corinthians 15:20–22
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Are YOU alive?
Truly alive? Or are you still dead in trespass and sins? Those still in their sins are said to be “in Adam”, for through him came death, but through Christ comes life, even the resurrection of the dead.
Are you alive?
Paul writes in verse 26;
1 Corinthians 15:26
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
My friends, if you are not alive in Christ, death is NOT your friend. Do not welcome it, do not desire it, do not embrace it or think it will deliver you from any trial or suffering in this life, DEATH IS YOUR PRIMORDIAL ENEMY.
Even you MORTAL ENEMY.
If you are not today ALIVE IN CHRIST, death will ONLY be the portal to hell where the wages of sin are paid.
Jesus died for our sins, he died to be a ransom for the sins of the world, he paid the penalty so you don’t have to.
If you believe the gospel, you have life, life eternal.
Will you believe it?
Christian, the general message of Paul to the Corinthian Church is to return our focus to the Gospel of Christ, and to turn away from the DIVISIONS, SINS AND IDOLS that steal that rewarding focus from our lives.
Amen
The post 1st Corinthians Survey: Addressing Divisions, Sins, and Idolatry for Today’s Christians appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
…nourished … children…rebelled
Isaiah 1:1–9
1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Happy Fathers Day.
Im not always a “Happy Father”, and I dare say The LORD never celebrated “Fathers Day”.
The truth is that Parenting is not always fun, not always rewarding, not always filled with happiness. Yet I don’t know many parents who regret having children. I am sure they may be out there.
“And it repented the LORD that he made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (Gen 6:6)
That is the reality of parenting at times. We can speak of all the wonderful things of Children, but if we look back, even at our own lives, there is little doubt that some of us have deeply caused our parents to mourn and sorrow and grieve because of our behaviour.
Clearly this is not going to be your typical Fathers Day Message.
My hope is however that it would encourage you, even though its reality can be sobering.
In this passage in the ist chapter of Isaiah, we see that God is a father, a father who has “nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against” him.
In this testimony we come to realise that the rebellion of the children is not always a reflection of the character of the father. Unlike earthly fathers, God is a perfect father, and yet the children rebelled against him.
We are imperfect fathers, and while there may be those few times when we have erred, it does not always follow that those few errors in life, with all the circumstances of life, justify the rebellious attitude of the children.
Cause and Effect is not always a straight line.
People are held accountable to their own actions.
But there is within this passage a few lessons that we can learn that may help us understand our role both as men and as fathers.
This morning we will see HOW God “nourished” his children and how God had “raised” them, “brought them up” that we may learn.
But we will also learn a little about responsibility, and to whom blame can be laid for the behaviour of the children IF we have “nourished” and “raised” our children in the way God had brought up his own.
For some context;
The book was penned by the Prophet Isaiah in the years that preceded the Babylonian Captivity of Judah. He tells us plainly in the first verse of the first Chapter the extent and duration of his ministry;
His ministry extended from the duration of at least three Kings with the beginning of his ministry most likely in the final year of the reign of Uzziah.
Uzziah (AKA Azariah) reigned 52yrs, Jotham 16 years, Ahaz 16 years and Hezekiah 29 yrs.
Tradition tells us that Isaiah was murdered by the son of Hezekiah, Manasseh, by being sawn in half with a wooden saw; perhaps such is the meaning of the reference in Hebrews 11:37 “…They were sawn asunder…“.
Such would naturally identify the end of Isaiah’s ministry.
There is a hint that perhaps the ministry of Isaiah actually began in the year Uzziah died(Isaiah 6:1). If true, the ministry of Isaiah would have been some 61 years from the last year of Uzziah to the last year of Hezekiah.
Approximately 20 years from the beginning of the ministry of Isaiah the northern kingdom of Israel would be taken away by the Assyrian Empire. The fall of Samaria, the ten tribes of Israel, LOST as far as a group identity is concerned.
Isaiah now speaking to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, which shall remain for less than 150 years until it too is taken away for its rebellion against God, to Babylon.
The passage we have before us in Isaiah 1:2-9 I have identified in its parts as:
The STATEMENT OF FACT v 2
The REPORT CARD v’s 3-6
The PROPHETIC REALITY v’s7-8
The CONSOLATION v9
THE STATEMENT OF FACT is that God is a Perfect Father with Rebellious Children.
THE REPORT CARD Testifies as to the current state of the Children of Israel.
THE PROPHETIC REALITY is where it will end for most of the “Children” if they remain in that state.
THE CONSOLATION is that some are faithful.
This morning message will show two items;
1/ How God raised his Children and has no responsibility as to their rebellion against him,
2/ How fathers therefore ought to raise their Children, to limit their responsibility if their children go astray.
Pray.
The STATEMENT OF FACTUnlike mortal fathers, God is perfect with no unrighteousness in him, and yet his children still rebelled.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
What an incredible two part statement of fact!
The first that we discover is God, refering to himself as a father, in that he has “nourished and brought up children“.
We know this IS God because both the heavens and the earth are called upon to bear witness, to the words spoken by the LORD “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken…”
It is an incredible phrase, but it is not the first time heaven and earth are called upon as a witness to what is being said by the Lord or in the name of the Lord;
Moses in Deuteronomy 4:26
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, …
He does so again in chapter 30;
Deuteronomy 30:19
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
And in many ways so is the call of the wise father to his children.
While the child is in the dependant care of the parents he shall soon be set into the world with the words and ways that OUGHT to stand him in good stead;
I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
The choice respecting the manner of life will be theirs, so too the blessing and the cursing dependant on how they choose to live.
Then we have the song of Moses in chapter 32, Turn there for a moment.
Again appealing to what we see as INANIMATE OBJECTS, to bear witness to the words of truth;
Deuteronomy 32:1–3
1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
That the appeal to heaven and earth for their witness is seen here in Isaiah, tells of the importance and value that the witness is given as a STATEMENT OF FACT!
and WHAT IS THAT FACT?
I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Immediately we are struck with astonishment:
This is GOD who has raised up these children.
This is not an imperfect man, laden with iniquities, struggling with the daily tasks of an ordinary life, toiling to provide sustenance and a degree of comfort for his family;
a roof over their heads,
food in their bellies;
and still dealing with all the aspects of life that affect all mortal beings, which may include illness and the care of the older generation etc.
THIS IS GOD who has raised up these children, and YET “they have rebelled against me” says he.
Perhaps you are hearing this as a father, or even as a mother and are somewhat relieved that if God’s own children can rebel against him, than what my son or daughter has done is not necessarily all my fault!
At least to a degree you certainly can.
If God, perfect and pure spirit that he is, has “nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against” him; clearly the rebellion of our children does not always meanthey are “A PRODUCT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT” (as is the modern tendency to avoid responsibility).
For what is it about the “environment” that God has provided which would cause them to “rebel”?
Does not God properly “nourish” his Children?
Did he not give them a law greater than anything ever seen in any nation of the world that tells the secret of how this universe is governed?
If you were a person who loves to play video games in a make believe world, would you not love to find the code that makes the game work? some hidden “Cheat code” if you will, that could tell you that the fantasy universe in the game works IN YOUR FAVOUR “if you do this“?
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD HAD GIVEN TO ISRAEL!
JUST Imagine that the creator of the Fantasy Game, placed within its coding structure a code of rules that, if you followed them, you would win almost every time.
Imagine if he gave that to you before you went into a competition with other gamers who had no idea there was a code of laws sown into the fabric of the fantasy universe that would allow you to win every time!
Deuteronomy 30:19
19…. I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
God also made PROVISION FOR THEM.
He gave them a land flowing with milk and honey.
It is part of an area known as “The Fertile Crescent“, which is the region that extends from Lower Egypt, through Israel and Syria/Lebanon to the ancient land of Mesopotamia (between the rivers), and into the Persian Gulf.
So God had given to his Children both the written law that they may learn how to live in this world, AND he had given them provision in the most prosperous land in which they may have every opportunity available to them…
AND they still rebelled
This is THE STATEMENT OF FACT
The REPORT CARD v’s 3-6Isaiah 1:3-6
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
A just and proper REPORT CARD ought to have a standard upon which it is measured to be a JUST report.
In the first verse of the passage it is measured against the KNOWLEDGE of God, or rather, the lack of knowledge for that which they OUGHT TO KNOW;
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
What we glean from this passage is what we touched on in the first point, God raises his children on KNOWLEDGE, he taught them his laws.
In this God gives to earthly fathers an example of our responsibility.
Turn to;
Deuteronomy 4:7–8
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Beloved fathers, the example of God that you have in this passage is that you ought to be TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN about God!
We are giving consideration of what level of responsibility we have in the outcome of our children.
We see that God has NO RESPONSIBILITY at all that can be laid against him, for he is a perfect father.
No earthly father can ever claim NO RESPONSIBILITY, but every father can LIMIT their responsibility by attending to raising their children as GOD raised his.
The first way of raising them is in TEACHING THEM.
TEACH THEM the knowledge of God and the knowledge of the underlying “CODE” of CREATION.
This world was SPOKEN into existence, therefore it is LOGICALLY governed by the words through which it was created.
Think I am exaggerating?
Turn to;
Hebrews 11:1–3
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
When asked about any advantage given to the Jew, we are told what their advantage is, turn to Romans 3
Romans 3:1–2
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Therefore, the first work we ought to do as parents is to teach our children of the Lord.
The first responsibility of the father is to teach his children the WAY of THE LORD. This is not a responsibility for the mother, though mothers ought to also undertake this work, but teaching the way of the Lord IS the overall responsibility of the father.
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
THE REPORT CARD so far is just!
The Second Way is to ‘nourish’ them, to provide for them that they may prosper on their own when the time comes.
God certainly did so for them. He did it at the first when setting Adam in the Garden of Eden that gave him his fruit WITHOUT the SWEAT OF HIS BROW.
He did so with Israel in setting them in The Fertile Crescent, God had provided for opportunity that they may prosper. Indeed, what more could God have done?
While the people are seen in Isaiah 1 as his Children, they are referred to in Isaiah 5 as his Vineyard, turn there with me and see the Lord lament having done all he can for his vineyard.
Isaiah 5:3–6
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
Fathers are to provide for their children to the best of their ability. The first levels are food, clothing and shelter, the next perhaps Education and Employments or business.
Should they not take advantage of all they have been provided for, the RESPONSIBILITY is their own.
In short, if fathers have brought up their children in the knowledge of the Lord and of his words, and have provided for their development and opportunities, they have essentially fulfilled that which God has attended to. Responsibility now belongs to the child.
A PROPHETIC REALITY v’s7-8Isaiah 1:7-8
7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
Though the passage is written in the present tense, it actually refers to a time yet future. We know this only because what is referred to in these two verses had not yet transpired.
At the time of the writing of Isaiah 1 which we ought to presume was written under the reign of the first King he identifies in verse 1, ie Uzziah, the country was not yet ‘desolate” nor the “cities burned with fire” nor anything else that is seen in these two verses.
There are indeed passages in Isaiah that literally read as a present tense NEWS ITEM for that which is YET to occur. A literal commentary of an event yet future but read is if it were happening live. I tried to find the passage with some key words I thought were in it but couldnt. No doubt Ill see it the next time I read through the book.
Nevertheless, what we see is the outcome of a people who have rebelled against the Lord and against his word and his ways.
Wisdom had seen it before it occurred, but foolishness, still bound in the heart of the Childwho was spared the rod of correction (Prov 22:15), was blind to where their foolishness would end.
As for Israel and as for Judah, as for the majority of the children of God, their rebellion would see their blessing come to an end.
In this instant what we see is the correction, or the punishment of God upon his Children. This is the final threefold frame of a father.
The first is to Teach: Specifically, to teach the knowledge of God and of his law that the Child may understand how the world works and how they may be blessed in the world.
The second is to provide: Through the example of the father, to provide for the wellbeing of the Children; Food, Clothing, Shelter, that they too may learn to prosper and take advantage of all the provisions that are before them for their own families in time.
The third, and the most unpleasant, is to correct, to chastise, that the natural foolishness and stuborness of the child may be driven from them.
Turn to Proverbs;
Proverbs 22:15
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 19:18
18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Proverbs 13:24
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Hebrews 12:6–8
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
There are no references to daughters in the Bible related to foolishness, no doubt they exist in reality, but God chooses his focus upon those charged as bearing responsibility, that is, men.
Therefore only “sons” are referred to when it comes to chastisement. Women, or daughters, are always “under” the charge and of either a father or a husband who is responsible for them and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, will be HELD ACCOUNTABLE for the behaviour and actions of the daughter or wife.
Proverbs 15:20
20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Proverbs 10:1
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Proverbs 17:25
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
God instructs his Children
God provides for his Children
God corrects and chastises his Children.
When fathers have God as their example in the nourishing and raising of their Children, and act upon it accordingly, the responsibility for the outcome of the child is greatly limited.
God has NO responsibility for the rebellion of his Children, earthly, imperfect fathers will always bear some, but only in proportion to Godly ministry.
A CONSOLATION v9Isaiah 1:9
9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
I am not looking at doing a proportional representation in this sermon. The sermon application that I am drawing out is not to perfectly represent the text before us but to illustrate the principal of rasing Children with God as our example.
Nevertheless, what we see in this passage is that a remnant holds tightly to the law of their father and will not rebel. The passage tells of God leaving unto the nation a “very small remnant” and this is indeed true.
We see this in Churches also, and indeed that which is representative of Israel is seen evident in Churches and extrapolated in the family. The same father nature of God is exampled in the father nature of the pastor in the Church, indeed, he is strictly qualified by his relationship to his Children in the home.
Turn to 1 Timothy
1 Timothy 3:4–5
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Interestingly, and perhaps uncomfortably for some, the role of the Pastor in the Church is similar to the role of the father in the home.
He is to Teach.
He is to Nourish / Provide, not so much food and clothing, but practical tools for successful Christian living for the brethren to employ.
He is to correct, to “reprove, rebuke and exhort”…
2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Sadly brethren who will not receive such exhortation are quick to malign the character of the pastor, just as rebellious children despise their fathers and just as rebellious Israel turned against God.
Their REPORT CARD is not good, and their PROPHETIC REALITY will certainly play out if they will not repent.
Jesus asked a rhetorical question in Luke 18:8;
“…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
We would like to hope there will be a remnant!
To summarise this sermon for you fathers, and even to a degree mothers;
God is a PERFECT FATHER, but the sinful nature of ALL Children will not guarantee ALL Children will turn out good. Being perfect, God bears no responsibility for the rebellious hearts of his Children.
Earthly fathers limit their responsibility IF and ONLY if, they have God as their example in the raising up of their Children; In Teaching, in Provision and in Correction.
If you can get those two main items from this sermon, you will certainly be blessed in your work and responsibility as a father.
When fathers do all they can do as faithfully as they can before God, the responsibility for the outcome of their Children is passed from the father to the child.
BUT, the more fathers ignore the biblical raising of their Children, the more they will bear responsibility for the outcome of their Child, should she/he rebel.
The post “…nourished… children…rebelled” appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
It is inevitable that those who believe Salvation is only a part of a journey and thereby can be lost, will revert to the Law, salvation by ‘works’, a False Religion.Salvation is being ‘saved’ from hell, to claim that salvation can be “lost” is a nonsense statement and betrays an ignorance as to what salvation actually means.
The post False Religion appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The post The Profitability of the Scriptures For the Perfecting Of The Saints appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
All Things Are Become New
2 Corinthians 5:16–21
PRAY
The Restorer and The Restored2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.**
Ever wondered if you can start over?
There are times when we look at our lives and we wonder how it is that we got to where we are. Sometimes we would like to have another shot at life and are sure that we would do a better job the next time around.
Lives can be filled with tremendous regret; acts and actions, words and deeds done in times of emotional duress, that we could only wish that we could take them back and that they would never have seen the light of day or entered the ears of those we have hurt.
So many are the circumstances of life in our lives, so diverse are the situations that lead us to today and so easy it is to blame others for what we have endured or how we got to where we are. Responsibility, we long to say, belongs to those who made me this way.
Not unlike the atheists of today, we like the idea of believing that we are simply a product of our environment, that it is NOT MY FAULT, and that IF ONLY THIS DIDN’T HAPPEN, I WOULDN’T HAVE….(fill in the blank).
All of this is simply a newer version of “the woman that thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” Gen 3:12. The sin of Adam is well represented in the irresponsibility of a life that seeks to blame others for our troubles in life.
“If only I could begin again” “If only that which is past can be forever forgotten” “If only that which I may desire now to forget, never came!“
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.**
Its difficult to say which verse in the Bible is the most important for us to understand.
As a preacher of the word of God, there are just so many that have such deep implications if we would take them seriously. This verse here however, must be one of the most valuable of all if we would only take the words to their perfect meaning.
Here we have the claim of THE RESTORER for THE RESTORED.
One is attending to the work, the other simply the recipient of the work.
7 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature
If there are any who have believed the Gospel God gave of his Son;
that he came into the world to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10). That he was long spoken of in ancient times to rescue man from the consequences of his sin, and to wash all of his past away, a clean slate, never again to have written any further condemnation.That we are “more than conquerors” (Rom 8:37) who have trusted in Christ.That we know in whom we have believed and we too are persuaded that he is able to keep that which we have committed unto him against that day. (2 Tim 1:12)That Jesus is ALL IN ALL (Eph 1:23), that in him all the promises of God are “YEA and AMEN” (1 Cor 1:12).THE Giver of life and the reconciler of eternal joy. If any man be in Christ…he is a NEW crerature
JESUS IS HE who shall come to judge the quick and the dead (ACTS 10:42), the one in whom every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess is jesus Christ the Lord (Phil 2:10)
If any be in the one who will destroy Satan with the brightness of his coming (2 Thess 2:8) and pour out his wrath on the children of disobedience in this world (Col 3:6), HE IS A NEW CREATURE.
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Old things passed away…old words spoken with regret, old deeds done with sorrow, old thoughts desired to forget, old promises left for tomorrow!
These are “passed way” “if any man be in Christ“, “behold, all things are become new“;
New words spoken with hope, new deeds offered with reward, new thoughts remembered with joy and new promises expected for today!
ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW!
This is to those who are “in Christ“, those who have believed the testimony of God that he has given in his word; THE PROMISE OF RECONCILIATION.
Have you believed it yet?
The Testimony And The Task2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Those who have been Christian for any length of time ought to go back and remember the OLD THINGS that have passed away that we may again appreciate what has become new.
For there OUGHT to be NEW desires, NEW Purpose of life, NEW zeal and joy, hope and goals.
No longer are we lumbered with the cares of this life, no longer are we burdened by the broken promises of a lying world, now we hold to the promises of God which are in Christ….WHY?
Because he hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ;
This is the TESTIMONY THAT HE GAVE OF HIS SON.
Matthew 3:17
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.**
Matthew 17:5
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.**
Mark 1:11
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.**
Mark 9:7
7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.**
Luke 3:22
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.**
Luke 9:35
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.**
And the testimony we have of God is that Jesus Christ came to reconcile us to God through him.
Jesus came to RESTORE, to make that which is Old OBSOLETE, to provide for the forgiveness of sin to all who believe and to make all things NEW.
O to those who would love to have the chance to live their lives over again and to change the things they cannot now change! To them, Christ calls you to newness of life with all that was never to be remembered.
God, through Christ, offers the ONLY way to have SIN forgotten….not though the VANITY OF THE WORLDS WAYS, but through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as a true and real event of history.
The WORLD offers NOTHING, and the means of the world are those that would ONLY HAVE YOU BACK IN ADAMS SIN, remove from you all sense of personal responsibility, that you might remain a victim for LIFE!
Beloved, if you are a Christian, you OUGHT to know that hiding guilt NEVER REMOVES IT!
Guilt is the pain of a wounded conscience! And SUCH can NEVER be hidden, it can ONLY be forgiven.
Who have you injured that you need to seek their forgiveness? Who have you hurt and pained that you need to testify to when you had sinned?
How many of you are the children of LIVING parents? And How many of you have hurt them in days gone by?
O beloved, you mother and father have already forgiven you, but this does not mean that they do not long for a TRUE AND RESTORED relationship with you.
It does not matter if you are fifteen or fifty, go to the father, go to the mother and bend the heart that will bend the knee, and tell them of your sorrow for your dishonour of them.
The honour of the father and mother is the FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE (Eph 6:2 refer Exo 20:12)
THE TASK
That was THE TESTIMONY, this is now the TASK;
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
God testifies to the reconciliation of our lives to him through Jesus showed, and now we who are reconciled have this MINISTRY to attend to!
He hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation
What is my purpose in life? What are the goals of life that would fulfill my life’s purpose? What shall I do with my life that would make my life worth living? What am I here for?
Beloved, if you have ever asked this question in your life, there is no doubt that you have asked it in light of that which you beleive will make you most fulfilled in life!
If you are a lost person in the world, your ONLY answer to this question will have something to do with whatever it is you THINK will make you happy.
If you are a carnal, worldly Christian, YOU WILL have the same answer, but it will not be your ONLY answer.
If you are a growing Christian, YOUR ONLY answer will be what ever it is you believe will make GOD Happy! For you have come to know that that which pleases God brings you the greatest joy of all.
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
The Ministry and The Means2 Corinthians 5:19
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
There is no craft that we might desire to undertake that does not require of us a deep level of learning prior to the expression of that craft.
A tradesman is first an apprentice for some four years and then he is deemed qualified to undertake the craft.
A professional will undertake studies at his own cost or begin as a junior until he has experienced all that is required to experience prior to being able to offer his learned services to those who would be the beneficiaries of that service.
The advertised purpose of such experience is that the service provider, whether that be in a trade or a profession, has a fiduciary responsibility to BENEFIT the recipient of their labours or advice. In other words, there is an expectation of TRUST from those on the receiving end of the ministry or service.
To those who have freely received eternal life through the forgiveness of their sin, and have their life purpose set in attending to all that God has created them to do, this passage in 2 Corinthians 5:19 forms the entirety of their qualification and craft.
This passage is BOTH the MINISTRY AND THE MEANS;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Lets read again from verse 18;
2 Corinthians 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
“To wit“, in other words, “this is what that ministry of reconciliation is“;
that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;**
My, if we can only grasp all that this means, if we can truly come to understand even a fraction of what might be considered the eternal value of those words, how great might our “ministry of reconciliation” be?
First that God was in Christ, reconciling the WORLD unto himself“, this alone is enough to boggle the mind!
How it is possible that ANY reconciliation is able to be attended to without the COST of reconciliation LEVIED upon those who have sinned against God their maker?
For you and I, indeed, for the WORLD as a whole, the cost LEVIED is impossible to pay!
If we could weigh the cost of sin, if we might put our evil on a scale and weigh them in the balance, it is absolutely certain that we would be found wanting. We would not even KNOW the depth of our sin, the gravity of our evil that we have committed against the most high.
How many are the lies we have told?
How many are the items we have stolen? How much “TIME: did we steal from employers?
How many sideward glances have we taken in our lust?
How much envy and covetousness?
How often have we grieved those whom we are charged to honour?
If this were not bad enough and immeasurable enough, how many are the vain words that have preceded unhindered from our lips?
How do we know what each sin might weigh that we could reckon our debt?
What are we to say for the thoughts and intents of the heart? Can a scale be found to weigh the evil words of our minds that are only guarded by the lips?
And now imagine if you could weigh them?
Imagine if you had the formula of God to know the debt that is owned for each transgression, would you do the accounting?
Would you WANT to see how infinite is the levy and insurmountable is the debt?
The Bible gives to us JUST a hint of the trouble of man;
Ecclesiastes 7:20
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Job 15:16
16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?**
Genesis 6:5
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And yet here in our passage we are told that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;**
The psalmist wrote;
Psalm 32:2
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
The new Testament affirms it in
Romans 4:4–8
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Beloved, if you are born again, your apprenticeship is completed and you have ALL the experience you need to minister the “ministry of reconciliation“. Only those who have experienced the JOY of forgiveness of sin and the gain of eternal life, only those whose Old things are passed away and all has become new, are truly qualified for this beneficial service to the world.
For God has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now with BOTH the Ministry and the Means, all we need to render the service is a MARKET….
The Deputy and The Dignity2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
An ambassador is the deputy of the Dignity which sends him. He is one who has been sent into the market of the world to bring tidings of good things, good words, words of hope and life, words to encourage and excite.
But this is of benefit ONLY if there is a market for the ministry?
The harvestman cannot reap if the sower has not yet sown.
But the Bible tells us that the harvest is not at issue, but the labourers for the harvest is that which is in short supply.
Turn to
Matthew 9:37–38
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Beloved, you and I have been deputised by God to be ambassadors for Christ, our life will have fulfilment when we work to do that which we are called to do and not until then.
Qualified, you are, if you have received of him that eternal joy of life, for you are not your own, but have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20).
Have you ever asked the question, what would I do if I had my time over again?
Let me ask you, would you do life the same way you had?
Solomon wrote;
Proverbs 3:5–6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Would you again “lean on thine own understanding“?
Or would you BEGIN AGAIN?
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us
Beloved have you considered just for a moment that you have been deputised by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Do you understand that your life is a vapour, that it is grass that the wind of the world carries away, that you are here today and gone tomorrow?
Who will hear your words of reconciliation when you are gone?
Dear “Ambassador“, how many condemned felons do you walk by daily? How many has the Lord, even going so far as to prompt you to speak, and you hold your tongue?
Life is a vapour in itself, how much more as we see the day approaching?
Jesus is returning soon for his Church, and it may very well be unlikely that we all see the fulness of our days come to pass while the world has your witness….what then are you living for Mr and Mrs Ambassador?
Who said we CANNOT BE Philadelphian Christians in a Laodicean age?
You are The Deputy of The Dignity, children of the most high God. Called to be PROPHETS, PRIESTS AND KINGS (Rev 1:6), who will one day judge angels (1 Cor 6:3).
Many years ago, when I first began research into starting a business, the first question that came to my mind is whether there be a market for the service I was offering.
The two worst options was either, the market was too small….OR, the market was OVER SATURATED, in other words, there were already FAR TOO many labourers in the harvest.
What do you think of the size of the market as you look around you?
50,000 people is the rough population of this town, how many even ATTEND the churches of this town? 1,000? 2,000?
John 4:35
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
All Things Are Become New2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
A perfect instruction can be given to a person when a clear summary of understanding is provided.
As a tradesman, knowing the step by step instructions are helpful, but the motivation of care does not come unless we have a clear knowledge of its purpose. Foundations to a home might not be taken seriously, until we understand the load of the finished structure imposed on a single point on the foundation.
Two Saturdays ago, I spent the entire day watching a mechanic work on the engine of my car. So many were the steps that he had undertaken and he knew them ALL by heart. He systematically attended to the work and did so as a master technician, knowing the summary purpose of his work.
The Gospel becomes compelling, not in the phrase that “all things become new“, but in the summary statement of HOW that is possible!
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
True, Biblical REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY, is not the false doctrine teaching that promises to the jews is replaced by the Church, but that Jesus was made to be SIN FOR US, the one who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
And thereby, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.**
I have no doubt that there are some listening to this message who are still holding onto the OLD. For one reason or another, you are more fearful of giving up the Old than you are of taking hold of the New.
It is true, that you cannot have the new while still holding tight to the Old.
Jesus spoke of those measuring the cost; saying;
Luke 14:28–33
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
So it is, there is something FINAL about “becoming new”, the OLD has given way to the NEW and this CANNOT BE CHANGED.
A butterfly cannot return to the cocoon. The metamorphosis is FINAL, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The CHOICE is yours, provision for eternal life has been made for you, love has made a way, the choice to accept the love is yours.
TRUE LOVE NEVER NEEDS TO BE PROVED, ONLY RECEIVED!
But be not deceived, there is a cost to the choice either way.
To this Church;
For eight years I have preached for this congregations that I love.
Like a father to my own Children, I have preached sermons based on the temperature of the congregation and the events that impact our lives.
I have not continued on a series of sermons as if there is nothing going on that is impacting your lives. Covid interfered with the book of Romans, and the LOOK UP Series drew our focus of where it ought to be.
The mayday series was in the midst of lockdowns, titled The Time of the Signs, explaining where we are in the Biblical Timeline of History.
We returned to Romans until the second lockdowns when I turned to the Psalms for our comfort and hope in The Treasury of David series.
I have never simply continued on, ignoring what was evident in the world or seemed evident in the Church.
A Godly father always watches over his Children, considering their needs as seems evident to him, so ought a pastor to do so for his congregation.
In the last twelve months the sermon series attended to have paralleled that which was believed to be needed in the Church, even to call to the surface that which was developing under it, until it was manifested for all in March this year.
The Mayday Series, Perilous Times explained how we got here and revealed where we are at.
Eight; a number signified in the Bible as New Beginnings, and it is time for us that old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I have truly repented before the Lord for whatever my role was in the development of the Laodicean Spirit in our Church;
Turn to
Philippians 3:13–14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
This is now the time for this Church where “ALL THINGS BECOME NEW”, Where the Lord has given to us a chance to begin again with the purpose set in TWO areas;
That of our FINAL AUTHORITY, not in the opinions of the people, BUT IN REVERENCE for the Word of GodAnd to an UNWAVERING mission of the Great Commission, to remember We are the AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST; 2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
How I pray that the Zeal of the Lord would inspire us all to live for Christ and that the word of God becomes your daily joy.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.**
The post New Beginnings appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
LAODICEA THE DEMOCRATIC CHURCHLAODICEA
The Democratic ChurchThere are times when preaching a sermon on a given passage is so overwhelming a preacher wonders how it is going to be possible to bring out the entirety of that which has impacted him to a congregation that may not be ready to hear all that he has come to understand.
Jesus spoke of this matter to his disciples saying;
John 16:12
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
So too Paul when addressing the Hebrew Churches as he tried to bring out an understanding of Melchisedec writing;
Hebrews 5:11
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
This is never been a question of the intellect beloved, but a state of the heart. The pricking of the heart has always brought about two distinct responses, one is of anger and the other of deep conviction.
Of all the Seven Churches spoken of, which Church Type does Hope Baptist Church presently see itself as?
Beloved, the question is PERSONAL as well as it is CORPORATE.
From the beginning of this series on the Perilous Times, and in light of the 17th of March event that was witnessed in this Church, I had no intention of presenting this series as an issue that is ‘OUT THERE’.
Although there is plenty “out there” we could speak of and I am sure might be a more popular study.
Yet, it is the personal conviction of private sin that is the purpose of the Pastor to bring to the surface of a Christian for him to grow in the Lord, and this is never “popular”
This pastor has for some time been praying for a revival, and the first person who needs reviving is the PASTOR.
As I have been studying this church type, my heart was broken in my consideration in knowing my responsibility as its pastor.
The evidence of the Church type Hope Baptist has, at least until now, represented was highlighted with perfect clarity on the 17th of March 2024.
The Name LAODICEA means “Opinion or RULE of the People”
The Exhaustive dictionary of Bible names, By Smith and Cornwall, 1998,
Laodicea (la-od-i-se’-ah) = Greek, laos – people; laity; and dicea – opinion; custom; opinion or custom of the people; = justice of the people; ruled by the people; rule of the majority; democratic; i.e., peoples right or opinions. The people’s rights.[1]
The event of the 17th of March highlighted with clarity what at least half of this Church believed was true. How much of that ideology remains as a remnant in this Church is yet to be seen.
Beloved there are NO DEMOCRATIC Churches in the Bible. There is no “Tyranny of the Majority” as has been long understood to be the greatest condemnation of true Democracy. It is but one step before ANARCY. Nowhere in the Bible do we have such a regime, yet this is the FUNCTIONAL OPERATION of LAODICEA.
God had never ordained DEMOCRACY as the best governing principle of nations, in fact, quite to the contrary.
Most western countries call themselves Democracies, but none of them operate as a true democracy. The OPINIONS of the People do not govern nations.
Australia is one of the most conflicting: We call ourselves a “Democracy” but operate our governing system as a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC, and yet we are by LAW a Constitutional Monarchy. Go Figure!
But for some reason, most Baptist Churches have their governing system more aligned with DEMOCRACY these days than any government in the world, and directly antithetical to Scripture.
As for OPINIONS, most Christians today hold their own OPINIONS as the TRUE final authority rather than the plainness of all that is written in the Scriptures.
While we claim the Bible to be our final authority, in practice, when the Bible seems to contradict our personal preference, it is often NOT.
Like the Laodicean Church, we often hold to a JUXTAPOSED WITNESS.
Beloved, I was personally wrecked by this study, my heart was so broken especially yesterday, that I did not want to preach today.
My burden and responsibility for what I came to understand respecting Hope Baptist Church, caused me greatly to repent, and I pray you will be patient this morning as we give consideration to;
LAODICEA, THE DEMOCRATIC CHURCH.
The Juxtaposed WitnessRevelation 3:14
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
When giving some deeper consideration to this text and working to form a cohesive outlive for the passage, my eyes fell on the phrase “faithful and true witness“. As it did so, immediately I could see that the witness of Christ was completely distinct from the witness they had of themselves.
And it was verse 17 that came to mind;
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
The witness they had trusted in was both a material witness, and a fulfilment witness.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
Both are seen in the passage before us as “false witnesses“.
But Christ, is the “Faithful and true witness“.
In this, our Lord is ‘Juxtaposed‘ to that of the trust that is evident in the Laodicean Church.
He is here placed ‘side by side’, but contrasted to that which they had trusted in. The people PERCEIVED THEMSELVES to be in a state VERY different from that testified to by the “Faithful and true witness“.
It was their OPINION that they were rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.
Laodicea was the greatest City in the region. It was not the most populace City, the theater of the city sat some 8,000 souls therefore, buy the multiple of ten we spoke of when looking at the theatre of the Ephesians, we expect a city population of some 80,000 people, almost twice the size of Sunbury.
Not a small city but not as large as Ephesus with a population of 250,000 people.
It was a city located in the Lycus Valley, founded by the Seleucid King Antiochus II in the middle of the 3d century BC and named after his first wife Laodice.
The Laodicean Church and the PRESENT period of Church History that it represents, is a Church that has the PERCEPTION OF THE PEOPLE as their FINAL AUTHORITY.
It is a Church that was naturally uncomfortable with any authority that would question the perception of the people, the people ruled, the people governed, the “tyranny of the Majiority” was its governing principle, it was a TRUE DEMOCRATIC CHURCH.
2 Timothy 3:1–4
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
That passage in 2 Timothy 3, is the natural OUTCOME of a Church Body that will have no authority above it.
As stated in a previous sermon, we now live in a Post Post Modern Age, where the Spirit of the Age says our PERSONAL subjective OPINIONS are absolute!
It takes conscious humility to be otherwise minded!
The people of the Church of Laodicea are a people who will follow the LORD inasmuch as it agrees with their personal disposition.
But Jesus is a JUXTAPOSED WITNESS
These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Turn in your Bibles to Jeremiah 42.
The context of the passage in Jeremiah 42 has the entirety of the Southern Kingdom of Judah removed to Babylon by King Nebuchadnessor, and there is left but a small remnant of the people.
Jeremiah 42:1–6
1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. 6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
How incredibly sincere they seem!
And notice our phrase, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us
Well the prophet Jeremiah takes them at their word. Ten days go by, he tells them the options and the consequence of those options between verses 9 & 18.
Suddenly the TRUE WITNESS of their hearts are revealed to Jeremiah from verse 19
Jeremiah 42:19–22
19 The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. 20 For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. 21 And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you. 22 Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.
Chapter 43 then has the peoples own testimony affirming what was revealed to Jeremiah.
In short, it did not matter WHAT Jeremiah came back with to them, THEY HAD DETERMINED TO DO THEIR OWN WILL, they “dissembled” they Concealed/Disguised their true feelings and desires.
They trusted in the WITNESS OF THEIR OWN HEARTS, as such the WITNESS of God from the mouth of Jeremiah was JUXTAPOSED to the witness of their own hearts.
BELOVED, do not think to yourself that the LAODICEAN churches are OUT THERE somewhere, if you have ever PREFERRED your own WITNESS to that of the TRUTH, God will be a witness against you.
Please beloved, be conscious of this natural tendency we all have. There is NO POINT in believing something you WANT to be true, that ISN’T!
It is NEVER your OPINION that matters, but what is true!
Thinking yourself in need of NOTHING and no change necessary in your life, may indeed present you as a LAODICEAN Church member.
The Tepid AdmonitionRevelation 3:15-16
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Probably one of the most popularly misinterpreted passages in Revelation is this one here respecting HOT and COLD Christians.
The CONTRAST jesus is trying to bring is between that which he prefers and that which he would “spue..out of his mouth”.
I would* thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,* I will spue thee out of my mouth.
The MIX up ignores the value of the WORDS in the verse. It assumes two things;
-
That temperature = levels of vitality. (Matt 24:12..Because the love of many shall wax cold)
-
HOT = Zealousness. COLD = Apathy
This is a mistaken notion and ignores the nature of the words in the passage;
Firstly it is their “WORKS” that Jesus is referring to and not their zeal for the Lord;
“I know thy works” says the Lord.
Next we see that Jesus gives a preference note
I would thou wert cold or hot.
I would thou wert cold or hot.
BOTH Hot and Cold are commendable in our text even though they are a contrast of one another.
Also, they are seen as PREFERENTIAL, BUT to what? The answer is seen in the very next verse;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
How easy it is to get swept up in the idioms of the times and completely miss the point of the passage.
But this is further testified to historically when we consider that Jesus is writing to an ACTUAL CITY and Church, living in an ACTUAL time in history, that would UNDERSTAND perfectly what he is writing about.
THE HISTORY
Hierapolis
Laodicea did not have access to its own water source, but located about 9km due north of the City of Laodicea is the City of Hierapolis, known to us today as Pamukkale in South Eastern Turkey.
The city of Hierapolis was located on top of an incredible Travertine formation created through the amazing meneral deposits from the 17 Hot springs in the area.
The temperature range of these springs is from a very warm 35C to an untouchable 100C.
This was one source of water for the people or Laodicea.
Colosse
The other source of water comes from the City of Colosse, the same City of the same name we have a letter addressed to by Paul in the New Testament. It lies about 16kl East/south/east of Laodicea, the waters there being incredibly cool, clear and pure.
The HOT mineral spring water from Hierapolis was medicinal.
Historian Colin Hemer writes;
The medicinal virtues of its streams are reflected in the local religion (… the numerous representations of Asklepios and Hygieia on coinage). The city’s consequent prosperity as a health centre and its obtrusive proximity to Laodicea corroborate this application.
The COOL Pure water of Colosse was seen as “Life Giving”
The modern discoverer of Colosse W.J Hamilton describes it this way;
three clouded streams join above an ancient bridge and fall together into a chasm lined with travertine deposits of the water. Just below the bridge, however, a clear and pure stream falls in a double cascade into the gorge. This is evidently identical with the ayasma, or sacred spring, of mediaeval legend (CRE, pp. 469–71).
Colin Hemer states;
Modern accounts have usually been interested in the physical phenomena associated with the other streams: the ancient inhabitants were concerned with necessities, and this stream, apparently perennial, alone met the basic need.
Hemer then concludes;
So the hot waters of Hierapolis were medicinal, the cold waters of Colossae pure and life-giving.
As mentioned already, Laodicea did not have its own water supply, that from the Lycus River dried up in the summer and the only local option was the water slowly delivered to it via the pipes from the Hot Mineral Springs down stream of Hierapolis. As the source was 7 to 9 Km away and the hieght of its peak was only 160m, by the time that water got to the city it was Tepid at best.
AND, according to historians Rudwick and Green, the “effect of the water was “emetic”, in other words, NAUSEATING.
Another historian noted by Colin Hemer stated that
“even cold the waters tend to cause vomiting, and are locally used only for irrigation”.
There is alot more history on this than I can quote here, but you get the understanding Jesus was referring to.
The lukewarm waters of Laodicea were on no benefit whatsoever, they had no value, no benefit to give to their recipients. Both the Hot waters of Hieraopilis and the cold waters of Colosse had value, but not those of Laodicea, they were nauseating.
The works of the Democratic Church in Laodicea was ineffective in their intention, and sufficed only to sicken the body.
We are charged to bring life to a dying world, what are you doing to alleviate the sickness you see around you each and every day?
What kind of Church are we really if we are not even willing to schedule in time to partake of that living bread, the Bible, and drink of that Living Water in prayer to our Lord each and every day?
Beloved, I do not want you to be under any illusion, if you have not yet determined to Schedule time reading the scriptures each day and in prayer each day with the Lord, the water that stems from you is TEPID and you, like those in Laodicea, are being admonished.
You can read as many devotionals as you like, they are not the Bible.
You can hear as many Sermons as you like, that is not communing with God.
And if you had a different OPINION to that which God has TOLD you in the Bible, you have just testified to being a Laodicean Christian.
The Mistaken RealityRevelation 3:17-18
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
There is truly nothing more frightening than believing something to be true about your present state, that is false. And nothing more frightening than that “Reality Check” coming too late.
Matthew 7:21–23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The Laodicean Church believes in a mistaken reality that “gain is godliness“.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing
Beloved, what does this text testify to concerning their focus????
Is it an outward focus or an inward focus?
So according to this passage we can see that the one phrase that Jesus employs to testify of that which the Laodiceans repeat to themselves, is one that has no interest outside themselves?
As for the history of the City of Laodicea, William Ramsay, whom I have often quoted, states;
“In the special duties imposed on it as the end and aim of its foundation, to guard a road and gateway, and to be a missionary of Greek language and culture in the Phrygian land, it proved unsuccessful.[2]“**
Ramsay goes on to write;
The one respect in which it stands forth pre-eminent is that it is the adaptable city, able to suit itself to the needs of others, because it has no strongly pronounced character of its own.[3]
In other words beloved, it has no strength of Character, no guiding principle or purpose OTHER that that which suits its own needs and desires.
Very much like almost all of our current politicians, they adapt to the culture, as it changes, they change to suit. They stand on NO ABSOLUTE principle.
Many Pastors today are the same. Pastors who DO STAND RESOLUTELY on a principle are largely maligned in our LAODICEAN AGE Culture.
To affirm this Ramsay writes;
“Laodicea must appear … undecided, devoid of initiative, pliable, irresolute, and unsatisfactory.[4]“
You recall last week as we gave consideration to the Missionary City of Philadelphia, who had the SAME Charge as that of this City of Laodicea, and that was to spread the Greek Culture throughout the region, to have an INFLUENCE on the Culture toward Helenism.
So effective they were that the Lydian Language was all but obsolete within a short time.
The Philadelphian Church were praised for the same work respecting Christ.
Revelation 3:8
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Not so the Laodiceans, nor the Church of Laodicea.
Here, the Laodiceans, made NO discernible difference to effecting the Phrygian/Lydian culture toward the Greek Hellenism, it was “unsatisfactory“, so too the Church effecting the culture toward Christ.
How does this Church compare?
Ask this question of yourselves beloved, are we more Philadelphian respecting our missionary zeal in the culture around us, or more LAODICEAN?
They thought themselves rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
The OPINION they had of themselves was WRONG, They trusted in a MISTAKEN REALITY;
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
The passage before us ought to manifest in each of us a true humility beloved. Where are we really at?
The Awakened Humility Revelation 3:19
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.**
“Laodicea must appear … undecided, devoid of initiative, pliable, irresolute, and unsatisfactory.[5]“
There must come a point in our lives that we realise we are not what we think we are. That we are not doing as well in our faith that we think we do. That we do not have it all wired up and strong in the Lord.
We long to hear those words, “well done my good and faithful servant“, but if we think to ourselves that we are ‘doin alright’, when we have mostly suited our own purpose and fulfilled the desires of our own lives, are we really doing ok?
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:
If you don’t believe this is for you then maybe its not.
If you are not convicted by this, then maybe he is not speaking to you.
For he ONLY rebukes those who are is, he does not rebuke them whom he does not know.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:
Hebrews 12:5-8
…My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
It is ONLY those who are HIS he rebukes and chastens.
It will be only those in this congregation who see themselves a part of the Church of Laodicea, those who have had little to NO zeal for the work of the Lord, for the WORD of the Lord, for Earnest Prayer to the LORD, and who do not excuse it but RECOGNISE IT.
Those who recognise how often they have APPEALED only to their own OPINION as FULL AND FINAL authority.
They are they who will repent.
Turn to Psalm 139
Psalm 139:23–24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
There can be no Awakened Humility UNTIL we are willing to have our hearts searched by God. So strong is our OPINIONS concerning ourselves, so strong is our stuborness in holding to a MISTAKEN REALITY, So firm is our JUXTAPOSED WITNESS and our willingness to remain TEPID in our consideration of ourselves, it can truly be nothing OTHER than God who will bring to our sight “any wicked way”.
O if we only knew the blessings that come from this, that the “way everlasting” is truly before us if we would only have an AWAKENED HUMILITY.
It is not those he hates whom he rebukes and Chastens, but those he loves;
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.**
The Laodicean City was charged to undertake the SAME missionary work as the Philadelphians, so too are ALL the Churches in Christ, but they affected nothing of note, they were;
undecided, devoid of initiative, pliable, irresolute, and unsatisfactory.”
When you look at our Church, are we more insular than missionary?
Is our zeal more for our personal comfort and goals than for the lost?
Beloved, this ought to be the PERSONAL CONVICTION of our day to day lives. This is not JUST about attending to our work as a GROUP.
The Philadelphians AND the Laodicians were still under the deadly government of Emperor worship, so the work was not seen in the public square, but the Philadelphians had this as their focus in their every day lives….NOT SO THE LAODICEANS.
WHICH ARE WE?
WHICH ARE YOU?
The Philadelphian Church has “KEPT HIS WORD AND NOT DENIED HIS NAME“.
The laodicean Church is told by their loving saviour, 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.**
be zealous therefore*, and repent.***
The Awakened Humility.
TURN TO
Psalm 119:138–140
138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
Our ZEAL begins ONLY when the WORD OF GOD GOVERNS THE OPINIONS OF OUR HEARTS!
The Welcomed StrangerRevelation 3:20-22
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Jesus is a stranger who stands outside of this Church but knocks.
In some of those representing the Laodicean Church, the Music is so loud they cant hear him knock.
In others, the sound of our own opinions drown out the continual “knock, knock, knock”.
In others, we busy ourselves here and there, constant and ongoing work, toil or entertaining distraction, even if we did hear him knock, we wouldn’t answer.
Jesus is a stranger who stands outside and knocks.
But a VOLUNTARY HUMILITY will welcome this stranger.
Too often we have treated Christ as a Crutch, a Genie that we pull out when we want comfort in our sin, but this is not the Jesus of the Bible.
Jesus stands outside and he will knock, can you hear his voice?
The Church of Laodicea had closed the door on Christ. Thinking themselves rich, they were poor, thinking themselves in need of nothing, they had no idea they were miserable.
There is a point of MALNUTRITION a person can come to that they no longer feel hungry, they are just eaten away.
Many Christians today have set the Bible aside for so long, they have no idea how malnourished they truly are.
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.**
This book, the Bible, is our daily bread. For as long as it sits there, it calls out for us to read it.
And if you should put it out of your sight, I pray you will hear it “knocking”.
Beloved, if you choose not to schedule time with the Lord in reading your Bible and praying DAILY, then you are choosing to be a part of the Church of Laodicea.
If so, it will be a matter of time before you separate yourself from Philadelphian Christians.
[1] Smith, S., & Cornwall, J. (1998). The exhaustive dictionary of Bible names (158). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos.
[2] Ramsay, W.M. (1904) The letters to the seven churches of Asia and their place in the plan of the Apocalypse. London: Hodder and Stoughton, p. 425.
[3] Ramsay, W.M. (1904) The letters to the seven churches of Asia and their place in the plan of the Apocalypse. London: Hodder and Stoughton, p. 425.
[4] Ramsay, W.M. (1904) The letters to the seven churches of Asia and their place in the plan of the Apocalypse. London: Hodder and Stoughton, p. 425.
[5] Ramsay, W.M. (1904) The letters to the seven churches of Asia and their place in the plan of the Apocalypse. London: Hodder and Stoughton, p. 425.
The post LAODICEA The Democratic Church appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
PHILADELPHIAINTRODUCTIONPhiladelphia, the sixth of the seven Churches of Revelation. The sixth period of Church history on the road to the present times.
Another sermon on the Church of Philadelphia can be found here.
· We come to the sixth of the seven Churches of Revelation
· The Sixth historical Church in which a letter written is given to present to the angel of the Church of Philadelphia.
· The Sixth Church in the physical circuit as taken from Patmos, where John was, first to Ephesus, then Smyrna, Then Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis and now to Philadelphia before concluding in Laodicea.
· Philadelphia also representing the Sixth Church Period of history to date, a period dominated by the Gospel and missionary zeal around the world through which we today remain the beneficiaries. The Philadelphian Church type followed the Reformation period identified by the Church of Sardis, where nothing good was reported by the Lord, and It precedes the last Church period, identified by the Church of Laodicea where again, nothing good is spoken of by the Lord.
· Philadelphia also represents the Sixth type of Christian that may find himself in any of the types of Churches noted before
· And we will find in our final summary of the Seven Churches that, Philadelphia may be identified as a stage a Christian might go through in his walk with the Lord. A time in life where a true and earnest desire for the Gospel of Christ is committed in his life to share with all he can. Was that you? Is that you? Will that be you? Will that be you AGAIN?
The first NAME of this City was Philadelphia. Today it has a new name.
YOU have your first name. If you are born again, you will be given a new name.
The name you have now was likely given you by those who gave you this life.
The name you will have in heaven will be the name given you by him who gave you eternal life.
Who is he?
His is the name above all names
This sixth Church type of Philadelphia is praised for its works. It is not a large Church, it is of little strength, but it has BOTH kept his word AND not denied the NAME of the one whose name is above all names.
Some 17 years ago, I began in earnest to find a Church that was like this Church of Philadelphia. I was not looking for a perfect Church, but I was looking for a Church which kept God’s word as its focus.
I had experienced the type of Church that was coming into prominence in the world and I found it completely lacking in anything of substance, nothing of value.
It thought it was great, “rich and increased with goods, having need of nothing”. And without the eternal word of God as its daily bread, it had no idea that it was “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind , and naked”.
That Church was so malnourished it had no idea it was even hungry.
The Lord made clear to me that there are faithful Churches out there, I just needed to know what I was looking for. I did. I was looking for a Church that keeps God’s word and would not deny my Lord’s name.
And I found one, Faith Baptist Church in Fawkner. A Godly and growing Pastor by the name of Frank Guglielmo. Dont get me wrong, we had our differences and still do, but I could not be happier with the blessing that that Church provided to me and my family, simply because the Pastor Believed God at his word and preached it faithfully.
It is a local and not unreasonable representative of the Church type identified as Philadelphia.
Beloved, if this is not the sort of Church you are looking for, if you are looking for the bells and wistles, if you are looking for the periferals like; a good Sunday School Program / A good YOUTH Group / A good age group so your sons can find wives, and daughters can find husbands / A good social justice focus / A church that teaches ONLY prophecy / A Church that NEVER teaches Prophecy etc…
You are looking for periferals and not substance.
You might even be looking for the Laodicean Church type…one that will scratch you where you are itching.
That is the BROADWAY CHURCH.
Philadelphia is not.
Jesus Has The Key7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
“The Key of David” is a phrase found only one other time in the Bible, in Isaiah 22 and it is worth turning there to give some consideration for a moment as we paralles what is written of here in Revelation 3.
Isaiah 22:20–23
20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.
Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, was the most trusted and faithful servant of the King, King Hezekiah. He was set as governor over the household of Hezekiah at one of the most tentative times of the history of Judah.
The Assyrian invaders have already taken over the Northern Kingdom of Israel and captured and taken away the ten tribes. Now, there is no more Northern Kingdom.
Now they come to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and threaten to do to them as they did to the North. Eliakim would be the most trusted servant of the King, to receive the message of the Assyrians report it, first to Hezekiah and then to Isaiah the prophet (See 2 Kings 18:18).
Turn to 2 Kings 18:37 as we trace the account for a moment.
2 Kings 18:37–19:5
37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
1 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. 2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. 3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. 4 It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left. 5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
This now is that servant of the King to whom is given “the Key of the house of David“.
Eliakim was over the household of the King, he was free to come and go as he pleased, for the King had full confidence that his servant would attend to his will.
Jesus, in Revelation 3 and in writing to the Church of Philadelphia, is drawing a perfect parallel as “the King of kings” who is “Holy” and “True“, who ALONE has the Key of David” and who ALONE can do what no man can UNDO; who “openeth, and no man shuteth; and shuteth and no man openeth“.
Beloved the faithful Church of Philadelphia had the blessing of the Lord of lords and King of kings upon it, BECAUSE IT FOLLOWED AFTER THE DIRECT WILL OF THEIR KING.
After the Reformation Churches, there came people who beleived with all their hearts that the word of God is true. They understood that IF THE BIBLE IS PERFEVCLTY TRUE, then they would attend with all diligence the to the calling of the Lord jesus Christ to share the word of God to all people and to attend to the work of God for the blessing of all people.
These were the years of REVIVAL around the world.
These were the times of D.L. Moody, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, of Hudson Taylor, of William Carrey, of George Muller, of Adonirum Judson, of the young and faithful David Brainerd and a mutitude of others whose names we do not know, but who will receive NEW NAMES because they have walked through the OPEN DOOR, Jesus set for them and have KEPT HIS WORD and NOT DENIED HIS NAME.
Imagine beloved if you truly beleived the words of the Lord!
What might come of your life that will be praised for ever by those who are the beneficiaries of your faithfullness?
All that Eliakim did was do the faithful bidding of the King, he brought the message he was told to obtain to the prophet Isaiah, and the most dangerous time of the City of Judah was averted.
He was given the Key of David, and all that he did was blessed by the King, for he was faithful.
So too it shall be to those who do the will of The King of kings, who has the Key of David to give to whom he wills.
Jesus Sets The Door8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Philadelphia was not a large City like some of those we had spoken of earlier, its population would not have been much greater than that of Sunbury during the time of this letter.
Like Pergamos and Sardis, and several other cities, it too was devastated by the Earthquake in 17AD, and due to the volcanic area in which it was situated, suffered ongoing aftershocks and small earthquakes on a regular[1] basis.
The ancient historian Strabo wrote, in a.d. 20.
‘Beyond the Lydians are the Mysians and the city of Philadelphia, full of earthquakes, for the walls never cease being cracked, and different parts of the city are constantly suffering damage. That is why the actual town has few inhabitants, but the majority live as farmers in the countryside, as they have fertile land. But one is surprised even at the few, that they are so fond of the place when they have such insecure dwellings.[2]
It was constantly kept on its toes and as a result continued to send out missionaries to preach the Gospel, never quite knowing when their time will be concluded. Being located as an effectual Gateway City historically, it had a “Open Door” and seemed motivated NOT to stay at home and to use it at every opportunity.
The City of Philadelphia developed a postal route that enabled communications throughout the region for one purpose, to bring about the new Greek culture after Alexander.
Sir William Ramsay identifies it as a Missionary City from the beginning.
“The intention of its founder (Philedelphia) was to make it a centre of the Græco-Asiatic civilisation and a means of spreading the Greek language and manners in the eastern parts of Lydia and in Phrygia. It was a missionary city from the beginning, founded to promote a certain unity of spirit, customs, and loyalty within the realm, the apostle of Hellenism in an Oriental land.[1][3]”
As a result, the Lidian language, which was the prevailing language for many hundreds of years, was all but extinct before the first century AD.
Imagine for a moment as we transfer that understanding to the missionary zeal of the Church period identified as Philadelphian.
So faithful were the believers and so trusting in their King, that they changed the very culture of the world they lived in toward the Lord during the revivals of the 17th to early 20thcentury.
What we think today as perverse, was not uncommon during the medieval years.
As an example; Public Sex in the United Kingdom was a frequent occurrence until finally curtailed by the pricking conscience of the people. Orphans were not uncommon as a result, but orhanages were not common until the faith and faithfulness of a single man brought about such relief in Bristol England.
In the few years of his life, God set an ‘Open Door’ for George Muller. He determined that he would never share a prayer point of concern to any person bu the Lord and trust that God would provide.
The accounts of his life were noted down and plentiful, as George Muller document all the wonderful works the Lord had done, through him. The “Open Door” was simple enough, “pray and I will answer”.
And answer God did.
Muller cared for over 10,000 Orphans in his lifetime.
Established 112 Schools of Christian Education, with 120,000 students attending during his lifetime.
Muller had a salary of 55 pounds per year, yet was able to pray for and received and distributed no less that 1,381,000 pounds (aprox 113 Million pounds in todays currency).
By the time of his death, he printed and had distributed 285,407 full Bibles, 1,459,506 new testaments and 244,531 Gospel tracts in twenty different languages, around the world.
The funds he collected supported numerous missionaries around the world, Hudson Taylor being the most prominent, and a work that continues to this day.
This “Open Door” he trusted in implicitly and never borrowed nor solicited a single farthing of donation from anyone other than the Lord in prayer.
George Muller desired to be perfectly transparent to all who gave to the work, insisting on sending receipts for all gifts no matter how small and having the giving individuals not destroy the receipts until they see the amounts faithfully recorded in the annual report he would have distributed.
George Muller died at the age of 92 years in 1898. He was a part of the Church of Philadelphia.
Has God now CLOSED the door for those members of the Philadelphian Church type?
Is 126 years too large a gap to bridge for those whose trust is ONLY to do his work his way?
At the tender age of 71 years, George Muller went on a missionary journey that spans 17 years, every continent, and over 200,000 miles, concluding when he was 88 years of age.
His funeral is reported to have been attended by 10,000 people, 1,500 of whom were children from the Orphanages he established.
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Is it the TIMES that makes the difference, or is it the faithfulness of the man or woman in the TIMES to whom Jesus sets the door?
Jesus Keeps The Diligent10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
That those who Love the Lord and desire to do his will, as those of the church of Philadelphia, have before them an OPEN DOOR, set for them by Christ, gives to each of us the inescapable feeling of having his favour.
In his Autobiography and after receiving from the Lord “exeedingly abundanlty above all he could ask or think”, George Muller wrote;
“This blessing filled me with inexplicable delight. He had given me the full answer to my thousands of prayers during the [past] 1,195 days.”[4]
Its this particular knowledge that we gain from the Lord when trials and afflictions even come our way, that we cannot help but know that HE KEEPS THE DILIGENT.
Jesus KEEPS, he protects, he watches over and removes us from any evil he does not wish for us to endure.
This is exactly what we find in this text before us, but even more so.
The passage has long been understood to be an example of the Rapture of the Church in the book of Revelation. Indeed, there are no other more clear examples in Revelation than this for the CHURCH.
Here we have the CHURCH represented as being KEPT from a very peculiar time, Revelation 12:5 however speaks of a “man child” that was “caught up unto God, and to his throne“.
Revelation 12:1–2
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered…..
Revelation 12:5
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Yes indeed this too is a “Rapture”, but not of a Church, of a ‘man child‘, and the context tells us who that ‘man child‘ is. It is he “who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron“, a clear representation of Christ.
While our passage in Revelation 3:10 is by IMPLICATION, here in Revelation 12:5 it is by WORD. The word “Caught up” is the very word from which we obtain the Latin word “Rapture” (Harpatzo, in the Greek).
The one is to be KEPT from a specific time that is “to try them that dwell upon the earth“, the other is to be “caught up …to his throne“.
These are two different events, describing two different persons; one yet future, (those kept “from the hour of temptation“), and one past, (the man-child that the woman brought forth that “was caught up unto God, and to his throne“) (Rev 12:5).
Lets break this down further so that we can learn to read logically of what is before us.
I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation
Daily life is filled with trials and temptations, tribulations and difficulties, nothing unique about it, nothing that should stand apart in reference to time than any other time.
I also will keep thee from the hour…
What separates this passage from that which is the norm is an ‘hour’ separated from any other hour. It’s a time period distinct, one that stands apart from others.
Many commentators look to this verse and attempt to link it to the ‘everyday’. But that denies the simple syntax of the words, the words clearly refer to a specific period of time, a distinct period of time, the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world
If this passage referred to the ongoing continuous day to day life of testing and trials, why the need to add a short and temporary time reference? And to what end is the specific encouragement?
The Lord also gives an EXCLUSIVITY in the text at the begining of the verse, he gives exclusivity and REASON saying;
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation
The world has rejected the Word of his patience, their sin and wickedness will “wax worse and worse” (2 Tim 3:13), but those who have KEPT the word of his patience’ will be rewarded by being KEPT” “from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
The phrase “dwell upon the earth” also cant be belittled, it is STATED AS A DISTINCTION.
Those addressed are kept “FROM” and not kept “THROUGH”. A similar phrase is given in the Old Testament. Turn to Isaiah 26 (If the Rapture could ever be seen in the Old Testament, this is the passage)
Isaiah 26:20–21
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
1 Thess 5:9 makes it abundantly clear that the Church has not been “appointed…to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”.
This “Indignation“, this punishment of “the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity“, this “hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”, Is the hour those who have ‘kept the word of his patience’ shall be kept from!
It is a distinct time of history yet future, an hour separated from ANY other hour as UNIQUE and that it why it is identified in such a way.
Beloved the Lord keeps the Diligent. Those who have trusted him, those to whom he has set an OPEN DOOR, he also retains and keeps, blesses and protects. Your life is in his hands and YOU will NOT depart from this life OUTSIDE of his will.
Jesus Names The Faithful12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
It was Attalus II Philadelphus, the King of Pergamos that named the City of Philadelphia. He was the Son of Attalus I and Queen Apollonis and became Co Ruler of the throne of the Attalid Kingdom along side his ailing brother Eumenes, whom he loved.
He named the City after his brothers death, refering to it as literally “The City of him who loves his brother”.
The city was thereby Given a Name.
and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God
We know the City as the City of Brotherly Love and it is of great interest to us that after the region had been taken over by the Ottoman Empire in the 1400’s, its name was changed to Ala-shahir, known as “the fair City” and otherwise known literally as “The City of God”.
We spoke before of being given a NEW Name.
We spoke of names given as having meaning and purpose, they are identifiers of who we are and how we lived, so it is with Philadelphia.
They are a summary of our BEING, our character, our nature, how we lived, how we loved.
“Nabal” was a fool, he lived as a fool and died as a fool and was thus named The Fool in 1 Sam 25.
“Noah” was the Comforter of the remnant of the earth, he provided rest and comfort to those few souls saved THROUGH the wrath of God at that unique time. And so was apltly named.
Noahs Grandfather was named “Methuselah“, who died in the very year the flood of waters came upon the earth. He was the Oldest man in the Bible, but was named prophetically of that which would come upon the earth. Methuselah means “whose death shall bring”.
When Moses (drawn of water), spoke to God through the burning bush he asked by what name he should be presented to the people of God.
The people of God had been in Egypt now some 400 years, all the gods of Egypt had names, each name identified the character of the god, all the gods broken down into their specific benefit.
And so Moses asks God by what name he ought to be presented to the people that they may KNOW Moses was in the very presence of THEIR GOD.
“Exodus 3:14 “I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.“
When the Virgin named Mary, was spoken of 700 years before she was conceived of the Holy Ghost to bring forth a son, he would be named Immanuel (God with us).
The people, who saw a great light, had little idea that in the presence of Christ they had GOD WITH THEM.
Jesus (Saviour)
Christ (Messiah, Deliverer)
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)
and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 … and his name is called The Word of God5
You will one day be known by a new name, but not until you KNOW this name!
ONLY when you come to know this name, will Jesus Name The Faithful.
And those names alone shall endure for all eternity!
[1] [1] Colin J. Hemer, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting, (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Livonia, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Dove Booksellers, 2001), 156. (Citing Strabo 13.4.10 = p. 628)
[2] [1]
[3] [1] W. M. Ramsay, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia and Their Place in the Plan of the Apocalypse, (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1904), 391–392.
[4] The Autobiography of George Müller (Springdale, Pennsylvania: Whitaker House, 1984), ISBN 0-88368-159-5, p198.
{$NOTE_LABEL}The Holy Bible: King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (1995). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., p. Re 19:12–13.
The post Perilous Times: PHILADELPHIA appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The same Church that unlocked the Bible for the world, becomes the Church that hides it in obscurity, this is represented by the Church of Sardis as considered in this study. The reformation Churches are those that the Church of Sardis Represents, it has a name that it lives but is DEAD. These are the DEAD Churches today who have nothing to say of the times we live and nothing to add to the discussion. They try in vain to stand up against perversion, but they have taken away the foundation from which to stand. They have intellectualised the simple Gospel of Christ and have made the word of God of “none effect”. Rather than simply “believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved”, they created a flowery acronym to explain that which the Bible does not teach. While the Reformation Church “received and heard” that which was good, they have forgotten “how” they have “received and heard”. A few names stood well and continue to stand, most however have “defiled their garments”, and with the doctrines of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gracia, which they have forgotten, “are ready to die”. God bless you.
Perilous Times: SardisRevelation 3:1–6
A blessing to bring before you yet again a Church that has its description that gives to us an understanding of how we got to the Perilous Times the Bible speaks of in the last days Church.
Beloved, though this series has been inspired by recent events within this church, the series is a reasonable journey for us to go through. God had given such details within the scriptures for a reason.
The very theme of Hope Baptist Church is the verse that established the purpose of this Church, Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope“
Everything from the preaching of the Gospel to making disciples of men is found in the scriptures that were written for our learning. Though prophecy can often seem despairing, they are also instructive and enlightening as I believe the series this year is.
The desire of Hope Baptist Church from the very beginning was not to help develop lacklustre or weak superficial Christians, but true godly people who are “not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph 5:17) and undertake with strength and courage to “PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14).
If this is the desired work of a faithful Church, it will be challenged greatly in the last days all the more.
True doctrine will not be readily accepted the nearer we come to the end of this world… for as Paul wrote to Timothy;
1 … in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:1–5
The natural result will therefore become an affirmation of what Paul later writes in the next chapter;
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3–4
While recent events inspired the series, I pray its been a blessing to you as you see the day approaching, but I also pray its been instructive to other churches whose pastors might hear it.
EVERY SINGLE CHURCH today, both strong conservative Churches as well as those that have completely sold themselves to the last days, will experience some part of that described in the series.
How can this happen in “Strong Conservative Churches”?
I had a business in construction for some 25 years and as my overall work involved the enclosing of the exterior of the home or building, we worked diligently ensuring the building met certain “Star Ratings” of insulation.
We enclosed one of the first 8 Star energy Rated homes in Australia, I cant recall if it was a Jennings home or one of the subsidiaries of Metricon. Either way it was on behalf of James Hardie Industries.
The challenge with building such a home is that the INSIDE OF THE HOME has a natural force of pressure that pulls the outside ENVIRONMENT inside.
This is made even clearer the more you work to completely SEAL the home against its outside influences.
HOW?
One day as I was called to return to a window leak in the home.
The Builder stated that water was ‘pouring into’ the house through a corner of the window, indicating that it was not properly sealed.
When I inspected the home I found a puddle of water about two feet into the room from the window and naturally looked up to the sealing for its source.
But the Builder said, “no, as I said it is pouring in from the corner of the window like a fountain“.
I asked the energy technician how this was possible, and he said that the natural tendency of the small inside of the home WANTS TO MATCH its larger environment OUTSIDE the home.
So, unless it is perfectly sealed, it will literally SUCK THE OUTSIDE environment inside.
Can we see the analogy?
What was interesting is that the MORE the house is sealed, the MORE OBVIOUS becomes the SOURCE OF THE LEAK and more easily fixed.
The less the house is sealed, the less obvious will be its source and it becomes more and more difficult to stop the INSIDE of the HOME from matching the environment outside.
In fact, it can get so difficult to find all the leaks that simplest and most cost effective solution is to demolish the house and start again.
Conservatively Biblical Churches are NOT IMMUNE to outside influence, but they are generally more able to RECOGNISE it and DEAL WITH IT when they see it.
BUT, if the people in the Church are NOT growing in the Lord through prayer and reading of their Bibles, the godless influence of the PERILOUS TIMES Church will come from places that will not be readily identified, unless God makes it manifest through divisions (as in 1 Cor 11:18-19).
1 Corinthians 11:18–19
18 …. I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
Or, when the Church is so much like the world, those in Christ simply leave the Church to the world.
In the Church, Paul writes to “mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them, In Romans 16:17, this naturally assumes a Strong Biblical Church will occasionally have a ‘godless influence’ that is IDENTIFIABLE and able to be rectified.
What we are finding interesting is that The “Perilous Times” Church period written of by Paul had its journey quite literally THROUGH the Seven Churches of Revelation.
PERCEPTION AND REALITY OF SARDISRevelation 3:1
Perception and Reality
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
We often get the impression that simply because a person is famous that there is a GOOD reason for their fame.
Though this is true on rare occasions it’s also more often associated with a FOLLOW THE CROWD mentality, the Commentator John Loeffler from his old Podcast Steel on Steel had his regular introduction as “The heard is almost always running in the wrong direction”. I would agree
Perhaps this is why we are called “Sheep” in the scriptures.
The Church of the City of Sardis HAD A NAME that it lived, BUT was DEAD.
Like each of the other letters, this Church is either a synthesis of the City or and Antithesis of the City, it is either a COPY or a CONTRAST.
In the case of Sardis the Church was a COPY and could be COMPARED with the City.
This fifth City on the POSTMAN’S journey from the Isle of Patmos, was a City Perched HIGHon a ridge, some 500meters above sea level, overlooking the Hermes Valley below it.
As the City grew so did the plateu of the City until it grew too large and the City began to develop beneath its high platou.
It is of interest that the greater the height the greater can be its fall, and the city did indeed fall greatly during an earthquake in the year of our Lord 17AD, until it died the evident death 1300 years later in the 14th century.
Yet it was an ancient City and existed for some 1500 years before Christ.
It was a City of NAMES, renowned for the great men who were associated to it;
The mythical King Midas has been associated with the King of the Lydian Empire in the 7thcentury BC, of which Sardis was its Capital,
His name was King Croesus
“Rich as Croesus” was the long held catch phrase historically associated with this King.
The City of Sardis, under this King, was the first city in the world to mint Gold and SilverCoins to a weighted standard. Thereby, Sardis was the first City ever to standardise the use of a Bi Metallic Monetary system of Gold and Silver coinage.
Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian stated
“”So far as we have any knowledge, they [the Lydians] were the first people to introduce the use of gold and silver coins, and the first who sold goods by retail”[1[1]]
The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage stated
“Croesus thus established the first known example of bimetallism, commonly defiend as a monetary system in which the state fixes the exchange rate between Gold and Silver”[2]
The Standard of Coinage was near perfect and the Lydian Empire traded with a popularity that allowed to expand greatly, until it attracted the attention of YET ANOTHER GREAT NAME.
Cyrus The Great
A Persian King who was prophesied in the Bible as one to whom God himself will hold his “right hand“, “to subdue nations before him”. God NAMED his name 150 years before he was even born;
Isaiah 45:1
1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
Isaiah goes on to write;
Isaiah 45:4
4 …I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Incredibly, on his way to “loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates;” of Babylon, Cyrus the Great loosed the loins of King Croesus and the Lydian empire fell in the middle 6th century BC.
But there was another King with a great name;
Xerxes the Great, the Persian ruler who invaded Greece for the famous Battle of Thermopylae, according to Herodotus departed from the City of Sardis with an army, one million men strong together with his elite force of 10,000 Persian Immortals.[2[3]]
Thales the First historical Philosopher, who came to Sardis and built its entire sewage system as well likely involved in the first ever Geothermal Heating system in history for that very City. His death also marks the downfall of the City[1]
Legendary Statesman and Legislator named Solon, who gave to Athens the Code of laws was also associated with the City of Sardis, being advisor to the King Croesus. Advice not accepted and later regretted by this same king.
Aesop, from the famous Aesop’s fables, was known as Aesop of Sardis.[3[4]] The City being one of several that contended for the distinction of being the Birthplace of this famous Poet. [4[5]]
But having a name that it lived did not change the fact that it was dead.
The greatness of the Cities past did not ensure its future. The Greatness of the names of Great men also did not determine its longevity.
The City was finally wiped off the map by a GODLESS Islamic invader Timur Tamerlanewho overran and destroyed all that was left of the City in 14th Century AD.
Note then:
· The City had a name that it lived and it was indeed great.
· It was first conquered by a Great King who had the hand of God upon him specifically to “Subdue nations before him”
· It was finally overrun by the Godless.
The Reformation Churches, Coming OUT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM before it,indeed had a name that they lived,
They conquered the prevailing Church before it through the WORDS of Christ, that GREAT KING who had the hand of God upon him whose words are quick and powerful and sharper than eany two edged sword.
And we finally see were overrun by the Godless.
On the 31st of October 1517, the doors of the Roman Catholic Wittenberg Castle Church experienced the pounding of a nail that stamped the renowned 95 Thesis of a man who would HAVE A NAME, the first name that was truly associated with the Sardis Church type, his name is Martin Luther.
It is his name that is the name behind the German Lutheran Church to this day. Though it could be argued that he was not the FIRST Protestant reformer, he is certainly one of the most famous names of all.
The NAMES of famous men abounded under the banner of the Protestant Reformation from around this time;
John Calvin in Geneva, Zwingli from Switzerland, John Huss from the University of Prague, Desideris Erasmus famed for the collating of the Greek New Testament that underlies the Authorised Version of the Bible, John Wycliff of England, Savonarola in Italy.
These men stood against the barbaric pagan practices of the Roman Catholic Church and only because they determined to trust the Bible before the Pope.
These had a name and the history of this Church type was great when it began. But it is dead as it stands, being now largely overrun with godless men.
There are many Christians today that are the same as this. They began and had a name among others in their lives, family members regarded them, friends acknowledged them, they had a reputation of life, but have become dead in their faith, threatened to be overrun by the world.
Jesus spoke of the Pharisees in like manner saying;
outwardly they appear righteous unto men, but within they are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.Jesus speaking the same of the Pharisees of his day (Matt 23:28)
The perception we have of those with a name does not always align with reality. So to it is with the Reformation Churches and we shall see more of this as we go on.
[1] http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/thermal-heating-used-in-ancient-city-of-sardis-134170
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesop
[4] http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/aesop/aes001.htm
PROVE OR PERISH A Warning for SardisRevelation 3:2
Prove or Perish
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
The City of Sardis lies to the South of Thyatira, about three days journey for the people in those times, according to Google maps it would take us 49 min by car to travel the 61km (Akhisar).
The practices of the Church of Sardis were not dissimilar to all the Cities of the region that we have already considered. Paganism was the rule of the day and the worship of the Emperor was the form of worship acceptable.
The City, being set on high, was revered and its Acropolis was one of renown.
Alexander the Great rebuilt the Temple of Artemis in the City and not long after, many Jews also populated it and built their Synagogues.
The Coins it minted has Subscribed “Sardis the First Metropolis of Asia, and of Lydia, and of Hellenism,” as in Fig. 9, p. 139[1]
But nothing really differed as far as the general religious population was concerned. The City itself linked in alliance and affinity with that other Great pagan City where we found one of the Seven wonders of the world, Ephesus. Its coins demonstrated the link of its gods and its politics.
After the City was brought to its knees by the Great Earthquake of 17Ad Emporer Tiberious graciously lifted its taxing of the City for Five Years and gave a massive donationthat the City might be rebuilt.
The greatness of the City however died, and it would only have apparent life until eventually destroyed by the Muslim invaders 1300 years later.
Its a matter of interest that Stars are said to die in the distant galaxy that may be hundreds or even thousands of light years away, but we still see their light as it travels to us, even though the star itself has long been dead.
So it was with Sardis.
Today, a small town called Sart with a population of less than 5,000 people is found very near the ancient site of Sardis.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die
Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia;
The PRINCIPLE DOCTRINE of the Protestant Reformation was the threefold CREED
Scripture Alone, By Faith Alone, Through Grace Alone. It was the standing creed that completely separated it from the Roman Catholic system that long ago divorced itself from suffering for Christ through the Gospel, to supplementing its lust in the world.
Its system of indulgences to enrich itself curtailed by Martin Luthers 95 Thesis nailed to its Castle Church on that Halloween Day, and replaced by the eternal creed of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gracia, Scripture alone, Faith alone, Grace alone.
strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die
The Bible, freed from the imprisonment of Latin and finally unlocked into the language of the people of the world, in German, in Spanish and English, brought the imesurable truths of God into the hearts of many.
But tragically, as this remained the form for some 300 years, godless men, helped by the counter reformation of the Roman Cathoic Church through the Jesuit Order, began to corrupt the vain schools (traps) created by the protestants to train men CONTRARY TO THE SCRIPTURE ITSELF, produced theologians who again began to create doubt in the word of God and SOLA SCRIPTURA began to be put in question.
Revisions of the Bible began to be considered for the SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF removing the so called Paper Pope of the protestants;
“This translation [American Unitarian Association] is a decided help in the great battle against Bibliolatry and the doctrine of verbal and plenary inspiration. Every new version, even if it be not so good as this, aids in overthrowing the power of the ‘Paper-Pope’ which has ruled Protestantism as with a rod of iron [i.e. the King James Bible!]…” (Sidney H. Morse, Joseph B. Marvin, The Radical, Vol. 5, 1869. P442)
Consider this quotation by Samuel Davidson, an acclaimed Biblical Scholar, in 1873
“Revisions at moderate intervals of fifty years, will keep alive the idea of man’s limited acquaintance with the original Scriptures in all the fullness of their meaning, and prevent superstitious attachment to the letter. Whatever checks bibliolatry is good and profitable.” (Samuel Davidson, On a Fresh Revision of the English Old Testament, 1873)
In objection to this effort to remove the absolute authority of SOLA SCRIPTURA and to “STRENGTHEN THAT WHICH REMAINS THAT IS READY TO DIE;
The Banner of the Church journal in 1832 made clear where it would go;
1832: “If alterations of the received version once commence, where will they end?…The reception of the ‘authorized version of the Bible,’ by the whole Christian community wherever the English language is spoken, is a blessing the value of which cannot be estimated, and the loss of which would be one of the heaviest curses which could befall the Church of Christ…If one substitution may be made, another may be; and the Bible, by this impious transmutation, become, after a few successive changes, the book of man, and not the Book of God…!” (Banner of the Church, Stimpson & Clapp, 1832)
Today we have over 400 versions in the English language alone, and that “which remains…is ready to die“.
Beloved it now stands to reason, if Sola Scripture is virtually dead, where stands FAITH ALONE Through GRACE ALONE?
Today, with so much doubt about the absolute assurance of our salvation and the rise of the teaching that salvation is NOT secure in Christ, but one can somehow lose that which they did nothing to gain BUT believe BY FAITH ALONE through GRACE ALONE, all indeed seems ready to die.
APPLICATION
Beloved, the application I desire to bring out from this verse and this example is a simple one, if you do not believe the Bible is the word of God and reading it daitly, whatever remains of your own faith may indeed be ready to die.
It will be a matter of time when you will “Not endure sound doctrine” and you will be “turned unto fables”
The issue surrounding Bible versions is an issue that I could speak on for many many hours at a time, if you do not own a King James Version of the Bible, you DO NOT HAVE THE BIBLE. If you have a modern version of the Bible, you have been deceived to accept that which was created to undermine “the things which remain” of your faith.
The Reformation Church was given a simple Charge, PROVE YOUR FAITH, OR PERISH.
RECOGNITION AND REPENTANCERevelation 3:3
Recognition To Repentance
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
More to the historical nature of the physical Church in Sardis respecting this text particularly we know only what is now seen in this letter.
Here they are told to bring back to mind, to recollect, to remember that which was not only known from earlier times but HOW they received it.
They had learned of the sweetness of Christ by the ear, they had heard the gospel as it was delivered them, they had seen the word of God come alive in their hearts and they were transformed by the power of that living word.
They came to understand the simplicity of the scriptures;
Romans 10:9
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
There was no admixture, nothing more that was needed to be done.
“…Believe on the Lord jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” was the answer given to the question, HOW? From the mouth of the Philipian Jailor in Acts 16:31.
No “eight steps to salvation” invented by the devices of men.
No hail Mary’s for forgiveness of temporal sin.
No, you need to keep believing until you finally, hopefully, maybe get to heaven. Jesus is the life buoy and if you can hold on long enough you wont sink under the waves of life.
No beloved, HOW have we received? By the Word of God we received and believed.
The Reformation Churches made a mess of Salvation buy Faith alone through Grace alone, understood by the SCRIPTURE alone. They began to INTELECTUALISE the simplicity of the Gospel;
How can a TOTALLY depraved person generate enough faith to be saved?
Can a person resist being UNCONDITIONALLY elected?
Did Jesus pay for the sins of the whole world or is the atonement LIMITED?
Can I resist a grace that is IRRESISTIBLE?
What happens if I cant PERSEVERE in the faith???
This is the nonsense that has destroyed the simplicity of the Gospel. I praise God when I find that he “…hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29)
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast,
The GOSPEL was NEVER given to the inteletual elietes that have so convoluted the simplicity of the Gospel to make “the word of God of none effect” God chose the foolish things to confound the wise”
These wise are those whom Jesus spoke of, they “strain at a gnat” but are ready to “swallow a camel”.
The pure simplicity of the gospel they cannot swallow, but a complicated Labyrinth of contradictory semantics that could not save a scuba diver from a two foot puddle they are willing to choke down!
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Beloved, we are to remember that “the theif cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (Jn 10:10).
When Jesus comes as a “Theif in the night” (1 Thess 5:2) This has NOTHING to do with the rapture of the Church. The similitude is NOT one of Benevolence, “AS A THIEF” does not represent a GOOD thing for the one to whom the THIEF comes, but an evil. This is what the church of Sardis is subjecting themselves to.
The passage in 1 Thessalonians 5 is NOT for the Church for good, but as it is here in Revelation, against those who have NOT WATCHED for evil. DO NOT GET CONFUSED!
Peter made the reference clear when he associated the phrase with the “Day of the Lord“, in other words, the coming judgment of God that is also referenced here, saying; “But the day of the Lord will come as a “theif in the night“; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat…” (2 Pet 3:10)
Don’t complicate the Gospel
Recognise HOW you have received and heard and REPENT if you have turned from the way you had received it.
REMNANTS FOR REWARDRevelation 3:4-6
Remnants For Reward
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Not all in these Churches have names that they live but are dead, there are a few that had not, and still have not, defiled their garments. They still remember how they had received the truth of the Gospel and are indeed worthy of the salvation which has washed them clean.
These are the ‘overcomers” and walk in white, clothed in white, with a name found in his “book of life”.
Is your name their?
Nothing else really matters at the end of the day does it?
Do you have eternal life NOW?
DO YOU WANT ETERNAL LIFE NOW?
A: ADMIT YOU ARE A SINNER in need of THE SAVIOUR
B: Believe that Jesus Christ came and DIED FOR YOUR SINS. ALL your sins, not some, ALL.
He offers you life my friend, he calls out to YOU saying Isaiah 1:18
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Will you believe Jesus died for your sins? Will you trust that he paid the full penalty on YOUR behalf? If so;
C: Will you CALL upon his name to save you?
It truly is as simple as ABC
Admit yourself a sinner
Believe Jesus Christ died for you
Call on his name and confirm to yourself that you have believed to the saving of your soul.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Amen.
[1] [1] Metcalf, William E. (2016). The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage. Oxford University Press. pp. 49–50.
[2]https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Greek_and_Roman_C/trkUDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA49&printsec=frontcover
[3] [1] Metcalf, William E. (2016). The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage. Oxford University Press. pp. 49–50.
[4] http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/thermal-heating-used-in-ancient-city-of-sardis-134170
[5] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I
The post SARDIS and The Seven Churches appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
THE “PERILOUS TIMES” Series continues with THYATIRA. How did the Church get to where it is today?Thyatira The Corrupt Church
IntroductionRevelation 2:18–29
The Works and Charity
The Sin and Seduction
The Reckoning and Retribution
The Promise and The Prize
Video: James O Keefe “price must be your life”
A theme is introduced to us by James Okeefe, the founder of Project Veritas in the USA. It is a theme of corruption that comes about through an enemy searching for and finding a vulnerability in you that he can exploit.
We have just left the Compromising Church of Pergamos and are now entering into the Corrupt Church of Thyatira.
From a Church that simply wanted to MAINTAIN its freedoms and comforts, to one that wanted to PROSPER but retain the name of Christ.
Isaiah wrote of such people;
Isaiah 4:1
1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.**
This is THYATIRA.
• The Church of Ephesus: the Legalistic Church that was ‘Strong on Doctrine’ but weak on Love.
The Church of Smyrna: The Suffering Church, WHOSE PRICE WAS ITS LIFE. The Church of Pergamos sought Comfort Through CompromiseIn Thyatira, we see a Church that does not compromise to RETAIN LIFE, but corrupt itself to ENRICH LIFE. Now the Church has shifted from SUFFERING for Christ (Smyrna) to SERENITY apart from Christ. From AFFLICTION to ADVANTAGE. What we are seeing is the historical change of the Church through history to explain how it is that we have come to the PERILOUS TIMES written of by Paul for the Church of the last days. in
2 Timothy 3:1–9
Mr Okeefe makes the point we ought to consider as the last days unfold before us.
Do you have a price in which you are willing to compromise or corrupt what you claim to believe?
The Works And CharityThe Works and Charity
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
The receiver of the letter from the sender, the angel of the church of Thyatira from The Son of God.
An identifier of the sender as The Son of God is used only here in the entirety of the book of Revelation and one that is also an identifier of the medieval Church, that we would identify as The Roman Catholic Church.
(Please understand, this series is not about bagging out any group of Churches, this is about the history of how the Bible presents how we got to today. And with all of them, we are but scratching the surface.)
Eyes of justice, not blind and not impartial, but “like unto a flame of fire“, absolute and holding to account all sin and corruption and doing so with a vision that none can escape or hide from.
Not the dens of the earth, nor the depths of the seas will escape the gaze of he “which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead” (Acts 10:42) the one able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12).
He will not judge as MAN judges.
Christ will not present ONE SIDE of a story and judge, as so many judge today, Jesus knows the hearts of all people, he knows the true perspective of all decisions and events, motives and intentions.
Jesus sees the whole picture
Immediately we get a fearful impression of what is coming!!
1 Corinthians 3:13
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
Even before the praise, before the rebuke, we seem warned by the author of the letter by the description of his discerning vision, to “try every mans work of what sort it is“, and also of his swiftness to judge the work, his feet are like fine brass.
To even begin to comprehend how naturally frightening this consideration is, one only need consider the extent with which fallen man will go to relieve himself of any consideration of RISK associated with such a trial.
Fallen man quite literally turns into an absolute fool in his attempt to convince the world that such a judgement will not occur.
“There is no judge” he says.
“There is no afterlife” he says.
“No God”, “No Hell”, “No eternal torment aligned with the sin of Satan”.
“The Universe has precisely the properties we should expect …nothing but blind pitiless indifference” Says Richard Dawkins.
Peter Hitchens (Brother of the late Christopher Hitchens)
It seems the more people they can convince against ultimate accountability, the more they can FEEL comfortable that they will never be subject to the INFURIATED STARE of the one who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire.
But while some cover themselves in mindless disbelief, there are also those who CLOAK THEMSELVES IN RELIGIOUS FIG LEAVES.
These are not BORN Again, they have not “believed to the saving of the soul“, they show up to Church every Sunday and have done so “religiously” for years, even decades, and they think themselves free from that fiery gaze, and out of the way of the swift “feet …like fine brass“.
They trust they have made their plans well;
just like the lost man who believes the more he convinces others he will not be subject to judgment, these “RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS” believe their safety is found in NUMBERS.
The goats hide among the sheep, the tares among the wheat, not fearing the fire that will try their work of what sort it is. (1 Cor 3:13). Or fear that they will be “gathered in bundles to burn them” (Matt 13:30). “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3:18)
Religious they may be, but righteous they are not.
As long as they carry a book with a leather cover that calls itself a Bible, they commend themselves. Happy to find the shortfall in others, but none in themselves.
Paul speaks of them in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians;
2 Corinthians 10:12
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.**
How would the Church have felt the moment they read the description of the author of this letter?
Perhaps they were a little more comforted as they read on…
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Works they seem to have done a plenty.
Charity, being identified as an exclusive form of love between brethren, they seemed to have well shared.
Service to those that are without, faith to him that is above.
All seems good so far, but it is works that is the last, and that “to be more than the first“.
HISTORY OF THYATIRA.
Thyatira, the fourth City as the postman journeyed from Patmos.
It was a garrison City, a military city. that no longer exists but is in ruins today.
Historian George Barton, in his book “Archeology and the Bible” did not think we could learn anything respecting the discovery of the remains of Thyatira that would help us today, he simply wrote:
““Nothing has been discovered at Thyatira that throws light on the message to its church in Rev. 2:18–29.”[1][1]
But I disagree, I believe more than enough has been discovered to give to us an incredible insight into the Church of revelation through its Archeological discoveries.
Thyatira was not a coastal city, no harbour, no hill to house its acropolis and not overly significant.
It was not a Royal City, nor a Ruling City and had no bearing on the politics of the day.
There is no indication it competed for the Religious honours that the Cities of Pergamos, Smyrna and Ephesus competed for, the City seemed to be satisfied that the gods of the realm would be its gods and made no effort to exalt one above another.
BUT it did house a huge contingent of Macedonian Troops and expanded more fully under the reign of Seleucid 1st, the head of the Seleucid Kingdom in the east.
As such, it did become a part of a major trade route and, and this is a key element, with so many skilled men, Thyatira contained the largest number of Trade Guilds in Asia.
A Trade Guild is an individual organisation created for the protection of and monopolising of individual trades within a City. Similar to Unions or Trade Organisations today, such as Builders Unions, Plumbers, Electrical etc, or trade control organisations such as the HIA and Master Builders in Australia.
William Ramsay notes;
It is therefore not surprising that more trade-guilds are known in Thyatira than in any other Asian city. The inscriptions, though not specially numerous, mention the following: wool-workers, linen-workers, makers of outer garments, dyers, leather-workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave- dealers and bronze-smiths.[1][2]
We recall the woman named “Lydia” who was a “Seller of purple” from the City of Thyatira in Acts 16:14.
The god Apollo Tyrimnaeus was patron god of the guilds. He is seen as a warrior riding a horse with a double edged battle axe over his shoulder in the coins of the City.
A man was not able to partake in trade in the City, nor derive an income for his work unless he was a part of this trade Guild. There naturally would always be exceptions, but this was the general rule.
Many years ago at the age of 17 years, I worked in a factory in Sunshine. Myself and a friend worked there together. On a certain day and Union official came in to the factory to see the boss and immediately the foreman had my friend and I hide in the loft of the factory until the union official left the premises.
To this day, you are not permitted to work on any commercial building site in melbourne unless you are a part of a trade Union.
In ancient days Trade Guilds were very similar, but in reality they were a Protection racketthat ONLY benefited the early members.
You could not earn a living unless you joined the Guild.
Quoting Professor William Barclay, David Guzik in his Commentary on Revelation added;
“No merchant or trader could hope to prosper or make money unless he was a member of his trade guild.”[1][3]
Therefore Christians joined these guilds in large numbers and as a result, transformed the nature of the guilds to become benevolent associations that would “do good works” within the civilisation.
As the City grew, the Church grew also and more Guilds became belevolent organisations as people enjoyed the satisfaction that came with the good works attended to.
“Rotary International is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world.[1][4]”
46,000 member clubs around the world with 1.4 million members, are able to to “good works” through this type of a “trade Guild”.
Sadly however, the trade guilds of Thyatira resembled ‘Free Masonry‘ more than it did “Rotary”.
There was a spiritual aspect to this that the Christians not only compromised with, but corrupted themselves.
The Trade unions are one thing when it is only a membership fee that is required, but it becomes something else when the worship of pagan gods is added to that requirement.
The “good works” attended to, seemed to permit them to justify idolatry and had the additional benefit of prospering them at the same time.
The Gospel took a back seat, and good works prospered.
They fed the belly, but not the soul.
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
The Sin and SeductionThe Sin and Seduction
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Each guild had with it a Patron God to whom each member was to do honour. Some through rituals, some through feasts, some through offerings and some through a mixture of all these.
The Church of Thyatira fell perfectly into idolatry.
Remember that in Pergamos they mixed truth with error, they began the compromise. They hid leaven in their feasts.
In Thyatira it became a normal state of being, the leaven, leavened the whole lump, so much so that idolatry was readily mixed and excused.
20…because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Colin Hemer notes something of value here, he says;
The choice of the name ‘Jezebel’ in 2:20 is likely to be pointedly apt, as was that of ‘Balaam’ (In the church of Pergamos).
The syncretism exemplified in the city is in point here, but the particular problem seems to have been the guild-feasts, as the occasions when the Christian may have been particularly pressed by the need to conform to his environment.[1][5]
William Barclay again notes;
all the guilds had a common meal as a central part of their practice which might well be held in a heathen temple and would largely consist of meat offered to idols.[2][6]
Jezebel in the Old Testament had 850 Prophets under her charge. 400 of them ate at her table. How on Earth was she able to put all these men (850) under her spell?
(1 Kings 18:19). In the Old Testament she was a prophet of the Prophets.
Her end was also prophesied. This woman of Sin, after painting her face and greeting Jehu, was thrown out her window where the Dogs left nothing of her except her hands, her feet and her painted, sinful head. (2 Kings 9:30-37)
SIDE NOTE: We have seen in Pergamos the Greek God Asclepius with his Serpent entwined Rod resembling Moses and the serpent raised on a pole in the wilderness.
It’s curious to me that the Medusa of Greek Mythology, is the painted head of a woman with small serpents as the Biblical representation of SIN for hair!
She had the ability to put men into a trance as soon as they looked at her.
Interesting!!!
Idolatry was the order for each and every guild. You needed to obey each of the rites of the guild in order to have life.
Tertullian, one of the strong Christian fathers, was the Bishop of Carthage and he heard that “A painter might find work in pagan temples or a sculptor might be hired to make a statue of a pagan god. They would justify this by saying, “This is my living, and I must live.” Tertullian replied, Vivere ergo habes? “Must you live?”**[1][7]
And lived they did, in fact, they prospered greatly in this City, but not for Christ.
All the gods of the realm were attended to in worship or honour, even fainedly.
We had seen last week respecting Pargamos and Zeus Soter (Saviour) in light of Christ.
Athena in light of the Victory in Christ during their ANUAL WORSHIP, Thyatira went a step further, by bringing these gods into its daily ritual through employment in these guilds.
The gods were ABSORBED
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
It is at this point that we need to draw the association to a Church type that seems most clearly represented by the Church of Thyatira.
The Ambulance System
Hospital System
Orphages. Soup kitchens, charity and missions were the greatest works of the Roman Catholic Church that was seen as a great positive for the populations in ONE sense only.
The willingness to assume the gods of the people into the faith became the secondary effort that would entice many into their fold.
HISTORY
The letter to the Church of Thyatira is the longest of all the letters and the Lord gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
The period represents the period of the Roman Catholic Church, understood to be from 606 AD to as late as 1520 AD which is the common believed beginning of the Reformation and the Protestant Church.
During this period, and after Theodosius made Christianity the Official Religion of the empire of Rome in 380AD, the Holy Roman Empire took over from where the Roman Empire fell away.
Bishops began to obtain great favour from the time of Constantine, but rose in even greater favour when Theodosius made Nicene Christianity the religion of the realm.
The Church herby “FORNICATING” with the rulers of the world for favour and material prosperity.
There have been 266 Popes according to the “Pontifical Yearbook”, supposedly beginning with Peter, through to the current Jesuit Pope, Francis.
One of the Titles assumed by these men is Pontifex Maximus, it is a name originally given to the high priest of paganism in Rome from 242BC, until assumed by Emperor Gauss Julius Caesar Augustus 27BC.
It represents BOTH religious and STATE authority. It is the present Day Title of Pope Francis.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
The desire for an earthy Kingdom also began to be evident from 3rd and 4th century among Roman Catholic Christians. Origen being the first to allegorise the scriptures, and then
Augustine of Hippo reinterpreted the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, not as an event yet future in history, but a present spiritual state in which the world will become more and more Christian until the entire globe is Christianised.
Amilenielism took hold of hearts and more and more people began to search for EARTHLY PROSPERITY as a result.
Is that YOU?
Amilenialsm as died a slow death as reality sinks in. Bible Colleges around the world have all but killed Christianity in its true sense. Corruption has krept into the schools until it crept into the hearts.
IS THAT YOU?
Have you exchanged the eternal for the temporal?
Is your desire to prosper temporarily here on earth and happy to be poor in heaven?
Perhaps you associate yourself better with Thyatira than any of the other Churches we have looked at to date?
The Reckoning and RetributionThe Reckoning and Retribution
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Jesus had given to his disciples what we came to call The Great Commission.
It is to preach the Gospel and to make disciples of men.
Matthew 28:18–20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15–16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
These scriptures form the basis of The Great Commission. This is the work that Jesus had called us all to attend to if we are born again.
This is why Jesus came and died for. His concern was for the ETERNAL DAMNATION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.
He came “To seek and to save that which is lost” (Lk 19:10)
And this was NOT what the Church of Thyatira ever had as their focus. This was made EVIDENT BY THEIR WORKS.
The true Gospel COULD NOT BE MADE MANIFEST among the potpourri of other gods.
There was no possible way a man can claim that Jesus is “the way the truth and the life and NO MAN cometh to the faith BUT BY HIM” if other gods were an option.
There was equally NO WAY possible for men to have a desire to preach the truth of Christ AND suffer for his sake, if their PRIORITY was PROSPERITY this side of ETERNITY!!
Which are YOU???
and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
I fear beloved that there are going to be multitudes of people who call themselves Christ Ones (Christians) who will be ashamed in that day;
if you continue to live your life as you are, WILL YOU BE ONE OF THEM?
There will be a RECKONING “ACCORDING TO YOUR WORKS“
The Promise and The PrizeThe Promise and The Prize24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Note everyone that was a part of that Church held that same doctrine.
As in all Churches, there were also those who faithfully served the Lord and did so in spite of the opposition by those around them. Some of that opposition would no doubt have been from those whose mouth testified to the same persuasion, but whose lives testified to FORNICATING WITH THE WORLD.
They are here encouraged to ‘Hold fast” “that which they have”.
A promise given to the overcomer and to those also whom the Lord has called to “repent” in verse 22.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
From verse 22 to now we get the strong impression that this TYPE of Church will remain until the end.
The mention of “Great Tribulation” does indicate in its context that same time that is yet future, and now we have a promise that links itself in with the governing of Christ in the Millenium.
Revelation 19:15
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
28 And I will give him the morning star.29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
“The Morning Star” a title of none other than Jesus Christ our Lord.
Revelation 22:16
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
CLOSE
Perhaps its not coincidental that Pergamos is on the way to Thyatira, just as COMPROMISE is on the way to CORRUPTION.
How you FINISH this race is absolutely more important than how you begun.
Regret that leads to forgivingness leads to resolution in the heart to courageously stand firm next time.
Regret that leads to apathy, leads to corruption in the heart that will cowardly fold next time.
Do you know what it would take for you to compromise or corrupt your faith in Jesus?
To those in Smyrna, it was their life.
To those in Pergamon, it was their comfort of life.
To those in Thyatira, it was their livelihood.
What is your price? Think of it now.
Have you considered what your vulnerability is?
The three friends of Daniel considered it,
Daniel 3:16–18
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
[1] [1] George A. Barton, Archaeology and the Bible. (Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, 1925).
[2] [1] Sir William Ramsey, Letters To The Seven Churches,.
[3] [1] David Guzik, Revelation, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible, (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Re 2:20–21.
[4] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_International
[5] [1] Colin J. Hemer, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting, (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Livonia, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Dove Booksellers, 2001), 119–120.
[6] [2] William Barclay, Ed., The Revelation of John, The Daily Study Bible Series, (Philadelphia: The Westminster John Knox Press, 1976), 1:107.
[7] [1] David Guzik, Revelation, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible, (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Re 2:20–21.
The post The Seven Churches: THYATIRA appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Pergamos
IntroductionRevelation 2:12–17
The Sword
The Citadel
The Compromise
The Compromisers
The Consequence And Call
The Reward
“Per-Gamos” is a compound word that had been turned into the name of a City and here in Revelation, identifies a Church.
“Per-Gamos”, the Greek word “Per” on its own means “wholly” or “Fully”, but as a prefix to a word as we see here, it simply means “Through (or “For”)”
Gamos simply means “Marriage”, therefore if you were to take its etymological origin, the Church identified by this name means “Through Marriage”. AND It is that definition that seems to well describe the nature of this Church in history.
It is a picture of a Church that has joined itself in affinity with the world.
It is a Church that has compromised itself.
It no longer stands on the absolute truth of the WORD of God. TRUTH found in the WORDS of Christ were to have the FULL ALLEGIANCE of its subjects, BUT this Church has compromised ITS stand.
And it has done this all among the back drop of a City that HAS NOT COMPROMISED ITS OWN STAND.
Pergamos, the City, was absolutely faithful, both to the gods that it worshiped and to the Empire that governed it.
But the Church within it, COMPROMISED.
This is a fascinating consideration in the light of Christianity today and its likeness to this type of Church.
Christians are so willing to compromise themselves, to be “just a little like the world“, in a world that has NO INTEREST in being a “Little like Christ”.
We see the Christian “Tolerant” of certain evil, but we NEVER see those who practice certain evil, “Tolerant” of Christians! No, unlike the compromising Christian, secularists and pagans are “faithful to the gods they worship”, they hold fast to sin, while Compromising Christians are happy to let a little Sin in!
The WORD that identifies their error was then, as it often its today, set aside for their temporal desires;
1 John 2:15–17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
– So we see that the Church of Pergamos, was an ACTUAL CHURCH OF HISTORY, the third church identified in the letter, the third Church in Geographical location for the delivery of the third letter.
– But it is also the THIRD Church PERIOD OF HISTORY. A representation of a period of COMPROMISEthat seems to have existed for some three hundred years, between Emperor Constantine in 312 AD, through to the beginning of 606 AD When Pope Boniface III proclaimed himself as “Universal Bishop”, denying any legitimacy to the Bishop of Constantinople.
This may be where I would see the effectual beginning of the rift between East and West.. (THE FORMAL EAST/WEST SCHISM, Known as “The Great Schism“, did not occur till 1054 AD, some 450 years later)
– So a Church of History, a Church Period of History, and yet ALSO a LOCAL CHURCH TYPE, that has existed throughout church history.
There have always been compromising LOCAL Churches throughout the existence of the Church. Churches that would shake hands with the world so they can get a little benefit; a tax break, a compromise to permit it to exist and grow with little trouble.
– BUT this is also due to the FOURTH truth we see with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, there have always been compromising Christians in these local Churches IN HISTORY.
A TYPE of Christian is identified by the character of the church of Pergamos.
The “Ananias and Sapphira” (Acts 5:1-11) of the first Church have always frequented the churches of history. The willingness to PUT on a Show that they are wholly dedicated to the Church, yet retain a little of WORLDY PROFIT for themselves.
Compromising Christians frequently give the impression they are strong Christians, while they shake hands often with the devil.
The SwordRevelation 2:12–17
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
The one that addresses this local Church identifies himself as he which hath the sharp sword with two edges.
There is an interesting link between the PEN and the SWORD that I want to bring out in this point.
Nations ruled by the sword, it was a picture of their strength AND authority.
The value of such an instrument was inestimable in those early years before GUN POWDER created an UNFAIR advantage.
The Romans dispossessed nations with its short two-edged sword.
It was this Short Two Edged Sword that became the symbol of AUTHORITY to the known world, it best effect was naturally in close combat. Those who fought from a distance would find themselves completely compromised in their inability to use their longswords in close quarters.
The Romans dominated the scattered Greeks with such an instrument and came to rule the world, not only politically but religiously.
The one who claims to be the author of this letter is he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
It is Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, it is he that will rule the world BOTH POLITICALLY AND RELIGIOUSLY with absolute AUTHORITY
and so he addresses this Church as as the one which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
This “Sharp two edged sword” therefore identifies to this compromising Church that it is not the EMPEROR who has absolute authority, but the one whom they have compromised against.
BUT WHAT ELSE does this instrument refer to?
In calling for the repentance of the Pergamos Church in verse 16, he is telling them also the consequence;
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.**
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul identifies the word of God with a sword saying;
Ephesians 6:17
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:**
The author of Hebrews wrote;
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Which is why reading the word of God enables you to have your “senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb 5:14)
The Psalmist writes of the words of Gods mouth as “drawn swords” (Ps 55:21)
If we were ever to wonder at the Phrase “The pen is mightier than the Sword“, it seems to be that in the Person of Jesus Christ, we have absolute MIGHT and ABSOLUTE authority.
But, for the sake of a little comfort of life, this Church compromised against CHRIST for a temporary comfort in the world.
1 Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.**
As a Christian, where is YOUR heart at this day?
Are you like those of Pergamon, have you compromised your faith?
Do you do so to make life more apparently comfortable?
Where is Your TRUST?
The Citadel of the GodsRevelation 2:13
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Pergamos, also known as Pergamon, was the Chief City in the Asia Minor province at the time of this writing. It had no harbour, being some 25 km from the coast, it was not part of any major trade root, but it was CHIEF both in politics and religion to Rome in the province and it was “even where Satans Seat is” according for verse 13.
While the positive praise is given to the Church, that they have not denied the faith of Christ, and with it the identification of the martyrdom of Antipas as the exemplar, the praise is bracketed by the reference related to the dwelling of Satan.
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: *and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth*.
The entire City of Pergamon was nestled on the highest hill in the region, almost 400m above the plain.
Both the City AND its ACROPOLIS were perched on high and the City had been thrice awarded the highest Roman honour of the GUARDIANS OF, or CUSTODIANS OF THE TEMPLE, an award referred to originally as the “Neokoros” in Ancient Greece given to individuals, but given to entire Cities by the time the Romans occupied the Empire.
It was an award for honouring the gods of the empire.
An incredible series of Essays where written and collated in 1998 in a volume called Pergamon-Citadel of the Gods:[1]
Where archeological descriptions are given that relate directly to the influence of the four patron Gods of the City, Zeus, Athena, Dionysos, and Asklepios.
Each had its role and its effect.
Zeus Soter, was celebrated as the Savior, the Name Soter, is reflective of the Greek word for Savior, Soterious. In English, the study of Salvation is called “Soteriology”. So Zeus is the Savior of the people of Pergamon
Athena the Goddess of Victory, celebrated for the victory the City had over its many enemies.
These two, Zeus and Athena, are celebrated for the Religious and Political gain of the people of Pergamos.
Dionysos, and Asklepios were celebrated in the daily life of the nation.
Dionysus was the ancient Greek god of wine, winemaking, grape cultivation, fertility, ritual madness, theater, and religious ecstasy. His Roman name was Bacchus or Liber, where the word “liberty” has its origin.[1][2]
He was responsible for some of the greatest perverse celebrations in history. Some of which involved extreme violence upon the participants. Literally sending people mad in revelry.
Asklepios was the Greek god of healing. He was believed to be the son of Apollo and to have learned medicine from Chiron the centaur.
He is usually portrayed with a beard, holding a pole with a snake entwined round it, called the rod of Asklepios.[2][3]
You may have seen his rod represented every time you go to a Doctors clinic today, or call an ambulance, who head into a hospital.
But what was the true Origin of this symbol?
Numbers 21:8–9
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.**
The origin for the Bearded Man, together with being associated with A Serpent wrapped around a pole, directly involved in the healing of the people is impossible to ignore.
The myth of the Greeks clearly had its origin in the actual history of Israel.
This was clearly where the Pergamos Christians dwelt, literally even where Satan’s seat is:
13 … and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
The only letter of the seven, that identifies an individual who had given his life for the name of Christ.
In the days when he did so Emperor worship was instituted in the province. There simply was no toleration for any who would not worship at the annual event, receive their certificate of proof and return to live normal lives.
But there still stood at least one man who would not compromise his faith. Antipas, the “faithful Martyr“
The Compromise of ChristiansRevelation 2:14-15
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
We will see in this 2-part point that the COMPROMISE OF CHRISTIANS, leads to COMPROMISERS AMONG CHRISTIANS.
Those who are willing to compromise the truth so they “do as thou wilt“, will inevitably cast off teachers OR BRETHREN who correct, who rebuke, who exhort with all long suffering, and gather to themselves those “Ministers of LIGHT” that Satan sends them.
We will find, the one naturally leads to the other;
Compromising Christians will always see the development of Compromisers of Christians.
The words chosen in this passage are worthy of noting.
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
“…the DOCTRINE of Balaam…”
Balaam was the compromising prophet of Numbers 23-24 who counselled the King to TEMPT ISRAEL to “COMPROMISE” their faith and potentially be accursed from God for THEIR OWN SIN.
Balaam desired “the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Pet 2:15) and, though he would not curse the Children of Israel directly, but spoke all that God had commanded, yet, he “Compromised” through his subtlety for the lust of his own flesh.
This now we see being influenced in the Church of Pergamos.
Let’s consider the event so we understand what is being spoken about here.
Turn with me to Numbers 25:1-3
Numbers 23-24 is the full account of Balak desireing Balaam to curse the people, But Balaam blessed the people three times as God commanded him.
But, something changed.
1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
What occurred to cause the people of God to terribly violate the law of God?
Somehow a stumbling block was placed against the children of Israel and twenty-four thousand people perished by the hand of God for this great trespass.
Not only did they commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab and those of Midian, but they also sacrificed to the gods of the people of the land and even bowed themselves down to the idols of the nation they were in.
Turn forward now to Chapter 31
Israel now warred against the Midianites and against the kings and they caught up with and killed Balaam, and in verse 15-16 we see the detail of the transgression and how it came to pass;
Num 31:15-16
15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Balaam DID NOT CURSE ISRAEL, but, because he sought the “wages of unrighteousness” from the King, he counselled the King in a way that would cause them to fall of their own accord.
In other words, Just like the “good words and fair speeches” of Satans Last days ministers of light, Balaam “deceive the hearts of the simple“.
AND, just like Balaam, this work of Satans ministers is done behind the scenes, in the dark, in secret, their true hearts not even revealed to those whom they deceive.
In today’s Churches, people are carried away for the comfort of justifying their own desires, in Pergamos the advantage was life itself.
Sir William Ramsey in his Book, Letters to the Seven Churches writes of Pergamos;
…the Imperial government had ranged itself definitely in opposition to the Church of Christ. …. Their loyalty was now tested by the one criterion recognized alike by public opinion and by government policy, viz., their willingness to perform the ritual of the State religion, and make offering to the Imperial God, the Divine Emperor. Those who refused to comply with this requirement were forthwith condemned to death as traitors and enemies of the State**.[1[4]]
With Antipas as the ONLY example of faithfulness in this City, it is clear that compromising Christians on the whole are not difficult to persuade to hold to this life as more valuable than the eternal, and so verse 15 begins its part;
The CompromisersRevelation 2:15
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
In Short it was believed to be the formalizing of what is known as Antinomianism, that is, living without Law.
This was something that BEGAN TO BE TAUGHT, but ONLY because Christians had already compromised their faith to allow COMPROMISORS OF CHRISTIANS to come in!
Sir William Ramsay makes a great point with regard to the Nicolaitans;
“… it is highly probable that the Nicolaitans either already had, or soon would have, reached the conclusion that they might justifiably comply with the current test of loyalty, and burn a little incense in honor of the Emperor.
The Church was not disloyal; even its most fanatical defenders claimed to be loyal; then why should its members make any difficulty about proving their loyalty by burning a few grains of incense? A little incense was nothing.**
An excellent and convincing argument can readily be worked out;
and then the — whole ritual of the State religion would have followed as a matter of course; Christ and Augustus would have been enthroned side by side as they were in the compromise attempted by the Emperor Alexander Severus more than a century later; and everything that was vital in Christianity would be lost.”
In the end it would not have taken much convincing to mentally burn incense to Zeus the Savior, in place of Christ the Saviour, nor Athena the Goddess of Victory in place of the Victory over sin through Christ.
A little mental gymnastics and we could all justify burning “a few grains of incense” to stay alive. We are not “Really worshipping” the gods after all.
Just like we are not “really worshiping” a trimmed pagan tree we prop and deck out on Nimrods birthday every 25th of December; or coloured eggs we collect at ‘Ishtar’ on the Spring Equinox in blind honour to the goddess of fertility.
We just need to “Christianise it” mentally…God knows our heart, our actions don’t really matter does it?
The doctrine of the Nicolaitans seems one of justification of compromise, and it is a doctrine Jesus hates.
It is for you beloved to determine to what extent you adhere to such a doctrine.
But understand beloved that if we will not hold fast in these last days, days where Jesus states are filled with deception, IF WE are willing to compromise our faith, we will gather to ourselves COMPROMISERS OF THE FAITH.
We shall gather men, who “…serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hears of the simple” (Rom 16:18).
2 Peter 2:1–3
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Notice the “many” that “shall follow”, why do they “Follow”?
Because the TRUTH shall be evil spoken of.
Beloved, if you are mature in your faith and if you are willing to compromise, you will find yourself quickly the target of men who will see you as easy prey.
If, as a Church, many are willing to compromise their faith, the will become a self-perpetuating downward spiral of faith. And there is always pressure to compromise.
I had a gentleman who was visibly upset with me for being unwilling to consider him for membership in this Church because he held to a different doctrine respecting the timing of the rapture.
It seemed like a “small insignificant doctrine” in his mind, but I have long known better. There is never a time when one doctrine is isolated from others. If the plainness of the reading of the scriptures concerning the rapture of the Church is denied, what else are you willing to ignore?
That man is no longer in this Church.
Go forward to Jude 11 as we see how God describes such people that YOU may identify them should they enter in again.
Jude 11–13
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Beloved here we see the link to Balaam, our personal compromising of the Word of God and the double edged sword will find such compromisers enter this Church.
They will feast with you, they will feed themselves without fear, but they are clouds without water and carried about with every wind of doctrine.
These men seek whom they may devour, they will not attempt to gain the heart of those strong in their faith, they ALWAYS seek for and steel the hearts of the Simple.
In conversing with other pastors, we have compared notes and it is always the same. They scour the Church to find those weak in their faith, others who have evidently compromised their own faith in one way or another (and there are so many ways), and they latch onto them with ‘good words and fair speeches”.
Beloved, these are “clouds … without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”
They will not spare the flock
Compromise is not limited to the congregation, the pastor can also let down his guard.
Beloved we are identified as a seperate people, holy, set apart unto good works, taken out of that darkness and ought to continue in faith.
Turn to
1 Peter 2:9–12
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
The Consequence And CallRevelation 2:16
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Jesus himself will employ the truth of the words of his mouth to single out the truth of the matter, if we will not repent.
We must all return to an uncompromised faith, one that holds the truth of Christ as certain and absolute. One that trusts the word of God as we read it.
We are to NOT GET OUR DOCTRINES FROM YOU TUBE!
If you are hungry for the truth, READ THE WORD OF GOD. Do not be so lazy as to allow an empty mind have access to false teaching. READ THE SCRIPTURES AND STAND FIRM.
The RewardRevelation 2:17
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Have you yet beleived the gospel?
The fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom, if you have not yet beleived that you are dead in your sins and desire to be saved, none of this will benefit you, though you have an ear, you will not hear what the Spirit of God is saying to you.
We are in the last of the Last Days, this is evident as we see the Perilous Times Paul wrote of IN THE CHURCH ITSELF.
THE COMING OF JESUS is imminent, what will happen to you if you are left behind? The clock of Israel paused when Jesus rose, it will begin again when he returns and God will pour out his wrath on this earth. Will you be left behind?
Death is also imminent, your death! Where will you be?
Revelation 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The names of those who are damned, are identifiable ONLY by the sins that damned them.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Those who are saved, are given a new name.
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Now, those of you who clam Christ as Lord, in what do you compromise your faith?
Will you become the target of the next wolf who enters this Church? We have already had a few beloved, and they stole the hearts of the simple.
Are you reading your Bible?
Are you believing it?
Are you praying?
{$NOTE_LABEL} https://archive.org/details/pergamoncitadelo0000unse/page/n5/mode/2up
[2] [1] https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/dionysus/
[3] [2] http://broughttolife.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/people/asklepios
[4] [1] Sir William Ramsey, Letters To The Seven Churches,.
The post The Seven Churches: PERGAMOS appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
SmyrnaRevelation 2:8–11
This letter to the church of Smyrna is the shortest of all the seven letters to the seven Churches. Like the letter to the church of Philadelphia, there is no chastisement or negative report, so we do not expect a lengthy letter.
– It is the second of the letters in its order.
– It is the second city along the physical route in which the letters would travel, should they be indeed physical letters directed to them. We have left Ephesus, now on to Smyrna.
– It is the second Church respecting its historical order of Church development in history past. It is the Persecuted Church
Smyrna, now being identified from the benefit of hindsight, as the persecuted church period which lasted the better part of 250 years until at least the Edict of Toleration by Constantine in 311 AD and yet CONTINUED AGAIN during the Dark Ages of the Holy Roman Empire, to this day
But this second church can also be a representation of the types of Christians in the world who are willing to stand firm on Christ to whatever end.
They, like the friends of Daniel, are not careful to answer the King respecting the expectation of the worship of pagan gods, they are not worried about giving their lives for the sake of the Gospel, they are willing to die for Christ BECAUSE they have determined to LIVE FOR CHRIST!
And there are certainly Christians alive today that are well represented in the Church of Smyrna; ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? To what extent are you likely to witness your trust in Christ?
Overall, the letter to the Church of Smyrna is one of encouragement.
It is not dire, there are no chastisement’s, neither warnings of error needing to be repented of.
It is one of encouragement through both their likeness to the adversities of Christ, through to an anticipation of reward for the adversities suffered.
It is a letter to let them know they are doing well, though they will endure more trial, hang in there!
The Lord both KNOWS and will reward.
As you read Jesus words you can almost also quote Paul who wrote ‘Romans 8:18
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Encouraged In AffinityEncouraged IN Affinity Revelation 2:8
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
It is a matter of interest that how the Lord introduces himself to each of the seven Churches,
As it ALSO resembles by either affinity or antipathy, by similarity or dissimilarity to the particular characteristics of those Churches.
For example, to the church of Ephesus the Lord makes a pure doctrinal statement of truth;
Revelation 2:1
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;**
Here, the Church that prides itself on truth and assurance of doctrine is approached by the one who holds ALL Churches accountable to sound doctrine. “he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;”
We see the same respecting the compromising Church of Pergamos;
Revelation 2:12
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
The one who DOES NOT COMPROMISE, but has the WORD of God, “… sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12,
He now addresses the Church LACKING in such discerning quality.
Revelation 2:18
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
To the Church that most closely resembles that of the Roman Catholic Church period, our Lord identifies himself most plainly as “The Son of God“, who’s eyes try their worksto see of what sort it is and who’s feet of fine brass, as the symbol of Judgement, is able to quickly bring fiery judgment on that which is evil.
Some links are more challenging to bring out, but I do believe all are given specifically for the benefit of those Churches to know that Jesus is the most faithful and true witness, able to judge just judgement.
So it is with Smyrna;
Revelation 2:8
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Smyrna is a City founded as a settlement around 2000-3000 years BC according to Poetry Finds excavated by Ankara University in Turkey.
It was a part of the vast Hittite Empire and soon after immigrated by the Greek, or Hellenic sea peoples, connected by the fall of Troy in 1100 bc. 1[1] With half a million inhabitants, it was indeed a city that “Lived”.
But in 627 BC the entire city was destroyed,[2] it was razed to the ground by Lydian invaders and it remained desolate for around four hundred years until Lysimacus, one of the generals of the armies of Alexander, together with the remnant surviving villagers, helped rebuild the City to the south west, on the slopes of Mt Pagus.
And so that which was dead, is now alive.
The city survives to this very day as ‘Izmir”, the third largest City in Turkey with a population of some 2.5 million people.
So here the Lord Jesus ENCOURAGES IN AFFINITY,
For he too “was dead, and is alive“.
APPLICATION
Jesus shared in the sufferings of people
The Church of Smyrna was ENCOURAGED IN AFFINITY, it was the likeness of Christ that they rejoiced in during their trials.
It is in the likeness of the Life of Christ that we all have a share in, in some way.
Encouraged IN Adversity.Encouraged IN Affinity
Encouraged IN Adversity.Revelation 2:9
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
We know that Jesus “knows our works“, but here it adds that which comes upon the people of God, trouble! Tribulation!
It was NEVER a biblical expectation for the Church on earth to live without tribulation. But there was ALWAYS a Biblical expectation that during tribulation, we can have peace.
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
It is a matter of interest that the more the Church becomes like the world, the LESS it shall suffer persecution, but the less you appear of the world, the MORE you shall be hated.
John 15:19
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
That may be concerning to some of you, and may even lack the motivation to grow in your love and knowledge of the Lord, indeed, this is a sign of the PERILOUS TIMES that TITLES the MAYDAY series this year.
Times when Christians WILL NOT LIVE OUT THEIR FAITH
We have already seen the state of the Church in the last days when those who claim to be brethren “shall not endure sound doctrine” (2 Tim 4:3), “but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim 4:3-4).
The more these churches and fellowships appear in this way, the less the world will bother them because in a large way they are indistinguishable from the world…for “the world would love its own“.
But the Bible gives to us a confirmation of that principle that, the more you resemble Christ, the more you will be persecuted. The more you separate from the nature of this world and live Godly, the more the world will hate you.
But the more you desire to live Godly in the Lord, the more you shall suffer persecution and the world will desire to have your separated from them.
Turn to;
2 Timothy 3:10–14
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
This passage both telling the Church of its state in time to come, but also affirming the principle that Smyrna had experienced, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution“.
Unlike the Church of Ephesus, Smyrna did not only suffer and persecution of RIGHTS and PRIVILEGES, but persecution of PROPERTY AND PERSON, and this was the case BECAUSE the Church of Smyrna was so distinct from the CITY of SMYRNA and its people.
Smyrna the City was WHOLEY given over to Idolatry, while the Church of Smyrna was wholly given over to Christ.
The pagans rejoiced in the number of Gods it worshipped.
The ancient historian Aristides boasted that:
“as you traverse the city from west to east, you go from a temple to a temple and from a hill to a hill”.
In the City of Smyrna, the pagan worshipers built Temples to the worship of Cybele / of Apollo / of Aesculapius / of Aphrodite and Zeus as well as a monument to the great writer Homer, whom the city claimed as their own.
These temples adorned this City and demonstrated its fill of idolatry.
But there is more to this.
Smyrna was seen as one of the most faithful Cities in the Roman Empire. Historically it seemed to have had a knack of choosing the right side of a conquering episode and at the last it chose Rome.
The noted Roman Statesmen, Philosopher and Orator Cicero, circa 55 bc wrote:
Smyrna, which is our most faithful allies … (Philipp. 11.2.5).[1]
Tacitus writing to Tiberius in 26 AD recounts to him the faithfulness of the Smyrnaeans to Rome two centuries earlier, where it was said
“ And such was their love for the Romans that when it was reported in their assembly that the army of Sulla was endangered by the severity of the winter and inadequate clothing, those present spontaneously stripped off the garments they were wearing to send them to the legions.”
Historian, Colin Hemer writes of Livy in the 2nd century who repeatedly mentions the:
“active fidelity of Smyrna to Rome in the years following 195 bc (35 passim).[3]
As a result of the faithfulness of Smyrna to Rome it prospered through having been given the right to self governance and the raising of taxes for its OWN benefit as opposed to having such taxes sent to ROME.
Two elements can be gleaned from this;
-
The faithfulness of the City of Smyrna to Rome, can be represented also in the faithfullness of the Church of Smyrna to Christ.
-
While the City of Smyrna increased in its riches from its faithfulness to Rome, the Church of Smyrna, through its earthly Poverty, increased in its riches to Christ;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)
God does not see things as we see them. We shall see in the final Church, the Church of Laodicea, which seems to be rich and in need of nothing, that Jesus corrects them that they are IN FACT poor; turn there with me;
Revelation 3:17–18
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Much more to speak of when we get to it. But, the physical poverty. Of Smyrna, through its tribulation, was in fact “RICH”, while the physical wealth of the last Church, due to its affiliation to the world (the apostate church of the last days), it is in fact wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Beloved, the Encouragment IN Adversity is simply this; faithfulness to the Lord may not lead to worldly popularity and worldly riches, but it does lead to eternal riches.
Every time you are persecuted for your faithfulness to Christ and take it PATIENTLY, you are storing riches in heaven.
Revelation 2:9
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.**
There is more than can be spoken of respecting this passage related to the jews, but one thing I will mention;
Not all who claim to be the People of God ARE the people of God!
Not all who claim to be brethren are brethren!
Jesus himself made it clear saying;
Matthew 7:21–23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Paul was persecuted by ‘False Brethren” in 2 Cor 11:26.
He wrote of “false brethren unawares brought into the Church” to the Galatians in Gal 2:4
There are them “which say they are Christians, and are not, but are of the church of Satan“. Not all who claim to be the people of God ARE the people of God.
John testifies to this in his epistle speaking of THE LAST DAYS;
1 John 2:18–19
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
This is the reality of the PERILOUS TIMES we live in, this testifies to the last days written of by Paul, Peter and John, by Jesus.
Just as there were those who claimed to be Jews and are not, there shall be those who claim to be “of us” but “are not“.
Encouraged IN Anticipation. Encouraged IN Affinity
Encouraged IN Adversity.
Encouraged IN Anticipation. Revelation 2:1010 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. An incredible encouragement is given in this passage but also an anticipation of trouble is revealed.
Historically we can see that the faithfulness of the City of Smyrna to Rome ALSO would reveal the LACK OF TOLERANCE to any sign of dissension among the people of Smyrna.
The knowledge that there may be a group of people that would not follow the dictates and decrees of the emperor, that may have the risk of causing a downgrading of the privileges of the City of Smyrna, was dealt with in a manner that was both swift and direct.
Historians tell us that during the reign of Domitian, and instigation of emperor worshipwas forced all people on pain of death to lend homage to him.
We had spoken a little of this when addressing the Church of Ephesus, but in Smyrna it was taken to a level that was far greater than that of merely the confiscation of rights or privileges.
Annual emperor worship was signified with the burning of incense on Caesars alterand followed by the issuance of a certificate commemorating, and also proving the devotion of his subjects.
To risk being found without such a certificate in Smyrna, was to risk death.
Just like the faithfulness of the Smyrna Pagans to Rome, the Smyrna Christians would not bow the knee to any but Christ.
In demonstration therefore of the faithfulness of Pagan’s of Smyrna to Rome, the peak of persecution in all Asia minor rose against the Christians of Smyrna for Christ.
This would continue for many years.
Ten emperors in total would arise to persecute the people of the Lord during the timeframe of this suffering Church type;
Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Antoninus, Severus, Maximian, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian.
It was not until the so-called conversion of Constantine in 312 AD and the Edict of Milan in 313 AD which followed The Edict of Toleration in 311, that the persecutions ceased completely and a new era was on the cusp.
It was not until 380 AD that Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the religion of the empire and outlawed paganism
0 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be triedPrisons did not exist in the days of Rome as they do today. Prisons today could simply not be afforded, nor was there the desire to afford them. Why should the criminal who’s crime came at the cost of society be sustained by society to further cost?
Pliny the Younger stated:
“The maintenance of prisoners for long terms would doubtless have seemed an unnecessary financial burden to the cities. In Bithynia prisoners were guarded by public slaves, whose reliability was evidently suspect”1[4]
No, the purpose of prison was two-fold;
(1) To await the verdict of judgment and therein the sentencing.
(2) To await death.
The Christians of Smyrna were cast into prison generally to await death. the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried
The trial of their patience had purpose. The trial of any persecution we may endure in the future is also set of a purpose;
Turn to
2 Corinthians 4:8–12
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you
Revelation 2:1010 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.The phrase “ye shall have tribulation ten days” is a subject of much speculation and not simple to cover. Is it allegorical? Did it refer to the “ten” kings that persecuted them? Is it literal?
There was an inscription found in the City of Smyrna which said;
‘To Julius Menecles Diophantus, Asiarch, who has gloriously and zealously presented (a show of combat) with sharpened (weapons) five days successively, his dearest city (pays honour)’[1][5]
What we see is witness to what we have known respecting Christians and their martyrdom on the Roman Arenas and colosseums around the world. Perhaps an allusion to ten days of trial in such places, we don’t know.
But there is a promise here to the OVERCOMER which we shall conclude in the next point,
be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.The Church of Smyrna was indeed Encouraged IN Anticipation.
Encouraged IN AdmonitionEncouraged IN Affinity
Encouraged IN Adversity.
Encouraged IN Anticipation.
Encouraged IN AdmonitionRevelation 2:11
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Do not think that the individual letters to these Churches were private letters for the specific Churches alone,
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
Beloved if you have an ear then that which is written to all the Churches individually is written for you.
You may indeed be one of those who will or can identify better with the Church of Smyrna than you can with the Church of Ephesus who “left their first love”.
You may indeed have been one of those of Ephesus, you KNEW and beleived the doctrine, but left your first love and had now returned BACK to that first love, only to be persecuted heavily by the world, by friends or by false brethren.
In that case this letter is also for you.
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
He that overcometh…
In every letter, not only does Jesus KNOW the works of the Churches, not only does he address it to all who have ears to hear, but to all the churches he encourages through admonition with a PROMISE to the overcomer..
He that overcometh
Paul wrote of being
…. troubled on every side, yet not distressed; … perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:8–9
But he goes on to say greater and more encouraging things in that same Chapter.
If you are still in 2 Corinthians 4, go to verse 17
2 Corinthians 4:17–18
After speaking of the trials endured he goes on to write of future blessing;
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.**
KEEP READING as he explains;
2 Corinthians 5:1–4
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
The people of the Church of Smyrna were indeed willing, willing to to endure the “temporal things” that they may receive the eternal.
Willing that “mortality might be swallowed up of life”
Knowing that;
…when … this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:54
And so we can say with both Paul and the people of Smyrna;
1 Corinthians 15:55
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Maranatha
[1] North, R. (1979–1988) “Smyrna,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised. Edited by G.W. Bromiley. Wm. B. Eerdmans.
[2] (J. M. Cook, Annual of the British School at Athens, 80 [1985], 25–28)
North, R. (1979–1988) “Smyrna,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised. Edited by G.W. Bromiley. Wm. B. Eerdmans.
[3] [1] Colin J. Hemer, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting, (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Livonia, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Dove Booksellers, 2001), 71.
[4] (Plin. Ep. 10.19, 20).
[5] [1] (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Livonia, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Dove Booksellers, 2001), 69.
The post The Seven Churches: Smyrna appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Seven Letters
IntroductionRevelation 1:9–20
The beginning of the Church was Pentecost in Acts 2.
In the Old Testament the same day is known as Shavot, or “The Feast of Weeks“, it was a harvest feast that was to be celebrated the day after 7 weeks from the passover, 50 days.
50 days after Jesus Christ, our Lord had given his life on the Cross, becoming the true passover that was foreshadowed in the Levitical law and remembered every year until the true passover came, was the beginning of the Church.
It was identified by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the gathering in Jerusalem and 3,000 Jews were saved, these were devout men from every nation under heaven says the passage in Acts 2:5.
That was the BEGINNING of the Church.
The word of God went North into Turkey, South into Africa, westward into Europe and Eastward into India.
Those who preached the world were persecuted and troubled everywhere they went and yet the word of God was like a fire in their bones. Each of them were beaten, were imprisoned and finally killed for the word of God sake.
But not before a multitude of Churches, “assemblies“, “called-out-ones“, or as the greek refers to it, “the ecclesia“, were planted in every City.
SLIDE
It was the City of Antioch, directly north of Jerusalem, in Syria (Today Southern Turkey) where those of that “Way” were first called “Christians” and it was this city which became the base of all missionary journeys for the early missionaries.
But this is not one of the Seven Churches referred to in Revelation 2 or 3.
The Gospel we know, went to Rome, SLIDE but she is not mentioned, to Corinth but nothing referred to there, to Thessalonica, indeed we have letters written by Paul to each of these Churches, but the report card given by Christ does not mention them.
Why then these seven?
We don’t know the answer in full, but in the fullness of the times of History, the geographical location of each of them, the order in which they are addressed and the names by which each are called, that these seven churches and these seven letters reveal some wonderful truths to us today.
The Seven Churches of Revelation are;
Historical Churches.These are churches of real history that existed in real time during the days of John.
Geographical ChurchesSLIDE
We also notice that, if the letters were to take their journey from John on the Isle of Patmos, they would travel in a clockwise direction beginning with Ephesus, until the last Church at Laodicean.
Representative ChurchesWhat is also interesting to note is that the Churches seem to be representative Churches whose character and effects seem to identify distinct Church TYPES.
The Ephesian Church indicates a doctrinally strong church unwilling for any error to creep in, being warned of Paul during his missionary journeys of the “Grievous wolves” that would come in after his departure and having warned them night and day for three years. This is the Ephesian Church of Acts 20:17-35.
The Church of Smyrna, being the persecuted church, who’s very name represents death, which died and then lived again.
Pergamos, being the compromising Church as it negotiated with the ruling elites of the day.
Thyatira, an interesting representation of the WORKS BASED Church.
Sardis, a church that had a name that it did live but was in fact a dead church
Philadelphia, the faithful Church that holds to the word of God. This church had little strength, in other words, it was a popular church, but it was faithful.
And lastly, the Laodicean Church, The Church that thinks it is rich and has no need of anything, but does not realise itself as poor and lacking in everything. It is the apostate Church.
Representative Chronology of Churches,
Now, what seems most fascinating is not only that they were real churches, that they were geographically arranged for a clockwise distribution of their respective letters, not only that they are representative of Church types through history, but ALSO that they are a representation of a CHRONOLOGY of Church history as it is seen LOOKING BACK.
We will go into that as we go deeper, but;
Ephesus, the first church, doctrinally sound but lacking in love.
Smyrna, the persecuted Church that stood strong, even to death.
Pergamos, the compromised Church seen during the time of Constantine until it became the Church represented by the empire under Theodosius 379-395, when the Church of;
Thyatira came to the fore and well represented by the Roman Catholic Church.
Sardis, which has a name that it lives, is also well represented by the Reformation era Churches
Philadelphia, the faithful Churches that have held to the word of God from the begining, but came to the fore AFTER the Bible was able to be translated into the common language of the people. Baptists, anabaptists, Brethren churches etc, all pictured here.
The Chronological timeframe concludes with the apostate Churches of the Laodicean era in which we live.
Representative of Christians
Finally, these church types are also a representation of the types of Christians who represented the Churches.
Each of these Church “Types” have their corresponding ‘types’ evident in the lives of Christians. Every Church is likely to have a mix of each of these though usually dominated by those who better represent the Church type.
Every Christian can and will fit into one or several of these representations, even as they grow in the Lord.
The key is to first “know thyself”.
I pray the journey is a blessing.
Due to the introduction, it is likely that we will only have time for the first Church today.
Perilous Times Pt 3: The Seven Letters
Revelation 2:1–7
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
We had witnessed that this letter is a letter from the Lord Jesus Christ himself, given to the apostle John. We had seen this in the first chapter of Revelation and we also see that similar letters are given to each of these seven churches.
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
The letter begins first with the introduction of its author, “he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;”
In verse 20 of chapter 1 we have the interpretation of the “stars” and the “golden candlesticks” The stars “are the angels of the seven churches and the seven golden candlesticks… are the seven churches“.
He holds the angels in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven churches.
We are often ignorant of the knowledge that Jesus Christ knows intimately all that is happening in his churches.
He sees and is aware of the acts of the people and the preachers.
Some are acutely aware of the reality of this and behave themselves wisely, fearful of the knowledge that they are to give an account (these seven letters are a testimony that an assessment is going to be made), and in that fear are careful as to the decisions they make in all matters, even desiring to be accountable.
Then there are those with no fear of God before their eyes and seem largely ignorant that they will be held to account for their actions.
I know thy works Says the Lord, his first direct address to the church of Ephesus, his first address to you and I in his church.
2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
The Lord goes into detail of the matters that of of the greatest evident importance.
Jesus does not spend time on the minor things, there are no perfect churches and the Lord does not indicate he is trying them for not dotting every “I” and crossing every “T”. But the focus of those elements in the church that direct and govern it;
Labour….patience and intolerance of evil.
The Ephesian Church examines and make discovery of the truth, and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
They bear their burdens in such matters and patiently endure them, they labour and for the Lords sake, have not fainted under the burden of those things.
The Church of the Ephesians well known the responsibility they have, they were directly taught of Paul the apostle who warned them of the challenges they would face.
Turn to
Acts 20:25-31
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.**
There is no doubt that this was a vital exhortation to the Church at Ephesus and they abided diligently in the teaching of Paul in this regard, and so they should have.
The City of Ephesus was the most Cosmopolitan of all the Cities represented by these Churches.
It was an ancient, wealthy and large Coastal City.
The theatre itself was huge in comparison to the theatres of other Roman cities, it could accomodate 25,000 people. There are not ANY theatres in Melbourne that large.
The Myer Music bowl can accomodate only 2030 people. The largest we have is ‘Plenary Hall at the Exhibition Center that can seat 5,500 people.[1]
Historians would use the accomodating seating of ancient city theatres to estimate the potential populations of the citifies by a multiple of 10. A 25,000 seat theatre = a population of approximately 250,000 people.
It was a large city in the scheme of things.
It added to its credit one of the seven wonders of the world, the Temple of Dianna.
It was immense in size, at its base the Temple was 110 meters long by 55 meters wide, that’s 6,050 m2. In other words, the Temple was 1.5 acres UNDER ROOF.
To further place it into its proper perspective, The Acropolis in Greece is our only present day example at 2,150, or closer to a half acre in size under roof.
The 127 Temple columns supporting the roof structure alone were 6 stories high.
The Temple of Dianna took 120 years to build and completed in the lien of King Creosis, it was then destroyed by fire apparently the same day Alexander the Great was born[2], thenrebuilt in the same footprint until finally destroyed in the 35rd century AD by invading Goths and little of the temple remains but the foundation and one solitary pillar out of the 127 originally employed.
The Temple was referred to as The Temple of the great goddess Diana” in the New Testament (Acts 19:27), and as is the case of many of the ancient gods worshipped in the different dominating cultures of the ancient world, they are given names in accord with the dominating culture.
Diana is the Roman name for Artemis in Greek culture, being the same goddess of Egyptian mythology called Isis, until we come to the Mesopotamian empires of Assyria and Babylon where the name Ishtar is given and where the celebration of Easter is believed to have as its true origin.
Each of these goddesses are most likely the one and the same; each have similar attributes, but not all the same, goddess of love, of war, of the hunt, of sex, and yet one they all share is the goddess of fertility.
Artemis (Diana) is depicted in statues with having many breasts.
Both the Rabbit and the Egg are symbols of fertility, to which children were given in sacrifice at the beginning of the Spring season.
The sacrifice of Children was not unusual in the ancient world, just as it is not unusual in the modern world, the Bible refers to it in the voice of the vanity of the people respecting the appeasement of God or ‘the gods’ , saying in Micah;
“Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Mica 6:7).
In the Old Testament it was to the god Moloch as but one of the gods of the pagan world.
She was also known as the Queen of the Universe, the Queen of the Sky and the Queen of Heaven, and her link points all the way back to a woman by the name of Semiramis, the wife of Nimrod who first appears in Genesis 10 as the son of Cush, who was the son of Ham, the son of Noah.
Semiramis, the wife of Nimrod was also the mother Of Tamuz, and an ancient account of resurrection!
It is Interesting that most share an account of resurrection respecting their husbands, this was true of Semiramis and Nimrod, true also of Isis and Osiris,
Each also are depicted with Babies of these Goddesses;
While we dont have imagery respecting Semiramis, we do with Isis with Horus (who’s father was Osiris), and Ishtar with Tamuz (the same name as that of Semiramis)
Ephesian ChurchTurn in your Bible to Acts 19:26-29
The effect of the preaching of Paul could only be attributed to the Holy Spirt in that City, for the changes there were so swift that one might gain the impression that they were truly White for the Harvest.
Paul enters Ephesus at the end of his Second Missionary Journey but does not remain long. Acts 18:19-21
But now in his Third Journey, this second visit to Ephesus, he remains and many were persuaded to Christ.
Now we read the complaint of the silversmiths who made and sold Idols to Dianna, the only Goddess named in the New Testament.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.**
And we recall this was not a small theatre.
This City was completely given over to paganism. It was the general way of life there and the only people group that competed with the paganism was the large population of Jews living in Ephesus.
They were there in such number, the history books tell us they were given permission to a separate form of worship to the Pagans and hence their Synagogues in which Paul accustomed.
We learn from Acts 20:31 that Paul remained for three years because he certainly saw the City given over and the effect upon the people was enormous.
Turn to. Acts 19:18
And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
This is an enormous Book burning!
A zealous and true response to the truth of Christ and the salvation found in Christ.
The Ephesians turned away from everything they thought was of value in their world.
And so we have Jesus commendation in this letter 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
CondemnationBut then, in verse 4 we have this;
Revelation 2:4–7
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Something had changed in the hearts of the people of this Church. John writing this letter some 30 years after it was planted, and something had changed.
The commendation was there and it was understood. They were in a great city, a metropolitan city, many perks and many riches present there, one of the seven wonders of the word and one of the largest theatres of all. The City was prosperous and much gain was had in the worship of Diana, yet these people still came to Christ and the City was altered.
But something changed.
“Thou has left thy first love“
It is interesting that the text says “left” and not “lost”. There are many who claim they have “lost their first love”, but that is not the reality that the Bible presents.
The Ephesians were so preoccupied with making sure they had things RIGHT and checked the belief of all those who came in, they had cleaved to that which was right…but they had left the LOVE that saved them in the first place.
This is not a ‘leaving and forsaking’ of the object of their love, but they have left the fervency of their love that was first seen when they were saved.
Beloved this is true of many of us, and how easy it is to occur. We love the Lord with all our heart when we are saved, but then our love grows often cold through the deceitfulness of sin within. We often then try to modify our hearts distance from our Lord by ensuring we DO THINGS RIGHT, but our heart grows cold.
What might explain this?
Our heart is weary of repenting for sin. It is weary of the fight of the flesh and finds itself having left its first love.
The result?
We will either be fervent in doctrine, cross every T and dot every I, or we will be quick to point out the shortcomings of others. Quick to remove the ‘speck’ from the eyes of others before the ‘beam’ in our own eye.
Little comfortable clicks begin to form in the church and before you know it, we become SELF focused, desiring to remain COMFORTABLE and SELF Absorbed.
Visitors attend and find us COLD. We wont discomfort ourselves to welcome them, we will only spend time with those we feel comfortable with.
What else might explain this?
The Church of Ephesus began to find themselves persecuted.
Emperor Domitian began to rule between the years 81-96 AD, before the end of that first century. And he began to force a form of worship that was, till that time, unheard of.
Consider the words of Historian Colin Hemer who, writing on this topic, considered the beginning of the fall of the Ephesian Church.
“It is likely that Domitian’s reign marked a deterioration in the standing of the Ephesian church. That emperor enforced his worship with a rigour hitherto unknown, and a pretentious temple to him was actually established in Ephesus. He appears also to have extended the boundaries of the temple of Artemis, an act whose significance we must consider below.17 The hints of increasing danger from the pagan opposition will readily explain the activity of Nicolaitans.[1][3]”
Advantages where taken away, both in business and in life. Privileges were diminished and even Citizenship was Curtailed.
The jews added to their troubles also, for between the pagans and the jews, the Christians were seen as a common enemy and so they banded together against the Church of the Ephesians.
A two tiered society began to form and the Christians found themselves on the outer. This, they were not used to and slowly they began to hide their faith and in many ways demonstrate to one another that they were ashamed of the Gospel.
Through persecution it became easier to leave love that to live for it.
Ephesian Opportunity.Revelation 2:5
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Weather it be due to a cooling heart or a persecuted life, what is clear in this verse is there is an opportunity to repent before it is too late.
Jesus instructs them to remember…from where they are fallen. This is the first step to warm the heart again and return to that love we had left.
The Christian life is not an easy life. We have the same troubles that others have, but added to those troubles is a duel nature that would buffet us. The tendency is to turn our hearts away from repentance toward Christ and focus our minds of the sins of others.
Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch acknowledge their diligence and wrote to the Ephesian Church saying;
“Now Onesimus himself highly praises your orderly conduct in God, reporting that you all live in accordance with the truth and that no heresy has found a home among you. Indeed, you do not so much as listen to anyone unless he speaks truthfully about Jesus Christ.1[4]”
Though this is praiseworthy on the one hand, it has a tendency of lifting our hearts in pride. Being so well equipped to point out the errors of others does not often mix well with seeing the sin in ourselves.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The name ‘Ephesus’ means “Desirable”, and though such a wonderful, coastal, wealthy and notable city was no doubt a desirable, it was also a city that would be engulfed by its own pride.
Timothy is said to have been the first pastor of the Church at Ephesus. The seven sons of Sheva tried to exercise a devil in the same place (Acts 19:13-17). It was in Ephesus that Priscilla and Aquilla gave to Apollos a better understanding of the Gospel (Acts 18:26), it was there that Paul baptised twelve disciples of John who were baptised only in the baptism of repentance rather than Christ (Acts 19:1-4), it was hear Paul healed many people through the handkerchiefs and aprons he wore (Acts 19:11-12) and it was here that Paul disputed daily in the school of a man named Tyrannus for two years (Acts 19:9).
But the silting of the adjacent river against the harbour of the city would find the place abandoned eventually, just as the building up of the pride of our lives will have us leave our first love.
Ephesus is today only an archeological site, the light of its candle has well been removed.
Beloved, you cannot illuminate the love of Christ to a dark world when leave your first love. Our candle is to burn brightly that all may find Christ as we had.
If you have left your first love, “do the first works“, “remember from where you had fallen“. If you feel you are leaving that first love, the same holds true.
If you choose to leave your first love and will not return, your candle may indeed go out and the only people you will attract are visitors to a site where love once flourished.
It is good to KNOW the doctrine and not tolerate error, it is not good if with that you have left your first love.
Of the two cities and churches, which better identify you as a Christian?
The church of Ephesus were well spoken of for their diligence and willingness to hold to the truth. Sound doctrine was their focus and they seemed to have quickly dealt with error.
But they also made a choice to leave their first love. They experienced some persecution where both goods and privilege was removed from them, and life in their great cosmopolitan city was altered to become more uncomfortable than what they were used to.
If we were to give consideration to the modern times in our city, we might equate the days during Covid as a reasonable example. Life was certainly not in question, but privileges and freedoms were, hearts were revealed at the time for where they were at, at the time. But this does not determine the future, there may be those who held strong that will falter, or those who faltered that shall be strong in the Lord.
The Church of Ephesus KNEW their doctrines, but they held too tightly for this world and “Left their first love”.
{$NOTE_LABEL} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_theatres_in_Melbourne
{$NOTE_LABEL} https://www.worldhistory.org/Temple_of_Artemis_at_Ephesus/
[3] [1] Colin J. Hemer, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting, (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Livonia, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Dove Booksellers, 2001), 40.
[4] Michael William Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, Updated ed., (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 143.
The post The Seven Churches: Ephesus appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Be Careful For NothingPhilippians 4:4–9
4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 **Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Fear Dispelled By Joy In ChristCalmness Witnessed By The Authority Of ChristAnxiety Overcome By Hope For ChristConfidence Assured By Peace Through ChristThis week I found myself deeply considering how it is that a Christian is to live their lives in light of the Bible being fulfilled before their eyes.
The MAYDAY Series that we embark on each year is a part of my responsibility as a Pastor to preach the “Whole Counsel of God” and when you have one third of the Bible as Prophecy, it truly would be considered completely negligent to ignore it simply because the topic is uncomfortable at times.
I learned many years ago that keeping my head in the sand does not change the actual events that are going on around me, but understanding them to be occurring and HOW they came to be this way is vital “IF” I am going to live my life in the service of the one who declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done (Isaiah 46:10)
But that does not mean that I do not occasionally get a tightness in my stomach and a heaviness in my heart building within me.
Times when I find my breath begin to become a little shallow. Before I know it, I become anxious and begin to make decisions that I might not have made if I were otherwise minded.
In this condition we reach the point we don’t think of the things that are TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, OF GOOD REPORT, VIRTUE AND PRAISE, instead we fill our minds with excuses for the fears in our heart.
Before we know it we are in a cycle of self perpetuating agitation and it seems as if anything else that might come along at any moment, any misplaced word by a passer by or a friend, any sermon from the Pastor, would just tip us over the edge and we would break into a million shattered pieces.
Ive been there.
Im sure you’ve been there.
It’s at this point however that I begin to question the validity of my emotions. I begin to wonder if it is LEGITIMATE THAT I AM TO BE THIS WAY. I begin to look at my emotional condition and wonder how it is seen from GODS PERSPECTIVE.
From the perspective of the one who tells me to trust him. To cast all my cares and burdens upon him, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
As my insides shake like a leaf at times, I wonder what God, who is my ROCK and HIGHTOWER thinks of my anxiety in the light of the eternal life he has given me?
Can I justify my fears with the truth?
You see there truly are two main ways that we could deal with our fears, especially if you are a biblical Christian who has an understanding of the days we live in.
You can either choose to put your head in the sand and “see no evil, hear no evil“, rebuke or turn way from anyone who might disturb your false peace and so PRETEND that everything really is ok, even though YOU KNOW it isn’t.
Or you can admit that you don’t really know how to reconcile your hope in Christ with your fear of life!
I had to choose the latter.
You see I have been a Christian for almost thirty years and for twenty of those thirty years I have had a reasonably good understanding of what the Bible teaches concerning the last days and I have been watching them unfold before my eyes, yet hoping vainly that they wont really unfold too rapidly.
2001 raised my interest 100 fold respecting my interest in prophecy, but it did not affect me personally a great deal. 2020 however changed everything for me personally.
I saw the complete fragility of the social fabric of our society and recognised that the perception of an established strength in our moral, legal, liberal, constitutional integrity was nothing more than a house of cards.
KER PLUNK
There was a game many years ago we used to play as kids…
It was invented in 1967, the year I was born, KER PLUNK
Each stick represents to me the laws that would underpin the fundamental human rights of freedom within our civilisation. The people, no w free to live their lives and build their wealth in hope and happiness, rested their rights on those laws and the western world prospered.
ALL the Sticks in place, represent THE CONSTITUTION OF NATIONS.
The Christians constitution is the Bible. Western Nations built their constitutions upon the Christian Bible.
But when the Bible is removed as the fundamental underpinning of ALL LAWS, it is a matter of time before the laws that give us the constitution are curtailed by other laws.
The Marbles represent our fundamental human rights.
EACH REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT take their turn in removing one law at a time, directly or indirectly.
As they do, inevitably, one of our human rights falls.
“THE BEST” governments are those who have the craft and seeming ability to remove each stick so carefully that no “Marble” falls on their watch.
“THE WORST” governments are those who have the MOST RIGHTS evidently fallen into their tray.
BOTH forms of government however, work to the same end.
THE GAME ENDS when enough laws have been removed or curtailed to for the people to have finally lost all their human rights.
The winner is the one who has the least amount of marbles in his tray.
The losers are those who didn’t play.
The question I desire to answer for today’s message is how do we have joy in the midst of the times we live?
How are we to be CAREFUL FOR NOTHING?
Fear Dispelled By Joy In Christ4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
The Church of Philippi was founded by Paul during his second missionary journey and you can read about it in Acts chapter 16 from verse 12.
During that journey he preached the Gospel and one of his first converts was a woman named Lydia, a seller of purple. The second was a woman he had cast a devil from and, as a result, ended up intensely persecuted, being beaten with rods and eventually thrown into a prison.
And if that was not excitement enough that day, Paul and Silas sang praises to the Lord while in the prison at midnight, suddenly an earthquake loosed their bonds and opened the prison doors, and it would be here that Paul gained his third convert, the keeper of the prison. (Acts 16:12-40).
This was the founding of the church of the Philippians, but the letter to them was written from Rome.
JOY
The word “Joy” appears in 60 verses of the New Testament and there is a reasonable distribution of the word.
Matthews gospel has it occur on 6 occasions, Luke on 10 occasions. Philippians, like Matthew, has the word represented on 6 occasions, but there are only 4 chapters in Philippians unlike Matthew with 28 chapters, and Luke with 24.
The ratio is simple enough Matthews Gospel it appears once every 4.6 chapters, Luke once every 2.4 chapters, but Philippians has the word ‘Joy’ appear 1.5 times per chapter.
So too with the word “Rejoice“.
The word appears in Matthew on only two occasions, in Luke 12 occasions, or once every two chapters on average, but the Epistle to the Philippians the word rejoice appears no less than 12 times, or three times PER CHAPTER.
It is one of the reasons we often refer to Philippians as the letter of joy.
4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.**
It is in the letter to the Philippians Church that Paul spoke of his ability to find joy or contentment no matter the state he is in: you are in chapter 4:9, go to the next verse;
Philippians 4:10–11
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
To see this letter in its proper light, and to understand its potential impact upon each of our lives, especially when we find ourselves wrestling with the trials of life, and knowing that which will come upon this world as the Bible is being fulfilled, we note and accept Paul’s writing in this letter in its plainness, but we also must see it in its EXAMPLE!
THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS WAS WRITTEN FROM A PRISON CELL IN ROME!
It is the first chapter that Paul speaks of his BONDS in the present tense, and it is also both in the first chapter and in the last chapter of this letter that we come to understand that he was in Rome.
Philippians 4:22
22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
What we don’t truly know is which imprisonment this was.
There have been those who teach that this was his final imprisonment through which his death loomed.
2 Timothy we see it clearly, that he knew his death was near, but in this letter to the Philippians we get a hint that he may have had a belief that he may die, and yet at the same time seem confident that he will live on for their “furtherance and joy of faith“.
Consider it with me for a moment;
Philippians 1:21–26
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again..
Either way, what we DO SEE here with total confidence is that he had NO FEAR OF DEATH.
The overriding nature of this letter, even though he was bound for the sake of the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their was certainly the possibility of dying for the sake of the Lord, HE HAD JOY.
4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.**
Phil 4:11
…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Beloved, a simple question to ask you for this point, do the anxieties of your life ROB you of your Joy in Christ, or does your Joy in Christ dispel the fears of life???
Calmness Witnessed By The Authority Of Christ4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
There is something that happens to a man when he has his joy firmly planted in the Lord.
No matter the news of life, no matter the trials of life, no matter the struggles in life and the sufferings of life, there is a calmness and level headedness about him measured outwardly all the more he rejoices and has his hope in the Lord.
4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Notice that it is first JOY in the Lord, then that example of moderation (Calmness / temperance / restraint / soberness etc) that it OUTWARDLY evidenced, and then finally that FUTURE hope in Jesus “The Lord is at hand”, which we will speak to in the next point.
Now, we do not have this joy simply in the NAME of Jesus as if it is some magical name with no other value, we have this joy and this hope in EVERYTHING that WE KNOW that name represents.
Beloved, WHAT YOU KNOW OF CHRIST truly is the KEY. The Charismatic Church I originally came out of knew very little of Christ and as a result spoke his name as if it were some MAGIC word that could just be employed to cast out devils and obtain those things they desired “in the name of Jesus”.
But little concerning him was truly known.
If you are NOT reading your Bible, you will NEVER have the absolute assurance you KNOW much of Jesus with any degree of certainty.
If ALL you think you know of Christ is that which you have learned from others, then you cannot KNOW as you ought to KNOW.
Peter wrote saying;
2 Peter 1:19–21
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
If you are not READING the scriptures, speaking of the AUTHORITY of Jesus Christ, and having your calmness witnessed through your confidence in Christ is not going to come about.
You must be reading your Bibles beloved.
Now, notice that your calmness, your moderation and temperance is there as a WITNESS to “all men”.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
How you handle the trials of life is witnessed by others who also undergo their own trial in life.
KNOWING that the “sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18) certainly adds a layer of comfort;
Knowing that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom 8:28) adds to that comfort, PURPOSE;
But, knowing Jesus and the power of HIS might, and that he is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worth in us” (Eph 3:20) adds to that comfort and PURPOSE a calmness and HOPE that is “known unto all men“.
1 Peter 3:12–15
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:**
There is an evident expectation due to your TRUE relationship to Jesus and your TRUE knowledge of him, that an evident HOPE is witnessed in you to ENQUIRE OF!
If this were not so, there should be no expectation that ANY MAN would ask you a reason of the hope that is in you!
Where is your HOPE?
Is it evident?
Is your calmness on DISPLAY for all to see the genuine JOY you have in the LORD and your EXPECTATION of his soon coming?
If not, why not?
Are you truly saved? Have you yet come to understand yourself as a sinner before a holy God and have believed the GOOD NEWS that Jesus died for your sins?
Do you have peace with God yet?
If not, why not?
What are you waiting for?
Do you still have your hope in this life?
This question could be asked both of Christians and of those who are not yet Born Again, not yet saved. Where is your TRUE hope and JOY?
Are you eating for that NEXT tear of “Likes” on social media? Is that where you get your value from?
Jesus death for you was not enough?
Or, like the first of the Seven Churches we will look at next week, hav you LEFT your first love and are now troubled by the affairs of this life?
Beloved,
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Anxiety Overcome By Hope For Christ4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.**
I have studied prophecy and been teaching on it for many years and something has now changed in me respecting the events of life. Especially since 2020 and continuing on to this year and the events we have recently endured, I am no longer anxious, I now only see that the window for the timing of the return of the Lord is getting smaller and smaller.
The global events ushered in through a declared global pandemic were certainly one very obvious sign that the Lord is coming soon.
And if there was any doubt in my mind that it was otherwise, the apostasy that was made evident in this church a few months ago, dispelled to me any lingering doubt that we are in the “Perilous times” Paul writes to Timothy about respecting the state of the hearts of people IN THE CHURCH, in the LAST DAYS.
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.**
My fears and anxieties are now completely overcome for my expectant hope for Christ.
The Bible teaches us, as it does with Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church, that the return of Jesus for his people is IMMINENT!
Even in Paul’s day, the appearing of the Lord for his Church could INTERRUPT anything.
Nothing needs to happen before Jesus returns for his Church, “The Lord is at hand”.
“The Lord is at hand” is the reason why we “rejoice in the Lord alway“
“The Lord is at hand” is the reason why our “Moderation can be known unto all men“.
“The Lord is at hand” is the reason why our anxieties and fears can be overcome.
Every day we see things that prove the Bible true respecting all it teaches of the last days;
Whether that be the implementation of a Digital Identification system that will BE IN PLACE BEFORE a Digital Currency can be employed to LIMIT all man can buy or sell, as per Revelation 13:17;
Or the ongoing persecution of the Jews that we are seeing rise again all over the world, forcing them to return to their homeland, as we see respecting the “latter times” written of in Isaiah 43
Isaiah 43:5–6
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Isa 11:11
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people
So when my wife sends me videos from outside her office and I see the chants of the Hamas supporters in upper Colins st in Melbourne, heading to Parliament, I see the window for the coming of Christ shrink that little more.When nations cede their sovereignty to a SUPRA National Organisation, such as the U.N. that window shrinks.When wars and rumours of wars build, that window shrinks.When I see the rise and wealth of the Kings of the East, such as China and India rise like has never been seen before, and the wealth of the people of western nations diminish like I have never seen before, that window for his coming shrinks again.And when I see evident apostasy in the Church, and hear Jesus words ask, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? ” Luke 18:8When comes so close to home and those who I have ministered to and loved and cherished and encouraged, get so easily deceived by a divisive and deceptive wolf in sheep’s clothing, to have their affections so quickly turned, I “know that summer is near” (Mark 13:28) and I no longer have any fear! Why? Because; “The Lord is at hand“.
Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t welcome “bad news“, nor do I look forward to “bad things happening“, my desire is to watch my grandchildren grow up and to continue to share the hope of Jesus in the gospel to as many people as possible;
But when the signs of the times are so evidently pointing to the soon return of my Lord and My God, I cannot help but become less fearful and more hopeful.
Paul did also, even from a cold Roman prison cell in which he had no certain confidence he would leave alive.
You can too, but only if you have HOPE FOR CHRIST!
Confidence Assured By Peace Through Christ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.**
Beloved If it is true that your Fear is Dispelled By Joy in Christ, if you “Rejoice in the Lord Alway“, if you truly do “Rejoice Evermore“…
And if your Calmness, your moderation, your measured life is an evident witness to the outside world to your belief in the Authority of Christ, that HE and HE alone is in control of all things and that the world IS NOT FALLING APART, but more rather, the Bible is Coming Together….
And if all your Anxieties are truly Overcome by your HOPE For Christ, you know of a certainty that he is coming IMMINENTLY for his bride, and you “Love his Appearing“, that is, you are eagerly and earnestly look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of a Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”,
Then with all of this already having laid the foundation of our expectation, there ought to be nothing remaining but that our CONFIDENCE IS ASSURED BY PEACE THROUGH CHRIST.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.**
“Be Careful…” be literally “full of care”, for nothing, ‘be not worried’ we would usually say, but our bible render the consideration more accurately as it speaks of our care for things that are so far beyond our controls.
Jesus used the same word when he worked to calm the concerns of Martha during his visit to them,
Turn to
Luke 10:41–42
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Martha had been busy and bothered, preoccupied and troubled about many things. Notice that Jesus did not deny the validity of the troubles, he did not reject her concerns nor her worries, she was indeed full of the cares that preoccupied her mind and desired OTHERS TO AFFIRM THE validity of those cares;
“…dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me[1]“
But instead Jesus corrected her THROUGH THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF Mary, having “Chosen that good part”, and you will notice that she, having chosen well, Jesus affirms that it “shall not be taken away from her”.
Beloved, allow no man or woman to deny you that peace that you choose in sitting at the feet of Christ.
I tried to find reason, I tried in every way to understand why it is that our comfort and our joy and our hope and confidence should be found in the most simplest place of all and that is in Jesus Christ and I came to understand that HE HAD ALREADY DONE IT ALL.
We placed our entire soul in his hands and believed that wonderful gospel that he came and that he died for our sins, we gave our lives completely over to him for the sake of FOREVER, and should we now take it back because of a temporary discomfort?
Polycarp was the Bishop or Pastor of Smyrna (we shall learn more of him next week), he was a direct disciple of the Apostle John in the first century, and he stands before the proconsul who threatens him to be torn apart by wild beasts if he will not curse Christ and Polycarp refuses him and says;
“‘Eighty-six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong: how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?
Does Polycarp show any concerns about this temporal life? Is his CONFIDENCE NOT ASSURED BY PEACE THROUGH CHRIST?
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.**
POLYCARP here gives to us a perfect picture of his confidence. He is not concerned of the manner in which he dies, he knows already reckons that ” the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18).
But the Proconsul is not through with his threats. Seeing Polycarp is not bothered about being bothered by wild beasts, the proconsul intensifies the trouble against this devout Child of God and says;
‘If you despise the beasts, unless you change your mind, I shall have you burnt,’ But Polycarp said: ‘You threaten the fire that burns for an hour, and after a little while is quenched; for you are ignorant of the fire of the judgement to come, and of everlasting punishment reserved for the ungodly.’”
Polycarp was indeed burnt, but the temporary flames did nothing to curb his confidence in the Lord. When we read that “all things work together for good to them that love God” in Romans 8:28, we come to understand that God has his focus on the whole life of man, not his temporal life alone. Polcarps life here is ended, but joy evermore began out of the fire.
Beloved, what we have through this passage is a true presentation of how we ought to both think and behave, how our confidence ought to be as children of the living God.
This world is rapidly coming to a close. Didn’t get caught up worrying about the affairs of this life. Dont waste time in fruitless arguments of the flesh, dont spend time concerned for the troubles that will come. Dont hold grudges against your brethren, be sure to have a heart ready to forgive, and especially be sure to bless your brethren and encourage them in the Lord.
But this single greatest blessing you can be, is to do that which the devil hates and Jesus died for, share the gospel with someone every day. Set a goal to speak of Christ to at least one person each day and give to them the opportunity to hear it.
If you do not know the Lord, and you see the trouble this world is in and are fearful, know that Jesus came and died specifically for you. It was YOUR name he had on his heart when he gave up the ghost, it is you that he calls to place your trust in him.
Will you believe the Gospel?
“The Lord is at hand”
Maranatha.
{$NOTE_LABEL}The Holy Bible: King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (1995). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., p. Lk 10:40.
The post Perilous Times Pt 4: Be Careful For Nothing appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
For Men Shall Be…Last week we introduced the current Mayday Series titled “Perilous Times” and showed with absolute certainty that the passage of 2 Timothy 3 is referring to the state of the CHURCH in the last days.
We showed how todays “Fairweather Christians”, whose desire is to ONLY hear things palatable to their tender ears, are precipitating those days.
We did not go into all the evident madness of Charismatic Chaos, and how that moved so quickly to the spiritual insanity of Pentecostal Pandemonium. We did not speak of the state of contemporary churches that have abandoned the word of God and chosen to entertain the goats rather than feed the sheep, nor did we speak of the social gospel of the Emergent Church that naturally develops when the Bibles is cast behind their backs
We did not talk about Roman Catholicism, the Eastern orthodox Churches, The Reformed Churches, and nothing about about the shift to the ecumenical religious system that will usher in the Global Religion of the last days;
NO, we spoke about how Christians, even in Fundamentalist Baptist Churches, are helping to precipitate the very PERILOUS TIMES Paul warned of to Timothy, because THEY WILL NOT READ THEIR BIBLES nor spend time with the Lord in Prayer;
My charge against the brethren of the Lord, yes those who are wonderfully saved by the blood of Christ, true and genuine Christians, was that, “IF YOU ARE NOT READING YOUR BIBLES, NOR SPENDING TIME EACH DAY IN PRAYER, you are adding to a facilitating the perilous times to come”
TWO of the Seven Churches ‘TYPES’ identified in Revelation 2-3 remain before the Lords coming, one is Philadelphia, the other Laodicea Which will you be a part of?
We will take a look at those Churches next time.
“This KNOW also….” Was the title of the Sermon
We demonstrated JUST A TASTE of the warnings found in 26 of the 27 books of the New Testament encouraging us to KNOW a description of the state and nature of the people who will represent the bulk of the Churches in the last of the Last Days.
And we beloved, have witnessed just a taste of it in our own congregation ten weeks ago!
Last time we introduced the Perilous Times as that which we ought to KNOW identifies the soon coming of Christ for his church, “THIS KNOW ALSO…” wrote the apostle to Timothy…
Today we will consider the sampling Paul gives of the character of the MEN who shall fill the churches of the Last Days.
The Title of the Sermon therefore is simply;
“FOR MEN SHALL BE…“
Lets take a quick look again at the passage, as you read I desire that you may gain for yourself the ability to IDENTIFY such people when they present themselves.
2 Timothy 3:1–9
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Pray
Lovers Of Their Own Selves2 Timothy 3:1–2
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
The specific phrase “The Last Days” appears no less and no more than 7 times in the scriptures. The first who desired to speak of that which will befall his people in “The Last Days” was Jacob as he addressed his sons before he died in Genesis 49 speaking of the events respecting Israel in those days;
Genesis 49:1
1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
There has always been a time in history that would culminate with the END OF HISTORY, a time of the end, a time of The Last Days.
Isiah wrote of it in Isaiah 2 describing the house of the Lord during the Millennium, Micahwrote of the same time in the fourth chapter; three occurrences of the phrase in the Old Testament, but four in the New.
The first was spoken by Peter as he described that which was written of by Joel in his 2ndchapter (Joel 2:28) respecting that which will occur AFTER the coming of Messiah, then Paul in the passage before as he describes the state of the Church as it nears the end.
James testifies AGAINST the people IN HIS CHURCH as they have their focus on the accumulation of wealth in PREPARATION for the last days;
Turn there;
James 5:1–3
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Then lastly we have Peters epistle as he too warns of corrupt men in the Church who come to deny the Lord is returning anytime soon;
2 Peter 3:3–4
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Now, here in this passage in 2 Timothy 3, the first description that we have of the character of men in the last days is that they “shall be lovers of their own selves“;
The balance of the passage gives the natural consequence of such self-affection and aggrandisement, consider it in the scope of SELF LOVE and ask if such characteristics follow in the nature of those who “esteem others better than themselves” (Phil 2:3)
2 Timothy 3:2–4
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
This kind of SELF-LOVE seems distinct from the assumed self love that is to “love thy neighbour AS thyself” (Mt 19:19)
What we might consider of the “self-love” of 2 Timothy 3:2 is an EXCLUSIVE self love, a love of SELF that is to the EXCLUSION of everyone else. If it were not distinct from that self love assumed by Christ, it would not be written of here as for a time yet future;
“This know also, for in the last days perilous times shall come, for men SHALL BE lovers of their own selves…“
How does such EXCLUSIVE self love develop?
In their seminal book The Coddling of The American Mind, authors Greg Lukianoff and Johnathan Haidt; One, a Constitutional Lawyer, and the other an American Physiologist, discovered that the level of protection, or rather, “wrapping children in cotton wool“, so evident both in many parenting techniques today and almost every school in the western world, is creating a generation of adults so weak in their ability to handle adversity, that they strike back against any person who does not think of them as high as they like to think of themselves.
““By the standards of our great-grandparents, nearly all of us are coddled. Each generation tends to see the one after it as weak, whiny, and lacking in resilience. Those older generations may have a point….”
In 2013 the Time Magazine had as its cover page an image of an older teenager laying on her front holding her iPhone far enough from her face to take Self Image. Suddenly a new word entered the English Language, the Selfie (Interestingly, An Australian slang word that won the International Word of the Year in 2013 by Oxford Dictionaries)[1] .
The Title of the 2013 Time Magazine was simply,
“The ME ME ME Generation” Subtitled “Millennials are lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents“
In the article the Author Joel Stein wrote;
“Here’s the cold, hard data: The incidence of narcissistic personality disorder is nearly three times as high for people in their 20s as for the generation that’s now 65 or older, according to the National Institutes of Health”
He goes on to say;
“Millennials got so many participation trophies growing up that a recent study showed that 40% believe they should be promoted every two years, regardless of performance.
They are fame-obsessed: three times as many middle school girls want to grow up to be a personal assistant to a famous person as want to be a Senator, according to a 2007 survey; four times as many would pick the assistant job over CEO of a major corporation.
They’re so convinced of their own greatness that the National Study of Youth and Religion found the guiding morality of 60% of millennials in any situation is that they’ll just be able to ‘feel’ what’s right.”**[2]
You will note that this article is ten years old, those 20 something Millennials are in their mid thirties today, and if they have grown up believing that “feeling hurt” equates to “being hurt“. They will also become individuals who will justify ANYTHING that might come close to proving their feelings justified.
When the best JUDGEMENT that an individual can employ to JUDGE something is their emotional response, no relationship will EVER survive in the long term.
The entirety of the description given in 2 Timothy 3:2, is perfectly represented by a generation of young people, now up to their mid thirties, who need “trigger warnings” so they can move to a “safe Space” and here nice things about themselves. That is TODAYS GENERATION OF Millennials and upcoming final generation (Sorry, referring to GEN Z).
In his book “Antifragile”, Author Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a Lebanese born Statistitian, stock trader and Polymath and current professor of Risk Engineering at New York University, wrote of how we are weakening a generation of people by not permitting the trials that strengthen them to endure. He says;
“Just as spending a month in bed . . . leads to muscle atrophy, complex systems are weakened, even killed, when deprived of stressors. Much of our modern, structured, world has been harming us with top-down policies and contraptions . . . which do precisely this: an insult to the antifragility of systems. This is the tragedy of modernity: as with neurotically overprotective parents, those trying to help are often hurting us the most.”[3]
In an educational opening statement to his book he writes;
“Wind will extinguish a candle, but energises a fire” his advice is that we do not turn our children into candles, but QUOTE “You want to be the fire and wish for the wind”[4]
What Taleb has discovered is that hard trials generally make for more resilient ADULTS, but soft touch coddling of feelings almost ALWAYS leads to neurotic, narcissistic people.
Our passage in 2 Tim 3 demonstrates that this is going to be the general state of the modern Church in the last days, and it is not too difficult to see it as true.
The modern contemporary “feel good church” is bursting at the seams with meaningless emotional drivel designed to first Please the Crowd and then with their music, dull their senses into altered states of consciousness so they can leave the Church in the same sinful state, but feel better about it.
2 Timothy 4:3–4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Beloved, relationship are NEVER proved during the good times. It is not difficult to love those who love you, it is never difficult to have a relationship with someone who agrees with everything you say and do, as long as this is all that is expected in a relationship, be sure you leave your candle in a breathless room.
Relationships are PROVED THROUGH TRIALS AND DISAGREEMENTS. If they endure this, they will certainly grow in greater agreement, the wind has blown but they have chosen to persist AND THE FIRE OF their love toward another gets stronger.
Those described in 2 Tim 3, “men lovers of their own selves” etc, are made evident by their willingness to “Endure Sound Doctrine”. The unwillingness to do so will see them come up with all manner of excuse to leave the church.
Watch for them, this is a Sign of the Times, for.
2 Timothy 3:13
13 …evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
NOTICE however how the verse we have under consideration frames itself,
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Each phrase sets itself up for the next in a natural sequence and consequance. Those who Love Themselves, is inferred to the exclusion of all others, for we all naturally love ourselves, there is therefore a distinction in this passage.
We naturally become “Covetous”, we lust for that which we think will give to us that which we ought to gain from our relationship to Christ. In January I preached a Sermon titled “A Bag With Holes”, in that sermon is stated that the covetous relationship that many Christians have with Money testifies that money is the final frontier of Christian idolatry, our love of it displaces our love for God, for in it we believe to receive all the comforts, security, happiness and opportunities that would otherwise come from God.
Boastfulness and Pride are co dependant both to each other and to the one that loves himself. God help you if you ever say anything to such a person that diminishes what he/she thinks of themselves.
The SELF ESTEEM movement has destroyed proper self enquiry. Reciving a participation award just for showing up and created a plethora of self entitled people whose love for themselves has outweighed the Gospel.
Blasphemers: The word is pertinent of the individual who loves himself MORE, as is seen in the next verse.
Disobedient to parents: naturally, if you love yourself to the exclusion of all others, you will have NO regard for the advice or direction of parents.
Unthankfulness is the most hurtful of all that is above. What do you do when you have shown abundance of love and gone out of your way time and again, you have cared and prayed, stayed up late at night ministering to a brother or sister, gotten up in early mornings and spent regular time. What of parents who have so wonderfully provided for their Children and find themselves SHOVED aside, placed into nursing homes and rarely ever visited?
How do you deal with unthankfulness? How does the LORD?
What can we do with ingratitude beloved? You cant discipline it. What can you do?
You will do as the Lord does, Feel Pain!
UNHOLY: is the culmination of Self Love, it is the assessment of oneself according to personal perception and not according to rule. The UNHOLY man has no governing principal in life other than what he wants to attend to for himself. There is no rule and no law; “Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the law“…now where did I get that quote from?
“Peple with the condition might seem charming and charismatic at first, at least on the surface, but they generally find it difficult to understand other people’s feelings. They often:
break rules or lawsbehave aggressively or impulsivelyfeel little guilt for harm they cause othersuse manipulation, deceit, and controlling behavior”[5] Without Natural Affection2 Timothy 3:3-4
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
“For men shall be…Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers etc”
We notice that a change has occurred respecting natural tendency. The passage is descriptive of a nature within them that is antithetical to what they ought to be.
There is no change in clause between verses 2 and 3, so what we have is a continuation of the description of those Timothy is to know about concerning the nature of people in the CHURCH in the last days.
They role on perfectly naturally from FIRST becoming “Lovers of their own selves”
“For men shall be…3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
While we are so naturally seeing such a rise of the population of both the world and the Church of people being exclusively “Lovers of their own selves”, we are also seeing a dramatic rise in a personally disorder known technically as “Antisocial Personality Disorder”, or more popularly known as Sociopathy.
The Bible refers to these people simply as “without natural affection” and then goes on to show the result, .
Winston Smith, in his Substack article titled “Origins of Sociopathy“, subtitled ‘The Etiology of Guiltlessness’ describes the nature of the Sociopath as distinctly “Without Natural Affection“;[6]
He writes of them saying;
“There seems to be a general inability to process emotional experiences in the way most people would….
The sociopath may marry and have children but is unable to truly love them. They can appear to display the right emotions but it is contrived and doesn’t come from the heart, but is a practiced skill, like a second language, never native.
The author does on to state the difference between the perfect “self love” of the Narcissit and the Sociopath, stating;
A narcissist may feel the pain of being alone, without relationship because of his narcissism, and will want relationship but is completely ill equipped to maintain a relationship. The sociopath simply does not care about anyone or any relationship in this way. People are only useful as far as they are a utility.**
According to Healthline, the Characteristic of those the Bible refers to as “without natural affection“, but the world refers to as “Antisocial Personality Disorder” AKA Sociopathy;
“People with the condition might seem charming and charismatic at first, at least on the surface, but they generally find it difficult to understand other people’s feelings. They often:
• break rules or laws
• behave aggressively or impulsively
• feel little guilt for harm they cause others
• use manipulation, deceit, and controlling behavior”
little to no guilt or remorse, or a tendency to justify actions that negatively affect othersseem charming at first until their self-interest becomes clearlow empathy and emotional intelligencedifficulty learning from mistakeslack of concern for the safety of othersa tendency to intimidate and threaten in order to maintain control[7] Now this is important as to how such conditions arise.
In her book titled, “The Sociopath Next Door” subtitled “The Ruthless versus the Rest of Us“, Dr Martha Stout writes of the development of this condition evidently concentrated in the state run Orphanages of Communist Romania, under the psychopathic ruler Nicolae Ceausescu.
In the 1990’s it was discovered that these Romanian Children were kept in terrible state-run institutions with 1 staff member per 40 children, staff were instructed to ensure they had MINIMAL Contact with the children and provided the children only just enough food to live on.
Once these institutions were exposed, compassionate Westerners began to adopt these Romanian orphans and discovered it was a difficult journey;
She wrote;
“…a couple in Paris would discover that their beautiful ten-month-old Romanian daughter was inconsolable, and only screamed louder when they tried to hold her. Or a couple in Vancouver would walk into their three-year-old son’s bedroom, to find that he had just hurled the new kitten out the window. Or parents in Texas would finally have to admit to themselves that they could not keep their adoptive five-year-old son from spending his days staring into a corner, and that he sometimes viciously attacked their other children in the middle of the night as they slept. Western Europe and North America had imported an attachment disorder nightmare created by a sadistic Romanian sociopath who was no longer even alive. Having been completely deprived of attachment in infancy, many of these rescued children were loveless.”[8] (Stout, 2021, p. 132)
It is interesting that there is a massive rise in Sociopathy in the west, a study as early as 1991 found the disorder doubled from the previous 15 years in the WEST;
Dr Stout cites;
“North American culture, which holds individualism as a central value, tends to foster the development of antisocial behavior, and also to disguise it. In other words, in America, the guiltless manipulation of other people “blends” with social expectations to a much greater degree than it would in China or other more group-oriented societies.” (Stout, 2021, p. 136-137)
Its difficult to imagine how the exponential rise in Childcare Centres in the western world WONT LEAD to an entire generation of Sociopaths both now and in the future. Children from 6 months old are dropped off to be “cared for” by others. Sadly, the instruction given in many of these centres are to ensure there is a limit on personal affection toward these little ones, and especially to ensure it is not from any one particular carer.
Let me put this together;
We should expect to see an ongoing rise of people “without natural affection” as Children are deprived from the love and affection that should come from their distracted parents.
With the dramatic rise of divorce through the satanic attack on the family, and the rise of parents placing their children in Childcare early in the morning while they ‘go to work’ and not collecting them until they are ready for bed in the late evening, there is NO DOUBT Sociopathy is going to be huge in the last of the last days.
An interesting note Dr Stout wrote of respecting the value of the emotionless, unempathetic sociopath might have as a soldier or even a law enforcer who does not question the morality of their instructions;
“because they experience no horror while killing (or while ordering killing) and no guilt after the deed is done.” P 139[9]
The extreme end of this state of being, this time to come when they shall be “without natural affection” was given to us by Jesus when he spoke to his disciples concerning the time to come;
Matthew 10:21
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
A Form of Godliness2 Tim 3:5-8
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Psalm 5:9
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
Isaiah 29:13
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Ezekiel 33:31
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, buttheir heart goeth after their covetousness.
Matthew 7:15–20
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
They Shall Proceed No Further2 Timothy 3:9
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Just as Jannes and Jambres had limitation placed on their sin, so too shall all men of “corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” not proceed any further than that which God permits.
Absalom rebelled against his father David, he first stole the hearts of the people his father was anointed to govern, deceived many of the leaders of his father to follow him and anoint him king, while he planned the overthrow of his father. Only to end with himself caught high in a tree and struck down.
In the book of Esther we see Haman build a gallows to have Mordecai hung on after he deceived the King into signing a godless order to destroy ALL THE PEOPLE of Mordecai, simply for his hatred of him. In the end it was Haman himself who was hung on the gallows he built for Mordecai.
IN the book of Daniel we find those who falsely accuse Daniel of error cast into the den of lions whose mouths testified who was innocent and who it is that were guilty.
The Bible teaches often of how the wicked dig a pit for others but they themselves fall into.
Proverbs 26:27
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Proverbs 28:10
10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
King David wrote;
Psalm 57:6
6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
Beloved; The perilous times Paul warned Timothy of is a testimony of the proximity of the Lords return for his Church.
As you see these things come to pass, and as you witness so many cought up in such sin today, look up and know that the Blessed appearing of our Lord and saviour is near.
Be ENCOURAGED, do not hold more tightly to people than you do to the Lord. Seek to PLEASE HIM and you will be blessed even though you may be persecuted.
Jesus said
Luke 6:26
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
John 15:18–20
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
{$NOTE_LABEL}. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/19/selfie-australian-slang-term-named-international-word-of-the-year
{$NOTE_LABEL}. https://time.com/247/millennials-the-me-me-me-generation/
[3]. “Antifragile” Nassim Taleb, P 5
[4]. “Antifragile” Nassim Taleb, P 3
[5]. “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5-TR),
{$NOTE_LABEL}. https://escapingmasspsychosis.substack.com/p/origins-of-sociopathy#footnote-anchor-7-50646953
{$NOTE_LABEL}. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/sociopath#signs
[8]. Stout, M. (2021). The sociopath next door: The ruthless versus the rest of us. P 132
John Murray Press
[9]. Stout, M. (2021). The sociopath next door: The ruthless versus the rest of us. P 139
The post Perilous Times Pt 2: For Men Shall Be appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Perilous Times Shall Come.
(2 Tim 3:1-9)
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times“, is the opening line to the famous Charles Dickens book, “A Tale of Two Cities“, and it is curious how well the line fits respecting the biblical history of the world and the description of the last days.
For on the one had we all rejoice as we see the world developing in a manner that so perfectly identifies the nearness of the return of Christ for his Church.
The Word of God is confirmed as TRUE each and every day and our joy in the knowledge that we will not be ashamed of our faith grows each and every day.
We look for that “blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit 2:13) and know that all our sorrow and trials is coming to a close with noting but the absolute fulness of joy on our very doorstep.
I have said it before and know it to be true, ‘there is no problem I have today that the Rapture will not fix’. That someday soon, and IMINENTLY SOON, we who have believed the Gospel to the saving of our souls, shall be “caught up…to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:7)
All that we see occurring in the world, and as we shall see through this 2024 MAYDAY Series, In the CHURCH, proves to us that the time is very near!
And yet we also despair as we see the suffering and trials of what can only be described as indicators toward “Perilous times“.
But it is when we consider further the lines that come after the first line of Dickens most famous novel that we ought to ponder its message as it seems to align with that “time yet future” the Bible tells us of;
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way–in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
The contrasting worlds written of by Dickens was that of London and Paris before and then during the French revolution, where great love together with innocent sacrifice for that Love was demonstrated, and all in the midst of the greatest societal transformation in the history of one city being undertaken.
The world is undergoing just such a societal transformation, not suddenly, but gradually yet with an almost routine suddenness jolts of change.
After the event we call “Covid”, People had begun to question the dramatic changes they were seeing around them, but could not believe.
The “Incredulity” that Dickens identified in his opening paragraph was reflected in this early 21st Century, just as it was in the late 19th Century of the time he wrote.
Many stood puzzled wondering what on earth is going on, and while many searched diligently for answers, and therein grew in wisdom, it also demonstrated yet another contrast but parallel to his opening chapter, the world also entering into “the age of foolishness“.
Deception, as Jesus warned of, will be the single greatest “sign of the times”
The MAYDAY Series is a prophecy series I preach on every year in the month of May, and we have looked at, and can indeed continue to look at, the growing development of prophetic confirmation of revelation in so many areas as we have done.
Whether that be the coming Global Government that Christians have long been warning or,
or the coming Global Digital Currency system that we are even now seeing being developed around the world together with our own unique global digital identification.
Or the coming Global religious system, which is not as evident to the world, but evident to conservative, biblical Christians being put together before our eyes, and will come to the fore when Antichrist sits in the restored temple in Jerusalem.
We could speak of the rising antisemitism and how the entire world will come to hate Israel, just as the Bible teaches.
How the United States of America will play NO ROLE WHATSOEVER, in the last days events and why that may be.
We may address the political atmosphere,
the societal temperature
and the ever growing level of both immorality and violence, all of which testify to the truth of Biblical prophecy in the last days.
We could spend weeks talking of all the signs of the times that show with certainty the soon coming of Jesus Christ for his Church, and warn the LOST of the wrath of God soon to be poured out upon a godless world, and they also being the object of his Wrath if they will not believe Jesus died to save them from the consequence of their sins.
But there is one area of prophecy I have not perfectly addressed, and that is what the Church will largely look like in those days.
With that, I ask two questions;
How close are we to the Perilous times written of by Paul to Timothy?What is YOUR Role respecting those times? We are going to look first at the many warnings given us in the New Testament of those who would work with Satan to destroy the Church and not spare the flock, including false teachers/preachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing rising up among the brethren, tares sown among the wheat in todays message.
But we also will look at the Seven Churches of Revelation to see the journey.
Finally we will give consideration and HOPE with knowing which TWO Church types will remain UNTIL that very day Jesus returns for his flock.
From the very beginning of this passage we see a pronouncement of a time yet future to Paul and to Timothy, the recipient of the letter written some 2,000 years ago.
Several things stand to reason even in the first line;
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
That it is a warning to Timothy for that which he does not yet know, in the first three words. “This know also…“That it speaks of a time yet further to its writing, stated in the last two words “shall come”That it is to occur in a definitive and identifiable timeframe, “in the last days”.And that the nature of the times to come have a descriptive characteristic, “perilous”. …”this know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come…“.
Lets pray.
This Know AlsoThis know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 Tim 3:1
There is that which the apostle desires to reveal to Timothy in this second letter, it is something that is otherwise UNKNOWN…“this KNOW also”… it is something yet to be revealed to him, it is not a reminder, but something that Paul desires to share with Timothy that he is not expected to KNOW.
This is one of the reasons we are sure that Paul is not speaking of the ‘world out there‘, for Timothy could simply look around him and see in his day multitudes of people in the pagan or secular world that are well described by this passage.
No, Paul writes his “Pastoral Epistle” to Pastor Timothy, who is historically the first pastor of the church at Ephesus, to reveal to him of the state of the CHURCH in the last days.
Turn to Romans 1 is Paul’s identifier for a world that has rejected the knowledge of God, and, but for a handful of items, it is not too dissimilar to the description given to Timothy;
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,* maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”* (Rom 1:28-32)
In Galatians 5, Paul gives an identifier of the nature of the flesh;
Galatians 5:19–20
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, etc
The similarities where Paul writes;
2 Timothy 3:2–4
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, *disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers,false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;*
Now, how can Paul be writing to warn Timothy and all furture Pastors of a time yet coming, if this was already the state of matters in the world in his own day?
Unless he was NOT WRITING of the state of the world in the last days, but the state of the CHURCH!!!
Beloved, the description given to Timothy is to describe the Church at a time yet future, and he desires that Timothy would KNOW it, and it is certain that it would come.
If this is ONE of the signs of the last days, and we are seeing all these other signs demonstrating that we are even now in the last days, we should also see this characteristic of the nature of those who call themselves “Christian” evident in the Church.
“This KNOW also…”
How can you KNOW if you are described in this passage?
It is certain that this describes the last days Church, and I would fail you miserably if all I did was to point at it as ‘somewhere out there’, rather than in this very church.
Every single book of the New Testament (except Philemon) warns us of the danger of corrupt men and women in the Church, we know Jesus spoke often of false teachers in each of the Gospel accounts, especially of the “scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites“, can we justify the notion that we have NOT be warned?
Acts 20:28–31
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, **that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Why such need of warning beloved if it were not true? They wont “spare the flock of God”, they care little for the sheep, but serve ONLY themselves.
Romans 16:17–18
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Beloved, the first Sunday of every month we read the same passage in the next book after Romans, 1 Corinthians, warning us in chapter 11 of his recognition of divisions and heresy in the Church, and saying;
1 Corinthians 11:19
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
Paul writes that we are to properly “Judge” such things as this in Chapter 14:29, and concludes the letter warning;
1 Corinthians 16:22
22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha
In his second letter Paul is jealous for the Church he has ministered and endured in work with for years, and fears for them saying;
2 Cor 11:3-4
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Dear Church, the aim of Satan is to DESTROY THE CHURCH as he also tries to destroy the family, why? Because biblical Churches and Biblical Families are the greatest single evidence to the world of the nature and character of God.
Tragically, Satan uses people, and even genuine Christians, to do his bidding. He has them disguised as “angels of light”.
2 Corinthians 11:12–15
12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
In the letter to the Galatians Paul marvels that they have turned themselves to another Gospel in Chapter 1, testifying they are “perverting the gospel of Christ” (v7). He goes on to wonders who has bewitched them in chapter three, even calling them “Fools” for accepting it in Gal 3:1.
Are we truly to think of ourselves as unlikely to be deceived when even the Churches planted by the apostle Paul were so easily bewitched?
Have you been bewitched beloved? Have subtle men, disguised as ministers of light, led you astray by believing their words and NEVER CHECKING the TRUTH OF THEM?
Acts 17:11
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Noble are the ones who CHECK THE INFORMATION GIVEN THEM, Fools are they which receive information WITHOUT QUESTION.
BUT SADLY, We are living in a time when people want to believe WHAT THEY WANT TO BELIEVE because it SUITS their purpose and desires.
It is a time when the TRUTH is often INCONVENIENT, and dam those who you are willing to hurt along the way.
“Not sparing the flock of God“
To the Ephesians is warned to not be “partakers” with “the children of disobedience” (Eph 5:6-7), to “have NO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, but rather reprove them” (Eph 5:11)
But instead of having “no fellowship with the …works of darkness” we suffer them to join us and so DIM OUR OWN LIGHT.
INSTEAD OF “reproving them” we entertain them.
We reject the simplicity of the word of God, we wont trust the Lord at his word, because it is NOT CONVENIENT. And so we allow the “perilous times” to gallop into our churches.
Again beloved, what is YOUR ROLE in facilitating the last days Church???
The very same chapter of Ephesians, please tune there as it matters much.
The very same chapter, God desires we would awaken to the truth of this and realise the days we live in;
Ephesians 5:14–16
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
While King David “hates every false way“, congregations of todays Churches who don’t spend any time learning the “true way”, desires we tolerate such evil workers of iniquity in our Churches, yet Paul calls them “dogs” in the next book of Philippians;
Philippians 3:1–2
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
False teachers had come in to take away the truth of Christ and the joy of salvation from the Philippians, but Paul warns to safeguard them.
And so he testifies to them in verse 18;
Philippians 3:18–19
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
If this was true then, how much more today? If the first century Church, so near to Christ and who gave even their lives for the sake of the truth, suffered such sinners, how much more in a day when we will not endure sound doctrine at all?
How much are you facilitating such days?
If you are not reading your Bible every day, you are helping these days develop.
If you are not regular in prayer, you are precipitating such perilous times.
If you get offended that I call you out in this way rather than feel convicted in sorrow, you will be one perfectly described by the adjectives of 2 Timothy 3 eventually if not already.
In Colossians Paul warns of “lest any man should beguile you with enticing words” (Col 2:4), he continues more specifically in verse 8 saying;
Colossians 2:8
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
In 1 Thessalonians we are charged to “prove all things” and to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess 5:21-22)
In 2 Thessalonians Paul is even more worried for the Churches, stating that God is righteous to “recompense tribulation to them that trouble you” (2 Thess:1:6), stating to punish those with everlasting destruction, “who obey not the gospel” (v8-9).
All of this leading men as the “mystery of iniquity doth already work” and “then shall that wicked be revealed“..”…whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders“
Why?
“…because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved” (2 Thess 2:7-10)
We sit here thinking to ourselves that this has no affect on us. That excusing our reading of the word of God and excusing spending any time in prayer, and devices this world employs to conform us to the world have no effect, yet the bible tells us that it will ALL HAVE ITS AFFECT in us, and as a result “perilous times shall come“.
“This KNOW also” begins Paul to Timothy, warning after warning is given us showing that Satan desires to destroy the work of the Lord, and he uses CHRISTIANS to do it best.
In 1st Timothy is a classic text that warns of placing young men into positions of authority and how the devil can use them at his own will.
It is in the passage that speaks of those desiring the office of a Pastor, and gives a description of their character for the work. But there is a warning not to place a “novice” in such a position of authority,
1 Timothy 3:6–7
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Christians can and are used by the Devil, it happened in Pauls day, it happens today and the lack of humility in such people precipitate the “Perilous times” warned of in Scripture.
But then Paul goes on to warn in greater clarity of such days;
1 Timothy 4:1–2
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
2nd Timothy has our text in chapter 3, and seeing we shall expound it further in another sermon, I will not continue that hear, save the passage in the next chapter, 2 Tim 4
It is both the charge and the warning to EVERY PASTOR before God. It is the Charge given us in every Bible College, and it is the charge we have as Pastors by all Godly men who ordain us for the ministry, and it testifies to the Perilous Times written in the previous chapter, and six verses after telling us of the worsening condition expected to be seen in the Churches;
Look at 2 Tim 3:9
Quote “but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim 3:9)
Now see;
2 Timothy 4:2–4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
My job as the Pastor of Hope Baptist Church is to safeguard this church from such seducing men and people. My charge before God is to honour HIM first.
In just under thirty years I have seen much evil in Churches, I have seen seducing spirits and seducing people that have led many away, and, I HAVE SEEN THE faith of many shipwrecked by the behaviour of other Christians.
I am to call evil, “EVIL”, and not excuse it. I am commanded in scripture to “reprove, rebuke and Exhort with all long suffering and doctrine”. I am not to do everything I can to safeguard my pay packet!!!! I am called to safeguard the CHURCH and to preach “in season and out of season”.
I am fully aware that the time HAS COME when they will not endure sound doctrine, we are LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS, and I am more aware of that today than I have ever been in my life before.
But there may come a time that you will choose to have a man that will simply scratch you where you are itching, you may be the one written of here who “will not endure sound doctrine; but after your own hearts lusts heap to yourself teachers, having itching ears“.
If so, you will join the long, long list of churches around the world that have done just that.
I will never be a partaker of fluffing the pillows of Christians who desire to remain asleep to their sin and idolatry, no matter the cost.
I signed up to feed the sheep, not to entertain the goats.
One last passage and we shall leave it there.
In a sister passage to 1 Timothy respecting the identification of the man suited to Pastor;
Titus 1:9–16
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.**
As my desire was to demonstrate that EVERY new Testament book warns of the danger in the churches, from wolves in sheeps clothing, false teachers, false brethren, Christians used by Satan, to prove the truth of the doctrine and to OPEN our eyes to the church of the last days.
We already know the warnings in the gospels by Jesus, you have now examples in each book from Acts through to Titus of the warnings in the New Testament alone, you can dig out the rest for yourself.
Philemon is the only book of the New testament that does not have any such warning.
In closing;
You have a choice beloved, either repent and turn back to the Lord and remove yourselves from those who work in the darkness that you may lead a fruitful and blessed life, or stay continue to excuse yourself and add to the darkness to come.
As for me, as your pastor, I cant help you any more than this. I have warned time and again that you will fall into sin and Satan will use you to facilitate his work, but I am powerless to do any more, the choice is yours.
I am not going to go through all twenty six books to prove how much God wants to warn you of sin rising in the Church, but one last passage that I cannot overlook. It is the chapter AFTER our primary Chapter, 2 Timothy 4Where do you fit in the description of 2 Timothy 3?
Your family needs you to be reading your Bible every day.
Your family and friends need you to be praying to the Lord Jesus Christ each and every single day.
The WORLD needs you now, more than ever.
There is no time!
1 Corinthians 7:29–31
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
The post Perilous Times Pt 1 appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
IntroductionJohn 3:16–21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
“Saved From What?“… its a question that is asked by those who query the question we asked in the first message regarding the Gospel asked by the jailor in Acts 16:30
“What must I do to be saved?”
Some time ago, a man brought forward his strong argument against the Bible, declaring, “I am seventy years of age, and have never seen such a place as hell, after all that has been said about it.” His little grandson, of about seven years of age, who was all the while listening, asked him, “Granddaddy, have you ever been dead yet?”[1]
We have spoken of Jesus Christ and why he came, why he died, how it is that he rose from the dead.
We spoke of spoke of its historical reality and laid down the arguments that are so clear.
We spoke of our state, our sin and how we all have broken the law of God and CANNOT BE REDEEMED by our own efforts, no matter how hard we try. Sin entered into the world, and death by SIN has placed us into the same condemnation as the Devil and His angels for which HELL WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED.
The Law of God is the measurement of the standard that would grant unto us the PRIVILEGE OF HEAVEN. No man is able to meet that standard, no man that is, except the one who came in our place to give his life a sacrifice for our sin.
SAVED FROM WHAT? Is the question?
SAVED FROM HELL….is the answer.
The same HELL created for the devil for HIS SIN AGAINST GOD, is the hell mankind is condemned to for his SIN AGAINST GOD.
Incredibly, no man or woman needs to go to hell.
Jesus told the world that there is a Broad way to hell and “many there be which go in thereat, Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Mat 7:13-14)
YET JESUS MADE A WAY, AND NONE NEED TO GO TO HELL.
Why will “many go in”?
John 3:19 “…men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”
The topic of hell is not something that most people would not bring up in polite conversation, but it is interesting to consider the contrast of today to any time in history past; for thousands of years man has had a natural concern respecting his existence after death. ‘The Afterlife’ has always been a topic of conversation among men, both pagan and Jews alike have lived their lives with this fundamental question before them.
Paul knew EXACTLY what the jailer was making enquiry of, and the jailor also knew he did not need to explain to Paul what he was referring to when making this enquiry. Both knew that the question was specific to SALVATION FROM THE DAMNATION OF HELL FOR SIN!
In John 3, Jesus makes a number of statements employing words that IDENTIFY THAT END FOR ALL OF MANKIND apart from the gospel;
From verse 16 we see it;
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Here you have to completely opposing propositions, one is that of an individual “perishing“, OR of having “everlasting life“. These are antithetical one to the other. But it continues on in the passage;
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
If the world is not willing to be “saved”, then it shall certainly be “condemned”… ‘condemnation’ therefore, is the opposite of being “saved”. But the passage is still not finished;
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,
Again, it is as if Jesus is trying so hard to help us understand the two opposing points, one to be “not condemned“, the other is being “condemned already“. The Roman Jailor of Acts 16 clearly KNEW where he stood on those two polarising positions.
Do you?
Jesus explains why there is a condemnation from verse 19 in John 3, and we are still drawn toward giving consideration to the antithesis; you are either on one position OR you are on the others…there is no half way point in the Bible;
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Jesus spoke of hell more than any other single individual in the Bible. Of the 54 occurrences of the word in the entire Bible, Jesus uses the word itself 15 times, in other words, almost 1/3rd of the employments of the word “Hell” in the entire Bible is employed by Christ, the one who would die to save mankind from it.
SOMETHING HAS CHANGED
Something has changed however in our modern days. Though the concern over the afterlife was front and centre in the minds of most people up until but a century ago, today it is a taboo subject.
Perhaps it is considered “taboo” by most people because most people do not want to be reminded of the sin that is sending them there, they have dulled their consciences to the point that they are quite literally sleep walking into hell and are angry when you try to wake them up, UNTIL it is too late and, like the rich man of Luke 16, they are buried and “in hell he life up his eyes, being in torments” (Lk 16:23).
In his book The Vanishing Conscience, Pastor John Macarthur relates a telling example of the people of the world respecting their sin and how it all ends. He writes of an airline disaster in 1984;
He writes;
“In 1984 an Avianca Airlines jet crashed in Spain. Investigators studying the accident made an eerie discovery. The “black box” cockpit recorders revealed that several minutes before impact a shrill, computer-synthesized voice from the plane’s automatic warning system told the crew repeatedly in English, “Pull up! Pull up!”
The pilot, evidently thinking the system was malfunctioning, snapped, “Shut up, Gringo!” and switched the system off. Minutes later the plane plowed into the side of a mountain. Everyone on board died.
When I saw that tragic story on the news shortly after it happened, it struck me as a perfect parable of the way modern people treat the warning messages of their consciences.[2]“
Its not just that people do not want to be told about their sin today, people do not want to be told that there are consequences to sin.
“The wages of sin is death” says the bible in Romans 6:23.
“…sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom 5:12)
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die…” Ezek 18:4
Jesus said, “and these shall go away into everlasting punishment” Matt 25:46
Turn to Mark 9 to obtain the full perspective on sin and its end by the lips of Jesus
Mark 9:43–48
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
What is hell?Every culture in the world has an innate belief in what is often referred to as “The Afterlife”.
Even in this secular nation of Australia, where almost 40% of people identified themselves as having no religious affiliation in the 2021 Census, I have never yet been to a funeral where the individual is regarded as ceasing to exist.
Every person who I have witnessed officiating over a funeral has given at least some remark as to a present afterlife existence for the person who has died.
Contrary to both scripture, every ancient culture and the living belief of all people who recognise a positive and negative end to life, every funeral I have witnessed consistently proclaimed a “Positive End”.
Jesus said
Matthew 7:13
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
What Jesus spoke of and every culture has long been aware of seems to have become the first historical victim of being “shadow banned”. First in the culture, then in the Bible Cemeteries (Seminaries) and finally in the pulpits of Churches.
Its removed from Old testament completely in almost every modern Bible and included about half of the time in the New testament.
The word “Damned” and “Damnation” is removed completely in almost all modern versions of the Bible….
I have worked in the construction industry for thirty years and we had DANGER SIGNS everywhere and labels on everything warning us of potential injury.
Modern Christianity has taken away the WARNING label of life and death and today people live with little to no fear of death.
Some kill themselves for fears in life thinking that it is SAFER to “Die” than to live.
Beloved, this is frightening! Especially when the Bible presents “death” as the ultimate and final enemy of mankind;
1 Corinthians 15:26
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
The word “Hell” appears in no less than 54 verses of the Bible gives men no excuse to be ignorant as to its meaning and Christians NO EXCUSE as to its warning.
Synonyms of the word and allusions to the place; such as the word “perish” in John 3:16, “Everlasting Destruction” 2 Thess 1:9, sudden destruction 1 Thess 5:3, ‘vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” Rom 9:22, Fiery Indignation Heb 10:27), blackness of darkness Jude 13, eternal fire Jude 7, outer darkness Mat 8:12, 22:13, 25:30, everlasting fire Matt 25:46, Lake of Fire (Rev 19:20, 20:10, 20:14, 20:15), Perdition 1 Tim 6:9, Just to name a few, are found so much more frequently, adding further to the evidence of wilful ignorance to which account will be given in the day of Christ (Phil 1:10).
23 of the 54 occurrences of the word ‘Hell’ is found in the New Testament. All but SEVEN of those appearances of the word ‘Hell’, came from the mouth of Jesus.
The warnings that he gave are the clearest of all the warnings in the scriptures and the descriptions given by Christ are also the most revealing as to its description.
Fire
Hell is descriptive of an extremity of fire that is incomparable to that on the earth.
Matthew 5:22
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
It is a place created for the Devil and his angels, both unaffected by natural fire;
Matthew 25:41
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Here we see that it is an “everlasting fire”,
It is a place where the body will be committed;
Matthew 5:29
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Not the body that dies, but a different resurrected body; Jesus said
John 5:29
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
How is that “Resurrection Body” described?
Jesus quoted Isaiah in Marks Gospel. Turn to Mark 9
Here and in Isaiah 66:24 are the only places of
Mark 9:43–48
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Blackness of Darkeness
There is NO LIGHT in Hell
Jude wrote of False Christians, godless individuals of the last days in his single chapter book;
Jude 12–13
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
A good guide line of hell is to consider it as the complete opposite of Heaven, where heaven is filled with light, Hell is absolute darkness, and possibly even a darkness so dark it can be felt.
In Gods judgement against Egypt, when he separated his promised people from the wicked, he commanded Moses;
Exodus 10:21
21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
So many think to themselves that Hell will be a party with all the wicked, they are sourly deceived. John Bunyan wrote of one man so wicked that he was warned of his end and he replied ignorantly “what would the devil do for company if it were not for men such as I?“.
There will be no company in hell beloved!
Where heaven is filled with fellowship and company, hell is absolute solitude for all eternity. While there certainly seems to be an awareness of those in hell (Isa 14:10), unlike heaven, there is no indication anywhere that there is fellowship or companionship in hell.
Solitary confinements are employed in the prison system to inflict a greater punishment on inmates. The Devil will not have company, he will not “rule in hell” as Milton portrays in his epic poem Paradise Lost, he and all those in hell will not even see one another in that place.
Where is Hell?
Ok, we enter into a part of this conversation that is not perfectly certain, but derived ONLY from how the Bible presents it.
The ancient world has ALWAYS believed Hell is in the midst of the Earth, and the Bible does nothing to discourage this view, but may indeed affirm it.
The Bible indicates that Hell has a geographic location. Yes, it is a physical place!
When reading the scriptures, unlike heaven, we do not get the impression that hell is a mystical “otherworldy” realm. The passages of the Bible indicate that Hell is actually GEOCENTRIC.
In other words, it is in the belly of the Earth.
“Bottomless Pit”: appears 7 times referring to hell and only in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 9:1-2
1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Psalm 55:23 refers to the place as “the pit of Destruction”
Luke writes of the devils plea to Jesus that they would not be cast into “the deep” (Luke 8:31)
The assembly of wicked men who rebelled against the authority of Moses and Aaron were spoken of by Moses as he said;
Numbers 16:30–33
30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
The ONLy place you can have a “Bottomless Pit” is in the belly of the Earth.
Scientists argue a little over whether the centre of the Earth is Liquid or Solid, but both agree that it is a metallic structure with a heat intensity of between 6,000c and 7,000c.
The “outer core” they all agree is liquid fire and evidently seen spewing out of Volcanoes.
Opposed to Heaven, the Bible indicates Hell as in the Earth.
Revelation tells us that “death and hell” will be “cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” Rev 20:14
Eternal FireProbably the single most difficult aspect of Hell to conceive of is its eternality. That is, that it is forever.
You can feel free to invent a PURGATORY no matter how horrific you can create it, and no matter how long it is that you will endure it, IF THERE IS HOPE YOU WILL EVENTUALLY ESCAPE.
A “purgatory” is ALMOST WORTH the risk of living a sinful life to its fullest degree INSPITE OF ENDURING the most evil horror that an imagination can conceive of, IF there is hope that you will one day come out of it.
Jonathan Edwards, in his famous sermon: Sinners in the Hand of a Angry God” writes that;
“If all the sands of all the beaches on the world were placed into an hourglass, and each grain of sand represented an entire year, you would yet have hope of being delivered”
But this is not HELL.
Arthur W Pink recognises that even the protestants of his day were considering a form of Protestant Purgatory, vainly trusting that “the punishment of hell is ‘corrective’ rather than ‘retributive’, that the fires of HELL are “purifying” rather than “penal“.
He goes on to write;
Some who hold this view make a great pretense of honoring Christ, yet in reality they greatly dishonor Him. If men who died rejecting the Saviour are yet to be saved, if the fires of hell are to do for men what the blood of the Cross failed to effect, then why was the Divine Sacrifice needed at all—all might have been saved by the disciplinary sufferings of hell, and so God could have spared His Son.[3]
It is that HELL is ETERNAL, Forever, never to be availed from, never to stop, never to be delivered from, that makes a hell out of HELL.
Jude wrote of the deceivers in churches in the last days, comparing them to the fallen angels who are
Jude 7
“… set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Revelation warns of those who take the Mark of the Beast that is coming on the near horizon, for which the “Digital I.D.” Being debated at the moment is PREPATORY;
Revelation 14:9–11
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 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: 11 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.
Daniel wrote some 500 years before Christ of this end, saying;
Daniel 12:2
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
There is ALSO a body that they will rise with that seems fit for purpose; Jesus spoke of each being “raised” from the dead;
John 5:29
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The resurrected bodies of the saints are likened to Jesus glorified body, but the only description related to the body of the damned is seen in Isaiah and Jesus words in Marks Gospel, identified by the phrase;
“Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched” Mark 9:44, 9:46, 9:48, the repetition of which is deleted in almost every modern version of the Bible today. (V 44 & 46 deleted)
Those raised to the “resurrection of damnation” are written of to suffer the “second death”.
Revelation 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The passage of the rich man in hell testifies to the torments as Conscious, so much so that he does not desire the company of any family or freind to attend to him.
He has no question of being removed from this state, but desires relief from its torment;
“send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame[4]“
The FORGOTTEN CONSCIENCE IN LIFE seems to be FULLY INFORMED in death.
None in hell shall be remembered, no name given and celebrated between the wicked today will endure;
Proverbs 10:7
7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
Job 18:17
17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
Psalm 9:5
5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
Psalm 9:6
6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
This is contrasted with those who have believed the Gospel, who will be given a NEW NAME;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. [5] (Rev 2:17)
But Have Everlasting LifeJohn 3:16–21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
[1]. Tan, P.L. (1996) Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., p. 554.
[2]. MacArthur, J., F…Jr. (1994) The vanishing conscience. Electronic ed. Dallas: Word Pub., p. 36.
[3]. Pink, A. W. (2005). Eternal Punishment (10). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
{$NOTE_LABEL}. The Holy Bible: King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (1995). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., p. Lk 16:24.
{$NOTE_LABEL}. The Holy Bible: King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (1995). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., p. Re 2:17.
The post Saved From Hell appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
What Is Repentance?
John 3:16–21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
RepentanceWhat is “repentance”?
What must I Repent of to be saved?
Different aspects in the scripture respecting “repentance”.
The word appears 106 times in the Bible. (42 Old / 64 New)
A Change of Heart:
The law of First Mention
Genesis 6:6
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
A Change of Heart that Leads to Change of Action
Exodus 13:17
17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
Jesus Parable after being asked of his “authority”
Matthew 21:28–29
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
A Change of Heart that leads to salvation
Luke 16:30
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
A Conviction of the Heart that prerequisites and immediately precedes Salvation
Acts 2:37–38
37 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? 38 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.
Acts 3:18–19
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
When Peter was questioned for going to the gentiles and recounted his vision beforehand, testifying that they too received the Holy Ghost as it did on the Jews.
Acts 11:18
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Johns Baptism was a baptism of Repentance;
Acts 13:24
24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Acts 19:2–4
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
A “Fruit” that evidences The Change of Heart
Matthew 3:1–8
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…..
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
A Regret
(Gen 6:6)
1 Samuel 15:35
35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Job 42:5–6
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
A Sorrow For Trespass and Sin
Luke 17:1–4
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
A Sorrow For Trespass and Sin that LEADS to Salvation
2 Corinthians 7:9–10
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
It is a Commandment
Acts 17:30–31
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
A Change of Heart to acknowledge the Truth
2 Timothy 2:24–26
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
A Turning of Works to Faith
Hebrews 6:1
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Eternal SecurityJohn 3:16–21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 10:25–30
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
Sealed
2 Corinthians 1:20–22
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 5:5–8
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Ephesians 1:12–14
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Obey The Law of Moses?
Acts 15:1–11
1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Acts 15:19–29
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Galatians 2:19–21
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 3:1–3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Hebrews 7:18–19
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 7:22–25
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Believe In The Heart
Acts 8:32–38
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
The post What Is Repentance? appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Acts 16:25–34
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Two weeks ago we spoke of the triumphal entry of the Lord. The day that Jesus presented himself as the King of Israel, the day the people acknowledged that this same Jesus is the one spoken of all through the Old Testament and presented himself on the very day Daniel wrote of 483years earlier.
To the very day that Cyrus, king of Persia made his proclamation in both speech and also in writing;
2 Chronicles 36:23
23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
Incredibly however, while one day the people rejoiced in Jesus and exalted him as their king and that all should follow him, a few days later he was turned upon, falsely accused before a multitude and sent through no less than three fake, unlawful trials before being presented with false witnesses, until he was unlawfully condemned by the testimony of his own lips.
Remember beloved that accusations must be PROVED by the accusers.
Accusations are NOT to be defended against, they are TO BE PROVED.
This happens to each and every one of us from time to time,
You will have people forcing you to defend against an accusation, but the burden of proof is on the accuser. “Innocent until PROVEN guilty” is the correct manner of law, not ‘guilty until PROVEN innocent’.
Those seeking you to answer an accusation are reversing the lawful burden of proof.
This is what occurred to Jesus. He was asked to defend himself against an accusation, but the burden of proof is ALWAYS on the accuser.
What happened to Jesus was LAWLESSNESS. This same LAWLESSNESS is repeated often today.
What we witness in the Bible during this time was that the cries of “Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”, four days later gave way to “Crucify him, Crucify him”.
Not even the Governor Pilot could get an answer as he cried out “Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more saying Let him be crucified.” Mt 27:23
Three days and three nights later the resurrection of Jesus Christ became the single most proven historical event of all history, the denial of which would require the denial of ALL history not video recorded.
What then came of all of this?
Opportunity for eternal life began to be preached to all the world as a testimony to the truth of Christ for the salvation of the world.
The world was changed, NOT BY WAR, but by WORD!
The testimony is that Jesus, the Son of God and God the Son, died for the sins of the entire world and eternal life became available to ALL who would choose to believe it.
While “…the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;” it became “unto us which are saved…the power of God”,
Paul continues;
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 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? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:18–21
AND SO THE QUESTION IS STILL ASKED TODAY AS IT WAS THEN;
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
Do you know the answer beloved?
The CondemnationActs 16:30
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Built within the question of Acts 16:30 is an internal recognition of personal condemnation.
When a man asks the question, “what must I do to be saved?”, he testifies to his full understanding that he is ETERNALLY LOST.
The question here is not one related to a physical salvation.
He was not drowning in a sea of water and in need of help.
He was not stuck down a mine shaft and desired to be saved,
and he was not making enquiry as to his personal safety from the punishment due for runaway prisoners, for they already told him “we are all here” (v28).
No, the “keeper of the prison” was asking for the sake of his eternal SOUL.
Have you EVER asked that same question?
Have you EVER had a care for the state of your eternal soul?
Have you EVER wondered whether or not you will be accepted by God into heaven?
Have you EVER feared the reality of falling headlong into hell?
You know, each and every minute, of each and every day, of each and every year, someone dies and opens their eyes in hell.
Think on this for just a moment Christian!
The disciples themselves asked of Jesus, “are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Lk 13:23-24).
In Matthew 7 Jesus makes it clear saying;
Matthew 7:13–14
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
You walk past people each and every day who, without YOUR personal intervention and witness of Christ that the person might have OPPORTUNITY to be saved, may end up in hell for your silence.
To you however who still sit condemned by sin, this alone is of eternal value to think about:
There is literally NOTHING preventing you for falling into hell this very minute. Turn to the obituaries just locally, and see how many people have “died suddenly” in the last DAY, and wonder what if it were you?
No doubt, you, like they, have made plans for tomorrow. You made plans for your next holiday, but what if the expectation of those plans perished in a moment and you were suddenly brought down to hell?
Proverbs 11:7
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
Jesus gave his parable on this matter and it is worth seeing the word of God for yourself, turn to Luke 12:16
Luke 12:16–20
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
No doubt the hope of many is for a longer life. A time to fulfil dreams and purposes that never had God in the frame.
No doubt they expected that they made their plans well concerning eternity. They said their prayers daily, they attended their religious services and NEVER EXPECTED to come to hell for their troubles?
The Psalmist wrote;
Psalm 73:18–19
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
I have a personal story that might best illustrate the “slippery places” the Psalmist speaks of.
Working in the construction sector for many years, there were times I would need to walk on a pitched tin roof. On a dry day, the best and most sure footing a person can have while working up there are a pair of gum boots.
The warm roof, together with the soft rubber sole gave a surer footing than any other hard soled shoe and you can work in total comfort and assurance, expecting to get your work done in time.
But if a single splash of water hit that roof where you were standing, there is literally nothing to stop you from falling. Your own weight, while previously helping you stand firm, would now work against you and accelerate your fall.
So too are all those who think they stand safe who have never sincerely asked the question;
The question “What must I do to be saved?” had not really been asked or answered sincerely, and so they are now in torment and only wish for a drop of water to cool their tongues.
Turn forward a little in your passage in Luke
Luke 16:19–24
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The first thing we recognise is that the rich man does not have a name.
This is true for all those in hell; while they have every desire to make a name for themselves on earth, they are forgotten in hell.
Proverbs 10:7
7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
The second thing we recognise is that the rich man does not question why he is found in hell.
No doubt he thought he laid out plans otherwise and took good care to never be there while yet alive, but now there is no indication he questioned the justice of the matter.
Those who think they will have something to hold God to account for after death, may be surprised to find THAT the conscience they seared and sealed on earth, be fully informed in eternity and have NOTHING TO SAY.
Thirdly we see that it is CONSCIOUS TORMENT.
The man is fully aware of the torment of his soul that it is ALL CONSUMING;
send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
LASTLY (and there are many other items to bring out, but this last is my present desire to show); THE MAN HAS NO EXPECTATION OF DELIVERANCE…EVER.
Not only does he not request “time out for good behaviour“, but ONLY for the TEMPORAL relief of his torment, He does not even want the company of FAMILY MEMBERS.
27 I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
AS to the nature of the condemnation, there is NOW only ONE!
Turn to John 3
John 3:19–21
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The Provision 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Here in this same text is an assumption that some WAY has been made available for people to be SAVED.
The question assumes SALVATION is an option.
For the man no doubt has tried much to attain that good place in his own merits and his own ability, but is aware to have come short of it time and time again.
Imagine for a moment that you have tried to purge all your own sins in your own effort, only to have a cat cross your path unexpectedly and you curse and swear as it almost tripped you up!
Well now you would need to go back on your knees, or count some additional rosery beads, or face the right latitudinal direction and pray, or hope that the god you worship wasn’t listening to the profanity under your breath.
No, clearly you, like the Keeper of the Prison, would know you needed to be “SAVED“. What a relief it would be IF ONLY someone ELSE made a WAY!
Beloved, God is just, he is not going to let sin slip, there is a cost to sin against God just as there is a cost to crime against man, and that cost MUST BE PAID FOR.
Some provision MUST be made available in order to SAVE YOU for paying the cost yourself, a WAY to be delivered, a SUBSTITUTION made in your place for YOUR sin.
Even a sacrificial atonement, voluntarily made for it to be just, by one who was innocent of any and all transgression you had made, and one that is Approved BY GOD to have met the criteria HE requires.
Having something DONE for you in this case is INFINATELY different for you DOING it yourself.
“What must I do to Be saved?” from this gentile jailor is a very different question to that asked of Jesus by the rich young ruler,
Matthew 19:16
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
You see, this is the question asked of ALL RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD. All have a different answer, but ALL PRESUME there are NO provisions available, and ALL must DO some good thing to “have eternal life“.
All the days of their life is preoccupied with that “good thing” and IF they have ever done enough.
ALL people, except for those who have trusted that JESUS made PROVISION for their sin.
For them, the work is DONE, and all they need “DO” is believe Jesus did it all.
Ephesians 2:8–9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
“Works” assumes that if you live according to the law, you can be justified, but this is NOT the PURPOSE of the Law and is expressly DENIED IN SCRIPTURE;
Romans 3:20
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Turn to the book of Acts and see what is said when men have tried to convince those who think to earn ETERNAL LIFE by THE LAW OF MOSES;
Acts 15:6–11
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
NO my friends, none can EARN eternal life, it is a YOKE that no man is able to bear. What is needed is PROVISION to be made FOR OUR SIN.
Else, we all must give our account once our appointment with death comes;
Hebrews 9:27–28
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
The next verse in that text gives to us the culmination of this sermon and the answer to the question we began with AND identify the PROVISION made,
Hebrews 9:27–28
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
The AnswerActs 16:25–34
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believeon the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Not by OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Isaiah 64:6
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
BUT, BY PROVISION MADE
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Isaiah 53
AND SO, THE ANSWER IS GIVEN;
John 3:14–18
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Do Not Neglect So Great A Salvation;
Hebrews 2:1–4
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
The post What Must I Do To Be Saved? appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Now Is Christ Risen1 Corinthians 15:12–26
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
What a difference a week makes.
If there was ever a time in your life of a week that has both its highs and lows we might wonder how it could compare with the week that had seen the Lord Jesus Christ go from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to his murder at Golgotha and his resurrection three days and three nights later.
John 12:12–13
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Is the record of John, the beloved apostle.
Mark 11:9–10
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
Is the record of John Mark, apostle and company-man of Bananas and Paul for the ministry of the Gospel of Christ.
Matthew 27:22–25
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Is the record of Matthew a few days later, with similar accounts in Mark, Luke and John.
In a matter of a few days the testimony of Christ went from exaltation to condemnation in the eyes of the people. From Veneration to detestation, from being worshipped and adored to being demonised and abhorred, and all this in but a few days.
What happened?
When you look at the account in its best chronological order as seen in Matthews Gospel, we see that after Jesus presents himself as King on the very day prophesied by Daniel (9:25-27) and in the very manner spoken of some 500 years earlier by Zechariah (9:9), the zeal of Christ for the temple of his father consumed him after his entering into the city and he overthrew the tables of the merchandisers.
Chapters 22 to 25 of Matthews Gospel was the next day where he condemned the leaders of the people with great clarity against their sin, no sooner had he done so that Matthew 26 records just two days before the Passover, a conspiracy to destroy him; turn there;
Matthew 26:3–4
3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
Thereby culminating in that which Isaiah wrote of 700 years earlier in Isiah 53,
Isaiah 53:3–6
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ that we celebrate, as we gather on the first day of every week since that time, is a matter of HISTORY.
It is NOT a fable, a nice story or a myth, it is a testimony of HISTORY that has historic affirmations in;
Multiple INDEPENDENT SOURCE Testimony OF historyTestimony of enemies and scepticsEmbarrassing Admission TestimonyEyewitness TestimonyEarly Documented Source Testimony The historical claims concerning Christ fulfills ALL these in greater force than the historical accounts of ANY OTHERS ancient account of ANY OTHER ANCIENT EVENT.
Philosophers Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli write,
“We believe Christ’s resurrection can be proved with at least as much certainty as any universally believed and well-documented event in ancient history.” [1]
Yes, we believed Jesus died for our sins by faith, and we trusted that in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily and that his blood was sufficient to wash away all our sins, BUT IF JESUS DID NOT RISE FROM THE DEAD HISTORICALLY AND IN REALITY, we would yet remain in our sins practically.
Whatever we believe to be true would still not be true if what we believe is true, is false.
1 Corinthians 15:17
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Our faith means NOTHING if it is not rooted in reality!
Three Things that are attested to in this portion of Scripture that must be TRUE.
Jesus is GodJesus died For Our SinsJesus rose from the dead Jesus resurrection from the dead demonstrates the truth of the former two. If Christ be not raised, the divinity of Christ and his death for our sins cannot be affirmed. The HISTORIC resurrection of Christ CONFIRMS IT ALL.Accountable1 Corinthians 15:3–8
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Embodied in 1 Corinthians 15 is a creed concerning Jesus Christ, his death, his burial and ESPECIALLY his RESURRECTION.
It is there in verses 3-8 and it was circulating well before it was here penned by Paul in this letter to the Corinthian Churches.
It is a creed that testifies as to the reason WHY Christ died, (v3) “for our sins according to the scriptures”.
It is a creed that testifies of his burial for no more than three days (v4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
It is a creed that testifies of a multitude of witnesses that had seen him after he rose from the dead in verses 5 & 6, And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remainunto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
And it is a creed which testifies to the appearance of Christ to two of the most ardent sceptics who did not believe anything concerning Jesus being “The Christ“;
James the brother of Jesus, and SAUL (Paul), the persecutor of all the “Christ ones” who followed “that way“;
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
What we have here is an historical creedal testimony that had been circulating at least orally well before the writing of any of the epistles of Paul.
This first letter to the Corinthian Churches written around 57AD and affirmed as a letter from Paul by the earliest Church fathers such as St Clemens Romanus less than forty years later in 96AD.
Not a single critic of the New Testament doubts the authenticity of this letter from Paul;
Theologian Spence Jones, in writing of Pauls letter to the Corinthian Churches, wrote over 100 years ago saying.
‘…not a single writer of the smallest importance, however “advanced” his school of criticism, has ever ventured to question its cogency.[2]“
Triumphal EntryJesus held people accountable to KNOW who he was BEFORE the day he entered into Jerusalem, presenting himself as KING on the day prophesied exactly 483 years earlier by Daniel (9:25).
When John the Baptist came to enquire of him;
Matthew 11:2–6
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
When he the wonderful works he did in certain cities testified of who he is but they refused to believe, Jesus said;
Matthew 11:21–24
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
When the Pharisees asked for an additional sign from Christ apart from all he had already shown them he said;
Matthew 12:39–42
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
And finally, when he approached the city in the day and the manner in which all the scriptures of old testify to, and he wept before it;
Luke 19:41–46
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Now, before I go on, what of YOU?
The testimony of Christ has come down through the ages and with it is a ring of truth that your own sin and longing testifies to.
What of YOU?
Your death is imminent, judgement of sin looms over head pressing you down and you walk over the thinnest covering underfoot to keep you from falling headlong into hell at any moment, it is as brittle as chalk and your own weight works against you.
WHAT OF YOU?
With the testimony of history and billions around you to the truth of Christ, will you not be held accountable to the information you have?
Perhaps it was through the pointing out of the sinful state of the people with such clarity that caused them to turn against him so quickly.
When Jesus spoke to the leaders of the people the day after he presented himself as the fore coming King, he said in the plainness terms possible to those who stood against him;
Matthew 23:28
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Matthew 23:32–33
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Perhaps it was the clarity of this accountability that turned the people against Jesus not a day after they cheered his entering in.
The Doubts1 Corinthians 15:14–19
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
From the very beginning, even before the death of Christ, there was a plan to deny his resurrection, and so the apostle here brings the logical conclusion that if Jesus did not rise from the dead then all preaching is pointless, so too your faith, you are yet in your sins with no hope of eternal life and only the ever-present expectation of hell and judgment,
Hebrews 10:27
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
From before his death the plan was afoot to deny his resurrected life.
Turn to;
Matthew 27:62–66
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
So here we have the very first claim of doubt presented that would potentially explain two events;
the first was the Empty Tomb and the second his RESURRECTION. Two doubts that would persist for over two thousand years.
Lets take a look at its employment after Jesus rose from the dead;
Turn forward to Matt 28,
The women came to the tomb, an earthquake hit while the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone (v2), the keepers of the door feared as they saw the angel and became as dead men (v4) and the angel spoke to the women, commanding them to go tell the disciples of the Lord;
Matthew 28:11–15
11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
And EVEN “UNTO THIS DAY” some 2000 years later is the same tale told.
1 Corinthians 15:14–15
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
So which is TRUE?
Are the historical testimonies true or the doubts true?
So many are the possible doubts of the account, but none testify better to the truth of the account than the historical record we have.
Everything from stealing the body to account for the empty tomb, to group hallucinations of seeing the risen Christ has been proposed to answer the question.
From rejecting that Jesus died on the cross (the famous “Swoon Theory”) to the disciples of Christ LYING for some personal gain in the matter, has been proposed.
The AnswersThey Stole the BodyThe Empty Tomb
That the Tomb was unexpectedly EMPTY is testified to by this claim that persists to this very day.
The expectation was that Jesus body was meant to still be where it was laid after he died on the cross. Testifying that “They stole the body” ALSO testifies to the FACT that the tomb was unexpectantly EMPTY.
That this was the natural original conclusion of even the disciples of the Lord seem to have been lost on the doubters, turn to John 20
John 20:1–10
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
Mary, seeing the risen Christ, thought he was the gardener and requested the body from him;
John 20:15
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Both the disciples and the discoverers EXPECTED the tomb to contain the body of Jesus.
Disciple DeceptionHow likely could it be that the disciples of the Lord stole the body from the tomb, and deceived the world that Christ had risen from the dead and willing for themselves to DIE for that which THEY KNOW to be a lie?
In 1972 a scandal toppled the United States President Richard Nixon called Watergate. A conspiracy to cover up the scandal was perpetuated by two of the closest aids to the president, but one of them John Dean, turned ‘States Evidence’ and testified AGAINST Nixon.
The reason why, in his own words, “to save my own skin“.
According to Charles Colsen, who served prison time for his part in the scandal (and who, indecently is the FOUNDER of Prison Ministries Fellowship International, who we thank for his work in the gospel of Christ shared to Tyson), John Dean confessed the “lie” after only two weeks to “save his own skin”.
Quote:
The real cover-up, the lie, could only be held together for two weeks, and then everybody else jumped ship in order to save themselves. Now, the fact is that all that those around the President were facing was embarrassment, maybe prison. Nobody’s life was at stake. But what about the disciples? Twelve powerless men, peasants really, were facing not just embarrassment or political disgrace, but beatings, stonings, execution. Every single one of the disciples insisted, to their dying breaths, that they had physically seen Jesus bodily raised from the dead. Don’t you think that one of those apostles would have cracked before being beheaded or stoned? That one of them would have made a deal with the authorities? None did.[3]
Beloved, what is the evidence of history is simply that the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, together with over 500 witnesses at one time, testify that Jesus rose from the dead and was seen alive.
SKEPTICAL RESURRECTIONNeither James, the brother of Jesus, nor Saul, the persecutor of Christians, believed in Jesus UNTIL they had seen him alive on separate occasions.
James became the Pastor of the Church in Jerusalem and was later killed by sword by the Herod the king in Acts 12:1.
Saul, who became Paul, was the first persecutor of the church of God, believing he was doing God service. Stephen was the first martyr in the scriptures, who died at the feet of Saul. The Damascus road was Saul’s experience, and Saul, who was later named “Paul”, is said to have died by decapitation in Rome for his testimony of “the resurrection from the dead”.
During one of his trials he shouted out;
Acts 24:21
21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
Why are these two testimonies important?
Because they are the testimonies of Sceptics and enemies, not friends. They are strong because there is no bias that can taint their witness and evidence.
There was one more sceptic however…
PHYSICAL RESURRECTION
That it was a physical Resurrection and not a spiritual manifestation is made evident in several sources both in the gospel accounts AND in the book of Acts.
Thomas doubted both the witness of his friends AND even his own eyes;
John 20:25
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
John 20:26–29
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: thencame Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Thomas is credited for bringing the truth of Christ to India where it was said he was speared to death in the city of Mylapore, India in July, 72 AD for his testimony of the risen Christ.
Unlike “martyrs” willing to die not knowing they are deceived, there are no sane people on earth willing to die for what they KNOW to be a lie?
Gary Habermas is by far the greatest and most prolific writer respecting the veracity of the resurrection of Christ.
He has been interviewed countless times defending the truth of it and answering all arguments of atheists unwilling to accept the historical reality of what he and others refer to as the ‘The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is single most assured fact of all history’, the denial of which would cause us to deny ALL OTHER HISTORY that is not seen with our own eyes today.
He has written several books on the subject, has collated over 4,500 writings on the same subject, has his Four Volume Magnum Opus of almost 4,000 pages on the matter pending publication, two of which this year, including.
On the Resurrection: Evidences (released Jan, 2024. 1072 pages)
On the Resurrection: Refutations (release Sept, 2024. 896 pages)
Gary Habermas Summarised the logic of the argument of coming to the truth of an historical event this way;
Some Testimony Is Stronger Than Others.
Historians employ a number of common-sense principles in assessing the strength of a testimony. Here are five of those principles:
1.Testimony attested to by multiple independent witnesses is usually considered stronger than the testimony of one witness.
2.Affirmation by a neutral or hostile source is usually considered stronger than affirmation from a friendly source, since bias in favor of the person or position is absent.
3.People usually don’t make up details regarding a story that would tend to weaken their position.
4.Eyewitness testimony is usually considered stronger than testimony heard from a second- or thirdhand source.
5.An early testimony from very close to the event in question is usually considered more reliable than one received years after the event.[4]
What we have concerning the Resurrection of Jesus Christ has all of this and so much more.
Risen1 Corinthians 15:20-21
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
The question now comes to you!
Will YOU believe the Gospel?
[1] Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1994), 181.
[2]. Spence-Jones, H.D.M. (ed.) (1909) 1 Corinthians. London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company (The Pulpit Commentary), p. v.
[3]. Charles Colson, “An Unholy Hoax? The Authenticity of Christ,” BreakPoint syndicated column 020329, (29 March 2002).
[4]. The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (p. 40). Kregel Publications. Kindle Edition.
The post EMPTY: The Resurrection appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Triumphal Entry
Luke 19:28-44
Jesus had just come from Jericho (v1)
Pt 1 (Lk 19:28-35)
The Event and Context
Luke 19:28–44
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
Jn 12:12-15 (See Zec 9:9)
Day 1- Entry in Mt 21:1-11 then the cleansing of the temple!
Day 2 (v17-18) Miracle of Fig Tree (18-22) / Debates In the Temple (Mt 21:23-23:38)
Pt 2 (Lk 19:36-40)
The Prophecy
36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Ps 118:22-26 “Blessed is he that cometh…”
Gal 4:4-6 “when the fulness of time was come..”
The stones would cry out….WHY? = Daniel 9:20-26
Pt 3 (Lk 19:41-44)
The Rejection
V44 “because thou knewest not…”
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Day 2: Matt 23:34-37
Lk 23:28-31 (journey to the Cross)
Jn 1:9-12 (“..came to his own…his own received him not..”
Pt 4
He Shall Come Again
Matt 23:38-39 (“…till ye shall say..”)
Hosea 3:4-5 (“…Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek…”
Zech 12:9-10 (“..they shall look upon me whom they have pierced”)
2 Cor 3:12-18 (“even to this day…the vail is upon their heart”)
Romans 11:25 (“until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in”)
The post The Triumphal Entry appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
He Gave Gifts Unto MenEphesians 4:11–16
We gave consideration last week in the introduction to personal ministry, learning and knowing that there must be in us a state of the heart that completely trusts in the Lord to attend unto the work of God in our lives.
A recognition that he is the one who supplies all our needs. That we are in want for nothing when we are willing to trust him for everything. And there is no inconsistency in our work, in our employments to make provision in this regard, for the Bible calls us to attend to all that we do as Unto Christ”, but there is certainly an understanding that we OUGHT not to fret for the loss of anything that is needed;
Luke 12:30–31
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The heart prepared, the question now comes to mind as it did to the apostle Paul on that Damascus road;
Acts 9:6
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? …
How long has it been that you have asked the question? Many may have presumed they know the answer, but many have also yet to ask the question first.
Some believe it is their natural ‘talents’ that give an indication of that which God would have them to do. This is not necessarily so. Perhaps like Paul who’s craft was Tent making, your talents and abilities are only there to help support your work.
What is seen for the passage here in Ephesians, is that the gifts that are given to men are POST Salvation.
8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Yes perhaps, their present abilities may have value in supporting the work, just as the education of Paul helped his ability to preach the Gospel, yet it was Jesus that had him set aside; “… saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” Acts 13:47
Beloved the work that is to be attained in you is the work of the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes. When will it come?
As mentioned last week, it will not come while you are “a man of unclean lips and dwelling among a people of unclean lips” (Isa 6:6), but when first your “iniquity is taken away and your sin purged” (v7), and if your heart be ready, that you are willing to trust the Lord with all that is in you, then and ONLY then might you hear that voice in your heart saying;
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us” (v8)
Perhaps then, when that burden to attend to good works rises up in you and you have placed your trust completely in him, you will answer as did Isaiah, “here am I; send me”.
In this passage I aim to first demonstrate that;
Each of us who have been saved by the Lord have been given gifts since we have been saved. (V7-8)“Some” are very specific callings (v11)All are for the corporate benefit of the Church as a body and its ministry (v12)The time of the exercise of these gifts is limited (v13) “He Gave Gifts Unto Men”.❖
Gifts For AllEphesians 4:7–8
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
There are none who have been saved by Christ that are NOT SAVED unto the ministry of Christ.
That is a bold statement, and yet it is even here presented to you and I.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Every single person who has been saved by the Lord has been given a gift to fulfil the very purpose of their lives.
We understand, simply in the fact that all people have been created, we have come into this world and have come for a purpose. We are not ‘accidental man’, we are purposeful creatures created for the pleasure of God and to share in his communion with us.
Sin had broken that relationship. And in breaking of the relationship between man and God, there is no longer a desire in man to fulfil any purpose other than that which man has set for himself. Rather than God being the centre of his life, man is the centre of man.
The book of Judges lays it all out so perfectly in the last verse;
Judges 21:25
25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
There is no God in the heart of fallen man, the natural inclination of man is to do “that which is right in his own eyes”, he has no inclination to attend to that for which he has been created. Man does all he can even to remove himself from the very thought that he is a created being, by denying the creator himself.
Romans 1:21–22
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Not so those who have had this blessed relationship restored. You now have a purpose, a purpose that has been established by none other than God, your creator.
There is reason for your life, there is purpose for your life. And, as incredible as it may seem, it is the highest purpose that can man can ever have because it was purposed in the heart of the living God.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Beloved, I can assure you of one thing that is true. When you are attending to the “good works” God has ordained that you should walk in, when you understand that you are his “workmanship”, “fearfully and wonderfully made” as the Psalmist wrote (Ps139:14), even a “vessel unto…honour” (2 Tim 2:20), you are living a life that is being fulfilled each and every day. Even though you go through the trials of life, and some of those trials are indeed a part of the gift God has given you, you can still attend unto your work with Joy.
2 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Beloved, far too many Christians today are living mediocre lives, living for themselves rather than living for the Lord who has crafted them to be fulfilled ONLY when they attend to his work which he “hath before ordained that YOU would walk in them”.
They flash their mediocre lives on instagram to tell the world that they are not interested in the work God has called them to attend to, they are living life on their own terms, fake Hollywood smile and all.
And if they continue to live their lives all their days their way, Frank Sinatra will get another play at the grave.
Beloved, both joy in life and reward in heaven is attained, not when we do it our way, but when we attend to the gift Jesus has given us when “he led captivity captive”
Turn to
1 Peter 4:10
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Every man” says Peter, there are gifts for all of mankind that are given for mankind to fufill the purpose for his life.
We can talk a little more about how to know what your is, but before we do so we need to deal with the objection that comes to think God has not given you ANYTHING. That there is NO PURPOSE to your life, or the question as to what that purpose might be.
Though you, no matter what state of life you are in, do not beleive you have a purpose for your life, it is denied by the eternal, infinite truth of Gods words.
1 Peter 4:10
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Whatever it is that you think or feel, must be subordinate to what God says.
If you are willing first to accept this as true, then and only then are you in the position to search for it.
Many years ago when we left an unbiblical Church, I had almost given up thinking there were biblical churches out there, until the scripture came to my mind that “the gates of hell will not prevail against my Church”. It was my belief that this text gave me assurance that there simply still must be biblical churches out there, that set me searching.
Decide first to believe Gods word that you have a very peculiar and special calling, a gift given directly by God that NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD CAN ACCOMPLISH BUT YOU.
Then, begin your journey!
❖
Peculiar CallingEphesians 4:11
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Everyone is given a peculiar calling, some of them are listed in the Bible.
Here we see that he gave “Some” to be apostles; and “Some” to be prophets, and “Some” evangelists, and “SOME” pastors and teachers.
Beloved, if “every man received the Gift”, and “every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Are “ALL” apostles? “All” prophets? “All” Evangelists, pastors and teachers?
All indeed do receive a peculiar Gift, but not all share in the same gifts.
Apostles particularly no longer exist. The description of an apostle is those who have seen the risen Christ in the flesh, and were directly ordained by him to preach to the world. The false apostles of today will give their account to Jesus at Judgement.
Some of those gifts are listed, and many more are listed in the scriptures, but all have the same ultimate purpose that you will need to consider as we go through this study.
In the early Church, God had ordained very specific roles for people that would not continue, we see this is 1 Corinthians 12 to 14, these were known as “Revelatory Gifts”. At that time the word of God was incomplete, and we give diligent consideration that the verse; “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” in 1 Cor 13:10 can only refer to the Word of God in writing, and not the Word incarnate. It cannot refer to Christ, because he had already come, but this is looking yet future to that which has not yet been.
Certain gifts, such as the gift of Tongues, Knowledge and prophecy were revelatory gifts, they were there temporarily to affirm the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews through the signs ordained by God from the beginning, even to Moses on the mount.
Remember, the gospel was to go to the Jew first. Jesus came to the children of God FIRST. You recall the woman of Canaan who called after Jesus respecting the devil in her daughter, and his response to her in
Matthew 15:24–28
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Three times Paul affirmed that the Gospel was to go to the “Jew first” Romans 1:16, 2:9 & 2:10, we see the same pattern all through the New testament, but what we know more about is that “the Jews REQUIRE a sign” (1 Cor 1:22).
The signs gifts would be done away when that which is perfect is come.
Turn to
Romans 12:1–8
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Has your heart changed? Have you first presented your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”?
God will not place on you that which your heart does not desire. This is why the heart was the first itme we spoke of last week. This is why we dealt through this entire series with those things from the most difficult to the simple. Do you trust him?
Proverbs 3:5–6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Are you being conformed to this world, or are you being transformed by the renewing of your minds? Are you spending more time reading your Bible and in prayer than you are distracted by that which will pass away?
Do you still love the world, or is you eye for Christ alone?
Do you think of yourself more highly that you ought to think? Are you a man like Diotrephes in the scriptures, a man who likes to have the preeminence among men? Do you exalt yourself or abase yourself? Beloved, whatever you do to yourself, God will do the opposite to you.
Be sure not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Remember that you are a part of the body of Christ, and this is the key respecting whatever it is that the Lord has given you as a gift.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The gift given you is PECULIAR to you.
There truly is never going to be another person that will do what you are called to do. If there were, God would never have made YOU!
You are unique to him, set aside for his peculiar purpose.
The ONLY way you will know how valuable you are is to realise that the work you are called to do, is for God. Your purpose has INFINITE WORTH.
So what are you doing to prepare for it?
❖
Corporate GiftEphesians 4:11–16
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
This is where the rubber meets the road.
The gift in which you are called, the “good works” you have been given the grace to attend to, is directed in a direction that God had ordained for the blessing of the world;
It is 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Turn To;
Matthew 25:14–30
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It is interesting to me that the word Talent is interchangeable to purpose and ability and here we have this parallel story that is likened to Jesus having left his Church in the hands of the members of his body.
He expects a return on what he has given us, for the benefit of his body, the Church.
❖
Time Is ShortEphesians 4:13
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
One of the great “Until’s” of the Bible.
This is the time when opportunity to attend to our ministry comes to a close. A time we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”
When we come to realise the infinite value of the work we have attended to, when we see how God had multiplied even the little effort we had done, when we come to realise how much more we could have done.
It is interesting to me how quickly we think in the flesh. All of us have this desire to do some great thing for God and we often measure it the way the world measures fame. We think that if we are well known by man, we should be well known by God. If man has put us on a pedastool and all these people “follow us”, then we must be something in deed.
But that is not at all how the Lord measures the value of that which he has given us.
We saw something interesting in the parable of the talents that Jesus was speaking of. Each had received the talent and each had received the reward for exercising that which was given him to the fullest extent.
They do not boast, they know that what they have they have been given.
Those that have been given much, are expected to attend to that which they have been given to the fullest extent. Those that have been given but one gift ought to do likewise. Both are measured in the extent to which they ahve applied what they have been given, WITHOUT BOASTING!
Isaiah 10:15
15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
The time however to excersise those gifts is comeing to a close. Each and every day that goes by is closer to us going to him or he coming for us.
And there will be a reward for those who have faithfully attended to his work.
1 Corinthians 3:11–15
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The post Pt 12 He Gave Gifts appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Lights Burning (Heart Prep)
Luke 12:22–40
Before we attend to the MINISTRY of the individual disciple of the Lord, there needed first to be all that has already gone before us as a preparation of the heart.
Jesus addresses his disciples instructing them of where their hearts OUGHT to be before he speaks to them of their “loins being girded about, and your lights burning” in v 35.
We cannot be servants of the Lord Jesus UNTIL our hearts have their place fully trusting the Lord, SOLD OUT FOR JESUS, rather than the stuff of this perishing life!
Luke 14:26–27
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple**.
That is spoken two chapters AFTER our consideration of this one, chapter 12. Jesus doubling down on our need to trust HIM fully. Doubling down on where the state of our heart OUGHT to be for ministry compared to our desires of this life.
The question I desire you might have in your mind as we go through this this morning, is, IF YOU TRUSTED THE BIBLE FOR YOUR SALVATION, and you now KNOW you are saved and have experienced all that pertains to it, why will you not trust the Bible completely everywhere?
In previous messages in this series, we have given to ourselves the consideration of the world and our lives in the giving up of a multitude of idolatries; The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life!
We spoke of the greatest of these being MONEY (Mammon) which brother Cody opened with in his sermon on the 10th of December last year, and I concluded in January this year. and I have never heard of so much push back on that topic as I have heard in this church before.
People offended of being likened to those God called thieves.
Offended at direct biblical links to behaviour and heart.
Offended that they ought to give ANYTHING financial for the sake of the Gospel, even excusing the vain notion that the pastor is looking to line his own pockets and hardly thinking for a moment that his motive was to share in the joy of being free from that IDOL and reminding us of our responsibilities.
But it was Jesus who first spoke saying, “ He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:39
It is Jesus that speaks here in Luke 12 of where our heart OUGHT to be, and it is evident it wont get there without a fight against the flesh.
Those idolatries of our lives needed first to be vanquished while the preparation in our lives for the work of God would be the ultimate fulfilment of our joy, preparing us for true MINISTRY.
We ought to be willing to lose our lives before we can find it.
Here in Luke 12 we have Jesus clearly expressing to his disciples that the absolute and perfect gain of their lives, the complete joy of all things is the total giving up of anything seen as valuable in this life for that which is eternal.
The very beginning of our Joy was when we gave our lives to Jesus for the salvation of our souls.
So real was that, so valuable was that that, like the disciples of old, we were willing to give all for the kingdom of God, we had set our treasure in heaven respecting our souls at the first, that nothing we had in this life could compare to all that we understood was of value in eternity.
But as life goes on and our love begins to wax cold, so too did our affections for eternity begin to shift again to here and now.
The comfort and joy of heaven began to be replaced with the temporal affections of this life and suddenly we began to change storehouses.
Little treasure set in heaven, as our heart returned to here.
The responsibilities we were to attend to here for the kingdom of God there, began to become of lesser value, as that which our eyes could see became larger in our hearts than that which “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Cor 2:9).
Beloved, our lamp dims as our love waxes cold.
But Jesus desires us to let…your lights be burning (v35)
It is a matter of interest that, at the first the disciples forsook their businesses, their jobs and all they had and followed him (Mt 4:20-22, 9:9), for Jesus promised them saying, “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mrk 1:17), and the text does not go on to indicate the men questioned among themselves the nature of the deal.
It doesn’t even indicate they were at all worried about leaving their businesses for Jesus, on the contrary, the passage tells us plainly “and straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him” (Mrk 1:18).
But it was not long into the work that they too began to ask “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee: what shall we have therefore?” (Mat 19:27)
Because It was Jesus after all who said to them, “whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:33).
It seems Luke 12 and Luke 14 are what 21st Century disciples think is “An hard saying and who can hear it” rather than the 1st century disciples contending with drinking the blood of Christ and eating his flesh in John 6 as the harder, incommunicable saying.
“whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:33).
So, to prepare the heart for ministry in its fullness, Jesus tells his disciples in this passage; “Take no thought for your life”, Take no thought “what ye shall eat”, Take not thought “what ye shall put on”, why?
V12:30–31
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Those who truly believe this to be the case, those who hold God accountable to these very words, those who have first trusted in him to save their souls for eternity and now trust him for their lives here, THEY ALONE HAVE SUCH JOY, WHEN “all these things shall be added unto you”.
WHAT CAN I SAY DIFFERENT TO JESUS in this passage?
The first preparation of the ministry, the very purpose of your lives, is that of the heart..
Luke 12:33–37
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The first preparation for the ministry, is that of the heart.
❖
His SupplyLuke 12:30–33
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
For our lights to be burning we must be able to trust him for his SUPPLY.
The oil in the lamps of the virgins who awaited for their Lord did not burn out for they had a ready supply with them, in other words, in their waiting for the bridegroom, there was never a point in which they had any fear of lack.
When the people of the Lord were instructed to journey from the relative comforts of Egypt, they may have lacked ‘the leeks and the onions and the garlick’ (Num 11:5), but he “satisfied them with the bread of heaven” (Ps 105:40), “man did eat angels food” (Ps 78:25).
When God has given to us a clear charge to “go and to preach the gospel”, with that also comes the provision of God for the work. God equips his saints with all they have need of to attend to the work, and all that is lacking in man is their willingness to trust him.
In this therefore he encourages his children, telling not to fear any lack in these things, For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew Henry
(2.) It is needless for them to disquiet themselves with care about the necessary supports of life; for they have a Father in heaven who does and will take care for them: “Your Father knows that you have need of these things, and considers it, and will supply your needs according to his riches in glory; for he is your Father, who made you subject to these necessities, and therefore will suit his compassions to them: your Father, who maintainsyou, educates you, and designs an inheritance for you, and therefore will take care that you want no good thing.”*[1]*
How vital it is for us to decide if we are willing to trust him at all. We say that we trust him, but do we?
Coming to the world in short order seems to be a manufactured famine by the elites of the world.
Many of you have heard of it and many of you have seen the farmers rise up all around the world against their governments in protest, knowing that the rules imposed upon them will destroy farming and remove food production for the people.
Elites, purchasing massive allotments of farming properties around the world, to, like Pharaoh, king of Egypt in the Bible, will have control of the food supply to subjugate the people at least by the time Antichrist appears on the scene.
The Weekly Times December, 20, 2023
In Victoria one of the most ridicoulous bills that have ever seen the light of day is being considered that will ONLY motivate farmers to abandon Animal Husbandy for other less risky alternatives. In other words, a ridiculous bill that is based on a former ridiculous bill that the ignorant people of the state did not see coming.
This is what is says in the article;
Victorian farmers face having to comply with legally binding minimum care requirements for their animals for the first time, under a radical new Animal Care and Protection Bill.
The care requirements include, but are not limited to, ensuring animals enjoy “appropriate” exercise, ambient temperatures, noise levels, lighting, air quality, shade and shelter, food and water, as well as rest areas, space to stand, lie, stretch and change position.
The draft bill also demands that animals have “opportunities for appropriate interactions with humans, other animals and the animals environment, including ensuring that the interactions are conducted in a manner that minimises anxiety, fear, pain or distress for the animal”.
Such clauses reinforce one of the founding principles of the new bill: to recognise animal sentience for the first time – ie, the capacity to feel fear, stress and other emotions.
The key concern of this ridiculous bill is not only how impossible it is to afford such levels of “care”, but who it is that decides what is “appropriate”? How is it even measured?
The article goes on to question how a farmer is able to give a defence to avoid paying the $24,000 fine, or the six months imprisonment or both for each breach.
The owner must prove they “took all reasonable steps to provide the care requirement for the animal”. But WHO decides what is “reasonable”? and how is it to be measured?
Beloved, this world is quickly coming to a close and how will you be able to trust the Lord if you are here while these things build up if you are NOT willing to trust him now?
Matthew Henry
- “Sit loose to this world, and to all your possessions in it: Sell that ye have, and give alms,” that is, “rather than want wherewith to relieve those that are truly necessitous, sell what you have that is superfluous, all that you can spare from the support of yourselves and families, and give it to the poor. Sell what you have, if you find it a hindrance from, or incumbrance in, the service of Christ. Do not think yourselves undone, if by being fined, imprisoned, or banished, for the testimony of Jesus, you be forced to sell your estates, thought they be the inheritance of your fathers. Do not sell to hoard up the money, or because you can make more of it by usury, but sell and give alms; what is given in alms, in a right manner, is put out to the best interest, upon the best security.”[2]
❖
Our HeartLuke 12:34
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
All of this is a matter of the heart.
If the heart is fixed on this world it will be fearful, it will suffer anxiety and it will be troubled no end.
The ancient Israelites were not without fear even though they had a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day to lead them in the way.
Not all were originally troubled by fear, but all were sold by the false testimony of a handful of men who went to spy out the land and returned with an evil report.
It took ten men out of two million persons to turn the hearts of a multitude against God (Num 14).
The result was all but Josuah, Kalab and those under twenty years old at the time, perished in the wilderness (Num 32:11-12).
WHERE WILL YOU SET YOUR HEART beloved?
If it is here, there is no good report, no good tale to tell, nothing I can encourage you in that has ANY lasting value.
If it is heaven, if that is where your treasure is stored, then you provide yourself “bags that wax not old”, secure from thieves and cannot fail.
- “Set your hearts upon the other world, and your expectations from that world. Provide yourselves bags that wax not old, that wax not empty, not of gold, but of grace in the heart and good works in the life; these are the bags that will last.”
It is treasure that will not be exhausted; we may spend upon it to eternity, and it will not be at all the less; there is no danger of seeing the bottom of it. (2.) It is treasure that we are in no danger of being robbed of, for no thief approaches near it; what is laid up in heaven is out of reach of enemies. (3.) It is treasure that will not spoil with keeping,* any more than it will waste with spending; the mothdoes not corrupt* it, as it does our garments which we now wear.
Now by this it appears that we have laid up our treasure in heaven if our hearts be there while we are here (v. 34), if we think much of heaven and keep our eye upon it, if we quicken ourselves with the hopes of it and keep ourselves in awe with the fear of falling short of it. But, if your hearts be set upon the earth and the things of it, it is to be feared that you have your treasure and portion in it, and are undone when you leave it.[3]
What a sorrow it is when our lives are entangled with the affairs of this life when we are called not to be!
2 Tim 2:4
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Either our hearts are deceived by this world, or our eyes lust for the gain of this world.
But is this right?
Does our love for the world to whatever degree give us a clue as to where our hearts are at that present time? Is the Bible vague when it comes to the question of where the affections of the heart ought to be?
Turn to
1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
It’s incredible how we have trusted the clarity of Gods words when it came to our salvation, but when it presents the truth contrary to what we want to believe is true, we think it speaks in riddles.
We have a twisted hermeneutic.
It is of supreme interest to me to see so many Christians, fighting against the world they know desires to impoverish them, still desire to retain the crumbs of this life, when the full bread of heaven is available to them if they would only prepare their hearts for the work!
Children perish around the world as they get older, never hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Why? because Christians are far too busy picking the crumbs of this life to sustain themselves. And while they are distracting themselves in vain personal pursuits, the leaders of the world come through with a broom every few years to sweep much of it away.
In the last 100 years we had WW1 (1914-1918), the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression that followed it lasting ten years thanks to the governments of the world to 1939, the Second World War of 1939-1945, The Korean war of 1950-53, Vietnam War that lasted for 20 years from 1955 to 1975, double digit inflation of the 1970’s, then the Stock market crash of 1987 known as Black Monday and the “Recession we had to have” for the next two years till 1990, sweeping away the value of many peoples enforced superannuation at the time. (it began in 1983 and became compulsory in 1992)
The “Dot Com” bust of the year 2000, the same year people had realised they spent a fortune on the greatest financial scam in company history, knowns as the fictitious “millennium Bug”.
The western world was changed a year later on the 11th of September, 2001.
But no rest, The Subprime Mortgage Crisis scam in the USA in 2007 that led to the Global Financial crisis of 2007-8, (The net worth of families in the US alone dropped $13 thousand billion dollars ($13T or 20%)).
The last one was 2020-21….that was the disaster that piqued the interest of Christians around the world, and even brought many of you to Christ.
When is the next one? 2030?
Every single so called “Crisis” can be traced back to the Governments of the world that, at the very least, aided and abetted, if not facilitated the extent of every crisis to orchestrate change.
“Never let a good crisis go to waste” said Political advisor to Barak Obama, Rahm Emanuel after the 2008 GFC.
They sweep the broom through the crumbs we have worked for, and we sorrow with the world until those same leaders scatter even less crumbs before us, keeping our eyes firmly fixed on where they fell; and there is Jesus in heaven offering the full bread of life if ONLY we would look up.
Luke 12:34
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The Christians who’s hearts are here distract themselves with a mirage, while the Lost remain LOST.
What on earth are we doing brethren?
The promise of eternity for our souls we ONLY came to believe because it tells us in this book.
We have now experienced the truth of it and KNOW for certain that the book concerning our souls is true, DO WE REALLY BELIEVE THE REST OF IT IS FALSE????
Where on earth are our hearts? Perhaps the better question is, where is our treasure?
Luke 12:34
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
❖
Lights BurningLuke 12:35–37
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
“Let your….lights be burning”
When our hearts are prepared for the ministry we are all called to attend to and do, then and ONLY then will the Lord truly reveal what we are to do.
FIRST: Our hearts OUGHT to be searching for the treasure of heaven.
We hold LOOSLEY to the things of this life, even trusting he should rain down manna from heaven into our back yards and balconies if need be.
THEN being prepared for the work of God with eyes and hearts fixed on heaven, he will show us what we are to do to keep our lights burning.
King David had a heart for the Lord while he cared for the sheep.
After all his brothers were called to appear before Samuel, David was busy tending his sheep and called in.
He was anointed King as a ruddy lad, then returned to his sheep until the appointed time years later.
God had much to teach him in this humble work, even though anointed king. Many trials he endured during his time as a shepherd. He was humbled greatly, learning to trust God alone, even to deliver him from the Lion and the Bear.
Be humble before the Lord, his first task is to prepare your hearts before you can be ready to do his work.
Turn to;
Isaiah 6:1–8
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.**
The recognition of Isiah of his own nature was pivotal.
“Undone, Undone”, “Woe is me for I am undone”.
Isiah was not a poor man; he was said to have been a man of means and the counsellor of kings. He was in their courts; in chapter one he tells of his service from Uzziah through to King Hezekiah.
So close to God and so far from holiness, Isiah was UNDONE.
He knew exactly where his heart was at, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.
This recognition of the state of our hearts before God is vital, for until this is acknowledged before HIM, he cannot use any of us.
God cleansed him, and he heard the question raised and was willing.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Now he is ready, now he has his heart right and in this trust in God alone, he is ready to endure the hardship of the work until he expires.
Tradition tells us that Isiah was killed in the most barbaric way. For those who desire to look it up, do so.
But what preparation must have been attended to in the heart for a man to be so willing to commit both his life and his death to the Lord?
Psalm 51:17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
When this is attended to, you are ready for the Lord to reveal to you what it is that he will send you to do.
Matthew Henry
let your hearts be upon your work, and your great care how to do that well, and this will effectually divert your thoughts from inordinate care about things of the world. And let all that have souls to save seek the kingdom of God, in which only they can be safe.
Mind the affairs of your souls with diligence and care, and then trust God with all your other affairs.”[4]
Until he comes.
Maranatha
[1]. Henry, M. (1994) Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, p. 1867.
[2]. Henry, M. (1994) Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, p. 1868.
[3]. Henry, M. (1994) Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, p. 1868.
[4]. Henry, M. (1994) Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, p. 1867.
The post Pt 11 Heart Prep For Ministry appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Charity Never Faileth1 Corinthians 13:1–13
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
The entire series on Faithfulness: The Key To Joy has been quite a challenge for us beginning from mid December last year. The tenants spoken of are SIMPLE Enough, but they are not easy.
What God calls us to trust him for are all a matter of faith, and from his perspective, should have been the simplest thing in the world for us to understand…IF WE TRUST HIM.
But we have found that, though the doctrines are SIMPLE, they are not EASY.
This says a lot about the state of our hearts.
Small Children trust their parents implicitly, Jesus said our own hearts need to be just like one of these little ones.
How simple it is…yet how difficult for far too many children of God.
We knew from the first sermon on Relationships that the primary relationship, the “PROTO-Relationship” that must needs be reconciled is that between man and God.
And while it is true that God has done it all, that God sent his son into the world to die for the sins of the world, and that man, through him might be saved, while that makes it SIMPLE, it does not make it easy.
It calls for the stubborn prideful heart of man to be humbled. To realise that he cannot save himself.
Many of us had taken years to fall on our knees and pray that God may forgive our sins and save our souls.
Even having that done, being saved and reconciled through the blood of Christ, we are STILL CHALLENGED to seek his forgiveness for our temporal sins since we have been saved.
Still stubbornly unwilling to bend the knee and come to him in humility.
Though the simplicity is given to us that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:19), and yet how many of us do this each and every day?
Not many of us find it easy to pray with King David;
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23–24
Yet this is the key to every relationship in the world!
This is one of the greatest keys to joy.
It seems as if nothing is a greater key to our joy than humility in our relationships, the first is with God, the second with fellow man.
You cannot have the second, until to have the first.
Have you ever wondered what it is that gets in the way? Pride. (Perhaps the Proto-sin)
LOVE YOUR ENEMIESThe first sermon on Relationships was reconciliation with God.
The second sermon on Relationships the bible teaches is to Love Your Enemies…..
We go from one impossible doctrine to another…”Love our enemies?” Really? Yes really!
We showed the wonder of it when it is attended to by faith, trusting Jesus for the outcome. Loving our enemies and not hating them;
…. bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: Matthew 5:44–45
Now, just when we think we might be let up we come to a passage in the Bible that tells us if we don’t have Charity, we are nothing, at the very least of no value to the kingdom of God. We add nothing if we have not Charity
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.**
But then, after teaching us both what Charity is and what it is not, the passage wonderfully concludes with this confidence, that for all eternity, “Charity Never Faileth”
PRAY
Charity Vs Love1 Corinthians 13:1–13
The overall theme of the passage we are speaking of this morning is that of reproving the Corinthian Churches for the exaggerated employment of what they believed was a spiritual gift, most notably that of the revelatory gift of tongues. Chapters 12 through to 14 does all it can to address the matter.
But found directly in the midst of it all is this incredible passage that is employed in almost every Christian wedding in these days. Is is known to many as “The Love Chapter”.
Love Vs Charity
We need to do a little theology here for a moment and, due to the plethora of Bible versions out there, I need to answer an obvious question.
Why have all modern versions replaced the word ‘Charity’ with “Love”?
All modern translations have removed the word “Charity” from the New Testament, other than a couple of places where it does not belong, in the book of Acts or Matthews Gospel. It does not belong there at all, because the meaning of the word as God has employed it, is not the same meaning we employ today.
I will explain shortly.
They have replaced it with the word “Love”.
I saw this many years ago and I got very curious.
Because on the surface it seemed right. The Greek word translated is the word Agapi.Generally they are all translated into English as love. But only the King James Version and ancient Whycliff translation use the word Charity in most, or all of the verses it is found in the KJV.
WHY?
The First thing I did was read all occurrences of the word Charity in the 24 different verses in the Holy Bible to see if there was any commonality. AND THERE WAS.
All 24 verses where we find the word “Charity”, instead of the word “Love”, is in the context of Christians toward one another. All of them were related to Christian gatherings, or something to do with brethren relating to one another in as the assembly, as the Ecclesia.
This was not always so with the simple word “LOVE”.
So I did some more digging to try and understand it.
These are some of the items I have found, which were curious to me.
New Testament
Love = 223 occurrences in 184 verses
The word love is all throughout the New Testament, in both the gospel accounts and the church letters and has a mix of forms.
The word “Love” has two forms of greek word behind it, the vast majority it is the word Agapao, as a verb in the neuter gender.
Rarely is it a noun, but sometimes.
Rarely is it in the feminine form, but it is sometimes.
Only a little more frequently is it in the masculine, it is mostly neuter in gender.
And it is sometimes in the plural and sometimes in the singular.
The other word form translated “Love” is the greek word Phileo.
No, there is NO DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE between the use of those two words, they are INTERCHANGEABLY USED in the New Testament.
Any time you hear a preacher say the word Agape means Unconditional Godly love, and the word Phileo means friendly, brotherly love, YOU HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD THESE MEN DON’T STUDY ANYTHING FOR THEMSELVES, they teach ONLY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT.
Be careful. Pastors and teachers such as these are little better than Russian Doll, copies of their teachers.
Ok, so the word LOVE in the English bible has many different forms. Mostly Masculine and mostly a verb, sometimes singular and sometimes plural depending on context.
And, this is important, it is found from the Gospels all the way through the New Testament.
Charity = 28 Occurrences In 24 verse.
The word “Charity” never appears in the Gospel accounts, only ever in the Church letters and pastoral epistles and once in Revelation related to the Church of Thyatira.
The Word Charity always has the Greek word Agapi (Not Agapeo, nor phileo) behind it. Therefore, It is ALWAYS IN THE FEMININE FORM.
IT IS ALWAYS IN THE SINGULAR FORM (Except for Jude where it is modified by the “Feasts” of Charity, the focus is not on Charity, but the “Feasts” which is plural).
It is ALWAYS A NOUN.
Beloved, was there a Church when Jesus walked the shores of Galilee or climbed the mountains of Judea? No.
When did the church begin? Acts 2.
So it stands to reason, we cannot be speaking of love between brethren, if there are no brethren to speak on.
What Gender is the Church? The word appears 114 times in 111 verses in the New Testament.
It is always a noun, always in the feminine gender and always in the singular form unless speaking of the “Local Churches”.
Why does this matter?
It matters because WORDS MATTER, God wanted us to know that there is a DIFFERENCE between the LOVE brethren are to have one with another, and the love we have for everyone and anything else.
The link between Charity and the Church is also unalterable, unchanging, because the LOVE God has for the Church is Unalterable and Unchanging, “Charity Never Faileth”.
Charity and the Church; Both are singular, both feminine, both nouns (Naming words), neither will ever fail, not even the gates of hell will prevail against them.
There is a peculiar love between brethren that ALL modern translations have demonstrably denied.
John 13:35
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
The love that occurs between brethren is a love that goes beyond the “feelings” based love that the world believes is love.
The love between brethren resembles that of a bride and groom, a husband and wife, it is a SACRIFICIAL LOVE, one that is willing to do all it does to be retained FOREVER;
It is to match the love Jesus has for his church.
Charity Suffers Long and Is Kind1 Corinthians 13:4–7
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, *5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.*
Charity Suffereth Long:
It is long suffering, it is enduring, it does not quit easily, it is in the likeness of Christ, it NEVER gives up on people.
Thoughit is tried, though it is tested and though there is suffering associated with this form of love, it continues unabated for a time that is seen as long.
A Long suffering nature of this love is seen as a fruit of the Spirit of God;
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Clearly what we witness here is not that such love is EASY to attend to, it is again as simple as making a choice, but it is not easy, there is trial associated with such love, just as Jesus is Longsuffering in his love toward us, so are we to be for the brethren.
It is THIS Charity, this form of love, that is given you and I, to cover our sins against our Lord, and so we give this same love that it cover sins against us. Turn to 1 Peter 4.
1 Peter 4:8–10
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Just as you and I have received of God such grace, so too are we to administer it.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
It is kind and not cruel, it considers those who are the object of charity, rather than itself. It is not love for loves sake, but love for the sake of the care of others. When it comes to the brethren, it is “Kind”, when it comes to our enemies it is to resemble the very nature of God on high;
Turn to
Luke 6:35–36
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Romans 12
Romans 12:10
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
In other words, preferring our love for another ABOVE any love for ourselves.
This kind of love, this kind of affection and preference is one that CAN ONLY be naturally effected the more we come to know the Lord.
IT IS NOT NATURAL.
The scriptures that says, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour AS THYSELF” in Lev 19:18, Lev 19:34, Mat 19, Matt 22, Mrk 12, Lk 10, Rom 13 Gal 5 & James 2, ALL of these passages presume we already naturally love ourselves.
We simply cannot love others AS we do ourselves, if WE ARE NOT GROWING in our knowledge and LOVE for God.
We certainly CANNOT place our love for others above ourselves, without trusting that God desires this of us, just as he had done for us.
Beloved, this is the reason why the first sermon on this series was FIRST. When we honour God FIRST IN ALL THAT WE DO, when we trust HIS word as the final authority for ALL matters, we grow in our faith and can not only love our enemies, but also love one another.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
Charity Does Not Envy1 Corinthians 13:4–7
4…. charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Loving others is the opposite to loving ourselves, ENVY is the opposite of loving others.
It is ENVY in the heart that goes BEFORE the act.
It was the ENVY of his brethren that sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt (Gen 37:11 & Acts 7:9), it was for ENVY that the leaders of the Jews delivered Christ to be Crucified (Matt 27:18).
It is ENVY that identifies the Carnal Christian (1 Cor 3:3) & Envy that is associated with the damned soul that has rejected God (Rom 1:29) and Envy that perfectly describes our previous life (Gal 5:21).
Sadly beloved, it remains to be that it will be ENVY that in one form or another will be a cause that separates Churches;
2 Corinthians 12:20–21
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
It is envy that desires positions of prominence rather than the care and love of others.
Paul wrote of this to the Galatians saying;
Galatians 5:26
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
It was the apostle John writing to the Gaius, a pastor of one Church in 3 John, speaking of “Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among those in his Church, unwilling to receive the brethren of the Lord for the envy or authority he lusted after. (3 John 9-10)
The love of the brethren does not NEED to envy.
Think on this beloved, to what end is there to envy if we already have the hope of eternal life and the treasures of heaven?
It can’t be, it cant be that the one who envies is thinking of eternity, he is thinking of the here and now.
There are none in the world that can love the way a Christian is called to love his brethren, for ALL THEY HAVE is HEAR AND NOW. But those who have been saved by Christ, STORE THEIR TREASURE IN HEAVEN. They should not ENVY!
They are not to beat their chest, are not vaughnt themselves; they don’t lust or envy others, for Jesus has given them all they need and their LOVE for him is GRATEFUL, and returns to others that which they have so graciously received.
In fact, the most noble in Scripture are those willing to give up all the temporal treasures for the eternal.
What is the NEED to envy?
Today, there are Christians who envy the homes and properties of other Christians, is this really LOVE?
I hate to tell you beloved, but every single person in this place has more than someone else that DOES NOT ENVY YOU!
O that we could have an attitude as the apostle who said;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:10
No beloved, “Charity envieth not”
Charity Seeks Not Her Own1 Corinthians 13:4–7
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
The love that brethren are to have one for another is not one identified by boasting of oneself, of attaining things or successes or acts one over another.
A brother or sister in Christ does not show themselves as greater, it is not presented like the sons of Zebedee saying “Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. (Mrk 10:37) to the discouragement of their brethren. (V41).
Charity simply does not exalt itself, vaunt itself, is not “Puffed up” says the passage, boasting in achievements above their brethren.
Such vanity and pretensions abound among too many Christians in these days.
Like the Pharisees of Old, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, saying;
2 Corinthians 10:12
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Such as these present themselves and show themselves as vain to the brethren. They strangely think that they can be hid behind their mask of vanity, then they reveal themselves in often their manner of prayer.
Much praying, but little content. Many high and exuberant words of holiness, but no heart behind them. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”; says the apostle, and “from such turn away” (2 Tim 3:5)
Beloved there is always the risk that you and I can be in this state of lovelessness.
Our walk is moment by moment and we take great care in judgment of these things. We are to “prefer one another” wrote Paul (Rom 12:10).
1 Corinthians 4:6
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.**
Turn to
Philippians 2:1–5
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Thinketh No Evil1 Corinthians 13:4–5
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;**
There is one act that, not only Christians, but family members do one to another, that is near impossible to reconcile without utter humility. It is when one thinks evil against another.
It is by far the single most hurtful act of all when people are JUDGED for PERCEIVED wrongs as opposed to real wrongs.
When people “FEEL OFFENDED” rather than be actually OFFENDED AGAINST.
In families as in churches, this one act that begins in the mind and is ultimately expressed by the tongue, becomes a fire that sets the course of hell says James. (Ja 3:6)
James 3:6
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Thinking Evil, is one that PRESUMES MALEVOLENT INTENT. And very sadly, it is always, always, always done in Christian circles by individuals who have backslidden in their faith or are in the bond of iniquity.
Those who have a close relationship with the Lord, NEVER pretend to know what is in the mind of another person when a questionable act or statement is made.
They presume otherwise until evidence is shown to the contrary.
The closer your walk with the Lord, the LESS INSECURE YOU ARE.
There is a lack humility when people are going through times of insecurity. Insecurity is often REVEALED through pride!
Those who are puffed up are proud.
Paul wrote in 1 Cor 8:1 saying “knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth”. Those who are prideful, those who are puffed up are also the same as those who are insecure and they all despise having their belief respecting themselves deflated.
Interesting, I remember that Chuck Missler in quoting this verse by Paul said the greatest sign of insecurity are those with PHD before their names. He said that several times….until he got an honourary doctorate for his 80,000 word book, “Cosmic Codes”.
Unrepentant Sin in the heart of man is the single greatest cause of insecurity in ones life.
The more sin you have that you have tried to hide from the Lord, the more you need to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, the more highly you think of yourself, the more you need the affirmation of others and so you “vaunt” yourself, you ‘boast’ of all you do.
The more you are not CHECKED in this vanity, the more secure you become in self conceit, and the more emotionally insecure you are.
You have esentially built up a Jenga tower for yourself.
People around you need to learn the dangerous, but futile act, of walking on egg shells, because at ANY MOMENT such a person will begin to think evil of you.
At any moment that tower of self conceit will fall on friends, relatives and brethren.
Sadly, the Bible teaches us that such will be the evident sign we are living in the last days church.
Turn to 2 Tim 3
2 Timothy 3:1–5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
This is a description of the last days church, not the last days ‘World”. The world has ALWAYS been this way. Paul was writing a pastoral epistle to a Pastor, and this is what he speaks of concerning the behaviour of many in the time I believe we are now in.
Such as these behave in OPPOSITION to that described in 1 Cor 13, and prove perfectly verse 4-7 as anything but Charity;
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.**
No beloved, such people as these are “easily provoked” and think evil against those whom they beleived has provoked them. They will not rejoice in the truth, they certainly can not bear all things, beleive all things, hope all things and last of all they shall not endure all things, but will be brought under great sorrow of heart.
They will not even endure sound doctrine.
God to chapter 4 of the same passage in 2 Timothy;
2 Timothy 4:1–4
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
What a time to be a pastor!
Charity Never Faileth1 Corinthians 13:4–8
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Charity Never Faileth…
Did you see that?
Never!
When your best friend hurts you, love them, they are not your enemy.
When your brother or sister hurts you, love them, they are not your enemy.
When your cousin, or work college hurts you, love them, they are not your enemy.
When your brethren hurt you….love them, they like you have been bought with a price. They like you have a wrestling with the flesh and have the devil walking about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour….love them, they are not your enemies.
Beloved, we live in the most incredible time of all history. More has been written of the days that we are living in than in any time of history in the Bible, short of the Captivity of Israel for those 70 years.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood….if you can love your enemies, you can love and forgive your brethren when they sin against you, when they think evil of you.
Charity never failethThe same love that purchased the Church has within it permanent love and perpetual grace that will last for eternity.
It may be true that some relationships that are separated today, will not be reconciled today. But the moment the doors of forever opens, and we behold that which no eye hath seen and no ear hath heard, and we see all that God hath prepared for those that love him, we will all enbrace one another for all eternity, forgetting the sillyness that drove us apart.
We will see all we have done in our temporal life, and know that there was only ever one that is good, and that is God.
Meanwhile, we have the love of Jesus Christ to share with a world that needs him. We have the eternal gospel to attend to until he comes…and he is coming very, very, very soon.
Please, can I beg of you all to forgive the sins of your brethren, no matter how serious it was, it cannot compare with the hope of everlasting life that we can share with one more person.
Keep eternity in view, for it is ONLY the devil that wants you focused on hear and now.
The post Pt 10 Charity Never Fails appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Love Founded on Forgiveness
(How much do you love Jesus?)
(Reading Luke 7:36-50)
“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50)
Introduction:
As a gospel message, today’s study though not intended fits somewhat into our Faith [The key to Joy] series. After all our faith journey begins at salvation and the forgiveness of sin. And continues as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Out of this ought to come a deepening of our love for him…accompanied by greater obedience.
The title of today’s message: Love Founded on Forgiveness
As we read this passage, we should be probed by some uncomfortable questions. These are questions that we all need to ask ourselves…
Scripture is amazing in this respect because it doesn’t sugar-coat sin and the faults of those written about.
We frequently have 2 opposites juxtaposed within a given text. It does this that we might see things in ourselves that we need to change
Two examples that come to mind:
Cain and Abel
Jacob and Esau
Today’s passage should greatly challenge our values and belief systems and hopefully [and ultimately] causes us to think deeply about and even question the depth of our love for the Lord.
This is what makes this passage so noteworthy and probably a favourite of many believers.
Our 4 points today are:
Love Sought through Opportunity
Love Substantiated through Sacrifice
Love Shown through Service
Love Founded on Forgiveness
Before getting into our 4 points today let me give you an overview of our passage:
We see:
Jesus is invited to a meal at the house of a Pharisee named Simon.
A certain woman also attends; bringing an alabaster box containing ointment. She proceeds to stand behind Jesus; washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair.
She breaks open the box containing the ointment and anoints his feet.
We are given an insight into the heart of Simon the Pharisee, who reasons that if Jesus was a prophet he would have known that this woman was a sinner.
[I actually find this reminiscent of the words of Satan during Christ’s temptation in the wilderness: “If you truly are the Son of God”. Remember Jesus says that the Pharisees are of their father the devil.
Jesus then proceeds to give Simon an illustration which makes the point of praising the woman’s actions and explains perfectly the motivation behind them.
[Keep your finger in the text]
Let’s Pray
Love Sought Through Opportunity:
“And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment…Luke 7:37”
Through no coincidence, this woman was in the right place at the right time. And she made the most of her opportunity to meet Christ.
She had obviously heard of Christ and the things that he had done. And It’s reasonable to suggest that she might have heard him speak.
Scripture tells us to seek the Lord while he may be found…and this woman knew exactly where to find the Lord.
What’s more is that she came prepared with a box of ointment. She wasn’t coming just out of curiosity or to see some miracle…she came with intent.
From our story it’s hard to know the exact point at which the woman receives forgiveness…as it isn’t confirmed to her until the end of the passage.
Nevertheless, she came with intent and possibly:
BRINGING FORTH FRUIT MEET FOR REPENTANCE
If we look at the story of our own conversion…I’m sure there were conscious decisions made, in our quest to seek and to find the Lord and receive forgiveness.
Should it be any different now…or
HAVE WE STOPPED SEEKING GOD
Seeking the Lord for wisdom
Seeking the Lord’s will for our lives
Seeking the Lord for forgiveness and sanctification
Seeking the Lord for answers to prayer
We must be seeking the Lord daily.
Just as the blessings for this woman were eternal…so will they be for us.
Love Substantiated Through Sacrifice:
“…brought an alabaster box of ointment,” Luke 7:37
The first thing we see in our passage today is the lengths to which this “certain woman” was prepared to go to in order to demonstrate her love for Jesus.
Jesus indeed challenges us in the gospels to count the cost of following him.
What lengths are we prepared to go…? And what are we prepared to give up in order to follow Christ?
What are we prepared to sacrifice?
Our time?
Our finances?
Our relationships?
Our worldly reputation?
Obviously its not things per se but our heart’s attitude [or affection] towards them.
As for sacrifice we read:
“For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)
There’s an indication in a similar [yet different] account that such ointment had significant value. In giving of her substance, she obviously places great value on Christ and his ability to forgive her sins.
HOWEVER:
We shouldn’t think for a moment that she was attempting to buy the Lord’s love and forgiveness. THE LORD LOOKS ON THE HEART
True love understands that: You CANNOT put a price on love:
“… if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.” Song of Solomon 8:7
The word contemned means to regard with contempt or to despise, disregard, or loathe.
THE THOUGH OF BUYING LOVE ACTUALLY DEVALUES IT
Ironically, we are God’s purchased possession. We’ve been bought with the precious blood of Jesus.
One thing that possibly isn’t tangible [in our story] is the potential humiliation that this woman was prepared to endure. Yet we know that she was labelled a sinner by the Pharisee (at least internally):
“Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”
Luke 7:39
I’m sure that she would have felt the stares. The Pharisee was ready to condemn the woman:
Note that Jesus was guilty by association.
Whilst the Pharisee was ready to condemn the woman, we know that Christ came not to condemn the world but that through him, the world might be saved.
What strikes me about this story is this:
One thing we don’t see in this story is a woman MADE to jump through hoops and perform a series of complex tasks such as sacraments or penance to receive forgiveness.
One thing we don’t see is a woman made to sit through a bible college course to gain a qualification before she is forgiven and consequently accepted by Christ.
One thing that we don’t see in this story is a 12 step program for the woman to complete in order to be made whole:
THIS IS CONTRARY TO WHAT CERTAIN CHURCH PROGRAMS WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE
Rather than facilitating wholeness [and sanctification] they actually steer the participant away from the one who is able to make you perfect through his word.
What does Paul say in regards to his own personal struggle with sin:
“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 7:25
The sad reality is that all these programs do is to rehabilitate the flesh rather than crucify it.
I’ve actually challenged people in regards to these programs; suggesting that as believers all we need areCORRECT DOCTRINES and the WORD of God. Sadly people would rather follow some gimmick designed to excite them about God instead of following sound doctrine.
THE USUAL RESPONSE:
“Whatever works for you”.
WHAT WE DO SEE:
Is a woman prepared to forsake all and seek the Lord. And in the process receives the forgiveness of sin. This is something of immeasurable value and which cost her NOTHING in comparison to the gift of eternal life:
It is by grace we are saved. It is a GIFT
This is perfectly expressed in the hymn “Rock of Ages”:
“In my hand no price I bring, simply to your cross I cling”.
WHAT WE DO SEE:
Is a woman who was prepared to risk potential and actual ridicule and who essentially was ridiculed by the Pharisee [and those present] in order to express her love for the Saviour.
WHAT WE DO SEE:
Is a woman who understood the SIMPLICITY which is in Christ.
In terms of potential humiliation [and this applies to us all]:
“…Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 10:11
This begs the question then:
SHOULD WE THEN BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
As I said earlier: Jesus asks us all to count the cost of following him:
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26
Jesus isn’t advocating hate, of course: what he is saying is that our love for him must exceed our love for others… and even our love for own lives also.
Further to this we have the commandment:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1John 2:15
Just as there is perfect love within the trinity:
GOD SEEKS TO PERFECT THAT LOVE IN US
Love for the world is contrary to our love for God.
Jesus also told us:
OUR LOVE FOR HIM WOULD CAUSE THE WORLD TO HATE US
This is exactly the response that the woman received from the Pharisee
In following the Lord we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices and yield ourselves unto God as instruments of righteousness.
It is only in doing so that we fully enjoy OUR new life in Christ:
As it was for this woman, so it is for all who come to Christ: the sacrifice becomes irrelevant when you realize that there is nowhere else to go:
ONLY JESUS HAS THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE
Love Shown Through Service:
“And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.” Luke 7:44-46
We all know the first commandment:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30
“…Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8)
We are commanded to love God and we can’t escape this fact. It is this commandment which defines our devotion and service to the Lord. Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commandments.
We are:
TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR BEING
WITH THIS IN MIND:
What we see in our story is a woman committed to obeying this commandment through an act of service
It is no coincidence that Jesus challenges our love for him and uses money and material objects as a tangible example of worth. We saw this in regards to the potential cost of the ointment and also the forgiveness of debt being equated with sin.
Jesus understands the potential of material things to draw our hearts away from him when he said that you cannot serve two masters [God and mammon].
One thing we do know is this:
Serving God is the result of a transformed heart:
[Turn to]
“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:15-18)
We have a choice:
Serve self and sin
Or
Serve God and righteousness
In our text we see that it was was the woman’s desire to please and to serve the Lord.
And based on this, she acted accordingly.
The bible teaches that we ought to bring deeds meet [suitable, appropriate] for repentance
And that it is godly sorrow which leads to repentance.
In other words, by our actions we demonstrate that we have had a change of heart regarding sin.
Just to clarify this: we don’t do deeds to GAIN forgiveness but rather BECAUSE of the forgiveness received. It should be our natural response to do those things which demonstrate that we are indeed forgiven.
We can put it this another way:
Faith without works is dead and this woman showed her faith by her works.
In acknowledging the woman’s actions
Jesus says:
“…thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace” Luke 7:50
Within the text we see the quality of her love and devotion to the Lord…..
At the same time we see the ACTIONS of “the certain woman” contrasted with the INACTION of Pharisee:
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Luke 7:44-46
From what we see, the inaction of Simon, shows a total disregard for the Lord and in particular who he is and what he was able to do [i.e. forgive sins]. Even as a host he showed zero hospitality.
As we examine the actions of this woman, AGAIN the one thing we notice in this story:
HUMILITY!!!
The position of servant automatically places her below her Lord.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” (John 13:16)
The Lord Jesus himself is our example of humility:
He demonstrated this is two ways. Firstly when he washed the disciples feet.
And by his death on the cross
“…being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
When it comes to our personal SERVICE towards God:
Psalm 37 tells us to delight ourselves in the Lord and HE will give us the desires of our heart. In other words, when we spend time with the Lord, his desires become our desires.
THIS IS WHERE DUTY AND DEVOTION MEET
When the Lord changes our hearts the lusts [desires] of our flesh will diminish.
One thing is certain in this story, when examining our motives [both individually and as a church] is Jesus ought to be central to all we do.
The apostle Paul said that whatever you do in word or deed, do it as unto the Lord. We realize also that we are his workmanship created in Jesus unto good works that we should walk in them.
[We’ll deal with motive in our next point]
But
If Christ isn’t at the centre of our acts of service, as in our text today…the danger is portraying another Jesus and another gospel.
We know all too well the dangers of a social justice gospel; a Christ-less gospel is no gospel at all. And those that follow this are accumulating for themselves: wood hay and stubble and NOT laying up for themselves, treasures in heaven.
In giving to the poor and visiting those in prison it is spiritual poverty that we need to be addressing and it is the prison house of sin that people need to be freed from.
This brings us back to the first commandment and probably the reason Jesus reminded his disciples when they asked. Remember also, that the Pharisees had the people jumping through hoops; teaching as commandments, the traditions of men.
It is pretty simple theology really.
Love Founded on Forgiveness:
“Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” Luke 7:47
The illustration that Jesus uses in our passage today, centres around money and the forgiveness of debt. This is something tangible and easily understood.
In today’s society, I don’t think we fully appreciate the nature and consequence of being in significant debt; especially when banks through their greed entice their customers to put themselves in greater and greater debt [as if it’s normal].
If you add to this understanding the fact that it is through debt that banks have actually made their wealth then you realize why the concept of un-payable debt is lost on a world that is in such a condition
[Trust me I have used this illustration to no avail].
In today’s society you can declare yourself bankrupt and virtually get off “Scott free”. Whereas in biblical times you could “sell yourself” to a master and work for him until the debt was paid.
When [AND ONLY WHEN] you have a biblical understanding of debt, you can fully appreciate the illustration that Jesus is using.
Jesus’ illustration and example has deeper implications of course and it seamlessly transitions to a lesson on the forgiveness of sin.
Put simply: “The wages or payment for sin is death” and the only way to repay the debt is through death: the death of yourself; spiritually
Or in the case of the believer: the substitutionary death of Jesus.
It is only when a person understands his own spiritual impoverishment that he can fully understand the predicament that he is in and the cost required to attain that forgiveness.
The bible tells us:
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1Corinthians 6:20
And it is only when we truly understand our predicament and the price that the Lord was prepared to pay. It’s only then that the free gift of salvation can be received and truly appreciated.
THIS IS WHAT REDEMPTION IS ALL ABOUT
John Newton hit the nail on the head:
“How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed”.
We could talk about the grace of God for all eternity and still be at pains to explain it.
Nevertheless it is pretty sad that our Lord has to compare the infinite and unsearchable riches of God’s grace with finite material things. The grace of God is not something we can see or measure; it is the invisible things of God which are eternal.
Jesus’ conclusion that those who are forgiven much, do love much is perfectly summed up in John’s epistle and also shows God’s willingness to forgive.
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1John 4:10
LOVE IS INDEED FOUNDED ON FORGIVENESS
AND THE THINGS WE DO FOR THE LORD SHOULD BE A REFLECTION OF WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US
Such is the power of God’s forgiveness as the woman’s response clearly demonstrates.
Conclusion:
There are three central themes running through our text today…
LOVE: The love of God and love for God
FORGIVENESS: The forgiveness of God and forgiveness toward our fellow man. It is in knowing God’s forgiveness that we ought to and are able forgive others.
SERVICE: Which ought to be motivated by the love and forgiveness of God through our Lord and Saviour. .
So…the question
HAVE YOU LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE?
This was the charge laid to the church at Ephesus; a church which hated evil and by all accounts, did many good things.
They had their doctrines down-pat and they were bold in professing the truth.
They were exposing darkness as was the exhortation given to Timothy [the first pastor of Ephesus]
They exhibited many fine character traits such as patience, perseverance and courage; labouring and fainting not.
YET THEY HAD LEFT THEIR FIRST LOVE
Without expounding the whole of that passage in Revelation 2:1-7:
We have to acknowledge the seriousness of the warning: which was to remove the candlestick from the church. This is to say that they would no longer be regarded as a church.
If we don’t have a church [so to speak] what do we have then?
A room full of people, professing to be Christians, doing Christian “stuff” [going through the motions as it were] and making absolutely NO difference in the lives of the brethren or the community at large.
This would be UNTHINKABLE!!
THE LORD OFFERS A SIMPLE SOLUTION:
REPENT and DO THE FIRST THINGS
That is: read your bible and spend time with the Lord in prayer.
Before I conclude this message, I don’t want to leave you with the impression that love for God is some romantic notion or feeling; because it certainly is not. This is not to say that there is not a certain emotion attached to our relationship with the Lord. It is a relationship after all.
First and foremost our love for Jesus is demonstrated and proved through obedience and not a feeling as he so plainly says:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
Love is an action…
Prior to salvation the bible states that the unbeliever is an enemy of God and so it makes perfect sense that if man is to love God then he needs a change of heart.
Before coming to Christ we didn’t even know who God was let alone love him. It is only through the atoning death of Jesus; upon accepting this sacrifice as the payment for our sins, the sinner is unblinded and able to see who God is and therefore to love him.
Unbeliever: your first act of obedience needs to be to the gospel.
THIS IS THE ENTRY POINT TO OBEYING ALL THE COMMANDMENTS
Those who are born of God keep the commandments and they are not grievous to him. When you love someone, you don’t do it begrudgingly.
When Jesus puts the challenge to Simon in regards to being forgiven:
The obvious question which comes out of this passage is:
How much have I been forgiven?
The obvious answer is that we have been forgiven more than we can know.
Hopefully, through the knowledge of our transgressions, sin had become “exceeding sinful”
This is why we turn to Christ for forgiveness of those sins.
You must realize that the infinite debt incurred because of sin is only payable by a sacrifice of infinite worth:
The death of our Lord on the cross
The next obvious question which comes out of this passage is:
How much do you love God?
Is it directly proportional to the realization of your sin debt and God’s forgiveness towards you.
The promise to the church in Ephesus:
IS A REWARD TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME:
ETERNAL LIFE
LET US PRAY
The post Love Founded On Forgiveness appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Crowned To Love Our EnemiesMatthew 5:43–48
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
On the 16th of February 2023, the ABC published what could only been seen as a slanderous attack on Biblical Christians, aligning their belief system as the source of motivation for the deadly shooting of two police officers in Queensland on the 12th of December, 2022.
The headline said it all;
Queensland police say the Wieambilla shooting is a terrorist attack motivated by premillennialism.
The article went on to say,
“Christian extremist ideology has been linked to other attacks around the world, but this is the first time we’ve seen it in Australia.”
When requesting the commonality of the belief system, it was the associate professor of Politics at Deakin University in Victoria, Dr Josh Roose, who is also said to be an “expert on far-right and religious extremism” according to the ABC, that stated this incredible claim;
“This [belief] by no means represents Christianity, however, any extreme idea taken to its conclusion … when you’re talking about biblical or religious texts, effectively has the strong potential for violence.”
I was personally so shaken by this complete distortion of evident reality that I could not but write, both in complaint to the ABC for willing vilifying the broad view of Biblical Christians around the world, and also willing to distort all evident history, even so far as to claim that Islam is a religion of Peace, while now stating that biblical Christianity has a penchant for violent extremism.
On the 17th of February, in a complaint to the ABC, I wrote;
“The most extreme view of anyone who follows the Bible literally is to “love your enemy”. I was astounded to see that such an article could be justified that says the opposite, regardless of the eschatological views of Christians. There are three ‘Last-days’ views of ALL Christians, and ALL would be considered ‘extreme’ in the eyes of an anti-biblical worldview, yet NONE of them, taken to the extreme, could justify what those people did in Queensland, yet your news item tried to affirm the opposite.
The Golden rule to “Love God and love your neighbour as yourself” came from the lips of Christ and is certainly “EXTREME” if taken literally. It is the complete opposite, both of the world we live in today and the article this journalist wrote.”**
I had then written to Dr Josh Roose whose email was published on the Deakin University Website. He is based in Melbourne.
My first email on the 17th of Feb, the day after the article appeared, simply requested a response as to whether or not the ABC had properly represented him.
I did not receive a response. But about a week later I had seen a similar affirmation of the belief of this Professor was given in the Guardian via a direct article. I sent him another email requesting a meeting with him;
Dear Dr Roose,
I have not as yet received a response from you respecting your representation on the ABC, but after seeing the article from the Guardian I understand that you were properly represented.
I am reaching out one more time in the hope that I might have a coffee with you respecting the issue, as I truly believe a great error has been promoted that terribly misrepresents Christians, and especially those who have long held the views castigated in the media of late, given fuel by your statements.
Perhaps you might see an opportunity to meet with and speak to a Pastor who might be considered by you as being one of the most “extreme fundamentalist Christians”, holding Premillennialism as that which the Bible teaches.
My hope would be you might find that, though fundamentalism in some religions may naturally lead to violence, only the precise opposite could be said of those who are charged to love their enemies.**
I live in Melbourne and am happy to meet for a cuppa for a time and at a place that suits you.
Sincerely yours, Pr Edi Giudetti
I have never received a response from Dr Roose.
It was Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs, who recalled what it was to Love your Enemies” and how it was that it was through this very effort and suffering, that brought him the closest to the Lord Jesus Christ.
In suffering some of the most excruciating tortures at the hand of the communists, and in the witnessing of barbarity so extreme he says it was impossible to reduce to writing for the offence it would cause and the memories it would bring up, Pr Wurmbrand wrote;
“It was in prison that we found the hope of salvation for the Communists. It was there that we developed a sense of responsibility toward them. It was in being tortured by them that we learned to love them.”[1]
Perhaps this becomes true for many Christians. Only through the sufferings aligned to Jesus may we finally understand what it is to love our enemies. Perhaps it is only through these kind of trials that we seek his face to learn of what to do.
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die”.
This is a quote from another martyr for Christ. Written several years before he himself fulfilled its calling.
In its context, Pr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was executed by the Nazis on the 9th of April 1945 at the Flossenburg Concentration Camp, without any evidence against him, with no records of the proceedings, but by witness of those who had seen the event, and only a fortnight before the camp was liberated by the US Army, Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood that to follow Jesus Christ was to go against all the common tendencies of naturalistic man that denies the reality of God and the plight of the Gospel.
In his 1937 book, “The Cost of Discipleship”, four years after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor and two years before the onset of the 2nd world war, Bonhoeffer wrote;
As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time—death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.” ( Dietrich BonhoefferThe Cost of Discipleship, 99)
Beloved, the call to Love our Enemies is the single greatest and most exreme act in relationships that we are called to undertake. It is the “Death” of our old and natural tendencies to “hate our enemy”, and to instead love him for the sake of the gospel.
It is an act that BEST IDENTIFIES US WITH CHRIST.
The FIRST relationship we had to understand, was that respecting our direct relationship to God. This SECOND relationship is that relationship to our fellowman that KNOWS NOT GOD.
Extreme Relationships Among Fallen ManMatthew 5:43–48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Chapter 5 of Matthew is the beginning of the famous “Sermon on the Mount” just above Galilee. It has the view of all the area including Lake Gennesaret, also known as the Sea of Galilee.
It is the sermon that perhaps stunned the world in both its simplicity and its wisdom. It is a sermon that addressed in mankind, not the actions of mankind as does nine of the ten commandments, but the heart of mankind.
It speaks to those precious and most comforting matters of life that are the exact OPPOSITE to all we have the natural tendencies to think;
Matthew 5:3–12
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Never has mankind heard such things as these and never have such things been spoken of with such authority.
It tells of the future states of those who come to represent the character and nature of The LORD and the burdens and sufferings they endure through that likeness.
Poor in spirit, yet inheriting heaven.
Temporal mourning in life, yet comfort in the state of eternity;
meek and yet kings of the earth;
malnourished in Spirit, yet awaiting a future endowment that will see them filled….
Those who suffer for the sake of Christ and the fullest representation of The LORD, these are rewarded with the crowns of heaven, “for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”.
Even the officers of the Temple recognises that “Never man spake like this man” (Jn 7:46).
So incredible were his teachings that he drew immediately the following of multitudes behind him. No matter how often he told people not to spread his name abroad, so much the more did those who heard him want to hear him again.
There was nowhere they would not go, even to the point of having no place to sustain themselves, they followed Jesus to hear his words.
He had no “education” from man.
He followed the teaching of no man.
He spoke with no other man as his authority.
They could not tell from whence he was.
Jesus came and caused in the hearts of many nothing but total confusion as to how he could speak with both authority and wisdom, having never learned!
And the common people heard him gladly (Mrk 12:37)
Now in our passage he speaks to the most extreme idea found anywhere in the world.
That man is to love his enemies.
In the first line in verse 43, we see the tendency of man that everyone can NATURALLY agree with.
We know it by nature and who is it that can deny it?;
Matthew 5:43–48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
The natural tendency of fallen man in his most extreme end is hatred for his enemy. This is a representation of The Extreme Relationships Among Fallen Man.
It is a perspective of life that has THIS PRESENT WORLD, and happiness in THIS PRESENT WORLD, as its ultimate purpose.
If, “The pursuit of happiness” is the ultimate purpose of mankind in this world, then anything that disrupts or interferes with this pursuit is to be addressed with all levels of address at our disposal.
If our happiness in this life is the ultimate goal and the highest moral good, then it is difficult to deny the Marxist axiom of “The ends justify the means”.
Those who stand against our “happiness” can be rightly seen as our enemy, and hatred toward our enemy is the natural result.
Jesus spoke of that which was said before and believed among those in the world.
Indeed it was the pagan world who believed this to be the case, and the Jews, who yet did not understand who their neighbour was, believed the same ideas.
When the lawyer stood to tempt Jesus in Luke 10:25 respecting eternal life, Jesus asked him of the primary commandment of the law. And so the man answered saying;
27 ….Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? Luke 10:27–29**
It was from here that Jesus gave the parable of The Good Samaritan.
But this was not the view of the world Jesus entered, nor is it the view of the world around us, nor is it the natural tendency of us as Christians, though it ought to be.
Our natural tendency is summarised in the words of the ancient Roman Philosopher and Orator, Cicero AROUND 55BC, who rule was simply, “To injure no one, unless previously injured[2]”
That is, to “Do unto others what they have done unto you”.
From this point on, all wars and all the history of war and hatred stem. How far back do we go for the perceived injuries we have sustained and the hands of our fellow man? How many generations? ISLAM TEACHES no harm against the “INNOCENT”, yet claim none of the descendants of Crusaders of ancient times are “innocent”.
Today we have the exact same teaching in schools respecting “White Guilt” which has led to affirmative action efforts around the western world in their “collective” attempts to atone for the sins of the father.
IS this NOT the cause of the hatred boiling over around the world today?
Logically, where can this end but in the self destruction of all of mankind?
Extreme Relationships Among Reconciled ManMatthew 5:43–48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
I have an excerpt from a book I would like to read you. It is the true account of that which Jesus spoke of here in Matthew 5:44.
It demonstrates to us all that the love of Christ, that forgave us all our sins, is expected to be given to all who have sinned against us.
Scripture teaches us that we were the enemies of God BEFORE he died for our sins;
Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Colossians 1:21
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
This was you and I, enemies of God YET he gave his life for us;
Romans 12:20–21
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
The testimony I am going to read to you is told by Richard Wurmbrand of the murderer of the entire family of his wife Sabina. It tells of her response upon being told that the man who killed her entire family, was in their living room.
When Romania entered the war on Germany’s side, a pogrom began in which many thousands of Jews were killed or deported. At Iasi alone 11,000 were massacred in a day. My wife, who shares my Protestant faith, is also of Jewish origin. We lived in Bucharest, from which the Jews were not deported, but her parents, one of her brothers, three sisters, and other relatives who lived in Bucovine were taken to Transmistria, a wild border province that the Romanians had captured from Russia. Jews who were not murdered at the end of this journey were left to starve, and there Sabina’s family died.
Sometime later our landlord, a good Christian, told me sadly of a man who was staying in the house while on leave from the front. “l knew him before the war,” he said, “but he’s changed completely. He has become a brute who likes to boast of how he volunteered to exterminate Jews in Transmistria and killed hundreds with his own hands.”
I went upstairs after supper to the landlord’s flat. Lounging in an armchair was a giant of a man whom the landlord introduced as Borila, the killer of Jews from Transmistria. When he rose he was even taller than l, and there seemed to be about him an aura of horror that was like a smell of blood. Soon he was telling us of his adventures in the war and of the Jews he had slaughtered.
The murderer proved to be not only a murderer. Nobody is only one thing. He was a pleasant talker, and eventually it came out that he had a great love of music. He mentioned that while serving in the Ukraine he had been captivated by the songs there. “I wish I could hear them again,” he said.
I knew some of these old songs. I thought to myself, looking at Borila, The fish has entered my net!
“lf you’d like to hear some of them,” I told him, “come to my flat—I’m no pianist, but I can play a few Ukrainian melodies.”
The landlord, his wife, and his daughter accompanied us. My wife was in bed. She was used to my playing softly at night and did not wake up. I played the folk songs, which are alive with feeling, and I could see that Borila was deeply moved. I remembered how, when King Saul was afflicted by an evil spirit, the boy David had played the harp before him.
I stopped and turned to Borila. “l’ve something very important to say to you,” I told him.
“Please speak,” he said.
“If you look through that curtain you can see someone is asleep in the next room. It’s my wife, Sabina. Her parents, her sisters, and her twelve-year-old brother have been killed with the rest of the family. You told me that you had killed hundreds of Jews near Golta, and that is where they were taken.” Looking into his eyes, I added, “You yourself don’t know who you have shot, so we can assume that you are the murderer of her family.”
He jumped up, his eyes blazing, looking as if he were about to strangle me.
I held up my hand and said, “Now—let’s try an experiment. I shall wake my wife and tell her who you are, and what you have done. I can tell you what will happen. My wife will not speak one word of reproach! She’ll embrace you as if you were her brother. She’ll bring you supper, the best things she has in the house.
“Now, if Sabina, who is a sinner like us all, can forgive and love like this, imagine how Jesus, who is perfect Love, can forgive and love you! Only turn to Him—and everything you have done will be forgiven!”
Borila was not heartless: within, he was consumed by guilt and misery at what he had done, and he had shaken his brutal talk at us as a crab shakes its claws. One tap at his weak spot and his defenses crumbled. The music had already moved his heart, and now came—instead of the attack he expected—words of forgiveness.
His reaction was amazing. He jumped up and tore at his collar with both hands, so that his shirt was rent apart. “Oh God, what shall I do, what shall I do?” he cried. He put his head in his hands and sobbed noisily as he rocked himself back and forth. “I’m a murderer, I’m soaked in blood, what shall I do?” Tears ran down his cheeks.
Borila fell on his knees trembling, and we began to pray aloud. He knew no prayers; he simply asked again and again for forgiveness and said that he hoped and knew it would be granted. We were on our knees together for some time; then we stood up and embraced each other, and I said, “l promised to make an experiment. I shall keep my word.”
I went into the other room and found my wife still sleeping calmly. She was very weak and exhausted at that time. I woke her gently and said, “There is a man here whom you must meet. We believe he has murdered your family, but he has repented, and now he is our brother.”
She came out in her dressing gown and put out her arms to embrace him; then both began to weep and to kiss each other again and again. I have never seen bride and bridegroom kiss with such love and purity as this murderer and the survivor among his victims. Then, as I foretold, Sabina went to the kitchen to bring him food.
Excerpted from In God’s Underground, pages 222-224.
Evidenced Relationship To God.Matthew 5:44–48
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
In the third message on this series on FAITHFULNESS: THE KEY TO JOY, I spoke of how we now ought to be THINKING DIFFERENTLY.
No longer should our thoughts and tendencies be aligned with the faithless world that thinks in purely naturalistic terms, but our minds ought to be geared toward knowing that there is a father in heaven who cares and loves us, who provided forgiveness and eternal life by sending his only begotten Son into the world, to die for our sins.
I spoke of the only purpose left us in life is to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
No longer should we be thinking in the same terms we had thought before.
Our lives are not our own, we are bought with a price, all that we have is of the Lord and all that we should give should be for the salvation of even a single soul.
That was the mind and heart of the first century churches. It was the mind and heart of the 16 to 19th century churches, it is the mind and heart of the middle eastern Churches in this very day.
BUT we have not been living this way. Most Christians in the western world DO NOT LIVE THIS way, it is as if we have forgotten quickly all that the Lord has given us and done for us.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
That is the nature of our father that is in heaven.
The pharisees were charged by Jesus to EVIDENCE THEIR FATHER;
John 8:44–45
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Beloved, it is certain that in the manner in which we live our lives, we give testimony as to WHOM it is that we testify to.
The manner in which we behave respecting RELATIONSHIPS, testify to us who it is that we RELATE TO BEST.
While it may be that you stir within your seats at such a notion, but ask first if it be true in application to you. Please do not be asleep to sin, messages such as this are to awaken you to turn back to Jesus and see how you are to live.
To live with JOY, no matter the trials and afflictions you face.
Loving your enemies is the single most extreme behaviour a Christian can perform.
It is as contrary to our natural state as is possible to be. It is one that sees life completely differently, that thinks completely differently, that lives completely differently and that loves completely differently.
We are called to LOVE our enemies, and in doing so we show the world that we “be the children of your Father which is in heaven:”
1 John 2:15–17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Crowned To Love Your EnemiesMatthew 5:46–48
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
No person on this earth had demonstrated a greater love for his enemies than Jesus. In the world of men he was given a crown of thorns.
In heaven he is given the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. (Ps 2:8)
The most perfect representation of God was naturally the Lord Jesus Christ. No man has ever loved as he loved, no man has ever endured the trials for that love as he endured, no person alive was more innocently convicted of breaking the law he came to fulfil.
Jesus set himself as our example, and he bids men to come and die, die to themselves and live unto Christ. To carry his cross and follow him, to love even his enemies.
And, having endured suffering for the sake of the lost, receive his prize.
Clearly there can be no prize warranted, no reward expected to love those which love you, who doesn’t do this?
Saluting your brethren is the same, everyone salutes those they know, but salute them you don’t know. Show love to them who seem unloving to you, love your enemies, then, then you do show that you are “the children of your father which is in heaven”.
Several weeks ago, and for the first time ever, I had a complaint from a family who came to this church for the first time and not a single person came to greet them. Beloved, where are we at?
The extremist fundamentalist Christian….is one who loves his enemies.
In the 1950’s, in an underground Church under Communist rule, a young girl was discovered by the secret police secretly sharing Gospel tracts and teaching young children. The police knew all about her but would not arrest her, at least not yet.
They planned for the day to arrest her, for the purpose of making it as agonisingly painful as they could. Her wedding day was three weeks away.
This is the account as written;
On her wedding day, the girl was dressed as a bride—the most wonderful, joyous day in a girl’s life! Suddenly, the door burst open and the secret police rushed in. When the bride saw the secret police, she held out her arms toward them to be handcuffed. They roughly put the manacles on her wrists. She looked toward her beloved, then kissed the chains and said, “I thank my heavenly Bridegroom for this jewel He has presented to me on my marriage day. I thank Him that I am worthy to suffer for Him.” She was dragged off, with weeping Christians and a weeping bridegroom left behind. They knew what happens to young Christian girls in the hands of Communist guards. Her bridegroom faithfully waited for her. After five years she was released—a destroyed, broken woman, looking thirty years older. She said it was the least she could do for her Christ. Such beautiful Christians are in the Underground Church.”[3]
Richard Wurmbrand, in his famous book, “Tortured for Christ”, tells of the account of a Christian man who was sentenced to death;
“…, he was allowed to see his wife before being executed. His last words to his wife were, “You must know that I die loving those who kill me. They don’t know what they do and my last request of you is to love them, too. Don’t have bitterness in your heart because they killed your beloved one. We will meet in heaven.” These words impressed the officer of the secret police who attended the discussion between the two. He later told me the story in prison where he had been sent for becoming a Christian.”[4]
John 19:1–5
1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. 5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
[1]. Wurmbrand, Richard. Tortured for Christ (pp. 82-83). Living Sacrifice Book Company. Kindle Edition.
[2]. Henry, M. (1994) Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, p. 1635.
[3]. Wurmbrand, Richard. Tortured for Christ (pp. 50-51). Living Sacrifice Book Company. Kindle Edition.
[4]. Wurmbrand, Richard. Tortured for Christ (p. 59). Living Sacrifice Book Company. Kindle Edition.
The post The Key To Joy Pt 8: Crowned To Love Our Enemies appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Relationship Through The CrossIntroduction1 Corinthians 1:17–31
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 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? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
“The preaching of the cross”, “Relationship THROUGH the cross”…
Never has there been a more divisive topic than the cross throughout all of history.
To tell the world around us that it is through the blood of the Cross of Christ that all men who were once alienated from God, now have reconciliation through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Relationship to GOD through the Cross, has not only been DIVISIVE, but, dare I say it, long thought of as foolish by man to be a means to save man from the condemnation of damnation.
To say that everyone on earth can have the full and unmitigated pardon for all there sin committed in the past, and grace for all yet to be committed in the future, simply by believing that Jesus Christ, God the Son, has paid for it all on a wooden cross some two thousand years ago; RELATIONSHIP THROUGH THE CROSS is most astonishing in the eyes of a fallen and lost world.
But to others, it is the power of God unto salvation!
That God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and …hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, the base things… and… the things despised…to bring to nought the things that are” so “that no flesh should glory in his presence” is to some the wisest way of all to reconcile an irreconcilable relationship with God our maker.
RELATIONSHIP RECONCILED TO GOD is the first RELATIONSHIP to be reconciled that leads to the JOY we have spoken of.
As we move through this series on FAITHFULNESS, and we now come to that portion of RELATIONSHIPS, it is the VERTICAL relationship to God that takes precedence over the HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIP with man.
What we will discover through this topic on relationships is, the same manner by which we have RELATIONSHIP to God THROUGH THE CROSS, we can enjoy relationship one with another.
Fix the Vertical and the Horizontal with follow.
When the union between man and God is mended, the union between man and man has the greatest opportunity.
Conversely, a good indicator of a poor relationship between brethren tells more about the reciprocal relationship with God than it does otherwise.
John wrote;
1 John 4:20–21
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Therefore; it is a RELATIONSHIP THROUGH THE CROSS that remains the central KEY TO JOY and the enduring message of the ages, to bring hope to a LOST WORLD.
Circa 500BC is a note written from the wisest secular philosopher to his teacher; Aristotle to Plato…
“I know it is for God to forgive sins, but frankly I do not see how”
An admission of ignorance as to the wisdom of God, and yet an acknowledgement of the greatest paradox of all, How to instigate judgement through grace.
You see it is simple enough to judge evil. The world is able to do this with ease in a just society; Charge the condemned, find him guilty, instigate the punishment to pay the price of the offence.
So too, it is thought, those who offend a holy God, the one that made them, crafted them, directing the fashioning of them in their mother’s womb, as a conductor does a symphony; he is able to both judge and damn, in fact, his righteousness demands justice!
But how does one both Judge and forgive?
If God created this entire universe FOR THE EXISTENCE of mankind, how does God have RELATIONSHIP with man in rebellion?
In our studies on faithfulness, RELATIONSHIPS is the next phase for our consideration. But before we come to the Horizontal relationships between each other, we MUST deal with the VERTICAL relationship between man and God.
The answer to that, is RELATIONSHIP THROUGH THE CROSS.
THAT IS, The Preaching of The Cross (The gospel)
Discord
“Lack of agreement or Harmony”
Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
In this passage in Amos, the people of Israel have long disdained their relationship with God by ignoring all he has told them.
They use the Bible like a smorgasbord, taking out what they want to use for their personal employments and discard the rest. They put on the religious garb but deny their religion. Or as Jesus put it most plainly;
Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
DISCORD: There is no agreement between them and God. There is no harmony, and “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”
No, two people at variance one with another cannot have fellowship with one another.
We understand this on a practical level, where there is NOT friendship there can be NO fellowship, and yet somehow so many believe that God would allow fellowship with those he has no friendship with.
But the denial and rejection of God, can’t presume fellowship with God.
The relationship FIRST needs to be mended, then and then ONLY is it possible to enjoy the fellowship that comes from friendship.
“two cannot walk together, except they be agreed!”
Man must MEND the relationship with God, BUT HOW?
“I know it is for God to forgive sins, but frankly I do not see how”
In the first place we need to know that there is DISCORD between man and God. This is the PROTO RELATIONSHIP, this is the most important relationship of all, it goes before all others, but if there is no acknowledgment that man is in DISCORD with God, RECONCILIATION IS NOT POSSIBLE.
Emptiness and purposelessness.
The accidental man is empty, a deep seated emptiness fills his soul, a longing for value and reason permeates his heart.
The Accidental Man has no intrinsic purpose.
The evolved man believed on by the agnostic world, has no intrinsic, ingrained need for relationship, such a need is simply not explained in the evolutionary scale of existence, and making the statement that it is only for the practice and benefit of advantage in natural selection, does NOT EXPLAIN this deep longing and emptiness.
Identifying DISCORD between man and his maker is deep in man, and the ACCIDENTAL MAN KNOWS IT.
Why is it that the main cause of sorrow in the world is not poverty, if it were it would be easily fixed with money;
THE main cause of sorrow in the world is not due to poor health, if it were it could be easily fixed with proper health care;
no, our main cause of sorrow in the world is due to poor relationships; One party has pained another or both have pained alike, DISCORD between people is the source, good relationships are ruined THROUGH DISCORD and become the cause of great sorrow. HOW MUCH DEEPER SORROW IS THE DISCORD WITH GOD?
We sorrow because we have offended a holy God, being created by him for his purpose, manifests that sorrow in a multitude of ways.
It is the one KEY element that is not understood by the secular psychologists of the world.
Their only recourse is either through the self esteem efforts of men such as Jordan Peterson, or Norman Vincent Peale before him (The power of positive thinking), or Victor Frankl before him (Mans Search for Meaning);
or through Pharmaceuticals which is all the rage today.
People need their “meds” and without them, they feel miserable.
This trend began with medicating the extremes that have their root cause in sin and guilt, but is now the ‘go-to’ solution for the slightest deviation of mental comfort.
The standard ‘ups and downs’ of emotions we all go through are no longer acceptable.
An unemotional plateau is quickly removing the “image of God” emotional sorrows that should be felt with tragedy strikes, or the “Image of God” emotional pleasures that should be felt when good things occur.
God is indeed an emotional being, and we are created in his image, but these emotions are being medicated away, and replaced with a dull apathy for life.
The agreement between the creature and his creator has been severed, and the sorrow for the offence of the one against the other is attempted to be treated like a bandaid over a haemorrhage.
So, the gloominess of existence without meaning or purpose in the Accidental Man is being NUMBED, man is slowly learning to feel NOTHING, let alone recognise any DISCORD, I pray that is not you yet!
“Can two walk together except they be agreed?” The answer is a resounding “NO”.
The “Vertical” relationship with God was broken by man, and man is CUT OFF from God forever for his sin against him.
Detachment1 Corinthians 1:17–18
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The Bible speaks plainly here that there are indeed those who perish, a PERMANENT DETACHMENT in those who think to themselves that the “preaching of the cross is …foolishness”.
The Accidental Man is DETACHED from reality respecting God and thinks RELATIONSHIP THROUGH THE CROSS is foolishness.
Surely, if there is a heaven, there must be more a man should do before he goes to heaven?
Surely if I am 51% good, God would let me into his home?
Surely, there is no God!
The answers we have from last to first are;
Psalm 14:1
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14:3
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
O, but I have more questions Pastor;
Where is the Evidence for the existence of God?How do we know if we have sinned against him?How could I be reconciled? In answer to your first question of the existence of God, is Romans 1:18-23
Romans 1:18–23
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
All of mankind are held accountable to KNOW God exists.
The so-called “invisible things” that are created in the world “are clearly seen”. How? Simple, they are “understood by the things that are made”.
I was at this very point for several years. I was not antagonistic against God, I was just ignorant. The greek word is “Agnostic”, I choose to use the Latin word for myself, “Ignoramus”.
Unlike the wilfully ignorant such as Dawkins, Harris, Dennett etc, I didn’t have an axe to grind. I wasn’t so obviously hypocritical as to say “I don’t believe in God, and I hate him”.
Mine was the old fashioned ignorance, I simply did not know and wanted to find out THE TRUTH about life and this universe.
I never saw the point in just believing what I want to be true. I was not like the professor of Philosophy, Thomas Nagel of Princeton University (originally the top Theological University in America) who said;
“I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers. It isn’t just that I don’t believe in God and, naturally, hope that I’m right in my belief. It’s that I hope there is no God! I don’t want there to be a God; I don’t want the universe to be like that.” (Pg 130 in his 1997 book The Last Word)
The reality is, you cannot deny a MAKER for those things that are SO EVIDENTLY MADE. And we ALL know what something made looks and functions like.
The more you get into science, from the biggest things to the smallest, it is IMPOSSIBLE to continue to believe in the ACCIDENTAL MAN, and expect to retain any wisdom.
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,**
ENMITYTo the question you asked about, “How do we know if we have sinned against him?”
In other words, how do we KNOW we have a broken relationship with God?
The answer is; your life’s acts and thoughts are evil!
They are contrary to God’s very nature and as a result, there is NO AGREEMENT.
“BUT, HOW DO WE KNOW THIS PASTOR?”
Ok, Ok! Don’t get frustrated with me!
Turn to
Romans 3:19–20
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The Accidental Man does not have a basis for what is right and wrong, so the only way he can make any comparisons is HORIZONTALLY. We compare ourselves by ourselves, the Bible states this method is not wise by example;
2 Corinthians 10:12
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
No, the comparison we ought to use is an ABSOLUTE STANDARD rather than an arbitrary standard. The Accidental Man has not absolutes and needs to rely on subjectivity, but where has that led us? Now, everything is subjective, even those things we thought we absolutes. Society has degraded into a self destructing downward spiral of a moral abyss with no foundation from which to turn around.
Modernism gave way to the Post Modern world when all truth is Relative, to the Post, Post Modern world when every individuals relative truth is absolute!
The absolute standard, by which ALL sinners are held to account, is Gods moral law, known as the Ten Commandments.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
When is this judgement?
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Now, remember, following the Law of God as best as you can may indeed lead you to a blessed life, because that is the basic functional framework of the universe he created, BUT IT CAN NOT SAVE YOU!
It can only REVEAL your sin to you. Remember its purpose in that Romans 3 passage;
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Exodus 20 contains the original moral law under which no man but Christ has kept.
No other Gods before me.No graven images, no Idolatry.Do not blaspheme. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.Remember the Sabbath. No work on the Sabbath day. (Saturday in the Old Calendar)Honour Mum and DadThou shalt not killnot commit adulterynot stealnot bear false witnessThou shalt not covet If you truly desire to know If you are good, try to first BE GOOD and see how hard it is.
Just for a day, try to keep ONE of those commandments consciously. Just one of them, and see how you go. All people THINK THEY ARE GOOD, until they try to actually BE GOOD.
Try, not stealing. You know, time from your boss, taxes from the government, grapes from a supermarket. Does not matter how small. God is revealing our NATURE in this.
Try not lying, or gossiping, i.e. not “bearing false witness” or testimony.
JUST ONE DAY.
Have you tried it CHRISTIAN?
See if by the end of the day you are not your knees thanking Jesus for saving you from your sin.
RELATIONSHIPWhere is the Evidence for the existence of God?
How do we know if we have sinned against him?
How could I be reconciled?
1 Corinthians 1:18
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
There are several who are going to be baptised today that have in them a testimony they will share through the public demonstration of their faith, that they are NOW RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH THE CROSS OF CHRIST.
The ONE RELATIONSHIP THAT NEEDS TO BE RESTORED BEFORE ALL OTHERS, is the relationship to God.
You KNOW he is really by all you see around you testifying of it. Psalm 19:1 says;
Psalm 19:1
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
You KNOW you have a broken relationship because “two cannot walk together except they be agreed”, your sin testifies to you that you do not WALK with God and are not RECONCILED TO GOD apart from Christ.
And it is Christ and what he has done, the Preaching of the Cross that I desire to preach this day. I pray you do not see it as foolishness, but as the wisdom of God to save the sinner.
The Son of God was promised from ancient times to come and to give his life as a ransom for many. He is the Son of God and God the Son. The bible presents not three Gods but ONE God as Three persons.
From the first verse in the Bible the word GOD is a PLURAL form and continues in that manner, a never ending source of confusion to the Jew.
But it is by verse 26 that we see it take full shape as God dresses himself saying;
Genesis 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
1 John chapter 5 brings the certainty saying;
1 John 5:7
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Sin must be judged, sin has a price that must be paid for. Hell was created, not for mankind, but for the devil and his angels, BUT OUR SIN places us in the same condemnation and has its associated cost; Crimes against God have their relative cost to crimes against society, each must be paid for before the criminal is reconciled.
The infinite value therefore, of the infinite precious blood of Christ is a sufficient atonement for the sin of the world.
Now we are part way to answering Aristotles dilemma. Sin is to be judged, and God the Son is paying for the sin of the world by receiving the judgment upon himself, paying for the sin of the world HIMSELF, as a ransom for many.
Does the Bible say that directly Pastor? Yes it does.
1 Timothy 2:5–6
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Jesus also said it himself while speaking to his disciples concerning himself;
Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
How is it them applied to the world? How is this “ransom” personally claimed?
It is first understood logically, then it is claimed by believing it applies personally to you.
Isaiah 53 tells the Old Testament version of it as a form of explanation of what was just preached;
Isaiah 53:4–6
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Though I recommend you read the entire chapter, here in these few verses are the crux of the matter.
The sin, the substitution and the settlement are all seen here.
It was OUR griefs he boar.
Our sorrows, our transgressions, our iniquities and “the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Consider verse 10;
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
The New Testament however shows how this gift of reconciliation is applied;
John 3:16–17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The post Pt7 Relationship Through The Cross appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Cheerful GiverWhat a wonderful joy and privilege it is to preach the WORD of the Lord Jesus Christ! What a blessing it is to see his word come alive in our lives.
This morning will certainly be more encouraging than challenging, the passage before us is not one that is dealing with unfaithfulness but faithfulness.
Last week the Lord was addressing the unfaithful in the congregation of God, and the tone of the sermon was to purposefully reflect the tone of the passage in the book of Haggai respecting giving to the Lord.
We see an incredible consistency with the Lord in the Bible when God deals with both unfaithfulness and ingratitude.
God never speaks in soft and smooth tones when addressing those who are rebellious in his congregation, saying in the first chapter of Isaiah.
Isaiah 1:2–4
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.**
They knew who he was talking to, they took the rebuke personally and understood they were the reference of the passage, as a result, tradition tells us Isiah did not have a good end to his life.
Some receive the rebuke in humility, others harden their hearts in rebellion. Those two outcomes have always been before the Lord.
Hagia, like all the prophets of the Lord, did not coddled the congregation of the Lord, like many do today, quite to the contrary;
As a result, Jesus rebuked the Jews for the blood that was shed “of all the prophets”,
Luke 11:51
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple:
I pray you may be careful beloved, with how you receive the rebuke of God in the scripture, be careful that you first identify if the teaching is biblically sound. If so, our task then is to humbly ask ourselves HOW AM I REFLECTED in the scriptures presented by the preacher!
In false teaching we address the preacher, in sound teaching we address our hearts!
Nevertheless, Paul wrote of the last days saying;
2 Timothy 4:3–4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
If that is what you are looking for beloved, there are plenty of them out there today that will accomodate you.
Psalm 34:18
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.**
As promised last week, this morning’s message is to those who are doing their best to be faithful to the Lord and truly desire his blessings all the more in their lives. I pray it is an encouragement to you especially as you look to become a CHEERFUL GIVER..
Again, as the tone of the passage is, so too I desire to preach to you that the effect of Gods words will affect you as he intends.
We read all of chapter 9, and we could truly have begun in chapter 8 for that is where this discourse on the subject concerning the giving of the churches of Corinth begins. Nevertheless we shall settle on the last ten verses only and try to expound only the few that time allows, as we consider THE CHEERFUL GIVER.
2 Corinthians 9:6–15
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
PRAY
Loved of GodFirst we see that the cheerful giver is “Loved of God”
2 Corinthians 9:6–7
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.**
Notice that it is not the grudging giver that is loved of God in this portion, it is not the one who gives of “necessity” that is identified as loved of God, but “God loveth a cheerful giver”.
It is not to say none else are loved, but it is to say that there is a particular blessed reception of God for those who give to his work “Cheerfully”.
Who know the VALUE of the work, are grateful to have been the recipients of the work and so give to support the furtherance of the work.
Before we ask how one comes to give “Cheerfully”, we should first take a quick look at the manner in which we are NOT to Give.
NOT GRUDGINGLY.
There is no doubt those among the gentiles in this worldly church of Corinth whom Paul addresses, have at times given “Grudgingly”.
The gentiles, just like you and I, are not really used to this doctrine of giving to the ministry of the Lord for the sake of supporting the gospel of Christ, the Jews had understood it for millennia, but not the gentiles, and so there are invariably those who give grudgingly rather than Cheerfully.
They give, but feel they are forced to give.
They give, but do not see the value of their giving as God does.
They give, but in their heart are unwilling to give.
These are those who give Grudgingly, and God clearly does not value the gifts given to him in such fashion. The grudging heart taints the gift, it makes it imperfect, so too those who GIVE OF NECESSITY.
Our gifts to God, just like our love for God, are to be VOLUNTARY and from a cheerful heart. It is tainted otherwise. The gift is not measured by the gift, but by the heart that gives the gift.
In the Old Testament days, the Lord was displeased with the “GRUDGING” giver of their flock, who spared to give of the BEST, but of the lame.
Turn to Malachi 1
Malachi 1:7–8
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
More and more we see that it is not the amount that concerns the Lord, it is the state of the HEART that he desires. Those who give “Grudgingly”, or of “NECESSITY” do not please the Lord, it is not a gift “unblemished”, but one that feels an INJUSTICE is IMPOSED ON THEM, or are COMPELLED TO GIVE, and so they give.
It is the HEART that pleases the Lord AND THE tainted heart defiles the GIFT.
“Value” in God’s economy is NOT identified by PRICE beloved!
Turn to
Mark 12:41–44
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Everyone has heard of The Widows Mite. You can go to Israel today and they have on sale in every store, one of the genuine original coins the widow gave into the treasury.
Compared those who gave of their “abundance”, the Love of Jesus extended more to this widow who gave of her “Want”, “all that she had, even all her living”.
There was no expectation of a widows pension beloved, a fortnightly deposit mysteriously appearing into her account was not something she looked for to be “reimbursed” of her gift.
She had no husband to provide for her, no attested expectation of another source of income, with likely only the generosity of others while resting in the LORD for all her provision.
You and I have an expectation, however frequently, but there were no WELFARE payments in the days of Israel 2000 years ago. Family love and provision was all she could potentially depend upon.
God was PLEASED with her, more so than the rich who gave of their abundance.
THE UPPER LIMIT
It is in the widow also that we have the UPPER limit to the amount we could give in the New Testament economy of God. When people ask, “how much shall we give”, the upper limit is simply “All that you have”.
Easy to identify an upper limit of our giving; easy it seemed in the first century church when many sold all their possessions and gave cheerfully, But it seems much more difficult in this last century in the prosperous west. What has changed?
The heart has changed.
It is the Cheerful Giver the Lord Loves most.
That Grace Abounds To Abundance2 Corinthians 9:6–8
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:**
Beloved, this is an experience that only those who are the Cheerful Giver of 2 Corintians 9 can testify to.
Those who were willing to give even their lives to the ministry of the Gospel.
Those who, would even choose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb 11:25), a passage referring to Moses, brought up in the home of the King of Egypt, with all that affords him of the glory of that earthly kingdom, yet “refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter”.
The “CHEERFUL GIVER”, Has experienced the grace that abounds, and now having all sufficiency in all things; NOT rich with possession, but rich with sufficiency in the possessions he has, is truly living the blessed life filled with joy.
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
I never want to go back to loving money as I did.
Never content. Always fearful of the next bill. The Next big cost. Watching my pennies and failing to give to those in greater need than I was.
To be content in whatever state and trusting in the Lord alone is THE KEY TO JOY and money has ALWAYS been the obstacle for me….sorry, THE LOVE OF MONEY was always my obstacle.
Turn to;
1 Timothy 6:5–10
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. *8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content*.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.**
The passage is 100% True. I know it, I knew it for some 20 years.
Temptation, snare, hurtful lusts, through which I was truly drowned in destruction and perdition.
Coveting this evil more than anything else, dreaming of money while awake and asleep.
Reading books, listening to recordings, filling my mind day in and day out on how to get more of it, UNWILLING TO ALLOW A CENT TO PASS through my fingers without a ready account.
I knew the PRICE OF EVERYTHING but the value of NOTHING.
And was “pierced through with many sorrows”.
I don’t refer to my lost condition. This continued another 7 years into my salvation before I volunteered it up, and laid it at his cross.
What changed?
Really? What changed?
Hagia chapter 1.
My bag had more holes than lining.
God blew upon that which I had.
I had to sell tools just to put food on the table and pay my mortgage. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
A car that was given to me broke down on the Calder Hwy near Taylors Lakes….and I just left it there. I had no money to fix it.
Were you giving to God?
10% every week.
How was this possible?
My heart still loved Money, and I chose to believe a lie. I was not “a cheerful giver”, I was a SPECULATOR and expected a return on my investment!
There you have the fourth way you can give; and the third way that is wrong and that testifies to God desiring your motive more that your money.
Not Grudgingly, not or necessity, nor as James 4:3 puts it, “that ye may consume it upon your lusts”.
The Cheerful giver is no longer in love with money and he testifies to it by action and not word.
He is satisfied, filled with the grace of God in his life, and his life (as well as his ministry) abounds.
It is a matter of interest for us to consider something beloved respecting the Love of Money.
A few weeks ago brother Cody preached on the choice we have respecting the masters we serve, and there are only TWO noted. Money (Mammon) and God.
Have you ever thought about this? Have you ever given consideration as to the competing interests respecting these two options.
From the Love of one stems “the root of all evil”
From the love of the other comes “grace and life abounding”
Though the ACTUAL ends differ diametrically, it is the expected ends we desire that is the same;
That which we seek for in money, we find in God.
We love money because we THINK it will bring happiness.
We love money because we THINK it will bring security.
We love money because we THINK it will bring all sufficiency
We think it was provide for all our needs.
Give us comfort.
Fill our hearts.
Bring contentment.
Build in us confidence in life.
Make us feel successful.
Able to show off our “blessings” to others.
Gives us something to talk about.
To teach about.
Makes us enviable.
Bring us friends and popularity.
Open doors that would otherwise be shut (or so it seems).
Money. Lots of money, will provide for everything we think we need.
What a fascinating competitor to God.
We looked for much and it came to little, (Hag 1:9)
We look at the promises of Money and readily accept its deception and are willing even to comparatively hate our father, mother, wife, children, brethren and sisters (Lk 14:26) in the hope of its absolute attainment….
But for the CHEERFUL GIVER who chooses to serve the Lord
God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Money (mammon) takes, while God gives!
And Multiply Your Seed Sown
2 Cor 9:8-12
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
A few weeks ago, when giving consideration to the topic of Faith, I thought I would settle in one night in reading some of the accounts of the famous George Muller in the late 18th century England. The book was called;
“A Narrative of Some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Muller, Vol 4”.
If you don’t know anything about George Muller, and you really desire to grow in your faith, I suggest you begin with his Autobiography.
Anyhow, On the first page of this volume I stopped reading when I read this passage of the account on May 4th, 1874 respecting his record of the receipts that came to him by a person who referred to himself as “Needy”.
April 1. £100. from a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels.—£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—From Wales £100., with £36. for the support of the Orphans, being the receipt on New Year’s Day in a house of business, carried on on the ready money system.
May 4. From “Needy,” £6. 4s. 1d. This donor gives month by month similar amounts, as God prospers him. About eight years ago he sent a few shillings, I think 4 or 5, but continued to send, under the name of “Needy,” these small amounts. After some time they were somewhat enlarged, and after a year or two they became much larger. Now he sends about £60. a year, in monthly instalments, always varying; no doubt as God prospers him.[1]
What we have here in the May 4th account is a perfect reflection of what we also have as a fulfilment of our passage in 2 Corinthians 9:10-12.
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;**
Does it not seem reasonable to you that, if God were able to find a man (or woman) who’s heart is inclined to be a CHEERFUL GIVER, and give “as God hath prospered him”, that he would not also have him abound all the more KNOWING that he will continue to give that same portion?
Now here we have two other parts to add to our understanding of Giving and that which pertains to our being a “Cheerful Giver”, and adding to what we already learned conserving that “Upper limit” we spoke of.
-
It is a portion of our income, “as God prospered”, verse 7 again says, “ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”.
-
That those who “minister seed to the sower, is able to multiply your seed sown”, in other words, God is able to “increase the fruits of your righteousness”.
Does it seem an incredible thing that God is, not only ABLE TO replace to you that which you HONOUR TO HIM FIRST, but also PROSPER YOU FURTHER that you may then give all the more????
Beloved, Until you are willing to think differently about the economy of God, until that day comes that you will finally stop thinking as the world thinks and realise that Gods words are TRUE and you are not only READING the Bible, but TRUSTING the Bible; such ABUNDANCE WILL NEVER COME YOUR WAY.
This all abounds to the CHEERFUL GIVER who’s “is not conformed to this world, but has been transformed by the renewing of his mind” (Rom 12:2).
You who do give, (for this message is addressed to you as you are doing all you can to be faithful of the Lord), do you do so GRUDGINGLY, OF NECESSITY OR COVETOUSLY, OR DO YOU TRULY GIVE CHEERFULLY?
Beloved, when you come to give cheerfully, know that you become the object of his love in this matter, and all the fullness of satisfaction, contentment, grace and all sufficiently abounds to your account.
Know that you are indeed the blessed of the Lord and should truly expect him to provide all your needs.
WHY? Because you cheerfully choose to honour him first.
You have the same expectation as did that famous Pastor of the late 19th Century, George Muller. He was NEVER let down and had written copiously of his blessing to pass down to our generation.
Sowing and ReapingHere we go, here we go in answering the final question of all.
How much shall we Give to the work of the Lord?
We have our upper limit, do we not? “All that ye have”.
We see this exampled also in the New Testament with both the widow’s mite; the selling and then giving of all the goods of the people together; the statement of Jesus to the Rich young ruler together with his promise of eternal riches (Jesus seemed more than a little confident that this was a reasonable exchange).
2nd: We have a knowledge also that it should be a proportion of how God has prospered us. We also know it ought to be set aside accordingly. It ought to be in honour to God FIRST, rather than our left overs. In other words, it should not be based on what we perceive to be from our abundance.
Thirdly: We recognised its principal in both proportion and faith, that is “a tenth” in the Old Testament. And so we glean from that the truth of “as God prospered him” as well as a genuine step of faith and trust, a tenth is not an insignificant amount.
1/100th takes no faith, but 10/100 certainly takes some faith.
And so we come to answer that final question as discover that the Lord has left to us a FREEWILL choice and also a promise, that you may determine for yourself.
2 Corinthians 9:6–7
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
What do we do with that??????
We know the passage is speaking of Giving for the work of God, we see its context even in the next verse that forms the title of the sermon this morning;
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.**
All of chapter 8 and chapter 9 is speaking of the same subject, so it is without question that the sowing and reaping refers to the sowing of our money and the reaping refers to all the blessing that is described as provided to him who is a cheerful giver.
You will note that is is not limited to money, but everything identified to in the passage.
As for me, I am even more happy with Grace and contentment, and having food and reinment, “always having all sufficiently in all things, that I might ABOUND TO EVERY GOOD WORK. O, give me this only and the money to another and I am in pure bliss and joy!
(We have seen through the years the development of GOVERNMENT to replace the BENEVOLENCE OF GOD. Just as the LOVE of Money anticipated all the blessings only God gives, so too many people now rely on GOVERNMENT to provide “all sufficiency in all things”)
It is not beloved that we should not be paid for our work, for a labourer is indeed worthy of his wages”, but we truly wish more that we would be content and have need of nothing.
Take a look at Paul’s writing to the church of Philippians as he speaks of their provision to HIS Labours;
Philippians 4:10–14
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.**
We ought to remember that Paul wrote this from a prison cell!
Beloved, like the people of Philipi, you ought to Give to support the work of the Gospel, to “communicate” your love of Christ through your physical provision for the work of Christ.
IF YOU BELEIVE THIS CHURCH IS MINISTERING THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL FAITHFULLY, if it is providing to you as much opportunity as possible to grow in the Lord, if it is active in the preaching of the gospel, if it is doing so both within and without, if it is doing all it can to build up and challenge its congregation to attend diligently to their prophesied “first Love”, and if the preacher is seen as faithful, labouring in the word of God…THEN YOU OUGHT TO BE A CHEERFUL GIVER IN THIS PLACE.
IF NOT, then please, find a Church that is and communicate to them your love and faithfulness to the Lord.
BUT PASTOR, this still does not answer the question of HOW MUCH SHOULD A CHEERFUL GIVER GIVE?
The answer is found ONLY in this question; What is the value of the Gospel to you?
Maranatha
[1]. Müller, G. (1886) A Narrative of Some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Müller. London: J. Nisbet & Co., p. 1.
The post Faithfulness Pt 6 The Cheerful Giver appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
IntroductionLuke 17:11–19
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
10th of March 2020 the Victorian Government released its Pandemic Plan.
11th of March 2020 the Vic Gov announced the creation of a State Control Center to oversee the plan.
15th of March the Vic Gov announced a $100 million package to boost the Health System capacity.
18th of March, another $6 for “homelessness” for ‘pop up accomodation’. And the first restrictions of gatherings to a maximum of 100 people indoors.
19th of March, the Vic Government announced almost half a billion dollars for the Health system to respond to the pandemic.
On the 21st march, another $1.7 Billion dollar “Economic Survival Package” was anounced to pay for the disaster the Victorian Government were creating.
Between 22nd and 24th more packages were announced as the Government instituted economic and liberty Leprocy began to touch the entire population of Victoria.
Stage 2 restrictions began on the 25th of March. All “NON-Essential Services” temporarily closed. Brothels and Liquor dealers however, were permitted to trade as usual.
Over $2.5 billion dollars had been allocated in Victoria, when not even a single death from this Dangerous disease was recorded.
On the 26th of March, the first person in Victoria was recorded as dying “With Covid”.
4 days later the Captivity of Victorians began.[1]
It ended one year and 208 days later on 26th of October, 2021[2]
For over 500 days Victorians were treated like Lepers.
Throughout this time many Christians, and especially the Christians who are members within this Church, God had done so many marvellous works and faith grew to levels in hearts that were wonderful to behold.
Christians sought out this small Church as a refuge and we attended to so many wonderful things and we saw God move in ways that we have never seen before during a single period of our lives.
But how many have returned to give glory to God?
How many have forgotten his wonderful works and have become apathetic in devotion and ministry?
Tithing is a reflection of our dependance upon God, our acknowledgement of him, our devotion to him, our trust in him and our OBEDIENCE.
While there is little doubt there are many in this Church so young in their faith that they are not aware of this responsibility, and while there are some who are continually faithful in this work, there are also many who have long known of this doctrine who have long excused it, to whom the passage in Hosea seems most suited.
Over the next couple of sermons you will learn of the doctrine of Tithes and Offerings. You will learn of its institution as far back as the first descendants of Adam, and its continuance after the death, burial and resurrection of the Saviour that cured our own Leprosy, that washed our Sins completely away.
You will learn of Tithing as a practical giving of thanks, particularly in the New Testament and how it differs from the Old Testament.
The People of Judah were taken into captivity for 70 years, now, during the time of Hosea, they have been home for at least a decade and they had forgotten all his wonderful works.
Few indeed had returned to give Glory to God, and now his house and ministry lay waste.
A perfect Picture of modern Christianity in these Laodicean days.
My question to you this morning is how many of those in this Church, including its members, align with the heart of the Laodicean Church of this time?
How many are numbered with the apathy of Judah, to permit the house and ministry of the Lord to lay waste?
How many could be described with the 9 cleansed that will not return to live in thanksgiving?
For those of you who already are faithful in this ministry, I ask that you be patient and also confident that your faithfulness is well placed and rewarded.
For those of you who have never understood or known the doctrine of Tithes and Offerings, I do pray you will desire to hear and learn of how the Lord sees it and how it affects our lives.
For those who have long known of the doctrine, and refused God this ministry, learn of how the Lord sees your faithlessness and repent.
Please know of my love for you as I preach this message this morning.
Please know of Gods love as he rebukes many of you. His desire is that you will live your life trusting him by faith, for it is the key to Joy.
THE DOCTRINE/PRINCIPLE OF TITHINGLet’s look at the passage again so we have it fresh in mind.
Haggai 1:1–11
1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built. 3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. 9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. 11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
The people of Israel have been in captivity for seventy years and have recently returned to the Land and began attending to the work of the Lord and then stopped.
They began thankfully and rejoicingly, even crying with joy and blessing to the Lord as they laid the foundation of the House of the Lord when they first returned, saying in Ezra 3;
Ezra 3:11–12
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
But it did not take long before the zeal and thanks they had for the Lord had dried up and, rather than persist in giving for his work, they feathered their own nests and attended to their own wants and desires.
…This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built. (V2)
From the time of Abraham through to this very day there is a principle set for the people of God to give financially and provisionally for the work of the Lord. This has never changed. It was indeed for all people since the Time of Adams life, evidently a principle set since the time of the Fall of Mankind when everything changed.
Sadly, the nature of most of God people has ever changed. From the time of Israel’s deliverance, to after our own deliverance, little has changed in the hearts of the majority.
There are ALWAYS some who faithfully and continually give to the work of the Lord, and there are always those who give every excuse imaginable to avoid their responsibility in this effort; they say with the ancient Israelites;
The time is not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built. (V2).
The gratefulness of the ancient people of God for releasing them from seventy years of captivity for their past sin and idolatry was soon forgotten, so too it is for the modern people of the Lord who’s captivity to sin and death, who’s Leprosy, has been washed away the blood of Jesus of Jesus Christ.
We see the doctrine specific to tithing first appear when Abraham met, who could ONLY be described as a pre-incarnate figure of Christ, in a man named Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:18–20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
This continued through Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel in Genesis 28 when he had a vision of a ladder that extended to heaven and he concluded;
Genesis 28:22
22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
After-which, the entire Levitical priesthood received of the people of God their respective gifts throughout their generations. We see this commanded in Leviticus 27, the “Tithe of the land” (v30), the tithe of redemption with another fifth added (v31), the tithe of the herd and flock(v32).
It goes on into the book of Numbers 18 and Deuteronomy 12, 14, 26, extending into 2 Chron 31 and even until they returned from captivity in Nehemiah 10, 12, 13, Amos 3, Malachi 3.
In those many passages are presented examples of the doctrine of the people.
BUT there is ALSO presented the consequence to the people.
Both the blessing for faithfulness and CURSING for unfaithfulness are CLEARLY, not figuratively, not subjectively, not arbitrarily, but CLEARLY presented. The people had NO excuse.
As an example of this lets look back at our passage in Haggai.
I Will Blow Upon ItHaggai 1:4-6
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
The passage here tells us that, due to the unfaithfulness of the people in contributing to the House of the Lord, they seem to sow much, but bring in little.
All this energy, but not much fruit for all their labor.
They eat, but never have enough, drink but aren’t filled, clothed but not warm.
Then suddenly this portion of the passage would hit them.
he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
It seems God has a way of “Garnishing” the wages of the people when they refuse to give voluntarily.
The Court systems of nations have the power to take directly from the pay packets of employees both that which is owed + Interest penalties against all who refuse to pay their respective obligations.
Its seems to almost have its origin in Haggai.
Not only is their work unfruitful, but they have no ability to be satisfied with anything they attempt, they eat away their sorrows but its not enough, they drink away their emptiness but never filled, and no amount of clothing will satisfy the chill in their bones. Yet it’s not until they try to keep their wages in store that God tears a hole in their savings.
But the passage does not yet end.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. 11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
We won’t Give to the Lord till we have paid OFF that debt, and so the Lord has blown upon it, for he desire we might honour him first.We will wait until we have gained that raise in our income, then, then we can afford to give to the Lord, but again he may ‘blow upon it’ for we ought to honour him first.We wait until we have the abundance Jesus spoke of compared to the faithfulness of the Widows Mite’s in Mark 12:44…..but God BLOWS UPON IT. ALL EXCUSE for putting off faithfulness come flooding back while God garnishes our desires.
Haggai’s writing is quite different to the Pentecostal Prosperity Gospel. There are some truths there, but not here. In this passage God rebukes those who KNOW better but refuse to give to his purpose.
The first message in this series respecting Faith as being our ONLY Key To Joy, was to Honour Him First.
So it is for the people of God here.
Another passage refers to them by Gods perspective in a startling way.
ThievesTurn in your Bibles to;
Malachi 3:8–9
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
In this passage it is clear that it is to Gods own people he lays this charge.
The people of God have long known of their obligation to give to the Lord that which was due him, but have refused.
The charge is laid at the feet of all people of God, who, like a shoplifter, excuse to pay for goods and services rendered with all the same excuses;
– I can’t afford to pay the shop keeper for x
– The shop keeper can afford the loss of it.
– The shop keeper will never know.
– I don’t think the shop keeper should get this much for that service.
– I’ll pay with some biscuits and paper cups.
– I’ll work in his shop at the end of the day for 20 minutes….
– I’ll pay ANOTHER shop for the service and good, not the one I receive it from.
Exchange “the shop keeper” for God and we are not far off the similarity of rationality between a shoplifter and that of a recalcitrant Christian.
Rebellious Christians have long given a multitude of excuses for not giving to the Lord. The smile to the Shop keeper and tell him how much they appreciate his service, while they steal that which is due him.
Jesus said of such people;
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Matthew 15:7–8
In the passage in Malachi, God perceives the present, true state of the heart that refuses to give to the Lord that which is due him, that characteristic is evidently one of a thief.
Quite incredible, and a little frightening. And yet at the same time it is truly difficult to deny the logic.
IT IS GODS MONEY
First of all we see in this passage Gods claim that it is HIS TITHES AND OFFERINGS they are refusing to give.
Verse 8, 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.**
Clearly therefore, there is at the very LEAST a percentage of the increase in the financial receipts of Gods people that belong to God, BUT the people are retaining it for themselves.
God could justly lay claim on it all, for it was BY HIM they prosper.
Turn to the New Testament, 1 Cor 16 for a direct reference.
1 Corinthians 16:1–2
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
In the OLD Testament, the principal was established as a “Tithe”, that is, at least a tenth of all God has given to his people is to be return to him for his specific purpose.
Those who retained it are referred to by him as THIEVES, because they (quote) “Rob God”, rob him of what? “In tithes and offerings”.
So too is the expectation in the New Testament, but it is even more challenging than that of the Old, as it is not LIMITED to a tenth, and I will explain that in detail in the next sermon.
In short, the Principle of Law is seen in the Old Testament, the establishment of appreciation and thanks is seen in the New Testament.
The point however remains, the Principal of Giving back to God A PROPORTION, “as God hath prospered him” writes Paul, continues in the New Testament to our day.
Therefore beloved, it is equally true that those who robbed God in the Old Testament, also rob God in the New.
I know for many of you this is challenging, and though I do not wish to temper the tone of the text too much to placate you, you must understand that the logic applied by God in the passage is the exact SAME LOGIC YOU APPLY in your own lives when you feel (quote) “Ripped OFF”.
Do you not charge with thievery employers unwilling to pay that which is rightfully due you?How often have you checked your pay packet to ensure ALL the hours are accounted AND PAID FOR? How many go on strike in the streets to protest this “thievery” of income by those they work for?A year ago this month, one million people protested in the streets of France when the Government stretched the retirement pension an additional 2 years from 62 to 64 years of age. WHY? Because they believed the Government was stealing their “Entitlements”.Have you seen the violence in Port Moresby this last week? Nine people have been killed, stores have been burnt, looting and rioting has exploded due to the anger of the people because the Government have CUT THEIR WAGES. Tell me beloved, why is it just for you and I to get angry when people steel from us that which is rightfully due, but not just for God to charge us with robbing from him?
If we are so ready to charge with sin, sinful agencies who care ONLY for their OWN profit, how much more right does God have who desires a return to him a PROPORTION OF that which he has PROSPERED YOU?
We do have a thief in the New Testament that THIEVED FROM GOD even more blatantly, and it is worth seeing if there are ANY similarities in attitude.
turn to;
John 12:4–6
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.**
Here is the thief among Gods people who complains to God how he should spend his money.
I have spoken to Pastors even in the last few months respecting this very same tendency, that those who WILL NOT GIVE to God ALSO tend to have the loudest voices against how the Church should spend its money.
There is no doubt the thieves of the Old Testament also hypocritically complain about how the assembly uses that for which they do not contribute.
Malachi 3:8–9
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
“Cursed”. Here the passage in Malachi we have a meeting with our passage in Haggai.
Bags With HolesThis brings me to my final point, and the title of this sermon. Bags With Holes.
Beloved, it is time to think differently.
We have forgotten the blessing we have been so wonderfully blessed with. We have experienced the cure of our Leprosy and now we see the world through the TRUTH and REALITY of all that the Bible teaches.
All that we see around us today confirms the Bible as true, is not all that pertains to our money ALSO TRUE?
Now, far too many are putting their wages into bags with holes. God is able to close those holes, but before he does so we ought to honour him first.
Haggai 1:5-6
5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.**
In verse 9 the Lord testifies that the ALL people expected to bring home and keep for themselves would be blown away;
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it.**
Verses 10 and 11 he restrains the dew and restricts the earth from bringing forth of her fruit, even more than what was restricted after the fall in Genesis 3 it would seem. But MORE than that in verse 11, he calls for a drought, but not only upon the land, upon the corn and wine, the oil and even on men and cattle and last of which, “upon all the labour of the hands”,the implication related directly to your ability either to work, or to find work.
To deny any gain in employments they may seek after, God sends a DROUGHT!
Whether that be due to poor health or poor economics, or the GOVERNMENT restricting their opportunities; whatever the means the Lord employs, he will employ to make the robber Malachi speaks of, pay for his theft of the Lord.
You and I are seriously limited in our ability to make the thief pay, God is not.
But PLEASE understand, the LORD does not purpose to impoverish, but to bless.
The Lord desires repentance and it grieves him, as it does ANY father or mother when they chastise those they love. They desire hearts turned again and when the heart turns back to the Lord; he BLESSES THEM WITH ABUNDANCE.
We will indeed talk more about this blessing to encourage you in the next message. The ‘Instruction in righteousness’ portion of this topic is next, but for now we needed to hear the “doctrine, the reproof, and the correction” before “the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim 3:16-17)
Though wages may now be placed into a bag with holes, there is within both passages of Haggai and Malachi the opportunity of blessing for faithfulness to all who repent.
We turn to the most serious of the passages we read this morning, that for which God has inferred thievery might encourage us most.
Turn to;
Malachi 3:10–12
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Beloved, this is the principle of Tithing, and these are results of both unfaithfulness and faithfulness, this is both the doctrine and the reproof and the correction.
Fallow ground needs to be broken up before it is suited to planting that which will bear good fruit.
Keys need to be cut before they are suited to unlocking a door, The Key to Joy is Faith.
I only pray the the fallow ground of your hearts have been broken up a little this morning, that you might bare fruit. I truly do pray that the KEY of FAITH may have come a good way to being properly cut in you, that you may learn what real JOY is.
My calling to you dear brethren is not to keep you comfortable. I did not begin this Church seven years ago to placate and fluff the pillows of sleeping Christians. I do not side with the 9 who refused to give God thanks and I pray I never will.
For God has no desire to diminish your life, but to increase it…
Jesus said, in John 10:10;
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Stop putting your wages into a bag with holes, and learn the pure JOY that comes from trusting Jesus with ALL THAT YOU HAVE.
Be the ONE that turns around to always give God thanks. He not only preserved us through an evil captivity, but cured us all from the Leprosy of sin..
AMEN
{$NOTE_LABEL}. https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2021/Chronologies/COVID-19StateTerritoryGovernmentAnnouncements
{$NOTE_LABEL}. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/17/victoria-covid-update-melbourne-lockdown-to-end-on-friday-as-state-reaches-70-vaccination-rate
The post A Bag With Holes appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Looking Unto Jesus
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Introduction:
“The key to joy”, we’re looking at today’s text which I believe is another key to our endeavours to live a life of faith…JOYFULLY
Today’s text not only encapsulates crucial elements of our faith but also so much of what it should mean to be a believer.
In chapter 11 [and I’m so glad pastor touched on that last week], we saw an extensive list of those who lived by faith [and received a good report] and yet (as we read) received not the promise, yet looked unto a city whose builder and maker was God
This automatically begs the question:
WHAT WAS THE PROMISE?
As believers, we’ve been promised 3 things in regards to our faith:
The promise of a Saviour
The promise of eternal life and a heavenly home
The promise of the Holy Spirit: “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession…” (Ephesians 1:14)
It’s this last promise that is most pertinent to today’s message.
Remember from our series on our doctrinal statement:
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” (John 15:26)
For the purpose of our study, it pays to keep in mind:
***The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ and therefore reveals Christ to us
*He is the Spirit of truth and leads us into all truth; especially in matters of faith and confirming the word of God to us.
*He is the Comforter and therefore helps us to endure hardship
The promise of the Holy Spirit is confirmed in several places in the book of Acts:
“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” (Acts 1:4-5)
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
“Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33)
“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.” (Act 2:38-39)
Now, in light of these exemplary figures in chapter 11 and the witness of their lives…[remember, they received not the promise]
In Hebrews 12:1 we’re exhorted to put off sin in order to live a faith filled life…
LOOKING UNTO JESUS
Remember: we’ve received the promise and consequently the advantage that these in chapter 11 did not. This leaves us with very little excuse.
It’s worth reading this again:
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
The focus of our message today is verse 2
Our 4 points today:
Jesus:The Epicentre of Our Faith
Jesus: The Establishment of Our Faith
Jesus: The Enjoyment and Endurance of Our Faith
Jesus: The Elevation of Our Faith
Let’s pray
Jesus: The Epicentre of Our Faith:
“Looking unto Jesus…”
In the opening words of our text today we’re exhorted…exhorted to look to Christ in regards to living a life of faith and overcoming our sin.
It’s in looking to Christ that we find everything that we need…
If we look at Paul’s own struggle with sin:
Paul didn’t sit down and have a philosophical debate with regards to this struggle.
No he pleaded with the Lord:
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2Corinthians 12:7-9)
Paul was more than conscious of his struggle with sin. We saw this in last week’s message when we looked at Romans chapter 7. Who is it that is able to deliver us from our sin?
Paul’s response is: “…I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord”
So when our text states “Looking unto Jesus…” Be assured we’re not following after some vain philosophy or an idea:
Neither are we looking to ourselves for the solutions to life’s troubles.
Remember last week we established that there is no good thing in us save the Holy Spirit which indwells us. None is good but God!!!
We don’t say that in any self-effacing way…but it’s a reality. I’m not good…but God is…and in that we have every reason to rejoice.
It was only when I came to the end of myself that I turned to Christ for salvation. Prior to this, life was darkness and despair. And I’m sure that is the experience of most of us here.
WE’RE FOLLOWING AFTER A PERSON: THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:
Who is able to address every possible need we have in life…if only we would ask.
Is the reason you HAVE not…because you ASK not?
I don’t know if I have to remind you who Christ is:
He is
“…the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
(Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus is:“Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:” (Ephesians 1:21)
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Act 4:12)
In Acts chapter 8:
When Philip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch:
“And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (Act 8:34-35)
HE PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS…
Not some 12 step program
Hopefully you’re getting the impression that Christ holds immense importance in your life. The scriptures don’t present the preeminence of Christ for nought.
Of course it’s very easy to take our eyes off Christ in the midst of our struggles and crises of faith [remember Peter began to sink when he looked at the waves instead of Jesus]
If Jesus isn’t the focus of our faith then we ARE going to sink.
Remember the church of Ephesus: This is the church who had left their “first love” and were admonished to do “the first things”
If we ever hope to find Christ it will be in the pages of the bible and on our knees.
Jesus: The Establishment of Our Faith:
“…the author and finisher of our faith;…”
Again we are reminded of who Christ is with regards to our faith: He is “the author and finisher of our faith”
Or put simply: THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF OUR FAITH
Which is appropriate since he is given this title:
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
(Revelation 22:13)
When we think about the word “author”: The written word should immediately come to mind. Again this is appropriate since “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” If it wasn’t for the scriptures, there wouldn’t be any faith available to us.
We know that:
JESUS IS THE WORD
And it’s in the word of God that we discover so much about our faith:
We discover that:
Our names are: “….written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8)
What does this tell us? It tells us that even before Adam sinned, Christ had already made a way back to God by paying the penalty for our sin.
Similarly here we see in Ephesians 1:4
“…he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…”
(Ephesians 1:4)
Not only was Jesus slain from the foundation of the world, but here we see that were chosen in Christ BEFORE the foundation of the world.
In as much as it is hard to get your head around things like ETERNITY, PREDESTINATION, the sovereignty of God versus the free will of man…the thing that is really clear is that:
We are loved with an everlasting love [Jeremiah 31:3]
Our names are written in a book
And therefore Jesus is without doubt the author of our faith.
Of course our own personal faith journey begins at the cross and I particularly like a quote from Chuck Misler who said words to the effect:
“It is a love story written in blood on a wooden cross in Judaea some 2,000+ years ago”
It stands to reason then that if Jesus is the source of our faith…he is also able to increase our faith. And we find the perfect example in the gospels:
In the gospel of Mark we see the account of Jesus healing a boy with an unclean spirit. After the disciples fail to cast out the devil, Jesus intervenes:
“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:23-24)
There’s going to be times when we struggle with our faith, but here we see that asking the Lord to increase our faith is not only permissible but is also profitable.
Again:
Is it because you ASK not that you HAVE not. When we do ask we ought to believe that we receive it…
That passage concludes by saying that a double-minded person is unstable in ALL his ways [not just some of them]
If there’s one other verse which highlights the nature of our faith and the degree to which we can live our lives BY FAITH it’s this verse:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
It is by virtue of the fact that Christ lives IN US that he imparts faith TO US…
We don’t live according to our own faith but his…this happens most effectively as:
We read his word
We crucify the flesh
And walk in step with the Spirit.
Our passage today also states that Jesus is the finisher of our faith.
If there’s one verse in the entire bible which should encourage us in our struggles it’s this one. It’s certainly been an encouragement to me:
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)
The wonderful thing is that if you’re born again, the Lord hasn’t finished with you and will continue to do that good work right up to the point of our departure from this life [or the rapture…which ever comes first]
WE CAN BE CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING!!!
In regards to our own personal faith:
There’s 2 things that we tend to do as Christians
FIRSTLY: We give up too easily…we don’t avail ourselves of God’s grace which he says is sufficient for us. And we don’t allow God to strengthen us:
HIS STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS.
SECONDLY: We put conditions and limits on our faith:
In Genesis we see a perfect illustration of this.
In the account of Jacob’s ladder, where he encounters God for the first time.
[Genesis 28:20-22]
Jacob vows a vow: “…saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” (Genesis 28:20-22)
Basically, he says that if the Lord will protect and provide for him…then he’ll trust and honour him FULLY…and even tithe
I don’t know what that is…but it surely isn’t faith.
AS FOR MYSELF:
In case you haven’t noticed: I’m not a particularly gifted speaker. I could easily have said to the Lord, “If you make me the greatest orator the world has ever seen…then I’ll preach”
I can tell you, I’m just as terrified now as I was the first time. Yet as long as the Lord continues to put breathe in my lungs and inspire me to write, I’ll continue to make myself available.
In theological terms, the process whereby we are transformed, is called sanctification. This process very much involves the Spirit of God in conjunction with the word of God.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH OR MATURITY RESULTS IN AN INCREASE OF FAITH AND HOLINESS
The end goal of our faith is to be conformed to the image of Christ.
I think that we sometimes forget that. And therefore our perception of the Christian life is just to be “good”…more good than bad.
We’ve already established that “none is good” except God.
The only other option available to us then is for the Lord to do the work in us.
Otherwise:
You’re going to struggle
You’re going to be faithless
You’re going to be joyless
If there’s one thing that I’ve learnt in my 28 years of being a believer is that the Lord is faithful, he will never leave you nor forsake you AND he will complete that good work which he began in you:
Paul’s prayer to the Thessalonians is our prayer:
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1Thessalonians 5:23-24)
The Lord works in a couple of ways [and we know this already]:
Last week we spoke about renewing the mind and we can’t emphasize more strongly, the importance of reading our bibles.
It’s the word of God that throughly furnishes us unto all good works..
[2 Timothy 3:17]
This transformation is both COGNITIVE and SPIRITUAL; it changes both the mind and the heart.
The Lord also uses life itself to transform us:
Again this next verse isn’t foreign to us
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:28-29)
From this text we understand that the Lord uses ALL THINGS not just some to transform us into the image of Christ. And that includes suffering.
[Turn to]
Speaking of Christ:
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:7-9)
It’s hard to get your head around this…
The amazing thing about this verse is that we learn that Christ [who is God and thus perfect] learnt obedience and was perfected through suffering…
This leads perfectly to our next point.
Jesus: The Enjoyment and Endurance of Our Faith:
“…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,…”
Without joy and a sense of purpose, it is impossible to endure hardship for any length of time.
This being the case, let’s just think for a while. What was it that brought a sense of joy to our Lord and enabled him to endure such suffering? Think on that for a moment…
As his time drew near, Jesus knew how much he would suffer.
As we read in the gospel of Matthew:
“Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:38-39)
We know that his suffering included:
Mocking and humiliation, being spat on, being beaten and scourged…and worst of all being forsaken by God.
“…his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:” (Isaiah 52:14)
And yet in submitting to the will of God, we’re told that he endured the cross joyfully…
I think it’s safe to say that he joy that was set before him was knowing that innumerable souls would be saved because of his death on the cross.
The book of Colossians paints an incredible picture of what Christ actually achieved on the cross…
[Turn to]
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:13-15)
There seems to be a process here and an example to follow as we take up our own crosses and follow Christ. Admittedly, no hardship can ever match what Christ suffered and no act of obedience can ever match what was achieved on the cross.
Nevertheless scripture tells us that: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…” (2Timothy 2:12)
We need that forward thinking
Being conscious of God’s will and the end result of our decision to follow the will of God provides every reason for us to be joyful despite the temporal experience…
WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT INVOLVE SUFFERING
I think on most occasions, the most we suffer or are prepared to suffer is a little inconvenience.
And yet the apostle Paul says he suffered the loss of all things and counted them as dung, in order to win Christ…
The question that we should be asking ourselves is:
WHAT AM I PREPARED TO SUFFER THE LOSS OF IN ORDER TO WIN CHRIST…and is he worth it?
The ULTIMATE outcome of every decision to OBEY the will of God is that Christ is glorified and we get to experience that joy for all eternity. Just as Christ had an eternal perspective, so ought we.
The parable of the talents illustrates this:
“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:20-21)
ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD!!!
Interestingly, the servants don’t get to keep the profits on their investment BUT they do get to enjoy the knowledge that they served their master well
Everyone wants to hear the words well done GOOD and FAITHFUL
Nobody wants to hear the words UNPROFITABLE
We spoke about mindsets last week and I think that it pays to be conscious of our eternal reward and the works which have been foreordained
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
…not for our own glory but for his.
As we’ve seen in previous messages within this series…the problem is that we give in to the flesh to easily.
Remember [in our reading today] that sin so easily besets us and hinders us from running the race set out for us…hinders us from fulfilling the works which the Lord has ordained for us. Sin manifests in so many different ways and is beyond the scope of this message. Bottom line is that we should desire to fulfill the will of God in our lives.
While the world continually pursues happiness, the believer OUGHT to be seeking God.
Which leads to our next point…
Jesus: The Elevation of Our Faith:
“…and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
In the first and the second points we saw WHO Christ is…
Now in the last point we see WHERE HE IS…
Our text tells us that he is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
The question we need to ask ourselves or possibly be reminded of is:
WHAT IS HE DOING THERE?
[TURN TO]
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)
We also see in 1 John:
That:
“… if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1John 2:1)
The simple answer is that he both intercedes and advocates on our behalf.
We know that Jesus has dealt with our sin once and for all.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1)
And yet the question is STILL asked: “Who is he that condemneth?” The implied answer is “nobody” There are no charges that can successfully be laid against the believer. We have received a full pardon which extends to all our sins: past present and future.
But that doesn’t quite answer the question of why we need an advocate in heaven as we previously read in 1 John.
Fact is we have an accuser…the accuser of the brethren aka Satan.
Whilst we might not fully understand this, it has to be a blessing to know that Jesus advocates on our behalf and reminds the devil that our sins have been paid in full.
There’s a second implication in connection with Christ’s position at the right hand of the throne of God:
[Turn to]
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
Looking unto Jesus and knowing that he sits on the right hand of God SHOULD automatically dictate our priorities and affections. It should give us an heavenly perspective.
Knowing that:
BY VIRTUE OF CHRIST’S POSITION IN HEAVEN WE ALSO HAVE A CONNECTION TO HEAVEN
Look at Philippians 3:20
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 3:20)
We are actually citizens of heaven and not this world…
If you remember in chapter 11…these faith heroes were looking for another city
WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER WAS GOD
Then in the fulness of time heaven sent its king…to broker a peace deal [so to speak] And when he had finished sealing that treaty with his own blood, he ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit…to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and judgement.
We live in a fallen world and the bible makes a clear distinction between heavenly and holy affections and desires…and worldly base desires. We really need to discern the difference and distinguish [and extinguish] those things which are contrary to the life of God…because in reality we are dead and we need to reckon ourselves dead.
INDULGING IN WORLDLINESS DEPRIVES US OF ENJOYING THAT HEAVENLY CONNECTION…
Unless of course you think that there is more enjoyment in indulging the world…
If you thought the previous discussion was profound, the next is even more profound.
“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:5-6)
According to this verse, we are already seated in heavenly places with Christ…this is a permanent position for the believer and is underpinned by our eternal security in Christ.
Really…there’s nothing that Christ hasn’t done for us.
There’s a third blessing knowing that Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
[Turn to]
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Christ is not only seated in heaven making intercession for us…but we also have someone and somewhere to direct our prayers….
Whilst it might seem cliché, we’re often encouraged to “look up” and much of our faith is indeed directed skyward. But regardless of the physical dimension alluded to, the reality is that it CHRIST who dwells in the metaphysical realm that is being referred to in all these examples.
THIS IS WHERE WE COME BOLDLY TO OBTAIN MERCY AND FIND GRACE IN TIME OF NEED
The wonderful thing is that Christ is available 24/7…no appointment needed.
Unlike earthly kings…
The example that comes to mind is Ahasuerus and Queen Esther who waited for an invitation and the golden sceptre to be held out before the king would see her.
Of course, we know that she had entreated her heavenly king with prayer and fasting before taking that step of faith to approach the earthly king.
Conclusion:
As we read the gospels, one of the important things to consider is the example that the Lord Jesus gave us in regards to:
Obedience and a life of faith, service and submission to the Father…and the joy derived from living such a life. There is much to be joyful about.
HE HAD FAITH, JOY AND PURPOSE
For this reason we truly need to be looking unto Jesus
We look to who he is: He is the Lord of all
What he has done and why he did: He loved us and gave himself for us
How he did it: For the joy that was set before him
When he did it: Whilst we were yet sinners
Where is he now: We have an advocate in heaven
In view of these:
We ought to be fully mindful of the reality of Christ in our lives
We ought to realise that we can fully trust the Lord in everything.
We ought to be committed to growing in our faith and our witness as ambassadors of the heavenly city
In retrospect:
If I was to give this message an extended title it would be:
Looking Unto Jesus: An Eternal Perspective on Faith and Joy
Remember: We walk by faith and not by sight and it’s the invisible things which indeed ARE eternal.
Let us continue to look unto to that city whose builder and maker is God…and to its king
The post Looking Unto Jesus appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
We need to think differently.
“But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
What is it that would drive a group of 25 men in Syria, during the time of the Isis occupations that were sweeping the land, to purchase for themselves a graveyard to bury one another in for the almost certain death that would come for the preaching of the gospel of Christ?
What would drive a young father, recently turned to Christ from Islam, to hand out Bibles outside of a Mosque in Mosul, the ancient city of Nineveh in Iraq, again during the very time Isis had already claimed dominance in the area?
One a Friday morning, as was biographed by his young wife Khadija, Shukri, her husband, had told her that the Lord had awoken him that morning and told him that he was going to see him that day.
While the graveyard in Syria, purchased by those 25 Christians, was still empty as of the recording of the event, Shukri’s lifeless and tortured body was buried under a shallow patch of sand.
Of his story his wife wrote;
I share these words several months after I lost my beloved Shukri. I am not sure I would have been able to compose myself and voice my feelings before now. I ache for him. It’s hard to put into words how much I miss my husband. He loved me with the love of Christ. And little Sarah and Walid were lost without their loving abu! But the Lord’s grace is rebuilding their shattered hearts. Yet, you must know this: We are not leaving. God put us in Iraq, and here is where we will stay. Perhaps you, too, have been called to persist at something God has called you to. I am convinced it is our duty as servants of the Most High to stay, go, or continue doing whatever He says until He tells us otherwise.[1]
Beloved, there are tens of thousands, if not millions, of such testimonies as these in the last 2000 years, but what has changed in the thinking of such people to be willing to do things so contrary to the “self-preservation” motivations of the unbelieving world?
We often hear a version of the “prosperity gospel” preached that says something like, “Become a Christian and your life will be better”, “you’ll be happy and everything will go well for you”.
The “thinking” here is no different to what the world is motivated by, but the truth of it is not found in the same way, it is found through a difference in our thinking of the reality of life, the reality of God, of the fallen world, of our lost condition, of Christ and our salvation.
Our minds were first “Renewed” when we believed the Gospel, but what happens to many of us soon after?
We get saved and cross that spiritual Jordan and we have battles before us and behind us. Struggles begin and life seems to get harder not easier, sometimes sadder not happier, at least until our thinking changes, at least until our minds are renewed all the more and we are motivated to REALY BELIEVE the Bible and all it teaches.
As we do so, we can’t help but see in the bible that our lives are indeed to be filled with joy and so we wonder why it is that it does not often seem to be the case.
Why are there men who are willing to purchase a graveyard to bury one another in for the joy of the gospel?
Why was Shukri’s body discovered with his right hand sticking out of the ground pointing toward heaven with a smile on his face?
And why are there so many Christians in prosperous western nations contrasted by a more miserable disposition in their lives, when they ought to have joy?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THINKING?
Here we have those willing to literally give their very bodies for the sake of Christ, but others not even willing to endure the slightest risk of discomfort for the ministry of Christ?
When opportunity comes their way to attend to the work of the Lord, all manner of excuses are offered up, and so they remain miserable and wonder why those giving everything for the Lord are so joyful.
Beloved, we must learn to THINK DIFFERENTLY.
James 1:2
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Says James.
Romans 8:18
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Says Paul
1 Peter 3:14
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; Says Peter;
What is going on? Clearly we must need to ‘THINK DIFFERENTLY’
As Paul stated in our passage this morning, “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
Turn to;
Ephesians 4:21–24
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Our previous life of ignorance could not see how the world REALLY IS, nor how life REALLY WORKS. We were indeed “corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” and now we have been given eyes to see and ears to hear, but we struggle!
This passage indicates that we need to PUT OFF the old, and, through the renewing of the spirit of our minds, we are to PUT ON the new.
We ought to think differently about life.
The Bible tells us about how both life and the world REALLY WORKS. The Bible is the ONLY source that reveals to us the REALITY of all that pertains to this life, and so it seems that it is OUR MINDS THAT MUST BE RENEWED.
Romans 1:28 tells us of the natural state of the world saying;
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
The “reprobate mind” clearly does NOT have the capacity to understand how the world REALLY WORKS, but that SHOULD NOT DESCRIBE YOU AND I.
We came to believe the Gospel and were saved, how is it that we turn back?
Turn back to Romans 8
Romans 8:5–6
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
If you are born again, if you have the Spirit of God in you are naturally now “spiritually minded”, you can both please God and have life and peace.
BUT, by refusing to “think differently”, that is, to renew your minds, you run the risk of backsliding to that ‘Carnal mindset”
Paul rebukes the Corinthian churches because they are being carnal in their behaviours and trust, turn forward to;
1 Corinthians 3:1–3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Even in the days of Paul, Christians would not grow in their faith, they would refuse to have a “Renewal of their minds” that they may live pleasing God in life and peace!
We see that this is not a MODERN PROBLEM, nor do we see it as a GEOGRAPHIC PROBLEM, nor do I believe it has ANYTHING to do with our culture or economy.
YET JOY IS AVAILABLE TO ALL CHRISTIANS, IF and ONLY IF, they begin to THINK DIFFERENTLY.
Romans 12:1–3
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Think Differently About the BodyIt is of interest that Paul first deals with our bodies and how it is to be presented to God;
Romans 12:1
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
We see our bodies are to be presented as a “Living Sacrifice”. This is incredible. We find it a matter of interest that this is considered here in the text as a “reasonable service”.
It would seem that our very bodies are not neglected in the consideration of Renewing Our Minds, we need to THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT OUR PHYSICAL BODY.
Jesus Christ gave his body as a sacrifice in death, likewise we OUGHT to give our bodies as a living sacrifice.
Peter wrote of a direct correlation between Jesus and ourselves in 1 Peter 2, and relaying such sacrifices as “spiritual Sacrifices”. Turn there with me;
1 Peter 2:1–5
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, *5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices*, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
We see first of all that it is “the sincere milk of the word” of God through which we are to “grow thereby” and note the link between the literal sacrifice of Christ and how we “also*, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices*, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:1b that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Beloved, the Bible does certainly teach us that our Bodies are the physical temple of the Holy Spirit, Paul dealing with the Corinthians who have defiled their own bodies wrote;
1 Corinthians 6:18–20
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.**
The Temple of God in the Old Testament was a structure that was suited architecturally, structurally and beautifully to house the Spirit of the Living God as he dwelt among the people of God.
Our Bodies are the physical temples of the Holy Spirit of God today.
We ought to THINK DIFFERENTLY about our bodies.
On the one hand we are not to worship our bodies, but we certainly are not to defile it!
If we are to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice”, We ought to CARE for our bodies.
We defile ouR bodies in several ways;
SexuallyThe text in 1 Corinthians 6 speaks of the body being defiled through “Fornication”.
Simply put, fornication is sex outside of the covenant of marriage. The passage does not speak flippantly respecting this, it is noted here as a sin against the body.
Sex is precious under the covenant of marriage. It is treated as a defiling act otherwise.
It is not ONLY fornication however, any sexual act that involves the body that is not in accord with its original design, DEFILES THE BODY.
Sin against the Body will stifle your walk with the Lord through guilt beloved. It can’t be helped other than by restraint or marriage.
What do You Put IN your bodies?The passage in Romans states we are to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice”,
What do you put into your bodies that defiles your bodies? Let’s consider the Inner Chambers of the Temple.
We speak here of both quantity and content, what you eat, what you drink, how do you nourish the Temple of God? Do you defile it?
We ought to think differently concerning our bodies.
Again, if we neglect this change in how we think about our bodies, guilt is sure to stifle our faith.
What Do You Put ON you body?Our minds also need to be renewed respecting What you put ON your bodies this too defiles your body.
Here we deal with the appearance of the outer layer of the temple of God. We can speak of both the PERMANENT alterations and the TEMPORARY ONES.
I am finding it quite astounding how many Christians there are that are tattooingtheir bodies these days.
God calls us to separate from this pagan world, but such practices aligns Christians to it. They purposefully and permanently mark themselves to defile God’s temple in this way and OUGHT to THINK DIFFERENTLY about it.
Leviticus 18 has the Lord desire that his people would not after the doings of the pagan world that are being judged by God; (See Leviticus 18:3)
This permanent alteration of the outer layer of the Body is spoken of in the 19thChapter and verse 28;
Leviticus 19:28
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.**
These acts included piercings in the flesh and marks printed under the skinfor both memorial and the appeasement of the gods for those who recently died.
Those who belong to Christ do not replicate these acts nor defile their bodies in such ways, but are rather present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
We do not have time to deal with this in detail, and many today have made these permeant alterations to their bodies BEFORE they were truly born again, but what greaves me most are those who do so AFTER they were saved.
If such things have been attended to prior to your salvation, remove that which you can, but add no more.
That was the permanent aspect of the out layer; but there is also the temporal as both men and particularly women have so little respect for their own bodies that they shamelessly adorn themselves with clothing that may as well have been painted on.
Beloved, discretion should be the minimum requirement when it comes to public apparel.
The Temple was indeed be beautiful in its appearance, but it did not betray what is behind its covering to the public, but to those whose right it is.
We ought to think differently concerning our Bodies. For it is indeed the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Think Differently About The SoulRomans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Before we were saved we lived in the world, thought like the world, were conformed to the world and thought little to nothing out the soul. Indeed, few of us even believed there was such a thing.
Beloved, we ought to think differently concerning our soul.
We began by faith, trusting the Lord has saved us, we must indeed trust him completely that he will keep us unto the end.
If you have believed the Gospel, you now HAVE eternal life.
I will not spend this point giving all the scriptures that confirm this. The passage I just quoted is in itself more than enough, But I will spend some time to talk of that change of mind that needs to occur respecting our sorrow for sin while we are saved.
PROVISON FOR SINThe greatest battle in the Christian life is his struggle with sin in life. Indeed, it is this wrestling that is the greatest single testimony that the person is born again, but it is also this wrestling that is the cause of much of his grief and sorrow.
If we are not willing to learn of our new state, and learn that something truly has changed in our lives, even that this “STRUGGLE” with sin (and “Struggle” being the operative word) is probably the greatest testimony that something very significant has changed in you.
Indeed, if there was now NO STRUGGLE with sin, but life goes on as it did before in relative ignorance, you may not have the Spirit of God in you.
Something has changed. Our desire for sin has changed. Our new desire is to obey God, but we find ourselves unable to do so perfectly and so often fall in our sin and remain fallen.
Like a fighter who has hit the deck and awaits the ‘ten-count’, but not realising he has already won.
So what is it that we need to think differently concerning our soul?
If we will not understand the change that has occurred in us if we don’t read our Bibles. In the Bible are the answers to the change that has occurred, and through the Bible you have the opportunity to deal with these issues and grow thereby.
Romans 7:14–18
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Though it seems confusing on the surface, this passage in the book of Romans is one of the most comforting passages in the Bible respecting the struggle Christians have with the flesh nature within.
Paul here brings an understanding of the wrestling of the flesh from verse 14, and he makes clear that there has been a real and genuine change in the life of those who have been born again.
Verse 15 he speaks of those things concerning his will and what he permits, and compares them to what he actually does that is not in accord with either his will or what he permits;
Romans 7:15
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Though the passage may sound confusing, there is simply no better or shorter way to describe what Paul is referring to and what the answer is.
There has been in you an actual change of affection and desire to the point that you recognise yourself doing things you do not wish nor desire to do.
Now while that sounds like a contradiction, it is in fact consistent with the dual nature that now resides in you.
Keep your finger here, but turn to Galatians 5.
Galatians 5:16–18
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Understanding the TRUTH of the present state of your soul, and believing what you read by FAITH, in every way helps you to live in the hope that is set before you.
Please understand, though the passage explains why it is that you still sin, IT DOES NOT GIVE LICENCE to entertain sin. But the passage does help us understand that our experience has an answer in the Scriptures and we ought to trust Jesus to help that our lives may be full to do his will.
You now live in a completely different constitution where you are to TRUST completely in Christ to preserve you, and continue to live your life sharing the hope of our LORD.
Thinking Biblically about our lives enables us to truly live life to the full. Sin steals our joy like a thief, but believing the truth of our state in Christ enables us to live with abundance.
Jesus said;
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Provision has been made for sin, and its culmination is in Jesus.
Consider that change of mind and remember who it is that will deliver you.
Romans 7:22–25
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Again, there is too much to unpack here. For those who desire to learn more on it I have preached entire sermons on this passage in the Romans Commentary a few years ago.
My desire is only that you would FIRST believe BY FAITH what has occurred to you as a true Christian. And that you might deal with Sin as it is written.
Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your MindRomans 12:1–3
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How will you have joy in these days we live if you will not RENEW YOUR MINDS?
The preferred transportation system for the underground network of Bible smugglers in Somalia was with men carrying their goods in coffins under the body of a corpse.
Such was the testimony of Azzam. He knew that there was a superstitious foreboding among Somali Muslims to be near a corpse, let alone open the lid of a coffin.
Azzam testified that, “Under dead people, Bibles could get to believers and saints in Somalia.” Apparently, none have ever been caught doing this, but there were more than a few times that the coffin reached its destination with two corpses inside.
Again, I ask you, what changes in the thinking of a person who so loves Jesus that he is willing to give his body for the sake of the Gospel?
Your personal life is the first that must be changed and I only addressed the smallest handful of issues. My desire was to challenge you all to THINK DIFFERENTLY.
It begins by a change of attitude.
Beloved, the days before us are going to be far more challenging than the days recently past. YOU MUST LEARN TO THINK DIFFERENTLY. YOU MUST BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MINDS.
Why?
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
READ YOUR BIBLES
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.
Read your Bibles and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.
Learn to think differently about EVERYTHING.
[1] Doyle, Tom. Killing Christians (p. 100). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
The post Faith, The Key TO Joy Pt3: Thinking Differently appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Key To Joy: Where It Began
Luke 2:8–11
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is **Christ the Lord.
It is Christmas Eve, and the limitation of our acknowledgment respecting the birth of Christ extends ONLY to the fact that indeed there was a day that he came into the world, born of a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph (Lk 1:27), conceived in her of the Holy Ghost (Mt 1:20), and announced of the angel of the Lord in this passage, to those who kept watch over their flocks by night.
It is the account of history that has been told of ancient times that a Saviour, Christ the Lord, would come into the world to rescue mankind from his sin, and give to all eternal life who believe in him.
It is the account of the beginning of our joy, the eternal sprouting of the seed of our first faith. That Faith being the KEY TO JOY and WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.**
“Good tidings of great joy”, is how the gospel is presented that we see for the first time in the historical context of the scriptures, and it refers to the birth of the Saviour himself.
This is THE “good tiding”, aka The Gospel, and not just a gospel, not just “Good News”, but Good tidings of “Great Joy”. In the greek language it is “μεγα χαρα”, χαρα being transliterated into the English language as “hurrah”, or “hurray”. With the greek word for Great, we also get the word Mega. The news of the the coming of Christ into the world is Mega Hurray, or best translated as we have it in the scriptures as “Great Joy”.
Truly, there could not be a greater joy in all the world than this joy. The coming of the promised one, the one for which all the scriptures speak of.
When Jesus condemned the Pharisees who read the scriptures he said to them,
John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And now we have the angel of the Lord here testifying to the Great Joy that Christ is finally come.
Beloved this is where it all began.
The beginning of your great joy was believing the Gospel. YOUR JOY BEGAN BY FAITH. Christ our Lord was the “Light that lightened the Gentiles” and you have experienced his light in you as your life revived when you believed the Gospel.
The greatest joy in your life was when you believed God by Faith….
My beloved Christians, and beloved children of the Living God, hear my words please I beg of you;
if the beginning of your great and eternal joy was by faith, should not your temporal joy be maintained in living by faith?
Is this not this the reason for which God had chosen to have written “The just shall live by his faith”?
Turn forward to Romans 1 that we may have the context of the phrase in the LIGHT of our eternal joy.
Romans 1:16–17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.**
If, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” 2 Cor 13:1, what are we to say when this very principle, established in the Old Testament book of Hosea, is repeated no less than three times in the New Testament?
If the key to our eternal joy is our faith in Christ, does it not therefore stand to reason that the key to our temporary joy is to LIVE BY FAITH?
Our Joy Was Promised1 Corinthians 15:1–11
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, **and so ye believed.
It is not as if this is some new doctrine, some new idea that had never before been seen or known. The truth of the Gospel that Paul addresses here was not one yet represented in an “New Testament’, but the old.
Jesus spoke of the Old Testament scriptures, not the New, for there were no New Testament letters when he spoke.
In Acts 17, it was Paul who was speaking of the Gospel of Christ, and the Jews of Berea were said to be noble men who would “search the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Paul was being held to account agains the OLD TESTAMENT for any contradiction.
Therefore, no matter what is said today respecting what the teaching of the jews are in this day, the reality is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; *4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures*:
We are told he would be born of a virgin (Isa 7:14)
Where he would be born (Zech )
We are told how he would present himself as king (Zech )
We are told when he would present himself as king (Dan 9:25)
We are told of the works he would do (Isa 61)
We are told how he would appear (Isa 53)
We are told how he would be betrayed (Ps 41:9)
How much he would be betrayed for (Zech 11:12)
What would happen to the money he was betrayed for (Zech 11:13)
How his betrayer should die (Ps 109:6-19)
The attitude of those that put condemned him to death (Ps 22:12-13)
How he would die (Ps 22)
What he would say as he died (Ps 22:1)
What the state of his body would be, contrary to law (Ps 16:10)
That he would decend into hell (Ps 16:10)
And that he would rise again (same Psalm)
We are told of his purpose for coming to give his life as a ransom (Isa 53)
And we are told a multitude of things concerning his second coming.
All that concerning Christ would occur “according to the scriptures”.
In short, OUR JOY WAS PROMISED.
Our Sorrow Is VanquishedEphesians 2:1–9
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.**
The state of our lives and even the state of some of you that are sitting in this very assembly or watching online, was or is in an state of eternal sorrow for our sin. We were indeed, and some still are now, “dead in trespasses and sins”.
You have no life, we had no life, no matter how we presented our life to the world, we were, and some are still, DEAD.
Of the lost, there are even now those who have their trust in their riches, and some even possibly in this very room strive for the riches of this world apart from riches in heaven.
You vainly take pride in your temporal pursuits and are completely careless to the eternal cost of it.
You think this life is all there is and have not a thought in your mind of the eternal life to come. But eternity is rushing upon you, it chases you each and every day, and it bides its time to finally catch you unawares.
Robert Johnson, known as the father of rock and role, after he sold his soul to Satan wrote a song of his fear being chased by the hounds of hell.
In a very real sense, Cerberus has sniffed you out, tracked you and knows exactly where you are. He follow you all the day awaiting only the signal from his master to take you to where you will never recover.
We who have believed the gospel, are in the hands of the Lord, but those who are lost have a very present enemy in death and death chases you as that three headed hound chased Robert Johnson.
While you chase the riches of the world, ignorant to eternal poverty, you are chased for one purpose and one only, that you together with the stench of the sins of your life may become eternally consumed in hell.
It was Jesus who spoke more of this danger than any single person in the Bible.
Mark 9:43–48
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, **than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
This was the eternal sorrow for everyone of us before we believed the Gospel. This is the sorrow of some even now. A sorrow that may go from temporal to eternal at any moment.
A sorrow that is now only a fear, but will become a reality if you die without Christ.
Luke 16 tells of the rich man who had all his trust in this world’s goods. He was clothed in purple and fine linen, he ate well, faired well and before he knew it he died, and there seemed to be no time intercession between his death and his entry into hell. There is not a gap indicated in the passage, no stay of execution, no sooner had he died that he lift his eyes in hell;
Luke 16:22–23
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Jesus came to save mankind from this sorrow, there was the Where Joy began for the whole world, to once and for all pay the price for their sin.
But sorrow is the state of every soul that rejects the only provision made for sin.
This is the eternal death that you and I were saved from when we believed the Gospel. This is the sorrow that is now vanquished for us, this is where OUR joy began, but where sorrow remains for the lost.
So now we have a new state;
Paul had written of our NEW state, he wrote of how perfectly our sorrow is vanquished and it is in that same passage we read of respecting the historical account of the gospel.
Turn there in 1 Cor 15;
1 Corinthians 15:53–58
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, [how perfectly is that “therefore” placed? You can imagine Paul now saying “Therefore, in consideration to the truth of all that I have written unto you, of the gospel of Christ that you believed by faith, of the knowledge of eternal life you have gained by faith, of the reality of that eternal glorified body you will receive because of your faith, of the knowledge that the Lord may even now “change” you in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”, therefore now hear the conclusion of the whole matter, the sum of all that I have written unto you as the natural recking of all that is gone before;]
Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.**
O dear people, do you know Christ? Are you truly and sincerely born again? Have you honestly searched your heart and know with all that is in you that you are saved?
O that you might hear, that you might believe in your heart the precious truth of the gospel and be safe indeed.
Have joy indeed.
A Joy which began by faith.
Our Hope SecuredLuke 2:9–11
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is **Christ the Lord.
As we return to the historical account of the birth of Christ and the announcement by the Angel of the Lord, we come face to face with the acknowledgement that the “Good tidings of great joy” is both present and permanent.
The “Saviour” that was first promised to come, was not ONLY a temporal Saviour but an eternal Saviour.
The “Faith” placed in the one who came, was not only to vanquish our eternal sorrow but our present sorrow.
All in all OUR HOPE IS both presently and permanently secured through FAITH.
Beloved, how else are we to explain the continual encouragements we get from the scriptures to now LIVE BY FAITH?
How can we have a quadratic statement in the word of God that doubles the essential witnesses required that “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” and yet live as if this is NOT true?
Brethren, please tell me where you can find such hope as this IF NOT BY FAITH in ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD?
You have trusted by faith in the Saviour to save your eternal soul, HOW MUCH MORE to live your temporal life?
You have secured your eternal joy, how does it make sense to now live in temporal sorrow? How is it that you struggle to TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING WHEN SUCH PROMISES ARE GIVEN YOU?
There was a short film made a number of years ago simply titled “Not a Fan”.
It identified the state of the hearts of many Christians who lived life INDISTINGUISHABLE from the state of those in the world who have no hope.
These were “fans” for Jesus rather than followers. The one area of life they have placed their faith in is the eternal, but they won’t trust the Lord for anything else. Compartments in their lives where they say to the Lord, “this far you may come but I will trust you no further”.
“I have trusted you for my eternal soul, but I will not trust you for much of anything else”.
“When it comes to my personal life and struggles with sin, I will not trust you to keep me”
“When it comes to my money, I will not trust you to use it for your glory and STILL provide for me”
“When it comes to my ministry, I will not trust that you can use me”
“When it comes to relationships, I will not trust that the one who restored an eternal broken relationship can mend a temporal one”
Which of those four areas of life are you ONLY A FAN in?
Beloved, the happiest and most joyful people in the world are those who HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD FOR EVERYTHING.
They trust his words respecting their PERSONAL LIFE
They trust his words respecting their PROVISIONS for LIFE
They trust his words respecting their MINISTRY in LIFE
They trust his words and LOVE THEIR ENEMIES throughout life.
BUT WHAT IS FAITH?
This, no doubt is the fundamental question that needs to be answered. What is faith?
Is it just trusting the Australian “She’ll be right” attitude that has faith in an idea? Or does it have substance?
Is faith something that we are to believe WITHOUT EVIDENCE that it is well founded? Do we just cast our lives savings into a fountain with our backs turned and “wish for the day”? No doubt, what you cast in wishfully is collected by others purposefully. (How many are the visitors that have done similar things in the Trevi Fountain in Rome over the centuries and yet it is still not full of coins.)
WHAT IS FAITH?
The one place faith is both defined in words and exampled in life is found detailed in a single chapter of the Bible and yet threaded throughout the entirety of The Book of books.
We shall read but the first verse as we conclude this point and leave much of the balance for the last as you see how the Faith, as the Key to Our Joy is EXERCISED.
Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
On what substance did your original faith begin?
On what unseen evidence did your faith first trust for eternal joy?
What more do you need to begin to LIVE BY FAITH?
Our Confidence Is ChristJesus first came to die for you and I.
Is where our Joy began not expected to continue?
We take our final text for this final point from Hebrews 11. We will not attend to the entire chapter and yet will keep in mind that if any chapter should be expounded respecting the full expression of faith contained in one portion of the Bible, this would certainly be it.
We will read to verse 13 and give a final thought on the matter.
Hebrews 11:1–13
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
In September 2020 this Church, for the first time in a free and democratic nation whose laws were founded on the principles set in the Bible, went underground. At first in a Dance Studio and a year later in a factory.
Both times in the midst of the most devastating restriction of liberty this nation has ever seen. Both times in the midst of a CURFEW. (Monday 16th of August to 28th of September 2020 & 16th AUGUST TO 21st OCTOBER 2021)
The decision was made by faith.
The decision posed many risks and many who are even now in this room faithfully and not fearfully, were willing to take those risks because of our faith in the one who first came and died for our sins.
We took his words in Hebrews 10:25 seriously and believed him at his word that we should indeed not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, all the more as we see the day approaching.
and through that we were wonderfully blessed.
We certainly did not do what we did without some fears and concerns. No decision we make by faith is completely empty of this, but we did so because we trusted in the one who FIRST came to die for us and was the BEGINING OF OUR JOY.
As a result, we rejoiced and became an example to others that they too may follow.
We had in us that evident hope because WE TRUSTED IN THE LORD and he showed himself faithful.
And how many were the decisions we made together in that horrid time of the history of this nation?
Churches decided to forgo youth camps for that year because of the mandates of a mad megalomaniac, and we for the first time in our own history, went completely AGAINST THE FLOW and decided to begin one, free of charge no less!
How many more did we make as a Church?
But not ONLY as a group, many PERSONALLY MADE decisions by faith.
Personal lockdowns on the people of this state would not be lifted until a certain percentage of the people were “willing” to take an experimental medical procedure. So too respecting our jobs, so to respecting even our gatherings together as people were segregated between the so called “vaxxed and unvaxxed”.
Yet many of you made decisions during that time BY FAITH.
Huge decisions, not small, HUGE decisions made intermittently by faith, trusting in Jesus who first came to bring liberty and hope and joy to all who believe in him.
Can I ask you beloved, are we not to LIVE BY FAITH? Do we remember WHERE IT BEGAN?
Do you regret making the decision?
As you celebrate Christmas tomorrow, think of where and how your joy began, and ask if it is worth living by that same blessed faith.
The post Faith; The Key To Joy pt2. Where It Began appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The consideration for this series is one where I fear many of our brethren seem to be struggling so greatly in these days. The struggle is with faith and with the KNOWLEDGE of how valuable each of them are to the kingdom of God and that, abiding in the kingdom, we are to live in a constitution that is diametrically opposed to that manner of living evident in the world.
Those who honour me I will honour. (1 Sam 2:30)
There are a mixed bag of scripts we will give consideration in this series, those that are seen in reproof I will preach as a reproof, those that are seen as an exhortation and correction, I will match as best as I can, those that are encouragement, I will move to motivate and encourage and finally those that are doctrinal I will employ to bring authority to the removes, the exhortations and the encouragments.
We did not believe him.
He told us at the first that we could sustain our lives with the fruit of every tree in the garden but one, that one would see us die eternally. We had been given life, full life, even eternal live, created immortal, never to die, always to have fellowship with our creator so long as we enjoyed all the provisions he had given us.
Perfect joy, perfect peace, perfect life, perfect comfort. We walked with the Lord in the cool of the day, heard his voice and spoke to him.
For how long? the scriptures do not say, but it did not seem to take long before we chose to disbelieve his words and believe the words of a serpent. We rejected the word of the living God and he rejected us from the perfect habitation of his creation, Eden.
If it was our LACK of faith that led to the sin that damned us, It does not surprise me therefore that FAITH is what saves us. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3)
Just as our lack of faith led to sin and brought death, so too our faith brings life through the blood of the one who died for our sin.
It should not surprise us that if it is the lack of faith that led to death and eternal misery, and believing by faith that leads us to life and eternal happiness, that living by faith is the key to joy!
“The just shall live by faith” (Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11 & Heb 10:38).
Every time we choose to believe God at his word we honour him and rejoice in his faithfulness to us. The greatest example of this is our salvation. How much more can we have joy in life if we are willing to trust him and be faithful to his word?
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.** Matthew 25:21.
Beloved, stay with me in this as we see the word of God come alive so wonderfully.
If unbelief so angered the Lord to lead to our damnation and misery, and believing God at his word by faith so pleased him to lead to our salvation and happiness, and then living our lives honouring God by faith enters us into the “Joy of the Lord”, IT STANDS TO REASON THAT LIVING OUR LIVES UNFAITHFULLY will lead us to both sadness and sorrow AS WELL AS his contempt.
“Them that honour me will I honour, and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” 1 Sam 2:30.
In other words, all of history and all of the scriptures teach us that living unfaithfully in life leads to our sorrow and his anger, while living faithfully pleases him and brings us joy.
FAITH therefore, IS THE KEY TO JOY, but the converse is ALSO TRUE, our lack of faith is the KEY to Misery.
All through the scriptures is threaded this exact same theme where God is angry with those not believing him by faith, and pleased with those who believe him by faith.
Chastisement and sorrow fall on the lives of those who will not trust the Lord, blessing and joy on those who do.
Blessing and cursing is seen from the very beginning of the Bible, annotated in clarity by Moses in Deuteronomy, played out historically in the entire history of Israel, all the way down to Jesus as he demonstrates the inability of his disciples to attend to their ministry for their lack of faith;
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matt 17:17-20)
And so we come to the universal principle we see here in 1 Samuel 2:30, a principle that we will expound this morning that you may see God has threaded our honouring of him by the exercising of our faith with his honouring of us showing himself worthy of our trust.
CHALLENGED
Beloved, throughout this short series you are going to be fully challenged in the four main areas of life that scripture presents as the main sources of both our sorrows AND our joy.
Our Personal Life (in abstaining from the lusts of the flesh), the greatest single source of our sorrow.Our Financial Life (in not trusting the Lord with the fundamental principle of returning to him the tenth of all he has given you), the greatest single source of fear for our wellbeing.Our Ministerial Life (In not trusting the Lord has a purpose for our lives), the greatest source of discontent.Our Relational Life (In not trusting the Lord to love even our enemies), the greatest single source of sadness in our lives. “Them that honour me will I honour, and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” 1 Sam 2:30.
I begin this series with this passage because it truly is the principle that sets all else that comes after it.
The Four points this morning therefore are;
The Principle ExplainedThe Primacy ExpoundedThe Priority ExpressedThe Provision Expected The Principle Explained“Them that honour me will I honour, and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” 1 Sam 2:30.
As we have read already this morning the text we are giving consideration to is in the midst of a context of defiance in the ministry of God to his people.
The High priest rebuked for neglecting the principle purpose of his life and office and that being his honour of the Lord his God.
The setting of this principle BEGINS in the highest office of ministry. Fail there, and the people follow. Pastors will do well to remember this.
But we have also here the sons of Eli actively and evidently long being rebellious against the Lord and Eli had not dealt with them even once according to the proper order.
So bad was their failed ministry to the Lord that verse 17 states;
1 Samuel 2:17
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.**
And so, having already found a replacement of the prophet in Samuel the son of Hannah promised to her by Eli several years earlier, God now sent an unnamed servant to Eli to tell him of the consequence of his sin in failing to honour the Lord.
Again, verse 27
1 Samuel 2:27–30
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
God had given to Eli all that pertained to the priesthood of the LORD, but now he “Kicks” at the sacrifice, honours his children more than God and demonstrates himself to despise the Lord in the ministry with which he has been tasked to attend to faithfully.
Much can be said even here that applies to each one of us who are indeed tasked to minister to the Lord and to do so faithfully.
Much could be said as to how we attend to this ministry;
do we cumber the ground like the barren fig tree Jesus cursed, or do we bear fruit?
How do we “Kick” at the sacrifice of Jesus made for us?
No doubt this will all come out as we continue this series, but for now we need look at the principle given us at the end of verse 30.
“Them that honour me will I honour, …” 1 Sam 2:30.
We know this to be a principle because God has set it so as a statement of fact.
It is not a preference clause.
Not based on your personal preference to honour other things before you honour the Lord, not a choice that teaches equality between the two options, no not at all;
“Them that honour me will I honour, and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed”
This is an ABSOLUTE, AND IS STATED AS AN ABSOLUTE.
That means it is true for all people at all times in history. The statement was addressed to Eli, but is given in the plural form as a principle to ALL PEOPLE; “Them that honour me will I honour, and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed”
Far too often we pick and choose whether we FEEL like honouring the Lord.
I don’t “Feel” like going to church today.I don’t “FEEL” like reading my bible today.I don’t feel like praying today.I don’t feel like sharing the gospel at the moment.I don’t feel like disciplining my children who blaspheme God to all around them. That was Eli, and that is far too often a description that hits very close to home.
It is not a conditional clause
It does not permit ANY Excuses. It does not say you can honour me BUT, if it’s too hard feel free to dishonour me.
If your boss wants you to work on the Lords day, feel free to neglect the day I have set to bless you.
If your children have sports on Sundays, don’t worry about going to your obligation to minister to the assembly.
If you can afford to tithe to the ministry of the Lord, feel free to ignore the statute set for learning how to trust the Lord for all your needs.
If temporal duty calls you to ignore eternal duty, feel free to choose without consequence.
None of that disannuls the principle explained in this text.
“Them that honour me will I honour, and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed”
God has set in order a fundamental principle that he explains to bless you, our trust in this reality will find for us THE KEY TO JOY.
Our problem beloved is that WE STILL LIVE AS IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE GOD IS IN CONTROL.
WE STILL LIVE AS IF GOD DOES NOT DESIRE US TO BE BLESSED AND FILLED WITH JOY.
THE TESTIMONY OF THE TRUTH OF THIS IS YOUR RELUCTANCE TO HONOUR HIM FIRST
The Primacy ExpoundedThem that honour me will I honour, and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” 1 Sam 2:30.
We are FIRST to honour the Lord BEFORE WE CAN EXPECT TO BE HONOURED BY THE LORD.
Notice the order given in the passage.
God does not say, I will honour you so you can honour me. And yet that is how most Christians and even most of the people in this very church live.
You have an expectation of the Lord that, IF HE FULFILS IT, you will then honour him.
You do this with your moneyYou do this with your ministryYou do this with relationships.You do this in your personal life. The testimony to the truth of this is evident in the LACK OF ONGOING JOY in your lives today.
Beloved, we will address the POLARITY EXPRESSED in the latter part of the the verse in the last point. But for now recognise that, though you may know that those who honour the Lord he will honour, too many of you LIVE in that conditional phase expecting the Lord to honour YOU FIRST.
You will ONLY cast in of your ABUNDANCE to the treasury, and until you deem to have it you restrain honour from the Lord.You will only take part in the ministries God has placed before you IF you can get the time off work, IF you don’t have other commitments, IF you feel like it. Sunday services…IF, Youth camps …. IF, family bible studies… IF, preaching the gospel…IF, attending to the sick, the elderly, the troubled….IF etcYou will choose to love your enemies….IFYou will abstain from the Lust of the flesh….IF For you it is that IF ALL THAT STARS ARE PERFECTLY ALIGNED, THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL YOU HONOUR THE LORD IN ALL THINGS.
But God EXPOUNDS THE PRIMACY of the principle as an absolute;
Them that honour me will I honour, and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” 1 Sam 2:30.
ONLY when we honour him FIRST, will we be honoured.
Proverbs 3:9–10
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Hebrews 10:24–25
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Matthew 5:44–45
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
1 Peter 2:11–12
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
This is NOT just an old testament idea, but the reality of THE PRIMACY of a FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE of how the world ACTUALLY WORKS.
Beloved, I want you to notice something as I preach this message this morning to you.
There are two unbiblical ways that such a message as this has been preached in the past and is still preached today.
One is that of the carrot and the other is that of the stick.
Modern pentecostalism and Charismatics preach the former; “if you do all these things you will prosper” “if you give you get”, as if it is an investment strategy and its focus is on YOU. The ultimate aim is for YOUR GLORY.
Roman Catholicism and other works based cults preach the latter: “if you don’t do this you will go to hell”. Etc.
What saddens me most is that both of these false doctrines seem to have a greater externally adherents than how the Lord presents it.
All through the scripture, from the beginning to the end God desires his people to trust him and to live their lives trusting him. To be blessed BECAUE they honour HIM First and for HIS GLORY.
Moses at the first instant in Deuteronomy told the people that principle of blessing and cursing. Those that trusted in the Lord and obeyed him were indeed blessed, but their desire was to HONOUR HIM FIRST.
Leap and the Net Will AppearQuickly desire to tell you a story I heard many years ago that I have retained to this day to help me understand the primacy of this principle in honouring the Lord FIRST.
There was a great acrobatic star who amazed the people who came to see him. One day an inventor of an invisible net came to promote his product and the acrobat immediately saw the opportunity of drawing even more crowds to his spectacle.
If the people could not see the net, how great a crowd might attend.
The net was installed. The acrobat climbed the tower, took hold of the swings bars, and suddenly got frightened in seeing NO NET below him.
His legs shook at the the prospect of falling.
Suddenly the inventor cried out to encourage him, ‘LEAP AND THE NET WILL APPEAR”
THAT, in short, is the Primacy Expounded in this text,
Them that honour me will I honour, …” 1 Sam 2:30.
We honour the Lord FIRST, even if we don’t know the outcome.
We honour the Lord in primacy, above all else.
We honour him also in priority, trusting him for the outcome.
The Priority ExpressedThem that honour me will I honour, …” 1 Sam 2:30.
Given to Eli by the man of God was this principle and it was given him as a rebuke for honouring his family before honouring the Lord.
We need to be careful here for there have been cases of ungodly people separating from family members un-biblically taking such portions as a justification to separate from them. We look at this text in both context and understanding the principle as The Key To Joy when we are willing to trust the LORD in his words.
1 Samuel 2:29
29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
We are to honour the Lord ABOVE all else, and in PRIORITY to everything and everyone else (v29)
Eli had understanding of his responsibility to the Lord, but chose to ignore it for whatever practical reasonings deceived his mind.
Many are the speculations regarding WHY Eli chose to honour his sons above God, but there is little doubt Eli had weighed up the options and perceived his limited expectation of the practical ABOVE TRUSTING THE LORD.
And so we come to the crux of the matter. The passage presents an EXPRESSION OF PRIORITY that is a challenge to our perception. It tells us that we are to trust in the Lord above and beyond what we think the outcome of that trust will contain.
We do this in every area of our lives; Our money, our ministry, our relationships and our personal life.
We think of what we are commanded to do and what we KNOW we should be doing, but then the fears appear in our hearts, the questions of “what if” create in us the fear of not being able to deal with the perceived trouble that may come IF we give priority to honouring the Lord.
Examples abound in the Scripture telling us of how faithful the Lord is, but it is not until WE apply it to our OWN lives that the challenge really hits home.
I am reminded of the story of two Russian Communists coming to gather to affirm one another’s beliefs;
The official giving instruction says to the other; “and if we have two houses, we give one to him that has no house”, the other affirms saying “yes, I will”.
The official continues, “and if we have two cars, we give to him that has no car”, and quickly the other affirms, and says, “yes I will”.
“And if we have two chickens, we give to him that has none”, but the other then says “no”.
Perplexed at the response, the official repeats the call, ““And if we have two chickens, we give to him that has none!”, and the other replies and says, “no, I won’t”.
The official asks “Why not”, and he answers, “I have two chickens”
It is always easy to agree in principal, but not easy to apply it in person.
Turn to
1 Kings 17:8–15
8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.**
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
The greatest enemy we have that prevents us from honouring the Lord as a priority is FEAR.
But the KEY TO JOY is that which casts out all fear.
Beloved, when we take and FULLY COMIT to honouring the Lord as a PRIORITY, life will never be the same again as you watch him honour you in return.
Everything from making no excuse against reading your Bible every day to taking that great step of faith in honouring the Lord in that which you are presently challenged, will have its blessing returned IF IT IS COMMITTED TO only for the purpose of honouring the LORD.
How I wish I could express to you the blessing of determining to trust the LORD completely with the outcome of that difficult decision made to honour the LORD as a PRIORITY.
WHAT A JOY IT IS TO TRUST HIM WITH THE OUTCOME TO WHATEVER END.
Imagine the joy even in the midst of his greatest trials when Job could say with absolute confidence, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” (Jb 13:15)
Them that honour me will I honour, …” 1 Sam 2:30.
An expectation to the result of the principle proclaimed should be anticipated, FULL STOP!
There would be PROVISION made to every decision we make in honouring the Lord with all he has commanded and shown us.
What limitation could I give examples to you respecting this verse. You all have already in your hearts a knowledge of that which you fear to tread, yet KNOW that it is of the LORD to attend to.
PLEASE beloved, TALK OF THIS TO ONE ANOTHER.
Please, hear the stories and the accounts of those IN THIS CHURCH who can this day testify of all the stories in their lives when they took that step to trust the LORD and LISTEN to the Joy that abounds in their discovery of how God ministered to wonderfully to them.
Don’t leave church today until you share an example of your experience in this that OTHERS may learn a little of that KEY TO JOY.
Let me close with this thought.
We now live in a completely different economy to that which we used to live in the world. Everything we did in the world was based on OUR EFFORTS and maybe the results will be what we hoped for.
But the world ONLY EVER PROMISES and NEVER FULFILLS ITS PROMISE.
That’s quite a statement, and yet it’s true.
Yes, the world might give you fame and fortune, BUT it can NEVER GIVE YOU the containment you expected FAME AND FORTUNE might provide you.
Yes, the world might give you excitement and thrills, multitudes of people to inflate your ego, even looks and power and popularity might possibly come your way, BUT EMPTINESS WILL PREVAIL, rather than JOY.
Cursing rather than blessing.
Them that honour me will I honour, …” 1 Sam 2:30.
Imbedded within that text, and not too deeply is the KEY TO JOY. Can you see it yet?
It truly is the KEY to ALL lifestyles blessings, if you don’t see it yet, try doing what it tells you and discover it in reality.
First we had THE PRINCIPLE EXPLAINED, The doctrine is there, it is not a PREFERENCE CLAUSE, it is not a CONDITIONAL CLAUSE. It is an absolute. “Them that honour me will I honour”
NEXt we had THE PRIMACY EXPOUNDED; “Leap and the net will appear”. If you are reading your Bible, and you know there is that which you are to obey the Lord in, then do so trusting him for the outcome.
Next the PRIORITY EXPRESSED; The temporal is to give way to the eternal. Jesus spoke of our treasure in heaven. He spoke of this to the rich young ruler, to his disciples, to you and I.
Lastly, The PROVISION EXPECTED.
Them that honour me will I honour, …” 1 Sam 2:30.
The post Faith, The Key To Joy Pt 1: Them That Honour Me… appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
He will Feed Me, He will Clothe Me, He will keep me.
Cody Kereopa 24/09/2023
Matthew 6: 24 – 34
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Long before Jesus was called Christ, he was called Master, Rabbi, Teacher the Sermon on the Mount is one of the many examples why. Jesus demonstrated his ability to expound on Gods will and word without hesitation or ambiguity and most importantly with authority. It is a masterclass in not only preaching but doctrine and shows why Jesus is the true Shepard. It begins in Mathew 5 and concludes in chapter 7. I can only show you a glimmer of what is in this passage, and the focus is really verses 31 -34. I implore you to read the whole sermon frequently, let its words sink in and meditate on what Jesus himself greatly desired you to know. You can live by these words. These passages mean more to me than money or gold, they are precious in so many ways I will never be able to convey their potential value to you but today I’ll try to demonstrate their value to me. I want to focus Money, God, and You. The scriptures deal frequently with Idolatry, covetousness, and filthy lucre (the desire for money specifically). Earlier in chapter 6 this is at the forefront and is clearly presented and warned. I do see the potential to apply what Christ is saying in this passage to those inclinations, Idolatry, covetousness, and filthy lucre I find when I really consider his words, I find he is not dealing with a wicked person but a faithless person. He’s not dealing with the active sin of the flesh but a more passive weakness of the spirit. Trust, contentment, comfort, and assurance are worlds ill use frequently this morning, but they don’t really convey the depth of peace I experience and desire you to experience. So I apologise if I sound rather repetitive. When taken literally and in context what Jesus is presenting is astounding but also logical. There is a point I believe Christ is making in this part of his sermon that is both easy to understand and difficult to enact, I want to share what my experience has been enacting this in my walk and how I’ve identified and cultivated the sensation of trust and how I have trained my heart to apply it to God by reason of use. It’s far too simplistic to identify this sensation as “content” because its far more than that. Afterall a growing faith and trust in God doesn’t just lead to contentment but confidence, power, and fearlessness, wisdom and discernment, among others. God will feed me, and God will clothe me, God will keep me. A simple slogan for my soul. I suspect this is the heart of what Christ is so beautifully expressing in this snippet of his great message. The message is God will feed me, and God will clothe me, God will keep me.
The points today are:
Your Master. Who is your master? Jesus has identified 2 possibilities.Your Thoughts. Are your thoughts demonstrating trust in God?Your Desire. Seeking the kingdom and Righteousness First. Your Full Pantry. An expression of the sensation of Trust in God through Christ. Matthew 6: 24 – 34
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
You can’t confuse what Jesus is teaching here, it’s so plain that we are without excuse in understanding this passage. I accept that a person may have to do some soul searching and some introspective thinking to reveal who your master is, but I don’t think it’s complicated or time consuming, ultimately if you can’t identify your master God will manifest it and your true master will be revealed. You can also ask God. David says in Psalms 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart:try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.
Who is your master? Is it God or Money? Notice how Jesus has phrased the passage, he’s implying if you try to serve both you will ultimately play Favorites and no matter which way it falls both outcomes are undesirable. We know the most common outcome. It is the love of money and the resentment of God. Turn to 1 Tim 5. It is conceivable that one could Hold to God and despise money and this outcome would be undesirable also, rare as it may be. Our God is in Favor of an economy of wages and of debt and money can work within his framework. Just a few examples.
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Mark 12:41-44
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Luke 10:7
18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Timothy 5:18
Man can clearly work within the context of Money. God even calls the Jews to Tithe in the book of Malachi. The issue is what? Turn a little forward to 1 Timothy 6 A famous and in some ways infamous verse. Misquoted so frequently by many.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10
For a good understanding of the interaction between wealth and godliness read 1 Tim 6. Ultimately a desire for wealth and riches in and of themselves is the issue facing our hearts. The concept that they and not God will feed and clothe us and not God is a thin veil for our desire to serve money. Do you really think your seeking an increase in pay to secure Food and Clothing? There is this common theme in scripture and certainly in the New Testament that food and clothing is all we need, and God will provide both.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:8
In John chapter 11 Jesus was telling the disciples that Lazarus was asleep and they were confused. I can understand their confusion because the Lord is saying he will wake Lazurus from his sleep.
In John chapter 11 and verse 14 it says
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Here Jesus is speaking plainly here. Ye cannot serve two masters, you cannot serve God and mammon. The reality is that the Master of a person is many things. Their motivator, their provider, their security, and their authority. Again, I do not believe Jesus is restricting his words to a simple matter of covetousness and Idolatry. This passage addresses the choice of the individual to choose a foundation upon which they seek their needs. Afterall Jesus is not addressing things we do not need, but rather things that are essential. A need for food and clothing is not evidence of idolatry or filthy lucre and I do not believe Jesus is addressing the nature of mankind’s greed but rather the reality that we will choose one as our primary means of obtaining our needs but cannot choose both. He is not discussing the merits of either in this passage, he certainly will later, but here he is highlighting to the listener that one of these two things Money and God, one of these is your master. Don’t fool yourself beloved, mammon has been the downfall of countless churches and ruin of countless Christians. Accept the plain message, you are either a servant of money or a servant of God, there is no middle ground. Having accepted God as your master you can test yourself very easily by meditating on your own thoughts. After all Jesus move straight into thoughts.
Second point: My Thoughts. Are your thoughts demonstrating trust in God?
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
There is truly a wealth of application, commentary, parallels, and study that can bring out the so much more in the body of scripture in this point but my desire it to demonstrate Jesus’ reassurance and comfort in choosing God as our master to show the true value of deciding to forsake money and cleave to our heavenly father. I’m just touching on the very surface of verses 25 to 30 but focussing on verse 31 and 32 in my point. Jesus moves on from this simple statement:
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Into a very interesting subject, your “thoughts”. Jesus gives two “therefores”. Obviously, he has concluded that serving God is the better master and is speaking as if your thoughts should reflect the choice. He states, take no thought for your life, take no thought for your food or your drink, take no thought for your body, or for your clothing. What does this “take no thought” really mean? Does Jesus really mean I don’t have to think about anything, Safety, food, drink, and clothing will come no matter what? Well, no and yes. No in that: Take no thought is an expression meaning do not worry. You should think about feeding yourself, I tell you a lot of thought went into the meal I prepared for lunch. Many here have had to think a lot about what they made so that we may have a wonderful lunch but to take no thought of what you eat is better expressed by an individual anxiously stressing “what am I going to eat?” as opposed to a guy standing at the buffet asking, “what am I going to eat?”. And yes in that he is comparing what you cant do to what God can do. God can sustain you miraculously should he desire. It’s not that God will always provide what we think need, Jesus is specifically addressing our concern and lack of faith. We, unlike God cannot speak reality into existence and our thoughts hold power only over our own emotions and actions. Afterall we all know the many sayings that come after “don’t worry”:
‘We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it’
‘If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved worrying will do you no good.’
My Favorite is: You can worry and not pray or pray and not worry.
Though we have a nature that pushes us to concern and anxiety we have a recognition that worrying helps nothing. Jesus is identifying the root cause of your worry and it’s a lack of faith.
Jesus is highlighting the reality that you are very valuable to our heavenly father. You are not just a thing to be fed and clothed, He feeds birds he clothes the grass and you are much better than these. You are the precious child that God has adopted.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:14-15
You are deeply loved and sought after by your God.
When the time comes that your mind dwells on the idea that you will go hungry or be thirsty that you will be naked, he’s highlighting when that time comes its due to a lack of faith. The faithless (the gentiles) are justified in worrying about a great many things, but the believer has no excuse to dwell in fear. God will feed Me, God will clothe Me, God will keep me. If your concerned for your needs, it implies you are unsure that God can provide for you and are perhaps undecided on Gods intentions. Afterall before you even ask, God knows what you need. Earlier in Jesus sermon when teaching on prayer Jesus states,
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Matthew 6:8
We cannot always discern what is Gods doing and what is Gods doing with our doing. All we know for certain is that God knows our need and can provide it in any circumstance. We are extremely valuable to our heavenly father. In Gods eyes you are of infinite value. Afterall, he paid an infinite price for you. Now the meat of my message.
Third point: My Desire. Seeking the kingdom and Righteousness?
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
If we are to “not worry” about all these things, what are we going to be doing all day? Afterall God, in his wonderful grace has provided me a means to provide for the needs of me and my family, in fact more than the needs, our want is even accounted for in many ways. Being free of this burden of daily provision wherein I am occupied for most of the week how do I proceed? Now having food and raiment should I seek the kingdom of heaven?
NO, that’s all backwards. It doesn’t say First all these things shall be added unto you.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus is saying seek the kingdom and righteousness first. THEN my needs will be provided.
I work in an office environment; I’ve been employed for 9 years. My career in the workplace can be split into two distinct categories. Before I was seeking God and After I was seeking God. For the first four years I was not seeking God for the last 5 years I have been seeking God. For the first four years I wanted to climb the corporate ladder but couldn’t. I wanted the respect of my colleagues but never had it, I wanted to earn more money, yet could never justify why I was worth more wages. I wanted to feed my family but could scarcely manage to avoid debt collectors repossessing my car. For four years I played a game of cat and mouse with my employer that nearly ended in my immediate termination. You see I was ambitious but lazy, motivated but selfish and ultimately ignored my responsibility as a worker to not take more than I gave. After these four years of mediocrity verging on uselessness came, Five years of prosperity. You see I gave up trying to climb that ladder and focused on just being a good worker. I completely let go of the care I had about what people thought and cared only about what God thought of me and garnered respect from my peers. I forgot about earning more money and focussed on how I much I could give to God and my pay doubled within 3 years. If it’s unclear, I’m not boasting, I’m giving all glory to God. It all comes back to my relationship with Money and God. You see by faith I chose to serve God and he rewarded me. Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Do you know God really can give you ANYTHING you NEED. He won’t give you everything you think you need, but he will give ANYTHING you need. I was thousands of dollars in debt when I was evicted from my home 5 years ago. My family had no car, no house, and no money. Let me tell you, I prayed in my garage in a dark hour of my life for God’s help. I can pinpoint to the very day I did this, that I sought after him and his righteousness and it marks the turn in my family’s trajectory. Within two days we were out of debt (God can give money if needed), people I barely knew cleaned my house, mowed my lawns and helped move my belongings to a storage yard (God can provide labour). Within 3 weeks we were gifted a car, the red SUV that we drove to church today was gifted to my family because we needed it (God can provide a car). Within 3 months we were back living in a rental property in Sunbury (God can shelter you). I wasn’t given the comfort of my needs and then sought after God as a result. I sought after God and as a result all my needs were met. This has been my experience and is my testimony too you Now.
My final point My Full Pantry. An expression of the sensation of Trust in God through Christ.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
This is the kicker, the final nail in the coffin of worry and anxiety. Earlier I said how many people have made themselves sick over the thought “what are we going to eat? What will we drink and what will we wear?” as if being delivered from the great concern for food and raiment wasn’t enough, Jesus has assured us of something most outrageous, inconceivable. Jesus is has lumped in with food and raiment, the unbearable burden, the insurmountable obstacle of tomorrow. I know it may sound a little flamboyant or even overinflated, but I promise you, taking thought of the evil of tomorrow has ended lives. Let me give you some examples from my own experience.
Tomorrow will be my sermon.
Tomorrow the project is due.
Tomorrow, I get married.
Tomorrow is the court date.
Tomorrow is the funeral.
I don’t know how I will make through tomorrow.
I don’t know if I’ll see tomorrow.
God will feed me, God will clothe me, God will keep me. Yes, it is a summarized paraphrased mantra, but I believe it captures the essence of the passage. Money may be able to help some of these, but only the assurance that God has your back can dispel any concern for tomorrow, there are tomorrows that never came, there are tomorrows that will never be. Then there is the complete other side of the equation, taking thought of tomorrow will amount to what? Nothing. Turn to Philippians chapter 4. Even in the face of certain death Paul the apostle travelled to Rome to confront Ceasar knowing that he need not fear the outcome Acts 21:13, Job, riddled with illness and grief said 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: Job 13:15 and of course the very famous verse that mirrors what Christ is preaching 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
How can I describe that peace which passes all understanding? I can only start with comparison, Have you searched for the moments in life that give you security? Have you explored how far that feeling of peace can be cultivated when wrapped in the truth of Gods assurances? The simplistic answer of what give us security is usually money. And it would be the example I suspect most of you have. Afterall this is why Christ is warning us about these two masters after all. But is there something else you can capture and distil? dig deeper when did this first happen for you? when in your heart and in your soul, you had “no thought” for food, raiment or tomorrow. I’m not talking about wanton abandon or temporary distraction. For me it was when we went shopping. Back then it was called safeway but we call it woollies now. My dad was a tradie and work was sporadic and we would go through these times of abundance and times of scarcity. Sometimes I would see him come home with the groceries and sometimes I would go shopping with him but the moment we filled the fridge, pantry and cupboards with what I would call “the hoard” I would be so content. I would, in my child mind, be euphorically fulfilled, as if every can of baked beans, box of weet bix and bag to oats filled up my very heart. Me dad and wade wouldn’t have to worry about anything, food and drink was sorted, and tomorrow was sorted, nothing could phase me. Just in case this was a uniquely Cody phenomenon I asked around a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised. Among us today is a person who felt the exact same way when as a child his mother would bring in the summer harvest. As the fruits and veggies were washed stored and preserved, they would know that they wouldn’t need to worry about tomorrow. There is a member here who had a father that would be away for work for long stretches, and when his car would pull up and he would come inside the house in the middle of the night trying not to wake up the kids and head into bed they could relax, close their eyes, and go to sleep knowing tomorrow would be fine. You see I transplanted that sensation of contentment, security and assurance to its rightful owner, God, because he is my master and I can tell you, now, that child’s emotion pales in comparison to the trust, freedom, and confidence I have as a child of God. You too can experience this peace. Are you an anxious person? God can dispel it. Are you in need of security, God can provide it.
Again, I shared my story of the shopping and fulfilment and asked my brother in Christ if he knew what I was talking about looked at me and said, the only time I’ve experienced what your describing was the day I was saved.
Do you want this peace? You see Jesus is dealing with a person who is trying to serve two master’s and describing why it’s best to choose God. But what if God isn’t even in the picture and you just want to serve money? Sure, good luck, If Elon musk, Jeff Bezos and Gina Reinhart is the pinnacle of your hope, I hate to tell you, they have fears for tomorrow. Food and raiment may not be an issue, but the reality is, they can’t afford to guarantee tomorrow. Its too expensive. The kind of peace and serenity that God offers is rooted in something far more valuable than all the earth and the stars can offer. You see Jesus knew that faith in God would lead to eternity with God. He was aware that faith in money would only lead to life with money. You must be alive to benefit from money. What I’m saying is that Jesus is assuming you know there is a God and that he “God” is a far better provider than “money”. Can you honestly say Money will be you great saviour and provider?
The post He Will Feed, Clothe, Keep Me appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Devil
His Beginning
Reading: Ezekiel 28:11–15
IntroductionAs we move on through the wonderful doctrines of the word of God, having established now the base and foundation of all Scripture through first our acknowledgment of the Bible and its own nature (while not ignoring the efforts of corruption now current in all English versions but one), then moving toward the author himself, God the father, Jesus Christ (The Word Incarnate) and God the Holy Spirit.
Nine sermons given on the foundation of our faith, The Bible. Those desiring to understand more of it should give the 43,000 words I had written on the subject some consideration.
Seven on the nature and reality of God the Father
Seven Sermons on Christ, God the Son
Seven Sermons on God, the Holy Spirit.
To date having written some 140,000 words on those subjects that are the very basis of all we know and all we believe.
Today, and for the six weeks that will culminate this next set of sermons, we are going to learn of the antagonist of all history, The Devil.
WHY?
No doubt there are those who have no interest in giving this person the time of the pulpit. The idea that we should spend the precious time of Church taken up by somewhat elevating such a defiled character as Satan to the point of preaching is distasteful to many, and I understand it.
It would be for the same reason that some had little interest in the recent “Getting Deeper Study” Series that we have undertaken speaking of 12 of his disciples.
Nevertheless, the Bible itself, undefiled by shortcomings of those who preach it, teaches of who the devil is:
His BeginningHis FallHis WillHis NatureHis DevicesHis End. So beloved, if all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (1 Tim 3:16), and if the foundation verse of this Church states, “For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom 15:4), are we to ignore the very person who is the influence of all that is evil in the world?
Does God want us to remain ignorant of him?
As we give our consideration to the Devil and his nature, let us also give consideration to the nature of those who have not the Spirit of God in them. Let us give consideration even to the nature of our own flesh and how it too often manifests the devils character.
Pray
He Was CreatedEzekiel 28:11–15
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
The first point to note as we look at the beginning of this person is that he was indeed “Created”, we see this in verse 13;
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Though there has long been disputes respecting this passage of the Bible with claims that it is refereeing to the “physical King of Tyre”, it is clear by the words in the passage that no physical, present king living in the City of Tyre could ever be described in this way.
Has any other person even made it past the armed angels guarding the way to Eden that this man should be describe as being “in Eden the garden of God”?
What of verse 14, has ever a man been also identified and the most powerful of Angels known to us as a Cherub?
What of the manner of his creation, Perfect in Beauty, filled with light stones, without iniquity in the day he was created?
Clearly there are more problems trying to assimilate those ideas with a man than seeing the plainness of the passage teaching that this person is the spiritual personal governing over the ruler of the city of Tyre.
Turn for a moment to Daniel 10
What we have is the voice of the angel that came to Daniel when he first set himself to pray, and the angel telling him that he was held up for three weeks (v 2) fighting against another heavenly prince;
Daniel 10:12–13
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Go down to verse 20;
Daniel 10:20
20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
Paul teaches us;
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
From the perspective of heaven, all angels are princes and thereby have to themselves a ruler, that being God; but from the perspective of the earth Paul identifies a ruling body OVER the “flesh and blood”, rulers of the world who may indeed be considered the true “kings”.
Take a look again at the passage in Ezekiel and give consideration to it in context.
When we look at the passage in the first verse of Ezekiel, we see that he is to speak unto the “prince of Tyrus” and as you read through to verse 10 it is clear that this man is the physical king of the land. He believes himself to be “God” in verse 2, proud with wisdom above others in v3, richness in abundance in v4, filled with pride in v 5, set against by other nations in v6, only to die like a man in v9.
But then we have verse 12, Ezekiel given a charge to address his lamentation to one ruling over this prince, “the king of Tyrus”, and the description we have is that which we read earlier.
Therefore, the Bible is consistent in teaching that there are spiritual wickedness in high places governing over the affairs of men, Satan himself governing the nation of Tyrus.
NOW, though it may be seen as a waste of time defending what seems plain, it is important lest doubt causes us to lose what we can learn respecting the devil in this passage.
The first thing I wanted to be sure we understood is that Satan is a CREATED being.
Ezekiel 28:13
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Why does this matter?
It matters because Satan is a limited entity both in time and space.
He is limited in knowledge, he is limited in history, he is limited in power and authority.
All of this is vitally important because far too many Christians attribute to Satan almost divine power and authority.
He is CREATED; this means that he was created IN TIME and there was therefore a time when the devil WAS NOT.
That he is created also means he is limited IN TIME and thereby in HISTORY. He cannot know anything about the future that was not revealed to him, but he can know everything about history past, even to the day he was created.
Those who have long entertained thieving fortune tellers are fooled by the spiritual devils that can tell them all the details of their past, lulled into a false confidence respecting the future.
ONLY GOD knows the end from the beginning.
All angels, including the devil, are created immortal BUT in time. They are “Time bound” entities.
Therefore, knowing the Devil is a created being is vitally important. It tells us immediately that he has limitations. Do now ascribe to him divine power!
We have a greater authority over the angels in the name of Jesus.
Recall Jesus telling his disciples of this authority in Matt 10:8
Matthew 10:8
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Paul tells us that “we shall judge angels” in 1 Cor 6:3.
Therefore, know the devil has limits. He is not ‘co-equal’ with God, the Bible tells us Jesus will destroy with the “brightness of his coming” in 2 Thess 2:8.
He is CREATED, do not be afraid of him.
He Seals The SumEzekiel 28:11–12
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
“Thou realest up the sum”
An interesting phrase that gives to us the very distinct impression that this description is given of a created being that has nothing else to add to his created aspect. Indeed, he was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty”.
This is not me saying it but the Bible!
It is a matter of interest that when the world is given a picture of Satan, they are given the imagery of his nature as his physical imagery.
The most defiled form that is possible, the greatest and most evil representation imaginable is the representation given of Satan PHYSICALLY. But it ONLY represents his NATURE.
This perhaps may fit the image we have of everything that is evil, but it is not how he is described in the Bible, the opposite in fact.
Here in verse 12 he is spoken of as the perfect sum of all God has set aside in creating him. No more could be added to him; this is what it means to be the one that ‘seals the sum’.
So many are the pictures and images of a red, two horned beast with a goatee beard, muscular physique, clawed hands, serpent like tail holding a pitchfork. Indeed this almost seems the purposeful desire of the devil to portray himself so obviously evil that no person alive would accept him.
But what if his appearance was the exact opposite of to this?
What if the devil was actually impressibly attractive in his appearance?
What if his voice spoke is soothing melody captivating our interest rather than in guttural growls that turn us away?
Imagine if he was so incredibly wise in his speech, saying things in a way that is alluring rather than off-putting? Words that we can all potentially agree with, words that are difficult to disagree with. (We will talk of his words in a future sermon).
Of such a one as this, can we be persuaded that evil is attractive?
Truly, how much evil that allures you today is unattractive?
The passage in Ezekiel goes on to describe interestingly, the covering of this person in verse 13;
Ezekiel 28:13
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: ….
Seems this creature had “bling” built in!
This is his appearance in the beginning.
So we see that the passage describes him both as physically attractive, filled with wisdom and clothed majestically, even musically inclined (speak to that shortly).
We DO NOT SEE an individual who REPELS but one that attracts!
Turn to 2 Corinthians for a moment;
In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul speaks of his burden for the Church and how easily they are being swayed toward that which is evil. He speaks of false prophets coming to remove from them the simplicity that is in Christ and he compares such seemingly acceptable men with Satan.
Lets take a look at verse 3 to gains some context;
2 Corinthians 11:3–4
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
We see him warning of those subtile men that come in to Churches and preach another gospel, indeed, “another Jesus” and desiring even to impart “another spirit”.
Anyone who has come out of Charismatic Churches, or so called “Deliverance ministries”, or Pentecostal Churches that have their focus on signs and wonders, may indeed understand what Paul is referring to here. They certainly do preach “another Jesus” and certainly impart “another spirit” to their congregations.
These have been attracted by the preacher, attracted by the voice, by the appearanceof the man, perhaps even by the “bling”. They look good and they cover themselves with things that look good.
It is interesting that when Jesus Christ, the Saviour, is described in the Bible, the text tells us;
“he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isa 53:2)
Now, in your text in 2 Corinthians, go down to verse 13
2 Corinthians 11:13–15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
So what we see so incredibly presented in the Bible is that Evil does not make its appearance as manifestly evil, indeed the opposite is true.
Evil has its appearance attended to in a way that attracts us to it, and so we are warned to watch with care.
Lets not forget Revelation 6:2, Evil in this passage rides in on a WHITE horse!
Light and MusicEzekiel 28:13–14
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
There are a few items we can glean from this passage that speaks of Satan before he became Satan. In him was a diverse array of stones that provided his covering and, as an angel of Light that Paul wrote of to the Corinthians, he would have illuminated wonderfully through those precious stones.
every precious stone was thy covering
Ten stones that covered the covering Cherub.
Isaiah has the sister passage to this seen in Ezekiel which we will look more into next time when considering his fall, but it is worth turning there to see the name that represents him reflecting this description in Ezekiel respecting his luminescent coverings.
Turn to Isaiah
Isaiah 14:12
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Again, we come to a description of a king, and I do not want to get go into the explanation justifying the words as they are. Modern Bibles have terribly corrupted the name of Satan before his fall and we will speak more to that next time.
But notice his very name, the only place you will find it in all of the Bible and we see it as Lucifer.
The name simply means “Light Bearer”. It explains well Paul’s description of the ability of Satan to transform himself into an “angel of light” in 2 Cor 11.
It seems that this is the name of Satan prior to his fall. His name changed from his derivation as “Light Bearer” to the new description of his nature as “Adversary”.
Back to Ezekiel 28
But the passage goes on to speak of a musical aspect of him as it followed on from the gold spoken of in verse 13;
the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
When Samual the prophet had spoken to Saul to anoint him as the first king of Israel, he told him what awaited him on the way home saying;
1 Samuel 10:5
5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
Both in that passage and elsewhere we come to understand that these are musical instruments.
So not only was his beauty beyond compare in the beginning, not only was he full of wisdom in the beginning, but he was also the emanation of a multiple of coloured light and music built directly in to him.
the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
I remember years ago looking at the radio program Tripple M and its Logo. I was fascinated that they took for their Logo an image of an angel playing an electric guitar.
It was an interesting insight that perhaps said more than the Radio program than the people understood.
Music is one of the most powerful influences in the world today. It has the ability to literally change a person both in mood and personality.
Sometimes it is difficult to know which influences which; is it the person choosing the music that reflects his mood and nature or is it the other way around?
What seems evident is that they are both true and work by becoming self-propagating, or what might be referred to as “Automorphic”, one acting upon the other, acting back onto itself in an increasingly, self-perpetuating, effect.
Every film maker is aware of the effect of music to alter the mood of a person.
Today’s modern churches use music to that very end and purpose.
When they desire a certain outcome, they influence their congregations by altering the music. This places the congregations into an altered state of consciousness that makes them much prone to suggestive reasoning and LESS prone to question words and activities.
Once a person finds himself in that altered state, they are much easier to persuade to undertake activities in which the music has moved them.
In 1997 a 16 year old student in the US conducted a simple experiment of the effect of different kinds of music on white lab mice.
It was relatively well controlled with all the mice being the same gender, the same approximate weight and age and receiving the same food, the same amount of light and the same accomodation (72 large plastic containers).
He broke them up into three groups and exposed each group to diverse music for 10 hours each day and did so for three weeks.
One group enjoyed Mozart, the second group got Anthrax (Heavy Metal), both had their level of music set to 70db (Vacuum Cleaner). The third was the control group and had nothing but silence.
The student, named David Merrell, then had each group run through a certain maze and timed them as they went. He had them go through the same maze multiple times and recorded the outcome.
The Mozart Mice amazingly got through the maze at one third the time of the silent mice, the record was 1.5 minutes.
The mice that were subject to ‘Anthrax Therapy’ however, took 30 minutes to eventually get through the maze. That was three times longer than the silent mice and almost 20 times longer than the Mozart mice.
David observed the Anthrax Mice running into themselves, bumping into walls and not even lifting up their noses to sniff the scent of those that went before them. Indicating that even their senses were dulled.
This was not the first time David did this sort of experiment. The first one failed because he kept the mice together in cages of their respective groups. Sadly the Anthrax Therapy mice bit and fought each other until there was only one left alive.[1]
That is a short account of the effect of music, and it interests me that the Devil had this built in. Good music has a good effect, bad music has a bad effect.
Good instruments in the hands of a good person can produce good music, good instruments in the hands of the devil can kill!
Yet, he is referred to before his fall as “The anointed Cherub”.
Cherubs are not cute little winged babies with bows, awaiting boys and girls only to shoot them with the arrow of love!
Cherubs are the most powerful angels in the Bible and there are only two that we know of by name.
One is Lucifer, as here. The other is Micheal.
Lucifer, the angel of light and evidently music, is the Cherub that Covereth”, in other words, he is the Angel that is tasked to guard the thrown of God.
Til Iniquity Was FoundEzekiel 28:14–15
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
The verse naturally concludes on this last point and sounds a saddening close to an otherwise faultless description of the Devil before his fall.
All that we heard before this, every description given gave a resounding endorsement to one that was purposefully created to be the primary leader of them all.
Genesis 1:31
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
But God never made an automaton, he never made a robot; all things being made “very good” certainly indicates that to make all things living with a self will is a ‘good thing’.
Lucifer had the free will to love and to honour God…till iniquity was found in thee.
All creatures are created with the potential to commit evil, but not all act on that potential, the Lucifer did.
We will speak more to the Fall of Lucifer in the next sermon. For now I want to give consideration to what the Beginning of the creation of this being means to us.
CREATED
Knowing he is a created being immediately gives to us a level of comfort. The false representation that, as the adversary of God, he is like him in power now quickly goes away. Satan is limited as all creatures are.
He was created to obey God and his disobedience is seen as the first of them all, through which a third of the angels had fallen with him. (Again, speak more to this next time).
He is a part of all that God saw in Genesis 1 as “very good”, Until iniquity was found in thee
SEALS THE SUM
Next was that he seals the sum, he was created as a perfect being. No blemish was seen in him…until iniquity was found…
LIGHT AND MUSIC
A characteristic of his creation that seems not to have changed. He seems to retain the aspect of light and the attribute of music in him.
His form is NOT one that makes him appear anything less than the way he was created.
No RED PYJAMAS.
No HORNS
No FANGS
No PITCH FORK
But, “Perfect in beauty”.
We therefore will expect antichrist to resemble this attractive and very charismatic individual with the ability to give perfect orations and speeches that will deceive the whole world. WHY?
Because they are looking for the one in Red Pyjamas, horns, fangs and pitchfork!!
CLOSING POINT
Our study is NOT only on that of a defiled persona in the Bible, but a study on the nature of Evil itself and gives to us the alert we need.
It was an ancient book titled The Art of War by Sun Tzu from which was quoted to “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”. It tells wisely that we need to have the knowledge of the characteristic of the enemy to be able to identify him.
The Devil is NOT unattractive, nor are the devices he uses to deceive the world.
Both he and his devices are appealing.
It is Satan who rides in on a white horse in Revelation 6.
He is a counterfeit.
He will deceive the entire world and the signs and wonders that will come in that day are so powerful that they would, if possible, deceive even the very elect said Jesus in Mathew 24:24.
HOW THEREFORE, CAN WE BE SURE WE ARE NOT DECEIVED?
Get to know Jesus!
Read your bibles beloved. The word of God is not known as a Sword for no reason. The greatest weapon against the Father of Lies is the TRUTH.
The ONLY way you can identify a counterfeit is to perfectly recognise the genuine article.
Bank tellers of old where not given a pile of counterfeit notes to study and identify when they came in, because every NEW counterfeit differed slightly from the other, no, they were given the genuine notes to study to ensure they recognised the counterfeit when it appeared.
There will be those who will enter your lives that may be ministers of light but are of the devil. People who enter the lives, especially of the young and those easily persuaded who do not read their bibles, to deceive and to turn away from the truth.
An attractive man does not mean he is a good man.
A beautiful woman does not mean she is not evil.
Great orators and speakers hide the truth in the subtlety of words. It is what they are NOT saying that is as important as what they ARE saying.
If the devil himself was created as a perfect being and retains to this day the external qualities of his creation, how will you discern evil when it appears?
Turn to
Hebrews 5:13–14
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Lucifer is written of and identified in the Bible that we may learn about him. That, in these days of great deception, we may identify evil when it comes. But all this will be to no avail if you are not regularly reading your bibles and spending time with the Lord in prayer.
But especially if you are not born again.
Do you yet belong to God? Are you saved? Does the Spirit of Truth abide in you?
Or does the devil still have you in his will?
ADMIT yourself a sinner
BELIEVE Jesus died for your sins
CALL on the Lord to save you.
{$NOTE_LABEL}. https://www.facts-are-facts.com/article/music-and-psyche-crippling-rhythms-and-murderous-mice
The post The Devil Pt 1: His Beginning appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The EarnestSaved, Sealed, Secured, Settled.IntroductionWe move to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit for this next segment of the series and explaining that which we believe concerning him and that which the Bible teaches of him.
According to the doctrinal statement of the Church we have this written;
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person; equal with God the Father and God the
Son and of the same nature and that he was active in creation. He convicts of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgement and bears witness to and exalts the Person of Christ.
He is the agent in the New birth through which the believer is spiritually baptised when
he believes. The Holy Spirit seals, empowers, guides, teaches, and sanctifies the
believer. We believe that the Holy Spirit enables every believer to serve God through the
ministry of spiritual gifts. However, we believe that the miraculous sign gifts such as
tongues and healings, as recorded in the New Testament, were Apostolic in nature and
have ceased to exist as distinct ministries of individuals. We believe that God can
intervene in human history in a miraculous way should he choose to do so, but we
believe that the occurrence of such interventions today are distinct from the
phenomena of the miraculous sign gifts evident in Apostolic times.
Mark 16:20 Matthew 28:19 Genesis 1:1-3 Luke 1:35 John 14:16-17 John 3:5-
6 John 1:33 John 14:26 Romans 8:14,16,26-27 1 Corinthians 13:8 John 16:8-
11 Hebrews 9:14 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 Ephesians 1:13-14 Hebrews 2:4
This morning we are going to be simply dealing with that first act of the Holy Spirit concerning those who have believed the Gospel and are born again; that is;
“The Holy Spirit Seals”
It is what we refer to as “Assurance”, or often also referred to Theologically as “The Doctrine of The Preservation Of The Saints”.
We are going to be concentrating on the passage of the text read this morning, but having our focus on verse 13 and 14 only.
Ephesians 1:13–14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.**
We will indeed be speaking of the Holy Spirit and his work, but there simply can be no talk of the Spirit of God that excludes the Gospel.
Indeed, what we find even in the text before us this morning is a full presentation of the doctrine of salvation that can truly be sup-raised in four simple words that form the subheading of the Sermon Title this morning, each word also becoming the title of each of the four points I will expand on as we go through the message title first;
The Assurance of The Holy Spirit
Saved, Sealed, Secured, Settled.Perhaps it’s because the Gospel is so simple it is made so unnecessarily complicated by many people who simply cannot accept the simplicity of how a person can KNOW he has eternal life.
Perhaps its because of our understanding of the eternal severity of Hell that makes us all think escaping it must be a complex labyrinth of twists and turns, tunnels and tortures that we need to be instructed in and follow before we can have any assurance whatsoever that heaven is our home when we die.
Surely, if hell was not such a bad place and if it were not permanent, if it had even the darkest shade of light or the slightest rest of torment, or the heat of the flame could be turned down just a degree and time committed be limited to all the sands of all the beaches in all the world going through an hourglass, even at a year per grain, we might think being saved from it should not be too difficult to do ourselves.
But it seems that knowing of the eternal, conscious torment of damnation, that we begin to think escaping it must be difficult and so we begin to devise all these complex and contradicting ideas of how to escape it, ADDING to the Scriptures.
And yet these two verses simply present SAVED, SEALED, SECURED, SETTLED!
Ephesians 1:13–14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.**
Pray
SavedEphesians 1:13–14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
the gospel of your salvation:
The Holy Spirit, is an intrinsic component of our salvation, not least of which is his work in stirring up the heart of us all to both believe the gospel of Christ and quicken us to life.
Jesus said in John 6:44
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Though Jesus speaks here of the Father, it I nevertheless the Father sending his Spirit, the Spirit of God, to attends to his work in drawing people to Christ. God reveals the truth of the Gospel by his spirit;
2 Corinthians 4:6
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Turn to that famous passage in John’s Gospel;
Now, before that famous 16th verse of chapter 3, Jesus is giving an explanation to a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus. Nicodemus was sincere about understanding the truth of God and came to Jesus by night to make enquiry.
Jesus seemed to know EXACTLY what was upon the heart of this ruler and answered the question BEHIND the question posed to him in verse 2;
Taking our text from the first verse
John 3:1–8
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.**
Now this is naturally a troubling answer and each of us have probably asked exactly the same question asked by Nicodemus;
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Jesus now gives the answer and in the answer you will see the vital role played by the Spirit of God in order to work that transformative work on the heart of people to draw them to Christ;
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.**
That last verse is vital. It shows that, though we can sense the blowing of the wind, we can’t determine where it came from nor where it is going and compares the work of the Holy Spirit affecting people through the Gospel to draw them to Christ.
When Jesus spoke in John 6 saying “4 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: It seems that it is through the Spirit of God that men are drawn to him.
Beloved, I am not sure how aware you are that the battle for the souls of your family members, the battle for the souls of friends and those who are lost, is not a physical battle, nor a mind battle, it is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE.
No matter how rational your arguments are in dealing with those who oppose themselves, we are not fighting for their minds but for their hearts. Psalm 14:1 says; The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
Romans 10:10
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
It was Jeremiah 17:9 that tells us the natural state of the heart saying;
Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
What can the heart deceive but the mind of man?
The Gospel is that precious and SPIRITUAL news that has the ability to speak to and convince the heart.
Some will be convicted to obstinance / Stubbornness.
Some will be convicted to salvation.
2 Corinthians 2:16
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
The Spirit of God working his perfect work in both.
But not only does the Spirit of God draw men to Christ, it is through the Spirit of God that we are quickened to life, in other words, brought to life after being dead in our sins.
Romans 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
I think often of an individual dead on a beach and the breath of life is given them and now they live. You and I were quite literally spiritually dead in sin until, we believed that the wonderful Gospel of Christ and the Spirit of God breathed the breath of life in us.
Colossians 2:13
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
It truly is the Spirit of God that does this work in us. Don’t ask me which came first, the scriptures seem to give equal weight to our believing the Gospel AND the work of the Spirit in us to both draw us to Christ AND Give us life! Quicken us.
Ephesians 2:1–5
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Now you are Saved because you have believed that God gave his only begotten Son and you believed that he died for your sins and now you have everlasting life.
That beloved is the Gospel, that my friends is the power of God unto Salvation to everyone that believes.
SAVED.
SealedEphesians 1:13–14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,**
Saved and Sealed;
So much confusion in these last days respecting the gospel, it is truly such a grief to my soul. “Jesus cam into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim 1:15) says Paul, “of whom”, says he, “I am chief”.
It is the simplest doctrine in the world to understand, and yet SO MANY teach the most confusing and conflicting ideas of all teaching that this work that Jesus came into the world to attend to is INEFFECTIVE without our own personal effort.
Beloved, we are SAVED AND SEALED, but false teachers abound today who teach that we are SAVED AND DAMNED to preserve ourselves through our own pathetic ability.
The Bible speaks explicitly that, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,**
SAVED AND SEALED.
It was the Galatian churches that believed what so many heretics teach today, and this they believed because of false brethren brought in that would “pervert the gospel of christ” (Gal 1:7).
Paul is so incensed that men have come into the churches of Galatia teaching them that even though they are meant to be “Saved” through the Gospel, they NOW need to retain their “salvation” through works in their own effort.
Turn to Galatians 3 and see just a short chastisement that Paul has written to them, and I would encourage you to read the entire epistle that is dealing specifically with what so many heretics are teaching today.
Galatians 3:1–5
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Beloved, you were once DEAD in trespass and sins, the Spirit of God has brought you to life and now you are SEALED with that Holy Spirit of Promise.
Jesus said clearly that you must be BORN AGAIN, that new birth is no PHYSICAL, it is SPIRITUAL and you CANNOT BE UNBORN.
Turn to;
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The purposeful work of the Spirit of God is to SEAL you, to PRESERVE YOU.
Beloved, it is not the letter in the envelope that keeps itself SEALED until the addressee receives it.
It is not the jam in the jar that keeps its seal tight until he that purchased it is ready to enjoy it.
The work of the Spirit of God is to seal, to preserve, to keep us UNTIL we are in the possession of the one you purchased us with his own blood.
Those who think you can loose their salvation and must keep it in their own strength, and at the very least do not understand why Jesus came and died. They do not understand the work of the Spirit of God to SEAL us and preserve us.
Galatians 2:20–21
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
“But what if we sin before we are with God?”
Beloved, many are the passages in Paul’s letters to the church to behave well and to obey the Lord, but this in no way dissanuls our salvation. Several passages in the Bible teach us that we now have a dual nature, one that struggles with sin and the other that desires only to do that which is good. This alone testifies to the change in us, for before we were saved we had no inner desire to obey God and little if any guilt of sin.
Now, our guilt leads us terribly to sorrow of heart and even depression.
We cry like David who said;
Psalm 119:136
136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
Paul wrote of this as “Grieving the Holy Spirit” and the context is intriguing.
Ephesians 4:22–30
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.**
Beloved, if you have believed the Gospel of your salvation, you are both SAVED AND SEALED by that Holy Spirit of Promise.
This passage here in Ephesians 4 has Paul encourage us to live Godly in Christ Jesus, and not doing so also grieves the spirit of God in us which manifests in our own hearts as a very deep sorrow.
If you are saved and sin such sins that grieve the Spirit, then you will feel that deep sorrow of heart, often experienced as a form of depression. Beloved, know that this is also evidence you are SAVED AND SEALED, and thereby SECURED.
SecuredEphesians 1:13–14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
It is the word “Earnest” that is given here to describe the Holy Spirit of Promise in verse 13, Which is the earnest of our inheritance
Depending on how the word is used defines its meaning.
If it is use as an adjective, then it is an old English word that also has place as a port-Germanic word, Old Saxon word, Old Frisian, Gothic, Old Norse that means “Zealous or Serious, or serious intent”
Hebrews 2:1 is a good example of describing HOW we should heed the things we have heard;
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
That is the example of the Adjective use of the word Earnest.
But used as a noun, it has its origin found as a Middle English word of the 12th century as
earnest (n.)
“portion of something given or done in advance as a pledge,” early 15c., from Middle English ernes(c. 1200), “a pledge or promise;” often “a foretaste of what is to follow;” also (early 13c.)
“sum of money as a pledge to secure a purchase or bind a bargain (earnest-money);
from Old French erres and directly from Latin arra, probably from Phoenician or another Semitic language (compare Hebrew ‘eravon “a pledge”). Sometimes in Middle English as erness, suggesting it was perceived as er “early” + -ness.
With that in mind, lets read the text again;
Ephesians 1:13–14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The Holy Spirit is given to all those who are born again as a form of ‘Down Payment’, a pledge, a foretaste of what is to follow’ a SECURITY DEPOSIT until full redemption is made at time of settlement.
Beloved, so contrary to the idea that your salvation can be contradictorily lost, the Holy Spirit is given to you as a GUARANTEE you are saved.
Turn to
2 Corinthians 1:20–24
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.**
If, and ONLY if, you have the Spirit of God, then you belong to Christ. If you do NOT have the Spirit of God, you are none of his.
Turn to Romans 8
Romans 8:8–9
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The Holy Spirit is given you as a confirmation that you now belong to God, but it is not the full redemption, just as receiving a deposit for the down payment of a property you have sold is not the full payment, nor the laying down of the deposit places the home IN YOUR Possession.
Jesus made it clear before he went to the father, that he needed to go that he might send the “Comforter”, the Holy Spirit to them, and if he did not go he could not send him.
Turn to
John 14:15–17
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
And to be sure that we are not confused as to who this “Comforter” is, we read again from verse 25;
John 14:25–26
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Beloved, this is the work and purpose of the Spirit of God in this message this morning.
He gives to us the ASSURANCE that we belong to Christ and we are now a part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
But though we are SAVED, SEALED AND SECURED, the possession for which Christ died is not yet SETTLED.
SettledEphesians 1:13–14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14* Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,*unto the praise of his glory.
The home is purchased, the deposit is paid and time must go by until the home is able to abide in.
One of the most exiting experiences in life is the purchase of your own home, and once the deposit is paid you need to wait until you can finally obtain possession of it. Not a day goes by that you are not thinking of taking possession, not a day goes by that you are not thinking of how you will decorate and make things in the home fit your personal desire.
Believe it or not, this is exactly how GOD feels respecting you.
YOU ARE HIS PURCHASED POSSESSION.
YOU HAS HE GIVEN HIS PLEDGE, HIS DEPOSIT.
And not a day goes by that he is not thinking of you and making preparations to receive you.
John 14:2–3
2 … I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
But until that time comes we find ourselves yearning, even groaning for that time that we are finally received and redeemed. The Holy Spirit gives to us that yearning desire to be in that wonderful building of God that he purchased with his own blood.
Turn to
2 Corinthians 5:1–8
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Know therefore, if you have believed the Gospel, if you have believed that Jesus Christ has died for your sins, and you have asked him to save you and to give to you that Holy Spirit of Promise, you are SAVED, SEALED AND SECURED until that time when you are SETTLED with him that purchased you.
Ephesians 1:11–14
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The post Holy Spirit Pt 1. The Earnest appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Unbounded Prosperity
Isaiah 55:6–13
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
There is the Gospel presented in this text that may often be missed in our casual reading.
From the seeking of God; to the wicked forsaking their way and returning to the Lord; and the Lord bringing an abundant life through his word, which we see as likened to the rain that bring life to the earth; to the total unbounded prosperity which fills the heart with joy for what God has provided.
In the end, the blessing is eternal and the glory is to the LORD alone,
and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (V13)
In the first part of the message this morning, you will see the Lord providing you a limitation of opportunity to take advantage of.
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
It is THE TIME-BOUND OPPORTUNITY
In the second part of this message, you may find chastisement. Just as Isaiah, through the Lord, first chastises the people of Israel, so too should you find yourselves the subject of Gods focus in this text, but not without hope;
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
This we see is THE HEAVEN-BOUND REALITY, the eternal hope of that OPPORTUNITY that went before.
In the third point we will have our focus on the explanatory portion of the passage that reveals to you WHY you should take heed to the Lord and to understand HOW HIS WORD fulfils its work, primarily in the Everlasting Gospel.
In the final portion of the text, you will see the UNBOUNDED PROSPERITY to those who have attended to that which went before, for their own eternal joy.
The Time-bound OpportunityIsaiah 55:6
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
We have all seen the countdown clocks on shopping sites on the internet, “Limited Time Only” specials hanging in windows of store fronts, End of Financial Year and Black Friday sales coming about annually to take advantage of, Boxing Day sales where multitudes of people run over themselves and risk both life and limb just to nab a big ticket item at cents on the dollar, so we are not ignorant that there is in reality opportunities to take advantage of “While Stocks Last”, a LIMITATION is imposed but not before the opportunity is presented.
The reality described above reveals the nature of Man for the temporal prosperity of life. But in this text, God reveals to man the opportunity for UNBOUNDED PROSPERITY in the riches of eternal life.
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
No matter how we might interpret this text, it is a time-bound opportunity that is set to expire.
“Seek ye the LORD WHILE he may be found, call upon him WHILE he is near”;
It may be true for us to think that in a very real way it is God who found us and not we that found him. Times in the depths of our sorrow and pain, it seems in a very real way that the LORD found us.
In those times in our life there is no strength to search out God.
In times of tremendous trial of life, there are often far too many things occupying our minds. We may be in the midst of a financial crisis in our lives, sometimes brought about by our own decisions and sometimes life takes advantage of those choices to bring about an end that we did not have the wisdom to foresee.
And then there are those rare times when the wind of God blows against the four corners of our homes and we escape with the skin of out teeth.
It is in those times that we cry out to the Lord rather than actively seek him, like Jonah in the belly of hell;
Turn to
Jonah 2:1–4
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, 2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. 3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
Beloved these are those times when we do not actively seek the LORD to find him, and yet if we cry unto him he will find us.
Nevertheless the charge is there to “Seek the LORD”.
If the truth be told we have EVERY OPPORTUNITY to “Seek the LORD” well before those dire times come when we feel we have no choice. That man does not seek after God until it is his last resort, is so common it’s almost laughable, and yet God is still willing to hear our cry.
But are we willing to seek him before the trials of life come?
Are we willing to “seek the LORD while he may be found”?
Many are the opportunities that we are given to seek the LORD, and, while the passage explicitly tells us the opportunity is limited, it also tells us explicitly that “he may be found”.
Turn to Jeremiah 29
The southern kingdom of Judah have finally gone into captivity. They had been warned time and again against their sin and told again and again that their sin is going to have them cast away from God, but they would not hear the word of the Lord as spoken by all the prophets that warned them.
But now their time is near the end and they ready for the fulfilment of all God has said.
YET he still gives them hope, but leaves the responsibility to turn with them;
Jeremiah 29:11–13
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.**
This is a confirmation of the promise; though the opportunity is limited, it has a promise of infinite reward should it be taken advantage of.
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
“Call ye upon him while he is near”
There are times indeed when God seems nearer than other times and yet it is assumed in the text that we can individually identify both that he may be found, but also when he is near.
Now, his “nearness” is most often NOT identified by how GOOD WE FEEL about something, this may be true more often than not by those who have already found and been found of him, but to those who are lost or who have distanced themselves from God, the nearness of the LORD may be evidenced by BITTER EXPERIENCE.
Conviction of the heart is attended to by God to bring about either humility to repentance, or hardness to resentment.
When you find yourself convicted by the preaching of the word of God, when you think that the man with the tie is speaking directly to you and you DON’T LIKE IT, it may be that the LORD has given you an opportunity to “call upon him while he is near”.
Beloved, this is a TIME-BOUND OPPORTUNITY.
In other words, IT IS LIMITED.
That is the most evident thing to see in the text.
The greatest limitation that we are ALL IMPLICITLY AWARE OF IS…..?
Life.
Imagine if EVERY countdown clock for sales on internet sites remained at one second to midnight, at any moment there would be that final ‘tick’ but the hand graciously remains paused…
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
The Heaven-Bound RealityIsaiah 55:7
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
There is a fundamental problem with the state of mind of the wicked, an ignorance as to his way of life that leads him to an end that is anything but what he expected.
Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Before I forsook my way the path that I was leading both myself and my young family, was to death, even eternal death. I was a damned man for my sin, and neither myself nor my wife Maria knew the Lord.
As the man in the relationship, there was a strong chance I would not only lead my wife to hell but my children also, because there was a way which seemed right to me, but the end thereof was the ways of death.
There is another great proverb that tells the present truth of ALL the WICKED, all who, like me, preferred to live life their own way and NOT TURN to the Lord, NOT “forsake his way” or “his thoughts” as we are told in verse 7.
It is a text found in Proverbs 10:28, and it simply says;
Proverbs 10:28
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
In other words, the righteous have an eternal hope that will end in gladness; they are those who have indeed forsaken their old ways which they KNEW were wicked, they have changed the “thoughts” that they used to deceive themselves into trusting that their wickedness will somehow be rewarded in this life, and have no consequence in the next, and now their hope shall indeed be gladness.
But not so for the wicked, the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
In other words, all the vain hope that they have of a good end will completely disappoint them as they receive the reward of their deeds.
The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death”, it is the due reward of wickedness and the wages paid is set according to the proper penalty rate, WITH LOADING for good measure.
Death, is the wages for sin, and judgment for sin is the ultimate expectation of the foolish who would not forsake their way.
No man lives to himself!
Never had I given thought that my sin would not only affect my eternity but have the very real potential of affecting Marias and my children, had I not forsaken my way.
Men, those of you who are fathers and those yet to become one, know of a certainty that God has set you as the leaders in your homes and whether you like it or not, whether you accept it or not and whether your wife is determined to take the reigns from you, what will not change is the influence you have on your family in far greater proportion that that of your wife. Why? Because the order that the Lord has set cannot be delegated.
Studies over and over have shown that in general, where the fathers go the children follow. Not in ALL cases, but the majority. 80% of households with a truly born again, saved father ONLY, come to Christ in their lifetime. The opposite is true if ONLY the mother is a saved woman, 20% only come to Christ.
Men, you have an influence in your family.
The REALITY was that, as a wicked man, I had to change my way and I was open to the reality of God. I searched, I sought for the Lord, even diligently. Science and Logic were the two main tools I employed.
Now, when I say I was wicked, it is important to understand how the Bible presents the wicked. In short, the wicked are ALL THOSE WHO CHOOSE THEIR SIN OVER GOD.
In other words, the wicked are those who would rather die in their sin and separate from God, than forsake their way and return to God.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
You see the greatest reality of all is that God desires to forgive sin, THAT ALONE IS THE HEAVEN-BOUND REALITY, if man will only be willing forsake his way and his thoughts, for the LORD.
The LORD can take away your sin from you, and even remove some of the most habitual sins you struggle with, but ONLY if you are willing to forsake them.
But in turning to him, he can make our crimson sin as white as snow, he can perfectly clean us, and he does so when we turn to him.
Turn back to Isaiah 1
Isaiah 1:18–20
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
There is a Heaven-Bound Reality, but it comes ONLY through your willingness to forsake your wicked ways and thoughts to return to the Lord through the one who died to save you from your sin.
There is a cost.
But what of the cost of not doing so?
Proverbs 10:28
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
The Abundance-Bound Causality Isaiah 55:8–11
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Verse 8 and 9 demonstrate the disparity between us and God, and in this case it is applied to the context going before concerning the wicked and God’s favour toward him IF he would turn from his way.
The legal system that we have around the world will punish the wicked not pardon them.
There is a cost to society for the acts of the wicked and that cost must be paid for by the wicked and not by society. The only way for that to occur is to give sentence against the wicked at his own cost that society be not burdened by his sin, and hope the wicked are reformed.
While a man yet lives, God offers pardon not punishment. While the man yet lives, God’s mercy for him is infinite and he is ready to forgive….while the man yet lives!
Death offers no such clemency. Death seals the end for which man lived his life.
We need to understand that it is not as if God is not angry with the wicked while they are in their sin. To the contrary; Psalm 7:11 tells us “God is angry with the wicked every day”.
Two Psalms later God tells of the end of the wicked;
Psalm 9:17
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
So it is not as if God will not judge man at the end of his days and punish eternally that which man has lived all his days, but if he turns to the LORD while he lives, he shall live evermore.
But how can this be? How can God forgive sin?
Aristotle asked this same question in a letter to Plato, saying;
I know it is for God to forgive sin, but frankly I do not see how.
You see all sin has a cost, and that cost can not be born by the victims of sin if justice is to prevail. In other words, it mush be punished. If the wages of Sin is death, if that it what is earned by sin, and the sinner dies in his sin, then his punishment is damnation.
For God to be just, the punishment for sin must be absolute, but how does God extend both mercy and justice?
How can God justly pardon the wicked, when the wicked does seek the LORD while he may be found and forsake his way and return to the LORD?
Isaiah 55:8–11
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
God answers Aristotles question by first highlighting the disparity, the distinction, the infinite contrast between his thoughts and ours, between his ways and ours.
And then he brings the comparison, the similarity as he draws a parallel between the abundant provision that comes from rain as it nourishes the earth and the power of his words in the heart of man.
1 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
There is an abundance that comes from the rain of heaven as it brings forth life to all the world. In so many incredible ways, the word of God is the exact parallel as it is dispersed throughout the world throughout history.
We are seeing that today as the world has turned from God and his word, so evil prevails the world over.
When there is a drought of rain, there is a death on earth; when there is a drought of his word, the wicked abound. The parallel is very real and we are seeing it play out before our eyes as the very governments themselves are so evidently evil.
The greatest representation of God’s words came through the Gospel.
It is The Gospel that answers Aristotles dilemma, “How can a just God forgive sin?”
John 3:16 is the single most powerful passage in the Bible respecting what God had done for the wicked and it is represented ALSO in the Old Testament that you may know it was always the plan of God to pardon those who turn to him.
Turn back two chapters in your Bibles.
Isaiah 53
This passage tells you of what is called The Substitutionary Atonement, that is, that God had given to man a substitute to bear the cost of their sin to exercise both the divine attribute of justice and also that of Love and Mercy.
Isaiah 53:4–11
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
What an incredible passage as we see the Gospel in the Old Testament.
But sadly, it is not concluded in this passage alone and would leave the likes of Aristotle unsatisfied respecting the answer. Why?
Because in a court of Law it remains possible for one innocent man to sacrifice his freedom and even his life to pay for the sins of another man. If I chose to, I have the right to pay for another mans fines and those fines are perfectly paid for, never to be revisited.
But how can a sinner pay the fine of a sinner?
And even if it were a righteous man, how can he save any other than himself? Or at the most, one other?
How is a man able to pay for the sins of the wicked of the entire world?
This is where we need Gods words in the New Testament to reveal that which is meant in the Old.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It was God the Son who sacrificed himself for the sin of the world.
It was the judge of all mankind who stood from his seat, removed the robe of authority, came down as a man, a peer of all men, laid the full cost of the fine upon the table before the condemned, returned to his seat and awaits your decision.
Will you take what he left for you to settle your debt, of will you choose to pay it yourself?
The provision made for you is abundant, will you take it with your whole heart?
Unbounded ProsperityIsaiah 55:12–13
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Well, here we have it, the joy that comes from the soul that has been forgiven all. The wicked have now forsaken their way and the unbounded joy of their heart overwhelms them.
They have been forgiven, there is no more guilt of sin, no more shame, no more sorrow, and no fear of death. They know of a certainty they have been washed by that rain that cleanses all the filth of their lives and now, they “go out with joy, and are led forth with peace”.
No one can truly express to another the unbounded prosperity that has just filled the heart and soul of the one who has believed the report of the Gospel. They have received the word of God like the dry parched earth receives the rain of heaven, and they have sprung forth to life, eternal life, life that can now be lived to the full knowing the hope that is laid before them.
They sought the Lord while he could be found, they called upon him while he was near, they forsook their way and their thoughts and returned to the Lord and he abundantly pardoned their sin, having already made the provision for it.
Now, instead of thorns there comes up the fir tree, instead of death, life is given, instead of condemnation they are justified through the blood of Christ. Now, not even the trials of life should weary us as we look for the hope set before us.
Turn to Romans 5
Romans 5:1–8
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Beloved, this is the Gospel, this is the word that nourishes the soul of man. No more thorns, but in its place a fir tree, no more briers, but in its place the myrtle tree;
and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
The power of the words of God are sufficient to save a soul from hell;
The logic is plain, we were once dead in trespass and sin, the Gospel brought to us life, and life abundant.
Jesus said
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Aristotles dilemma is answered, is yours?
The post Unbounded Prosperity appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The return of Christ is the single most anticipated event among both Christians and many in the world, but for very different reasons. The post The Return Of Christ appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The resurrection of Christ is the most testifiable event in history regardless of how the evidence of history is measured. If any measure employed to deny this historic event would be applied to any other event, then no history could ever be affirmed as true. Therefore, by the same measures employed to attest to all people and events of history, being applied to the resurrection of Christ, we would find this single event to be the most testifiable event of history. The post Pt 6: The Resurrection of Christ appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Though the death of Christ is perplexing considering all he is, yet when we understand it, its value is beyond measure. We will see that the Death of Christ is PURPOSEFUL, PROPITIOUS, POWERFUL AND PIVOTAL. Nothing compares to its value. The post Jesus Pt 5: The Death of Christ appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Incarnation The Son Of David Introduction There is a passage in the Bible in 1 Cor 1:22 which says; 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: The Bible presents interestingly presents, not only two, but three types of people in the world when it comes to how they perceive something to be true. Some seek after signs, (the Jews REQUIRED THEM) They look for evidence of proof usually from a divine or supernatural origin, (a lightning strike on The post Jesus Pt 4: The Incarnation appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Preeminence By Motion (Promised) Hebrews 1:1–12 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat The post Jesus Pt 3: PREEMINENT appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Jesus Is God Introduction John 10:22–33 22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, The post Pt 3: Jesus Is God appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Knowing nothing but Christ is the claim of Paul, and little wonder when he is singularly the greatest hope and joy in the life of all people. What else can compare to Jesus? How does one have the words when all our trials are solved in him? How often I have wondered how it is that people can endure life without him, certain it is that they shall never endure eternal life without him! What is certain for those who have trusted in Christ, is that he is our all in all, nothing else is of value and nothing more needs to be known. The post Pt 1 Knowing Nothing But Christ appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 Jn 2:14–17. The post Love Not The World appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Man is Mutable, God is Immutable. Malachi 3:1-6 Chapter 3 1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and The post The One True God Pt 6: IMMUTABLE appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
This final portion of the study details why YOU are so valuable for these last of The Last Days, but also explains what it may cost you to Stand Alone if need be. Only those with the strength of character, who read and believe their bibles, and UNDERSTAND they are here for such a time as this, will thrive in these days. This is indeed an incredible time to be alive when you understand The Times and realise you are here for such a time as this! God bless you Pr Edi The post For Such A Time As This Pt 5 appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
is the timeline of the seventy weeks of Daniel to be taken from Nehemiah chapter 2 from Artaxzexes as the majority of conservative preachers and the scholars teach, or is it to be taken from Chronicles 36, Ezra 1 and Isaiah 44 and 45 as the Bible teaches?Is the dating of history the absolute authority, or is it the Bible alone?Some good questions that have some firm arguments in this study. The post For Such A Time As This Pt 4 appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Proclamation of TruthMark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Truth, gospel truth, an absolute that is true for all people for all time. The war against the truth has been raging since the beginning of mankind, and that war has the Word of God in the cross hairs of its sight.
I have long desired to write a book about the war against the word of God.
The first-word war was Satan in the garden creating the doubt that led to the fall of mankind. The second-word war was that of the Holy Roman Empire against the proclamation of the word during the dark ages, and the third-word war is the world’s setting its course to self-destruction. Word War 3 will include the elements of both the first and second-word war, but will add to it the insanity that results from the effect of the reprobate mind, and we already see it making itself evident today. Deception rules the airwaves, and violence is called for against those who would contradict the narrative or the madness unable to distinguish between reality and make-believe.
But Christ’s command to proclaim the truth still stands, and regardless of the obstacles of history, his disciples risked all to save a single soul, to sound an alarm to awaken the sleeper.
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The Proclamation of Truth. GOMark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
“GO”!
It is probably the simplest of words, the simplest of commands and the clearest of all the instructions given us in the Bible, “GO”! This is the most fundamental understanding for the proclamation of truth.
The most basic expectation for the Proclamation of the truth is simply that it is to be “Proclaimed”, to be preached, to be audibly heard by them to whom we are sent. And how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things! (Rom 10:15)
Jesus gave this instruction to the eleven as they sat and dined together. This instruction is the last word on the matter by Christ, after he had risen from the dead and before he ascended to glory. Other than the eleven who dined, there would be another he would so instruct, he was one like we are, born out of due time.
Paul (as Saul) travelled to receive letters to persecute those who would proclaim the truth of the gospel, but instead, he had seen a bright light and a voice calling out “Saul, Saul…”.
Perhaps you and I have not had the same ‘Damascus Road” experience as the apostle Paul did, nevertheless, Jesus had called us all to the same purpose, a purpose that has come down to us known as “The Great Commission”.
Does anyone know what the great commission is?
To preach the Gospel, and to make disciples of men.
This commission is a compound of two passages in the Bible. One is the text before us in Mark 16, the other in Matt 28:19-20
Matthew 28:19–20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Both are representative of the last words Jesus spoke and equally reflected in Acts 1:8-9 before he was taken up;
Acts 1:8–9
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
There are two parts to this commission, one is Preaching, the other is Teaching. Each and every church in the world has this very same charge that is given to them. Each assembly of Christians have this as their distinct and peculiar purpose and each are to continue to do so UNTIL…he comes again. The first-century Church knew this. They had done exactly as the Lord had commanded and many believed.
THE DAY OF PENTECOST
On the day of Pentecost, a day celebrated by the Jews as “Shavuot” or “The Feast of Weeks”, occurring 50 days, or seven weeks, after the Passover, the disciples of the Lord were all gathered together in Acts chapter 2.
That was the day the Holy Ghost descended upon those gathered, that was the day Peter preached to the assembly and spoke of the fulfilment of prophecy and convicted the hearts of three thousand souls who were then added to the church. And from that time forward “…the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).
This was the proclamation of Truth, this was that Gospel that has been handed down through the years, and this was that truth that convicted the hearts of man. This is that gospel which we are commanded to “Go” and proclaim.
What is stopping you from going?
What is it that stops you from growing? Each of you are here for the same purpose, the highest calling in the world, the proclamation of the truth, what is it that you are allowing in your life to hinder that work? What is it that makes the love of the gospel wax cold in your hearts?
From the first century till now the kingdom of God had suffered violence, at first it was physical, today is it cerebral. The first century battled the body to stop the mouths of man, this last century battles the mind to distract the hearts of man.
Is it games? Are you the child that has never grown up and still likes to play make believe? You have time for games but not for glory?
Is it media? You have all the time in the world to be entertained to death, but no time to proclaim life to the dying?
How would Jesus look upon this world and compare the Christians of this last century who live unmolested, to those who lived in the first century?
Beloved, be not deceived, Satan is just as pleased with you distracted as he is with you dead.
Each of you have a calling upon your life to “GO”, to proclaim the truth or to assist others in that proclamation that you may save some.
Truly, I hope every time you pick up a joystick God pricks your heart.Every time you click a box, you see Jesus on a cross. The world needs you beloved, you may have life but what does it say of your love for others when you are so unwilling to give up the vice that prevents you sharing his love for them?
GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLDMark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
It did not take long but the Gospel would not remain in Jerusalem. Jesus had commanded that it be preached to all the world, to every nation and tongue the gospel of his salvation, and this would occur through means that are not always pleasant, though they are with purpose.
It did not take long before the Jews took hold of the main men and threatened them not to preach Jesus. But such threatening’s and beatings did not discourage, but rather encouraged them. All the more they fervently preached the word as they departed the council in Acts 5:41-42, the scripture tells us they left the council…
“…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
But the rage against the gospel increased the more it was preached in that city and buy chapter 6 we begin to hear of the account of the one that would become the first martyr written of in the New Testament for the sake of the Gospel.
The witness was of Stephen, his testimony and death are recorded in Acts chapter 7, and the revelation of the one consenting to his death is seen in the first verse of chapter 8, one “Saul of Tarsus”. It would be him that would drive fear into the hearts of many, and scatter the disciples of Jesus to the far ends of the known world at that time. These would be those dispersed among the nations, and the gospel preached to all the lands.
This persecution was led by the very man who would later fall on his face on that road for which he desired to obtain the very formal permission to destroy “this way”, the Damascus Road of Acts 9. The Bible indicates clearly that it was he who was the cause of all their trouble. After Saul became Paul, the Bible tells us that the church had peace in the same chapter,
Acts 9:31
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
The purpose of the Lord had been accomplished, but why do I tell you of these things? My desire here is to glean a basic fundamental truth and that is that from the beginning of the Gospel there had been efforts to countervail the propagation of the proclamation! The early days of the proclamation efforts were made to destroy by dominion, today it is by diversion. Interestingly, the response to the early violence was vigilance; Christianity flourished. But today’s effect of diversion is indifference; the love of many is waxing cold.
Nevertheless, the efforts to stop the truth of the Gospel being preached was that mouths are silenced, and if the mouths of those who proclaim the truth are silenced, so too will the alarm of the gospel go silent. This is Satan’s hope and God’s sorrow, for he is not willing that any would perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9)
In our passage in Acts, and in the first few centuries of the Church age, we find that it is through violence that the devil does his work. He tries to silence the voice of the Gospel by force. All twelve of the apostles (including Paul) were persecuted by the world for the sake of Christ, eleven of them died a martyr’s death for the sake of the Gospel. Of the first three centuries of the Church, John Foxe records no less than ten primitive persecutions before there was a time of short rest, the last of these early trials was under Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD.
Nine prior persecutions to that of Diocletian where not enough to extinguish the flame of the Gospel. Although the church suffered nine deadly periods in near three hundred years, there was still enough vitality in the gospel to have come to make itself known to the highest office in the world’s empire.
Diocletian setting himself to extinguish the proclamation of the gospel for one last time.
John Foxe records;
The fatal day fixed upon to commence the bloody work, was the
twenty-third of February, AD 303, that being the day in which the
Terminalia were celebrated, and on which, as the cruel pagans boasted,
they hoped to put a termination to Christianity. On the appointed day,
the persecution began in Nicomedia, on the morning of which the prefect
of that city repaired, with a great number of officers and assistants, to the
church of the Christians, where, having forced open the doors, they seized
upon all the sacred books, and committed them to the flames. (source)
The first effort was to destroy the Bible from before him. For he understood after three hundred years that it was the Book of books that encouraged greatly the word of God throughout the empire. Then it was the adopted son of the emperor, Galerius who charged himself with the effort and followed in the steps of Nero to blame Christians for the fire of the imperial palace to which he gave order to set aflame.
John Foxe goes on to relate;
Many houses were set on fire, and whole Christian families perished in the
flames; and others had stones fastened about their necks, and being tied
together were driven into the sea. The persecution became general in all the Roman provinces, but more particularly in the east; and as it lasted ten
years, it is impossible to ascertain the numbers martyred, or to enumerate
the various modes of martyrdom.
Racks, scourges, swords, daggers, crosses, poison, and famine, were made
use of in various parts to dispatch the Christians; and invention was
exhausted to devise tortures against such as had no crime, but thinking
differently from the votaries of superstition.
A city of Phrygia, consisting entirely of Christians, was burnt, and all the
inhabitants perished in the flames.
The Gospel clearly went into all the world by this fourth century, despite the persecutions. This final one claiming to have rid the world of the sect of Christians, had seen no end but even further propagation of the proclamation of truth.Thus, after the tenth ancient persecution of the Church, the famed saying that “the blood of the martyrs became the seed of the Church”.
And the Church again had rest.
Go ye into all the world, and preachMark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
No doubt that by this stage in the sermon this morning you are wondering what all this has to do with the King James Bible.
My desire is to demonstrate to you that throughout the history if the Biblical Church, no blessing has EVER come about without an active effort to SILENCE the alarm of the Gospel. An alarm cannot be an “alarm” if it is muzzled. We are charged to preach the gospel of Christ, we are NOT charged to change the heart, this is God’s work alone.
Joseph Alleine was one of the early protestants whose sermon titled “An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners” rivals that of Richard Baxter’s “A Call To The Unconverted To Turn And Live”….or even Jonathan Edwards “Sinners In the Hands Of An Angry God”. Yet Alleine’s Alarm testifies that the work is of God, he writes;
“But, O Lord, Thou canst pierce the heart of the sinner. I can only draw the bow at a venture, but do Thou direct the arrow between the joints of the harness. Slay the sin, and save the soul of the sinner that casts his eyes on these pages.’”[1]**
We are to make the most of all the Lord has given us, and leave the results to him. God worked evidently in history to pave the way for the Proclamation of Truth,
PAX ROMANA
Prior to the coming of Christ and the rise of the Roman empire, a young man claimed the world for himself in eleven short years. Alexander The Great changed the language of trade and administration, he simplified the common tongue to what became the language of the New Testament, Koine Greek. In this the known world was united, and in this language God had purposed his word would have the most immediate effect for the proclamation of Truth.
The speed with which the truth would TRAVEL to the known world was given even greater impetus in the first century due to two things;
the The Pax Romana (The Roman Peace), and the establishment of what we Italians were best known for…no, not Pizza, no, not Spaghetti…ROADS! Beginning with Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, and lasting for some 200 years, law and order and safety from bands of robbers and thieves was made for all who travelled on those roads, all of which led to ROME. The Gospel therefore had its free course, and the proclamation of Truth had both its commendation and its contempt.
Paul writes to Timothy to
2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Christians trusted doing so from that time on.
Following the “Edict of Toleration” by Galerius in 311 AD ‘tolerating Christianity’, was Constantine’s “Edict of Milan” two years later, to treat Christians well and even elevated Christian Bishops to share the royal benefits of the Emperor. But it was not until 380 AD, under the “Edict of Thessalonica” by Emperor Theodosius that Roman Catholicism became the State Church of the Roman Empire, setting the scene for the Papal reign of the world to this day, and began a new way to silence the proclamation of Truth. Satan evidently seeing that violence in the name of pagan gods did not silence the Gospel, perhaps murder in the name of the all mighty would. In speaking to his disciples, Jesus foretold this very thing saying;
John 16:2
2 … yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Thus we enter into a period of history known today as “The Dark Ages”.
John Foxe again gives a record to the time;
We come now to a period when persecution, under
the guise of Christianity, committed more enormities than ever
disgraced the annals of paganism. Disregarding the maxims and the spirit of the Gospel, the papal Church, arming herself with the power of the sword, vexed the Church of God and wasted it for several centuries, a period most appropriately termed in history the “dark ages.”
The kings of the earth, gave their power to the “Beast,” and submitted to be trodden on by the miserable vermin that often filled the papal chair
During this time of history there was very little outside of the dominion of the Papal Church. So tightly did the Roman Catholic Church hold on to its tradition, that any questioning of it would lead to the execution of those doubting.
David Teems in his biography of William Tyndale notes;
The Catholic Church “governed birth, marriage, death, sex, and eating, made the rules for law and medicine, gave philosophy and scholarship their subject matter.” It taught the faithful how to spend their money, how to sweat their tithe, what to believe, what to think. Culture grew within and around the Church. She was the watchful parent. And membership was not optional,[2]**
Barbara Truchman, in her book “A Distant Mirror”, spoke of this same ‘membership’ in Papal powers saying, ““it was not a matter of choice; it was compulsory and without alternative, which gave it a hold not easy to dislodge.”[3]
The Roman Catholic system could rule without question ONLY through the persistent ignorance of the Scriptures. The Dark Ages were dark because the word of God in much of the world was hidden in a forgotten language.
By the 16th century, not even the priests of the Papal Church knew the Bible. A gentleman by the name of John Hooper, who was a fellow student of William Tyndale (through whom we thank for the Bible in our laps today), conducted a survey of 311 members of the clergy, the results found;
“Nine priests did not know there were Ten Commandments; thirty-three had no clue where they were in the Bible (most of them suggested the New Testament); ten could not recite the Lord’s Prayer; and thirty did not know Jesus had said it in the first place.”[4]
Tragically, John Hooper burned at the stake during the reign of Mary Tudor (AKA Bloody Mary), the Roman Catholic queen of England.
During the time of the Popes, the Bible was not permitted to be translated into the vulgar tongue of the people, but remained locked away in the ancient Latin. The belief of the Roman Catholic Church was that Latin was the chosen language of God, and any attempt at a translation into the language of the common people, was an affront to God himself.
It is interesting to note that during the life of the evil Lord Chancellor of England, Thomas More, the language of philosophy was Latin, but when one chose to use profanities, they did that in English. You can understand then that Thomas More was happy to commit people to the flames for the offence of only quoting the scriptures in English.
The Gospel however was to go into ALL THE WORLD and God would do his work. John Wycliffe made the first genuine attempt to translate the Bible into English. His objection to Catholic doctrines infuriated the Roman Catholic church, and had he not died of a stroke two years later, he too would have been burned at the stake.
In fact, so angry was the Papal church that 40 years after his death Wycliffe was eventually still burned at the stake;
In the most bizarre little ceremony in 1428, his body (or what was left of his body) was exhumed and marched around the town of Lutterworth; he was defrocked, then turned over to the secular authorities for “execution.”
His ashes were then cast into the river Swift in Lutterworth near his old Church, and a saying went forth stating;
“as the Swift bear them into the Severn, and the Severn into the narrow seas, and they again into the ocean, thus the ashes of Wycliffe is an emblem of his doctrine, which is now dispersed all over the world.”
Soon enough, the word of God in the language of the people of the world would become a reality. Indeed, the Gospel will go into all the world!
PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATUREMark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
It was William Tyndale that would have the greatest single impact on the Bible, and time does not permit me to go into detail this morning, suffice to say that 90% of your New Testament are unchanged from his words.
It was Tyndale who coined many of the phrases, Tyndale who gave us the poetry and rhythm of our Bible. Many words were first coined in the English language by William Tyndale;
Words such as;
PassoverScapegoatTaskmasterTwo-EdgedViperWhoremongerWriting TableYokefellowImpureIncarnateInfatuateStiff neckedTribute moneyUproarBrotherlyBusybodyCastawayNetworkComplainerSwaddling clothesHandbreadthBirthright More than 700 words listed in the OED are attributed to William Tyndale as the first mention of them.
His desire was for the perfect word in both meaning, sense and music. The King James Bible is indeed a book of music. We will talk more to this in the final sermon “The Permanence OF Truth”
There are two ways that the modern versions take away the gospel, two ways they remove the good news and silence the alarm. One way is to delete complete verses, the other way is to render them to a footnote. Both ways they create doubt in the gospel and silence the proclamation.
Beloved, I want you to think of what damage is worse. Of all the persecutions we can testify to against those who believe the Gospel, is it worse for those who man destroys who’s true end is eternal joy, or the silencing of the alarm fails to awaken the sinner to his sin?
Satan knows that the Gospel is the only true hope for mankind, his aim is to silence it. Though he has employed physical violence against the proclamation in the past, his greatest and most enduring violence has been to quieten the desire to proclaim the truth. Satan is almost as happy with ineffective Christians as he is with dead ones. The only risk with those still alive is that they may yet repent and do as Jesus commanded them.
Turn to
Matthew 18:11
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
This is the purpose statement of Christ. It is deleted in the NIV, the NASB, the ESV, the GNB, the RSV, NRSV, et al, and deleted in the footnotes of the New King James version.
Mark 10:24
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
“For them that trust in riches” is deleted in the NIV, the NASB, the ESV, the GNB, the RSV, NRSV, et al, and deleted in the footnotes of the New King James version.
They therefore read, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” (Exclamation mark included in the NIV, NASB, NLT, GNB, ESV).
Is it difficult to be saved, or is it hard for them that trust in riches?
Turn to
Zechariah 13:6
6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Long held as a reference to Christ, the true husbandman come to claim his harvest. The wounds that inflicted by the house of Israel, whom he came to save. But you would never even think of that if you read it in;
The NIV: “If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?”[5]
The NASB: “What are these wounds between your arms?”[6]
The NLT: “what about those wounds on your chest?[7]”
The ESV: “What are these wounds on your back?[8]”
The Message: “‘And so where did you get that black eye?’[9] to which the response in The Message “bible” is, “‘I ran into a door at a friend’s house.’[10]”
You would not have a hope of ever relating it to Christ, who himself claimed of the prophets, John 5:3939 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Now, whether you believe that passage in Zechariah speaks of Christ or not, the vacuous claim that there is no real difference is foolish. How is it possible that the same translated “Hands” in the King James Bible, is so obscure that it can also be translated as “body”, “arms”, “chest”, “back” or even as a “black eye” in Eugene Petersons perverse paraphrase The Message?
There truly is so much more to go into, but I spare you for this day.
What if I had a child for whom my dying instruction would keep her from danger and lead her to a blessed life, and I should desire that such instruction be passed on to her directly after my passing to one in whom I trusted? However, what if the dilution of the proclamation I had trusted to others has left her in the greatest of danger? Beloved, the distraction of those who are charged to proclaim this truth gives me little hope the Gospel would ever reach her.
Jesus said, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Mt 24:12), Christians and even most pastors today, no longer care about the gospel, all they care about is protecting what they have.
They have lost their first love. Why? Because they no longer believe they have a perfect, preserved proclamation of the truth.
But YOU DO!
WILL YOU THEREFORE “GO”?
Will you add to the silence beloved, or will you make a decision today to set aside your distractions and sound the alarm?
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
.
[1] Alleine, Joseph. An Alarm to the Unconverted (p. 1). Kindle Edition.
[2] Teems, David. Tyndale (p. x). Thomas Nelson.
[3] Barbara Tuchman, A Distant Mirror, p32.
[4] Glenn S. Sunshine, Reformation for Armchair Theologians, 2.
[5] The New International Version (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, p. Zec 13:6.
[6] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, p. Zec 13:6.
[7] Tyndale House Publishers (2015) Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, p. Zec 13:6.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, p. Zec 13:6.
[9] Peterson, E.H. (2005) The Message: the Bible in contemporary language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, p. Zec 13:6.
[10] Peterson, E.H. (2005) The Message: the Bible in contemporary language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, p. Zec 13:6.
The post The Proclamation of Truth appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
20230507 Everyone Has A Story
Luke 23:32–43
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
We all have a Story, everyone does. As a pastor, I have the privilege of listening to many peoples stories on how they came to Christ and how they were freed from sin and gained eternal life. There are times I might play a small part in that story and I can tell you it is the greatest privilege of all.
There are many Christians also who have played a part in the stories of those who have exchanged death for eternal life, who lives have been transformed, who’s hope and joy has been secured, Christians who have told them of Jesus Christ and of why he came and what he did and why he died.
Some of those people have a known influence, an influence that spoke of Jesus, that lived Jesus; these people lent a hand when it was needed most, they had a kind word to say in a time of need, they gave of their time, of their money, they blessed in some way along the way and have become a part of the storyline of those who got saved, no doubt the story of those who are being baptised today.
Some people have played a role in these people’s lives and it won’t be fully discovered until it is revealed in heaven, then shall all be known. Those who prayed for them, who gave an anonymous gift, handed out a tract that speaks of Jesus. They may have left a Bible on a park bench with book marks in significant passages and chance had the recipient read and believe.
These people are not known and might not feature in the verbal testimonies that people tell others of how they came to Christ, and YET they played a role that only eternity can quantify or value.
I am blessed and I am privileged to hear some of those stories as a pastor. I am blessed also when all I do is share the STORY of Jesus to those willing to hear. How do I know how it will impact their hearts in the future?
OF LUKE 23:32-43
The account before us this morning tells a part of the story of two men. Men who were joined in identity and were joined in the temporal penalty for their crime, also joined in its CONDEMNATION, but separated in destination; One will be with Jesus in paradise (Heaven) on that very day and forever blessed; the other separated from Christ in hell, forever cursed.
But both have a story, both have an account they will recall forever. One will be sharing his story forever with those multitudes of others who were like him, as a brand PLUCKED OUT of the fire;
But one will relay his account to himself alone, there is no company in hell, the opposite of heaven, there is no fellowship at all. His STORY will be his eternal torment. ‘ALMOST A CHRISTIAN’ he will recall, ALMOST saved from the damnation of his sin, even while he hung on the cross BESIDE the very Saviour of the world in the moment the Saviour Died for the sins of the world.
He experienced the earthquake that split the rock a moment Jesus cried out “it is finished” and Christ died. He saw the darkness envelope the earth as the greatest evil ever done by man was done to the one who did the greatest good. He saw all that, but there is no account he turned and believed. He is still there today, tormented by his STORY, while his friend testifies of his joy.
My friends there is a similarity in those stories for every person in the world, all people who have every lived will share in a story that ends in one of two ways.
O, I understand that all people in the world ONLY ever want to hear of one way and not the other. It doesn’t seem to matter how many funerals you go to, everyone believes they go to a happy place and most preachers are pleased to be paid to lie to the mourners, telling them all that they too will end their lives wellregardless of what they think of God their creator. According to such motivational ministers, it does not seem to matter what you have done in life, if you have ended life with the most amount of money in the bank or the greatest number of assets, or had the greatest time traveling the world, of if you were a thief and robber, a murderer or politician, everyone seems to end well.
The Bible teaches “it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgement”, but these compensated counterfeits seek to comfort the condemned rather than tell them there is ONE of TWO Stories in which they will share. Jesus turned to only one of the two malefactors with comforting news!
Death is not only the great equalizer, it is also the great separator, and everyone has a story about how they got to their respective destinations.
Now, if you can hear or read this message today it is certain that you have NOT reached that destination, and what you hear will give you an opportunity to confidently change your story or to rejoice in the story Jesus comforts you in.
We all started on our journey in the same way, it was a journey to hell, there is not a person in this room that did not begin that way. It did not matter how well we lived our lives, we were lost; it did not matter how “good” we were in our own eyes or how many “good” things we did, we were sin drenched and damned for it; it did not matter if life treated us well, death would see us in hell!
BUT, for many of us, that journey changed, and its destination is now secured, and the story that saved us is the single most important story our lives to tell.
A STORY OF IDENTITY
A STORY OF CONDEMNATION
A STORY OF HEAVEN
A STORY OF IDENTITYLuke 23:32–33
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
What we have here in the text is a unified story of IDENTITY, the men we “malefactors”, a wonderfully simple Latin word that means “doers of evil”, male (Evil or bad) facere (doing or to do) malefacere is the plural for ‘malefactors’.
Both Mathew and Mark identify particularly the evil they did, giving them the title of “Thieves”. Both men shared in this title, it forms a part of their story and so important is this part of their story that the title has led them to the most excruciating form of capital punishment known to man at the time. The very word ‘Excruciate” has its origin in Crucifixion meaning simply “Of the cross”, ‘Excruciate’.
The title that testifies to the story of these two men has led them to the cross with a unified Identity. We do not know anything more of their story prior to this.
We do not know if they were long time friends. We don’t know if they were brothers, we don’t know how many acts of evil they did together, we only know that they are both identified by that for which they have been condemned to die. “Thieves” are all they deserve to be identified with, it characterised them, it brought to us the only understanding of the nature in them that identifies their heart toward both God and man! What else is there that is needful? It was a SHAMEFUL title.
We don’t think much of sin today, gone are the days when people were appalled by sin, shocked by the idea that a man or woman might thieve. Today in the US, people are literally just walking into stores and taking what they want and walk out, NO SHAME as the security guards merely become spectators.
Two generations ago, a man would be ashamed to be referred to as a Peeping Tom, peering in the bedroom window of an intimate couple. Such a disturbing act would have been spoken about around the town, today Pornography has made most men and women in our society ‘Peeping Tom’s’ in their own homes.
Vance Havner once said, “It’s hard to find an old-fashion sinner anymore”, referring to those who are ashamed of their sin.
I want you also to notice that there is no back story necessary for these men. The Bible never tries to diminish the responsibility of men and women by excusing their acts. O, they had a bad upbringing. They had ADHD. They had a metal disorder, “Kleptomania”, a inexplicably compulsive desire to steal. They stole in order to boost their self-esteem Etc
No, you won’t see excuses in the Bible nor in the character of God. Man’s desire to find “shades of grey” will find it perfectly elusive in the mind of God; his book is black and white.
LOVES THE SINNER BUT HATE THE SIN?
We have long used the term, “God loves the sinner but hates the sin”, it’s a phrase Christians use in order to soften God and give the illusion that the sinner is ok with God even though he sins. But the Bible teaches that the sinner is IDENTIFIED by his SIN, and that both the sinner together with his sin is cast into hell.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
All sinners will be identified ONLY by their sin in hell.
The prison system that naturally has every prisoner enquire “what are you in for?”, is but a reflection of this truth.
“Fornicator”, a person who is identified by his or her ongoing participation in sex outside the covenant of marriage. This describes an individual without any commitment to any singular individual who’s very identification is known by his sin.
“Idolator”, a person who derives meaning and comfort, hope and happiness from that which is NOT GOD. They may worship their car, their house, their job, their money, their children, their husband or wife. All of these they have a fear of losing or offending, but not God.
“Effeminate” refers to men who desire or play out the characteristics of women.
“Abusers of themselves with mankind” actually refers to the sodomite, who’s harm is against themselves as seen in Romans 1:27 who receive “in themselves the recompence of their error which was meet” or just.
“Thieves”, how many things do you need to steal to become a thief? How big an item? Can you steal time? When you take a “sikky” from work, a benefit given to you for the exclusive use of when you are unwell, suffering outside of your control, but claim it just to have a day off because you have things to do, IS THAT NOT THEFT? When you claim payments from the government that you are not entitled to, is that NOT THEFT?
Let me tell you, it is also Idolatry and Covetousness. Those who commit such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
“Covetous”, those who lust for things, either that which is not your own, or that which you own. Ananias and Sapphira coveted their money but also the praise of men, and so lied to the holy ghost.
The same can be said of men and women who give the appearance of tithing or giving to the work of the Lord in the Church, but never actually do. Be careful beloved, there are several sins here that are perfectly akin to that for which God took the lives of these two in Acts 5.
“Drunkards”, simple enough and self-explanatory. These are those without self-control, also referred to as “incontinent” in the old fashion sense.
“revilers”, basically those who need their mouths washed out with soap. Not only do they offend the ears of the hearer, but testify by their mouths the very nature of their heart for all to see. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt 12:34).
“extortioners”, usually done related to money, overcharging for their services, or making a high demand for that which should be simply granted. My wife works in Family Law and sees versions of extortion all the time, wives placing huge demands on husbands to see their own children which should simply be granted. Etc
The first, second, eighth and tenth commandments being broken buy those identifiable acts.
Jesus died for the sins of the world, and by it he testifies that he so LOVED THE WORLD, no greater love could ever have been demonstrated. BUT DO NOT ever think your are separated from you sin before you have accepted the forgiveness of Christ for sin.
Before you are washed. Take a look at the very next verse;
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Malefactors, doers of evil. This is the title that unifies their story, and all sinners will be identified ONLY by their sin in hell, their names will be forgotten.
A STORY OF CONDEMNATIONLuke 23:39–41
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Now we have a unified story of condemnation.
One of the malefactors desired to be saved from the punishment of his sin, not realizing that his sin has a cost that must be paid for. It is either born by him or by the community against which he sinned.
The other rebuked him, recognizing the justness of the condemnation as “the due reward of our deeds”.
No matter who it is that I talk to when I ask them of their testimony, their own story of how they came to Jesus, not a single person did so believing they deserved heaven!
No one I know, who have truly believed the gospel and are this day justified by what Jesus did for them on the Cross, none of them believed they were good enough to go to heaven. Each one believed they were justly condemned for their sin and sin nature.
Now please understand, I have baptised children as well as adults, young and old, and each story has a similarity, a unified similarity in one area, they all know they were sinners before they believed the Gospel. NONE thought they deserve heaven. None thought they were good enough.
ALL thought that without Jesus, they should receive “the due reward of their deeds”.
Each one of us share in this.
There was a time in our lives when we stood condemned before a holy God and had no hope of getting away with our sin.
Each of us had a share as “fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of ourselves with mankind, … thieves, …covetous, … drunkards, ….revilers, … extortioners, etc, and none of us should have any inheritance in the kingdom of God!
That was what we were, something miraculous occurred, something that is unexplainable apart from the scripture, we are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
The Bible tells us that we “were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1), “condemned with the world” (1 Cor 11:32), “damned” when we believed not (Mark 16:16).
In that we shared in the same story of condemnation.
Today, many still share in that story. Like the malefactors on the cross beside Christ, they stare at hope in the face and rather than seek forgiveness, they slur him and rail against the Saviour of their souls. And remain CONDEMNED.
The most famous passage in the Bible tells the entire story if we simply add the three verses that come after it.
John 3:16–19
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
A STORY OF HEAVENLuke 23:42–43
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
We are not sure when the divergence began, both of the thieves on the cross were up until this point, unified in their respective stories;
They were unified in the story of their identity, both were “melefactors”, doers of evil, thieves specifically.They were unified in the story of their condemnation, indeed justly condemned, receiving the dure reward of their deeds. Both of them even mocked Jesus together, in Matthews account the scribes and elders were mocking Jesus saying;
Matthew 27:42–44
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
But suddenly we see a divergence, a point of difference, the very moment when one of the thieves suddenly believed the Gospel to the saving of his soul;
Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
You see, its this key time, this one point that I long to learn about when I hear of the stories of those who have the desire to be baptised. Up until this point everyones stories are similar only in that they are identified as sinners, and that they are condemned, but a part of the journey along the way, something begins to change;
We are not told of the particulars of what changed for this one thief, what was it that began to work in his heart where suddenly he sees Jesus for who he is, “LORD” he cries, “Lord, remember me….” Remember the one that hung beside you and looked to you and recognised your perfect innocence, that you had done NOTHING amiss and yet there you hang….
Remember me, for I heard you speak to the father and ask him to forgive all those who are even now sinning against you unjustly.
Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
What was the part of the story that finally led him to this point?
Was he a resident of Jerusalem? Of Gallilee? Of Nazareth?
Did he see the wornderful works that jesus had done over the three years prior to this finality?
Did he hear of all the talk about him, one person and then another, did he go to the feast in John 7 and hear, “he is a good man” and then the disputes of him, “Nay; but he deceiveth the people” (Jn 7:12), did he hear the jews marvel at him saying “How knoweth this man letters having never learned” (Jn 7:15).
Was this malefactor casing the feast and looking for an opportunity to steal when he over heard some say “Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?” (Jn 7:26) and did he hear some say “When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles that these which this man hath done?” (Jn 7:31)”
Or was he there in the township that belong to the woman that met him at the well and he heard her testimony… “Is not this the Christ?” (John 4:29).
Maybe, he frequented that other place where the scoundrels of Jerusalem frequented, when Jesus made his small scourge and drove them from the temple saying;
It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Lk 19:46).
Indeed, so many might have been the opportunities for him to have seen evidence of this one promised from before the world began to be the sin bearer of the world, that the world by him might be saved.
How many times have you heard of him?
Have you been attracted to Christ or repelled by him?
It is clear that those who are being baptised today were at some point attracted to Jesus but then finally took the opportunity to call him “LORD”, desiring also to be remembered by him.
But there was another beside him, one who, like most of the people of the world, are repelled by Christ, not desiring to ever be remembered….and he wont be.
The Bible itself testifies to this saying;
Proverbs 10:7
7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
Yes, their names shall be “blotted out” it tells us in Ps 109:13, they will be “forgotten” we are told in Eccl 8:10.
Just like the, never to be recorded name, of the rich man “who died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” in Lk 16:22-23
Lazarus is remembered, his name has come down to us through the ages, but not this rich man who is only recalled in mythology.
Psalm 9:5
5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
Which story will describe you?
Like all of us in this room today, our story is the same in that we had been identified by our sin, we had been rightfully condemned, but so far our paths may have taken a different turn.
Those being Baptised today, chose that good part and will never look back.
The post Everyone Has A Story appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
A message the Lord desired to encourage the faithful brethren of Aberdeen Baptist Church. A message of the testimony of how the faithful God blessed the congregation of Hope Baptist in Sunbury during the most difficult time in recent history in Melbourne Victoria. A time when an entire state suffered so broadly at the hands of its own government, in a “free” democratic country, for the sake of what could only be described as a relatively benign flu virus.
It was a time however that testified a global cross-over from the legs of iron to the feet of iron and clay (Daniel 2:31-45), a time that identified the rule of law no longer applied and witnessed the rule of an invisible supranational authority that seemed to make the rules on behalf of most western countries who’s leaders appeared as nothing more than paid actors over the affairs of their constituents. A unique time globally, signifying a distinct change universally.
The account briefly tells of a church willing to stand alone to preach the word of God in Melbourne, the “lockdown capital of the world” and to maintain doing so as the Lord instructed rather than as man dictates. A church blessed for their desire to hold the Bible as their final authority, not mandates; desiring to please God, not government; fearing God, not men.
I pray the message is a blessing to those who hear it.
Pr Edi
The post Message At Aberdeen appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Confidence in Christ
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2Timothy 1:12)
Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-12
Introduction:
As we read this chapter, you would have to say that the overriding impression that we get from Paul in our reading today is one of confidence.
Such is his confidence in Christ and who he is in Christ…that he has no hesitation in declaring the credentials of his apostleship and calling; stating that he was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles.
The one thing that he makes perfectly clear…and that is the fact that everything he is and everything that has been bestowed on him, has come directly from Christ. And everything that he does is a result of this.
This is where his confidence lay. It is the Lord Jesus who is the foundation of his ministry. And this is who Paul points to when he encourages and exhorts Timothy in his own ministry.
Likewise, this is where our confidence ought to be…in Christ also.
Hence I have titled today’s message: Confidence in Christ
The focus of today’s message is verse 12:
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2Timothy 1:12)
As we will see in today’s message, there are a number of roadblocks along the way. I pray that the message is a blessing to you
Let’s Pray
Confidence in the Cause of Christ:
“For the which cause…”
People devote themselves to many and various causes for many and varied reasons. Some noble, some not so noble. Of the more noble causes, they hope to make the world a better place. They see a need and attempt to fill it. In this, they see the value and are thus confident that the cause is worthwhile and worth the cost of their time and personal sacrifice.
This automatically begs the question…how do you measure worth?
Linked to this is a sense or a belief that life has meaning and purpose. This of course is absurd from a secular viewpoint in which the universe supposedly originated from a cosmic accident.
For the believer, this sense of purpose is often heightened when he is born again. It is understood by the fact that God has a plan for his life and that life does indeed have meaning and purpose.
In our text, Paul commences verse 12 with these words: “for the which cause” which immediately tells us that his life had a very particular focus or “calling”.
Of course, we know that the cause to which he is referring is the cause of Christ…and more specifically the gospel of Christ.
It’s always good to remember why Jesus came..which was to seek and to save that which was lost.
Paul describes this cause a few verses earlier in verse 9 [Read]:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2Timothy 1:9)
In light of this we need to recognize:
Firstly, he describes this cause as a calling and specifically “an holy calling”.
It’s worth noting that the bible is a book demonstrating how opposites help define meaning, and the opposite of holy is profane or common.
Therefore our calling is not your everyday run-of-the-mill activity. Neither is it “just a hobby” or something that you do to entertain yourself or do in your spare time. It is serious business with eternal consequences…both for the gospel messenger and the listener. This is why we are admonished to walk worthy of our calling [Ephesians 4:1]
Secondly, we see that we are called not according to our own works but according to the Lord’s purpose. THIS IS OUR LIFE’S PURPOSE.
As gospel workers [and we have to see ourselves as just that] we are doing his work…and not our own. Therefore we should desire his will and not our own. And ultimately we should desire his glory and not our own.
This should therefore govern our motives each and every minute of the day.
Paul further speaks of this calling:
[Turn to]
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)
We see here that Paul also refers to his ministry as an “high calling” to which there is a prize associated. That prize is Christ himself, which in itself ought to place an invaluable worth on preaching the gospel. As a direct response to this, Paul says: “I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Philippians 3:8)
*Note: Paul suffered the loss of all things [not just some things]
The question we need to ask ourselves is this: WHAT AM I PREPARED TO LOSE FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST?
Material possessions and creature comforts…?
What does Jesus say:
“And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Mat 8:20)
Popularity…?
What did Christ say?
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”
(John 15:18)
Paul also had his share of rejection:
“This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” (2Timothy 1:15)
Your life…?
What does Paul say?
“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Act 20:22-24)
Looking at Paul’s example, shouldn’t we have confidence in the cause of Christ? I’ve often thought…why should we be so committed to Christ? The simple answer is, because he was so committed to us.
If there’s any doubt in regards to our calling:
Remember, we are COMMANDED to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
One of the greatest dangers to this cause is complacency. We either..somehow believe that the cause of Christ is less important than it is, or we believe that it’s somebody else’s cause.
But in answering the question posed at the beginning of this point
The worthiness and therefore our confidence in the cause of Christ can be summed up in 25 words:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16)
If the Lord placed such importance and value on lost sinners that he gave his only begotten Son, then we can be sure that there is nothing else that matters. The value of the cause is eternal.
Confidence in the Sufferings of Christ:
As I alluded to in the previous point…the cause of Christ or our calling in Christ will naturally result in suffering for Christ. Scripture makes it quite clear that suffering and persecution are indeed the natural consequence of our faith.
Our text today says
“…I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed…”
Paul explains these sufferings, calling them “the afflictions of the gospel”
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” (2Timothy 1:8)
In a natural sense, it might seem strange, Paul encourages Timothy to be a partaker of these sufferings. Paul also alludes to the fact that even being associated with him would attract negative attention.
Yet it shouldn’t seem strange because we know that all who would live godly in Christ WILL suffer persecution. (2 Tim 3:12)
It stands to reason that there is a correlation between godliness and the suffering that we experience, provided they line up with the word of God.
I feel I should qualify this;
These are not to be confused with God’s chastening for disobedience. Hopefully, you are able to discern the difference.
Notwithstanding, both the chastening of the Lord and suffering for him are designed to bring the believer into a closer relationship with the Lord.
The apostle Peter further illuminates not only the purpose of suffering but he also explains the difference between suffering for righteousness’ sake [godly suffering] and suffering because of our own faults.
[Turn to]:
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” (1Peter 2:13-21)
Not only do we see the reality of suffering for Christ’s sake in the apostle’s writings but also from Christ himself.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)
No doubt the apostles were minded of this as they began to preach in the synagogues and risked their lives in the process. We see this example in the book of Acts as they were imprisoned and interrogated by the council then beaten, and released upon the recommendation of Gamaliel.
“And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” (Act 5:40-41)
What is significant about this account is that they left REJOICING…which is a perfect and godly response.
There are more than enough references in scripture [both in the Old Testament and the New Testament] to tell us that suffering for righteousness’ sake should be considered the norm…
Therefore if anyone tells you that as a Christian you are exempt from suffering, it’s a blatant lie.
The important thing is to understand the purpose of suffering, which in turn SHOULD give us confidence
Firstly [as we just read]we were called to suffer…
Secondly, we follow Christ’s example of suffering for us…
When it came to suffering, what example did Christ leave for us?:
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)
Thirdly it glorifies God and therefore there is a reward for those that suffer.
There’s another lesson or reality that we ought to draw on in regards to Christ’s example of suffering. We find it in Hebrews chapter 5:
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:8-9)
We wouldn’t automatically think that Christ would need to learn obedience and that he was perfected thereby…
Nevertheless:
And so lastly it is through our suffering that we also learn obedience and are likewise perfected thereby.
Of course, it’s one thing to be confident in the sufferings of Christ but it is another thing to endure those sufferings as a good soldier of Christ. How do we do it…?
We get a clue in our reading today:
“…be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” (2Timothy 1:8)
The Lord is deliberate in telling us that we fight this battle, not in our own power but in his.
Remember:
We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities…
Our battle is a spiritual one and therefore must be fought in the Spirit.
We put on the armour of God and especially the word of God, knowing that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.
Remember:
In this world we will have trials and tribulations BUT we can be of good cheer because Christ overcame the world. Without him we can do nothing.
Remember:
The victory through which we overcome the world is our faith [1 John 5:4]…and actually not even our faith because the life that we live in this flesh we live by the faith of Christ [Galatians 2:20]
Again…if suffering is directly proportional to godliness then the opposite is true. There are those who might choose not to live godly lives in order to avoid suffering.
But it doesn’t have to be that way
To put it simply…
Knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Not even death…in fact death is considered gain and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Therefore, we have every reason to be confident in the sufferings of Christ because he works in and through us…he did it all and will do it all.
This leads perfectly into our next point:
Confidence in the Person of Christ:
“….for I know whom I have believed,…”
The first thing that should strike us about this part of the text is that GOD IS KNOWABLE…
And in this case it is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Without going into a complete and exhaustive apologetic, we know that God does and has reveal himself to us…
He has revealed himself to us through his creation
He reveals himself to us through his word
And he has revealed himself to us through the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Paul’s case we also see that Jesus revealed himself to him by way of his Damascus Road experience.
The promise that we have is that when we do seek him we will find him; when we seek him with all our heart.
In the context of our passage there is a definite connection between the knowledge of Christ and the preparedness to suffer for him. That connection is dependent upon the person of Christ himself and our relationship with him.
The word “know” is such a concrete word and conveys a sense of absoluteness. It also conveys a sense of relationship and intimacy.
When it comes to knowing Christ, both of these are vitally important in regards to our faith….because both the heart and mind need to be transformed and renewed.
We know from reading our bibles that sometimes there are parallels between the natural and the spiritual. For example: light and darkness
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2Corinthians 4:6)
And in the case of knowledge, we see from the book of Genesis that Adam “knew” his wife Eve and she produced Cain and Abel [the fruit of her body].
Similarly the fruit of the believer is another believer. Just as Adam and Eve were commanded to be fruitful and multiply, we are also commanded to be fruitful and multiply. This comes from knowing God…and the more we know God, the more fruitful we will be.
This is the whole purpose of the Great Commission. And just as a mother desires children, the believer should desire to win souls to Christ.
Needless to say that intimacy with God makes us more fruitful.
There is certainly an emphasis in this chapter with regards to confidence in the face of affliction. However we also see that the gospel [and the spreading thereof] is still front and centre.
Therefore it is important to note another interesting correlation and that is the relationship between the growth [especially of the early church] and the persecution of the church.
A second century quote from church father Tertullian highlights this fact:
He said: “The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church”
Certainly, the early church experienced rapid growth due to persecution, firstly from the Jews and then from the Romans.
The spread of Christianity is generally attributed to the dispersal of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. Notwithstanding, the persecution which draws you closer to the Lord and creates a greater intimacy with him, is ALWAYS going to bear fruit. You’d have to say that both of these factors contributed significantly.
When it comes to knowing Christ and having confidence in him we should remember that this epistle is written to Timothy; recalling also that he was experiencing certain struggles…fear for one thing.
Thus Paul reminds Timothy of certain things…
He affirms his love for Timothy addressing him as his “dearly beloved son”.
He confirms Timothy’s faith in Christ describing it as “unfeigned”
He reminds him of the “gift of God” and of “the Holy Ghost which dwelleth” in him. This is an important consideration because it is the Spirit of God which bears witness with our spirits that we are indeed children of God [Romans 8:16] And without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we “are none of his”.
He admonishes him in regards to doctrine and to “hold fast the form of sound words” because doctrine matters.
He points to the “testimony” of our Lord as something that we needn’t be ashamed of.
There is nothing embarrassing about the life and ministry of our Lord and specifically his death, burial and resurrection.
This is the foundation of our faith to which Paul pens this creed:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” (1Corinthians 15:3-6)
But Paul especially he tells him this:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1:7)
1 John also tells us that perfect love casts out fear.
And in the midst of our trials and tribulations we also know this:
[Turn to]
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
The key here is that by virtue of our faith and the hope that we have in Christ we are able to overcome trials and tribulations through the love of God and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.
This is the Christ that Paul had come to know; not to mention the testimony of 40+ penmen of the bible and the great cloud of witnesses [Hebrews 12] that have gone before us.
And this is the Christ in whom he has believed and has placed his trust.
We also have the opportunity to know Christ this way by reading his word and spending time in prayer. Needless to say, our knowledge of Christ will be hindered if we don’t.
Well might we also say: “…be thou not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord”
“…who hath abolished death , and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…:”
Confidence in the Day of Christ:
“….and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Knowing all who Christ is [and we saw this in the previous point], it was easy for Paul to believe that he was able to do the things that he said he would do.
As believers, we should also know that:
God doesn’t lie and therefore his promises are sure.
God is omniscient and therefore knows the end from the beginning which includes his will for our lives.
God is omnipotent and therefore able to empower us to accomplish his will
God is immutable and therefore doesn’t change. He is the constant in our lives in an ever changing world.
God is omni-benevolent and therefore only desires our good. And despite our suffering [all things work together for good]…the eternal outcome is ALWAYS GOOD.
Importantly:
The committing of our faith is an act of our will and in doing so, the Lord honours and rewards our faith according to the things which are done in faith.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
However, Paul alludes to something specific here: “…that which I have committed unto him against that day”
“That which I have committed unto him”…what is it that he has committed unto him” and “against” which day? These are both questions that need to be answered…but if we deal with the specific day then we will have a greater understanding of the commitment.
Certainly, Paul has committed his life to Christ and with it, the salvation of his soul… [this may be partly true]…but I believe that it runs deeper than that.
The bible speaks about a number of different “days” and giving them specific names:
There is of course “judgement day”…which is rather generic
But there is also 2 other days which the bible mentions specifically.
Another is “the day of the Lord” which is also called “the day of vengeance of our God” [Isaiah 61:2]
And another is “the day of Christ”.
In understanding the answer we know that we will all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2Corinthians 5:10)
This is the key here: “that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
There is punishment for the bad…the bible teaches that the wages of sin is death
and
There is a reward for the good.
Since we can be 100% confident of Paul’s salvation we also know that his sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west and that the Lord remembers them NO MORE…!!!
Therefore the only logical conclusion is that Paul is referring to an eternal reward. This sits perfectly with the words of Christ who said:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Certainly the Lord desires for us to know that there is no safer place to store treasure than in heaven…despite suffering and no matter what we have to endure on earth.
And this is surely the reason why Paul is confident of the commitment that he has made.
The question to be answered now is…when is that reward realized? And again by process of elimination the answer must be THE DAY OF CHRIST.
Scripture certainly indicates this; particularly when we examine passages dealing with reward.
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” (Philippians 2:14-16)
In this passage Paul hopes to rejoice on the day of Christ as his life’s work is revealed…was it in vain or was it profitable?
But how do we measure the profitability of our work? What is the standard or measure?
[Turn to]
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1Corinthians 3:11-15)
The things that matter to God are eternal. These are the things that will pass the test of fire. Certainly these are things that glorify God and which are directly connected to gospel. Ironically whilst man has removed the gold standard from the value of money God has retained it eternally.
So…
Knowing that there is an eternal reward…
And knowing that our work will be judged
And knowing that there is a criteria by which our work will be judged…
HOW WILL YOU SPEND YOUR TIME HERE ON EARTH?
I think one of the greatest sins is that of time wasting…[we’ve spoken a bit about time lately…in that it is a physical dimension]. But for the sake of this message we need to realize that it is a finite commodity and once it has gone…IT’S GONE
Anything that we do which has the potential of changing someone’s eternity is counted as Gold in God’s eyes.
The question is…are we going to hide our lights under a bushel..or
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
How important is our witness…?
When it comes to works, the bible tells us that these have already been foreordained.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
And just as time is finite…I dare say these are finite also. Since [and sadly] we are unlikely to complete the list of tasks allocated to us [I’m not advocating ticking boxes] …is it any wonder the Lord refers to us as unprofitable servants.
Think about it…if even Paul pressed forward to apprehend that for which he was apprehended of God…are we likely to exceed God’s expectations?
Notwithstanding….he was persuaded [even confident] that God was able to keep those things which he did commit to him unto the day of Christ.
And so should we be…
Conclusion:
In regards to our faith, confidence is everything just as fear and doubt is crippling. And as we have seen, it has nothing to do with self-confidence but confidence in Christ.
There is much in this world which would undermine that confidence in Christ.
And of course[remembering that we wrestle not against flesh and blood]:
Our adversary the devil roams and seeks who he might devour. He loves nothing better than to make us ineffective.
Again, as we saw Paul is writing to Timothy. The principle causes for a potential lack of confidence was fear and and especially because of his relative youth.
Certainly fear and anxiety can also cause us to lose confidence. And this is the reason that Paul exhorts Timothy and encourages with those words:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1:7)
It only when we realize the importance of this work, that all else becomes irrelevant and we become single-minded in this endeavour.
It is then that our trials and tribulations become as Paul says. “Light afflictions”.
It is then that we should take hold of the mission for which Christ has taken hold of us and“… press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
Of course we see from this verse and indeed the entire bible, there is nothing to excuse us from accomplishing the work that the Lord has for us…which ultimately is the preaching of the gospel.
Certainly my desire is that as a church Hope Baptist would be single minded in this endeavour.
As always the bible and indeed this message speaks to two groups of individuals:
Those who know Christ and whose confidence is in him
And those who don’t know Christ and whose confidence is in themselves.
As individuals who know the Lord I pray that we would all grow in that grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This can only be achieved through spending time with the Lord in prayer and time in the word. Without him we can do nothing.
For those who don’t know Christ and whose confidence is in themselves…I truly fear for you. Rather than having confidence in the day of Christ, your expected end will be the day of the Lord. A day which the bible describes as a day of darkness and gloominess. A day which the bible describes as a day of wrath, trouble and distress.
My prayer is that you seriously consider where you will spend eternity.
The post Confidence In Christ appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Pt 4 OMNICIENTPr Edi Giudetti
16/04/2023
Psalm 139:1–6
1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
There is at times something very disconcerting respecting some of the characteristics of God that we admit.
We know he is eternal, we know he is good (Omnibenevolent), that he is almighty (Omnipotent), but it is when we come to ponder the consequence of him being all-knowing (Omniscient) that we find ourselves needing to pause for a moment. The famous “Right to be silent” where “anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law”, usually motivates our silence. But what if that extends to everything we think or intend? What if the true motives of all our actions were actually known?? What if our very heart is known? What then???
When we say that God is “Omniscient”, when recognizing God as ‘all-knowing’, we are not limiting that knowledge to “intelligence”, we identify the “All”, the “Omi” in Omniscient, as there is NOTHING OUTSIDE OF HIS KNOWLEDGE, and that has consequences we need to consider.
One of those natural consequences, that HIS KNOWLEDGE IS JUST, is that it makes him able to judge matters with all information necessary. Knowing that God is “GOOD”, as we understood from the second message in the series, gives us confidence that he must also be just.
The second consequence is outcome, that HIS KNOWLEDGE IS PURPOSEFUL, if God knows the end from the beginning, he also knows the outcome of every event before it occurs.
God being Eternal, as identified in the FIRST message in this series, complements this truth. God being also all powerful (Omnipotent) leads us to understand that he governs the outcome according to his purpose. God being Good (Omnibenevolent) brings us confidence that the end will be good.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
The Third Consequence is Revelation, that HIS KNOWLEDGE IS INSTRUCTIVE; if there is nothing outside of God’s knowledge then he is the source of ALL knowledge.
Knowing he is eternal means his databank of history and the motivations that moved history, is perfect. His knowledge of the future is equally perfect and thereby that which he chooses to reveals to mankind is perfectly instructive, and GOD therefore holds man to account. His Knowledge is INSTRUCTIVE.
The Fourth Consequence is that of response, that HIS KNOWLEDGE IS WONDERFUL;
If God is all knowing, if he is aware of our “downsitting” and our “uprising” and knows our “thoughts afar off”, and if he is eternal and if he is omnibenevolent and omnipotent, then the natural consequence is that of the response of his creatures. It is through our WONDER of all he is and all he knows that we come to the end of our knowledge and acknowledge him as GOD.
I pray the sermon encourages you this day.
His Knowledge Is JUSTPsalm 139:1–2
1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
It is difficult to comprehend any limitation to the knowledge of the one to whom Jesus testifies saying, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Mt 10:30). For some individual ‘heads’ numbering the hairs may not be much of a feet…but for all individual heads independently and collectively through history, that is quite a number.
Psalm 147:4
4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
This is the knowledge of God; a knowledge so perfect and so absolute that we, with our own limited minds, find too difficult to contemplate. It is like trying to understand the infinite, like trying to comprehend eternity or a time outside of time. Trying to comprehend limitless knowledge is beyond us. almost like like trying to catch the wind in our hand or stop the tide with our feet. How can a limited mind comprehend the unlimited? How does a person who understands SOME things, comprehend the one who understands everything?
So many therefore give up and reject the knowledge of the most high, they limit the Holy One of Israel by putting him in a box that they think they can understand. The ancients said
11 …, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the most High?
Psalm 73:11
Imagine for a moment God looking down at all the debates that rage about whether or not he exists! And what is the response of the Lord to these things? Turn to Psalm 94
Psalm 94:7–11
7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? 11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Now we come to the CRUX OF THE MATTER; “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man…”
This is the point at which we can fully come to the conclusion that GOD has ALL information at his disposal through which JUST JUDGEMENT can be made upon ALL PEOPLE. The famous passage in Hebrews 9 says;
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
King Solomon wrote;
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whetherit be good, or whether it be evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14
God knows every thought, every motive, every proud look and vain imagination of man, every true desire and every purposeful intent of every human being on earth that has ever been throughout history. And so HIS KNOWLEDGE IS JUST.
“every secret thing”
To most in the world this is a fearful consideration. But sadly, for far too many Christians these days it is also a fearful consideration. People will do anything to avoid TEMPORARY responsibility, but will find themselves giving an eternal account.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it begood, or whether it be evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14
He who knows ALL the thoughts and intents of the heart will hold temporal ignorance ETERNALLY RESPONSIBLE.
Fellow Christians, you may indeed be saved from hell and your sins washed by the blood of the lamb, but all that is bound on earth will be bound in heaven, all that is loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt 18:19)
Do you really want to give an eternal account for sins you avoided being temporarily accountable to??? Too often, with our hearts hardened, we can find ourselves as the last person to see our sin. So too did David the King. Perhaps this is why he included the last two verses of Psalm 139;
Psalm 139:23–24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see ifthere be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
His Knowledge Is PURPOSEFULPsalm 139:3–4
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 Forthere is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
There are those however who love that God knows their heart and yes, even the thoughts of their minds and, astoundingly, the sin of their souls. They love it because they know that God can bring about a good work in their lives through it. I’ll do my best to explain this phenomenon.
The people that we may see on a day-to-day basis, whether that be each day, once per week, per month, even per year, they have a perspective on you that is limited both to their knowledge of you, or your actions and words, and of their perception of those things.
Each and every person in the world generally has a comparative one-dimensional view of you, and of all you say and do.
Turn to
1 Corinthians 4:3–5
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
In the text here we see two groups of people that are limited;
Those judging PaulPaul Those judging Paul are limited in their ability to judge justly because they ONLY have a one-dimensional view of Paul. They neither know Paul well enough, nor his intentions to gain a greater perspective.
Paul however is ALSO limited at the MOST to a Two-Dimensional view of himself, because he too can never be sure his own motives are perfectly pure, nor what leads to his actions on a day to day basis.
Those who set themselves to judge you can only justifiably judge things that are clear sins or transgressions or misrepresentations evident in the scriptures. More than that is not possible.
Motives, for example, are difficult to establish and they too can only be accurate by degree. They may establish a potential motive, but can’t determine for certain if that motive motivated a speech or act.
Circumstance also has limitations, for no person truly knows all the events that have led to certain events, behaviors, words, etc. People could be responding from past hurts. People may behave badly through present trials. People may be careless due to high levels of stress or anxiety. Sin may or may not be involved.
There could be an infinite array of possibilities that we all are unequipped to judge outside of the bounds of Scripture. AND DON’T BOTHER TRYING TO PHYSCOANALISE ANYONE it is pure vanity!
So, people outside of yourself can only have a one-dimensional view to make a judgement.
BUT, you only have a two dimensional view AT BEST to judge your own self, I say “At BEST because you can ONLY extend that view if you are humble and willing to truly search your heart. If you are UNWILLING to search your own heart on the matter, especially in light of any discovery of sin, your view of yourself is little better than the ONE DIMENTIONAL view others have of you! While others may see some wrong in you, all you think is good of yourself. In other words, you are just as vain in self-perception as they are of perceiving you!
Psalm 51 is a perfect representation of a two-dimensional view. It’s the Psalm of David that confesses to the Lord his personal discovery of his sin, and his willingness to take full responsibility for all he had done, and his desire that God’s cleansing work in him may help him bless others (Ill touch on that shortly).
But it’s the three-dimensional view you search for when you go before the Lord in prayer, to gain a perspective that, while still not necessarily perfect, brings about the most wonderful work in your life. Why? Because you are seeking it from the ONE who has every dimension possible at his disposal.
Turn to the last two verses of our mornings passage to see that HIS KNOWLEDGE IS PURPOSEFUL
Psalm 139:23–24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see ifthere be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Did you see the PURPOSE?
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Now turn to Psalm 51
You CANNOT jump from a One-Dimensional view of yourself to the three-dimensional view, without first examining your own heart. You can’t skip second base on the way to third.
Psalm 51 is a wonderful presentation of the transition from two to three dimensions, God bringing out and leading the sinner for a PURPSOEFUL END because he is Omniscient.
Psalm 51:7–13
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Beloved, I am glad that the Lord knows my heart! I am also glad he knows my very thoughts. My heart’s desire is to please him, even though at times I do that which I would not, rather that that which I would, I am blessed to know that he knows my true motives in the actions I may take, even if I make errors in those actions. Even if I don’t handle things properly, I am blessed to know that God knows what my motives were.
And yes….even in the most difficult part, when my motives were not perfectly pure, when my intentions were not pleasing to God, I am again glad he knows them. Because it is through him bring up any wicked way in me, I may be led in the way everlasting!
His Knowledge Is INSTRUCTIVEPsalm 139:5
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
God being OMNISCIENT, he being ALL KNOWING, means that he is also the source of all knowledge that is TRUE. God knowing the end from the beginning, means that he is the perfect resource through which true knowledge can be gleaned and gained. The fact that God has written a BOOK, should blow our minds! It means that the source of ALL KNOWLEDGE is PURPOSEFULLY INSTRUCTIVE!!!
The Bible is the greatest instruction book of all because it comes from the one who is ALL KNOWING. What he has given to man, he has given in perfect accord with what he believes man needs to live.
The instructions for eternal life (The Gospel) are as simple as they are profound, but they take up only a few pages of the Bible. The rest of the Book is there to make a man perfect, “throughly furnished unto all good works”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
God has given to us everything we need in this incredible book, the Bible. He has blessed us with the word of God in our language that furnishes us with the perfect instruction manual for a blessed life.
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek and we are told possibly also Aramaic, yet God has superintended over its translation into many languages including English, which we believe is perfect in one volume, the King James Version.
The King James Version is THE BIBLE, I never bother referencing it as a VERSION, (If you have ever read my sermons online you would notice I never add the subscript note (KJV etc), it is THE Bible, I will not credit other books as “versions”.
It is the ONLY Bible that gives the perfect instruction for life and eternity, nothing comes close, all other versions are so poorly translated from corrupt manuscripts, their errors completely ignore context and lead people astray.
Translation EXAMPLE
A few months ago I purchased a mechanical hoist for my workshop and began to install it. I got stuck after the instruction manual ran out of instructions, so I got a professional installer in to complete the work.
I got to talking about how bad the translation of the instruction manual was when he told me of his recent experience of more commercial hoist, given an instruction translated from Chinese that said literally;
“Connect The Wet Sheep”
Completely confused and knowing that no “Wet Sheep” were included in the kit, he mused at what on earth the reference should really be in the context of what he was installing.
“Connect The Wet Sheep”
“Connect The Wet Sheep”?
“Connect The …..
Suddenly his realisation turned to laughter as he understood the proper instruction should have been, “Install the Hydraulic Ram”.
He NEVER would have been able to complete the installation of that particular hoist if all he did was trust someone’s limited interpretation of the text.
Beloved, we thank God that he is ALL KNOWING and has given to us a perfect instruction manual that UNDERSTANDS the context of the life we are here to live and recognizes the plight of eternity. You have in your very hands access to his eternally instructive resource, and you should perfectly TRUST IT.
The Bible is BLACK AND WHITE, not multiple shades of grey. YOU need to abandon trust in yourself and trust God ALONE, it’s not your personal, private interpretation that leads to a full life. Those who ONLY want grey, are simply looking for room to fit in their OWN interpretations and they are going to be looking for “WET SHEEP” everywhere they go, never knowing the true instruction required to complete life!
His Knowledge Is WONDERFUL
Psalm 139:6
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
There is a wonder in the word of God that only those who read it regularly and trust it implicitly can see. The knowledge of God was poured into this book in quantity sufficient for all our needs and cares and with an abundance that surpasses all our wants; my CUP runneth Over.
When I think of all the writings of men, when I consider all the books that have been written then and are being written now, not if all the books of history coming together as one volume, can compare with a single page of the word of God. This is not only for the wisdom that may be contained in that page, but for the knowledge that what is in that page is given by the creator of all that was, all that is, and all that ever shall be. That the one who ALONE is OMNISCIENT, wrote that which is contained therein and those are the very words of TRUTH inspiring all confidence and rest.
That is the difference beloved! No matter how wise a secular man may be, no matter how influential his writing, no matter how vast his knowledge is, the fact that there can be NO absolute confidence in the truth of his words is enough to leave us hungering and thirsting for more.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Lk 4:4)
His KNOWLEDGE IS WONDERFUL, too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Jesus said to his disciples, “will ye also go away?”
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
John 6:68
While the people of the world scrabble for the crumbs of the ideas of men and other gods of this life, they leave behind them the “words of eternal life”. They think they can fight the fight of life with transitive words and notions, ideas that do more to turn people away from the all-knowing God of the Bible, to vanity.
The world is filled with all the destructive consequences of “good intentions”.
Turn in your bibles to;
2 Chronicles 28:21–23
21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. 22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. 23For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
People see the vanity of others in the world, beleiving through a single dimensional view of the state of those they admire, and then look to dedicate themselves to the same vanities. Their end soon becomes depleted of hope and devoid of life, ruined chasing the dreams of fools.
The devil will do all he can to imitate the OMNISCIENT God to whom he himself is to submit.
He will have, and does have, the world chase knowledge and wisdom from sources OTHER than God. The world has turned to the gods of this world, not only to men, but now increasingly to machines, to Siri, to Alexa, to the growing and developing AI’s that will become the ruin of them and the world, just as the abominable sacrifice of Ahaz was to him and Israel.
Is that what you will do brethren? Rather than turn to the word of God are you going to “Google” wisdom and hope?
They not only have to themselves the demonic ChatGPT4, but they also have ChatKJV, surely this will be the turning point for you? Surely ANYTHING that has KJV attached to the end of it is of God?
What’s wrong with these things Pastor?
Surely it’s not a bad thing for preachers to plagiarize sermons from ChatGPT, if the people like it, what’s wrong with that?**
If we quick-search Google, or ask Siri for help with our struggles, what’s wrong with that?**
The Bible is too long, but godly men have written commentaries and devotions, preached sermons on youtube, what’s wrong with these instead of reading the Bible?
Dr Fred Schwartz gave a great illustration during a speech at the Hollywood bowl on the 16th October 1961, speaking of the subtle evil encroachment of communism.
I’m paraphrasing by memory, so its not a perfect quote.
He spoke of a large Mackerel swimming deep in the sea who sees a good size pilchard in the water and says to himself,
“There’s a good looking fish to feed my hunger, what’s wrong with that?”
“mmm, plenty of good fish protein to build splendid fish tissue, what’s wrong with that?”
“I can swallow it down with just one bite, what’s wrong with that?”
What’s wrong with it? What’s wrong is the HOOK that is in it!
Anything that competes for your interest and affection is nothing but a cheap copy of that which is wonderful!
God alone has the knowledge that is perfect and complete, able to both save and nourish the soul of all who seek him diligently and with the whole heart. He has given to you the gift of eternal life, taken you from a certain damnation in hell to eternal joy in heaven by providing you his Son, are you now going to replace him with the devils trifle?
CLOSE
There are many things the OMNISIENT God knows that we do not know, but there are two that I want to leave you with this morning.
Firstly, only God knows the exact hour Jesus will return to claim his bride, the day that we who are saved will be caught up to be with Jesus before his wrath is poured out upon this world.
We should ALL be looking for him, that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We should be actively sharing the gospel of Christ, not wasting our time on vain pursuits. What will the Lord find you doing when he comes?
We MUST keep a short account of sin, before the ALL KNOWING GOD, 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10
We must be on good terms with all men, Paul wrote,
Romans 12:18
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
If there was one thing I had learned during Covid, it is that Family, brethren, close friends and acquaintances should be held close and dear through both forgiveness, love and grace. We do NOT have time to be holding grudges and griefs with ANYONE, especially those nearest to us. “As much as lieth in you” says Paul, therefore it is ALWAYS YOUR responsibility to work to restore those most precious of relationships and it is certainly SIN in you that would rather retain animosity with those for whom “peace” alone is charged.
Secondly, God knows the exact hour of our death. ARE YOU READY?
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgement” (Heb 9:27) tells us man has an appointment he will not miss, it is IMINANT.
These are two future occurrences that are iminant, ARE YOU READY FOR EITHER OF THEM?
Have you Examined yourselves whether you be in the faith? Being in the faith makes you ready for either IMINANT EVENT! God certainly knows if you are ready, do you?
Matthew 7:22–23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Will that be you simply because you have NEVER EXAMINED yourself “whether ye be in the faith”?
His Knowledge Is JUST
His Knowledge Is PURPOSEFUL
His Knowledge Is INSTRUCTIVE
His Knowledge Is WONDERFUL
The post Pt 4 The One True God: OMNISCIENT appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
PT 3 THE ONE TRUE GOD: OMNIPOTENTIsaiah 46:9–13
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
It is not too difficult for us to realise that if all the universe came into existence from nothing at a finite point in the distant past, that it must have taken a force and power far greater than the combined power and energy of the universe to bring it about, this is a power that can only be described as OMNIPOTENT, “all-powerful”.
The “One True God” that we believe in is the God of the Bible and none other, he alone is OMNIPOTENT.
The God of the Bible we discovered first is OUTSIDE of TIME. He it is that INHABITETH ETERNITY.Last week we saw that there is NONE GOOD BUT GOD, we considered him as OMNIBENEVOLENT, ALL GOOD, and the ONLY ONE GOOD Those two simple points, together with the Bible presenting God so clearly as the creator of all that exists in ‘Space-Time’ domain, tells us that he must also be “ALL POWERFUL”, OMNIPOTENT.
We know that all energy and matter are made of atoms. Atoms contain the energy of the universe, and it is worth considering an example of that energy.
Nuclear Fission is that destructive force that is seen in the splitting of Atoms, the energy which was demonstrated with such historically destructive power at the end of the second world war in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
Let’s consider an example if we could harness the full power of a number of Atoms. Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical substance in the universe and happens to be the lightest element.
If 1 gram of hydrogen atoms could be 100% converted into energy, following Einstein’s famous equation of Energy = Mass x The Speed of Light squared (E=MC2), it would convert to 91 Trillion Joules, or roughly 25 Billion Kilowatt hours.
When I researched this data, one commentator quickly calculated that converting a single kilogram of hydrogen atoms into energy would “meet annual global electricity consumption” [1]
If trying to comprehend the amount of energy that is contained in a measurable quantity of atoms is difficult, how much more is man to comprehend the power of the one who created it all?
OMNIPOTENCE,
The Power Of His MightEphesians 6:10–12
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
There must come a complete alteration in our minds when it comes to making sense of the world that surrounds us.
It makes sense that all that is made was made.
But this also means that all that is seen, is NOT all that is.
When the passage tells us that “we wrestle not aginast flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkenss of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”, we gain to ourselves an understanding that would otherwise be completely lost if we were only trying to make sense of the world by what we see with our eyes and perceive with our limited minds.
Without this special knowledge that is gleaned from the Bible, this world simply makes no sense. How can we see evident design around us, evidently created by an intellect far superior to its creation, yet attribute it to accident? Clearly, that which is not seen made all that we see. God, who we cannot see with our eyes, is perceptible also by all we can understand with our minds.
Romans 1:17–20
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewedit unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Psalm 19:1–2 tells us
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
In both of those passages, we find the doctrine that we both KNOW God is by all we see around us, “being understood by the things that are made”, and also that God must therefore be almighty.
When we give consideration to a painting, with all its symmetry and evident reflection of those things we see in our day-to-day lives; images of people, representations of nature or historical events or even biblical accounts portrayed in paintings, WE UNDERSTAND that a PAINTER must have painted it. And, determined by the quality of the painting, we also can understand the level of skill and imagination of the painter, we can even understand a little of his character, even his state of mind at the time of painting.
The same may be said of buildings, of machinery, of anything which is made. We might not ever have seen, met or known the maker, but we understand with our minds there must be a maker behind that which is made, there must be activity behind the scenes that makes perfect sense of that which is seen.
God and the OMNIPOTENT power of God is made evident in creation itself. In this, we see THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES
Our Ephesians 6 passage also speaks to something else that is behind the scenes that draws people to trust “in the power of his might”.
More people than I have seen in my life as a Christian, are asking questions about all that is going on in the world. People are wondering why it is that evil is being depicted around the world so obviously. Yes, we can talk about the moral depravity of the culture, the twisted minds of wokeism, and the madness of the media and politics, but it is the actual and literal portrayal of Satan that is striking the attention of many.
Since when have the artists of the world, the event creators of the world and the participants in such events, so embraced such an obvious Biblically Satanic expression of theatre? It does not matter if we are taking about the satanic Grammy Awards presentation in February this year which was dubbed “Literally a tribute to Satan” by the Daily Mail in the UK.
Or the recent Rio de Janeiro festivals where a street parade depicted Satan and devils beating up Jesus in the streets, with one float featured by a renowned Samba school in Rio, celebrating the fall of mankind by mocking the creation event titling the theme “Red Paradise”[2] The school wrote “Sin is something natural to human beings and not a consequence of disobedience.” In 2019 the same dance school depicted Satan chasing and beating Jesus, dragging him through the street.
We could look at the Satanic ritual that was evident in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.[3]. Or the evident Satanic Closing of the Olympic Games in London 2012[4]
Or, the Bizarre Satanic ceremony that opened the deepest and longest tunnel in the world, the Gotthard Base Tunnel travelling 57km long through the Alps in Switzerland in 2016. The list goes on.
WHY Satan? Are our artists SO LIMITED in artistic expression? Why portray the lowest ebb of evil as the highest representation of your culture?
Commenting in general of the recent evident “spiritual wickedness” manifesting in entertainment, Washington Times journalist Billy Hallowell wrote on the 8th of February this year saying;
“The whispers of Hollywood’s embrace of evil have always reverberated in the shadows, but, in recent years, there’s been a shift in tone — one in which satanic themes are suddenly being spotlighted in newfound and curious ways.
Gone are the days of the devil lurking undetected and disguising himself as an angel of light. Now, he’s being given a full-court press, with celebrities perpetuating occultic imagery and the public gobbling it up like esurient seals awaiting a vat of fish.”[5]**
For some it was the evident witness of God in creation that drew them to believe in the power of God, to some today it is the evident witness of “spiritual wickedness in high places”. Either way, there comes a point when all of mankind will understand the reality of God, and “the power of his might”.
He is EVIDENCED in Creation, but he seems also to be evidenced in his distinction from the behaviour of those he created.
The Power of His WorksPsalm 111:6–10
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. 7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments aresure. 8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend ishis name. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
God showed his people “the power of his works” and he did so that he might give them “the heritage of the heathen”. God had taken Israel with many mighty signs and works, out of Egypt. The plagues he placed upon that mighty nation were plagues AGAINST THE GODS of the nation, HEATHEN who denied the great ‘I Am’.
The Power of His works were undeniable, even as he led them through the wilderness when he called his “son out of Egypt” (Hos 11:1).
He protected them from behind with a pillar of the cloud (Ex 14:9) and led them from in front with a pillar of fire. They encamped upon the banks of the Red Sea, 2 million people approximately. He parted the sea, a wall of water on the right hand and on the left, he caused a strong wind to dry the earth and they crossed over the Sea on dry ground (Ex 14:6)
God closed the sea upon the Egyptians and they all drowned in the sea. But this was not all God had done, a multitude of miracles were performed by God that he might show to his people THE POWER OF HIS WORKS, and through those works that he is GOOD.
For four hundred years Israel was in the land of Egypt. When another King arose that knew not Joseph, the Egyptians put the people into bondage and servitude. During those centuries one may have been forgiven to have thought God had departed the scene. Evil came onto the people and it might have been easy to say that there was no God to deliver them. But he would come in his time and it would be evident to both the Children of God and to the wicked through THE POWER OF HIS WORKS.
The single greatest argument in history that denies Gods existence is still relayed today, the question of evil.
“If God exists, why does he permit evil in the world”.
With evil manifesting itself so clearly today, those who are not drawn to him through creation, nor through seeing the clear distinction between good and evil manifested, use the argument of evil that therefore God is not.
If he were all-powerful, why could he not stop it?
Indeed, God both can and will. And he will do so through THE POWER OF HIS WORKS again.
Job 21:12–15
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
For as long as we have recorded history, man has desired to turn their faces from God and then return to him only when the consequence of their own departure from him manifested in the evil they experience. Though God would be perfectly just in leaving mankind to deal with the consequences of his own decisions in both permitting the evil of others and committing his own, God indeed does intervene in the world, but he does so individually rather than corporately at this time.
God is today working in the hearts of individuals to draw them to him. So-called coincidences are leading them to recognize THE POWER OF HIS WORKS. Some ‘chance meeting’ with someone speaking of Jesus. Some events lead one thing after another until finally they are met by the Lord who transforms their heart and saves their soul.
All of mankind is to give an account of his own evil. The world is NOT evil because God does nothing to prevent it, the world is EVIL because the heart of man has turned away from all that is GOOD… “Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways” and so man reaps the consequences of his own ways.
The lie that teaches man is good but society is evil, forgets what it is that makes up society.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; (Isa 53:6)There is none righteous no not one (Rom 3:10)They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Psalm 14:3For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ecclesiastes 7:20For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 Individuals are coming to see their own need for a Saviour, they see the sin represented in the world and are being drawn to God to save them from their own sin. Somehow, THE POWER OF HIS WORKS are being manifested in their lives and they seek a city that has foundations in that which is good and true. There will indeed come a time when God will intervene in this world corporately, but right now, as it has been over the last two thousand years, God is working in the hearts of individuals.
The Power of His ResurrectionPhilippians 3:4–11
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Our money will not save us. Our intellect will not save us. Our influence, no matter how great it is or how influential we are, will not save us. The political turnings of the world will not bring lasting hope, nor will the turning away of our eyes from reality. We might amuse our minds with entertainments, distract our hearts with diverse lusts or sear our conscience with all manner of vice, but none of that will bring us the hope we yearn form
We, like the apostle Paul, might turn to do all good works, to follow after those things the Bible points to as righteous. We might obey God in the Law, even to be seen by others as “holy” even to the point of reputation.
I saw a clip of Jordan Peterson the other day who was smitten to be called Rabbi by jews, and honored by Catholics, and even exalted by Muslims, but not so much cared for by Protestants. Yet he seemed to think that he will be saved by his intellect. Not so Paul.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Not only in these things could Paul boast of however, as for intellect he testified to the Jews who desired to condemn him saying;
Acts 22:3
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Not only was he high born, but he was highly educated, at the feet of Gamaliel whom the Jews understood to be one of the great doctors of the law and still alive in Paul’s day (see Acts 5:34). Paul was also “free-born”, a citizen of Rome, a highly sought-after privilege that could either be purchased at a great price or bestowed as a great honor and advantage.
So here we have Paul who could lay claim to all the right things as far as both the Law is concerned and as far as mans eyes can see, anyone would have thought he of all people should have a right to the kingdom of God. But not even this could save him;
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them butdung, that I may win Christ,
Paul testified to the Corinthians that it was not only his outwardly worthy testimony, but also his personal sufferings that should testify for him;
Turn to 2 Corinthians,
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 2 Corinthians 11:22–30
None of this would be seen as a declaration of rightlessness by Paul. Though he testifies to his sufferings for Christ, it does not testify to him as worthy for salvation, in fact, he states; If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities
Back to Philippians 3
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
The Omnipotent power of God was manifest in THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, and such a resurrection we have a share if we have believed the gospel.
The Power Of His Christ (Instruction In Righteousness)Revelation 12:7–11
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
THE POWER OF HIS CHRIST
The power of the messiah whom all Israel awaited and still awaits, will be fully manifested when he returns to judge the world and the Devil that deceives it.
We mentioned earlier when addressing God dealing with evil and wondering why he does not intervene, we spoke of how he does indeed intervene individually today, but there will come a time when THE POWER OF HIS CHRIST will intervene corporately when Jesus Christ returns to judge the quick and the dead. That is a time very near at hand and when it occurs it will reveal to the world both the OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD, but also once and for all put to bed the argument of evil that denies his existence.
Evil had a beginning and evil will have an end. There is no “balance to the force”, good and evil are not co-equals and co-eternal, the Bible teaches that evil is a privation of good and not an entity in itself. As death cannot exist without life, so too evil cannot be identified without good.
Both Good and Life are necessary for their anomalies to exist, but not the other way around.
You cannot have death without lifeYou cannot have evil without the standard of all that is good. Life stands alone and was originally ordained as permanent. Good is God, who himself inhabits eternity.
SOMETHING ELSE OF INTEREST
You can view all the books on Philosophy respecting life, and one thing I have discovered in reading many of them, they all state that a definition of life is very difficult to define, if not impossible. But death is always defined as life coming to an end, or the absence of life, like a stone or carved image.
Respecting GOOD, the definitions are equally vague. Plato and Aristotle spend volumes of pages trying to define GOOD through what they refer to as “Virtue”, but never can they see the definition culminate in GOD. God’s perfect representation of both GOOD and LIFE is CHRIST.
Those who are alive in Christ today have the power of life and the victory over death when we do indeed die.
1 Corinthians 15:54–57
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now beloved, let me sum this up.
We have looked at the timelessness of God, the one and only one who is eternal in the first message. We have considered his goodness in the previous message. Today we address that God is ALL POWERFUL, even OMNIPOTENT;
Is there anything God cannot do?
If God is OUTSIDE of time and has all power to do all that he pleases, can he not this very day have prepared for you a blessing for the time you need him?
During the recent events that have caused many of you to trust in God by faith, do you really think that God only moved when you prayed? Or did he already know you would trust him and prepare for you, an answer in preparation for your prayers? Beloved, do you believe that God was unaware of the trials you would endure and therefore NOT ready to prepare a blessing when in time of need?
Do you think God was taken by surprise at your troubles?
When our small church went underground in 2022, do you think that the provision given us to gather suddenly appeared, or was there already the preparation made that God knew and simply moved the heart of a man to provide for us?
When George Muller set himself to pray, having NO money to pay for expenses that came up, when pipes would burst and surprise him with yet another cost, was GOD surprised? What are we to say when God had already prepared people to mail in donation after donation, mail that would take a week by horse, or a month by ship to arrive JUST AT THE TIME APPOINTED?
Isaiah 46:9–13
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, andthere is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
God is OMNIPOTENT.
[1] https://www.quirkyscience.com/total-energy-one-hydrogen-atom/
[2] https://winepressnews.com/2023/03/16/city-in-brazil-flooded-and-destroyed-after-parade-glorifies-satan-and-pretends-to-torture-jesus/
[3] https://jrbpublications.com/2022/08/15/the-commonwealth-games-opening-ceremony-satan-and-baal/
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHHhzCkK4QY&t=3s
[5] https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/feb/8/why-disgusting-satanic-sam-smith-grammy-performanc/
The post Pt 3 The One True God: OMNIPOTENT appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Pt 2 THE ONE TRUE GOD: None Good But God“GOOD”, why we assume this to be true and how the Bible brings it out clearly. God is GOOD and his goodness is apparent to each and every one of us. ALL of mankind know that God is good, it is assumed in the most common a-theistic argument against his existence in the question of evil, ie “If God exists, why is there evil in the world?”. We will delve into this argument in my last message on this subject.
Mankind itself knows that God is good, even as they deny him, and yet is it those who are REDEEMED by him, those who turn to him daily and learn of him, those who receive his matchless grace and who see his work in our lives each and every day, that truly have the closest opportunity to know the goodness of God.
The more I come to know him, the more I feel I can’t even lift up my eyes to him, and when he covers me with his grace words simply don’t describe the immeasurable astonishment I experience that he would still love me in spite of myself.
When we see the blessings that God furnishes us with in our day to day lives, when we see his work in those that we pray for and those that we love, when the greatest burdens of our hearts are answered, and often in ways that we do not expect as time goes on, it is then that we see both the wisdom and goodness of God made manifest.
It is in those times when we are overcome by our recognition of the goodness of God, that I truly realise if I were to behold his face I would die! I would see myself in comparison to him and I would just die.
Exodus 33:20
20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
Perhaps that’s why Isaiah fell on his face when he saw the Lord “high and lifted up”.Perhaps that’s the reason, after the drawing in of such great number of fish that both boats began to sink, Peter fell at the knees of Jesus saying “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Lk 5:8) Mankind simply has no idea how evil sin is and how much it contrasts the goodness of God.
Those who think they can be “good enough” to merit heaven, simply have no idea how sinful they are NOR how good God is.Those who think they need to somehow maintain their own salvation in their own strength, simply have NO IDEA how pervasive sin is in our flesh, NOR how God’s grace sustains us.Those who think you can lose your salvation, simply don’t understand salvation, nor understand how “the goodness of God leads us to repentance” God did not only create all things good, THERE IS NONE GOOD BUT GOD!
Pray
He Made All Things GoodGenesis 1:26–31
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
What we have before us is the very beginning of history, the beginning of all creation, a record of that state of the world and all that is therein, after all that is made, was made.
This passage is the conclusion of the account;
Six days God laboured to make all that is seen in the world today. Everything you see before your eyes came from the dust of the earth, whether that be life itself or the tallest skyscraper, all came from materials found in and on the earth.
There is nothing ultimately “synthetic”, man cannot ever be able to create any new molecule, chemical nor mineral without employing the dust of the earth that God had made and called ‘Good’.
You have all heard the tale of the great scientists who have believed they found the secret of life and can now make life themselves and came to challenge God with their ability.
They call him down and determine to race him in the work, and just as they begin they reach down to get the same dust of the ground God used to make Adam, and God calls out, “hey…get your own dust!”.
Everything on earth is made from everything in earth that God made for man upon the earth, and IT WAS ALL GOOD!
Why? Because THERE IS NONE GOOD BUT GOD
The end of the creation week was identified with the creation of mankind from the particles of the dust of the earth, and it was then that God had determined all to be completed, “and behold, it was very good.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
It is here that we come to understand that God had an end in mind when he created all that he had made, and that end is man. Man, we discover was not the pinnacle of God’s creation, it was not as we often think, the best part of God’s creation, it was not God’s version of the “icing on the cake”, mankind, we discover, is the very purpose of creation.
THE ANTHROPIC PRINCIPLE
(For those of you that are averse to science, the next five or so minutes you are free to enjoy a nap, Ill wake you with a big bang when done 😊)
The word “Anthropic” or the Greek word it comes from “Anthropos” refers to “Man”, the principle referred to is that all of the universe seems uniquely tuned for the existence of mankind.
Dr Benjamin Wiker
The anthropic principle. In short form, it is the discovery that the universe appears rigged, astoundingly fine-tuned, suspiciously calibrated as part of some kind of a conspiracy of order to produce life—indeed intelligent life. This fine-tuned conspiracy occurs on all levels, from the fundamental constants governing the formation of all the elements in the cosmos, to the extraordinarily precise relationship of planets in our solar system, to the delicate balances on our own planet.
All the information man has been able to gather to date shows clearly that we exist in a Universe so unique, so fine-tuned, the alteration of any aspect of it would never have enabled it to create nor sustain life in any form EVEN IN AN EVOLUTIONARY MODEL.
Scientists are fully aware of this phenomenon.
Physicist Paul Davies writes “such stunning accuracy is surely one of the great mysteries of cosmology.”
The late and most famous modern Physicist and Cosmologist Stephen Hawking, said
“why did the universe start out with so nearly the critical rate of expansion that separates models that re-collapse from those that go on expanding forever, so that even now…it is still expanding at the critical rate? If the rate of expansion one second after the Big Bang had been smaller by even one part in a hundred thousand million, million, the universe would have re-collapsed on itself before it ever reached it’s present state.” Stephen Hawking is now a theist.
Cosmological Physicists are aware of two main parameters within the first second of the so-called big bang that were required,
one is the rate of expansion mentioned by Hawking in the quote above, the other is temperature. If either were different by “one part in a hundred thousand million, million” mankind would never have come into existence, the universe itself would never have come into existance according to their Big Bang, evolutionary model.
Chance?
1×1017th. = 1 marked 5 cent piece among 1017 5 cent pieces in Victoria (120mm deep) EXPLAIN.
1017x1017= 1034 = AUSTRALIA 7,692,024 KM2 Requires 27,180,296,819,788,000 x 5 cent pieces or 2.718 x 1016th power = 1 Layer only To make it easy for the math, we will go three layers deep to make the Victorian equivalent at 1017th 5 cent pieces (Aprox 3.7mm deep).
But we still need to get to 1034th power for this universe to have begun by chance with those two parameters for the Big Bang.
So we go 100x more, now we are 370mm deep = 1019th
Ok, 100x more again, now we are 37 meters deep = 1021
100x more, now 3700m (3.7km) deep in 5 cent pieces or 3.7km = 1023
(Mt Kosciusko is only 2,228m above sea level.)
At 370km deep of 5 cent pieces to choose just one, we are 1025 power, and still 1 Billion times too small a number to get to 1034.
All this for just TWO parameters.
The Anthropic Principle has over 100 and that only applies to the Universe, there are over 150 additional parameters that make life on one planet possible in a given galaxy. And there are thousands of parameters required before we even get to intelligent life.
Roger Penrose, a famous British mathematician and a close friend of Stephen Hawking, wondered about this question and tried to calculate the probability of the initial entropy conditions of the Big Bang. According to Penrose, the odds against such an occurrence were on the order of 1 in 10 to the power of 10 to the power of 123 (1 in 1010 to the 123rd power). There is not a computer on earth, nor if we added all the super computing strength of every computer hardware, could we even begin to store the number of digits to get to that number.
Williams, Stephen. What Your Atheist Professor Doesn’t Know (But Should), wrote
Even if we were to write a 0 on each separate proton and on each separate neutron in the entire universe – and we could throw in all the other particles for good measure – we would fall far short of writing down the figure needed.
For those interested, I have two copies of those parameters, but the list is at least ten years old.
“In very large measure, it seems Humanity itself is the end goal of the Universe”
Sigmund Brouwer, The Unrandom Universe: 2002
Please understand that the data we have are based on a FALLEN world, yet all remains GOOD for life.
When God said;
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
It was NOT an afterthought.
Ephesians 1:3–4
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Before the foundation of the world, God had already had mankind in mind.
Titus 1:2
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Even eternal life and the manner in which God would save man was known to God and “promised before the world began”.
Man was not an after thought, he was a forethought, he was in the mind of God before God began his creation week, and he made ALL THINGS VERY GOOD.
Beloved, there were no storms in the world when God created the world,
Genesis 2:5–6
5 …. God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
The full and complete provision was made for man to live in perfect comfort.
By the end of Chapter 2 the Bible speaks of man saying;
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Genesis 2:25
Clearly there was no need for any covering, the climate must have been completely different from the seasons in the world that we have today.
Food was plenty when;
9 … out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food;…Genesis 2:9
Creation was perfect and good for the existence of man in the world. There was NO evil in the world, all was good and would have remained good….but man!
He Watched Man Choose EvilGenesis 2:8–18
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
We notice in the text as we did in the first point that all was well in the world. God had made the world not only inhabitable, but created the perfect habitat where man could “walk with God in the cool of the day”.
God created mankind for fellowship and to join with God in everlasting happiness. All was created for him and to bless him.
Genesis 3:1–8
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
It was the fall of man that brought about a complete change in the order of creation.
Romans tells us that when mankind is redeemed, all returns to its original order of creation.
Romans 8:21–22
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Everything changed after man introduced evil into the world.
Sin came into the world by man and both man and creation fell. Nothing has been the same since.
It is God that is good not man, this we instinctively know, but man chooses to blame God for all the evil in the world, Man still has a habit on blaming others for his own sin.
Even today, the insanity of the woke culture is literally blaming Christians for the murder of those children and adults in Nashville in the United States this week.
Eve blamed the serpent,Adam blamed Eve and even God for given her to him to begin with.Man takes no responsibility for his own sin and UNTIL HE DOES, God cannot help him. His Goodness leads to repentance.Romans 2:1–6
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
The more we continue to ignore our own evil, the less likely we will have a relationship with all that is good. The text here tells us that we hypocritically judge others for doing the same things they do, and thereby we condemn ourselves.
Our ignorance of our own badness leads naturally to an ignorance of God’s goodness,which is employed to lead us to repentance and thereby salvation.
There is a strange thing that occurs when man remains willfully ignorant of his own evil, he finds himself repelled by all that is good. In fact, through his ignorance of his own evil he naturally comes to view those things that are good as evil.
Why does that occur?
Our denial of evil within forces us naturally to rationalize our evil as good. No man likes to think of himself as evil, the bible teaches that we naturally love ourselves,
Ephesians 5:33
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself;…
A few verses earlier it says,
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it… Eph 5:29
It gets much worse in the last days, Paul warning Timothy;
“…perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Tim 3:1-4)
Therefore, in loving ourselves we naturally think that all that we do is good and find the greatest difficulty of all to admit ourselves as evil.
As such the passage here in Romans teaches we become hardened against all that is good
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
People who deny their own evil can’t stand being near those who desire righteousness.
All Christians recognize this when their old secular friends don’t really like spending time with them anymore, You have done nothing wrong, but for some reason your old friends despise you are drawn away from you.
Peter identifies this, turn to
1 Peter 4:3–5
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
Paul wrote to Timothy saying that “…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12), therefore this is natural.
Your friends who ignore or love their sin, will hate you. Your “Christian” friends who ignore their sin, will ALSO not want to be around you, and all of them will be “speaking evil of you”, the more you seek to do good.
But look how the text concludes there in 1 Peter 4, verse 5 says;
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
There is a reckoning for all who remain this way till the end of their lives. Those who will simply not see their own sin as sin, will give an account for sin in the end.
But before this happens, and for you to remain temporarily affirmed in your sin, you are very likely to want to spend time with people more wicked than yourself, and they will be happy to spend time with you.
Your time spent with them; makes you feel better about your own evil.
Meanwhile, their time spent with you is to encourage you to do more evil than them.
So it’s a win/win temporary feeling between you that will end in a lose/lose state for you. As you give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead
Why? Because; after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (Rom 2:5-6)
Beloved, the evil we are seeing in the world today is revealing the truth of this so clearly;
People who are in love with the most extremes of sin and debauchery today are now violently attempting to compel people to agree with them. We are even being compelled through force of law to “affirm” whatever it is that people choose to think of themselves. They attack violently all the institutions that are charged to keep a good and civil society, they demolished the ten commandments that sat in the front of court houses for years, they despise God and attack with violence all representation of that which is good, even the innocency of small children as we saw early this week in the U.S.
We don’t know really which occurs first or whether both events occur concurrently, either there is first a breaking up of the hard fallow ground of the heart OR there is first a representation of the goodness of God revealed to a person that there is a turning around, a repentance.
The passage in Romans tells us that it is due to the hardening of the heart and despising of God and so not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Hosea 10:12
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: forit is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
God’s goodness seems to become evident ONLY when we soften our hardened hearts “to seek the LORD”.
There Is None Good But GodMark 10:17–23
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Jesus makes the clear statement that there is NONE GOOD BUT GOD.
God is the standard of what GOOD is, and all people know this to be true. It’s the reason why all who are evil hate God, and all those who hate God also hate those who mostly REPRESENT God.
God alone is good, he is perfect, he is HOLY, he is love, truth and glorious in holiness and wisdom.
In him there is no guile, there is no shadow of turning in him.
God is not capricious, he is KNOWABLE. The wicked are those who you cant KNOW from one moment to another what they might do, God is KNOWABLE, not capricious!
The single greatest representation of his goodness and his righteousness is his Son Jesus Christ, who came to die for sinners such as you and I.
Its truly difficult for me to comprehend this.
I would never have died for me. I might have been willing to die for someone else who’s life I valued more than myself, but never for me.
But there is mercy with God…grace, I cant comprehend his grace, I don’t understand truly why God would sacrifice his only begotten son for me…I wouldn’t.
In Jesus Christ, God demonstrated his perfect holiness, righteousness and goodness in a way that could never otherwise have been expressed by words.
God showed it by action.
God took our sin and nailed it to a cross in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago. God made Jesus to be sin for us, that we might be made righteous in God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Can you understand this?
Certainly, there is a simple logic to it that I can understand. Even to this day I am free to pay the fine of a friend or loved one. I am free to take the penalty of another, such sacrifice is legal so long as the debt is paid, the one for whom the debt is paid is able to go free. The other however is retained to cover the debt.
But the more I see my sin, especially the way I was and the enmity and hatred I had toward God before I loved him….that’s what I don’t understand; why would he die for one who denied and despised him?
The Bible says, we love him because he first loved us. (1 Jn 4:19)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
And the only reason I know it is true is because the Bible says it and I believed it and now I know it is true.
There is NONE GOOD BUT GOD
Only God could come up with a plan like this.
Only God could conceive of a solution to the eternal problem for which man finds himself him.
Only God could devise a plan so ingenious to reveal the hearts of those who voluntarily will trust him and love him.
Only Jesus could have carried it out.
Only the Spirit of God could have revealed him.
Do you KNOW God is good?
Are you aware yet that there truly is NONE GOOD BUT GOD?
Have you yet seen yourself as a sinner for whom Christ died?
Will you believe it?
Then call on him!!!
Admit you are a sinner.
Believe that Jesus died for your sins.
Call him to save you!
There is simply is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12)
The post The One True God Pt 2: GOOD appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
THE ONE TRUE GOD: ETERNAL
We believe that there is one living and true God. He is the infinite, intelligent, personal and loving Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all honour and praise. The unity of God co-exits in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct, but harmonious offices in the Universe.
Psalm 2:7 Deuteronomy 4:35, 6:4 Exodus 20:2-3 Genesis 1:1
1 Corinthians 8:6 John 5:36-40 John 1:1-3
This morning we are going to have our focus on Genesis 1:1
Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
There are many attributes of God that is presented to us in the Bible, and there is much we can know about the nature of God in creation itself.
We know the multitude of specifics in the scriptures related to God, what re refer to as the Special Revelation of God: his nature, his character, his being, our need of him and our relationship to him, together with his work in the world and his work to save the world. This is what we refer to as “Special Revelation”, that is the knowledge we gain respecting the nature of God from the Bible.
But there is also another form of revelation that we FIRST gain in nature itself, this is referred to as “General Revelation”, it is the revelation of God that is evident in all that he has made, in creation itself, a revelation to which ALL of mankind is held accountable to see and to know.
We are going to be dealing through this series on that general revelation, but we are going to dig down into the specifics the Bible speaks to as Special Revelation.
In other words, we will speak on the attributes of God that is revealed in nature, but then use the Bible to bring out and see how those attributes of God are applied in our own lives.
The topic on THE ONE TRUE GOD, will be a seven-part series that I truly do expect should both teach us more of .
This morning we will deal with the first aspect of God that must be known to all people through General Revelation, and it is titled simply “ETERNAL”.
God is Eternal, timeless. We will speak on that and bring what may seem obscure out to the surface.“GOOD”, why we assume this to be true and how the Bible brings it out clearly.“OMNIPOTENT”, some big theological terms will be explained, Omnipotent meaning that God is “All Powerful”. We will look at implications and applications to our lives for what the world, in General Revelation, also naturally assumes.“OMNICIENT”, another theological term that refers to God being “All Knowing”, that there is nothing outside his knowledge and how that also both applies to and humbles us all.“OMNIPRESENT”, that God is ‘Everywhere Present’, that there is no place where God is not. We will talk about how that does not refer to God being “In” things, but rather demonstrating God as Separate from his creation, yet everywhere present about his creation.“IMMUTABLE”, that God is unchanging, his perfect being is no more or less perfect today that it was in the beginning of time, and this too is assumed as known of God throughout history.“KNOWN”, this last message will demonstrate HOW God is KNOWN by all of mankind who is without excuse to recognise him. It will be a message both about the veracity of the Bible that teaches this truth, and manifest in the world that KNOWS this truth. It will be a fascinating observation that I pray you will be patient to see. Without any further ado, let’s look at the first attribute of God that we can glean from our text in Genesis 1:1
Eternity InhabitedGenesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The first few words of the text gives to us an understanding that there was a beginning to creation, that the universe indeed had a beginning, that time itself was not infinite, but it began.
Time is separate from eternity, eternity is not LONG PERIOD OF TIME, but a habitation without TIME.
Time is what is alluded to in the text, “in the beginning” and did itself have a beginning.
What the passage demonstrates first is that God was already present “in the beginning”, God existed already when the beginning began!
Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The world had long believed that the universe went on for ever and ever, that there was no end to the universe. As recently as the late 1980’s this was still the predominant belief among cosmologists.
In 1980, Astronomer Carl Sagan wrote a book simply titled “Cosmos” which was followed up by a PBS mini series called “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage”. The most famous quotation in the series was made near the beginning where Sagan said;
“The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be”.
Albert Einstein himself, contrary to what he was beginning to see in his own research, held with religious fervour to the idea that the universe was constant and unchanging, eternal.
The universe was held by many as “Static”, and so Einstein developed the Cosmological Constant in his equation on General Relativity, identified by the Greek letter ‘lambda’ (Λ) in 1917.
He later retracted the idea and stated that it was the biggest blunder in his career.
Mankind was and still is looking for that constant; that one unchanging reality upon which all things depend, that single “Constant” through which EVERYTHING can be measured.
First it was “The Cosmos”, then it was “Time” itself, “The Speed of Light”, long held as a constant, began to be challenged a few decades ago as slowing down. Scientists considering it more of a parameter through which measurements are made rather than a constant upon which measurements can be made (Electron speed in the nucleolus of an atom etc)
In 1978 Dr Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson accidentally discovered a faint electromagnetic radiation throughout the universe. This background microwave radiationdiscovery identified a thermal energy temperature of 3Kelvin average throughout the universe that gave scientific credibility to the Universe having a Beginning. (Absolute 0 is -273.15 Celsius, = 0 Kelvin)
In short, if the universe NEVER had a beginning, the temperature of the entire universe should be uniform at the lowest possible temperature of 0 Kelvin.
Heat is an energy source, and so if the universe had a beginning, there should be some residual heat from that moment of creation.
Penzias and Wilson discovered that residual heat and the Big Bang Theory of the universe, began in earnest.
The idea that “The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be” disintegrated as The Beginning began to be believed.
Turn to
Isaiah 57:15
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
When the concept of creation and its implications were considered, it came to be understood that Time itself is a product of creation, it is NOT Eternal.
No longer is the universe identified as space, but as space-time. Even though the phrase “Space-Time” was more related to Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity in 1908, it was applied now in a manner that recognised both came into existence “In The Beginning”, the implication now is that there must be one who “inhabiteth eternity”, a dwelling place OUTSIDE OF TIME AND WITHOUT TIME.
For so long there was to the atheistic mind, a scientific justification to deny the reality of God, simply due to the notion that “The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be”.
Creationists have long spoken of Genesis 1:1, stating categorically that the Bible teaches the precise opposite, the universe HAD A BEGINNING and before that beginning, there is one that inhabiteth eternity who alone could have caused the beginning to begin. Stubbornly the secular world remained resolute in their religious faith that no such beginning could be proved scientifically.
As is usually the case, science eventually catches up to the Bible, and the world now have to contend with the implications of a point in history before which there was no history, a point in time before which there was no time….
More difficult still, a point “In the beginning when God created the heaven and the earth”
Eternity is inhabited by God. Eternity is a timeless dimension that is not possible for timebound creatures to conceive of.
I would say that not even the angels can understand the concept of eternity. Like you and I, angels were created within a time-bound universe, though they inhabit a dimension additional to ourselves, they do not inhabit eternity.
Turn to
Mark 13:28–32
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
The passage teaches us that only God is outside of time and can know when such an event will occur.
Both man and angels and even Jesus at that time, where bounded by time and could ONLY know that which God had revealed to them about the future.
Jesus did not know the day nor the hour, the angles could not know the day nor the hour and man could only have a hint of it as he looks for the “signs of the times” as we do today.
As we observe the world today, we see practically that which God has already written of in the Bible, as the signs of the times.
So evident is the convergence of so many events today it is difficult NOT to refer to this historical period we are living in today as The Time of The Signs.
Like Science, HISTORY will soon catch up to what the Bible has spoken of for so long.
It seems that the Bible was authored from a source outside of time, one who inhabits eternity.
Eternity RequiredGenesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The bible teaches that all of creation, including both the heaven and the earth and time itself literally came out of nothing, “Creation Ex-nihilo”, that is, ‘Creation out of nothing’.
For that to be the case there can only have been a being outside of the space-time universe to have gotten it started.
As one person stated, “For there to be a Big Bang, there needed to be a Big Banger”.
PROFESSING THEMSELVES TO BE WISE THEY BECAME FOOLS
A creator who inhabits eternity is REQUIRED!
Before the discovery that the universe had a beginning, the time when it was believed “The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be”, there was no philosophical problem for the secular truth seeker to contend with;
If the universe was eternal, there was no need to consider creation; how can an eternal creator create an eternal universe?
But NOW there is a creation of the heaven and the earth to contend with, a time when the beginning began and thereby requiring a beginner!
Rather than simply believing of the Eternal God however, secular man had to try to devise an alternative idea in order to maintain any level of justification to reject God. This is admitted even by the scientists themselves.
Richard Lewontin was a Harvard Geneticist, Evolutionary Biologist and Mathematician, he helped set the stage for the modern field of Molecular Evolution, he held the ‘endowed chair in zoology and biology at Harvard University and retained his role as research professor there until his death in 2021’. [1]
In 1997 he wrote an article in The New York Review, referring to a new book by Carl Sagan, in page 31 of the review he wrote acknowledging how Science “falsly so called” says the Bible, how science distorts both logic and the scientific method itself to deny the reality of God. Listen to his own quote:
“Our willingness to accept scientific claims that are against common sense is the key to an understanding of the real struggle between science and the supernatural. We take the side of sciencein spiteof the patent absurdity of some of its constructs,in spiteof its failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises of health and life,in spiteof the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism.
It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by oura priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.”**
Turn to Romans 1 in your Bibles please;
Romans 1:21–22
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
An eternal God is REQUIRED in order to have created the entire universe out of nothing. The secular world recognises that even Big Bang Cosmology presents that the Universe, both Space, Time and all the observable, measurable material and energy in the Universe sprang into existence a finite time in history past.
God is the only logical answer to how we get something from nothing!
But the irrational atheist scientist bravely exalts men who’s foolishness is displayed as wisdom for all to see.
According to them, nothing does not really mean “nothing”. What occurs when man wants to press people to believe what they want them to believe, is simply to change the definition of words. Just as the modern efforts to redefine pronouns is seen today, so too do scientists redefine Nothing.
Nothing really isn’t nothing. Todays scientists must have watched the episode of Jerry Seinfeld in his famous show about Nothing, and caught on to an idea when he said, “even nothing is something”.
So Theoretical Physicist and Cosmologist Lawrence Krauss, writes a book titled A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing,
In it he seemed incoherent when he wrote of his rejection of the original meaning of “Nothing”, saying;
“Nothing,” they insist, is not any of the things I discuss. Nothing [they say] is “nonbeing,” in some vague and ill- defined sense….Some philosophers and many theologians define and redefine “nothing” as not being any of the versions of nothing that scientists currently describe. But therein, in my opinion, lies the intellectual bankruptcy of much of theology and some of modern philosophy. For surely “nothing” is every bit as physical as “something,” especially if it is to be defined as the “absence of something.”
In the song “Something Good” taken from the classic movie Sound of Music, the character Maria had more wisdom and logic than the majority of the Atheistic Scientific postulators today, she sings simply “Nothing comes from nothing, Nothing ever could”.
If nothing means something, then we still need a word that means what nothing meant to describe that which was before everything.
It is not logical to say, “First there was nothing, and then it exploded”.
No, 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Eternity is REQUIRED. There must be a being outside the observable universe who created it all.
You cannot begin with the Laws of Physics, you cannot begin with Quantum Mechanics if there were no laws to govern those observable and measurable principals. For there to be coherent laws in the first place, there simply must be a coherent law maker.
He is timeless, eternal. He is not a part of his creation, he is separate from his creation yet is noted in the Bible as being everywhere in his creation.
Psalm 139:7–12
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light areboth alike to thee.
Jeremiah 23:24
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
Proverbs 15:3
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
For all this to be true, for creation to exist and for God to be both separate from his creation and yet free to dwell within it, he must be timeless and eternal.
Eternity EncouragesGenesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
For God to be outside of time, he must therefore know the end from the beginning. There must be a way in which time is not an issue for God.
Time is a physical property. It is a part of this creation even though that is difficult to explain. Einstein proved that Time itself can change by both speed and altitude. Gravity itself distorts time.
Einstein’s General Relativity demonstrates that Gravity affects time, proving time is a physical property.
The Atomic Clock at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England ticks five microseconds slower than the identical clock at the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder Colorado. Both clocks are accurate to one microsecond per year (That’s 1/1 millionth of a second).
So both clocks are almost perfectly accurate, yet the one in Boulder Colorado is located one mile difference in altitude to that of the Royal Observatory in England.
What is my point?
God is not physical. The Bible says God is a Spirit.
John 4:24
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Why should this eternal reality encourage us?
Unlike the angels of heaven, God is not a part of his creation and sees all things from the end to the beginning. Angels, like you and I are bounded by a time bound universe, God is not. This is why he can know what is yet to actually happen, but man cannot.
Turn to
Isaiah 46:9–11
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, andthere is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
We are greatly encouraged because we believe God did indeed give us his word which speaks of those things that are appointed to occur, but are not yet done.
The days we live in today are days well documented in the Bible. Everything occurring is described as we see the natural inclinations of man playing out after his rejection of God.
We see the formation of that final system of world government the Bible speaks of.We see division across the world, exactly as the Bible teaches.We see deception like we have never seen before, and we see so many people accepting that deception, almost like they love being lied to, just as the Bible teaches.We see sexual perversions and immorality like we have never seen before, we see wars and rumours of war, we see the Church rejecting the word of God and appearing just like the world and we see an almost universal loss of hope among the people of the world.We see the work toward the creation of the third Temple in Jerusalem well underway, there are 11 Red Heifers potentially being prepared for the cleansing of the priests and the temple. Benjamin Netanyahu is reported and testified as saying he believes it is his destiny to build and open the third temple. Beloved, we are living in the time of the signs, and we should be encouraged all the more as we see God, who is himself Eternal and Timeless, prove who he is to all of mankind through his word, the Bible.
Eternity EnjoyedGenesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Finally we see that Eternity is to be enjoyed by those who have trusted him.
There is a practical experience we look for as we turn to God with our hope. Firstly we rejoice to know that his promise to send his Son into the world to pay for the sin of mankind, was fulfilled two thousand years ago.
For thousands of years, mankind has been awaiting the Saviour of the world. The Jews have recorded in the Old Testament the precise day he would make his apparency to them, and they were held accountable to know that day.
Turn to
Luke 19:37–44
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
God told his people in the book of Daniel exactly when he would present himself as the Messiah the king.
Daniel 9:25
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Isaiah wrote that it would be King Cyrus who would give this command, he was prophesied before he was born;
1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him (Isa 45:1)
4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Of Cyrus God continues to say specifically:
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
You can “read all about it” in Isaiah 45, written more than 200 years before Daniel, and 700 years before the coming of Christ.
My friends, knowing God is eternal both encourages us to read of all he wrote, but most importantly it excites us to know that eternity will also be ours to enjoy for ever.
The purpose of Gods creation was man. Man was the reason God created the heaven and the earth. Even science itself actually teaches that the Universe demonstrates characteristics that show it was created for the existence of mankind. They refer to the principle as “The anthropic Principle”. All the universe so finely tuned AND so perfectly observable for mankind to discover his glory.
Psalm 19:1–2
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Do you know him?
This is he whom we have placed our faith and trust. I was almost 30 years old when I came to fully trust what I eventually came to see as self evident. There is no question God is, but who he is only came to me when I realised who Jesus was and why he came.
I knew I was a sinner. I knew I would naturally give an account to my creator, and I had no hope of doing so without being condemned for my sin.
It made sense to me that a just God would make me pay
But it also made sense to me that a Loving God would make a way.
When I heard of Jesus Christ, whom God sent into the world, and that all who believed in him would have eternal life and not perish, I finally took hold of him with BOTH hands.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
That time was told to man before Christ came by God who is eternal in the heavens.
He did come, two thousand years ago and nailed to a Cross for our sin. It is the greatest story ever told.
God, who sits outside of time and is himself timeless, Pivots the timeline of history on Christ, and every date ever written since is based on that timeline, even your own birthdays!
Will you believe the gospel?
Will you also enjoy eternal life?
Today could be the first day of eternity for you if you would believe Jesus died that you might live!
He is coming again soon, but not as a lamb.
Maranatha.
[1] Wikipedia Richard Lewantin
The post One True God Pt 1: ETERNAL appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Contending With Horses
12-03-2023
The passage before us sees a complaint by Jeremiah to the Lord. The complaint is not one of disrespect but one of reason. Many years earlier Isaiah the prophet wrote of God’s desire to reason with the people,
Isaiah 1:18
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
And so we see here in the passage Jeremiah’s desire laid out before the Lord as he ‘talks with him of his judgments. And what he speaks to the Lord of is not unreasonable, for it is these very wicked who have grieved him.
From verses 1 to 4 is Jeremiah’s complaint to God;
1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? 2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. 3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
No doubt this might be a complaint that many of us have had from time to time. We are limited in our understanding and knowledge however and so we wonder how it is that the wicked seem to prosper, and they often do so at our loss.
Keep your finger here, but turn to Psalm 73.
It was Asaph who wrote Psalm 73 with this same question, testifying that he almost lost his footing for the envy he had for the prosperity of the wicked;
Psalm 73:1–6
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Asaph continues for ten more verses in his musings against how this can be, UNTIL he decides to go before the Lord, and it was then he understood their end;
Psalm 73:17–20
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
So we see that the prosperity of the wicked will not last. In comparison to eternity, their luxury and triumph over all that is good, is gone in a moment before the terror of eternity wakens them. Hell will turn their temporal dream into an everlasting nightmare.
So, for four verses we see Jeremiah enquire before the Lord, and then we are blessed by him sharing with us God’s own response in the next two verses of the paragraph;
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? 6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee. Jeremiah 12:1-6
I am confident this is the Lord’s own response to Jeremiah as it is the only way the passage can be reconciled and God continues his discourse for the balance of the chapter.
Four points I pray might both challenge and encourage you this morning;
Weakened By False Expectation
Worn Down By Self Abasement
Wearied By The Footmen
Contending With Horses
Weakened By False Expectation5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
I am only going to be dealing with the first portion of the fifth verse this morning and see if we can both glean that which is on the surface, but also just under the surface.
I am concerned that there are some among us but also many who might hear this message online who are struggling with some of the troubles of life more than they need to be. I am concerned that if this is the case when the trials of life are relatively moderate, how will you “contend with horses”? how will you deal with matters that intensify our trouble?
I am not only speaking of the political climate of the day and what we might see coming on the near horizon, I am talking about any given tragedy that might come personally.
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
Clearly there was an expectation of comfort in life by Jeremiah. He had not thought to ever prepare himself to “run with the footmen” and so found himself wearied by the effort.
Jeremiah was called by God to speak unto the people of God. The Lord had promised to be with him and to put the words into his mouth. Jeremiah was concerned he might be too young, but the Lord corrected the notion (Jer 1:6-7).
Yet there seems to have been in him a representation of the typical ideas that plague those who are in youth, that life itself would have great comforts. No doubt Jeremiah may have expected that the people would simply listen to him as he told them “THUS SAITH THE LORD”, but they didn’t, in fact, they persecuted him for his words.
The young have always been this way, but it is possibly more apparent today.
They are the first generation to have received a “participation awards”, first in sports and finally in their high school certificates. This is testified to by the fact that “no child is left behind”, everyone passes, even if they failed.
Leaving school; there is an expectation that the dream job they have trained for will simply open their doors for them. And just like their school years, they don’t expect they need to perform in their work to retain their jobs.
This False Expectation however continues to be reinforced in other areas of their lives even if the reality of a job that expects people to work and perform, has scuffed those Rose Colored Glasses.
Their friends are also experiencing the same things and so, in complaining to one another they feel justified that the fault is NOT THEM! They are unfairly treated and so the cycle of false expectations continue.
We are a generation that simply likes being lied to. We prefer it to the truth. We want to believe all is well with the world and tomorrow shall be as today but more prosperous.
But this is not new to the 21st century, Isaiah wrote of it 2700 years ago,writing of the rebellious people of his day who prefer lies to truth;
Isaiah 30:10
10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Sadly the majority of the Churches today are actually encouraging such behavior, they match those whom Paul was writing of in;
2 Timothy 4:3–4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Beloved what do you do then when real life hits you? What happens when REALITY whispers its voice? What will you do if REALITY SHOUTS at you?
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
You can wrongly temper metal increasing its hardness but also making it brittle.
Many Christians today are Weakened by False Expectation.
They trust that life is going to be easy and so do not prepare themselves to deal with the difficult times that might come their way.
Christians should be reading their Bibles every day.
Christians should be in prayer every day.
Christians should be in fellowship as often as they can be, and “All the more as they see the day approaching”.
But sadly far too many Christians are prioritizing everything else and so have become BRITTLE. The moment the smallest trial hits them, they can’t cope.
They don’t read their Bibles daily
They don’t pray daily
They give all manner of excuses to not be in Church or in fellowship. And I am sorry, but if you have a JOB that forces you to work on the Lords day, and you choose to be removed from fellowship, don’t expect not to struggle.
Forcing Christians to work on the day they should be in fellowship with the Lord, is Satan’s doing. To this day I have NEVER seen a Strong Christian that ASLO works on the day he should be in fellowship, NEVER! I don’t expect I ever will.
Nor do I expect to see strong Christians, able to endure the trials of life, if they are not reading their Bibles.
The most brittle of Christians are those who don’t pray daily.
Without fellowship, without the Bible, without prayer, I expect to continually see Christians Weakened Through false Expectations.
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
Worn Down By Self Abasement5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
It’s not only the false expectations that weaken Christians, we also go through something that the people of the world don’t.
Unlike the lost, we have a heightened awareness of our own sinfulness and it grieves our hearts.
This grief can often continue unabated and again because we do not prioritize our time with the Lord.
We are WORN DOWN BY SELF ABASEMENT.
Rather than return quickly to our first love, our pain and shame has us run from him. We run also from the fellowship we need to help us deal with this changed life.
We get caught in a rut and ignore the only help that can pull or push us out, The Lord himself.
Beloved, life itself has its struggles, but Christians seem to have more going against the general motions of life than any other, AND IT’S THE VERY REASON WE NEED Weekly Fellowship / Daily Bible reading / Instant prayer
Unless we PRIORITISE the Lord in our life, you will not even keep up with the footmen let alone contend with horses.
Please let me describe Biblically the struggle of the Christian. (And those of you who are yet to have eternal life, do not take any comfort through this temporary negative Christians struggle
For Isaiah wrote; “There is no peace saith the LORD, unto the wicked” (Isa 48:22))
Christians might struggle now, but they have rest for eternity!
Those who are saved, these are the things you face;
You have become the devil’s enemy. You were once his captive and now belong to God. But the devil desires to devour you lest you share the hope of Christ to others. Turn to
1 Peter 5:8–9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
The World hates you. The world is under Satan’s dominion, and so now that the devil is your adversary, the world also hates you.
John 15:18–19
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
The Flesh Lusts against the Spirit Galatians 5:16–17
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Probably one of the most difficult things to contend with for the Christian is their own selves. There is a new nature in us, the Spirit of God has come to take residence, as such there is an inner conviction of sin that is not pleasant.
One is contrary to the other, it is like a battle raging in the same life and that is what is presented in that passage of Galatians by Paul.
The Galatians, like the recipients of the letter to the Hebrews, are trying to deal with this issue by turning back to the Law, but Paul exhorts them otherwise;
Galatians 3:2–3
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
But that there is a battle is made clear by Paul again in Romans 7;
Romans 7:14–19
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.**
Beloved, these are the explanations of all that Christians have to contend with, but if you are not prioritizing your faith you will get worn down.
This is the STANDARD FAIR OF LIFE!
There is NOTHING unusual with any of these trials, these are basic, 101 of the Christian life.
Not only do we need to deal with the normal matters of life that every one else has;
things such as rising costs of living, looking for a job, a career, paying bills, putting food on the table, buying a car, a house, paying insurances, caring for sick family members, pets, bringing up children, caring for elderly parents, balancing life / work and dealing with people on a day-to-day basis, traffic jams and all the stuff the world throws at us in these last days;
But Christians also need to add to themselves those things I have already mentioned.
YET all this is STANDARD FAIR! And is the REASON WHY we need a minimum of Weekly Fellowship / Daily Bible reading / Instant prayer
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
Wearied By The Footmen5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
Jeremiah was struggling with those things that God already knew and for which God had sent him as a prophet to warn the people of his judgments against them and to turn.
Like us, Jeremiah was first WEAKENED BY FALSE EXPECATION, clearly, he thought God’s judgments would readily come upon the wicked. He was not aware that God’s desire might have been for them to have the fill of their sin that his judgement might come as “a thief in the night”.
3…..pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
Clearly there seemed to be some impatience with the trials he was enduring.
But like us, Jeremiah was also dealing with those things that come with being set apart by God.
Turn to
Jeremiah 20:7–10
7 O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. 8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. 10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting,saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.**
Like all who hold firmly to the Lord and to his word, persecution comes.
Jeremiah was in the midst of a people that were beginning to suffer the direct judgements of God for their sin. A huge portion of the Old Testament surrounds the incredible event known as the Babylonian Captivity that was soon to come in later chapters of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was not only experiencing the circumstances of the people, but added to that, he was suffering the trials of being set apart by God for his work.
The hatred of the worldThe devilish attacks against himHis own emotional turmoils. 5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
Yes, it was spoken to Jeremiah, but can we not see its application to us also?
God wanted him to prepare for greater trials, for he was already wearied running with the footmen, how on earth would he contend with that which is to come?
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
Beloved, far too many Christians are wearied by the footmen! How will we be able to deal with greater struggles?
MEN, I want to address you for a moment this morning.
If you are going to be REAL MEN, men who are able to deal with the world to come, if you are going to be able to protect your wives, your families for the future, YOU NEED TO be the man who can first deal with his personal struggles before the Lord.
YOU must show that LEADERSHIP NOW and set the Lord before you DAILY;
Romans 12:12
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
If you are NOT reading your Bibles daily, not only will you be wearied by the footmen, you will have no chance of dealing well with anything more, “How will you contend with horses?”
If you are not on your knees each and every day praying God will;
forgive your sin,
increase your faith,
give you wisdom,
and grant you peace, YOU WILL NOT CONTEND WITH HORSES.
Tips of things to STOP DOING and start doing;
Stop working on the Lords day and be in fellowship.
Stop giving yourself excuses against reading the Bible and start devouring that book.
Stop avoiding prayer like a scared child and come boldly before the thrown of grace knowing you have a FATHER IN HEAVEN.
Prioritize the things of the LORD!
I address you men beloved because YOU are the leaders and where YOU lead your family will follow!
The world has already turned inside out and upside down and too many of you are still playing as if nothing has changed.
Your families need MEN!
Real men.
MEN sold out for Christ and willing to take the hits when they need to.
Not boys playing games, wasting time watching movies and TV shows. After all that has happened in the last two years, far too many still cannot see that horses are coming!
Contending With Horses5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
The same verse continues saying;
and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
When Jordan overflows its banks the beasts of the field enter into the populated areas. Jeremiah 49 and 50 speaks to the Lions that come up “from the swelling of Jordan” (Jer 49:19).
If Jeremiah was wearied during the times of peace in the land, what when Lions come to trouble him?
God was angry with his people and so he sent an evil against them, but this was yet to come upon Jeremiah and the people.
Today God is angry with the world but it is not yet HE who is yet judging them, not directly.
The people of the world are reaping the consequences of their own evil. They have dug a pit for others but they themselves are falling into it.
Our … governors, … are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 1 Peter 2:14
If we are troubled at the times that are now before us, how will we do if we are here when things get worse?
The day of his wrath is coming upon the world, and although Biblical Christians will not be here to see it, what TESTIMONY are we going to leave for those left behind?
The convergence of events in the world that perfectly describe we are living in the Time of the Signs, demonstrate a political fight will not prevail, lest you find yourself fighting the Lord!
YET WE ARE CHARGED to demonstrate the hope we have in Christ!
How does our life TODAY demonstrate WHERE WE obtain our peace and hope in THESE troubled times?
Later in the book of Jeremiah we see the greatest evil come upon Judah; Famine strikes hard against them in later chapters as Nebuchadnezzar lays siege against Jerusalem, even Moses wrote of the severity of the famine that would come upon them in Deuteronomy;
Turn there to see;
Deuteronomy 28:56–57
56 The tender and delicate woman among you, …., her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, …. and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all thingssecretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
Famines, wars and Pestilence !
Those three ALWAYS come together, both Biblically and historically.
Michael Yon was the youngest Green Berea in United States history and has become a present and historical reporter on the times we live. He said;
“I’ve read hundreds of books on war. About 60 on … pandemic[s], 20 on famine… these three things cannot be separated”[1]**
He goes on to speak of his discovery of the four horsemen of Revelation 6 and was amazed to see his theory affirmed in the Bible.
Jeremiah however was preserved.
While all this was occurring above ground, Jeremiah was wallowing in the mire, in a dungeon. Until finally he receives a blessing from the captain of the kings army;
Jeremiah 40:2–4
2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 3 Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. 4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
CONTENDING WITH HORSES
Beloved, there needs to come a time when you will trust in the Lord enough to prioritize your life around the things of God.
A minimum of being
Weekly in Fellowship / Daily reading of the Bible/ being Instant in prayer
Only then, will you be able to “Contend with horses”.
Because of the fickle nature of our flesh, if your days do not begin with the Lord and end with him, YOU WILL forget the peace and hope that stems from him.
Your fears will come upon you like a wave.Your hope and joy will disappear like the setting sun.Your trust in him will become as empty as a politicians promise. 5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
The world needs you to be strong in your faith and to prioritize everything around the Lord.
Why?
Because the Bible teaches us that WE should demonstrate a hope so sure and so evident in our lives, that it generates an enquiry from all those who witness it!
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Sanctify, sanctify, sanctify God in your heart, not just today, not just tomorrow, but each and every day, so that you can be “ready always to give an answer to EVERY man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you”
If your Job takes you away from brethren, especially on the Lords day, tell them no or get another job.If your other commitments remove your opportunity to read the Bible or spend time with him in prayer, then reorganize those commitments and stop entertaining those things that keep you a babe. My responsibility is to make as many opportunities available to you to become the people you need to be to “Contend with Horses”, but yours is to take advantage of those opportunities and prioritize your own.
Contending with horses is NOT impossible in the Lord, but it will not be possible without him!
[1] https://michaelyon.com/dispatches/the-last-8-books-i-read-on-famine/
The post Contending With Horses appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
He Preached Unto Him JesusActs 8:26–38
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this,
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
A number of people are being baptized today, they are being baptised because they have come to believe something that has changed their lives. No…even more than this, much more…they have come to believe something that has changed their ETERNITY.
It is not only life that will never be the same again, death too has lost its sting. In fact, Death itself is quite literally swallowed up in victory. Never again will any of them fear death, they simply have no cause to fear death anymore, again, quite on the contrary because death now ushers in eternity in heaven as opposed to eternity in hell.
All simply because they have believed with all their heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, just as this man of great authority did some two thousand years ago. Those who are being baptised today share in the same hope that that man had realized when he understood the Gospel, when he understood what the ‘preaching of Jesus’ meant. Like him, they are both saved and safe from judgement.
Now, this all happened because also, just like this eunuch of great authority, under Candice queen of the Ethiopians, those who are being baptised today had someone who preached unto them Jesus.
At some point in their lives, they heard of this man, they heard of Jesus Christ and who he is and what he had done, why he came, why de died and how he rose from the dead.
My friends, it has long been regarded as simply “THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD”, it changed the world as it was and the history of Jesus Christ and what he has done is irrefutable…in fact history itself has its dating system hinging upon the birth of Jesus Christ, your own birthday is identified in the light of HIS!
Writing about Christianity as the single most incredible impact on the western world, an agnostic writer who is not a Christian, but the name of Tom Holland in his recent book titled “Dominion: How the Christian revolution remade the world” writes;
Even in the twenty-first century, as the tide of Western dominance palpably retreats, assumptions bred of Europe’s ancestral faith continue to structure the way that the world organises itself. Whether in North Korea or in the command structures of jihadi terrorist cells, there are few so ideologically opposed to the West that they are not sometimes obliged to employ the international dating system. Whenever they do so, they are subliminally reminded of the claims made by Christianity about the birth of Jesus. Time itself has been Christianised.[1]****
Dominion: How the Christian revolution remade the worldYes, the entire world has been impacted in one way or the other by a man who would die the common death of a criminal some two thousand years ago in a somewhat backwater province of the Roman Empire, in the fertile crescent of the middle east.
And it spread because some “preached unto people Jesus”, and the people believed that Jesus Is the Son of God, and everything changed! The PEOPLE Changed, their eternity changed to the utmost degree.
Many years ago there was a scene in my home that was repeated, well I don’t know how often, but it was often. We would all be seated in the lounge watching a movie that became a favorite of the family, it was A Knights Tale with Heath Ledger.
There was a phrase in the Movie that became the underlying theme of the film, it began by the hope of the father when his son was a child, a dream that his father had that the boy might “change his stars”.
My friends there simply is no greater change of stars than when a man, woman or child believes the Gospel and is born again. This is the REAL CHANGE when the HEART believes the Gospel.
Now, in as few words as I could do some justice, my desire this morning is simply to “Preach unto you Jesus”, and I will do so from the same text the Eunuch read two thousand years ago.
Turn to the Book of Isaiah 53
Isaiah 53:6–9
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Jesus Bore Our Sins6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The book of Isaiah was already some 700 years old when this great man of Ethiopia was reading it.
There was no printing press in those days, all copies of the book were “manuscripts”, all were written by hand. Only the Levites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, were permitted by God to make such copies and they would do so with incredible precision and delicacy.
The book of Isaiah is not a small book. It contains 66 chapters and would have taken several months of work to pen to the precision required, and it would have come at great expense to this official. What a prize it must have been, to have received such a volume of work.
But while the official was evidently a great man, of great authority and of great wealth, it would take the guidance of an insignificant man in the eyes of the world, of no particular worldly authority, and so poor he was found walking, no horse, no carriage.
Yet the eunuch, perplexed at the passage that was before him, was humble enough to accept an opportunity to have it explained by Phillip the evangelist.
There are several things that I need to take for granted that we all understand. Something that is understood by everyone, especially that Ethiopian man two thousand years ago.
We all die.Death is always imminent.All of us have iniquity.All know instinctively there is a judgment. That final one might be disagreed with by many, and yet it is certainly assumed by the general fear of death we all had at some point in life. Some have had their fears relieved, and some have had their fears denied, yet a fear of death betrays the innate consciousness of judgement.
Nevertheless, we might not agree on the fourth, but none can deny the first three.
We all dieDeath is always imminentAll sin for which we should expect judgement. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all!
Notice that it is not some of our iniquity. The passage does not give a single hint to a limitation of our sins.
And we can’t say that it only refers to the sins we have done in the past, ALL OUR SINS were yet future to when Christ died for them.
It’s all of our iniquity. Everything we have done, all that we have thought, all that is past and all that is potentially future, the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Notice also that there is not a limitation of who. Though the passage might have been thought as limited to the Jews, the New Testament tells us that because the Jews rejected their messiah, salvation has come to the gentiles;
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles
Rom 11:11
It was eve the logical conclusion of how to save the world.
Turn to;
Romans 5:18–19
Referring first to Adam who had the first offence, when sin came into the world and death by sin.
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
There is no limitation as to whom this text in Isaiah applies.
If it were limited to the Jews, the Ethiopian eunuch himself would not have qualified. No, black or white, man or woman, skin colour does not limited, your gender does not limit you, nor you level of iniquity.
The only thing that qualifies you is that you are a sinner.
If you have no sin, Jesus did not die for you.
Jesus bore ALL the sins of sinners.
Jesus Silently Took Our Judgement 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth**
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
This is the part we generally don’t like to hear about. The negative aspect of our lives that comes with death.
The natural accounting, the reckoning day, the time of history that we give an account to our maker.
So much do men fear this that they create schemes in the hope that they will escape it.
They even become atheists in order to fool themselves into thinking that, in denying the reality of God, they can thereby deny any risk of accountability to God.
In other words, they enter into a period of wishful thinking and create imaginary creatures that have ONLY EVER APPEARED AS the animated pictures of a book.
Then they call these things “Theories” in the hope of gaining some respectability, they “ became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” Rom 1:21-22
Beloved, the fear of death has motivated men and women to deny that life has ANY consequences to contend with. Hearts are so far removed from God, that there is no fear of God before their eyes.
Turn to
Romans 3:10–18
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.**
The way of peace have they not known: Those being baptised today have found the way of peace, but those who reject God can never have peace, they heal and comfort themselves into believing there is no God and say “peace, peace when there is no peace” (Jer 8:11).
If you are one of these who have no fear of God, please consider that the denial that there is no judgement condemns your own hypocrisy.
You condemn others for their own sins, you judge them for their wrong doing against you, and far too often you condemns others for doing the same thing you do.
In this you testify that there is no escape from God’s judgment of your sin against him.
Romans 2:3–6
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Notice that, in the midst of that difficult passage there is also hope;
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?**
There may be a good reason why Jesus stood silent before his accusers, he WAS STANDING IN OUR PLACE!
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth
That silence of Christ was on behalf of you and I and all those who will believe the Gospel.
Those however that remain condemned in judgement will themselves be silent before God.
Jesus Died On Our Behalf 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
There is a reason why the history of the world pivots on the time of Christ. No matter how much this sin rent world still tries to deny Christ even by changing the dating references, history remains measured by the years before him and after him.
We are today in the year of our Lord 2023 and the reference SHOULD remain as a PERPETUAL REMINDER that Jesus died for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS.
Isaiah 53:4–5
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peacewas upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
THIS IS THE INCREDIBLE NEWS PHILLIP would have explained to the great man of Ethiopia.
This is that news that it is through HIS death that WE HAVE LIFE.
He hath borne OUR GRIEFS…carried OUR SORROWS, wounded for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS… bruised for OUR INIQUITIES, and : the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
NO WONDER HISTORY CAN’T BUT HELP REMEMBER HIM.
Every time a diary is opened.
Every time a contract is signed.
Every time a transaction is recorded.
Every time a login detail is registered
Every time the sun comes up
Every time a child is born
And every time a man dies
A date is affixed and that date is a perpetual if subliminal, reminder that Jesus DIED ON OUR BEHALF.
God will never suffer us to forget what Jesus has done, why he came, why he died, and why he rose again.
The logical conclusion therefore Paul made clear in 2 Cor 5:14, “that if one died for all, then were all dead”
Indeed, all “were dead in trespasses and sins” Eph 2:1
Our Faith Claims His TestimonyActs 8:36–37
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See,here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Verse 37 is the testimony that gave the great man eternal life.
Verse 37 is a testimony that is deleted in modern versions of the Bible, if not in the text it certainly is in the footnotes.
Atheists desire to deny the existence of God to feel as if they can escape judgement.Historians desire to deny the value of Christ by replacing the references that hinge on his life (BC/AD replaced by bce/ce).Recalcitrant Bible Scholars want to deny the testimony that lays claim to eternal life by removing the confession of Christ. My…. anyone would think it was a conspiracy!
But truth and reality are stubborn things.
The Ethiopian Eunuch laid claim in eternal life by believing the Gospel in his heart.
People turn their houses upside down to find the winning ticket to lay claim on a fortune in Tattslotto.
James Howells was an IT engineer and in his late twenties when he threw out his old computer hard drive in 2013. In 2021 he offered the equivalent of $100 million dollars to the local tip to recover his hard-drive.
What they did not know was that James Howells was only the fifth node on the Bitcoin Network when it began, he mined Bitcoin for a single week on his laptop, and then turned it off because of the noise running it day and night. A year or so later he accidently threw out the hard drive. In it was 7,500 Bitcoins, at its peak was worth over half a Billion Dollars.
But he needed the hard drive to claim it. To this day he is still fighting to have the tip dig it up among a tens of thousands of tons of debris.
What doth hinder me to be Baptised? …if thou beleivest with all thine heart…
THIS IS WHAT IS NEEDED TO LAY CLAIM ON ETERNAL LIFE!!!
When the earthquake shook the prison, and the doors were opened the bands of the apostle Paul and Silas were loosed, a frightened prison guard was about to take his own life thinking that the prisoners had all escaped, but HOPE cried out to him saying;
“do thyself no harm, for we are all here”
Acts 16:29–31
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of John saying;
John 3:16–18
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
BUT HE DOES NOT STOP AFFIRMING WHAT IT IS THAT LAYS CLAIM ON ETERNAL LIFE;
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
There is ONLY one way to lay claim on eternal life!
Only one ticket that is needed to be free of judgement at death
Only one key that unlocks the forever fortune of ETERNITY, and that is faith. WILL YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOU?
ARE YOU WILLING TO SCOUR THE HOUSE FOR THAT WINNING TICKET?
Will you dig through the debris of your own sinful life to see that you have need of forgiveness?
WILL YOU BELIEVE THE GOSPEL and lay claim on life eternal?
In this building today that are three groups of people;
There are those who are lost, who are not yet saved and whose imminent death will usher in an eternal nightmare.
There are those who claim to be Christians, but have yet to produce that faith that can lay claim on eternal life. They are not saved, but far worse, they do not know they are still damned.
Finally, there are those who have believed the Gospel in their heart and have a true claim on eternal life, people who have changed their stars. Some of whom are being baptised today.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.**
Today, there is no reason why every person in this building could not lay claim on eternal life, everyone here can “Change their stars”.
Why? Because “The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
[1] Holland, Tom. Dominion (p. 12). Basic Books. Kindle Edition.
The post He Preached Unto Him Jesus appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Pt 7.5 Modern Versions are Another Gospel2 Corinthians 11:1–4
1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
2 Corinthians 11:1-4In light of all we have considered so far respecting modern Bible Versions, this passage seems quite telling.
“lest….your minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”, such a telling phrase and so perfectly applied.
God inspired his words, promised to preserve his words and preservation presumes possession.
God is powerful enough to do soGod does not lieThe purposeful devices of man can never hinder what God had determined to do.God is the author of language and therefore is not limited by language. The simplicity of this is quite incredible especially compard to the convoluted excuses we hear again and again that ever modern translation is different but the same.
That nothing has changed.
That it is the same Bible
The same Jesus
The same Spirit
The same Gospel
This morning you will have more than enough to see that mans contrivance is false.
Much has changed
It is NOT the same Bible
Not the same Jesus
Not the same Spirit, and
Certainly not the same gospel that is presented in any of the modern translations!
This mornings study is ANYTHING BUT exhaustive. It is quite literally the very tip of the ice
Berg and should be more than enough for you to realise that MODERN VERSIONS ARE ANOTHER GOSPEL.
THE ANGEL OF LIGHT.
In verse 14 of our text from this morning we begin with what deception LOOKS LIKE.
2 Corinthians 11:12–15
12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
I mentioned last week that the devil does not appear in red pajamas, with horns on his head, have a dragons tail, bearing a pitchfork.
If he did, we’d all identify him and cast him out.
PROPS: Modern Bibles.
Modern Bibles don’t say “UNHOLY” on the cover. To the contrary …. “HOLY”.
The word “HOLY” and Holiness appear 654 times in the Bible and it is not difficult to discern its meaning. Most importantly it is defined directly by the very nature and character of God who ALONE is HOLY.
It must first BE PERFECT, without error, infallible, good, unspotted and blameless.
If a book is going to be called a “HOLY” book, that is the ONLY reference by which it can ever be called. Yet not a single person in the world believes any of these versions of the Bible are actually “HOLY”, but that is what they say on the cover.
Just as Satan is transformed as an angel of light, so too do these maleficent volumes of deception transform themselves as HOLY, but in appearance ONLY.
Turn to;
Deuteronomy 13
We recall in the Bible how it is you can tell a true prophet of God from a false prophet?
The question was asked in Deuteronomy 18 telling us essentially that if the prophesy of the prophet don’t come to pass, he is a false prophet.
But in Deuteronomy 13 there is some more detail JUST IN CASE the prophecies actually DO come to pass and yet he is still a false prophet.
Deuteronomy 13:1–3
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Beloved, each and every one of these modern translations are ANOTHER GOSPEL who lead you to follow other gods which you have not known, to serve that which is NOT of the Lord.
There is little doubt the Lord is trying the hearts of Christians today, to see if they truly do “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul”!
Though they may give the appearance of LIGHT, and all say they are “HOLY”, they lead the vulnerable man astray to another gospel.
Another GOSPEL
Another SPIRIT
Another JESUS
NOTE: This sermon is not going to have its full effect without you looking up the verses, but there is so much material here, we cannot spare that time and so each of the verses, in the order which they appear in this sermon, are noted in your sermon notes.
Be sure to have both a copy of the sermon, which will be uploaded to the website, and use your bibles to look up the references to see the changes.
The entire Doctrine of Christology (The Study of Christ) is changed by the smorgasbord of alterations in Modern translations.
The Omnipresence of Christ is denied in John 3:13 (‘which is in heaven’ deleted)The brokenness of Christ is denied in 1 Cor 11:24 (‘broken’ deleted)The unworthiness for the communion of Christ is denied in 1 Cor 11:29 (‘Unworthily’ deleted)The perfect integrity of Christ is denied in John 7:8 (‘yet’ deleted) “I go not up yet” making Jesus a liar.The perfect sinlessness of Christ is denied with the switching of the singular pronoun to the plural, presenting Christ is requiring purification in Luke 2:22 (‘her’ changed to “their”)The very purpose of the mission of the coming of Christ is denied with the entire text of Matthew 18:11 deleted either in the text or in the footnotes of all modern translations. (“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost”).His virgin birth is denied in many modern versions in Matt 1:25 with the words “First Born” deleted. The famous prophecy concerning the same is removed from Isaiah 7:14, almost every modern version has changed the word “Virgin” to “young woman” in either the text or the footnotes.His bodily resurrection is denied in Luke 24:6 with “He is not here, but is risen” deleted in the Greek text and in the footnotes of some versions. So too the entirety of Luke 24:12where Peter ran to the sepulchre seeing the linen clothes laid by themselves, removed in the same way by the same versions.His bodily appearance after his resurrection to his disciples is denied in Luke 24:40 with the entire verse called into question by either direct omission or deletion in the footnotes of several modern versions. “and when he had thus spoken he showed them his hands and his feet” No doubt I could go on and on but we haven’t made any sleeping arrangements for you all 😊
Another JESUS2 Cor 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached,
There is a subtle replacement of Jesus in modern versions that is not readily apparent where his name or references to him are removed and replaced in a manner that more closely represents someone else.
As we go on in this study this morning we will see references to Jesus as “Lord” removed, we will see areas were Jesus is “Worshipped” removed and we will see literal denials of his sacrificial atonement for our sins and even his deity denied in modern versions.
But this first point will introduce an evident replacement of Jesus in modern versions with someone else whom the world is also waiting for…quite literally ANOTHER JESUS, another christ!
CAPITALS
An editor with InterVarsity Press observed with interest some of the occultist writings saying; “I have long had a theory that the far-out, weird, and strange writers who make themselves out to be god – or the God, capitalize every other word or so. Manuscripts I have received as an editor …bear this out”[1]
An author by the name of Dr Louis Talbot also noticed that occultists pronouns and select words are often spelled with a capital,
Words like “He”, “Him”, The “One”, the “Way”. (we will touch on Pronouns in a minute.)
The New Age refers to this coming One as well as capitalizing pronouns exclusively refering to that same One, who is expected to come to restore this world as it enters the New Consciousness.
The book Game of Gods by Carl Teichrib is a brilliant introduction to this. He is a Canadian Christian researchers who has spent years attending global New Age meetings around the world.
He testifies to the “blending of Christ” into antichrist as the effort of the New Age.
Yes, I have referred to the science fiction film The Matrix often, but who was it that Morpheus expected to find?
The One!
And who was the One?
The Saviour of the world!
And what was his name?
Neo!
What does that mean?
New Man.
The devil certainly loves to have himself re-presented in Hollywood!
Modern translations of the Bible have followed suit to replace the normal pronouns referring to Christ, with capital letters.
The word “one” is interestingly capitalized everywhere when referring to Jesus in the NKJV, NIV, NLT, GNB & ASV
Who are the modern translations promoting when they use such pronouns referring to Jesus?
Is it ANOTHER JESUS?
“Luke 10:16 despiseth him to “rejects the One”
Luke 12:5 him is changed to ‘the One”
Matt. 13:37 He to The one
John 4:25 he / One
John 6:46 he / the One
Douglas R. Grothius in his book “Unmasking the New Age” warned saying;
“The One must move from the avante garde fringe to the very heart and mind of society. The whole society must be brought into harmony with the One as the New Consciousness produces the New Age”[2]
Matthew 19:17
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Modern translations took the opportunity to capitalize “One” in this passage in Matt 19:17.
But that is not the ONLY place the world of the Occult has slipped the subtleties of Sataninto modern translations.
Many times, when the modern Christian thinks they are referring to Christ in both reading and writing, they are unwittingly referring to Antichrist;
Both the New Age and The Occult always capitalizes the pronouns of the man they refer to as The Coming One.
“He” and “Him” are always capitalized when they are referring to him. We see this man as Antichrist, they see him as the savior.
I bet there may be some of you who have before capitalized the pronoun referring to Jesus in the past. If you do so now, I want you to understand where that tradition comes from and who it actually refers to.
Don’t feel too bad.
Gordon Lewis is a Christian apologist and cult expert who refers to the “Word game” in the New Age and how their words have subtly slipped into modern versions of the Bible.
Respecting this New Age word game he says, “makes the bible endorse what its writers emphatically opposed” [3]
In Mark 2:15 the name of Jesus is removed and replaced with the capitalized pronoun “He” in the NKJV & NIV.
The NASB changed Jesus to “Him” in Mark 10:52.
The New King James Version changes “the kingdom of God and his righteousness” to “His kingdom and His righteousness” (Capitalized) in Matt 6:33.
The same occurs in Rev 21:4, when it won’t be “God” who wipes away every tear but “He who wipes”.
In 1 Tim 3:16, Gal 1:15, Matt 22:32 “God” is changed to “He” in the NIV, NLT, GNB, ESV, NCV etc.
But so many are the passages when Jesus is confused with the New Age and occultic One whom the world awaits.
THE WAY!
When it comes to the title of a religion, it is interesting that Christianity was known as “the way” in the book of Acts in the New Testament, but it is never capitalized.
Yet,
Buddhism refers to itself as the “Way”.
Shintoism refers to the “Way of the gods”
Taoism or Daoism, is a the Chinese religion literally translated “Way” or “Path”.
Hinduism refers to the Way of the majority of people in India, a Way” [4]
Occultist Alice Bailey writes of ancient Gnosticism’s path of initiation which was called “The Way” [5]
So what are we to say when modern translations do the same thing with the Bible? God and his word are meant to be diametrically opposed to paganism and the occult, what are we to say when modern translations align themselves to it all?
Acts 9:2
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
The word “Way” is capitalized in the NKJV, NIV, NLT, GNB, ESV, ISV, ASV, NCV, RSV, NRSV.
The same is seen in Acts 19:9, 19:23, 22:4, 24:22.
Occultists have long believed that the fallen angel and Jesus are one and the same person.
Modern translations obliged them in Isaiah
Isaiah 14:12
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
All modern translations, including the NKJV, have removed the name Lucifer in the text or the footnotes, and replaced it with “Morning Star”, “Shining star” or “day star”.
Beloved, who is the morning star in your Bibles?
The NIV, the GNB, NASB study bibles assumes you might want to know the identity of this one who fell from heaven, and so they provide you the cross references you need.
The first is 2 Pet 1:19 which reads in the NIV;
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.[6]**
Morning Star appears again in the text but it is still not perfectly clear who it refers to. But then we notice another cross reference at “Morning Star” so we follow that to Rev 22:16 in the NIV which says;
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Beloved, modern Bible Translations are presenting you with ANOTHER JESUS!
Another SPIRIT4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Turn in your bibles to 1 John 4:1–3
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
There are at least three elements respecting Jesus that must be admitted by this text.
Firstly that Jesus is the Saviour that was promised to come bodily into the world through the Old Testament.
Secondly that he is The Christ, the Son of the Living God, the one who would give his own flesh as a ransom for many and would do so as a vicarious substitute for you and I and the whole world.
Thirdly that we confess we are saved and justified through him by faith in him through his blood.
If any deny such truths as these, this is not of the Spirit of God but the spirit of antichrist.
What “spirit” then do modern translations of the Bible confess to have?
Denial that God is come in the Flesh1 Timothy 3:16
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
NIV: He appeared in the flesh
NLT: Christ was revealed in a human body
GNB: He appeared in human form
ESV: He was manifested in the flesh
ISV: In flesh was he revealed to sight
ASV: He who was manifested in the flesh.
NCV: He was shown to us in a human body
RSV: He was manifest in the flesh
NRSV: He was revealed in flesh.
KJV: God was manifest in the flesh
Geneva Bible: God was manifest in the flesh
Tyndale: God was shewed in the flesh
Giovanni Diodati 1853: Iddio è stato manifestato in carne
BUT WAIT, there’s more!
REMOVED AS “LORD”Continually we see the removal of references to Jesus as “Lord” in modern versions of the Bible.
Matthew 13:51
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
Mark 9:24
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Luke 9:57
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Luke 22:31
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Romans 6:11
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:47
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:10
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
Luke 23:42
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
A famous passage which many have been blessed by, but the very confession of Jesus as “LORD” is completely removed from modern translations.
Just as 1 Cor 12:3 tells “that no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost”, and just as the world, in that day “that every toungue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Phil 2:11, modern translations have removed that confession from the mouth of the thief on the Cross,
REMOVED FROM WORSHIPLuke 24:52
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: (NASV/RSV)
The removal that God was manifest in the flesh, the removal of the references to him as Lord, the removal of worship of him in some translations is enough on their own to demonstrate what spirit modern translations are of.
But what of his vicarious atonement? What of Jesus having died FOR US?
Denial that Jesus died FOR US!This doctrine testifies to the Spirit of God that Christ DIED for us. His death was Vicarious. Any who deny this are of the spirit of Antichrist.
1 Corinthians 5:7
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our assover is sacrificed for us:
“For us” removed in the footnotes of NKJV;
Removed entirely in NIV, NASB, GNB, ESV, ISV etc
1 Peter 4:1
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
“For us” removed in the footnotes of NKJV;
Removed entirely in NIV, NASB, NLT, GNB, ESV, ISV etc
Denial that salvation is ONLY in ChristMark 9:42
42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
“In me” is removed in the NASB, and the Greek manuscripts that underly it
It is not enough that those “Little ones” simply “believe”, they must believe “in Jesus”.
John 6:47
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
“On me” removed in the footnotes of NKJV;
Removed entirely in NIV, NASB, NLT, GNB, ESV, ASV, NCV, RSV, NRSV etc
One of the clearest passages in the Bible coming directly from the lips of Christ, yet denied in modern translations who would have you trust that you must simply “believe”; in what?
The New Age teaches exactly this same doctrine, anything you choose to believe is true for you and you will be eternally happy. They are not of the Spirit of God, but the spirit of antichrist, and so too are the “versions” of the bible that agree with them!
Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
“of Christ” is removed in the footnotes of NKJV;
Removed entirely in NIV, NASB, GNB, ESV, ISV, ASV, NCV, RSV, NRSV etc
Galatians 3:17
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
“in Christ” is removed in the footnotes of NKJV;
Removed entirely in NIV, NASB, GNB, ESV, ISV, ASV, NCV, RSV, NRSV etc
Galatians 4:7
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
“through Christ” is removed in the footnotes of NKJV;
Removed entirely in NIV, GNB, NLT , NCV, RSV, etc
Changed to “Through God” in the NASB, ESV, ISV, ASV, NRSV
They delete the first appearance of the word God so it does not read ridiculously “an heir of [God] through God”
Galatians 6:15
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
“For in Christ Jesus” is removed entirely NIV, GNB, NLT , NCV, RSV, NASB, ESV, ISV, ASV, NRSV.
ANOTHER GOSPEL2 Cor11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or ifye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
A Difficult WayMatthew 7:13–14
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
NKJV: 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it
ESV: 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life[7]
Mark 10:24
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
NKJV: 24…How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
ESV: 24…Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
Saved by WorksBELIEF OR OBEDIENCE?
We wonder why it is that so many Christians today have denied the finish work of Christ and have somehow come to believe that we can lose our salvation. What we fail to realise is that it is due to deception of modern translations who preach “Another Gospel”.
John 3:36
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
NLT: Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life[8]
GNB: whoever disobeys the Son will not have life[9]
ESV: whoever does not obey the Son[10]
ISV: but the one who disobeys the Son[11]
Ditto ASV, NCV, RSV, NRSV
Romans 11:32
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
NKJV: For God has committed them all to disobedience,.[12]
NIV: “disobedience”
NLT
GNB
ESV
ISV
ASV
RSV
NRSV: all the same. Unbeleif changed to “Disobedience”
Hebrews 3:18
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
NKJV: And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?[13]
NIV: And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?[14]
NLT: disobeyed
GNB: Rebelled
ESV: disobedient
ISV: Disobeyed
Et al
Hebrews 4:6
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
From the New King James Version all the way through the word “Unbelief” is changed to “Disobedience”
Hebrews 4:11
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
DITTO
PATIENCE OR ENDURANCE?
Luke 21:18–19
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
GNB: 19Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.
ESV: 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Romans 5:4
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
NKJV: and perseverance, character; and character, hope[15]
NIV: PERSEVERANCE
NLT: ENDURANCE
GNB: ditto
ESV: ditto
ISV: ditto
ASV: STEDFASTNESS
etc
Hebrews 10:36
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
NKJV: ENDURANCE
NIV: PERSEVERE
NLT: PATIENT ENDURANCE
ESV: ENDURANCE
FAITH OR FAITHFULNESS?
Matthew 23:23
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith:these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
NIV: FAITHFULNESS
ESV:
ISV:
SOME DELETE THE WORD FAITH ALLTOGETHER.
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
NKJV: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness[16]
NIV et al follow suit.
It is “faithfulness” that demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit, not faith.
IS THIS THE SAME GOSPEL?
I sent a letter many years ago to the most conservative Bible College in Victoria as far as I knew. We WERE KJV Only, but a new principal permitted teachers using the NKJV and I warned that this should not be.
We had men on the board using that version and pastors teaching in the college who also use that version and I stated that it should not BE and warned that errors will come in.
No formal letter was ever sent me, but my pastor reached out to tell me that they believed both the KJV and the NKJV taught the same Gospel because they came from the same underlying text.
BOTH ARE FALSE STATEMENTS. Statements made through WILFUL ignorance rather than study.
[1] James Sire, “The Universe Next Door” 1976 p 231 (Cited in New Age Bible Versions p 275)
[2] “Douglas R. Grothius, Unmasking the New Age (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press), p. 51.”
[3] Larson’s Book of Cults. P 321
[4] “Eastern Definitions” p 166-167
[5] Alice Bailey, “The Rays and Initiations”, 1960. P 80
[6] The New International Version (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, p. 2 Pe 1:19.
[7] English Standard Version (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, p. Mt 7:14.
[8] Tyndale House Publishers (2015) Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, p. Jn 3:36.
[9] American Bible Society (1992) The Holy Bible: The Good news Translation. 2nd ed. New York: American Bible Society, p. Jn 3:36.
[10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, p. Jn 3:36.
[11] International standard version New Testament: version 1.1. Print on Demand ed. (2000). Yorba Linda, CA: The Learning Foundation, p. Jn 3:36.
[12] The New King James Version (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson, p. Ro 11:32.
[13] The New King James Version (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson, p. Heb 3:18.
[14] The New International Version (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, p. Heb 3:18.
[15] The New King James Version (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson, p. Ro 5:4.
[16] The New King James Version (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson, p. Ga 5:22.
The post Pt 7.5 Modern Versions are Another Gospel appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
- The Permutation of TruthIt is clear that we live, at least, at the entering in of that time of “woe” spoken of here in Isaiah.
The passage clearly gives reason as to why such a time as this is occurring, and we have spoken about this also in the past. We touched on what happens when man rejects the word of God, when many no longer have a “standard” from which to base ALL that is true.
The reason given to us about this time occurring, this time when people call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
The reason there is a “Permutation of Truth” (A Replacement of truth) Is seen in verse 24, “because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel” (v24).
Yes, this text directly refers to Israel, but it is also a rule of law that evidently applies to all who have rejected his word.
If, according to Romans 1, the mind of man becomes reprobate from rejecting all that is plain to see concerning God (and you only need to see Hollywood or ANY popular Music awards ceremony to see that reprobation), then what level of evil can occur when the very foundation of ALL our laws are rejected?
Job speaks to this;
Job 21:14
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
When man so evidently rejects the “knowledge of his ways”, the only thing left to man is its REPLACEMENT, its “Permutation”. A changed, transformed, mutated version of truth is ALL that can replace Truth!
Now, before you begin to think such evil is limited to the addressees of the letter from Isaiah, turn forward to Jeremiah 6 and see how the Lord specifically addresses both Israel and the nations of the world;
Jeremiah 6:18–19
18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
Notice, it is the VERY FRUIT of their own thoughts that the people themselves are CURSED WITH!
Like Haman in the book of Esther, who built a tower with a hangman’s noose for a righteous man, but was hung on it himself. He essentially built it to hang himself upon it.
Like the many in the scripture who set a trap for others that they themselves fall into (Psalm 57:6).
Proverbs 5:22
22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Proverbs 1:18
18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
Proverbs 1:31
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Proverbs 11:5
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
If you are still in Jeremiah, turn forward to chapter 8
Jeremiah 8:9–10
9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? 10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
Notice that there are NONE IMUNE from the effect of rejecting the word of God!
Not the wise, not the prophet, not the priest, none! All shall be ‘ashamed’, all ‘dismayed’, all ‘taken’ by their own error.
All of this simply because the word of the Lord has been rejected.
Now beloved, when PASTORS THEMSELVES contend against his word, and the churches are eventually turned to nothing more than exalted Social Clubs, what can we expect from a world looking for truth, but unable to find it?
Everything becomes inverted.
You thought that it should be wise men that lead the nations? When you watched the US Elections in 2016 and were dumbfounded to see that the best they could put forward were Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump?
Or when you looked at 2020 and saw octogenarian Joe Biden, teemed up with the mental teenager Kamila Harris and wondered how it could be possible that this is the BEST the greatest and most powerful nation in the world could do?
No beloved, it is EXPECTED when the word of God is rejected. Fools become leaders, the base of the world are put in high places.
A few chapters earlier in Isaiah we see begin his prophecy play out;
Isaiah 3:1–6
1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, 2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, 3 The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. 4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. 5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
It is a matter of time that when the word of God is rejected, man does not simply come up with his own laws, but the opposite.
The Laws are replaced not “updated”, so too will the word of God be.
Never in history have we been in a state where good is seen so clearly as evil, and evil is seen as good.
Where were the pastors voices when it mattered?
Where were they when the word of God was being doubted and then replaced?
What can they stand on now if the very foundation of their faith they have tragically, and ignorantly, aided and abetted the long term removal, just one word at a time?
The passage in Isaiah testifies to the truth of that which come upon a population when there is an evident Permutation of Truth. In other words, when the truth has been Protested and then Prohibited, it is a matter of time before it is completely REPLACED.
Replacing Good with Evil Begins Obscurely.20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Even in the passage that is before us we can see evidence of a gradual rise in wickedness among the people in their response to the Lord.
The Lord laments in verse 3 of what more could have been done to his vineyard that he had not done? In verse 4 he expected grapes and yet it brought forth wild grapes.
And from there we see an ongoing degradation among the people ending in a complete distortion of that which is right and wrong, good and evil. The reason we are told is mentioned in verse 24;
because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts
But this begins OBSCURELY! Subtly, delicately, almost imperceptivity.
The advent of Television was seen as an evil and the people were mocked.The advent of Rock and Roll was said to corrupt the culture and the people were again, mocked.When YouTube was created, everyone I knew said it was perverse, now they all watch it.When FaceBook was created, we all said it was disgusting and vane and would lead to misery, now most of us have an account. Beloved the Devil does NOT wear red pygamas, carry a pitchfork, have horns on his head.
In fact, to the contrary.
Speaking directly to Satan God says;
Ezekiel 28:12
….Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Remember beloved, Evil comes riding in on a White horse in Revelation 6:2!
WEDGE:
The wedge can ONLY be employed ONE way when it comes o splitting timber. NEVER can it be used from the big obvious side of the tool, ONLY the thin end can get in first and when it finds an acceptable sized crack, it just needs a few taps to get it into place.
Once it is in place, a few large belts with a sledge hammer will split the wood apart.
The Permutation of Truth did not begin overtly. The devil did not begin with replacing God’s truth with his own, he FIRST began by creating doubt that God said anything in the first place.
Then, and ONLY then, did the “Original Replacement Theology” get proposed.
Replacing Good with Evil begins Obscurely, it begins in SECRET.
In his brilliant Lecture Titled “The meaning of Meaning” Professor Michael Bouman said,
“there are people at large in the world who want to destroy the western tradition of culture, and everything it stands for. Sometimes the people who want to destroy the western culture do it overtly and you know what they’re up to, they fly airplanes into buildings, you know what their intention is. Other people aren’t so overt, they try to destroy the western tradition and western culture in a more covert.
Professor Bauman then goes on to show how schools have taught that meaning comes from interpretation rather than author intention. In other words, what does that mean to you?
I’m sure many of you have been in Bible studies where the person leading the study asks what the text means to you.
Generally, the person does not say, “it doesn’t matter what the text means to me, what matters is what it means”. No, they answer the question!
One way is by changing how people read, another is changing what they read. The devil is evil but not dumb.
Turn in your Bibles to Amos 8
Amos 8:11–12
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
It was Vladimir Lennin who coined the Term “Useful Idiots”. It is not a polite term and though Vladimir Lenin applied it to people I am applying it to modern translations of the Bible.
Let me explain.
Vladimir Lenin employed the term “Useful Idiots” to apply to those many people who both believed and sold their faith in the communist system. Once the system of government was created, and Lenin gained power in Russia, in 1918 he unleashed what became known as “The Red Terror”, a “State Sanctioned campaign of mass killings and detentions to silence political enemies”[1].
These so called “Political Enemies” had no idea that what they were being used for in promoting the Utopian view of Socialism, actually created the Dystopian reality of Communism.
Lenin himself said, “The goal of Socialism is Communism”, interestingly he also said “medicine is the keystone of the arch of Socialism” perhaps that explains more than we care to admit.
After the death of Lenin, Joseph Stalin took the “useful idiot” to another level when he took power. Many died of the hunger he created when he tried to succeed at what Lenin failed to do in the early 1920’s with communal farming. Lenin learned and turned the country around in a short space, but after he died Stalin returned to the system and starved millions to death in the famines of 1930-1933.
Now Stalin wanted to solidify power and so he blamed the famine on the so called “Enemies of the Working Class” and from 1934 to 1939 over a million people were sent to the gulags and 700,000 killed[2] in what was known as “The Great Purge”.[3]
But one of the most famous examples of the “Useful Idiots” in real life came from Adolf Hitler in the “Night of the Long Knives”. It was a “purge of Nazi Leaders” by Hitler himself and again used to solidify his power.
These were the very LEADERS of the Nazi party, including his second in charge Gregor Strasser and even his old comrade Ernst Rohm his chief of staff. All this attended to by the faithful Heinrich Himmler’s SS…(who eventually died by suicide running from Hitler).
Beloved, when it comes to the Bible, and in light of both the prophecy in the book of Amos which has yet never been fulfilled, and in the knowledge of the final global religion that will be upon this world before the Lord returns to judge it, it is not difficult to predict that a time is coming when the book you hold in your hands will be made Illegal in Australia and around the world.
But not ONLY the King James Version, EVERY VERSION!
Every modern version of the Bible is but another “useful Idiot” employed by the Devil to undermine the Bible until its foundation is destroyed.
Until all the “versions” are replaced with his own “little red book”.
“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Ps 11:3
Replacing Good with Evil Transitions Intentionally.20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
The intentionality of the effort is simple enough to see in the text but it is far too often wilfully ignored in reality.
The very thought that there are people who would intentionally subvert reality is something we all need to truly step back and give consideration to.
It is not until you see the thief come to steal, or the murder come to kill, or the liar caught in a lie, that you truly appreciate that there are many people who intentionally do evil things.
Tragically even they deceive themselves by excusing the evil that they do. Our prison system is filled mostly by those who have done what they have done intentionally, rationalising that what they do is good and right.
It’s interesting isn’t it, if there is NO SUCH THING as good or evil as the atheist worldview believes, if everything is relative, why is it that people do evil things and rationalise it as good?
In his Discourses, it was Niccolo Machiavelli in the late 15th century who said, ““For although the act condemns the doer, the end may justify him…”
Karl Marx and other Communists such as Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky developed and narrowed the saying down to “The ends justify the means” as the supreme moral code if that “End” is Communism.
When it comes to versions of the Bible, the END is a single, new world wide religion that is written of in Revelation 13 when all the world ‘Worships the beast”.
Turn there with me and then we will touch on a few quotes and changes in Bible versions.
Revelation 13:
Revelation 13:3–4
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Revelation 13:7–8
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:11–12
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Revelation 13:15
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Beloved this is the end goal, and if you are willing and observant, you will be able to see with absolute clarity that the goal is NOT to give you a bible that is easier to understand, but to change it, to dilute it, to alter it enough so you DO NOT TRUST IT!
Some attend to this work as “Useful Idiots”, others do so deliberately.
You have seen already through the newsletter that the belief people have held that the King James Version of the Bible has been the belief held since almost its inception. We have recognized this through the quotes of both who held that position as well as through the quotes of those who despised that belief yet recognized it as true.
“…I must conclude we have the substance of the Word of God as truly in a Translation as in the Hebrew Bible; and that every real Christian, who now devoutly ponders on his English Bible, has before his eyes the Oracles of God; and no less hears His voice, than if he could read the Hebrew…
Henry Venn, Pastor, educated at Cambridge, member of the Queens College and mentor of men such as Charles Simeon and John Newton 1780 (not to be confused with the Missionary of the same name)
Yet in 1783 we have this quotation from a detractor who acknowledges the common belief of the people;
“It is true, indeed, that some very devout and wellmeaning people carry the prejudice too far, when they profess to believe, that our translation was written with the finger of the Almighty, and that to alter a tittle of it is to be guilty of blasphemy. But still, as the faith of such persons is strong, and their intentions pious, it would be imprudent to shock their minds by an innovation, which they could not help considering as an insult on heaven.” (Vicesimus Knox, Essays, Moral and Literary, Volume 1, 1783)
1857: “The general excellence of the English Version being admitted, its perfection is assumed, and therefore all preceding and subsequent versions must be unworthy of notice; nay, even the original text need not be consulted…It is not strange, then, that any proposal for its improvement should be looked upon with as much alarm as if the British Constitution were to be revised, or the Scriptures themselves brought up to the present state of science…many trust the English Bible as infallible…Hence some make it a positive objection to a revision that it might be followed in time by another…millions [believe]…our English Bible is the code and canon of all truth.” (Thomas Kingsmill Abbott, The English Bible, and Our Duty with Regard to It, 1857; 1871)
1857: “It is on this account, we believe, that so many deprecate a new translation, or even revision, of the Bible. They consider the authorized as sacred as the original text. Indeed, some have such a superstitious reverence for their own version, that we are told that any change in it is such an alteration of the ‘Word of God’ as that against which there is so fearful a warning in Rev. xxii. 18, 19…Again, we are told that this innovation would destroy all biblical stability; that there would then be no end to revisions and emendations, but an end to all permanence and respect for it…” (The British Controversialist and Literary Magazine, Volumes 3-4, 1857)
Beloved you have had more than ten weeks of two page entries showing that the view of holding to one and only one translation was the norm not novel.
You have seen that it was UNDERSTOOD that ANY change to one, would mean an ongoing series of alterations until the ONE is not at all, as the magazine above understood, “there would then be no end to revisions and emendations, but an end to all permanence and respect for it..”
Listen to the quotation of Fenton John Antony Hort to Brooke Foss Westcott, the two Anglical Cergymen who forced upon the world a new corrupt Greek Text never before seen, and one in which, to varying degrees, EVERY MODERN VERSION of the Bible has used as its foundation.
1861 Apr. 12th – Hort to Westcott: “Also – but this may be cowardice – I have a sort of craving that our text should be cast upon the world before we deal with matters likely to brand us with suspicion. I mean, a text, issued by men already known for what will undoubtedly be treated as dangerous heresy, will have great difficulties in finding its way to regions which it might otherwise hope to reach, and whence it would not be easily banished by subsequent alarms.” (Life, Vol.I, p.445). There are many, many more quotes cited from “The Life and Letters of John Antony Hort” by his son.
Here we see that “Replacing Good with Evil Transitions Intentionally”, it always did, just as the passage we have before us demonstrates.
These two men, whom we will discuss in a couple of months one of the 12 Apostles of the secular world, these two men are responsible for the theory that Older is Better and that the Bible should be treated just like any other book to establish its text. A failed application that many have debunked in history past, not least of which was Dean John Burgon who was contemporary with these two scoundrels.
It was these two men who removed 1 John 5:7 from the Bible, the ONLY passage that clearly speaks of the Trinity.
It was them who deleted Acts 8:37 so anyone could get baptized, nothing hindering and so much more.
It is essentially their Greek text and a smorgasbord of others that is used by every modern Bible Version.
Replacing Good with Evil Propels Ignorantly24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Both the stubble and the chaff are the elements of the plant that remains after the grain is harvested. Only the grain has value, only the grain provides the nutrients needed to sustain life.
Both of these elements simply become fuel for the fire and in the end become worthless;
so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust
In like manner those who are wilfully ignorant of the Bible, those unwilling to consider the truth of a matter, those not willing to “walk circumspectly” as we are told in Ephesians 5:15, these simply become stubble to the fire that is sweeping through.
Rather than hinder the error, they ignorantly fuel it, they take hold of that which is popularly believed and run with the crowd.
Good men have been swept up in such error, but are YOU just at such a risk? How much are YOU also adding to the worlds ignorance?
We should not add to the fuel. If Gods people knew his voice in the scriptures, there would never have been the errors we see in the world today. If Gods people would only read their Bibles daily, they would have the discermnet needed to make decisions that will not add to the REPLACEMENT of GOOD with EVIL, because Replacing Good with Evil Propels Ignorantly
So many are the organisations that are propelling the world toward a single, One World Religious system, a NEW AGE Gospel is what is presented in modern translations.
The focus is never upon the singular truth of Christ, but a blending of many gods to which Christ is but one.
Just as there is NO singular truth today, modern translations of the Bible have given to Christians justification that any view may just as easily be the correct view
Where the Bible preaches “The Gospel”, the new versions preach “A gospel”
The bible preaches The Words”, the new versions preach “A message”
The God – a god, The Son – a son, The Saviour – a savior, The World – an age etc
John 6:68 “Thou hast THE words of eternal life”
NASB “you have words of eternal life” (‘THE’ omitted)
Rev 14:6 “THE everlasting gospel”
NASB “an eternal gospel”
GNB “an eternal message”
ESV “an eternal gospel”
Titus 1:4 “THE common faith”
NKJV “our common faith”
NIV “our common faith”
NASB “a common faith”
NLT “the faith we share”
ESV “a common faith”
Acts 14:27 writes of “THE door of faith”
NIV “A door of faith”
NASB “a door of faith”
ESV “a door of faith”
Mark 1:4 “THE baptism of repentance”
NKJV “a baptism of repentance”
NIV “a baptism of repentance”
NASB “a baptism of repentance”
ESV “a baptism of repentance”
Beloved, this is ANOTHER GOSPEL
“Fundamentalist Christians believe that Christianity os the only religion…These are primitive ideas” Bagwan Rajneesh (Indian mystic who started his own religion)
“God works in many ways through many faiths” Alice Bailey; heiress of Helena Blavatsky’s Satanic Theosophical society called Lucifer Trust – later renamed to the present Lucis trust)
Luke 4:4 “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God”
No alternative to bread is given in modern translations!
NIV But by every word of God is ‘omitted’
NASB OMITTED
NLT OMITTED
GNB OMITTED
ESV OMITTED
NCV OMITTED
Holman Christian Standard OMITTED
New America Bible OMITTED
Todays NIV OMITTED
Little wonder Christians do not nourish themselves on the word of God, little wonder ignorance of this fundamental issue of Bible versions remains hidden. The word of God which opens our eyes to the truth and discernment, CHRISTIANS NO LONGER LIVE BY!
Sadly this is also the case among the most Biblical Churches also.
What part are YOU playing in the worlds move toward REPLACING Christianity with ANTI Christ One World Religion that is coming?
DO NOT BE IGNORANT into thinking that your malnourishment of Gods word is having no effect!
The ONLY reason Christians still think its ok to send their children to a public or private school rather than homes school, is because they do not have the discernment that comes from reading the Bible.
And their children will be swept up in the re-education program leading the world to follow anti Christ.
Beloved, don’t be upset with me please, REPLACING GOOD WITH EVIL PROPELS IGNORANTLY.
If you are no bathing in the Light of the Word of God daily, you remain in the dark with those in the world EVEN if you are saved!
Replacing Good with Evil Ends Badly….because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Beloved, it is not a difficulty to understand that calling good evil and evil good does not change the reality of that which is good or evil. This is not too difficult to understand.
Putting darkness for light and light for darkness, or bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, no such mental permutation or replacement will alter the fact that light are darkness are opposite one another, and the taste discerns that which is sweet or bitter. The reality of those things will always remain real.
God certainly will reward all evil according to is doing, and gather the good to be with him for ever.
We are now living in a time when the truth of Gods word has been removed from those who were once called The People of The Book.
There are some in this Church who could still be called that today, are you one of them?
Let me close on a final example.
THE WEDGE CAN ONLY BE USED IN DEAD OR DYING WOOD.
LIVE HEALTY TREES DON’T HAVE CRACKS.
If you are trusting wholeheartedly in the Lord, and if you are being watered by his word, nourished and fed by the scriptures, you “…shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3)
There will be no cracks in your life where Satan can even begin to insert that wedge. So too with this Church. If we are alive in the Lord and we know and trust his word, and we are all growing in the knowledge and love of the Lord, there should be no cracks where that dividing wedge could be inserted.
But if you are being distracted from the Lord, if you are not placing him first in your life, if you are not really reading your Bible daily and not really praying daily, the cracks will soon appear before the devil, and it won’t take long before a wedge finds its place.
All it will then need is a negative event, a clumsy word, a sudden mishap to hammer it in further, then another event, then another.
You have in your hands something more precious than Gold, more refined than pure silver, rarer than the rearrest jemstone. Read it.
[1] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/red-terror-set-macabre-course-soviet-union
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin
[3] https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Purge
The post KJV Only: Pt 7 The Permutation of Truth appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The prohibition of truth began in the Garden and extended to this very day. From the murder of the prophets to the crucifixion of Christ, the feeding of Christians to the lions in Rome, to the Roman Catholic barbaric inquisition that lasted as long as three centuries in Europe. The horror stories of history, even to this very day, testify that TRUTH IS PROHIBITED and attended to often by the silencing of life from the testifiers of truth. There is no place for the Word of God in this world, other than to those who believe. Little wonder there is such passionate attack on the Bible.
The post KJV Only Pt 6 The Prohibition Of Truth appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Make It Plain1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Hab 2:1-4)
IntroductionTwo weeks ago we concluded the Standing Strong Youth Camp. A wonderful blessing to everyone who attended and especially to those 18 souls who gave their lives to the Lord and were saved.
What stood out to me more than anything at that camp was the clarity and the urgency of the Gospel and how incredibly it was received.
People were literally transformed at the camp and it was evident even to some of the children.
I had a letter from one mother who wrote in part;
As further evidence of the power of the camps, in achieving its ministry vision, my son also commented on the stark contrast of attitudes exhibited by some of the boys he had connected with. I am grateful that he had the opportunity to bear witness to these changes and to be able to gain an insight into the contrast exhibited between the “before” and “after” giving one’s heart to Jesus.
Make It Plain For Warning
Make It Plain For Safety
Make it Plain For It’s Certainty
Make It Plain For Justice
Make It Plain For Warning2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Make it plain for warning.
The passage in Habakkuk sees its historical setting just prior to the captivity of the Jews to the nation of Babylon, where King Nebuchadnezzar had come to take away their place and nation.
We see in the introduction of the book in Habakkuk 1:5–6
5 …. for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
So, we see that the warning of chapter 2 is for them.
Manassa the evil son of Hezekiah was said to be the king of the southern kingdom of Judah at the time, and the waring was apt, for his reign was one of the most evil in the history of the nation where it was said that “he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon” (2 Kings 24:4)
The warning therefore was for the people of the nation for the evil that was to come upon them, a warning that was to be made clear, a warning of danger of the most terrible kind that the nation had never yet experienced but was warned about as far back as Moses in Deuteronomy;
See Deuteronomy 28:48–50
Even then God made it plain, even some 800 years earlier God had made it plain for warning.
… Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
The temporal warning is clear, but what of the eternal?
God warns of a clear and present danger that is to come upon the people that will affect their temporary lives, yet what are we to say with respect to his warning for the eternal?
God warned that the people might fear the danger. God warned that the people might take heed, “that he may run that readeth it”, yet what about the warning of the eternal soul of all mankind?
And how are WE to pass on that warning?
Turn to;
Matthew 10:27–28
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
There is no man alive that could ever think of anything more dangerous than hell.
None alive that could even conceive of a warning greater, a CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER that needs to be warned against for all people on earth, all people should hear, all people should be made aware of such a danger as this,
SHOULD THIS NOT THEREFORE BE MADE PLAIN???
We place labels on containers warning of the dangers of the contents within, SHOULD THAT NOT BE PLAIN?
We place signs on roads warning of the danger ahead, SHOULD THAT NOT BE PLAIN???
Warnings are found on cigarette packets,
warnings in workplaces,
warnings of overhead power lines,
every time you fill up your tank at a petrol station there is a warning to safeguard your bodies,
ARE THEY NOT PLAIN?
The vast majority of these warnings are a “just in case” warnings.
“Just in case” you open and spill the hazardess chemical, “Just in case” your phone interferes with the operation of Boeing 747 aircraft electronic system, “Just in case” a virus is passed on to you by a “Close Contact” etc. But what about the warning of inevitability?
Death is not a “just in case” proposition, it is inevitable.
What about the warning of the greatest danger of all after ones death, ETERNITY JUDGEMENT AND CONDEMNATION IN HELL?
There are parents that warn their children on how to cross the street. They warn them not to talk to strangers, they warn them to be sure to wear a helmet and they warn them PLAINLY and CLEARLY just in case…. But how many CHRISTIAN Parents warn their OWN children about eternity?
I have seen FAR FAR too many Christian parents NEGLIGENT in the most important care of all for their kids. Think that somehow OZMOSIS will interact with the child and they will somehow “catch on”.
All this while the very school system they submit their children to are ACTIVELY HANDING THEIR KIDS DIRECTLY INTO SATANS HANDS!
“What can the theistic Sunday-school, meeting for an hour once a week, and teaching only a fraction of the children, do to stem the tide of a five-day program of humanistic teaching?”(Charles Francis Potter, Humanism: A New Religion
There is a reason so many responded to the gospel at the Standing Strong Camp last week, there is a reason why many had returned home with much to think about, it was because the Gospel in the Bible is clear and was presented clearly and then clarified further in the cabin devotions.
The children had a clear and plain message for which they were able to make a clear and plain determination. The gospel made sense, the danger was clear and present, and the hope of eternal life, the safety of their soul was presented with a clear choice to be made, and so many believed and were wonderfully saved.
God makes the danger PLAIN that the warning might be CLEAR!
Most people still think that they can be good enough to enter into heaven.
They trust that their own good works will save them. The vast majority of the planet vainly trust that as long as their good outweighs their bad then they are safe from ANY condemnation.
But not only does that not work for matters eternal, it does not work in real life.
Your freedom is not predicated on you being more good than bad, it is given as a privilege for as long as you DON’T BREAK THE LAW. Once the law is broken, your freedom can be taken from you.
You are privileged to drive on the roads ONLY for as long as you OBEY the road laws, when you disobey you are punished.
So it is NEVER A CASE OF Good outweighing bad!
But not only is this true, neither do they know HOW good is GOOD?
Is the pass mark 51%, 60%, 70%?
Many years ago my subject in Bible college was Church History. The exam component was %80 of the mark and the essay was 20%.
I was too busy running my own business as well as everything else and so I left off doing the essay and just did the exam.
Well I got almost 100% for the exam and I was satisfied that I finished the subject.
When the result for the class came in I had a total of 79% and was happy I passed. Only the teacher told me a passing grade was 80% and so I had to do the subject again to pass.
What is the requirement for HEAVEN? What is the “passing grade”? 50%, 80%…?
God made plain how good we are;
Psalm 53:2–3
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. 3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Ecclesiastes 7:20
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Isaiah 64:6
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
That is the OLD Testament, lets see if the New Testament agrees.
Romans 3:10–19
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
God has given to man TEN commandments that man might understand what “Good” is,
Now he speaks to the law and its purpose
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
God has made it plain for warning
Make It Plain For Safety 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it
None of the warnings given to man are without the purpose of safeguarding him IF he takes heed to them.
EVERY SINGLE Warning in the world has the PRESERVATION OF HIS temporal SAFETY in mind IF man takes heed to the warning and safeguards himself.
So too it is with the ETERNAL.
God has made it PLAIN UPON TABLES for one specific purpose, “that he may run that readeth it”, that he might take shelter, that he might turn and run.
We have spent time speaking about the Bible, specifically why we believe that for the English speaking people, the King James Version of the Bible is the PERFECT PRESERVED WORD OF GOD.
We have spoken of the multitude of corruptions in modern translation.
We spoke of Satan’s original ploy and how it was through creating doubt in Gods words in the very beginning that led to the fall of mankind.
We spoke of his ingenious tactic;
Create doubt in Gods words “Yea hath God said….” (Gen 3:1)Denial of Gods words “Ye shall NOT surely die” (Gen 3:4)Finally to set up a replacement of Gods words “…in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods” (Gen 3:5) Should we be surprised that if there is ONE BOOK Satan wants to obscure, to create doubt in, to corrupt so the warning is NOT plain upon tables, for he desires that no man might “run that readeth it” it would be the Bible itself?
BUT GOD had promised to preserve his words and he has done so all through history. God is NOT hindered by language, he CREATED language from the beginning.
Anyone who has gone overseas, or even travelled a little here in Australia, has seen warning signs in multiple languages.
Why are we so willing to accept the care man has for his fellow man, but not even consider it as possible that God so loved the world enough to “make it plain upon tables that he may run that readeth it”?
Imagine the confusion of warning signs that cant make things clear;
Imagine some danger signs, usually bright and with few words
“Hazardous Chemicals”
“falling Rocks”
“Cliff ahead” etc
What person would take warning of….
“Within this container is a certain substance that may or may not injure you depending upon whether or not you expose it to an open flame, puncture the container, damage the valve used to enable access to the contents, or in anywise abuse the substance within close proximity to your person” (AKA Hazardous Chemicals)
Or/
“Should your travel be undertaken at a day and hour when there is likelihood of prior disturbance to the grounds or rocks at elevation higher than where you are now traveling, and should said condition of those grounds have been previously disturbed by weather, or fire, or earthquake, movements of animals or any other such effort heretofore not described in detail, death or serious injury may occur through the gravitational force enacted upon the disturbance of said debris” (AKA Falling Rocks)
Sadly, we see far too many people and even pastors confusing the simplicity of the Gospel the hope of all mankind to take refuge.
1 John 5:12
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Nineteen single syllable words that both warn and have those who are willing to hear, take refuge.
make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it
Please speak the gospel clearly that all people might have the opportunity to safeguard their souls.
Don’t speak in circles, don’t try to manipulate the conversation in the hope that they might get it. Speak plainly of the danger that they might see and understand the gospel, the good news and hope available.
Mums and dads, are you leaving the reality of the state of the souls of your children to chance?
When it comes to the state of the soul the Bible is plain.
All of mankind are sinners. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
All of mankind will die. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, …:
All risk judgement Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
That is making the warning plain upon tables
But how is a man to run that readeth it?
There is ONLY one thing that is needful;
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31) The gospel is as plain in the New Testament as it was in the Old testament, there is NO CONTRADICTION between these two books.
Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about the old Testament saying;
John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Turn to Isaiah 53
We will read the first six verses, and you can read the last six to indentify who it is that Isaiah is writing of 700 years before he came.
Isaiah 53:1–6
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Make it Plain For It’s CertaintyPlain for Warning
Plain for Safety
Plain for its certainty
2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
And I would wonder why it is that so many stand still and wont run when the reality of it all is so certain?
ALL men know they are in danger.
They see their sin that lays hard against them, they know that God is and yet have convinced themselves that they are in no danger whatsoever.
Satan has deceived multitudes in having them think the city they dwell in is safety and there is no sign of danger.
In 1980 a man by the name of Harry R Truman was the owner and caretaker of Mount St Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake near the base of the mountain. He was warned again and again that the volcano was not far from erupting and needed to safeguard himself.
As the mountains very shape was changing before his eyes, he still stubbornly would not take any warning, convincing himself that he was safe. He and his lodge were buried under 46m of volcanic debris.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
That is the picture of wilfully ignorant men who are aware of danger but convinced they are safe. There is no rush, no urgency.
There was a story of Satan and his devils around a table like the Knights Templar, discussing the best way to deceive man. One said to convince them hell doesn’t exist, but they realised that man would work out that all evil must be judged.
Then they said, to convince them that they are all good. But the argument went back saying that everyone has a conscience that condemns them and they’ll figure it out as they get older.
The last one raised his arm and with a laugh he just said, “tell them there is no hurry” and they all laughed together trusting that that is the perfect deception.
That is the picture of the majority of the people of the world whom Satan has deceived to have them trust in their own vanity they know they will one day die, but just not today.
How many who die today have made plans for tomorrow?
But there is another story. It was the story of Volcanologist David Johnson, who is studying the Mount St Helens Volcano. He was situated in a US Geological Survey base on the side of the volcano about six miles from the mouth itself.
He is heard on a radio broadcast almost predicting that he would be hit, he said, ““The eruption could be within hours, it could be within days, or even up to a couple of months.” He then begins to chuckle, saying: “This is not a good spot to be standing in”.
On the 25th of March 1980 there were no less that 22 significant earthquakes in a single 8 hour period making plain that people ought to run, to leave the area immediately. Evacuations began around him. Forestry personal began setting up closure zones and warning the people living in the area to flee.
David Johnson remained. If anyone should have known better, it was him.
On the 18th of May 1980 an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the rictor scale destroys one side of the mountain and a few minutes later a 24 megaton blast, 1800 times greater than the atomic bomb that fell on Hiroshima Japan at the end of world war two, shattered the north face of the mountain.
The last words of David Johnson on the radio was “Vancouver, Vancouver, This is it, This is it”.
His body was never found.
The information was made plain for the sake of safety.
The volcanologist was a professional who understood the unpredictable nature of live volcanoes. He studied the signs of a near eruption.
Like the professional theologian who should know better, Johnson knew with absolute certainty that his life was in danger, yet he thought he made his plans well.Even though the very ground under his feet shook a fortnight earlier, he still thought he would make a “death bed confession” if you will.
This is the state of everyone who denies the reality of God and the inevitability of death.
They think they are safe, the trust they have made their escape well.
Some have even heard the truth of the Gospel, studied the Bible in detail, even become theologians trusting they will make their escape at the appointed time.
They saw the salvation of the thief on the cross who believed in Jesus just before he died, and they expect they will get the same opportunity.
The Bible speaks of the man that has his trust in his riches;
Man has no guarantee of another hour let alone another decade.
Job 12:9–10
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
Make It Plain For Justice3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
There are two that are justified by this fourth verse. One is he who believes the truth of that which he reads by faith. Like Abraham, he believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Gal 3:6).
The other is God himself;
Imagine for a moment being charged for breaking a law that you had no reasonable possibility of ever knowing was a law! Can that be just?
Imagine a system of laws that are so vague no person alive could have any reasonable knowledge was a law!
We remember the Roe v Wade ruling of 1973 that justified the murder of any child not yet born.
That law came about by a re-imagining of the constitution of the United States by Justice Blackman who wrote the majority opinion in that case.
He reimagined the Constitution of the United States by stating the inside the Constitution are Penumbral Rights, these are obscure rights that may or may not be articulated in the constitution as “reasoning by interpolation” according to the dictionary. In other words, they are shadowy ideas that might be seen by someone as true.
So Justice Blackman saw in the Constitution of the United States some ‘Penumbral Rights’, and in those Penumbral Rights he saw a shadowy unarticulated “Right to Privacy”, and inside this unwritten Right to Privacy he saw that women had the right to an abortion in the first two trimesters without interference from the state and in the third trimester if the mothers health is in danger.
Now beloved, you will read that constitution for a hundred years and never anything about ‘The Right to Privacy’, Penumbral rights or anything about abortion. However, now in an unjust society 400 million children have been killed around the world in the last 50 years.
We agree that ignorance of the law is no excuse, but what we are referring to are laws that are not only unnatural and unusual, but unreasonable and unknowable.
A JUST Society has a system of law that are both few and clear, an unjust society writes laws that are many and vague.
God however is JUST and the Justifier of him that him that believes the gospel.
Romans 3:19–31
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
That passage should be read again and again for there truly is so much in it.
In short,
All mankind has sinned and stand condemned before a holy God.
For God to be JUST, he must both condemn and punish ALL that sin, which is all mankind.
God has given to man his law, he has made it plain upon tables, and in reading the Law “every mouth is stopped”, all of us are condemned by what the law says of us. The world has become already guilty before God.
Now, naturally, if all are ALREADY guilty having broken the law, verse 20 makes perfect sense that by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
In a driving analogy, knowing what the speed limit is does not save you if you have already broken it. The law ONLY reveals to you that you have broken it. Like when you get the fine in the mail.
No amount of OBEDIENCE to the law is going to make up for when it was broken, the fine must be paid.
Now all the prophets of the Old Testament testify of the coming of Christ through the righteousness of God.
21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which isby faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe
Verse 24 tells us that Christ had come to do what man could never do, Christ came to pay the fine that man could never pay;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,
Look at verse 26;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
God warns man of his danger.
Man in his own ability, CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF.
God must punish sin.
God sets forth Christ to be a propitiation, a just and full satisfaction of God’s divine law and character paid for in full through his shed blood, that through faith in his blood, man may be saved.
There is NO POINT warning man of the danger IF MAN HAS NO ABILITY TO ESCAPE THE DANGER.
Without Christ paying for the sin of mankind, NONE WOULD BE SAVED!
But man must also be free to choose to escape.
But must have the opportunity to DENY Gods grace.
In this not only can man be justified through the blood of Christ, but GOD is seen as JUST in both warning man AND giving to man a way of escape!
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus!
God has made both the warning plain,The way of safety plainThe certainty of that which is to come, PLAIN.The justice of his nature, plain. Jesus died for the sin of mankind; it is written plainly that he may run that readeth it.
Where does he run?
Straight into the arms of Jesus!
.
The post Make It Plain appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
One Thing Is NeedfulLuke 10:38–42
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Tonight I will be presenting the wonderful gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For those who do not know specifically what The Gospel is, it’s definition can be found in 1 Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians 15:1–4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Jesus dying for our sins is that substitution of his life for ours, and it was according to all that was spoken of in history past in the Old Testament. That he was buried and rose again the third day is the single most attested fact of all history. In fact, scholars have said that if the method used to deny the resurrection of Christ was applied to any other historical event, all written and documented history would need to be denied and wiped away.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot be denied. Excused, explained away it has been attempted, rejected it still is to this day and perhaps by some of you here.
Tonight I am going to give you all an opportunity to believe the gospel. To those who have believed it, it will be an opportunity to rejoice that you have been saved as the Bible teaches, and to stand with complete confidence knowing nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39)
Three points I intend to bring out for you comfort this evening and I want you to write them down so you don’t miss them;
There is One Thing Needful, it is The Care OF The SoulThe One Thing Neglected, it is The Safety Of The SoulThere Is One Thing Necessary For The Salvation of the SoulThere is One Thing Needful, it is The Care OF The SoulBut one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Here we see Jesus himself addressing Martha who was “cumbered about much serving”. She had seen Mary sitting at Jesus feet while she was attending to the work in serving those people who had come with Jesus.
Martha clearly though Jesus was on her side as she worked while Mary sat.
But Jesus responded contrary to what Martha supposed saying;
… Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
I want to share with you this evening that the “One Thing Needful” Jesus spoke of, is the one thing needful for ALL people and not limited to Mary.
Lets consider the context that we have here.
Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Who is Jesus? The Son of God, in fact he is “the very God of peace” (1 Thess 5:23), he is “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim 3:16), Jesus said to Phillip, “he that hath seen me hath seen the father” (Jn 14:9).
Mary was therefore sitting at God’s own feet; therefore the “One thing needful” is attending to is the ONE thing of all things most needful.
Jesus saying ONE thing is needful and stopping there without further qualification, he is not saying ANYTHING else is MORE needful than that which Mary is attending to.
Only the Care of the Soul could be the One Thing Needful that Mary was nourishing at the feet of Jesus.
Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
All of mankind is lost.
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
And Jesus came to wash our sins away that our souls might be white as snow, clean as pure wool. Isaiah wrote of this saying in
Isaiah 1:18
18 ….though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
It is not possible to think of anything more needful than the care of our souls.
Your soul is you; you are NOT your body. You are not this material bone structure, wrapped in flesh, covered in skin with blood, bringing it life.
Anyone who has seen the body of a loved one can easily see that it is now empty, the soul is no longer there but taken to its permanent home.
The Soul is eternal, the body will eventually decay and rot in the grave.
Job wrote a testimony of it in
Job 19:26
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Here he testifies two incredible things, the one is that his body will ultimately decay, yet also that he will rise with a new body to see God.
Nothing could be more Needful than the care of the soul;
and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Consider for a moment what care you have ever given to your own soul.
The One Thing Neglected, it is The Safety Of The SoulIt is sad to see that in our lives the one thing that is needful, is also the one thing that is too often neglected.
The One Thing Neglected, it is the Safety of the Soul.
Here we see Martha, just like you and I too often are, “cumbered about much serving”, and careful and troubled about many things. But the only thing too often not cared about, the one thing neglected is the safety of the soul.
The one thing Martha neglects seems also to be the one thing Mary found “Needful”.
She sits at the feet of Jesus and hearing his words, she is nurturing to the fullest extent the needs of her soul.
That Eternal reality of EVERY PERSON EVER BORN.
All this, while Martha is “careful and troubled about many [other] things”.
How much is the a picture of many people.
Too worried things that don’t really matter. Arguing about things that are of little to no value. We seem content to fight the political fight of slavery, the fight against abortion, the fight against social justice issues to try to make the world a better place.
Christians getting distracted by everything that pertains to this life, again. trying to make the world a better place.
It seems noble.
It seems sincere.
But without the Gospel, without preaching for the safety of the soul, we are only working harder to make the world a better place TO GO TO HELL FROM!
It was Jesus whom the Bible so clearly teaches is the lover of our souls.
I find it incredible how our souls are ONE thing we often neglect, yet it is the very ONE thing Jesus died to save.
Mary longed to be saved.
She knew that she, like the Apostle Paul, like you and I, was dead in trespasses and sin (Eph 2:1), that each person who is aware of right and wrong, each person who has a conscience that testifies to him the very basic nature of justice**, will give an account,
For “it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement” (Heb 9:27)
and Mary yearned that her soul may be saved against that day.
There was a time in history that the vast majority of the world had a care for their souls.
The one question they asked was “what will happen to me after I die”, it was probably the same question you and I once asked as a child, and it’s a fair question because we ALL die.
Back then, the ONE THING NEEDFUL was not Neglected, but nurtured. It was the only thing a person could possibly care about that mattered. People suffered nightmares worrying about death and eternity.
People had a true and genuine concern for the Safety Of Their Soul.
It’s strange to me, I have worked in the construction industry for the better part of 30 years, and the ONE THING NEEDFUL in the industry was to be alive at the end of the working day. Care for injury to the physical body.
We take such Safety in our day to day lives, but NOT A SINGLE THOUGHT of Safety for our eternal soul.
The temporary life seems so much more important than the eternal.
Signs of “Danger Keep Out” warn of impending injury should we ignore it.
“Hazardous Chemicals” signs and barricade tape, reflective strips across the front edge of steps, you see it everywhere you go, ALL warning of the Danger of life or limb should it be ignored.
But the book that warns of the danger the soul is in is either ignored or silenced.
There are already so few people who warn of the danger the soul is in.
Already so few loving people enough to encourage them to Safeguard their souls. Its unlikely you will here it again. It was 12 years for me, but you are not guaranteed another day let alone another decade.
No matter how hard the world tries to reinvent the truth, REALITY REMAINS REAL.
The Book the world today ignores gives the answer with the greatest clarity and simplicity, you have already heard it in the New Testament
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
The Old Testament is not silent saying in
Ecclesiastes 12:14
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whetherit be good, or whether it be evil.
You might prefer not to believe the Bible, but it won’t change its reality.
The Judgement of our souls will either happen or it won’t happen, and it has NOTHING to do with our personal preference or feelings on the matter.
Heaven and Hell either exist or don’t exist, and it has nothing to do with whether or not you choose to believe it.
REALITY REMAINS REAL REGARDLESS!
If there is a one in a million chance that its true, the eternity of your soul depends on it.
Many people today seem to be happy giving away their hard earned money for temporary happiness with greater odds than one in a million, but happy to neglect their eternal happiness even to ponder the question!
Why is the Safety of the Soul The One Thing Neglected when it is so important?
I just don’t understand how people can be so flippant!
There Is One Thing Necessary For The Salvation of the Soul39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
We have had;
One Thing Needful, and that is the Eternal Care of Our Soul
One Thing Neglected, and that is the Eternal Safety for our soul.
And lastly we have the One Thing Necessary, for the Eternal Salvation of Our Soul.
Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.**
The joy and hope that is found in Christ, can never be taken away from us.
There are obviously those who begin to think that if we know we will go to heaven, then what stops us from sinning?
Well, the truth is we do still sin even after we are saved. BUT, we no longer love sin like we used to. When a person is born again and becomes a Christian, God has given that person his Spirit and he is changed.
Paul wrote;
Romans 8:9
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1 Corinthians 2:12
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Yes, we still sin, we may sin less, but we are not sinless.
We are different, we are changed, now we hate sin. The only way that comes about is when we are born again, born of the Spirit of God.
Turn to John 3
John 3:1–6
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Did you see it? “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God”
Every man and woman that is born is born of water, that is just part of the natural process of our delivery into the world. When the waters brake, the childs entry into the world is any moment.
We are ALL born of water, but NOT all are born of the Spirit.
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
…ye must be born again…(v7)
HOW?
Keep reading
John 3:16–18
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Turn to Acts 16:25–31
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 8:34–38
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went ontheir way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
I have shown you from the Scriptures HOW you can be saved. You will note that it is NOT my words but GOD’S words that show you the truth.
Will you believe it?
The post One Thing Needful appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Protest of Truth
Pr Edi Giudetti
15-01-2023
IntroductionWe are going to take an excursion this morning into the journey to uncertainty. How from the beginning Satan desired doubt to be created in the word of God, and how vain men in history have worked to facilitate that uncertainty.
From Abel to Zecharia the son of Berchaia i.e. From the first prophet to the last prophet Satan worked in the hearts of men to protest the word of God coming to the people, to protest the truth.
All of the prophets preached with certainty, all spoke in the name of the Lord and the people were EXPECTED to recognise it. But though they preached, the hearts of the people turned them away, they protested the truth heard.
There seems to be a natural inclination in man to do whatever it is that man desires to do, a desire that stems from the most ancient of history and it seems we have all inherited this natural inclination.
That natural inclination toward self-determination and self-delight will be defended and rationalised to the very point of self-deception. We will literally lie to ourselves, willing to deny all reality to the contrary, and accept the most bizarre beliefs to justify our predisposition.
SELF DECEPTION is one of the single most common maladies in all people, and it is a curse that ONLY humility can relieve us from. Reality will always have its day.
Isaiah wrote;
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: (Isa 28:15)
This is the reality of modern man today, but this was written almost three thousand years ago about the ancient Israelites. Proving with certainty, man has NOT Changed!
You don’t need the Bible to prove man has not changed, Read Plato, read Aristotle, read Marcus Aurelius’ or Cicero, from 2000 to 2500 years ago, mankind is the same today.
So much we see in the Bible today about the nature of man that simply HAS NOT CHANGED.
Consider this one; turn to
Isaiah 47:13
13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Is this not a very present reality among the lost of the world? They will not seek after God, they will not trust in the Lord, but they seek after vanity to save them.
Jonah wrote, “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy” (Jon 2:8)
Turn to another one in Isaiah with me just for fun;
Isaiah 30:9–10
9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
THE PROTEST OF TRUTH is the devil’s work from the beginning to this very day, to first create doubt in the word of God, then to directly question it, then to deny it, until he can corrupt it, with the ultimate aim to REPLACE IT (We will speak of that “replacement” in the Seventh message in the series titled The Permutation Of Truth).
MAN SEEMS HOWEVER TO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PREDISPOSED TO IT!
When man proudly turns away from the certainty of truth, he turns to whatever tickles his fancy, whatever it is that gives to him a temporary reprieve from facing a reality he does not want to know.
Man creates his own idol of quasi-religious ideas to suit himself.
As long as man can choose his own preference of comfort, he will defend it no matter how irrational he must become in doing so.
Proverbs 26:16
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
The vain man is a lazy man/woman
The Doubt of Truth.Genesis 3:1–3
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2
“hath God said…?”
The very first question in the Bible is asked by the Serpent.
The very first time we see the devil speak in scripture is to cast doubt on the veracity of God’s words, it is the first Protest Of Truth!
And It is the single most effective way in history to destroy your faith.
Notice how it enters in like the thin end of the wedge. In the first verse he initiates the doubt “Hath God said..?”, by the fourth verse he denies God’s words all together;
Genesis 3:4
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Until ultimately, by the fifth verse Satan is providing an alternative faith;
Genesis 3:5
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
To this very day, people believe they themselves are gods. It all began with removing that certainty, it all began with the Protest Of Truth.
It is of interest that this creation of Doubt in God’s words led to the entire fall of mankind, should it then surprise us if only Faith in God’s words can save him?
Man doubted God’s words at the first which led to his fall, it stands to reason that having faith in God’s words will lead to his salvation.
If such a device of the devil was so incredibly effective in the beginning, are we so foolish to think Satan would not continue to employ it at every opportunity?
Examples of History.Remember, the aim is ONLY to first create doubt, to raise a flag of protest. Once the doubt in ANY certainty is accepted, then and only then can you begin the transition process to replace it.
In speaking against the certainty of the Authorised Version of the Bible (KJV), which has blessed the English-speaking world for over 200 years at the time of this quote, this journal says;
“We do not make such remarks with a view to blame the translators, but to guard men against the superstitious notion that our English version is perfect. A perfect translation needs not be expected by imperfect men…” (The Expositor and Universalist Review, Boston, 1834)
This statement from 1834 is employed to create the doubt needed to have the truth questioned, then denied, then corrupted and ultimately replaced some 47 years later with the Revised Version of the Bible. That effort began an avalanche of “versions” that would come after.
Beloved, think just for a moment… If we all believe that an imperfect translation is all we can expect through imperfect men, can we EVER expect a perfect translation?
How many versions of the Bible in any given language should therefore naturally come about?
An infinite amount!
That was understood early on;
1832: “If alterations of the received version once commence, where will they end?…The reception of the ‘authorized version of the Bible,’ by the whole Christian community wherever the English language is spoken, is a blessing the value of which cannot be estimated, and the loss of which would be one of the heaviest curses which could befall the Church of Christ…If one substitution may be made, another may be; and the Bible, by this impious transmutation, become, after a few successive changes, the book of man, and not the Book of God…!” (Banner of the Church, Stimpson & Clapp, 1832)
And when it becomes the “Book of Man”, it has lost all semblance of certainty.
I recently spoke to a gentleman who said exactly the same thing. He denied the Bible believing it to be the book of man. If this man remains lost, it will be the very fruit that revisers and all those Pastors correcting the Bible have brought about. They will be the unwitting facilitators behind this man’s damnation.
My friends, the idea that a perfect bible cannot be expected by imperfect men, denies the very inspiration of the Bible, to begin with. God used “Imperfect men” to pen the very words of the originals, are we to now say that God cannot use imperfect men to preserve or translate them?
Examples of corruption in scripture;They say that “Truth” is the first casualty of war. It seems that CERTAINTY is the First casualty of doubt.
Consider this quotation by Samuel Davidson, an acclaimed Biblical Scholar, in 1873
“Revisions at moderate intervals of fifty years, will keep alive the idea of man’s limited acquaintance with the original Scriptures in all the fullness of their meaning, and prevent superstitious attachment to the letter. Whatever checks bibliolatry is good and profitable.” (Samuel Davidson, On a Fresh Revision of the English Old Testament, 1873)
“Good and profitable” perhaps for the publishers of the perversions.
Samuel Davidson misinterprets idolatry. Idolatry is NOT believing in ONE BOOK, ONE GOD, ONE SAVIOUR, ONE WAY OF SALVATION despite our personal preference, IDOLATRY IS picking and choosing WHICH BOOK, WHICH GOD, WHICH SAVIOUR, WHICH WAY OF SALVATION suits your personal preference!
Here is another from a few years earlier;
“This translation [American Unitarian Association] is a decided help in the great battle against Bibliolatry and the doctrine of verbal and plenary inspiration. Every new version, even if it be not so good as this, aids in overthrowing the power of the ‘Paper-Pope’ which has ruled Protestantism as with a rod of iron [i.e. the King James Bible!]…” (Sidney H. Morse, Joseph B. Marvin, The Radical, Vol. 5, 1869. P442)
REMOVING CERTAINTY EXAMPLES
Acts 1:3
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
“Convincing proofs” NIV, NASB,“proofs” ESV, “Proved Beyond a doubt” GNB“proved in many ways” NLT“In many different settings” The Message Certainty is removed, you cannot find a word more absolute than “Infallible proofs”. It is as certain as you can get.
Proverbs 22:21
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
“teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth” NIV “In this way, you may know the truth” NLT“and will teach you what the truth really is” GNB“to make you know what is right and true”, ESV“Believe me—these are truths that work” The Message The word “KNOW” is missing, “Certainty” is missing, and “The words of” is missing.
2 Timothy 3:14
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
“become convinced of” NIV/NASB“know they are true” NLT“firmly believe” GNB/ESV“believed” The Message 2 Peter 1:19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts
NIV: “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it” Therein the “Sure Word” has merely become a reliable “something”. And the modern versions generally follow suit. Everything seems to get downgraded to remove any certainty in any doctrine.
Hell is diluted in the NKJV until it is almost lost in modern versions.
Hell makes no appearance in the Old Testament in the NIV, ESV, GNB, NASB etc
It is found 54 times in the Bible, but only 14 times in the ESV, 13 times in the NIV; ZERO, not even once in ‘Youngs Literal Translation’.
Doubt of Jesus as God in a number of significant passages.Doubt of Salvation. Transforming it into a process rather than once only event.Doubt of the godhead (Trinity) as they deceitfully remove 1 John 5:7Doubt even about something as simple as who killed Goliath (See 2 Sam 21:19 vs 1 Chron 20:5) With such a lack of certainty, it should surprise so few people that the church today is in such a state.
The Question of Truth.Genesis 3:6
When doubt is successfully created in the mind, it is the most natural response in the world to consider the alternative that is proposed.
There is a test of the heart here.
The woman believed she had the right to examine the tree and its forbidden fruit ONLY when the truth of God’s word was put into question and then denied.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The Apostle John wrote;
1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Incredibly, the origin of “all that is in the world” is seen right here in our text in Genesis 3, right at the very beginning of the fall of man itself;
The lust of the flesh “the woman saw that the tree was good for food”
The lust of the eyes “and that it was pleasant to the eyes”
And the pride of Life “and a tree to be desired to make one wise”
If all that is in the world had its origin in the garden, and the questioning of the truth brought out those sensibilities, why would Satan ever look to change such a successful strategy?
The Denial of TruthGenesis 3:4
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
After the doubt of truth is created, the next step is its denial.
When doubt is created and established in the Bible, the next step is the practical denial you have his words.
No longer do you read the Bible the same way. Now everything is in question. When the Pastor successfully sells the idea of a “better word” or “that word is in error”, it is not long before the entire book is denied.
Let me share a story of an example of the protest of truth that led to its denial.
The story is told of a man who had long been going to Church faithfully since he was young. He always had the same pastor. One day he was suddenly taken ill and found himself in Hospital.
His pastor came to see him and to comfort him. While he was there talking to the man, the pastor asked if he had his bible with him to comfort him. The man pointed to the chair and the pastor pulled out a fragmented book that turned out to be the man’s Bible.
On the cover, the words “Holy Bible” was embossed in gold, but when the pastor opened the Bible he saw all these words crossed out, some full verses literally cut out, other words penned in, and even some pages of the Bible torn out.
Confused about what he held in his hands, he asked the man what he had done to his Bible. The man responded.
Pastor, every time you told us a word was wrong, I just crossed it out. When you told us what it should be, I penned it in. When you said the verse itself probably was added, I just cut it out, and when you told us about the last 12 verses of Marks’s Gospel, I tore out the page. Now I think I have a perfect Bible, but I don’t know if I’ll make it to church this Sunday to see if you don’t correct something else.
How many are the Pastors that would stand guilty of this act? How many are the faithful children of God who have been led astray by lazy, faithless shepherds whose greater desire is to wrap the people around themselves rather than around Jesus, who is THE WORD OF GOD.
Revelation 22:19
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
How many are guilty of that?
The Corruption of TruthBible colleges and Seminaries are the single consolidated entities that have so roundly corrupted the churches through which they had sent their students to pastor. That is self-evident!
There are NO Bible Colleges in the Bible, there are NO seminaries in the Bible, you can look through the scriptures and NOWHERE will you find anything resembling the emphasis on SCHOOLS for Pastors as you do in the world today.
Let me give you ALL the references for Colleges and Schools in the Bible, and you can consider them for yourself. (these are not in the Newsletters).
2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chron 34:22 and Acts 19:9. That is ALL. The first two are mentioned in parenthesis, the last is just a location reference.
THE GREEK CLASS
NOW the protest of truth enters its last phase before its replacement.
When you enter into a Greek class in a Bible College (2 yrs of Greek is generally a minimum requirement for your Diploma), the first thing that is attended to at the beginning of EVERY class is an example of the reasons you “NEED” Greek.
As students preparing to become Pastors, we are told without exception, that you cannot know everything God wants you to know without learning one or both of the original languages.
The English translation is ‘ok’ for the plebians in the pews, but the Preacher needs to move toward a more elevated position, beyond the reach of the plebs.
Elitism seems to be the effect on the seminary student as his eyes look to the prize of one day being above reproach.
You see once you have the ‘secret knowledge’ of being able to interpret the Bible any way you like thanks to your version of Greek or Hebrew, there are none who could successfully bring a charge against you.
If you thought you had all you needed in an English translation of the Bible, the Greek teacher will soon provide more than enough doubt to have you QUESTION what you once believed.
Let me give you at least one example that I am sure you had all heard of before, there are hundreds they use, but we only have time for one. This one is usually the first day of Greek class, perhaps after you have learnt to sing the Greek alphabet.
Turn to
John 21:15–17
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
The passage seems straightforward, Peter previously denied Jesus three times and Jesus now gives the opportunity to confirm his love for him three times. It’s evidently why Peter was grieved after the THIRD time, he knew Jesus was placing him under conviction that he might be redeemed.
“NOT SO “, Says the 1st year Greek student pastor/preacher,
Now we are going to enter into the realm of “secret knowledge”, this form of ‘Christian Gnosticism’ that only the elites can know, to whom you common folk must come for enlightenment (I am being facetious, but I ask your indulgence as there is a point to it).
You see, according to this unresearched genius who believes everything he is taught without question, the word Jesus used for ‘love’ the first two times and the word Peter uses for love, are different words meaning different things.
And indeed, so it is in the Greek language from which the English is translated.
The word for Love that Jesus uses in verses 15 and 16 is the word Agape, but Peter uses the word Phileo each time, until Jesus uses Phileo in verse 17, but does that automatically indicate a different meaning?
The Theory
The theory is that the word Agape is an absolute Unconditional Love. While Phileo is a brotherly affection type of love. The two words have different meanings in their view and Jesus was merely condescending to Peter’s “brotherly affection” kind of love without expecting him to LOVE JESUS UNCONDITIONALLY.
That is one version of how it is preached today.
Can it be confirmed?
if it is a RULE that is so vital that they are free to reinterpret what Jesus was doing with Peter in their sermons, the rule should be consistent enough to justify the re-interpretation shouldn’t it?
If the teachers of this nonsense are taking the time to tell you the reason you should study Greek, use this as EVIDENCE, you would expect it is consistent in the Bible and they have confirmed it, wouldn’t you?
If the RULE is that Agape means unconditional love, then what sort of love do you think Jesus has for Lazarus?
We will just stay in John’s gospel for now.
Turn to
John 11:2–3
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Remember, this is that Lazarus who is the only one in the Bible that we see Jesus wept for. What sort of love should we expect to see here, brotherly affectionate Phileo love Or Unconditional Agape love?
The word in verse 3 is Phileo.
Turn to
John 16:27
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
What kind of Love should we expect God the father to love you with, Brotherly Phileo love or Unconditional Agape love?
The word is Phileo, both times, both the father loving you and you loving Jesus.
Turn to
John 20:2
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
That disciple is John himself, what sort of Love would you think John would express that Jesus the Son of God would have for him if Agape actually means ‘unconditional love’ and Phileo actually did mean brotherly love?
The word again is Phileo
Second last one, turn to
John 5:20
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
If there was ANY passage in the Bible that had the capacity of proving the rule that Agape means unconditional love and Phileo meant brotherly love, this would be it!
For the Father loveth the Son”
What kind of Love does the father have for the son if Agape meant unconditional Godly love and Phileo meant brotherly affectionate love?
The word again is Phileo.
Now just to nail the coffin shut of this nonsense that creates doubt among the students of these Cemeteries, we take the case of two synonymous issues spoken by Jesus in Matthew and Luke.
Matt 23:6 and Luke 11:43
Matthew 23:6
Speaking of the scribes and Pharisees Jesus said
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
The word behind the word Love in that verse is Phileo. Now turn to
Luke 11:43
Here Jesus speaks to the Pharisees directly but says to them what he spoke to the people of in Matthews gospel account
43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
Guess what the word is in Luke? Agape.
Here now we see the norm in ALL LANGUAGES, different words do NOT always mean different things, these are what we call SYNONYMS and every language has them.
BUT SO TOO DOES the same word NOT always mean the same thing.
The context always bears out if you see bears in the woods or if you see how a man bears his burden. These are things you need to bear in mind always! (see what I did there?).
Let me conclude how the Greek classes become a burden through which NO CERTAINTY CAN EVER BE FOUND.
And I want you to understand that this complexity that I will give you remains just as confusing and in debate long after the Greek student has concluded his studies. This explains perfectly why we have over 40 different Greek Language Dictionaries. If the purpose of studying original languages was to gain certainty and clarity, you would only have …..How many language dictionaries? ONE!
THE GREEK CLASS
After the student has sung his alphabet, he then studies the sounds of the letters in their different pronunciations. After this, they are shown the different letters that are used,
Uncials and Cursives (upper and lower case). That is the last time I am going to give you an explanation of what I am about to confuse you with.
The Greek student learns that there are long and short vowels, muted, palatal and guttural constantans, they learn about breathing marks, accent marks, and punctuation marks.
We then learn about how to decline a noun but before we get to that we first need to understand What the inflexion of a substantive is where the declension comes from. In that we determine the singular or plural, the masculine, feminine and neuter.
Then comes the case of a word;
Nominative, Possessive, and Objective for both the singular and the plural, in Greek we also look at the GENETIVE AND DATIVE case together with the ACCUSATIVE depending on the ending of the noun. Some teachers have found more, Robertsons Greek Grammar adds the Ablative to the Genitive and both the Locative and Instrumental to the Dative.
Following me so far?
We are then given verb conjunctions, which just changes the way the words are spelt “I speak” will be spelt differently to “you speak”, “he speaks” or “they speak”.
That is the same in other languages like Italian as well, it’s not separate words, it just changes the spelling of the word. Not too hard so far!
The attacks on the Bible have not come in yet, at least not until, in your very limited understanding you discover that many plurals in the original language are translated as singular in English.
Why do we translate the plural Elohim as the singular “God” is just one example. Why the plural ουρανος is always translated as the singular “Heaven” After they finish messing with you there without explanation, they move on to the tenses,
The Present Indicative Active, the Imperfect, Future, first and second aorist with the first and second perfect and Pluperfect.
The moods and voices are then considered;
The Indicative, Imperative, Subjunctive and Optative. You then need to master Adjectival Participles, not one but both the predicate and attributive, then Supplementary Participles as well as the Circumstantial.
Now, just when you manage to get your head above the water to get a lung full of air, they hit you with time limitations to learn it all so you can get a good grade in your exam before you FORGET IT ALL after the exams are done
The first exam hasn’t come yet before you need to distinguish the different forms such as the Genitive Absolute, the Hebraistic Intensifying participle and that is not to be outdone by the Periphrastic Conjunction as well as the Accusative Absolute.
If you didn’t think you were quite ready to be qualified to correct the Bible yet, they then have you memorise the five thousand plus vocabulary words in the Greek New Testament.
And that’s just the basics, but usually, it only takes the first two years of Greek before you are so puffed up with elite learning, you can correct the Bible at will.
One teacher notes that To be able to properly teach the Bible you also need to gain an understanding of Anacoluthon’s, Aposiopesis, Asyndeton’s, Spirants, Syllabic Augments, Partitive Genitives, Paratactic Conjunctions, Itacisms, Hyperbaton’s, or Pleonasms, etc.
And we wonder why we don’t get Revivals!
All these are great, they all mean something about how words are used, but they do more to confuse than they do to clarify, to corrupt rather than certify the word of God.
And Satan remains content!
In your hands is everything you need. In your hands are God’s perfect words that you can understand. In your hands is not only the hope of eternal life but the testimony of the life-giver, Jesus Christ.
Learn of him.
Love him
And long for his return.
Maranatha.
.
The post Pt 5 The Protest Of Truth appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Jesus Never Comes NextLuke 9:57–62
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Follow Jesus FirstSo often is the consideration that to follow Christ is that charge that in so following we should have glory in this world, but this seems not to be the case set forward to us in the passage here.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
What a contrast this seems to be from the prophets of this world who so evidently desire the riches and comforts of this world. Jesus has nowhere to lay his head, yet could we expect the same to ever be said of the expectations of men such as Creflo Dollar, TD Jakes, Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Ken Copeland, Joyce Meyer or especially The “Bishop of Bling” Lamor Whitehead, who was recently robbed of half a million dollars of jewelry he was wearing during a service? (July 2022)[1].
There is little doubt in my mind that should all the material wealth be taken from such people, and they were to have no resting place for their heads, they would soon turn aside quickly from the way.
Luke 9:57
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Jesus did not respond that following him would enjoy the comforts of this life, not even necessarily the comforts of a bed that most people enjoy, no, not even of the home of foxes nor birds, following Jesus held no such promise.
Had this man given true consideration to the cost? Did he really understand where “whithersoever thou goest” would take him?
Consider the disciples of the Lord and their own promise to Christ as they desired to share in his glory.
Mark 10:37–40
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
The cup Jesus spoke of that they should drink was that same cup Jesus prayed thrice that “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Mt 26:39), but their answer seemed to have been given rashly, I’m not convinced they considered the cost either. Nevertheless they did “drink of that cup” and followed Christ to a cruel death.
But as Jesus entered into his glory, they also followed him there.
Beloved, it is not the comforts of this life that should be the expectation of those who follow Christ, it is the hope, joy and glory of life everlasting that does so.
There is no hard and fast rule that states we would all suffer discomfort of life or even martyrdom, but there should also be no expectation in our minds that our lives will never endure trials.
Those who truly followed the work of the Gospel had already determined in their minds that the comfort of eternity is worth all the trials of the temporal. It was the Christian martyr of Equador, Jim Elliot, who said, “he is no fool to give up that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose”. People like him gave up the expectation of this worlds goods, like Moses, they too …
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward**. Hebrews 11:25–26
For many centuries, the simple teaching or reading of the Bible alone would have many “drink the cup that Jesus drank”.
“One Christopher Shoemaker, in the early 1500’s, was burned alive at Newbury, in Berkshire, England, was accused of having gone to the house of a John Say, and “read to him, out of a book, the words which Christ spake to his discyples…”.
In 1519 seven martyrs were burned in one fire at Coventary, “for having taught their children and servants the Lords prayer and the ten commandments in English…”
A Jenkin Butler accused his own brother of reading to him a certain book of Scripture, and persuading him to hearkin unto the same.
John Barret, a goldsmith of London, was arrested for having recited to his wife and maid-servant the Epistel of St James, without a book….
Thomas Phillip and Lawrence Tayor were arrested for reading the Epistle to the Romans and the first chapter of St Luke in English”
Beloved these are just some who followed Christ out of a pure heart and during times when there was KNOWN antagonism against the gospel of Christ. Yet I wonder what level of timidity it is in us that we so quickly limit our love for Jesus, unwilling even for fear of a awkward look that we keep our tongues silent?
We have NO RISK of being killed for our faith in Australia today.
No risk of being burned alive for reading out of the bible today.
No risk of imprisonment for simply reciting from memory a verse of scripture, yet far too many of us remain quite UNWILLING TO FOLLOW CHRIST “Withersoever he goest”!
I just quoted from John Foxe in his history of persecution of those who were willing o follow Christ no matter the cost, think now of the contrast with those modern preachers of today who are unwilling to follow Christ lest they offend their pay cheques.
Their they are in their gorgeous apparel, they claim to be doing the work of the Lord while ensure they have multiple homes in which they can “lay their heads”, they are famous, well known and some even very rich. I’m sure you have a few in your minds eye.
Now consider this Baptist circuit riders correspondence in 1803, as he speaks to his itinerant preaching works two hundred years ago;
He writes;
“Every day I travel, I have to swim through creeks or swamps, and I am wet from head to feet, and some days from morning to night I am dripping with water….I have rheumatism in all my joints…What I have suffered in body and mind my pen is not able to communicate to you. But this I can say; While my body is wet with water and chilled with cold my soul is filled with heavenly fire, and I can say with St Paul: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy”. [2]
To this preacher, Jesus Never Comes Next.
He denies his present comforts that he might follow Jesus withersoever he goeth, that he and others may claim on eternal life and happiness.
What of you? Does Jesus come first, or next?
Personal Responsibilities NextLuke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
What might seem on the surface to be a harsh response needs to be considered in the light of reality.
As you read your Bible it is vital to remember that the perspective of God is NEVER focused on the temporal, but the eternal. The temporal is certainly dealt with often, but it is still always in the light of the eternal. The temporal matters ONLY in light of eternity.
The cup of water we give in the name of Christ shall not lose its reward (Mrk 9:41)
Jesus calls the man to follow him, but the disciple’s priority is to follow Jesus next, “LORD, suffer me FIRST” says he, because FIRST he has his responsibilities to take care of.
Now just in case you think your responsibilities are important, the Bible puts water all over it by demonstrating that not even the burying of a loved one should take precedence before following Christ;
But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Those of you who say you can’t come to Church on the Lords Day because you have to work FIRST, you put Jesus next!
Those who say you have your businesses to attend to FIRST, you put Jesus NEXT.
Those who say you need to take your children to sports FIRST, place Jesus NEXT.
Those who need to bury your father FIRST, put the work of Christ NEXT.
Jesus has his answer in light of the reality that MATTERS FIRST.
Jesus never comes next.
Do you begin your day with the Lord FIRST, or do you give him the leftovers after you have attended to your responsibilities, if any?
Do you give for the work out of your FIRST fruits, or will you only give for his work if there is anything left after all your expenses and proffered comforts are met with?
TIME AND MONEY both seem to find their respective responsibilities taking precedence, and we leave our trust toward Jesus to come NEXT, if at all.
We set our alarm for just enough time to get up, eat breakie and travel to our work responsibilities, but never enough time to read our Bibles or pray.
We set our living expenses to the level of our income and have little to nothing to give for his work.
In other words, we set our responsibilities FIRST and Jesus NEXT, while he promises to bless us if we set him FIRST!
Now, each of us have our responsibilities in life and we are to attend to them with diligence, it is not to do the one and leave the other undone, both are our responsibility. This is not limited to time and money, but it extends to our faithful attitude in all things including how we live our daily lives toward others.
Turn to Luke
Luke 11:37–42
37 And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not firstwashed before dinner. 39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 40Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? 41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. 42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Judgement and the Love of God was to come first, but in its place, they did their religious observance and think they have attended to all their responsibility.
The Lord spoke in the same way respecting giving to the needs of elderly parents;
They claim they have given to the work of the Lord in the temple, and trust that somehow the elderly parents are helped by it, but Jesus said;
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition (Mrk 7:12-13)
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Beloved, when you put Jesus FIRST, in ALL things, everything else follows in its proper order.
Personal Relationships Next61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Probably one of the most difficult considerations for many people is that our love for Jesus is to come first. Following him is the first priority in our relationships.
Wives are to love Jesus well above loving their husbands, Husbands are to love Jesus well above loving their wives.
Our relationship to Jesus is always to be first and never NEXT. Those placing Christ next, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Don’t look at me that way beloved, I didn’t write it!
Now before you husbands and wives get jealous of Jesus, you must first appreciate his love for you. You must first appreciate the infinite love with which he loved you to save you and loves you to KEEP you.
John wrote;
1 John 4:19
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
Paul wrote;
Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Such love to us Jesus gave FIRST PRIORITY to exercise. He loved us FIRST, even before his own suffering on the cross.
The single greatest expression of love ever manifested to mankind was his death on the cross.
The most unjust and selfish act ever committed by man was putting him there.
Consider the contrast for a minute!
The rulers of the time were fearful that in keeping Jesus alive, they themselves would be displaced;
John 11:48
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
How many are the people who will not love Jesus first because they fear they will lose the love or respect of friends or family or work collogues?
How many deny the Lord in their actions if not their words because they fear the relationships with others might be altered or despised?
Peter testified that “though all forsake Jesus, he never would”, and yet when doubt filled his heart, he did not put Jesus first, but last, Jesus came next.
Peter even changed his manner of speech to speak as they did so they would not think he was associated with Jesus.
Turn to Matthew 26
Matthew 26:73–74
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
We Christians tend to speak differently to the world, our speech often betrays us.
Its interesting that Acts records their boldness of speech when they put Jesus First saying;
Acts 4:13
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
But when we put Jesus NEXT, we change our speech to match our friends and collegues.
Ever done that?
Did your relationship with others come first and Jesus NEXT? Does it still?Is your faith the best kept secret at work? Is your life a living testimony of Christ or an evident denial of him? Peter denied the Lord thrice, how many times have you done so?
It’s interesting that we seem to unconsciously see that our evident love for Jesus may have the natural effect of repelling some people away from us, but we fail to see that that same love may actually also draw some people toward Jesus.
Paul cites this faithfulness in us to effect life or death in those who hear it;
Turn to;
2 Corinthians 2:15–16
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
There is a natural effect upon our relationships when we put Jesus FIRST, it will attract some and repell others, BUT do not be fooled into thinking that what we immediately observe testifies to what is actually going on or will remain for the long term.
Some will seem to hate the gospel testified in your life, but are watching your sincerity in it and may indeed be moved by it.
Others will be draw to you and to Christ, but may soon turn aside.
This includes HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
God is NOT in the business of separating husbands from wives and wives from husbands, did you know that?
Yes, there is division that Jesus speaks of in the home, but it is quite interesting that there is NEVER a mention of husbands and wives being divided in the one household;
I do not have the time to get into it this morning, but look up both Matthew 10:34–37 and Luke 12:51–53
Consider what relationship is NOT at variance in that example!
Consider which TWO are not separated in Luke’s account when all the others are noted.
Paul tells us that our faithfulness in placing Jesus FIRST may indeed effect a change in the life of an unbelieving spouse.
1 Corinthians 7:16
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Beloved this is the secret result of putting Jesus first in your life.
Jesus died to reconcile you to him, do you really think he can’t reconcile you to your wife or husband if you put him FIRST?
The more you love Jesus, the more you come to love everyone else. True love is NEVER DIVIDED. Any of you who have more than one child know this to be true.
True love ONLY EVER MULTIPLIES.
And when your love for Jesus reaches the most it can reach, YOU WILL EVEN LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!
Jesus Never Comes NextBeloved, there is something incredibly intriguing that occurs when Jesus does not come FIRST in all things.
We spoke of responsibilities and we spoke of relationships, and stated that these are often placed before Jesus.
However, I did not claim that these are first when we put Jesus next. Its not our love for our responsibilities that are placed first, nor is it our love for others that is placed first; When we place Jesus NEXT it is our love for SELF that is placed first.
Turn to;
2 Timothy 3:1–5
Here we will see that in a time that the love of many shall wax cold, the natural effect of the loss of OUR FIRST LOVE, will be a love of self. What I want you to see is its downward spiral.
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
First in responsibility, first in relationship, When Jesus is NEXT, we serve ourselves first, we love ourselves first.
We become the supreme focus of our lives and our comfort becomes the most important priority of all. And look at how civilization turns out in a time described by Paul as “Perilous”!
Do you think this is the reason you might not share the gospel? Do you think this is the reason your relationship at home is not what it should be? Are you doing all you can to please your wife so you can be happy? Ahh, happy wife happy life you say…but what of eternal happiness?Wives, are you doing likewise? Mothers, are you doing so with your children? Are you putting them before Christ, does Jesus come NEXT at home?Men, are you doing this in your work places? Does the testimony of your actions and mouth evident to your work collogues you are not really serious about Jesus? Do they see that you put him NEXT? But imagine putting Jesus first in all things. Imagine loving God with all your heart, mind soul and strength, putting him first in both responsibility and relationship, would it not then be easier to love others without conditions?
Our love for Jesus cannot help but multiply our love for others, for our family, our brethren, our friends and our enemies….and THEY WILL CERTAINLY SEE IT, either this or the other side of eternity.
Let me tell you of a woman who eventually came to realise that Jesus Never Comes Next.
FANNY CROSBY
She was born in 1820, at six weeks of age she had a minor eye inflammation and a doctor paid a home visit to help the child. He placed a hot mixture of moist material such a bran, flour and herbs, called a ‘poultice’ over her eyes that is typically used to relive soreness and inflammation on the body, but he laced it on her eyes. Sadly the child was blinded for life by it.
The child’s name was Frances, Jane Crosby, and her love for Jesus had no competition in her life, she put him first above everything. She could have complained as many do today, for why she was made blind, but she did not. Rather than focus on her disability, she purposefully drew her heart toward Christ.
Everything else would come next, but not Jesus.
Her father died in the year she was born, and her twenty one year old mother became a widow. There was no support for blind children in those days; no disability pension, no welfare for the mother to help cope with bringing up such a child.
She began writing poetry at eight years of age, God having a peculiar purpose for her life. She recited much of the Bible, her failed eyesight evidently leading to an enhanced memory and acute ear. BUT Though she knew of Jesus, she did not yet “know” him.
Indeed, she would still go through school and even become a teacher, before, at the age of 31 years, she was converted to Christ. It was a dream that first inspired a question in her. In that dream a close friend of hers was dying and she heard the question, “will you meet me in heaven?”. On wakening however, she found her friend in perfect health, but the question remained.
It was during the singing of a hymn called “Alas and did my Saviour bleed” by Issac Watts, that struck her with the sudden thought of Jesus, and by the time she came to the verse “here Lord, I give myself away”, that she offered herself to God and was filled with light and joy of the spirit of God.
Fanny got married in 1858, at the age of 38 years, the joy of the event was marred a little later with the death of her first and only child in infancy, it would be her love for Jesus that would help her endure the battle with depression that she suffered afterward.
From 31 years of age, until her death a month before she turned 95 years of age, Fanny Crosby wrote over 6,000 hymns of her Lord, many we still sing today, some have led many safe into the arms of Jesus.
There have been many that never believed Jesus ought to come NEXT, those that have put him first have the most blessed of life even through trials.
They trust him, they say with Job, “though he slay me, yet will I trust him” (Jb 13:15)
They endure the trials of persecution and affliction as did Jeremiah, yet they say also as he did, But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay** (Jer 20:9).
They might have suffered affliction as did the apostle Paul who testified to his ordeals for the sake of Jesus, And yet with all this trial and sorrow, he also testified;
1 Corinthians 9:16
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Beloved, though it seems a contrary idea that putting Jesus First, all things take their proper place, yet it seems to be the ONLY way true blessing comes our way.
Jesus said;
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Choose you this day, either Jesus comes next, or he comes first.
As for me and my house, I aim that Jesus Never Comes Next.
At least, not until he comes again.
Maranatha.
[1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-26/preacher-lamor-whitehead-robbed-of-jewellery-during-sermon/101269210
[2] Henry C Vedder, A Short History of The Baptists (Valley Forge, Pa: Judson Press, 1907) p.322
The post Jesus Never Comes Next appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Reading: Lamentations 3:1-26
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:21-26
Introduction:
The new year is often a time when people make resolutions. Resolutions to do things better. Resolutions to make changes in their lives or habits. Yet others might be hoping for a fresh start after what might have been what the Queen described in a speech in November 1992 as “Annus Horribilis” or a horrible year. As believers, I don’t believe that making New Year resolutions is a particularly biblical approach to life. I certainly don’t believe that we have to wait until the new year to make changes in our lives or even to receive the benefits of a fresh start.
Today’s study is taken from the book of Lamentations. As the name suggests, the book of Lamentations is exactly that… a lamentation: both from the heart of Jeremiah and more importantly from the Lord.
The book of Lamentations opens with these words:
“How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!” (Lamentations 1:1)
Such a doleful statement and especially considering the question which the Lord poses in the book of Isaiah:
“What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?” (Isaiah 5:4)
And we see the evidence of that work made mention of in Jeremiah:
“Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.” (Jeremiah 44:4-5)
Plainly, the Lord had done much in the way of warning the people to turn from their idolatry [among other sins]. The picture of the vine here shouldn’t be lost on us, particularly in view of John 15. Remembering that the Father is the husbandman, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches.
Nevertheless and despite all that the Lord had done in raising a people unto himself, their continual disobedience would result in death, famine and captivity.
In many respects, the story of Israel is our story; complete with its highs and lows… Its victories and its defeats. Its faithfulness and its backsliddings. But through all this, God is faithful and in no wise cast them out completely.
The title of today’s message is “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
Pray:
The Remembrance of God Brings Hope:
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope…”
In the midst of Jerusalem’s demise, we see Jeremiah’s woes. In the first 20 verses of chapter 3 we read of his complaint to the Lord in regards to the persecution he suffered.
[Turn to]
“I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.” (Lamentations 3:1-20)
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet and we can see from these verses that he was in a terrible state. He felt that the Lord was against him and not for him. He felt trapped in a hopeless situation. He felt like the Lord had shut his ears to his prayers. He felt like the Lord had put a target on his back and his soul was pierced with arrows. And he was exhausted both physically and emotionally.
With a list of complaints like that, you might be tempted to give up on God. But of course, you know that isn’t an option. Jeremiah definitely had his moments; in particular, refusing to speak God’s word. Only to say that God’s word was like a fire in his bones and he couldn’t hold it in.
It’s not uncommon for the various pen men of the bible to set out with a long list of woes and complaints [even blaming God], and then as it were and take a deep breath… And focus their hearts and minds on the Lord.
Another prime example is Psalm 73:
The psalmist after being grieved by the prosperity of the wicked, receives this revelation.
“Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” (Psalm 73:17)
It’s always good to have an eternal perspective on things. When we do, we can join with the apostle Paul and his “light affliction”, and say:
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
In the case of Jeremiah, there’s nothing in the text to explain his change of heart, except to say that in remembering his afflictions, he was humbled by them. That’s not a bad place to be…
Make no mistake…
Jeremiah was treated unjustly by his people and in no way deserved being thrown into a well and the various other threats to his life.
Not surprisingly, the bible has a bit to say about suffering and persecution as we read in
1 Peter:
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” (1Peter 3:14-16)
And so, if you’re still stamping your feet and crying “not fair”, you’ve probably missed a lot of things:
You’ve missed the lesson to be learnt
You’ve missed the opportunity to grow
Most importantly, you’ve missed the opportunity to glorify God. And who are we to deprive God of his glory and Christ of his reward.
But at the end of these 20 verses in Lamentations chapter 3
We read:
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:21-22)
The mandate to remember God:
Question: How easy is it to forget God?
Quite easily at times [I suspect] and especially in the midst of our wild thoughts.
Because it is so easy to forget [in this case for completely different reasons] the Lord commands the children of Israel, to do just that.
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:18)
Notwithstanding we know that….the first commandment is to love God with all our HEARTS and MINDS
The means [method] to remembering God
Needless to say:
We don’t serve the god of wishful thinking and positive confession prevalent within the word of faith movement. Neither do we serve some cosmic Santa. The God who we call to remembrance answers to reality and comes from personal experience but more importantly is founded on scripture. Therefore it is only possible to call to remembrance the things that we have read and know to be true. In doing so we draw on the knowledge of his character and other attributes:
We acknowledge that God is good, and as such, will only do that which is good and right [as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah].
This was Abraham’s confession:
“That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)
We acknowledge that God is merciful as we read particularly in the Psalms:
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.” (Psalm 103:8-9)
We acknowledge that the Lord is omnipotent and able to change our situation:
“Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” (Jeremiah 32:17)
We acknowledge that God is able to transform our trials into victories.
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1John 5:4-5)
In light of these verses how important then, is it to read your bible? It goes without saying that our knowledge of God is limited by the volume of scripture we read.
The merits of remembering God
Did you know that there’s a book written in heaven which records every time you think about God?
“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” (Malachi 3:16)
It’s only when we remember God, that we reap the benefits of remembering God. Of course, a change of mind requires a change of heart, since the mind answers to the heart. We see that in Jeremiah’s case that his whole attitude changed when he turned his thoughts towards God. We know that the word of God has the power to search the heart and transform it. We also know that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Is it any wonder then that we should read this in the book of Joshua.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
If the greatest benefit of meditating on the word of God is to live a life not wallowing in self-pity, then that would be reward enough….but the bible promises you so much more. A transformed life is a continual reminder of the eternal hope which we have in Christ. And a transformed life offers you an eternal reward. And even greater is the knowledge the God gets the glory, both now and forever.
The Faithfulness of God Bestows Mercy:
“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness…”
The recognition of God’s faithfulness
Whilst we don’t instantly see any change in Jeremiah’s circumstances, we note that there is at the very least a recognition of God’s faithfulness. In some respects he acknowledges that things could be worse that is to say: “consumed” both in a temporal physical sense and in a spiritual eternal sense.
At this point we need to define “mercy”… since it is because of God’s mercy that Jeremiah says that we are not consumed. Both mercy and grace, whilst they might be easy to define, they’re impossible to comprehend. They are often described as two sides of the same coin.
Grace is often defined as unmerited favour; or in other words, receiving something that you didn’t earn or deserve. On the other side of the coin, mercy is described as not getting what we do deserve. In our case, we fully deserve the just recompense for our sins [which is hell]. Through God’s mercy, we haven’t received the just punishment for our sins.
In Jeremiah’s case, he acknowledges that the Lord is completely within his rights to leave them hang out to dry and be totally destroyed by the Babylonians. Nevertheless, he did spare a remnant…those who trusted in God’s word and went into captivity rather than try by their own means, to escape the punishment and consequences of Israel’s apostasy.
It is very easy to be consumed by our circumstances BUT if we take on board the lessons from our first point today…at the very least we will gain the peace and presence of mind to endure the trials we are faced with.
The PROMISE…repeat promise [God doesn’t lie] is that his compassions FAIL NOT. God isn’t in the habit of failing. They are new every morning and therefore available to us EVERY DAY.
AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL.
The bible states that even when we lack faith, he is faithful
“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2Timothy 2:13)
ONCE AGAIN WE SEE THAT GOD DOESN’T LIE
The realization of God’s faithfulness
Hopefully we all have had experiences and examples of God’s faithfulness actualising or materialising in our lives. As I’ve hopefully explained, the Lord doesn’t necessarily rescue us from our circumstances IMMEDIATELY or COMPLETELY. We don’t necessarily know why we go through various trials [at least not at the time we are going through them]. But what we do know is that “all things work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to his purpose” And that purpose is to be conformed to the image of Christ.
The story of Jeremiah’s life is an incredible one and filled with precious truths, promises and life lessons. Too many for one sermon.
Predestined to be a prophet
Called at an early age
Rejected and mocked by his people
He had his life threatened on a number of occasions
Thrown down a well and left to starve
Thrown into prison
Had his godly counsel ignored [the list goes on]
Only by God’s grace and mercy did he come through the other side.
There’s one amazing thing about Jeremiah’s story that I’d like to bring to our lesson today is this:
The manifestation of God’s faithfulness can come from unexpected quarters. As I’ve already stated, Jeremiah was hated and rejected by his own people. Amazingly it was the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar [an enemy] who would ultimately be blessed through. This is true to the promise that: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7)
This episode in his life comes towards the end of the book of Jeremiah. Zedekiah and his sons have been carried into Babylon; Zedekiah having his eyes put out. Meanwhile, Jeremiah is shut up in prison certainly with the promise of God to spare his life.
[Turn to]
“Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.” (Jeremiah 39:11-12)
“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon. And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.” (Jeremiah 40:1-5)
As I said,
The story of Jeremiah is filled with many wonderful truths, lessons and promises. This account certainly illustrates God’s faithfulness toward Jeremiah. Hopefully I’ve whet your appetite and you will be inspired to read the entire book.
Hope in God Gives Sustenance:
“The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him”
We saw that the remembrance of God gives hope. And the faithfulness and compassion of God bestows mercy. Now we see that hope [as defined as certain expectation] is enough to sustain us in our trials.
In a biblical sense, the word portion means an inheritance or reward. One of the first [if not the first] mention of this in scripture is in Genesis chapter 15. This comes after Abram rescues his nephew Lot and the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the other kings which were with him.
[Turn to]
“And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
(Genesis 14:21-24)
And then in chapter 15:
“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)
Incredibly, Abram wasn’t willing to take a reward from the king of Sodom, lest he be tempted to attribute the source of his wealth to a pagan king. And if there were any doubts as to the wisdom of such a response, the Lord appeared to Abram in a dream and confirmed his actions right.
In this next verse, we see the words portion and inheritance in the same sentence, reinforcing the connection between the two.
“And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?” (Genesis 31:14)
This comes after Laban deceives Jacob and changes his wages 10 times. When Rachel and Leah realize that there is no provision in their father’s house, they agree to go to the land of Canaan.
The next significant mention of the word inheritance is in the book of Numbers and refers to the division of the land and obviously the ability to sustain themselves, which would ultimately come through the provision of the tithes given by the other tribes.
“And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.” (Numbers 18:20)
I’d encourage you to do your own word study. The important lesson for us in the context of our text and the eternal implications: is that both in life and in death, the Lord has provided for our needs. Both in a physical sense and a spiritual one…
Firstly remember that:
“man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” (Deuteronomy 8:3)
Secondly that: God provided himself a sacrifice to atone for our sins and thus eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ.
We can pursue many things in life: wealth, happiness, popularity [fun, fame and fortune]
But it is only by standing on the promises of God that we receive the hope that sustains us. It is then that we will be able to answer with an emphatic “yes” to the [skeptical] question: “can God furnish a table in the wilderness?”
Jesus is our portion [our bread] in this life and Jesus will be our portion [our reward] in the next.
Whoever believes in him will never hunger or thirst…
HE TRULY IS OUR PORTION
Waiting on God Sees Deliverance:
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD”.
God is good and therefore we receive of his goodness. Truly when I think about the goodness of God, I’m speechless; it is almost as indescribable as his mercy and grace.
Nevertheless, if we have any chance of understanding the goodness of God, it pays to examine it in the context of scripture.And not surprisingly, when you trace back the first mention of God’s goodness it is associated with his deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt.
“And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 18:8-9)
What is more, is that God’s goodness is a part of his nature and character. It is a part of who he his. We see this again in the book of Exodus, when Moses asks the Lord for a sign that he had indeed found grace in God’s eyes:
[Turn to]
“And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” (Exodus 33:17-19)
Despite not seeing God, his presence was tangible. The presence of God is tangible in our lives also; by virtue of the fact that the Spirit of God indwells us.
The key [according to our text] to receiving of God’s goodness is to wait upon him. The key to receiving of God’s goodness is also to seek him. It’s an act of faith and clearly without faith it is impossible to please God who is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
An important component [if you can call it a component] to our study today, is prayer.
Psalm 27 highlights this point and begins thus:
“A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
David acknowledges that the Lord is the source of deliverance out of all his trials; giving him the strength to endure hardship and resist succumbing to fear in the face of danger.
He continues:
“Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”
(Psalm 27:7-8)
This is where we understand the importance of seeking God’s face in prayer. Which incidentally was commanded by the Lord in this instance. It was God who told David to seek his face.
The Psalm concluded with these 2 verses:
“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27:13-14)
These excerpts are perfectly consistent with our text today and help us to understand the processes of human heart as it deals with trials, tribulations and fears. And not only the processes of the human heart but also the agency of God in responding to our need for strength and comfort.
And so:
Whilst waiting upon the Lord and seeking him, is an exercise in faith, it is also an act of patience. Deliverance always comes in God’s time and not ours.
Notwithstanding, good things are gained when we wait upon the Lord. Those who wait upon the Lord are renewed in their strength as we see both in Isaiah chapter 40 and Psalm 27.
We find that quietly waiting for the salvation [or deliverance] of the Lord is also an act of patience. It must be said at this point that we are speaking of being saved in a physical sense [being delivered from our trials] and not the salvation that leads to eternal life. The context bears this out…
Here are another couple of examples:
“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
In this example we see the Israelites just prior to being delivered from Egypt. We see Moses command the people to stand still [or quietly wait] and see the salvation or deliverance of the Lord.
[Next 2 examples]
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
(Matthew 10:22-23)
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:13-14)
In these 2 verses we see the remnant of Israel preserved through the tribulation. Interestingly we read of the patience of the saints in the book of Revelation.
Just as we’ve seen faith, hope and patience working together in our trials and tribulations in our text today, I’m reminded of this verse in Romans:
[Turn to]
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
I’m sure that we would all like an easy life; free of troubles, trials and conflict. This just isn’t possible. Jesus promised that we would have tribulation in this world… he also said “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And this is why Paul is able to say that we glory in tribulations.
The question is “Do we?” I don’t say this to belittle the trials that some people go through.
But:
With every trial there is a temptation to reject God
With every trial there is an opportunity to triumph in which to glorify God
Paul also said that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us…never to be separated from that love.
Conclusion:
I pray that today’s message has been a blessing to you. And I especially pray that it changes your perspective on the immediacy of God’s help in any situation.
Knowing that:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
No doubt there have been times when you have wondered and will wonder, “Where is God in this situation and in my life”
Yet we are assured that when we seek God with all our hearts, he WILL be found.
In the words of the prophet Jeremiah himself:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
The context of these verses, whilst they relate to the nation of Israel and their imminent exile into Babylon, they are still true in many respects for the individual. Therefore it is so important to seek the Lord while he may be found.
This is absolutely dependant on the state of your heart…. Do not harden it
Throughout the Old Testament we get many and important insights into the character of God. And the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations are no different. As we see in our passage today, it was only when the prophet Jeremiah “recalled”, that he had hope. The question is: What did he recall?
One thing is certain.
HE WASN’T INVENTING A GOD OF HIS OWN LIKING OR PERSONAL PREFERENCE
Jeremiah had the benefit, not only of his own personal experience but also the Old Testament scriptures.
We too need to be looking at God through the lens of scripture. The more we read, the clearer our view of God will be.
Finally we must also uphold the importance of prayer:
As we read in Hebrews:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Let’s Pray
The post Great Is Thy Faithfulness appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
- The Preservation of TruthIntroductionAre there words in the Bible you don’t like?
Is it what you don’t understand in the Bible that bothers you, or what you do understand?
Does what the words mean trouble us, or what the words say?
The Preservation of Truth; incredible in a time when the vast majority of the secular world has wished away the truth, a topic we will come to when we speak on The Protest Of Truth in the fifth message on this series, but in a time when the world has wished truth away, so too has the Christian world largely denied its preservation.
They speak of the Bible as having all the value in the world and that it is indeed a “Holy Bible”, yet they also seem pleased to question its inerrancy and infallibility. Beloved, it cannot be a HOLY Bible if it has errors in it, it must be pure. And if God has preserved his words, it must remain pure.
So has God preserved his words and to what extent are we to expect those words preserved?
Psalm 12:6-7
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The Words, not The MessageFirst of all, I would like you to notice that it is the words that are promised to be preserved, not the message.
6 The words of the LORD are pure words:
….not the “thoughts” of the Lord, not the “ideas” of the Lord, but the “Words” of the Lord that are pure words.
It was a man by the name of Eugene Nida who developed a translation philosophy that gave license for vain men to sell multitudes of different versions of the Bible. That translation philosophy was called “Dynamic Equivalency”.
Eugene Nida was an adjunct professor at the Jesuit Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, he also happened to be a founding member of Wycliffe Bible Translators and Executive Translations Secretary of the American Bible Society.[1] Here we begin to see where modern Bible translations have their ‘cross-over’ link with Roman Catholicism, here is where we obtain a glimpse of “The Counter Reformation” instituted by the Popish church not long after the reformation began.
What we have in our hands in the KJV is a translation that employs the standard method of any translation, called “Formal Equivalency”. Formal Equivalency simply means that the words are translated formally, or as a word for word translation generally. This is not a perfect expression as the words in one language will often have a different word order, or contain elements not directly transposed into another language with a single word, but you get the idea.
The method invented by Eugene Nida is called “Dynamic Equivalency”, it moves but stays the same. Formal Equivalency always remains the same, it is equivalent, it stands still. While Formal Equivalency is a word for word translation, Dynamic Equivalency is a thought for word translation.
A word for word translation obviously has limits as to how many words fit the defined boundaries of the word being translated, but a Thought for Word translation has NO SUCH LIMITS! Whatever a “translator” might like to think is the message a word carries, that will be its definition and translation.
Many modern versions of the Bible therefore are more like a commentary in the same book, they aim to tell you more what God was meaning by his words, than his words.
Which did God promise to preserve, his thoughts or his words?
6 The words of the LORD are pure words:
Who’s words, are they?
Answer: The Lords Words
When we use Dynamic Equivalency for our translation method, i.e. a “thought for word” translation, whose words are they?
Answer: Mans words
By their very method of translation books such as;
The Revised Standard VersionThe New Revised Standard VersionThe New American BibleNew International VersionTodays new International VersionNew Living TranslationGood News TranslationContemporary English VersionLiving BibleThe Message etc All of these are Dynamic Equivalence Translations and by their very own method of translation are MANS WORDS and not Gods words.
It is the ‘Words of the LORD” that are pure words, so clearly none of these can ever claim to be pure words, for they are not the Lords words but mans.
And the Devil would say, “Thank you Eugene Nida, with one simple idea you have turned the hearts of multitudes away from the word of God, and made a fortune for those who make merchandise of God’s words with feigned words”. (2 Pet 2:3)
The Present Not The Past6 The words of the LORD are pure words:
Here now we have the tense of a word that we believe is inspired also. “The words of the LORD are pure words”, not “was”.
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The claim is often found in either the constitution of Churches or in their respective statement of faith that goes something like this;
“We believe the Bible, in the original manuscripts, are without error…”
What does that statement imply?
Here is one that I got from one Fundamental Christian church;
“We believe the Bible in its original documents is the inspired Word of God”[2]
Immediately, and without needing to go anywhere else, we find a factual fault in that text that claims to be the statement of faith of this Church, can anyone see it?
That Church has been there for many decades, yet they do not seem to see the evident contradiction in THE FIRST LINE of their statement of faith! God had not preserved the “Original Documents”, so the present tense signified with the word ‘is’, cannot apply to a document that is no longer.
The Bible says “The words of the LORD are pure words” and “All scripture IS given by inspiration of God”, but the statement of faith given by those who state they believe the Bible was without error in the originals, denies the present tense of the words that prove preservation.
In short, they have altered “the words of the Lord ARE pure words”, to “The words of the Lord WERE pure words”. They have changed, “All scripture IS given by inspiration of God” to “All scripture WAS given by inspiration of God”.
If you don’t think this matters, turn in your Bibles to;
Mark 12:19–27
19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
The entire doctrine of the resurrection, the entire doctrine of life after death, the entire reality that man endures forever, even after death takes his present life, is defended by Jesus due simply to the PRESENT TENSE OF THE VERB “I am”;
, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
You simply cannot have a statement of faith that so evidently contradicts what God says about his own words, and you certainly cannot regard a Churches statement of faith that contradicts itself.
Beloved, let’s begin to take Gods words seriously. It is his WORDS he promised to preserve, not the original documents.
The Words NOT the DocumentPsalm 12:6-7
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
God had never promised to preserve the original documents. In fact, God does not even regard the original documents. It is his words that he promised to preserve not the parchments and vellum on which the words were inked. No, not even the stone tablets. Let’s consider the first example;
Moses and the Tables of stoneExodus 31:18
18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
That is the last verse of chapter 31, now chapter 32 tells us of the idolatry of the people below the mountain, to whom the ‘tables of stone’ which have containing the ORIGINAL TEN COMMANDMENTS, pertain.
Exodus 32:7
7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
Exodus 32:15–19
15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. 17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise ofthem that sing do I hear. 19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
Beloved, this was the end of the original ten commandments given to bless the people in all their days. A just set of laws which would become the emulation of all nations. Now they lay in ruin, broken in pieces at the base of the mount.
For three and a half thousand years the people of Israel have desired to live in accord with these very same ten commandments to which none other man than Moses had ever laid eyes on the originals.
I want you to consider something for a moment. Consider the response of God, or for that matter, the lack thereof. This original document, of greater value than any single document the world has ever seen, Moses literally cast them out of his hands to break them, but God did not say “Moses, Moses what have you done, that was the only copy I had”!
What are we now to say that no one in history is able to compare any copy of the original Ten Commandments with ‘The Original’ that ONLY Moses had seen?
Yes beloved, God gave another copy, but it was just that, a copy.
Does God care for the document or the words on the document?
Consider another example;
The Pen Knife and The FireJeremiah 36:20–24
20 And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king. 21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. 22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. 23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
There we have it, the originals now burnt in the fire, what are we now to do? How is the author to recover that which was destroyed?
Jeremiah 36:27–28
27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
Jeremiah 36:32
32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.
Does God care for the Document or the words in the document?
Did God promise to preserve the original documents or the words on the original documents?
The Book and The RiverJeremiah 51:60–64
60 So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon. 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; 62 Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. 63 And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: 64 And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
Beloved, how is it that the ORIGINAL of Chapter 51 was cast into the river Euphrates over 2,500 years ago, yet we have a copy of it in our hands today?
Does God care for the original documents or the words on them?
Not The Words, But What They SayPsalm 12:6-7
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
It is truly not the words that bother people, but what the words say that convicts their hearts. They desire to deny the words because the words convict the heart of sin.
King Jehoiakim did not cut up the Originals of the word of God because he did not like the ink on the parchment, he burned the words in the fire because the words testified to him that he was evil and his nation was set to be judged.
There are those who hold that originally inspired texts of both Old and New Testaments are preserved in faithful copies and now available in the Masoretic Hebrew Text and the received text in the Greek language, known as The Textus Receptus. This seems on the surface to be a reasonable and SAFE position, but is there an underlying motive?
It is of interest that the passion with which many deny a translation into their own language to be just as authoritative is beyond moderation. Beloved, they literally HATE the notion that God may indeed have also preserved his words perfectly in a translation, and they hate it, not because of the words, but because of what the words say.
Let me explain.
In the first sermon in the series I had already alluded to the fact that we can indeed have Perfect Equivalence in Translation between languages.
That the idea that you cannot perfectly translate words and meanings is a myth represented today in almost every language app you can download on your phones.
Yes, there are some words that do not have an equivalent word in other languages, and there are some words that simply can’t be perfectly translated, there are hundreds of thousands of unique words in foreign languages, over a million unique words in the English, yet the unique word vocabulary of the Bible is only 12,858 words, out of a pool of over 1 Million unique words.
God did not need every word in a given language to communicate his words, he simply employed that which would communicate all that was necessary to the common people, who heard him gladly (Mrk 12:37).
But if we are permitted to lockup those words in a foreign language, where the words become nothing more than BABBLE to us, and we have the “Freedom” to speculate only on their translation, we are then free to remain without complete conviction of what THE WORDS ACTUALLY SAY! In other words, our opportunity to doubt the words superficially, liberates us against what they say, that our hearts might remain without conviction.
Hell does not mean hell, it might mean grave or abode of the dead. Fornication does not mean sex outside of marriage, it just means sexual immorality, which can mean whatever you feel like it means. How often did Jesus hold the people accountable to know what his words said?
Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures (Mt 22:29)Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures (Mrk 12:24)Did ye never read in the scriptures (Mt 21:42)Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life (Jn 5:39)O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken (Lk 24:25) Each of these are Jesus own words holding the people accountable to know the scriptures which they all had in their very day. It was never the words that bothered the people, but what the words said that convicts their hearts. In denying that we have the words in a language we can understand, we then have motive to not do what he says.
In 1838, Sarah Moore Grimke, in her book “Letters On The Equality of the Sexes”, one of the early feminist writers, makes a fascinating statement that both proves the majority of Christians once believed the King James Bible was the continuation of the inspired and preserved originals, but also that she had reason to hate it.
She wrote;
1838: “…I believe almost every thing that has been written on this subject [the sphere of the woman], has been the result of a misconception of the simple truths revealed in the Scriptures, in consequence of the false translation of many passages of Holy Writ. My mind is entirely delivered from the superstitious reverence which is attached to the English version of the Bible. King James’s translators certainly were not inspired. I therefore claim the original as my standard, believing that to have been inspired…”[3]
Now why does she lay claim to the Originals when the Originals are no longer able to be referred to? In short, it is so she can deny what the words of the Bible say.
By laying claim to the authority of a document that does not exist, she can deny the authority of one that does exist and take a false comfort in doing what she wants.
In 1895 Elizabeth Clay Stanton would publish The Woman’s Bible, with feminist notes, many of which mock biblical inspiration and called for women to abandon the Bible altogether. Found in the “Press Comments” in the introduction of the “Women’s Bible” is a fascinating statement by The Chicago Post saying;
“The attack of the new woman on the King James Bible will be observed with interest where it does not alarm. But let “The Women’s Bibl”e and the truth prevail. It may be that Lot himself was turned into a pillar of salt”[4]
An astounding testimony to the wilful distortion of that which is detested by those with motive.
Delete The WordsWe are told, “Reality is a stubborn thing”. Does denying the truth, change what IS true?
Zechariah 1:5–6
5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? 6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
This passage tells us that it was not the fathers that lived to convict the hearts of the people, it was not the prophets that lived forever, but the words and statutes commanded by God through those prophets and preserved to take hold and do that which the words would do in accordance with what was said.
Turn to Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk 2:1–4
1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Notice first that God intends to make his words plain, he makes his words SIMPLE enough that man may be warned, “that he man run that readeth it”.
When people say they don’t like the Bible, or they don’t understand it, generally it is not what they don’t understand that they don’t like, but what they DO understand, and just like King Johoiakim, they cut out what they don’t like. BUT DOES THAT CHANGE ANYTHING IN REALITY?
In 1820, Thomas Jefferson did exactly that. The Jefferson Bible is a book compiled by Thomas Jefferson, the famous American philosopher and statesman and 3rdAmerican President, where he literally cut out, with scissors, from six printed volumes of the KJV New Testament, to leave only that which he considered acceptable and of value.
BUT IT WILL BE THE WORDS HE DENIED THAT WILL JUDGE HIM.
John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Remember, it is not what people don’t understand that upsets and convicts them, it is what they do understand that bothers them.
Modern translations slowly remove that which they find offensive and add that which they find palatable or acceptable.
The number of times 15 Major words differ from the King James Bibleo = Omitsa = Adds = Word is Completely Removed **WORDNIVNASVNKJVRSVNRSVNCVLIV Christo 25o 34o 1 o 32o 87a 121a 44 Lordo 352o 438o 66o 36o 91o 299o 2368 Jesusa 292o 64o 2o 53a 16a 1098a 293 Godo 468o 87o 51o 111o 138a 803a 452 Godheado 3 o 3 o 1o 3 o 3 o 3 o 3 * Lucifer (1)o 1 o 1 o 1 o 1 o 1 * devil(s) (116)o 80o 82o 81o 82o 80o 74o 87 Hell (54)o 40o 41o 22o 41o 41o 39a 13 Heaven o 160o 127o 50o 83o 88o 186o 26 damned (able, ation) (15)o 15 o 15 o 15 o 15 o 15 o 15 o 7 bloodo 41o 39o 23o 26o 46o 157o 174 salvationo 42o 4o 2o 33o 37o 94o 25 Word of Godo 8o 2o 1o 3o 8o 31o 27 Word of the Lordo 25o 2a 4o 2o 3o 217o 236 Lord Jesus Christo 24o 21o 21o 22o 20o 15 Differs from the King James Bible in the New Testamento = Omitts a = Adds NKJVNIVNASVNRSVRSVNCVLIVWORDSo 2289o 5219 a 3561o 3890o 6985a 11114a 17003VERSES0o 16o 17o 18o 25o 16o 72 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:23 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:36 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
Zechariah 2:6Men may very well choose to alter God’s words, they might cut it out like Jehoiakim and Jefferson, but it will remain true regardless. You can choose to ignore the Gospel, but nothing will alter its reality. If you are not born again today, if you are not saved from the penalty of your sin, death will seal your fate and hell will be your home.
Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
God’s love was made clear to you in the person of Jesus Christ, he it was who died for your sins that you might have forgiveness of sin and the gift of life, even eternal life.
Let me make it as plain as possible to you,
1 John 5:12
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Nineteen preserved single-syllable words that make it plain upon tables.
Amen
[1] Daniels, David W.. Why They Changed The Bible: One World Bible For One World Religion . Chick Publications, Inc..
[2] https://rosecitybaptistchurch.com.au/about-us/
[3] Faust, Joey. The Word: God Will Keep It! The 400 Year History of the King James Bible Only Movement . Fundamental Publishing. Kindle Edition.
[4]https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Woman_s_Bible/Uz9spwsZuIoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=The+attack+of+the+new+woman+on+the+King+James+Bible+will+be+observed+with+interest+where+it+does+not+alarm&pg=RA1-PP6&printsec=frontcover
The post The Preservation Of Truth appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Son Is GivenIsaiah 9:6–7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peacethere shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
IntroductionIsaiah here speaks of an incredible event that would occur yet future for the people of Israel who lived in a very dark time in their history. Isaiah wrote of a Child that would be born, more incredibly of a Son that would be given, and more incredibly still is the nature of this child and son recorded as The Mighty God and The Everlasting father.
Our question this morning is not who is this Child that would be born, for we know it speaks of Jesus, but in what way was he to be given? How was he here spoken of to bring hope and light to the people of Israel who were in such darkness at the time this was written for them?
Of the Book of Isaiah wrote J Sidlow Baxter saying;
WHAT Beethoven is in the realm of music, what Shakespeare is in the realm of literature, what Spurgeon was among the Victorian preachers, that is Isaiah among the prophets. As a writer he transcends all his prophet peers; and it is fitting that the matchless contribution from his pen should stand as leader to the seventeen prophetical books.[1]
And indeed it is. It is the first of the five major prophets that begin this portion of the Old Testament, the 12 minor prophets are yet to follow that will conclude it.
The Old Testament having begun with seventeen historical books, it ends with seventeen prophetic. The historical books are broken up with the Five Books of Moses and followed by twelve other narratives, so too the seventeen prophetic begin with the Five Major prophets and follow up with twelve minor ones.
But this makes up only 34 of the 39 books of the Old Testament, and we find the missing five being the poetic wisdom books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes neatly placed in the centre, between the historical and the prophetic portion of the Bible.
There is a fascinating symmetry to the Old Testament, and it does not end here, nor does such symmetry limit itself to the Old Testament alone, but continues into the New. But I digress.
This morning we are going to speak a little of a son that is given, who came as a light in the world, and it is important to give a short historical placement of these two incredible verses that would otherwise have us a little perplexed because it says so much of one who does not appear on the historical scene for another 700 years.
The text speaks of ‘a child to be born’, and ‘a son given’, and the government to be upon his shoulders’, these three phrases are not so remarkable on their own, no doubt many children have been born to whom were given governing rule, so each of these seem on the surface to be reasonable, it is not however until will permit the balance of the verse to come into the picture that we need to take a breath and step back a little;
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Suddenly we come to find something far, far greater spoken of here than we first stepped in to see, suddenly we see that the child born and the son given, is also to be called by name Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Here we are introduced to a person distinct from all people in history, the names by which he is called being reflective of who he is.
And in the context of the passage, he is given to a people who sit in darkness, he is given to them as a light for their hope in the midst of a dark day and time.
This time of the history of the nation of Israel is a dark time.
The nation itself was already long divided; the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom separated from the two in the south, the tribe of Judah (from whence the name of Jew comes) being one of them. Judah you recall has the Davidic line of Kings through whom Christ was promised to come.
There was true darkness however, over the entire nation. It would be only a few more years and the entirety of the Northern Kingdom would be taken by the Assyrian empire into captivity and never historically seen again. And Isaiah makes the prophecy of the southern kingdom also taken by the Babylonians. Isaiah had witnessed the captivity of Israel, but Judah’s would not come for another hundred odd years.
It is certain however that by the time Jesus came, the nation shall be forsaken of both her kings. (Isa 7:16)
Turn back a little to the last verse of the previous chapter;
Isaiah 8:22–9:2
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
The darkness of Israel would be lifted when Jesus came the first time;
Matthew 4:12–17 provides the detail.
The passage in Isaiah we just read also alludes to him coming again, just while the world itself seems to have slipped into the dark.
We are not exactly living today in a time of light. No, we have no wars presently before us, at least no kinetic war, we don’t have a hot war with guns and bullets, bombs and planes, but we do all seem to feel a dark cloud overshadowing the world and even ourselves.
There is a general sense of foreboding in the world, an expectation that tomorrow is not as predictable as it once was and people finding it difficult to know what to do.
Distrust of both governments and the, so-called “fourth estate” i.e The media, adds to the disenchantment and a type of ‘take the opportunity to live while you can’ is springing up.
Couples seem to be having second thoughts of bringing up children in such a world as this, compounding an already long-standing demographic winter for the world.
This seems all under the surface, however, to us it seems quite covert yet we sense it, to Israel at the time of this prophecy, it was quite OVERT and seen, yet no more real to them was what we sense is surrounding us.
Christmas seems to have come up suddenly, in Victoria we did not even see a hint of the weather change to warn us that the Christmas season was coming and now its virtually here.
Interestingly, we call this the festive season, which has its story in history to that which Isaiah was writing of for a time yet future some 2700 years ago. Isaiah was writing of a joy to come, and we celebrate a joy that has been, and for many in this church, still is and will be evermore.
These two verses in Isaiah speak of a historical sequence, both future to Israel, but one passed and present for us. We look back to see the significance of verse 6, but still, look forward to seeing the hope of verse 7.
The first coming of Christ drew the focus of Israel in verse 6, but it is his second coming that is drawing our attention in verse 7.
Nevertheless, both are light coming during a time of particular darkness.
The Son Was GivenIsaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Certainly, one of the single most incredible portions of the entire Bible is this verse. How can it be that a Child could be born into the world and yet called such names as these? How can a human Child ALSO be “The mighty God”? How can a human son also be “The everlasting father”?.
Beloved clearly this is speaking to no ordinary man, but to Christ. It was he to whom Isaiah drew the attention of the King in chapter 7, a sign, a miraculous sign that would prove the hope that God would soon bring.
Turn back to Isaiah 7
Remember the historical reference point of the passage before us.
The Northern Kingdom is at war with the southern kingdom, in chapter seven it is the Northern kingdom teaming up with Syria to come against them. In several years this Northern Kingdom, together with her King, be taken away, but ALSO the Southern Kingdom of Judah will suffer a similar fate about a century later. Both kingdoms will lose their kings, until to the King of kings comes.
Isaiah was here sent by God to king Ahaz to encourage him of the hope to come.
Isaiah 7:10–16
10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is ita small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
Here hope is presented to be looked forward to, a hope that is purposed to lift Israel out of its darkness that is yet to get darker.
Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
The trouble of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah did not occur by accident. The people themselves drew the darkness to them because of their own sin. They disowned God, they rejected him, they did all they did because that is what they wanted to do, even though they all know it was evil and wrong.
Their own sin brought the darkness upon themselves, they would not trust God nor would they call upon him for their good.
“every man did that which was right in his own eyes” says the final verse in the book of Judges (Jd 21:25)
Yet in spite of all that, in spite of all their sin, in spite of how often they returned to do evil before the Lord like a dog returning to its own vomit, God would favour them with the most incredible light the world has ever seen, a light that has shone for some two thousand years now, a light that was forecast, and illuminated expecting hearts 2700 years ago, a light they can look forward to with hope.
But when it came to them, Israel rejected it.
John 1:11
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
WHY?
Turn to John 3
John 3:19
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
We are not unlike Israel in our own day
The dark times that Israel had gone through did not come out of nowhere. Each individual, to one level or another loved darkness rather than light, they rejected God, first in the heart, and then in the life and it spread through society until it enveloped the nation.
That is what we have done individually, through our own choices in our own day. And what is done individually soon affects a portion of the population that is difficult to ignore.
More than 10 years ago, a European study stated that 38% of Europeans are suffering mental illness of one form or another. The study’s author said “”Mental disorders have become Europe’s largest health challenge of the 21st century,” The study covered 30 countries and over 514 million people. An incredible 165 Million people in Europe suffer with mental disorders.[2]
In the United States, a 2017 study said 28% of the population suffers from alcoholism, that’s 60 million people.[3] Another 24 million people are addicted to illicit drugs[4], and over 3 million children aged between 4-17 years of age have an ongoing prescription to Ritalin or Adderall which has been shown time and again of its dangers toward psychosis[5]. 1/3 of American employees suffer with chronic stress and sleeplessness[6], and 11% of the entire population above the age of 12 years are taking antidepressants just to help them get through life with some comfort according to the Centre of Disease Control in the U.S.[7]
The World Health Organization said that Depression alone will be the second largest contributor to the Global Burden of Disease across all ages.
When we include addictions to pornography affecting 85% of ALL men and 50% of ALL women[8] in the west and addictions to all forms of other vain amusements to distract the population from reality, we are already WELL ABOVE the majority of people in the Western World living in darkness and doing all they can to avoid seeing that darkness in their own lives
This is the darkness of the world today, and those statistics are a decade old. But we don’t really need “Statistics” these days, do we? We can see it for ourselves every time we turn on the news.
When God is cast out of society so too is truth, and we are living in times of the greatest evident deception the world has ever seen…no…sorry…the world largely DOESN’T see deception, because the individuals in the world have hidden their eyes from the truth.
Turn to;
Matthew 6:22–24
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
There is going to be this morning a decision for you to make.
Israel rejected the light when it was presented to them, they chose the master they would serve and to this day their remains a vail over their hearts that they cannot see the light of Christ, at least not until the fullness of the gentiles come in, then God will open their eyes when he comes the second time.
Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
That light is presented to you today again for you to choose.
You know the truth, you look back to the record written of the child born and celebrate every year a recognition of that event.
You also look back every year to a son given
“a son is given”, “a son is given”.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
Isaiah writes that this child born and this son given is to “US”, not only to Israel but to the world, but what does it mean that “A Son is given”. How is he “given”.
Turn to John 3 again and consider for a moment a few verses
You all recall the account of Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night requesting understanding of who he is and truth respecting eternal life.
You see this darkness that we spoke of has ETERNAL consequenses not just temporal ones. We all know this is true, each one of us has an innate understanding of this, otherwise we would never have asked the question of what happens after we die!
And all people have aksed that question at some point in their lives. This is the knowledge deep within that there is more to this life than meets the eye.
This is also that knowledge of judgment within that causes people everywhere to convince themselves there is no God and there is nothing hereafter.
Not so with Nicodemus, and so Jesus continues his answer to him of a son that is given.
John 3:16–21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
In this room this day there are some who know they are in darkness and have every desire to accept the light that is come into the world. This sermon is for you. You have the choice to make to believe this Gospel, this the greatest news in the history of the world, this is The EVERLASTING Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is the son who was GIVEN to become a sacrifice for your sin, even a RANSOM, and GIVEN to God as a just recompence that YOU may be forever free.
Jesus testifies of himself in Mathew 20:28
Matthew 20:28
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Paul the apostle speaks of it to Timothy saying;
1 Timothy 2:3–6
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
The sins of Israel knew no bounds, our own sins also know no bounds, that are NONE excluded from this Gospel, but ALL who would believe that Jesus Died for you will be saved.
How can this be?
Because this Child that was born is also the Mighty God, this Son that is Given is also the “Everlasting father”, he alone has both the means to atone for your sin and the ability to redeem
The Son Was Given, is the single greatest news in the history of mankind, there has never been greater news, there will never be greater news, and ALL WHO WALK IN DARKNESS can behold his light and walk in him….if only they would believe.
Amen
[1] Baxter, J. Sidlow; Baxter, J. Sidlow. Baxter’s Explore the Book (p. 761).
[2] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-mental-illness-idUSTRE7832JJ20110904
[3] http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/alcoholism/risk-factors.html
[4] https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHresultsPDFWHTML2013/Web/NSDUHresults2013.pdf
[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/health/more-diagnoses-of-hyperactivity-causing-concern.html?_r=2&
[6] http://diverseeducation.com/article/51755/
[7] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db76.htm
[8] https://www.livescience.com/48100-sexually-transmitted-infections-50-states-map.html
The post A Son Is Given appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Persona of Truth is Jesus Christ, he came into the world to bear witness of the truth and all who are of the truth hear his voice. The view we hold respecting the Bible reflects with accuracy the view we hold respecting Jesus Christ. The post KJV Only: The Persona Of Truth appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
THE SOURCE OF TRUTH Statement of Faith Series. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (REV 20:4) This is an interesting The post KJV ONLY: The Source Of Truth appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Jesus, Our Rest. Some three and a half thousand years ago approximately two million people were where delivered from the most tyrannical empire in the world at that time. This empire was officially the first antisemitic people of history, they subjugated and enslaved a body of people who were originally invited to live the country and were originally given the best of the land. But not long after another king arose who did know Joseph, and the people were enslaved. The post Jesus: Our Rest appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Him That is of Power To Stablish You Romans 16:25–27 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ The post Him That Is Of Power To Stablish You appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Encouragement Of The Diligent 16-10-2022 Pr Edi Giudetti Romans 16:19–20 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Encouraged In PRAISE; Paul writes here to their reputation, “For your obedience is come The post Encouragement Of The Diligent appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Keep The Faith Romans 16:17–20 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which The post Keep The Faith appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Helpers In Christ Romans 16:3-5 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. The Helpers Understanding Revealed In Service We don’t know when it was that Priscilla and Aquila had believed the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ but we do know when they first appear within The post Helpers In Christ appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Two relatively obscure verses in Romans 16, yet what wonderful applications can be found as we consider Pauls Commendation of Praise. The post A Commendation Of Praise appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Trusting in the disposition of God, that is, trusting in how God disposes of our trust in him, is not only that related to the work we do for the Lord, but also the giving through our material ministry The post The Disposition of God: GIVING appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Trusting In The Disposition of God: Pt 1 Our Efforts Pt 2 The Fruit of Our Efforts Romans 15:20–29 20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. 22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now having no more The post Trusting In The Disposition Of God Pt 1 appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
To Whom He Was Not Spoken Of, They Shall See Pr Edi Giudetti 31-07-2022 Romans 15:17–21 17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto The post And They Shall See! appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
It Is Hard For Thee to Kick Against The Pricks Acts 9:1–9 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he The post Its Hard To Kick Against The Pricks appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Baptism What When Why Who? What is Baptism? What is this rather strange undertaking Christians do once in their life? MY Short Definition; Baptism is the public identification of the believer with Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. It is a testimonial representation of that which has already occurred within the believer when they have believed by faith that Jesus had paid the full penalty of their sins. They had first died to themselves, the old nature is buried, and they The post Baptism: What? When? Why? Who? appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Only through the God of all hope do any have the opportunity to be abounding in hope. What a joy and peace we can have in Jesus alone. The post Abounding In Hope appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The picture on the box shows a finality to which all the broken pieces of this world is directed. Eternitys finality pointed to through the very present events of our contemporary history. What does that picture look like? The message here compares the real with the imagined, the Biblical with the idealogical, The Greatest Reset with the great conception. The post The Greatest Reset Pt 4: Eternity’s Finality appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The post The Greatest Reset Pt 3: The Millennium Tour appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The post The Greatest Reset Pt 2: The Worlds Tour appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The post The Greatest Reset: The Millennium Vs The New Wolrd Order appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Just as we give consideration to the Biblical principal of mothers, there is a job application to be considered. The post The Honour Of Mothers appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Post Rapture Events of the Church The post The Greatest Reset Intro Pt 3: Post Rapture appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The post The Greatest Reset Intro Pt 2: The Plan of God For The Ages appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Greatest Reset Pt 1 opens the account of prophecy in the Bible with a consideration of the value and study of Daniel chapter 9. The post THE GREATEST RESET PT 1: DANIEL 9 appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Many people try to change their lives on their own efforts, the Bible however teaches that one can only be Transformed by the Word of God. The post Transformed By The Word appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Ideas have consequences, but the implication of reality remains resolute. The Lord is Risen claimed the Apostles, the implication is eternal The post The Implication Of Reality appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
A wonderful reminder of the only peace that can ever be obtained, a peace so great it passes all understanding, his name is Jesus Christ. The post Peace, Perfect Peace. appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
20220403 Romans Review Pt 5 Salvation Is Come Unto The Gentiles “Hath God cast Away His People?” Romans 11:11 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. The focus of the sermon this morning is based on Romans 11:11 to which I believe can be employed as a summary of no less than three chapters in the book The post Romans Reviewed Pt 5: God Has Not Cast Away His People. appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
In this fourth review of the book of Romans, we go into an overview of Romans chapter 8 which we see as the Summary of Salvation. It shows with clarity that the work is completed, all who have trusted in the Lord as their Saviour are now secure in that hope and literally nothing can separate them “from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39) 20220320 Romans Review Pt 4 Summary of Salvation V1-9 The post Romans Reviewed Pt 4: The Summary Of Salvation. appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Romans Review Pt 3 The Two Natures Within. Review of 1-6 The Ruin of Secular Man The Self Condemnation of ALL Mankind The Laws condemnation of the Jew The Gospel of Faith The Justified The Answer against Antinomianism The End of the Law and the Two Natures Within. Dead To The Law and Betrothed to Christ (Rom 7:4-13) After all we have witnessed till now we can see with certainty that we were once dead in trespasses and sins, The post Romans Reviewed Pt 3: Two Natures Within appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Romans Review pt 2: Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ Romans 5:1-10 13-03-2022 Pr Edi Giudetti 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And The post Romans Review Pt 2: Eternal Life appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
What a witness it is when a person examining our hope, sees the Christian rejoice in their salvation! What a comfort to us who do so faithfully. Many agree that joy is a response to the knowledge that we have eternal life as a gift, but few see it as a duty commanded in scriptures, and fewer still acknowledge that this command obeyed manifests a witness of our hope.Pray this is a blessing to you. Pr Edi The post The Gift Pt 5: Joy: A Responce, A Duty, A Witness appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Gift pt 4: The False Gift 20-02-2022 Of late we have given consideration to an object to which is the single most important object of our lives, the one and only item for which all eternity hangs, the single most precious element of life that will determine eternal joy or eternal misery, and it is that which relates to our relationship to God the father, through Christ the Son. We refer to salvation, this is a gift, but tragically The post The Gift Pt 4: A False Gift appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Gift pt 3 The Gift Procurer 13-02-2022 A Son Given Isaiah 9:6 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. We have looked at and have witnessed the scriptures speaking to us relative to that which is identified in this short series as The Gift. We have seen The post The Gift Pt 3: The Gift Procurer appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Only the Holy Spirit is identified in the Bible as The Gift Sealer. He is both the gift of God, given the moment of salvation, and he seals us The post The Gift Pt 2: The Gift Sealer appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
How many they are who forget The gift of salvation is not that which can ever be earned. Salvation is a gift, no, salvation is The Gift! The post The Gift: Pt 1 appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
When we trust a recommendation for a movie, we act upon that trust believing the testimony, this is faith. In short, Faith is trust in action The post Faith is Trust In Action appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
There are five prayer points to which the Lord ALWAYS answers YES, the greatest of which is wisdom, therefore Ask For Wisdom. The post Prayer Pt 7: Ask For Wisdom appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
We say goodbye to the old year and look in hopeful anticipation to the new, but as all things are become new in Christ, our future is certain. The post All Things Are Become New appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
The Time Was Right
The time was right for Christ to come into the World.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isa 9:6-7)
The passage that we have before us this morning is not an unusual one to be reading during Christmas time. It is a passage written long before the time of Christ, it was written between the years of King Ahaz and that of the reign of King Hezekiah, about 750 years before the Child spoken of (Jesus Christ) would be born into the world.
The time was not yet right for him to come into the world, but the time was right for God to specifically prophesies of his coming into the world by the prophet Isaiah.
The time would come when a Child shall be born and a son shall be given, a time when the government of the world will be upon this same man’s shoulders and a time that this son given shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. And a time of just government forever.
But that time would not be yet. In fact, his coming into the world would not be for another seven and ½ centuries.
Throughout history, God worked in accord with his timeline. The time when he dealt in certain ways with certain people according to his specific purpose.
We refer to these times as distinct “dispensations”, distinct periods in which God administered his specific purpose upon the sons of men. As you read the Bible in its context, you can’t help but notice these things come to pass.
God administered his ways differently during the time of Adam and Eve before the fall of man, than he did with man after the fall.
God administered his purpose according to his own will when he called Abram out of the Ur of the Chaldees, and away from all the heathen world before him and around him.
God chose a people and gave his law during a specific period in history in order to show his power and his purpose to a world that did not yet know him personally.
God administered both his judgments and his grace during the captivity of Israel
And when the time was right, God was manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16), he revealed himself as Emanuel, God with us, Jesus Christ. Indeed, the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14).
Different times throughout history that God had different dealings with man.
And the time that Christ came, marked what would become some two thousand years of opportunity for the forgiveness of sin, two thousand years of grace, two thousand years of amnesty for those, and only those, who believe Christ came to seek and the save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).
THE TIME OF IGNORANCE IS OVER
ACTS 17:22-31
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
There was a time when God chose to overlook the sins of men, (to what extent we do not know and to what level we do not know), but WE DO KNOW that now he “commandeth all men everywhere to repent”.
THE TIME OF IGNORANCE IS OVER, man would now be made aware of his sin and his eternal separation from God, because the opportunity of salvation from his sin has come. The time was right.
But that time had been first prepared.
Some 330 earlier there was a preparation being undertaken in the known world. A young man was born to take over the kingdom of his father, King Phillip of Macedon, and Alexander the great would conquer the known world in just eleven short years.
After which his life would end at only 33 years of age.
What Alexander accomplished however in those few years, no leader in history had been able to do.
He changed the industrial language of the world to the Greek tongue, not just any Greek and certainly not the elevated Classical Greek spoken by the religious philosophers of his day, but the Greek of the common man, known as koine Greek.
It would be this Greek language in which the New Testament of the Bible would later be written.
This Greek was not to replace the language of the people of the world, Alexander desired only that it would be used as the trading a lawful language of the world. The government would speak Greek, the traders would trade in Greek, while the cultures of the people, their religions, and their traditions would be retained.
Therefore the writing that was to reach the largest possible audience would be written in koine Greek.
Three hundred and thirty years before Paul stood atop Mars hill addressing the crowd with the Gospel, the people of the world had already been well accustomed to the Greek language. THE TIME WAS RIGHT.
It’s interesting isn’t it?
When THE TIME WAS RIGHT and God desired to choose himself out a people for his name, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language. The Old Testament was given in Hebrew because it was the Hebrew people he desired to specifically call out and communicate with.
When THE TIME WAS RIGHT, and God desired to reach the uttermost parts of the world with the Gospel, he prepared a way through a common language, that language was Greek.
Later that language would become Latin until finally all these languages were dominated by the English tongue, a language so common in the world today that only the language at the tower of Babel could be considered more universal.
English is the only true Global language of the world and THE TIME WAS RIGHT for the Bible to be given in the language that would dominate the days in which we need it most, what the Bible refers to as “The last days” and “the time of the end”.
So the TIME OF GLOBAL IGNORANCE IS OVER.
The Bible has been printed in every major language of the world, and it is THE RIGHT TIME to BELIEVE THE GOSPEL. Why? Well, he tells us in verse 31
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
The day is appointed, the day is at hand and that day is a day of judgment and that judgment is by the very ‘Child’ that was born, the same ‘Son’ that was given.
CHRISTIAN, the Time is Right, the days are at hand, the Time of the Signs are the very times we are living in, WHEN ARE YOU GOING to SELL OUT to your trust in Christ? When will you stop living for this world and start obeying the Lord for the sake of the Gospel?Around you walk a world in misery and without hope; when are you going to stop thinking life is about you and start thinking that if THAT PERSON DOES NOT HEAR OF CHRIST BY YOUR LIPS, THEY WILL BE DAMNED?When will you take responsibility for the Life Jesus died for, instead of wasting it on that which has NO ETERNAL VALUE?
When will you watchmen warn your family, your friends, your work colleagues that he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
To the Lost, THE TIME IS RIGHT, you have the word of God in your language, the time of your WILLFUL ignorance is over, and you will be held to account for the revelation you have. You are no longer in darkness, you are both aware of your sinfulness and aware that God is and it has been declared to you by your own conscience that you stand in the greatest trouble of all.Every year since your birth you have heard of Christ, every year you celebrate your own birth, it is in reference to Christ, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE, when will you seek him out and wash away your sin?Every moment of every day you walk on a thin crust under which burns the hottest hell prepared for the devil and his angles, the covering so thin that your own weight bares down and threatens to let you fall.You have no promise of tomorrow, today ONLY, even now, The Time is Right to believe the Gospel.The TIME OF IGNORANCE IS OVER
THE TIME OF CONVENIENCE IS NOW
Acts 24:22-25
Paul was taken prisoner for the preaching of the good news, he preached with clarity to Felix the governor, and from verse 22 to 25 is how the governor responded;
22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
The Child was born and the Son was given and Paul here testifies of him as “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Felix heard the word, THE TIME WAS RIGHT, none other than the apostle Paul was before his throne, no greater evangelist in history could be considered as having a more prominent position and calling in the eyes of the God if there was any time IN HISTORY that could be considered as “RIGHT”, that time was the moment Felix “trembled” at the hearing of the Gospel.
BUT how did he respond?
Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
There are very few in this Church that could claim to have heard the Gospel more than a couple of times in their life before they committed their lives to Jesus.
I heard it twice, separated by twelve tumultuous years where at any time I could have lost my life.
No person could think that the late teens to the late twenties of a young man are “SAFE” years, quite on the contrary, these are the most dangerous years of all in the young person’s life.
These are the years that a young man separates from the rule of his parents and experiments with the rule of self. These are dangerous years and I only heard the gospel twice, once at 17 years and the other at 29 yrs.
At age seventeen, the response of Felix was essentially my response, “go away, when its more convenient to me, Ill think more about it, but not now”
How many think this way today?
CHRISTIAN:
How many people who are actually born again, whose sins are covered, who can claim Christ as Saviour, who are Baptised believers, but are still saying to God, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” ?
– The Child was born for you,
– the son was given for you,
– the sword pierced the soul of his mother as she watched him crucified before her eyes for YOU
And yet you live your life in disdain of the blood that was shed for you?
He came to his own, and they denied him, you received him as your Saviour and now have all but forgotten him.
What convenient “season” are you looking for?
What better life can you think to have apart from that which HE has given you?
You barely meet him for a moment in prayer, and too often this with whatever time you might have left over.You barely meet him in in your Bible to get to know him, and if you do it might be just as your mind has closed for the day and your eyes just about to follow.You don’t like to spend time with those others who have been purchased by the blood of Christ, let you be encouraged to live for him.
AND THEN WONDER ABOVE ALL WONDERS WHY YOUR LIFE IS TROBLED….???
I have never seen a more miserable Christian than one who is seeking his fulfillment in the world he was SAVED FROM.
THE TIME IS RIGHT to live for Jesus today brethren, never has there been a time more right to live your life to the full for Christ.
Never can there be a greater satisfaction and joy than watching the miracles of faith come alive than at the time we are now living.
Do you feel you have failed the Lord?
Do you think your faith wavered and broke?
You will have the opportunity again to trust him for all your needs, and watch him work the works to those who trust THAT THE TIME OF CONVENIENCE IS NOW.
LOST MAN:
AND what of the Lost? What of you who have heard the Gospel this day, did you tremble? Was your heart grieved that your sin is seen as the greatest offense to God and you are justly and eternally separated from him?
Do you know that the Child born and the Son Given, was born to save you and given to purchase you?
Did you hear the message of your own salvation and now have the opportunity to believe it?
This Gospel, you may not hear again. Your time to die might come upon you unawares, you might make plans for tomorrow, but tomorrow might not plan for you.
Your life and breath is held in Gods hands and his anger for your sin is great. Only ‘wrath’ is the word most appropriate for your spite of his Son that died to save you.
But for the Child born, but for the son given, you would have no hope of forgiveness or eternal life, none of us would, we would all be yet in our sins.
But Christ has come, the fullness of time has come and Christ came into the world to save you and I.
What more convenient time can it be that right now?
Why not now, even before this sermon is over, why not now believe the Gospel and be reconciled to God?
THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAS COME
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Gal 4:4-7)
“WHEN THE FULLNESS OF THE TIME WAS COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON…”
Paul wrote this to the Churches of Galatia. Paul had been to Galatia several times. Galatia is that region known as Turkey today, Paul was able to travel there in his first missionary journey, his second missionary journey, and his third missionary journey, out of four journeys he took in his lifetime.
It was incredible that Paul was able to do this. We cant even travel interstate in Australia in this time, because the time is evidently not right; but for hundreds, if not thousands of years, to make such Journeys that Paul made was seen as very dangerous, it was NEVER RIGHT.
We read in both Nehemiah and Ezra that the times to travel to Jerusalem was dangerous times, as many traveling people and caravans needed to be heavily armed else they would fall to robbers and thieves.
The time was right for the Gospel to be printed in the language of the people thanks to Alexander the Great, but the time was also right to be able to travel the Roman world thanks to both the ingenuity of Roman Roads, but most importantly to what was known as the Pax Romana, the Roman Peace.
It was a unique time in history, when peace filled the land and all marauding tribes and robbers would be dealt severely if they ever interfered with those traveling through. The period was not long, it was a WINDOW of peace that lasted some two hundred years between the reigns of Augustus in 27 BC to Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD.
The time was right to preach the Gospel.
This was the FULLNESS OF THE TIME” and God saw fit that a Child would be born, a Son would be given.
O how long it was spoken of, how long it was anticipated that the Christ, the Saviour of the world would come into the world.
The seventh chapter of Isaiah prophesied that he would be conceived by a virgin, and all the women of Israel would hope that they may be considered as the blessed of the Lord.
It was Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary who is first seen as identifying the nature of the ‘Child that would be born”
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:39-45)
The time of the Coming of the Lords Christ was come, and blessed are those who identified THE TIME WAS RIGHT.
There was also a man who was promised by God that his life would not end until he had seen the Lords Christ.
Luke 2:25
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Beloved, there was a window for which the wonderful truth of this Gospel could be spread abroad, and those who identified The TIME WAS RIGHT, testified to the truth of it while the time remained.
That window beloved is narrowing every day, and that time is getting away from us.
There is no time more urgent in the Gospel that today, there is no time in which the world is looking for hope out of a hopeless world than today and there is no place in the world where that hope lies than in committing our lives to Christ.
Christian, what other time will be the right time that you live for Christ?
When will the time be right that you love Jesus more than you do your own life?
When will the time be right that you are sold out for Christ?
How many more signs do you need to see that the time is short, your life is short and what have you done for him in the last year?
Consider, how many are the souls you have witnessed to clearly about hope in Christ this year? Can you count them? How many have you invited to Church now that we are able to meet? How many have you invited home to share a meal and tell of the hope you have?
How often will you look to doing so this coming year?
The Pax Romana came to a close after 180AD, traveling was dangerous and the preaching of the Gospel difficult, how long do we have before our sojourning here is ended by that wonderful trumpet call we should all be looking forward to?
Lost man or woman, when will the time be right that you turn to Christ and surrender your life to him?
Will you be like Governor Felix looking for a more convenient season that you will never find? Or is today your day of salvation?
Are you waiting for MORE SIGNS OF THE TIMES before you will be convinced the Bible is true, or have you seen enough to convince you?
Will you wait until you see your sin MORE VILE than it already is, or will you turn to Christ before the judgment comes against you?
Will you wait until it’s too late, and remember this day today that you gave up the chance of everlasting life, for all eternity? Will this day be held in the infinite memorial as the day you ALMOST BELIEVED?
Two thousand years ago the time was right, a Child was born, a Son was Given, his name is WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER AND THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
A time is very shortly coming that Christ shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. And how we should all be burdened and motivated for the Gospel until that comes to pass, because it WILL come to pass, “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this”.
When the time was right, the sea parted, the walls fell down, the lions went hungry, the sun stood still, the waves were calm, the stone was rolled away, the clouds were parted, the Lord ascended…And when the time is right, the King of Kings will return. God is never early and He’s never late–He’s always right on time and His plan for you is good!
MARANATHA.
The post The Time Was Right appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Praying In Praise.
Pr Edi Giudetti
28-11-2021
The fourth instalment in the series on Prayer is that of praise, an element often neglected, but grows all the more wonderful as we read his word. It is through prayer we become joyful witnesses of the Lord, and what a joy it is to love him.
In my first sermon on the topic of Prayer I mentioned four categories of how prayer blesses those whose petitions are heard of the Lord, I said;
“that prayer is vital for our Confidence, our Faith, our Joy and our Witness.”**
Praise is a form of prayer that has its hand in all four of these categories.
It renders to the Lord that which is due him and in turn it brings to us a revival of all four of those blessings noted above.
Confidence:
It inspires confidence in the Lord; as we praise the Lord it returns to us the knowledge that he is worthy of all our praise, that he is all that we worship him for, and that through him there is life in abundance.
Faith:
It wonderfully increases our faith, because again our soul is reminded of all he is and does and will do. We see him through his word and we trust his word is sure and in that we praise him for all his wonderful works.
Joy:
How can the increase of our confidence and the increase of our faith in the Lord not lead to a natural increase in joy? It is through these things that James can state with all certainly “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4).
When it comes to temptations or trials, James uses the word “When” and that is not by accident, the trials we currently endure are to bring about patience and faith.
Witness:
To praise God when you are going through trials, to praise him trusting he is in control, to praise him knowing his will will be done and you have nothing but joy through it, to praise him as you stand apart from this world and know he is watching and blessing you, beloved, this cannot be BUT witnessed by the world.
You will personally experience this as true when those who are in the world, struggling with the direction of the world, look to you and “asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pet 3:15)
Today, as we witness the world form into that final kingdom, what an opportunity to set ourselves apart and show to the world the wonderful joy of the Lord and all that he blesses us in and through.
What an opportunity to praise him as his word comes alive before our eyes.
Now, beloved, there are SO MANY examples of praise in the Bible that we could spend decades going through them all. The Psalms are essentially Songs that are identified in a diverse number of categories, we have already looked at a number of them when going through the Treasury of David;
We looked at:
The Messianic PsalmsThe Penitential Psalms (Psalms of Repentance)The Imprecatory PsalmsThe Apocalyptic Psalms
But there are also The Praise Psalms, or Psalms of Thanksgiving, as you read them it’s impossible not to be able to identify them, and as you climb from Psalm 100 through to 150, they seem to stand out all the more.
Those Praise Psalms however are broken up into two distinct Categories, National and Personal.
We do see very clearly national and personal praises to the Lord found in the Psalms, but as I said, Praise is a form of prayer and so we will find individuals in the Bible praying praise to the Lord.
This morning I will demonstrate two of them, one can be considered the first national Prayer or Praise, the other is the first personal prayer of praise.
One by Moses, the other by Hannah, the mother of the prophet/priest Samuel
In giving consideration to these two individuals, we will also find direct correlation to that which we see in the Psalms of Praise.
My aim this morning will be to attend to these two portions of scripture as a running commentary that links directly to the Psalms of Praise in the hope to encourage you to Pray in Praise.
MOSES: NATIONAL
The Context
Turn to Exodus 15.
The context of the passage before us sees the Exodus of the people of Israel out of Egypt.
400 odd years earlier they entered the land of Egypt as a Nation, now some four hundred years later they exit as a nation.
At least 2 million souls witnessed the wonder of God first hand, the plagues upon their enemies and the hand of God upon his people. 2 Million souls witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, a wall of water high up on their right hand and a wall of water high up on their left hend.
2 Million souls watched as the Egyptians pursued after them into the sea, they watched as the Egyptians themselves saw that the Lord fought for them and took off the wheels of their chariots, desiring rather to flee from the face of Israel. But Moses again lifted up his hands and the waters came onto the army of Pharoah with not one of them remaining.
History tells us of the invasion of the Hyskos people who came into and took over Egypt without a battle, the only explanation is that there was no army to trouble them.
Now Moses sings this song of Praise to the Lord.
Exodus 15:1-19
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3
Psalm 106:12 tells us of this event saying, “then believed they his words; they sang his praise”.
How can we not sing when the Lord is so evident to us? How can we not praise him when his work in us brings to us such joy? HE is our strength and thereby he is our song.
Psalm 102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: And the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord
The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
The people placed their trust in the Lord, the nation put their lives in Gods hands and he delivered them.
Psalm 17:7 says “Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee From those that rise up against them**.”
There is a certainty beloved, that the enemies of the Lord and the enemies of those who love the Lord CANNOT endure for ever, they will be dealt with and the nation that Loves God will go on to exalt him and praise him for all eternity.
Psalm 28:5-7 Because they regard not the works of the Lord, Nor the operation of his hands, He shall destroy them, and not build them up. 6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in him, and I am helped:
Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; And with my song will I praise him.
Exodus 15 Continued
8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
They enemy makes his plans, prepares his wares, sharpens his arrows, draws the string and shoots, but it’s the Lord who guides its flight.
Prov 19:21 says “ There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
There is a multitude of ways the Lord can turn about the prospects of the wicked and all of them are available to him. His hands are never shortened by the craftiness of men
Psalm 135:7-10 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. 8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. 9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. 10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
There are NO Limitations for God and we praise him. We stand on the side of the Lord, and though we be troubled within and though there are fighting’s without, and though we do not even have the strength to hold to our faith, If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 2 Tim 2:13
Exodus 15 Continued;
12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
The reputation of God is not absent from the world of wicked men. The only way they think to overcome him is by ignoring him, but SORROW will come upon them in the end.
There are none who take courage in evil today and die in their sin, that will have such a terror overcome them but have no place to hide from him.
Psalm 68:1-3: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Lets not make the mistake of thinking the rulers of the world are our enemies, they are the enemies of the Lord and hate him and his ways.
Job gives a good description of their attitude to God saying; “Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways” Job 21:14
But they will be visited in time, the Lord will have his way and his enemies will fear with utmost terror, we are told they will hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and say “to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Rev 6:16-17)
But this prayer of praise of Moses goes on to conclude the blessing of the Lord upon those who are his’
Exodus 15:17-19
17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. 18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. 19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
In a national sense, God is to be praised corporately. As far as the people of the Lord is concerned, we all will share in the glory of God and not one of us will be left short of the joy that will come.
Our Prayer of Praise is both in the knowledge of what he HAS DONE and in the promise of what hi WILL DO.
The enemies of God may laugh now, they may scheme now, but there will be bitterness in the latter end.
It is this Prayer of Praise that brings to us confidence of a future glory.
It is this Prayer of Praise that Increases our faith as we remind ourselves of all that was past and all that is to come.
It is this Prayer of Praise that brings corporate joy and our joy will not make us ashamed, but more so, because this is an example of a NATIONAL prayer of praise, it means that the same joy you have in Christ can be an encouragement to others who share in Christ.
This National Praise is not a personal one that applies ONLY to you, but a corporate one that is shared with all those who love the LORD. As such, WE are encouraged together, and as we are;
Our Prayer of Praise becomes a common WITNESS to the lost.
HANNAH: PERSONAL
But when we suffer we also suffer personally, as such we have Prayers of Praise that are personal.
Hannah praised the Lord.
Turn to, 1 Samuel 2:1-10
The context is seen in the first chapter.
Hannah is the wife of Elkanah, she was one of two wives. Her burden was for a son to bless her home. Elkanah’s other wife had children, both sons and daughters and she provoked Hannah greatly, and provoked her to tears.
Hannah went up to the house of the Lord and in bitterness of soul, prayed to the Lord and vowed a vow, that if the Lord may give her a son, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life.
The prayer she prayed was in her heart, her complaint to the Lord was in silence, only her lips moved.
Well the Lord gave her request and blessed her with a son.
Chapter two begins with her prayer of praise after she had weaned the child and Lent him to the Lord, fulfilling her VOW which she vowed to lend the child to the Lord all his days.
1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
There is a blessing that comes to the heart of one who knows their prayer has been heard. They cannot help but rejoice.
Psalm 18:2-3 shows more evidence of this personal Prayer of Praise, it is from the pen of David after he was delivered from the hands of all his enemies and Saul the king;
2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
When you have chosen the Lord individually, when you have set him as the ONLY source of your hope and joy, you come to praise him for who he is and nothing can disappoint you.
Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
Imagine for a moment that your ONLY desire was for the Lord, that there are none upon the earth that can compare with your desire for the Lord; no person, no career, no event, no opportunity, no thing at all. How can you EVER be disappointed?
1 Sam 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
Psalm 12:3-4. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
Beloved there may indeed be times when the proud and the arrogant boast themselves;
Ps 94:4-5 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? 5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
But the boasting cannot last, “for the LORD is a God of knowledge”
Ps 94:8 8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? 11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
1 Sam 2:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
In time the opposite comes upon them.
6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
Hannah’s prayer of praise acknowledges the power of the Lord and all he is able to do. She acknowledges from what has been done to her that the victory and the power is of the Lord and he is worthy to be praised.
He kills and makes alive, he builds and pulls down, he blesses and curses, he is able to lift a shepherd boy to be king over his people and he is able to cause the king of the known word to eat grass like the Oxen till he remembers who it is that rules on high.
Psalm 75:7 says “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another”
We are the meak of the earth, we have trusted in the Lord and not in ourselves, he saves us and not we ourselves. We can do nothing, but in Christ we can do all things.
We can endure trials to come because we have hope in the end, the wicked have no such hope.
Hannah praises him for being able to turn about the fortunes of men and women who trust in him with all patience, waiting on the Lord.
Psalm 113:7-9 says He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; 8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. 9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.
1 Sam 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
The preservation of his people is not in their strength but in the promise of the Lord. Jesus said “no man is able to pluck his sheep out of his fathers hand” (Jn 10:29)
Paul wrote that he knew in whom he had believed and “that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim 1:12)
But the wicked will not be preserved, according to the words of Hannah, they shall be silent in darkness
Psalm 37:28 “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”
10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Hannah praises a prophetic word based logically on all that she understands of the righteousness of God.
She sees that the Lord has mercy, but that in the latter end he will be the judge of all the earth. She knows the scriptures written of by Moses and she applies them personally.
There is something to be said about the personal effect of knowing God’s judgement upon the wicked, and that the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth.
Psalm 2:9 says Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psalm 21:8-9 praises God saying of the wicked; Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. 9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
And Psalm 68:1-4 wonderfully summarises Hannah’s Prayer in Praise saying;
1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. 4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
There is something interesting in both the National Prayer in Praise and the Personal that is found throughout The Praise Psalms, and that is the exaltation of Gods righteousness, holiness, knowledge and power, seen in both his deliverance of his people and lifting them up on high with hid judgment of the wicked and bringing them low.
We see it in Moses, we see it in Hannah, we see it in David, we see it in Solomon and even in Mary’s own Prayer in Praise in Luke 1:46-55
Turn there with me as we close;
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
How often do you praise the Lord in your time of prayer?
There is one key to praising him faithfully, you must KNOW HIM!
To KNOW HIM you must be born again and you must be reading his word daily.
If you are not saved by the blood of Christ, you have only to look forward to his firery indignation that is witnessed in each of these Prayers in Praise, you are the subject of that imprecatory portion of praise, you are the subject of his judgement.
But you can certainly become the subject of his blessing and praise him;
Admit yourself a sinner before him.Believe in Jesus Christ whom he has set as a ransom for your sin.Call upon the name of the Lord to save you.
To you who are Born Again and who do know him, but rarely praise him;
Why are you not reading his word?
Why are you not daily sitting at the Saviours feet attending to that “good part” which is needful?
You will never praise him unless you know him and you cannot know what to praise him for unless you learn of him in the Bible.
If you think you will be able to comfortably endure the hardships of life without reading his word daily you are sorely mistaken.
And you know I am not speaking about a 15 minute snack wrap in your reading, but taking in the manna of his word like a meal fit for a king.
Unless you are daily reading the Bible you are privileged to own, you will not endure the trials with any comfort or hope without praise, and you cannot praise him unless you know him, you can’t know him unless you read him.
Jesus is coming, the time is short. It may be today, it may be twenty years, but the window for his return is closing, will you be found ready or wanting?
Maranatha
The post Prayer In Praise appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Who can tell whether God will be gracious to us
There is an item very close to prayer that I would like to address to you in the sermon today. It is a doctrine that comes directly out of the pages of the Bible, and its concept is at times difficult to understand.
We don’t understand how it works, most importantly, we don’t understand why it works, but we do understand that it does make a difference and we do understand that there is a right and a wrong way to attend to it.
I am speaking of the doctrine of prayer AND Fasting.
The doctrine is spoken of many times in the Bible and it contains within it many characteristics, only a handful we will deal with in todays message.
The first thing I would like to touch on is what Fasting is NOT.
Fasting is not abstaining from cigarettes, coffee, alcohol, television, music etc.
Ridding yourself of any of those things is a GOOD thing…except coffee maybe.
Either way the Bible says nothing about the abstinence of single elements of a lifestyle in the hope that it will be considered a Fast before God.
In short, fasting simply refers to not eating of food for a given period of time. Sometimes it includes both food and water. Simple.
There are some other elements that we will take a look at, but for now that is the simplest form of the doctrine.
Today we will take a look at several ideas presented in the Bible and pray the Lord encourages further into its consideration.
Fasting Committed To The Will of The Lord 2 Sam 12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
The first thing we notice in the account in Samuel is that it is the Lord who struck the childthat was the product of the adultery of David. It was a direct judgement upon David that Nathan had told him would occur in the previous verse.
If we turn back only a couple of verses we see both David’s repentance but also Nathan’s proclamation concerning the outcome of David’s sin;
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.**
Even though David knew this would be the outcome, he set himself to pray and to fast for the life of the Child.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth**
But it was in verse 22 that we see David’s heart was fully committed unto the will of the Lord.
As the account continues we discover that the child died, but when David discovered the truth of the matter he got up, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, worshipped the Lord and set himself to eat.
He went back to life as usual in peace.
Beloved this attitude stems from trusting that you have done all you can do and the outcome was Gods will.
When your heart’s desire is ONLY Committed to the Will of the Lord, the outcome of your fervent prayer is NEVER that you did not get what you wanted, but that the Lords will was done and we rest in the comfort of it.
If there is one thing that I desire you might learn from this passage, it is that.
Our desire is for the Glory of God, and if that means God has a better plan for our outcome other than that which our limited understanding can see, then trust him and rest.
The Victorian Pandemic Management Bill
Let me give you a very present understanding.
I am going to encourage you all to Fast and Pray this week against the bill that will have its final debate and vote this coming Tuesday to Thrusday.
We MUST pray, becaue this bill will usher in the worst form of government you and I have ever or may ever experience.
It will be a government that does what it wants, when it wants and without accountability to anyone. It will write its own rules, and undertake some of the greatest injustices in the name of “health” that we have ever seen.
WE MUST PRAY and WE MUST FAST
In attending to both of those elements, you can then know will total confidence that you have done ALL you can do, you have petitioned the Lord to the best of your ability and you can then rest in knowing that the Lords will, will be done.
If he answers in accord with your plea, you can rejoice and glorify God.
If he answers contrary to your plea, you can rejoice and glorify God that he has done in accord to his will and that is all you care about. You have no complaint!
If, however, you DO NOT PRAY, or if you do not believe you have done all you can do before the Lord in prayer, YOU WILL HAVE NO SUCH COMFORT.
David was comforted because Gods will was done, JUST AS GOD SAID.
Those who do not pray, or those who are not confident they have saught the Lord, have no right to complain.
Maria mentioned to me as we were driving, that those who donkey vote at election time have no right to complain about the government they did nothing to oppose when they had the opportunity. TRUE.
We see this attitude of, perhaps expectant grief in Gods response, expressed by the servants of David.
The servants expressed confusion as to how he behaved himself, thinking he should have mourned and sorrowed, but David responded in verse 22;
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
Beloved this text is directly applicable to us today.
Who can tell whether God will be gracious to us
Our desire is that sanity will prevail and that the government will hear the pleas of the people to put a stop to the madness.
As a Church we have set ourselves to pray, and some have done so daily and together since the beginning of October, those that have not prayed can determine for themselves any comfort in the outcome, but we have not called the Church to a fast.
The prophecy for David was that the child would die, but David expressed that perhaps the Lord would be Gracious to him, and of all people he would know of how often he deserved Chastisement but instead received Grace.
The bible teaches with clarity of the days that are ahead for the world, and we see also with clarity that what is occurring in our state has its counterpart to varying degrees around the world, so we know that judgment is poised by the Lord upon this wicked and adulterous generation that will conclude in the day of Gods wrath spoken of throughout the scriptures…..But who can tell whether God will be gracious to us?
To David knew the Lord may repent of the evil he determined to do and David set himself to both fast and pray.
To us is the same knowledge of the Lord.
We see many times in the Bible that there were pronouncements of judgements of the Lord, to which the Lord had either repented of his judgement, OR removed the devices of the wicked to ensnare the people.
In Exodus 32:14, “the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people”.
The people JUSTLY deserved what God had install for them, but petition was made on their behalf and God stayed his righteous hand.
In 2 Samuel 24:16, “And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite”
This passage shows that the anger of the Lord and his judgment was LIMITED by his own mercy upon the people.
In these two passages alone we can see that the Lord can be both petitioned and can limit the evil he brings upon a people, he can and has been often gracious.
BUT David Committed Himself to the WILL of God and was so evidently content with either decision the Lord had made.
There are a multitude of ways God can answer our prayers and respond to our fasting respecting this current evil.
He could stop the cars of the MP’s from arriving in time.
He could change the mind of only two of them.
He could even in a moment prevent them from even raising their arms
Nevertheless,
Because our greatest desire is that the will of the Lord be done. If we have set ourselves to pray, and we have earnestly petitioned the Lord to the full extent of our ability, then we can know with certainty that God has attended to that which is his desire for this time.
And we rest and rejoice.
Fasting Committed For the Judgement of Evil Turn in your Bibles to Judges 20:26-28
26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27 And the children of Israel inquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the Lord said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.
What we have here is the outcome of a shocking series of events between chapters 19 and the end of the book.
In short it is the account of a man who is a Levite who traveled with his adulterous wife from town to town but none of the Children of Israel would take them in until he was found by an Old man, an Ephraimite who lived in the area of Gibeah which belonged to the tribe of Benjamin.
Tradition was that any person or traveler who sought refuge in a home for the night would be taken in. it was the very minimal offering of hospitality that showed care for wayfaring people.
But it was not until late at night and in the wrong City, that this man together with his wife, were found and given lodging.
Sadly however the city was filled with evil men permitted to continue in their evil by the populous and therefore grew in number. They surrounded the house with evil intentions upon the man, the wife was given them to satisfy their lusts and they abused her.
The morning came, and she was found dead upon the threshold of the door.
Our passage takes its course after the nation of Israel had responded to the man’s message and had come to take vengeance upon the evil that was done.
From verse 14 in this chapter to verse 25 we find that on two occasions Israel had sought the Lord to smite the stubborn Benjamites for this evil, because they would not deliver the wicked men up to justice, so the entire people entered into a war. Sadly for Israel, the first two attempts, though sanctioned by God, were lost with the death of forty thousand men.
But this third occasion they set themselves not only to petition the Lord, but also to Fast and to sacrifice to him, and they finally took judgement upon the evil.
Beloved there are several things we can learn from this account;
That evil which is permitted to fester in society by the godly eventually grows to overtake them.
So common was it for wicked men to act this way in that City, that there were few who saw it for the evil that it was. It was permitted to continue because the godly of the City turned a blind eye, they ignored it.
We are living in a time when this is exactly what has occurred in this civilization.
Godly people never held their politicians to account for the evil laws they wanted to pass.
Godly parents never held their primary schools and high schools to account for the evil corruption of their children’s education.
Godly churches never held their pastors to account for their willful distortions of Gods words.
And so on.
Evil that is permitted to fester in society by the godly eventually grows to overtake them.
A late desire to address evil can still cost us.
Israel had far too long tolerated wickedness, even to the point where the people no longer trusted the integrity of the wayfaring man to enter into their houses.
Tell me how many of you would today be willing to entertain strangers in your home, to permit them to stay for a while?
Some of you have done so and seen that wicked people will take advantage of your grace with thanklessness.
Petitioning the Lord now for the judgment of evil long tolerated may still have a cost.
Israel twice petitioned the Lord, but on neither of those occasions are they seen to have repented of their own sin over the years which tolerated evil in the land.
Beloved we need to repent of that part in which we have played to permit an evil man like Daniel Andrews to ever have gained power in this state. Our blindness to evil has had a cost in our society.
It does not matter that you did not vote for him.
It does not matter that you warned about him.
You permitted evil being taught to your children in School. You permitted the pastors of your churches to corrupt the word of God. You permitted the bribery in your workplaces, the theft of tax dollars, the pornography of the mind, the music of the age.
You had a part to play that so degenerated the ability of this generation to discern good from evil, they had no chance to vote against it.
A late desire to address evil can still cost us.
Fasting and prayer with the sacrifice of repentance will work a miracle.
Jud 20:26-27 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27 And the children of Israel inquired of the Lord,
This time the people of the Lord had seen their own evil that permitted the inevitable atrocity that had taken place, the offered to the Lord that which he commanded for sin, they repented of their own evil and even set the High Priest before them to petition the LORD as the Law commanded.
They committed their fasting for the judgment of evil, and began with themselves.
When Daniel prayed for his people in the ninth chapter of his book, he broke his heart to the Lord for the sin of his nation. Unlike us, there is no record of sin in Daniel. Daniel was one of the three men in Ezekiel that could have delivered his own soul before the Lord, that is not a description of you or I.
Nevertheless he prayed the Lords forgiveness for the sin of his people that had evil overtake them.
We are not innocent respecting the evil of our state and nation, we have played our part in justifying and extending the sin of our culture, and if we truly desire judgment of evil and a miracle to turn it about, then we must FAST, PRAY and REPENT.
Fasting Committed For the Deliverance of People Turn to Esther 4:13-17
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Esther was in a no win situation. On the one hand evil was determined upon her people and, according to her cousin Mordecai, if she did nothing she would not escape it. And on the other hand, if she did not find grace in the sight of the King for entering his presence without being summoned, she could still die.
There was a risk either way, but something needed to be done, it would take great courage and self will, but she was here in the most unique time in the history of Israel, in the most unique position of influence for the sake of Israel, and who knows for certain whether she was come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Fasting and Prayer was her only request and her only commitment to work about a miracle for the saving of her people, and if she perished, she perished.
Well beloved, if you have read the account from this chapter to the end of the seventh, you would have seen quite an incredible turns of events.
Esther succeeded in petitioning the King, she did not die.Esther was not prepared to state her case completely and seemed to have been overcome with nerves.Haman exalted himself to his family for being invited to Esther’s banquet and, not knowing that Modecai was her cousin, built a tower to hang him.The King could not sleep, and the book of his Chronicles was given him to help him rest, in which he was reminded of how Mordecai saved his life. The King sought to reward him.Haman was heard in the house, and the King ask of his opinion.Haman’s desire to kill his enemy Mordecai, was tuned about to have him honour him.
All this preparing the way for Esther’s petition to the King at the last banquet.
And we all know how this turned out.
Fasting was Committed for the deliverance of a people, and this account has been celebrated in the feasts of Purim annually for several thousand years to this day.
Beloved, we are ourselves in a unique time in history. Never have the governments of the world been so unified and entwined against their populations to force the world into a new world system of absolute control as we see today.
We Victorians are ALSO in the most unique place in all the world, for no nation or state in the free world has experienced what we have during this time and no nation has such an evil law set to be unleashed upon its population as we have this week.
Between the Tuesday and Thursday this week, the 16th to the 18th, the Victorian Pandemic Management Bill, a document of over one hundred pages, that grants to the evil leader of this state unmitigated power to do anything he chooses with whomsoever he sets himself against, will be debated and voted upon.
Each day thousands and tens of thousands of people have petitioned the government since the bill passed the first stage.
Lawyers and queens councils, shadow governors and business people from around the state and nation have written to the government to ask them to withdraw this bill, but none seem to have moved them.
We, as the Church of the Living God, have the single most unique position to be in this state for such a time as this, the Church alone has the ear of the Lord and the opportunity to petition him and, above all, the power of Fasting for the sake of this people.
Who can tell what turn of events might transpire?
When it comes to the vote, ALL parliamentarians must be present to vote. Only two are required to vote counter to their current intentions and the bill fails, but only one may not turn up with one other voting against their current intentions, and the bill fails.
Who knows what can transpire if you set yourself to pray and fast this week between those two dates?
Will you commit yourself to pray and fast for the deliverance of our people?
Will you work to stem the tide of the evil that is before us?
Will you pray for the lengthening of our tranquility and a turn of events that lead to freedom in this state?
Will you fast for a miracle?
Fasting Committed For The Glory of God. 2 Chron 20:1-13
20 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
There comes a point at which you give consideration of the circumstances you are living in and the trials that are before you and realize that you have no ability in your own strength to do anything about it.
Jesus spoke of the wise man that counts the cost of an effort to ensure he has enough to finish the work, lest he be ashamed in the attempt.
Jehoshaphat could see with clarity that he had no might against this great company that comes against him.
There come times in our lives where this is exactly the case, personal trials, private difficulties that we have already weighed up the price and can see with certainty that we have nothing to offer in our own strength to deal with the situation.
Children that go astray.Financial situations that get away from you.Enemies that come against you for one reason or another.Tragedies that unfold before youThings that YOU JUST CANT FIX.
These are the times when God would show his glory if you let him.
Fasting in times of great trial and great fear brings to God the Glory he desires to reveal to you at different times in life.
As I said at the beginning of this sermon, I do not know WHY fasting makes a difference to the Lord;
Perhaps its your willingness to refuse to your body that which sustains its very need.Perhaps the Lord sees your willingness to sacrifice the nourishment of the Body in your trust that he will manifest his glory for a work.Or perhaps its only that you are giving up more than time to petition him.
Like I said, I don’t know why it makes a difference and perhaps In time I will. All I know is that it does.
In the case of this great company coming against Judah, Jehoshaphat knows he has no power, in fact he tells the Lord;
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee
I will not lie to you in this current matter, the trial is no small issue and the enemy is not limited to one man, the entire world is wrapped up in this endeavor and the determination of them is that there will be no return to that which preceded 2020.
I believe that even if one million souls marched on the Streets of Melbourne it would make little difference.
But I also believe that what is impossible for man is possible for God.
Who can tell whether God will be gracious to us?
One thing is certain, if we do not pray and if we will not fast, we will never know.
“ And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah, and Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord” (v3-4)
Perhaps that’s it, perhaps fear is the motivating factor to fast.
The greatest blight of Christianity today is apathy.
The “she’ll be right” notion that Australians are known for, is a blight in a church that is commanded to DO SOMETHING.
We look at the prophecies of the Bible and we see, yes we see, that the end will come and so we sit like a duck awaiting the hunter.
The END WILL COME, but NOT for you beloved, you are to be caught up and ever be with the Lord, you are awaiting Christ, not antichrist and you are charged to occupy till he comes, and if that is to pray, then pray, if to fast for the temporary tranquility that enables to fulfillment of the commission of Christ, then fast!
You are NOT DEAD yet, you are MORE THAN CONQUERORS BY HIM THAT LOVED US, you are his children, his brethren, his saints, his beloved, his bride, his priests and his kings.
You have your dwelling in him and he in you and YOU HAVE HIS EAR AND ATTENTION.
Then while you have his attention, say O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
We put these people into the houses of Government, and “behold, I say, how they reward us!”
We entrust to them the seats of power and they employ those seats against us. They would stem the tide of the Gospel of Christ, is that not enough for us to be willing to fast and pray before the Lord?
Should these mad regimes get their way, the gospel will be more hindered than in anytime before it, is that not worth fasting and praying to prevent?
Who can tell whether God will be gracious to us?
You, whose desire it is to see the glory of God and to have him be revealed to you, set yourself to fast and pray this coming week between Tuesday and Thursday.
He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think!
Fast for the work.
Fast for the salvation
Fast, lest the government make shipwreck of this state.
Acts 27:33-35
And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
For fourteen days 276 men, most of whom knew not the Lord, fasted.
The ship they were on with Paul was destroyed, but not a hair fell from the head of any of them.
There is no guarantee that, after your time of fasting, this state will not become a shipwreck, but there is one guarantee that I can make, and that is that you will be preserved through your faith, so much so that not only will your life survive, but it will thrive.
Yes, there may be a change of how things are done, but in Christ there is such a joy, such a piece, such a comfort and such a hope, that no government on earth can quench our joy.
Fast and pray as if your lives depend upon it, and leave the response and responsibility to the Glory of God.
Until, he comes.
Maranatha.
The post Who Can Tell Whether God Will Be Gracious appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Be Ye Separate
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Introduction:
Good afternoon,
It is always an honour and privilege to have the opportunity to preach; but particularly on my birthday. Today is significant for two other reasons; today is also Halloween and Reformation Sunday.
Our reading today illustrates what inevitably happens when the church…when Christians fail to adhere to the sound doctrine of biblical separation.
The historical context particularly deals with the separation of church and state and the separation of believers from the pagan world.
And so today we will go on a bit of a journey [at least in the introduction] and look at some of the history surrounding the two events [Halloween and the Reformation]. We will also briefly look at the heresies connected with these events and the attempt to harmonize two diametrically opposed philosophies or belief systems.
The history behind Halloween is quite broad but derives from a Celtic [Druid] pagan festival called Samhain (pronounced Sow-in). Time doesn’t permit to go fully into the many observances connected to Samhain (sow-in), suffice to say that it was a harvest festival and was celebrated by various practices including the burning of sacrifices. It was also believed that on the night of Samhain (Sow-in), the boundary between the spirit world and the physical world opened, allowing the spirits to enter and wreak havoc upon the earth and particularly the harvest.
The history behind the name change is another interesting point. The re-naming of Samhain to Halloween occurred in the 8th Century as Ireland became increasingly Catholic. In an attempt to merge the pagan with the Christian, All Saints [Hallowed] Day was moved from May to November to coincide with Samhain (Sow-in) which then became “All Hallows’ Eve” or “Halloween”.
Halloween is still a major celebration in Ireland, with many of the customs still being observed in one form or another and which reflect its pagan origins.
The event has steadily become popular in Australia also; though I dare say many have no idea about its dark history. And yet casual observation should tell you that dressing up as skeletons, monsters and witches is contrary to the command of scripture to abstain from every appearance of evil. Those who hate godly wisdom do indeed love death; and it is reflected in the ghoulish costumes.
I struggle to believe that it is harmless fun; at the very least it does nothing to glorify God; especially knowing that the day is held in high reverence by Satanists and Wiccans.
The celebration of Halloween wouldn’t have happened, of course, but for another chapter in “church” history. I refer to the merger of Church and State.
We are well familiar with the Christian persecution in ancient Rome. The first step in the easing of persecution came in 313AD when Emperor Constantine pronounced an edict of toleration. It is supposed to have occurred as a result of winning the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312AD. Prior to the battle he is reported as having a vision of the cross and underneath the words “In this sign, conquer”. As the story goes, Constantine painted the cross on his army’s shields and they consequently won. The Christianization of Rome was further extended in AD380, when Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the State religion of Rome. This was a bitter sweet day in history, since we know that Christianity thrived under persecution.
The net result of this was that Paganism had more of an influence on Christianity, than vice-versa. “The Way” as it was known, which had turned the world upside down was now becoming absorbed by the pagan world. If a little leaven leaves the whole lump, we now had a baker’s dozen.
It’s important to realize that the Roman Empire, whilst it decreased in size, it was never totally conquered but rather transformed into what was known as the Holy Roman Empire. As such it had as much influence throughout the known world at the time and continues to exert its influence today.
Notwithstanding, the Lord always preserves a remnant of faithful believers [there has always been a church of the Philadelphians ] and it would be remiss of me not to mention groups such as the Anabaptists, Waldensians, and the Lollards. Which, incidentally, were heavily persecuted by the Catholic Church.
If we fast forward to the year AD 1517, we see an accumulation of heresies so severe that it barely resembles Christianity.
Apostolic succession [the papacy]
Two ordinances become seven sacraments
Salvation by works [merited grace]
Celibacy of priests
The perpetual virginity of Mary
The assumption of Mary
The immaculate conception of Mary
The process of Canonisation of saints
Purgatory and indulgences
The corruption of God’s word and removing it from the hands of common folk and initiating what was known as the Dark Ages.
As Paul sums it up with this warning in 2 Corinthians:
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
(2 Corinthians 11:3-4)
The end result is another Gospel, another Jesus inspired by another spirit.
Roman Catholicism is guilty on all counts.
As I said earlier, today is also Reformation Sunday and it commemorates the day in 1517, a Catholic Priest by the name of Martin Luther posted a list of 95 theses or “Protests” to the door of the Church in Wittenberg Germany and thus formalized the Protestant Reformation.
[Although the rumblings of reformation had already begun]
Luther’s personal protest began through a crisis of conscience which lead him to understanding that salvation was by grace through faith: “the just shall live by faith”
In light of this revelation, Martin Luther developed a distaste for many of the teachings of the Catholic Church [although he was far from perfect in his doctrine]; but in particular the idea of “indulgences” which were a form of penance within the Roman Catholic Church that granted full or partial remission of the punishment of sin. In Martin Luther’s time, these indulgences took the form of monetary payments, so that a rich person could virtually buy his way into heaven or lessen the time in purgatory for himself or a loved one [or so he thought].
Indulgences still exist today but in a more disguised form. Our current pope promised an indulgence to those who followed him on Twitter or Instagram.
It’s interesting [when we look at these two stories:the origins of Halloween and the Protestant Reformation] that both Rome and Ireland have become strongholds for entrenched Catholicism.
I pray that you keep these things in mind as we expound our text today; remembering that this epistle was written to a church which was smack bang in the middle of a society with a plethora of pagan practices and beliefs.
Separated by Association:
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
The scripture paints a perfect picture here in describing our first point. It is the idea of 2 oxen being yoked or paired together to perform a COMMON WORK. Ideally they would be of equal strength and height in order to work effectively together. The problem, in the case of inequality, is that the work is bound to suffer.
We are given the conditions of this inequality throughout the four verses of our text today:
The first of these is:
BELIEVER and UNBELIEVER:
One thing we know is that the desire of the believer ought to be for the gospel. His desire ought to be a love for the truth. His desire ought to be to honour God. The unbeliever has no such desire. He walks after the flesh and is given to the deeds of the flesh.
At times these differences may be subtle; particularly if the believer is not mature in his faith and his actions are misdirected [that is to say, not towards the gospel] or if the unbeliever [perhaps] has a certain community mindedness that appears to be based on faith [in name only]. We also know that when the Lord begins a good work in us, he promises to complete it…I’m living proof of that.
The scripture further highlights the differences.
It uses the word “fellowship” which indicates a commonality or likeness of type.
For example: Fellow citizens or fellow workers
Instead of a likeness of type, we have another contrast: This time between RIGHTEOUSNESS and UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
It speaks of communion [or common union] between LIGHT and DARKNESS; and asks the question, “What communion is there between the two?” The simple answer is none.
We know at the beginning of creation that God divided the light from the darkness to show us that separation.
In fact and as Paul tells us:
[Turn to]
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth😉 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:6-13)
As believers it pays to remember [WITHOUT DWELLING ON IT], where we came from [our previous lives]; and that is: that we were darkness and we were walking in darkness.
But now we are “light in the Lord” and we’re called to be salt and light in this world
LIGHT ALWAYS EXPOSES DARKNESS
Applying these principles to the historical example which I gave in the introduction:
It’s hard to imagine a system of religion that would allow such a mingling of believers and unbelievers, as was the case in Ancient Rome. Ultimately it was Christian in name but not in practice. We know this from from Revelation chapter 2 and Christ’s appraisal of the churches in Asia Minor.
Roman Catholicism as represented by the Church in Thyatira, is characterized by idolatry among other things; and offering sacrifices thereunto. However, the Church as represented by Thyatira wasn’t the start of the rot, it was preceded by 3 other church ages:
Ephesus, who left their first love
Smyrna, who received a perfect report card
But more importantly we read of Pergamos:
“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” (Revelation 2:14-15)
Not only do we see idolatry…but we also see a destructive doctrine referred to as the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
The word Nicolaitans translates to “conquer the laity” and suggests a ecclesiastical hierarchy which resulted in the spiritual destruction of the lay or common people by the clergy; possibly through over-lording.
The primary application of our text is to the church of Corinth. And throughout this epistle we see Paul exhorting the Corinthians to DIS-ASSOCIATE themselves…to dis-associate themselves from sins and practices that are unbecoming for a believer; after all the desire of the Christian should be to live a blameless life.
Some of the particular examples within the church of Corinth include: food offered to idols; and especially its effect on your conscience and the conscience of others. He also challenges the church in regards to fornication, disorderly conduct in the church and use of Spiritual gifts.
Certainly, throughout this message we will be reminded of the importance of our relationship with the Lord [good or bad] and its effect with those around us.
Separated through Membership:
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”
Once again we have this separation, this division, this inequality between Christ and Satan…Believer and Unbeliever.
It’s obvious of course that Christ and Satan are at polar opposites of the spectrum.
Nevertheless:
Concord is an interesting word:
It speaks of harmony.
It speaks of agreement
It speaks of unity
The obvious answer to the question “what concord hath Christ with Belial” is “NONE”
And this is because:
Satan is the way that seems right but whose end is the ways of death.
Jesus is the strait gate and the narrow way that leads to life.
Satan is the father of lies.
Jesus said “I am the truth”
Satan was a murderer from the beginning
Jesus said “I am the life”
Satan is the accuser of the brethren
Jesus is our advocate in heaven
Through faith in Christ we have been given the power to become sons of God.
Those without faith are described as “sons of Belial”
The opposite of concord is discord and confusion and we know that Satan is the author of confusion…
In the second half of this verse, it’s implied here that there is no part or parity between believer and non-believer.
THEREFORE the opposite must be true for believer and believer. Therefore we ought to ask ourselves:
If the believer has NO part with an unbeliever, what part or parity is there amongst believers? [I hope you know the answer]
WE ARE ALL PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
And so when looking at this portion of our text today, it pays to remind ourselves WHO we belong to; realizing that our lives are NOT our own and that we were bought with a price [that price being the blood of Christ]
As with membership of any organisation, there’s a certain expectation that comes with being members of Christ’s body; we’re not talking KPI’s [Key Performance Indicators] but there certainly should be evidence of our membership in terms of attitude and inner transformation.
In the previous point we saw that the believer is considered “light in the Lord” and this is consistent with the fact that we have become citizens of God’s kingdom.
Since God…
“…delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Colossians 1:13)
As believers our lives are governed by the Lord and his commandments. And this is
because we agree that they are good.
On the other hand there are those who prefer darkness because their deeds are evil.
Paul sums up this contrast of attitude like this:
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:5-9)
But for the unbeliever [particularly] in relation to the gospel:
“…the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
(2 Corinthians 4:4)
When it comes to choosing sides and separating ourselves from sin and those that would influence us in sinful ways, our text asks us: “what part has a believer with an unbeliever”
The passage in Ephesians passage exhorts us not to be partakers with the unfruitful works of darkness: “Be not ye therefore partakers with them”.
To be a partaker [among other things] means to join with someone in a particular activity [whether as a one-off or long-term relationship: business or otherwise].
Along with the words part and partaker, we have words like partner and partnership which further our need for caution when it comes to forming a joint venture of some kind.
And this is where discernment is needed to decide where it might lead and the implications further down the track. Whether there will be an expectation to do something that contradicts your beliefs and whether you will be tempted to compromise your faith.
Automatically we should realize that the unbeliever’s life is guided by a diametrically opposite worldview and value system. Remember the unequal yoking; the believer and the unbeliever are working in opposite directions.
And even if the unbeliever’s values are seemingly altruistic:
The believer’s focus is on the eternal; his treasure is in heaven
The unbeliever’s focus is on the temporal; his treasure is on earth.
The unbeliever is motivated by self-esteem
The believer’s motive is to glorify God.
Pastor has previously mentioned the example of the food bank which began as a means to further the gospel but when taken over by the council, the gospel focus was removed completely. This has been the case of many charitable organisations; the gospel of Christ being transformed into a social justice [false] gospel.
As the body of Christ, believers, ultimately we need to be prepared to be partakers of Christ and his sufferings. But giving in to sin and taking the path of least resistance isn’t going to make us happy long term. At least we should hope not…
Life isn’t without temptation and Satan can certainly offer us an easy life. Look at Christ’s temptation in the wilderness.
Satan tempted Christ in regards to provision
Satan tempted Christ in regards to God’s protection over his life
Satan offered Christ power and dominion
So when the scripture asks: what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”
Again the answer is NONE
Separated through Abidance:
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
I’ve used the word “abidance” to describe what the scripture is saying here. In the second half of this verse, we read: “…I will dwell in them, and walk with them…” The word abide means to constantly dwell
In John’s gospel chapter 15 verses 4-10, we see the word abide used in this way:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)
Not only does he dwell in us but we dwell in him. And as we make this conscious effort to abide in his presence we experience God’s love and peace; thus living a fruitful life.
Once again we’re asked a question, “WHAT AGREEMENT”
These questions are designed to make us THINK and to CHALLENGE us.
Immediately we should realize two people cannot walk together except they agree…
Again; what agreement or what common ground does idol have with the temple of God.
The answer is none. To place an idol in the temple of God is an abomination and to present something to God which is considered unclean, profane or tainted is unthinkable.
“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1:6-8)
In another sense we are also reminded the WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD
Because God dwells in us and God walks with us.
In the gospel of John we see Jesus cleansing the temple of the money changers. This demonstrates how easy it is for true worship and sacrifice unto God to be corrupted.
Jesus rebukes them saying that the temple was supposed to be a house of prayer but they had turned it into a den of thieves.
Quite simply when it comes to living a separated life:
We’re being particularly challenged during this time in regards to the idols we might have hidden in our hearts.
We cannot worship God and mammon; we either hate the one and love the other. Worship is a choice we need to make daily as is the prayer that God will purify and cleanse our hearts.
Separation from the World and Communion with God:
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
The call to come out from among those things which are antithetical to God, speaks of our relationship with the world.
We see this numerous times in the Old Testament and the command is to abstain from practising the things that the heathen did and not to indulge in idolatrous behaviour.
“When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.” (Deuteronomy 12:29-31)
“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” (Jeremiah 10:2)
“Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.” (Ezra 9:12)
The obvious principle is to:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
(1 John 2:15-17)
The second part of this verse continues thus..
“and I will receive you,”
“…And will be a Father unto you…”
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
These are promises and they speak of relationship …
If the first half of this verse speak of our relationship with the world the second part of this verse speaks of our our relationship with the Lord. The second is conditional upon the first. Our relationship with the Lord is dependant upon our relationship with the world. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.
Our relationship with the Lord should be the most valued thing in our lives. After all, wasn’t it a dissatisfaction with our old lives that caused us to fall out of love with the word and drew us to Christ in the first place.
James doesn’t mince words when he says:
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO LEAVE YOUR FIRST LOVE
Conclusion:
There’s a saying that goes: “those who forget history are destined to repeat it.
As it was in Corinth and Ancient Rome we live in a pagan world surrounded by infidels. The question is: Do we learn from history or do we succumb to the errors committed by our predecessors; blending faith with the culture of the day.
We’re living at a time in which the bible speaks clearly; a time of apostasy and a falling away from the faith once delivered to the saints.
We’re living in a time when churches promote themselves as “seeker friendly”
We’re living in a time where feelings and experiences take precedence over objective truth.
We’re living in a time where faith is being mingled with things like Christian yoga and other occult practices.
The modern believer has learnt to “compartmentalize” his life. He adopts certain behaviours and beliefs for Sunday and Wednesday night bible study but the remainder of the week belongs to him; it is anything but separated unto God. Unfortunately; even if the believer was truly seeking to know God more perfectly: compromise always leads to confusion.
The sad thing is that most modern churches do not teach their members to lives separated unto God and you have to say that much of the blame rests squarely on the pastors.
It doesn’t help when you’re not reading your bible.
The happiest day of my Christian life was when I began to realize this state of apostasy within the church. Admittedly it was painful at first but as I look back now: short term pain has led to long term gain.
As I separated myself from biblical apostasy, I have only witnessed that falling away increase. And we know that it will continue to increase more and more as we get closer to the end and the revealing of the antichrist. The bible foretells of the end times church of the Laodiceans being completely absorbed by the world.
It’s sad because there’s a principal taught in the bible and shouldn’t be ignored….just because it is found in the Old Testament:
“Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” (Ezekiel 22:26)
Fact is:
God is holy and he has commanded us to live holy lives. When we allow sin to infiltrate our lives, God is profaned [made common-place] and is thus blasphemed.
The fulfilment of this command begins with our attitude to God:
Do we seek to love him wholeheartedly?
The fulfilment of this command begins with our attitude to his word:
Do we give it the place in our lives and the reverence to which it is due?
Only then will we heed the exhortation: BE YE SEPARATE
Let’s pray
The post Be Ye Separate appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
Prayer pt 1:
Careful For Nothing
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:4-6
My daughter Natalie had said to me in the first few months after we began the Church in Sunbury that I ought to do a sermon series on the topic of prayer. It was something she loved and so did I and it was always my intention to undertake this incredible study.
I’m not sure why it was that I had not undertaken it until now.
The sermon series of the book of Romans that I began before leaving Faith Baptist Church in Fawkner in 2016 and re-started in January 2019, together with The Bible Survey Series undertaken from 2017 to 2018, had indeed helped lay the foundation of the Church and now, seeing the end in sight for the close of the book of Romans, and in light of the current affairs of our world, it seems a deep dive into the topic of prayer is vital for our Confidence, our Faith, our Joy and our Witness.
I don’t yet know how many sermons I will undertake in this series on Prayer, nor do I know how much of each sermon is going to overlap as the topic of prayer is expensive, but I do know that those four overall categories will house the different values of prayer directly.
CONFIDENCE
FAITH
JOY
WITNESS
Confidence is that which assuages fears and anxieties. It quiets concern, it alleviates our worries, it provides that assurance we need to not only to get through life but to excel in life. Confidence underpins the foundation of everything we desire to build upon it, and yet it is merely one of the side benefits to prayer.
Faith is that trusting element based on what we have seen and experienced in trusting God at his word. “Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness” says the apostle (Rom 4:3). In this we see Faith as that very element through which salvation is gained. We trusted, having not seen nor witnessed, but having confidence that God cannot lie and it gained to us eternal life. This can ONLY grow when prayer becomes a constant state of the heart.
JOY has its fountain within; unlike happiness it is NOT based on that which occurs without. Joy does not stem from the ‘happenings’ in or around our life, it is a well springing up from within our hearts and spirit, that can only be gained when such constant communication with the Living God becomes the staple of our life. We “rejoice in the Lord alway” (Phil 4:4) and uncommonly do so even in tribulation (Ja 1:2) and especially as we witness that our redemption draweth nigh (Lk 21:28).
That “Witness” is to be understated as all the elements above come togetherdemonstrating a manner of life that is otherworldly. A life to which all people enquire as to the HOPE they see so evident within us (1 Pet 3:15).
But more so, it is a witness of Christ working in the lives of those we pray for testifying it was our intercession for them that God heard and answered.
So we will come to see that prayer is not INCIDENTAL to the Christian life, on the contrary, it is INSTRUMENTAL.
Dr Martin Loyd Jones wrote of prayer saying;
Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when upon his knees he comes face to face with God”
It was J. Oswald Sanders that wrote of “Effective Prayer” in 1969 saying
No spiritual exercise is such a blending of complexity and simplicity. It is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try, yet the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high. It is as appropriate to the aged philosopher as to the little child. It is the expression of a moment and the attitude of a lifetime. … It is an agony and an ecstasy. It is submissive and yet importunate. In the one moment it lays hold of God and binds the devil. It can be focused on a single objective and it can roam the world. It can be abject confession and rapt adoration. It invests puny man with a sort of omnipotence(Effective Prayer [Chicago: Moody, 1969], 7).[1]
Beloved it is my hope that from the beginning of this series your attitude to the activity of prayer will change from whatever diet you currently have, to one of hungering for more. That if your prayer life at this present time is one of casual consideration, like when one goes shopping and just so happens to see something they might like to add to the trolley, to one of absolute necessity, as if it’s the ONLY item you came for.
And it is my hope that by the end of this series, we all have gained such an addiction to prayer that barely a thought comes to our minds that does not contain a consideration of Christ, that the last thought of the night and the first thought of the morning is of our Lord, and that the cares of this life are as far removed from us so as to seem that of a foreign land only under observation.
Often Careful For Everything
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:4-6
As the apostle Paul writes from his prison cell, he calls on the Philippian church to “be careful for nothing”.
It is always an interesting curiosity, that rarely does the Bible ever command or call for its recipients to do that which already comes naturally. Usually, it commands that which is opposed to nature.
Here Paul writes that we ought to be “careful for nothing”, and this is because we far too often find ourselves Careful for Everything.
The word “Careful” simply refers to being ‘Full of Care’, in other words, worried, anxious, fearful, having our hearts filled with the cares and concerns and worries of life.
There are some wonderful lessons we learn in the Bible respecting the choices we make, and we find indeed that being worried about the things of this life is a choice.
Turn in your bibles to Luke 10:38-42
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosenthat good part, which shall not be taken away from her
Notice Martha “Careful and troubled about many things”. This seems the natural place of us all, we worry about many things and in this last two weeks we seem to have been given great cause to worry.
But notice how the Lord described Mary, she
“hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her
When Paul wrote “be careful for nothing”, he also gives the direct impression that this is a ‘Choice’ we make rather than a condition we find ourselves under. Jesus said Mary had “Chosen” that which Martha had NOT chosen, and far too many of us choose to be worried about many things.
But Pastor, is there Not a Cause?
Beloved, there have always been causes for the anxiety of people. The last two weeks have been our cause for anxiety and worry, for our carefulness. The world over have recently experienced the very same thing, first with mandates against their jobs and now with mandates against their freedoms with the Green Pass or CoVid pass and one day will come a time when the world will face mandates upon their lives according to Revelation 13.
What is occurring is global and as such the entire world is “Careful and troubled about many things”.
I don’t make light of the situation that many find themselves in today as a mass of people, but individually all people at diverse times both together and independently have had much to be careful of, much to be worried about and this is not limited to the time we now live.
The 20th Century alone has such a glut of global events that worried most of the world.
Through the Old Testament the people of the Lord had many times in life where they had ‘Cause to fear’. Many times throughout history Israel had kingdoms around them that would come and take away their place and nation, many times they cried to the Lord to deliver them.
Paul speaks to the troubles they endured when preaching the Gospel during his missionary journeys;
Paul wrote saying
“…but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.”
Yet in the very next verse he writes;
6 “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us…”(2 Cor 7:5-6)
“Nevertheless God”, you can read that as just another of the “But God” passages in the Bible.
Paul wrote that the natural state of the heart is to fear, to worry, to be careful about many things, but then he provides us with a choice to replace those anxieties by our focus upon Christ.
“But God”
It was Paul who wrote “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7)
We are OFTEN CAREFUL FOR EVERYTHING, and not always without cause, indeed there can be absolute justification for our worries, for our fears, for many of our anxieties IF GOD could care less about those he loves.
THAT IS THE RUB!!!
We acknowledge the cause of our fears, but for those who are the Lords can they be justified?
ARE WE WILLING TO CONSIDER THE MANY “BUT GOD” PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE?
Are we willing to apply them to those he loves?
Are we RIGHT to choose to be “Careful and troubled about many things”, or should we be “Careful for Nothing”?
Joyful Being Careful for Nothing
Paul begins our passage with a command to rejoice, to have an evident joy known unto all men and he gives reason saying “The Lord is at hand”, a fascinating statement again of the imminent return of Christ for his Church.
The Lord is at hand, A statement that says there is NOTHING that needs to happenbefore he Comes. It is the Imminecy of Christs return alone that puts to bed any idea HELD that claims HE CANNOT COME UNTIL…such and so happens.
No, “The Lord is at hand” and can come any moment.
(Side Note: When it comes to Eschatology, that is, the doctrine of last things, there is a shortcut to be able to know if the preacher you listen to is trustworthy. ONE VERY SIMPLE WAY TO TELL. When he teaches contrary to the Premillennial Pretribulational Rapture of the Church, does he need to “Re-translate” the words in your King James Bible? That’s all. If a man MUST redefine or re-translate a given word in the Bible, what he is saying is that God is wrong and I am right. Be careful beloved.)
4 Rejoice in the Lord I: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:4-6
Joy and being ‘careful for nothing’, that is, leading a completely care free life, seem to go hand in hand.
A life unburdened by fears for the basic necessities of Life is free to rejoice through life, but a life that is both free of worry AND consciously cared for by their creator has a comfort and a peace and joy that accompanies it…and that it what is said in the very next verse;
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus(Phil 4:6-7)
Let’s allow Jesus to explain why this is, turn to one of the most famous and comforting passages in the Bible, Matt 6:25-34;
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek🙂 for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I believe it to be true that if we all trusted that Jesus words here were absolutely true, we would never worry about another day again.
I cannot accept this to be false. I cannot accept that this is an exaggeration, I cannot accept logically this to be untrue.I have experienced my Lord the moment I was born again.I sense him when I prayI am convicted by him when I sinI am lost when I am not walking with himI am joyful when I walk beside himI greave when not in communion through prayerI rejoice when I speak to himI have seen him answer prayers that are smallAnd I have seen him answer things too incredible for me to think it just coincidence.
I cannot accept Jesus words here to be false and I will not permit the devil to sucker punch me into thinking my Lord is NOT FAITHFUL to his word.
The greatest sorrow I feel is when I see brethren suffer, not in life, but in attitude because they choose not to believe these words!
If we trusted our Lord with these words, there should never be the same fears that the “gentiles” have.
Jesus was speaking to the Jews in this passage, his reference to the gentiles was aswipe at the reality that the Jews had the true God as their father, and the gentiles were the sinners of the heathen world.
They are the ones that fear What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? But NOT those who have God as their father! Why?
Because;
your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
What is he saying?
He is saying what he had already said;
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?…
….
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Somehow, someway, even out of nowhere, GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS OWN AND THEREFORE;
JOYFULLY, WE OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING!
This is the reality.
Now, notice that the birds of the air do not have the hand of God feeding themfrom heaven with a worm dropped into their mouths…they need to go out and search for it trusting that he provides, so too is that for you.
Don’t just sit there at home in worry and fear, trust that the Lords promises are sure and get up and get out and do what you need to do trusting that the Lord is AT HAND.
When it comes to work, the Bible makes it plain that if a man shall not work, neither should he eat 2 Thess 3:10
So you have a duty to work and if you are willing to find employment, or to work with your own hands, or to attend to your own business, in whatsoever ability you have, God will provide all your needs.
Your dependence is on God not Government (though they have long desired to replace God and will one day demand worship as God). You are not to worry and fear like those who have not God.
Your trust is in the one who quenched the thirst of his people with water from a rock, and fed them with bread from heaven.
Who parted the sea that they may cross dry shod.
Who walked on the waves of the sea “and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, peace, be still” (Mrk 4:39)
This is where YOUR TRUST IS SO IT IS PERFECTLY CONSISTENT OF PAUL TO COMMAND WE TO BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING!
Often Prayerful For Nothing
But far too often are the people of God PRAYERFUL FOR NOTHING.
It is of great interest to me that those who are “Careful for everything” also seem to be those who are too often ‘PRAYERFUL FOR NOTHING”.
Those who are always worried about things, are also those who rarely seek their comfort in Christ.
My mother remains to me the perfect picture of a person in constant fear and worry.
I loved her dearly but she was one of those who may indeed have been saved as a teenager, but she lost that first love early and in later life sought unto “wizards that peep and that mutter” (Isa 8:19)
Yes, sounds funny but that Biblical reference speaks of the people of God in the Old testament doing the same thing. They knew God but rarely sought after him.
They had trouble in the world and yet hoped that the world would deliver them.
We do the same thing every time we check the news. We betray our real source of hope each time we check the updates hoping for a change of course.
Yes, I’m sure, some of you will say that you were just curious when you waited for the 4pm Supreme Court decision on Friday or waited upon Nero’s decision today, but your emotional response might witness where your hope ultimately lays.
Did it change?
Did you sorrow Friday afternoon? Did you rejoice this afternoon?
Sure…now you hate me…its ok, I didn’t take this job to be liked
But imagine for a moment what life is like when you are prayerful for everything rather than nothing. When your comfort is in Christ, your joy in him, your anchor fixed and your foundation firm.
Imagine what life is like independent from the decrees of the emperor, imagine the freedom to do that which does not shackle you to the whims of the world?
Please don’t get me wrong, we have prayed for a temporary reprieve and I see answers to prayer and in that I rejoice for God is working wonderfully amongst us and will work around us. Let us take advantage of the liberty, but let us examine ourselves respecting where our hope lay.
I want to admit to you that it was only quite recently that I completely came to care lessabout what the news would bring.
I found my Lord to be the greatest source of my comfort and I have already grieved replacing him with the temporary comforts of this evil world.
Don’t wait till the last minute to pray.
The World is Prayerful for nothing other than the last resort, it is so incredibly sad when Christians also pray for nothing other than when they are in trouble.
The rabbinic teachers in Israel taught the need of the people to pray and to avoid resembling the heathen of the world in their habit of ONLY praying when they were desperate.
The Talmud is a volume that codified rabbinic tradition and on this topic is written, “Honour the physician before ye have need of him”.
DO NOT REMAIN PRAYERFUL FOR NOTHING!
Turn to Isaiah 47:12-13
The people of God had long sought after the things of the world to bring them comfort and far too have we too have, of a sort, done the same thing.
Look how the Lord responds when they seek him ONLY after they are desperate.
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. 13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Well you say, at least they did seek after the Lord at some point. But how far can a people backslide from the Lord?
King Ahaz just trespassed against the Lord more and more till he was ruined by his false hope, he was PRAYERFUL FOR NOTHING and is a fair example.
2 Chron 28:22-23
22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
While the Lord is NOT in all our thoughts and while we try to gain our comfort from this life and what little this world has to offer, we gain little joy and little comfort, In this world we gain TEMPORARY JOY AND TEMPORARY COMFORT.
And all this because we are too often PRAYERFUL FOR NOTHING.
We do not separate our desires from that of the world and as such there is no greater hope in us than that which is found in the world.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:4-6
Interesting isn’t it?
We are too often Careful for Everything and Prayerful for nothing, yet Paul tells us to be “Careful for nothing and Prayerful for everything”
How joyful would our lives be if we simply made this choice?
Joyful Being Prayerful For Everything
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:4-6
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a nineteenth century preacher who began his formal ministry at the tender age of nineteen years.
People all over the UK would come to see this Child Preacher who would become the most famous preacher of his time.
He spoke a good deal on Prayer and spoke of both its value and frequency and we do well to consider some of his words.
In his commentary on the Parables of Our Lord he wrote;
Like the old knights, always in warfare, not always on their steeds dashing forward with their lances in rest to unhorse an adversary, but always wearing their weapons where they could readily reach them, and always ready to encounter wounds or death for the sake of the cause which they championed. Those grim warriors often slept in their armour; so even when we sleep, we are still to be in the spirit of prayer, so that if perchance we wake in the night we may still be with God. Our soul, having received the divine centripetal influence which makes it seek its heavenly centre, should be evermore naturally rising towards God himself.
Our heart is to be like those beacons and watchtowers which were prepared along the coast of England when the invasion of the Armada was hourly expected, not always blazing, but with the wood always dry, and the match always there, the whole pile being ready to blaze up at the appointed moment.**
Our souls should be in such a condition that prayer should be very frequent with us. No need to pause in business and leave the counter, and fall down upon the knees; the spirit should send up its silent, short, swift petitions to the throne of grace …
A Christian should carry the weapon of all-prayer like a drawn sword in his hand. We should never sheathe our supplications. Never may our hearts be like an unlimbered gun, with everything to be done to it before it can thunder on the foe, but it should be like a piece of cannon, loaded and primed, only requiring the fire that it may be discharged. The soul should be not always in the exercise of prayer, but always in the energy of prayer; not always actually praying, but always intentionally praying[2]
We ask how often we should pray, the answer of the Bible is “Continuing instant in prayer” (Rom 12:12)
Prayer in the Bible is not a one-time thing undertaken is times of trouble, it is to be as natural as breathing. Just as the atmospheric Pressure around us compels us to breath without consciously doing so, so should our life lived in this world press us to pray without consciously setting a time.
Jesus said “men ought always to pray and not to faint: (Luke 18:1)
The Church began by “continuing stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” Acts 2:42
When Peter was in prison “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” Acts 12:5
In Ephesians 6 after speaking of the armor of God Paul wrote; “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” Eph 6:18
One of the shortest verses in the Bible is found in 1 Thess 5:17 that links to the second shortest verse before it, “16 Rejoice evermore, 17 pray without ceasing”.
Beloved, it is in prayer that we have a heart set on God,
it is here that we learn to trust him, here that we come for comfort, here that we come to him with nothing, no strength, no confidence in our ability, filthy even by the garment spotted by the flesh, having nothing to bring but petition.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:4-6
It was here, in this posture, in this state of the heart that we made one request of the Lord that gave to us a hope so great that no words can properly describe, and that is the forgiveness of sin and the joy of everlasting life.
ETERNAL LIFE WAS GRANTED ON OUR KNEES PETITIONING GOD.
Shall not this temporal life be provided for in the same manner?
OUR FEAR OF DEATH REMOVED BY OUR FAITH IN CHRIST
Shall not our fear in life be removed by our focus on him?
Beloved, you can choose how you want to live, that is not a choice I can make for you. If you choose to do things your way, then accept the consequences to that choice.
I have made my choice, my choice is to TRUST GOD AT HIS WORD and let him have the consequences of that decision.
The Lord has my very breath in his hands and I am tired of doing things my own way. I give up the worries of this life, I give up being careful for everything and prayerful for nothing, I have made my choice and that only recently.
What about you?
Will you from this day forward determine to say “NO MORE, from this day on I aim to BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING”?
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Job 19:25-27
Every day that this world turns I see the Bible come alive.
It is a living testimony to each one of us that God is true.
And every event that we see unfold, shouts to me that God is faithful, that he is as good as his word, and that he is coming soon for his bride.
If that is true, so too it is that he will provide for his own until that time, and I will be careful for nothing.
Maranatha.
[1] MacArthur, J.F., Jr., 1995. Alone with God, Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] MacArthur, J.F., Jr., 1995. Alone with God, Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
The post Be Careful For Nothing appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
An Ambassador In Bonds
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18-20
A Time to Choose
Presence of An Evil KingCarrying A Misplaced AffectionWitnessing An Evident ConfirmationNow Is A Time To Choose
AMBASSADORS
Is From Another NationIs a MessengerCarries a Message of WarningCarries a Message of Salvation
An Ambassador In Bonds
Bound For The Gospels Sake v20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18-20
What we witness in verse 20 is the state of the first century church exampled in the apostle Paul. He wrote this epistle from prison, “an ambassador in bonds” is how he titles himself.
A man who has suffered the confiscation of freedom for the sake of telling the world of the way for everlasting life, the way in which they could remove themselves from the eternal condemnation of hell.
Paul saw this as his is most committed vocation.
Paul saw this as the greatest of responsibility,
Paul saw this as his highest calling in life.
Now Paul was bound in a prison cell for the privilege of bringing this message to all people, and notice if you will that this change of environment does not remove from him that callto which he has been charged to undertake, he petitions prayer for the persistence of the work;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Paul continues to preach the gospel and the way of everlasting life even while bound.
More so, he trusts that this BONDAGE furthered the work for Christ.
Turn to Philippians 1:12-18
This letter was also written from a Prison cell in ROME. Consider Paul’s view related to the circumstances in which he finds himself.
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Paul does not consider prison to be a setback, on the contrary, he sees it as the Lords will and preaches with the same fervency there as he does when free.
But Paul was not the only disciple in prison.
Turn to Colossians 4:7- 11.
This, his salutation in yet another letter written from prison in ROME.
Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians are known as “The Prison Epistles” to which we might add 2 Timothy.
In his good-bye to the Colossian Church he writes;
7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. 10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
This is the first century Church.
But this was also the second century Church.
The third century Church, forth century, fifth….
When I attended a Bible college class on Church History a number of years ago, we had to read several book on the history of the Church, then undertake our exam, a series of book reviews on each book we had read, and finally a Church History Essay.
In the marking criteria you received value percentages for each element undertaken.
I got good marks for the Book Reviews and a High Distinction for the exam, but, due to my other commitments I had not undertaken the Essay, but I thought id passed the subject anyway and just let it go.
I got 78 out of 100, so I was quite pleased regardless. Problem was the principle told me that I needed 80% to pass the class.
The good news was I did not need to redo the entire class, but I had to read two more books and still undertake that dreaded essay in Church history.
What I’m trying to confirm to you is that being bound for the sake of the Gospel is not a first century anomaly. It was the perpetual state of the Church in diverse nationsaround the world in every century up to and including this 21st century.
Recall that Paul was a persecutor of the Church. His name was Saul before he changed it to Paul, and he testifies in Acts 22:3-5 as he spoke to the people of Jerusalem giving his testimony that they may hear the word and believe.
He spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue and said;
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
And why is this the case? Why is it that the world throughout history has not received the witness of the Church?
Jesus answered it, saying; that “men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil”
Turn to John 15:18-21
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
What began in the first century will continue through to the last century.
Beloved, be sure to have chosen that good thing we spoke of in the first message of this series, be sure to have understood your calling as Gods AMBASSADOR to a lost world, and be sure to know that your joyful work for the Gospels sake can continue even if you are privileged to become AN AMBASSADOR IN BONDS with Paul.
Intercession For Perseverance Sake. V18 Paul was bound for the Gospels sake, and he petitions the intersession of saints for Perseverance Sake.
Paul begins verse 18 from verse 10 saying; “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might….
18……Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
And then verse 19, “and for me that utterance may be given unto me….”
Paul here is petitioning the Church to pray for him, to intercede on his behalf for the sake of the Gospel of Christ and that Paul might be bold in his preaching to the lost even in that condition.
Beloved, we the Church must be a church of prayer just as they were in the first century. We must every day dedicate ourselves to the work God has set forth for us to work, a work that we attend to with all diligence on our knees before a holy God, interceding on behalf of the brethren, on behalf of each other.
They were long in praying for the release of Peter from prison, and as they were praying he was knocking at the front door having had an Angel liberate him.
This is a terrible time that we are living in, a time in which many challenges have hit us like a tonne of bricks, and some are getting challenged on every side and as a result WE NEED TO PRAY for each other.
Some of you think it strange that such a fiery trial is sent to try you. You go on your knees to pray and still bad things happen.
You read your bible every day and STILL BAD THINGS HAPPEN.
You think this strange, and yet this is to be expected for ALL those who are partakers in Christ, but if this occurs we should rejoice rather than be sad for it confirms our HOPE.
Turn to 1 Peter 4:12
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
One preacher once said;
Any man who takes Jesus Christ seriously becomes the target of the devil. Most church members do not give Satan enough trouble to arouse his opposition
Beloved we don’t go on our knees in prayer, and we don’t read our bibles every day in the hope that nothing bad happens, we do so because it ALONE sustains us, it alone keeps our focus on that which matters and to Paul, it gave him courage and boldness in the Gospel.
We read the Bible for several reasons;
Because it tells us of the power, glory and faithfulness of God.Because such knowledge of the Lord brings us comfort.Because it leads and guides our stepsBecause it brings context to our lives and the days in which we live.
Those with a Biblical worldview are the ONLY ones that can make sense of the world we live in.
The Bible informs our days and it corrects our minds.
We pray also for several reasons;
Because God desires our prayers and longs to answer.Because we need forgiveness for sin. (Both mind and body)Because we need to see his work done in our lives.Because others need our intersession.
And that is what Paul is asking of his readers here.
Paul desires that someone might stand in the gap for him, that might petition the Lord on his behalf, that might intercede for him that he may be bold in the work of the Lord.
God looks for men and women willing to do so, willing to petition the Lord that he stem the tide of his indignation on the nations.
He looks for men and women and children willing to petition the Lord that he might turn the worlds curse into God’s blessing, that he might save those who we intercede for.
Tun in your bibles to Ezekiel 22:29
Here Ezekiel writes of the anger of the Lord upon Israel, and upon the city of Jerusalem. The days he speaks of and the oppression that is exacted upon the people are not too dissimilar in our days today, and here God is looking for an intercessor, someone willing to seek the Lord on their behalf for forgiveness of sin.
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.
God longs to answer prayer, he looks for people of prayer, people willing to “stand in the gap”. God looks for people like you and I that are willing to intercede for this state and the people of this state, are there any?
Each one of us also, need each one of us to pray for each other for the work of the Lord. To turn the hearts of many unto God and that, like Paul, we may be bold in utterance.
James wrote: “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:20
Solomon wrote; “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” Pr 11:30
Set yourselves to pray each day, to intercede on behalf of those who cannot intercede for themselves.
Set yourselves to pray each day, to intercede on behalf of those who attend the work of the word of God, that they might be bold in their proclamation as Ambassadors for Christ.
Boldness For Hopes Sake v19 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
We often think that the sharing of the gospel of Christ comes easily to those who are gifted in the work. We think that they rarely have any fear in doing so, it’s just as easy to share the gospel for those people as it is to talk about the weather.
Paul indicates here that that is not the case. Even he desires to be bold, desires that he might open his mouth and to make known the mystery of the gospel. Yet here we have him petitioning the prayers of the saints that he might be bold in that proclamation.
Sharing the Gospel is not always easy.
First it needs to be our desire, first we need to see it as our work as Ambassadors for the heavenly kingdom.
Next there needs to be a love for the lost that exceeds our concerns for our temporal comforts.
Finally there needs to be that hunger for souls, that burden that simply cannot be quenched without just speaking one more of the words of God to one more person, handing out one more Gospel tract, recommending One more sermon,
The Desire
It’s one of the greatest joys to see a new Christian on fire for the Lord and sharing the gospel everywhere he/she goes even though they knows nothing other than the change that has happened in their heart.
How this is different for so many others who remember starting with such zeal and then falling away, their love for the Lord waning, their faith failing, too long a Christian.
One passionate Old Christian once prayed, after witnessing the zeal of a young convert, saying
“Lord, don’t let him catch on”.
We need that zeal to return to our hearts, we need a revival of desire for the Lost and the only time that will come is when we have a desire for the Lord.
Vance Havner once said “A Revival is the church falling in love with Jesus Christ all over again” and I think he is right.
Where do you stand in your love for Jesus?
Does your desire to live for him supersede everything else in your life?
Paul’s desire in life was nothing other than that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly
The Love
It is truly of interest to me that I find myself loving people more as I love Christ more.
I never loved people much, never cared for them much, but the more I fell in love with Christ the more I fell in love with my fellow man. The more I love man the more I desire him to be saved and tell him so plainly.
Speaking on missionaries, one godly man state that “The primary qualification for a missionary is not love for souls, as we often hear, but love for Christ”
How is your love for Christ? Do you love him enough that the burden you have for the souls of others supersedes the burden you have to protect your own feelings?
In other words, are you more concerned for their souls than you are for what they think of you?
Are you more worried that death will suddenly claim its next victim than you are being hated for preaching the warning?
The Hunger
Jeremiah was terribly reproached by those he tried to preach to. They beat him, the put him in stocks, they put him in chains, they put in in prison, AN ABASSADOR IN BONDS was Jeremiah in the Old testament, yet he had a love for God and a hunger for his word;
Jeremiah 20:9
9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Let me tell you with all confidence, the hunger you have for the lost souls of this world will equal the hunger you have for the Lord.
Jesus said “my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed”
If Christ is just an appetizer for you and your rather have your feast in the world, then you have no part in the gospel of Christ.
If Jesus is just your dessert at the end of a weak of fleshly feasting, then you are not an ambassador for Christ, you are living to fill your lusts with the dregs this world has to offer.
But if you HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, then Jesus said you will be filled.
If you have such a hunger for Christ that nothing else can come close to satisfying, you will be filled with a burden for the lost in this world.
So much so, you can say with Jeremiah his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
An Ambassador In Bonds v20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:20
We all are Ambassadors for Christ, citizens of heaven, who have a purpose that is GREATER than any other purpose of any other person living for the glory of this world.
And Satan knows it.
Is it a wonder that the one thing Paul was in prison for was for the sharing of the Gospel of Christ?
Is it a wonder that the one thing hated by the world and set as the offscouring of the world, is the heaven can be attained freely by faith in Christ. That there is no cost to gain heaven after your eyes close in this life.
That the price has been paid, and eternal life is FREE for all who believe the Gospel.
It’s a wonder to me that such a glorious message can be so despised by the world.
Jesus said : “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mrk 8:36)
And Satan know it.
It is the one thing the devil hates and it is the one thing that he works hardest to do against ANY Christian that runs the risk of being effective for Christ.
Sadly, too many Christians succumb to the challenges and don’t put up much of a fight. The average Christian today does not Love Jesus enough to fight on, to persevere, to endure hardness as a good soldier for Christ.
If the devil cannot keep you from being saved, if next he fails to make you backslide, then he undertakes to keep you just an average Christian. Sadly, here he succeeds with most believers.
Vance Havner said in one of his sermons;
Any man who takes Jesus Christ seriously becomes the target of the devil. Most church members do not give Satan enough trouble to arouse his opposition
If you are rousing the opposition of the Devil then it seems your love for Jesus is growingand your burden for the lost is increasing and as these all grow together.
Your success may be made manifest by reaching the top of your profession as AN AMBASSADOR IN BONDS.
In China today the preachers of the Underground Church don’t think you are serious enough as a Christian if you have not yet been imprisoned for the sake of the gospel.
What are you saying Pr Edi, that we should all go to jail for preaching?
I am saying that if you love the Lord Jesus Christ as much as he deserves to be loved, there is no end where you would not be willing to go.
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:20
Paul needed the intercessory prayers of the saints that he might fulfill his course and finish it with joy. He told those of the Church of the extent of his willingness to fulfill his work as an ambassador.
Turn to Acts 20
In Acts 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Acts 21:4
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem**.
Acts 21:10
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Three times was Paul warned about returning to Jerusalem,
First in chapter 20:22 when he was stirred in the spirit not knowing the things that would befall him at Jerusalem.
The second time in Acts 21:4 where his disciples warned him not to go.
Lastly here in Acts 21:10-14 where a specific prophecy was given him.
Should he have gone?
Was that the Lord telling him NOT to go?
We know the outcome of it all, and his final imprisonment from where he wrote this very letter we are looking at to the Ephesians, where he wrote the letter to the Philippians, and where he wrote the letter to the Colossians.
Was he wrong to Go?
Paul was an Ambassador for Christ just like you and I are this day.
He was “bound in the spirit” to go to Jerusalem, he was sent by the Lord to go there and as he said in verse 13 he was not only willing to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
In chapter 23 it was the Lord himself who stood by Paul encouraging him, saying;
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. (Acts 23:11)
What we see is a reflection of his love for Jesus.
His willingness to give his life for this work and to him, this was his greatest joy of all.
Turn to 2 Timothy 4:1-8
In Paul’s final letter, also written from Rome, Paul speaks of his ministry drawing to a close and, after all that he has endured for Christ, all the afflictions he has undergone that we have read about, you tell me if you see ANY HINT of regret in his words.
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
An Ambassador in Bonds was Paul, AMBASSADORS are we.
Just as the first century church began in obscurity and preached the Gospel to the world, so too will those faithful in the last century Church fulfil that work begun, till Jesus comes.
How wonderful would it be that when the Lord returns for the Church, to meet them in the air, that moment that you are changed, you were found in the midst of attending to your work as an Ambassador….even if need be, AN AMBASSADOR IN BONDS?
Maranatha.
The post An Ambassador In Bonds appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
AMBASSADORS
Pr Edi Giudetti
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespassesunto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:16-21
The Title of the message this morning is simply AMBASSADORS.
It is a sermon that is based on the text that we have before us and it is one that brings to us an understanding of WHO we are in Christ and WHAT our place is in the world!
Last week was a message that should have convicted the heart and also should have brought us BACK to reality respecting where it is we are to gain our hope. We have made this world a graven image, we have fallen down before it and we have pleaded with the world to deliver us from the trials in the world that were created by the world.
We are mocked by the very false gods we have worshiped, we have cried to it and there was no answer, we have doubled our efforts is doing all we can to placate the world, even offering ourselves up to it in the hope that the world might hear our plea, might try our case, might listen to our cry but “there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded”.
That was what the 450 Prophets of Baal discovered, and that is what we discover, and if the choice was not made before last week, then last week we were charged to choose, it was a Time to Choose….
We hear even today the cry of Elijah, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21)
If you are born again, if you are saved through the blood of Christ by your faith in him, then you made that choice already long ago, you made the choice already to be a people of “an holy nation” says the apostle Peter.
You are the very ones that the Bible says “desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:” (Heb 11:16)
You, who made that Choice are officially Citizens of Heaven whom Peter said;
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
1 Pet 2:9
This is NOT your HOME, But far too many whom long ago made such a choice to obtain this heavenly citizenship have too long desired to make THIS WORLD HOME.**
Being called by God to be an AMBASSADOR to this world to bring the news of Salvation to a lost world, they act as if DEFECTION is an option!
Last week it was put to you that it was again time to choose.
If you are born again you cannot defect.If you are saved by Christ, defection is not possible, while you are here in this world you have at best, a Dual Citizenship, but one in which you are to make the choice of service.
Start living “for the hope which is laid up for you I heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col 1:3)
You are an Ambassador For Christ and the time of your sojourning here is coming to a close.**
But what is an Ambassador? What is the role of the work that we might fulfill it with joy?
Through the scriptures we will answer this question. It appears 12 times in 12 verses and so we have gain for ourselves a wonderful understanding of both its meaning and its purpose.
(Josh 9:36)
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
Joshua and the captains of Israel were deceived very early on by these men who claimed to be from a far country. They claim to be “Ambassadors” sent to Joshua for peace and to join together in league.
It’s the first time the word is used in the Bible and, as usual, the first mention is most often very important.
An ambassador is from a foreign land, another nation, and most evident in the passage, a nation that is not near.
We see the same in 2 Chron 32:31, when Hezekiah receives men from the nation of Babylon, far away from Jerusalem. The text refers to them as “the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon”
The same again in 2 Chron 35:21, these were ambassadors of the king of Egypt.
An ambassador is from another nation.
We have the very same today. In Australia we have ambassadors from most of the nations around the world. They are here to speak to us of their own land and to bring tidings back to that land of this nation.
There have been times when some ambassadors have lived in the foreign land longer than in the land of their birth, yet they remain ambassadors nonetheless.
What seems different for you and I is that we have never even seen heaven.
These ambassadors are people who at least have lived in the nation from which they are sent, yet we are still described as Ambassadors.
Paul uses the word to describe himself in Ephesians saying, in Ephesians 6:19-20; “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak”
Paul here writing from a prison cell still claiming to be that ambassador sent by God for the sake of the mystery of the gospel.
So how can it be that we are called ambassadors from heaven when we have never seen it?
The answer lies in that which was spoke by Jesus Christ concerning the Kingdom of God.
Turn to Luke 17:20-21
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you**
Beloved, yes, there is a real and physical place called heaven to which we yearn for. The Bible speaks of our internal longing for home that occurs in every person who is born again.
It is a longing that identifies the truth of what Jesus spoke of here.
the kingdom of God is within you
We have within each one of us an experience of the kingdom of God within that can never be taken away. It is that knowledge imparted by the Spirit of God that is more than memory. It is at this time a feeling of homesickness.**
You may have experienced that before if you have ever been away from your family home for any period of time. Though you may enjoy the place in which you sojourn, there is certainly times when you feel homesick.
Its one that often occurs when the place you sojourn loses its luster, when it no longer much to hold you there.
Its what may be occurring now to many.
So first of all we understand that, An Ambassador Is From Another Nation
Secondly,
An Ambassador is a Messenger: Now Paul wrote of Christ saying that he hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
What is clear is that an Ambassador is a Messenger. One who is sent by its King to bring news, tiding, a message, to the land in which he is sent.
Prov 13:17 says
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health**.
We are called by God to be ambassadors to this world having for this world a message of reconciliation.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most famous ambassadors in the world, and his role came at the most pivotal time in the history of the United States as the American Revolution against Great Britain began.
His work was as an envoy for peace and he placed himself in the nation of France to court them for an alliance that would bring security and peace to the new colonies of America. His work resulted in the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which formally ended the American War for Independence.
Benjamin Franklin was skilled in this work but it was his gifts in other areas that best suited him for that particular role. Ben Franklin was a printer, a writer, an inventor, politician, scientist and philosopher and all these skills put together made him the most ideal man set for the purpose of securing peace between England and America.
In a very real way YOU are the most perfect person God has set as an ambassador to bring the message of peace, the message of reconciliation to someone to secure the union for which Christ died.
2 Cor 5:18
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
You first qualify for the role having yourself been first reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. The verse before says;
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Your background, your life, your testimony, your personality, your love for Christ and for the lost of this world, sets you up as the most ideal person through whom SOMEONE will hear the message of reconciliation and will one day respond.
Just as everything about Ben Franklin qualified him for his role, so too God will use EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU as perfectly suited to bring the message of ETERNITY to the life of someone else.
“Oh but Pastor, I am not eloquent, I am slow of speech and of a slow tonge, I am not learned, I am not suited to this work as an abassador….!”
How many of you have thought this within yourselves? How many people have thought that you needed more education, more knowledge, more wisdom, more might and passion to share the Gospel of Christ?
How many of you have ever thought that the very opposite might be true?How many of you have ever thought that it is through your very foolishness and lack of ability that God has chosen you to be his ambassador to this world?
The world looks to the wise man to lead him in life, but does God use the foolish to lead the world to eternal life?
Could that be true?
Turn to 1 Cor 1:26-29
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.**
The call is to be faithful and to leave the rest to the Lord.
Beloved, it is a faithful ambassador is health according to Proverbs 13:17, not a knowlagable person with a golden tongue.
If you are born again and have received to yourself the spirit of the living God, you are perfectly suited to the role, you are Gods ambassador and as such you are the single most important person in the life of someone who will ONLY ever hear the message of salvation from YOUR lips.
An Ambassador is A MESSENGER
It important also to realize that you are only a messenger, you cannot convert a single soul, that’s not your job, your role as an ambassador of Christ is to present the kingdom of God to the lost of the world.
“Ahh but I am too young”
So was Jeremiah.
God told Jeremiah “I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” Jer 1:5-9
Forty years he preached to the people of Israel and we know of not a single convert in the Bible.
“Ahh but I am too unwilling to go”
So was Jonah
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. Jon 3:4-5
It took a whale to retrieve Jonah from the depths and to spit him onto dry land before he would go to the godless Ninevites. He preached for three days and 120,000 people, unable to tell between their right and left hand, repented in sackcloth and ashes.
“Ahh but I am not smart, I can’t even read”
So too was the Apostle Peter, yet to him was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven(Mt 16:19)
“I got you Pastor, but I am too smart and experienced, too learned”
Well yes, that might be a challenge the bible does say, Knowledge puffeth up, but it goes on to say “but charity edifieth”.
That was written by the very man who could stand above you in intellect and experience, the apostle Paul.**
“But pastor, the last days are here now, we don’t have enough time”
Neither did the thief on the cross, how many have been saved by his testimony?
An Ambassador Is a Messenger, and all who are his is gainfully employed, and if employed, then equipped, and if equipped, then sent.
An Ambassadors Message Is Warning Our text in 2 Cor 5 says;
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:16-21
Within this passage is embedded a warning which forms a large part of the message. It is one that tells of a need of reconciliation, it tells of sin and its danger to condemn man.
As it is a book written to the Corinthian Church, it also tells us that it was a message sent to the heathen of the world. This is the gentile world that did not believe in God or even think God exists.
An Ambassadors Message is One of Warning.
(Obadiah 1-4) (b/w Amos and Jonah: Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos…)
1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. 2 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD
The people of Edom are the children of Jacobs older brother Esau. He is a picture of the heathen world in this passage and, like all the heathen of the world, needs to be warned of the danger that will come upon them for sin.
The Bible says the wages of Sin is death. It tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”. That “we all like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way”.
If the Lord should mark iniquities, who shall stand? (Ps 130:3)
Pagan religions all tell us that you only need to be 51% good and heaven is home, drop only a percent and you are doomed, but the Bible says the opposite, it says that we are all 100% doomed to a lake of fire with the devil and his angels because our sin has marked us as enemies of God.
It is what is known as ‘Original Sin’, that is the sin that came down through history from Adams transgression.
It is the sin that we were born in that causes us to sin. WE SIN BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS, not sinners because we sin.
And before you blame Adam just know that a more perfect representative of mankind could never be found.
The message is first the bad news.
That bad news is that our sin placed us in the same condemnation as the Devil. God cannot dwell with sin, the fellowship in heaven can never be with sinners, “what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness” (2 Cor 6:14)
Your sin damns you.The longer you live, the more you sin.The less you sleep the more you sin.
Turn to 1 Cor 6:9-10
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
You are identified by your sin and cast into hell with your sin.
It is your sin that has separated you from God.It is sin that grieves you through your guilt. It is that guilt that causes most of your life’s pains, struggles, depression and fears. You feel guilty because you are guilty and there is no remedy….But God….
(I don’t want to tell you yet what God has done, we will talk to the “But God” verses in the last point. God has made a way, he made a way for his righteousness and his love to be reconciled. )
BUT Suffice to understand that as an ambassador of God you have a duty to warn the world of that which is to come upon them, the judgment of the day of vengeance and that which comes to every man at death.
The message is one of warning to the heathen of the world. (Which we must remember, was you and I at one point)
Ps 9:15-20
15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
If there was ever a time when that message is important to be shared it is now.
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. (1 Cor 7:29-31)
The judgement of God is very soon coming to this world, but not until man makes a complete mess of it through sin.It will be his sin that condemns him to hell, but not before he makes hell in this world because of his sin….but God
An Ambassadors Message Is Salvation 2 Cor 5:16-21
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
With all that is written in this passage there is one items that stands out above them all, that is that our ambassadorship is one of a message of reconciliation.
The point before this highlighted the infinite importance to first demonstrate the REASON FOR RECONSILIATION, that is that our sin has eternally separated us from God.
BUT, the message for the messenger to bring from Heaven to Earth is one of reconciliation to ALL who desire it.
Hell licks at the feet of sinners who are held over it by the thinnest of threads. It is Gods mercy alone that does not see them all now fall into it. The weight of their own sin piles upon their shoulders straining desperately against the thread that keeps them from falling.
If sleep didn’t come upon them, the weight of sin would already have been too much to bare. If their years didn’t shorten their lives, the weight of sin would have already torn that thread and they’d be cast into that lake of fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
BUT GOD
There are 44 “But God” passages in the Bible and they make for us the most fascinating of studies.
All of them speak of Gods intervention against the natural flow of man and evil in one way or another.
But God = 19 occurrences in the Old Testament and 25 in the New and we see them all in their dealing with man, either to condemn the wicked, to deliver the innocent or to intervene against the natural flow of the sin that threatens to destroy mankind.
Our Role as Ambassadors of Heaven is to bring these messages of reconciliation to the world.
Lets consider only a handful of those passages;
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
This verse answers the question of another BUT GOD passage in Mark 2:7, “Who can forgive sins BUT GOD only?”
While you blasphemed God, ‘Christ died for us”While you lied to your mum, “Christ died for us”While you stole from your employer, “Christ died for us”While you crossed the street to avoid a meeting, “Christ died for us”While you took sides against the innocent, “Christ died for us”
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
The death of Christ paid for the sin of the world. The shedding of his blood accomplished the work for which he was sent to complete.
“and without the shedding of blood there is no remission” of sin (Heb 9:22)
But just as the wages of sin is death, there can be no sign of life without victory over death.
The resurrection of Christ was that sign.
Turn to Acts 13:28
As an Ambassador, Paul certainly is the principal example of a messenger, a herald of Good News everywhere he went, and to the Jews first he tells of Christ.
To the Jews he reminds of all that was written aforetime concerning Christ.
He tells then of the coming of John as the Scriptures also foretold.
And he tells then of the death of Christ at their own hand.
Acts 13:28 he begins the summary of the Gospel.
28 “And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30 But God raised him from the dead.”
Death now has lost its sting, the grave now has lost its victory, Jesus Christ has claimed our sin as his to bear, nailing it to his cross, and has now gained the victory over death as proof that death no longer has a claim against those who have believed the Gospel of Christ.
If you believe that Jesus died for your sin, then you have a claim of eternal life. You are even now “seated in heavenly places”. Your name is NOW “Written in the lambs book of Life”, you are NOW and FOREVER to lay claim of that victory.
Paul writes of the emphatic victory in Romans 8:37-39 saying;
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A final observation of the last BUT GOD passages for todays message.
As the AMBASSADOR of heaven, yours is only to deliver the message of heaven. The Ambassador is not charged to bring about the increase in the heart of man, his role is ONLY to plant and water, his is ONLY to speak the message of the hope that is in him.
Paul made that point clear as he wrote to the Corinthian Church
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (1 Cor 3:6)
This is the extent of our responsibility, this is why we are here and it is NOT until we finish the work that God will bring us home.
UNTIL THEN, know of a certainty that it is;
GOD WHO WILL KEEP YOUGOD WHO WILL PRESERVE YOUGOD WHO WILL SUSTAIN YOUGOD WHO WILL USE YOU TO WHATEVER END
If it is to preserve us to a long life as it did the Apostle John, OR if it is to die in the preaching of it as it did to ALL the other Apostles, know of a certainty that the Lord will keep you UNTIL he calls you home.
Throughout history when tensions rise in nations around the world, when the nations of the world are at risk of hostility and war, when relationships between nations decay to the point they seem irreconcilable, the Ambassadors are recalled home.
Sending nation have never willfully left their ambassadors in foreign lands when relationships break down.
Having preached the Gospel to the world for two thousand years, the Lord has had Ambassadors in every nation of the world. While there were nations friendly to the King of Heaven, ambassadors remained to continue their work.
But there will come a time, a time when the fullness of the gentiles be come in, that the world will become hostile to the King of Glory, and his ambassadors will be recalled from around the world.
That time is near
Ours is a message we are to preach to the lost heathen world till “the fullness of the gentiles be come in”. God has a goal, we are charged to fulfill it until comes to claim his harvest.
We are HIS AMBASSADORS
Maranatha
The post AMBASSADORS appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.
A Time To Choose
Introduction.
I have decided to take another short excursion away from the book of Romans for the next two weeks. My decision follows what was to me the witnessing of what can only be described as the lowest point in the history of this state respecting the freedom of its people.
This sermon is going to take a journey from where we are to where the Lord would have us be.
It’s a journey that is designed for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to make a choice. It is a Time to Choose, to choose between dedicating our lives toward a hope in this life, or dedicating our lives for the purpose to which we were created, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10
We are going to look at the politics of today in one point and one point only. I am going to briefly talk about the King of Victoria and you will be able to tell from the beginning that the assessment of him won’t be a positive one.
I am going to be speaking of our misplaced affections, though we are the children of God, I am going to be pointing out that if our affections are toward this world, they are misplaced.
I will be confirming That God is God, and that it is HIM we are to have as our trust and hope not man.
Lastly, I will give you an opportunity to choose this day who you will serve.
The focus of the message will relate to the desires of your heart and where they are placed, are you setting your treasures heaven bound or are all your investments in this world? Todays sermon will help you obtain the proper perspective that you might commit to the choice the Lord would have make, today is A Time To Choose.
1 Kings 18:21-40
SET THE SCENE
Before we read of the passage that is to be considered for our sermon this morning it is important to set the scene for you. Turn to 1 Kings 17:1-4
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
So we see that historically this portion of the text is during the reign of Ahab, the king of Israel, the husband of the infamous Jezebel. Elijah was the prophet of the Lord and is one of the most famous prophets in the Old testament.
Ahab the King was evil, as were all the kings of Israel (19), but this one stood out from all that went before him. Ahab did not worship the Lord but fell to the worship of Baal, the god of his wife Jezebel. As a result the people of Israel suffered under the false worship of its head, but much of the people also accepted his government, and that is evident by the 450 prophets of Baal that were sustained by the people.
God had pronounced a curse upon the land, no rain would fall for the evil of Ahab. But god would provide for Elijah, God would sustain him and instructed him where he was to go.
An Note on Baal worship.
Baal was the god of the Canaanites, he is known as the ‘storm god and the bringer of rain’, Of the pantheon of gods worshiped by the Canaanites, Baal was the chief.
The people traditionally behaved within a range of sexual debauchery in the name of Baal, believing their multitude of perverse acts would increase the sexual skill of Baal, and result in increasing fertility for the land.
In short, their hope was in a false comfort, their AFFECTIONS was Misplaced.
Interestingly, the Lord here pronounces a very curse upon that same god and removes the hope the people trusted in.
Now, in the eighteenth chapter, in the third year of the drought, it was A Time to Choose, God sends Elijah the Tishbite to Ahab with the promise that he will bring rain upon the earth (1 K 18:1)
We take up our text in verse 21, the focus of the sermon today is only verse 21, but the reading of the passage provides all the information we need for our consideration.
(1 Kings 19:21-40)
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.**
40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.**
An amazing account and one that is pertinent for us today.
We have lived all our days, till this day, in the hope of a prosperous life in this life, this is natural for those of the world, but not natural for those who have been called to serve the Lord.
The church in the west is well known for the hold this world has upon it, the church of the west has now long been indistinguishable from the world. Rather than obeying the commands of the Lord to preach the Gospel to the Lost and to prosper them for eternal life, it has comforted itself with this life’s goods and this life’s promises, largely caught up with the worship of our own desires, we have largely neglected the Gospel to the lost ensuring two things;
The damnation of the LostThe proliferation of evil in the world.
This is to a varying degrees individually, but as a whole we must admit to having a responsibility to the evil of the world through our misplaced affections in the world.
The time we live in is known biblically as the Laodicean Church age, and age when the LAST of the seven Churches would rise to prominence distinguishing the time.
Turn to Revelation 3:14
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The people of Israel worshiped a false god for a false comfort under the reign of an evil king and their idolatry brought them to ruin, rather than prosper them.
Their false “god of rain” brought them drought, because the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, said so. In other words, their true God pronounced a curse upon their false god, their true God showed them the error of their ways, and now it is A Time to Choose.
I put to you beloved, that this is put to you this day.
To those who don’t know God, it is A Time to Choose, to those who are called by the Bible as the Children of God, all those saved by him, it is a Time to Choose.
Who will you serve? What choices present themselves.
An Evil King Ahab was introduced to us at the end of 1 Kings 16 in verse 29;
29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.**
And just in case we missed the significance of the extent of his evil, we have it confirmed in verse 33;
And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
Unlike us today, the people did not directly CHOOSE their king, nevertheless God always gave them kings that were in accord with their affections. Those who largely desired the Lord, God would give Godly kings, those who largely did not desire the Lord, God gave them godless kings to drive them to God.
The people of the Northern tribes of Israel however, those whom Ahab ruled, never desired the Lord, so they never had godly kings, but those in the Southern Kingdom of Judah had Godly kings about half the time.
Now, let’s bring this ancient historical reference forward to the 21st Century, and lets transfer the location to one that is more familiar to us, Australia, and more specifically, the State of Victoria.
We, the people directly elect our kings, and in 2014 the current King was elected by the people.
This week in my home state, in my city of Melbourne marked the deepest trough, the lowest ebb in the history of democracy, not only in the State of Victoria, not only in ALL OF AUSTRALIA, but in the entirety of the free western world in the last 150 years.
In Victoria, the Eureka Stockade almost 170 years ago was the last time Government imposed evil upon its people, the difference only being that it was against the Colonial Authority of the United Kingdom, and fight led to the institution of political Democracy in Australia.[1]
No democracy in the western world has yet come close to the sickening level of this state in one hundred and fifty years. The only comparisons we have are found in nations such as Fascist Italy and Germany during the second world war, and the Communist bloc of nations for the last one hundred years.
This week Melbourne tipped the scales of evil around the world as we crossed the line to become the harshest and longest lockdowns in the world, all in the name of health.
The last eight days had seen the employment of tear gas upon peaceful protesters, Police shooting at unarmed civilians while they protested their right to freely chose for themselves medical procedures the state desires to force upon them.
The picture of protesters being shot at by State run militia at the Shrine of Remembrance would have the diggers who fought to retain our liberty, turning in their graves.
“In the morning, we shall remember them, LEST WE FORGET”.
Beloved, it is evident, as you see the picture of police with their rifles drawn and firing against the unarmed AT THAT VERY SHRINE OF REMEMBERANCE, that WE HAVE FORGOTTEN!
Like you, I was sickened to the pit of my stomach as I watched two strong Police officers boll over a grandmother walking with the people last Saturday, and together Pepper Spray her while she was weeping helpless on the ground.
Like you, my gut wrenched as I saw a heavy set police officer tackle yet another non-threatening and unarmed man from behind, ramming his head onto the solid tiles of Flinders St Station, the Police officers hand dripping with the man’s blood.
Like you, I sat in absolute horror as I watched an armored truck, originally purchased for against siege and anti terrorist purposes, rolling down Melbourne City Streets with hundreds of heavily clad and armed Police officers, against Melbourne workers who ONLY wanted a public expression of a redress of grievances, that was, up until this Medical Tyranny, a basic human right in civil society.
It was then I realized I’m no longer living in the same nation I grew up in.
I am living in the rein of the most evil premier in the history of this nation, more evidently evil that all those who had gone before him, and WE VOTED HIM IN.
The evil of King Ahab was distinguished from all the kings that were before him, yet we have the historical record to distinguish our current king from all that have gone before him, this last week’s events are SIMPLY the natural OUTFLOW of the evil of this man without Morals and without control.
Just ONE Example, only ONE of the evil of this man.
In 2008, The Honourable Daniel Andrews was the Health Minister in Victoria when the abortion to birth bill was legislated. No other state in Australia had such a bill, Victoria led the way in this evil.
The records show that Mr Andrews voted AGAINST the following amendments to that bill;
Andrews Voted Against, Providing pain relief to a baby that can feel pain while being dismembered during an abortion;He Voted against, Rendering medical care to a child born alive as a result of a failed abortion;Daniel Andrews voted AGAINST Banning partial birth abortion – the practice of partially delivering a baby and then killing it;He voted AGAINST Requiring mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse victims at abortion clinics;He Voted AGAINST Requiring information to be provided about the health risks of abortion;Andrews Voted AGAINST Offering women impartial decision-making counselling;And he voted AGAINST Notifying the custodial parent of a child who is seeking an abortion.[2]
This is JUST about ONE bill in 2008.
Mr Andrews has demonstrated he is willing to afflict his subjects to the FULLEST extent he is permitted to do, he is NOT limited to Lockdowns, to imposing travel restrictions, to universal curfews that have NEVER in the History of this nation been imposed, and all for our own health.
Armoured Vehicles, purchased to use against terrorists, he used against unarmed protesters.
Heavy Clad, shielded and armed Riot police used ALL MEANS but those deemed deadly, against UNARMED protesters, yet the police commissioner calls the protesters COWARDS.
Our King justified drones flying into EVERY PERSONS BACK YARD last year, to ensure they were doing the “Right Thing”, but was stopped.
Our King wanted to Authorise ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC to forcefully enter ANY HOME for ANY REASON last year to ensure we were all doing the “Right Thing” before he was stopped.
I have only JUST scratched the surface of the evil of our current king, but only those handful of items are enough to condemn him having done evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him** In this state.
Do we have a responsibility in this? Remember, unlike the Kings of Israel, our King was Elected to reign.
A Misplaced Affection 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
The people of Israel had as their representatives no less than 450 prophets of Baal. These were before the evil King and these were called upon to defend their misplaced affections and to verify their validity.
V26,And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made
The people of Israel followed these prophets and now they we given an opportunity to see their value and the revelation of the truth of their affections.
Were their affections misplaced?
Have your affections been misplaced? Have you trusted more that man would prosper you than the Lord?
Have you desired the goods of this world and sought after that which is of no value in the stead of seeking after that which has eternal value?
Are the current impositions placed upon you by the King of this World revealing to you yet that your affections have been misplaced?
We have often been entangled with the affairs of this life, have they been worthy of our pursuit?
What have we enjoyed that has its fruit today only in a memory?
Contrast that to the work we undertake for the Lord, contrast it to the sharing of the gospel of Christ and knowing that ALL the work we do for the Lord is EVERLASTING, a treasure laid up for us in heaven “ where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Mat 6:20)
When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in John chapter 4, when he shared the Gospel of HIMSELF to her, the disciples returned from shopping, and said “Master eat”
And how did the Lord respond? “32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
You have been created for a purpose, you are here for a reason and you are here in such a place as this for such a time as this because you are the most suited to this in the eyes of the Lord.
There is no accident, you are not a product of misfortune, you are fearfully and wonderfully made and the Lord has set you here for his will and his purpose to fulfil it, HAVE YOUR AFFECTIONS BEEN MISPLACED?
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. (I Kings 18:27)
One verse is enough to tell you that there is an error in misplaced affections. Here we see Elijah mocking the efforts of the mad prophets, in our day it’s our restrictions that mock us.
Our families cannot gather together, we cannot share a meal together, we cannot celebrate a birthday, a wedding, or even a funeral. But we can meet at Dan Murphy’s in numbers limited ONLY by the size of the establishment for the consummation of unlimited alcohol.
I can’t meet with friends, for a meal, but I can meet a prostitute.
I can’t drink a beer without a mask, but I can drink a coffee freely.
I need to social distance 6ft before entering a plane in an open lounge, but I can sit next to the people I stood with in a closed airplane.
I can travel up to 5km in a car with my family, but I can’t travel 6km on my own for my own health.
I hear Elijah mocking…..
Vaccines protect you from viruses, but not if someone near you has a virus.
One death matters if a person dies with a Virus, but 556 people dead by the vaccine for the virus is just collateral damage.
Again, I hear Elijah mocking….
But the affections of many remain in this world in spite of there being ‘no voice nor any that answer”, and in spite of the mocking.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
We seem to double down in our affections of this life when there are yet no adequate results. Mocked by our OWN EFFORTS, and yet attending to those same efforts with even greater fervency…and the result?
there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
The Reason? Our Affections are Misplaced.
An Evident Confirmation 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
It’s as if Elijah wanted to give the people who witnessed him some handicap. They we able to set their offering dry and pray their god consume it by fire so they can be affirmed.
Elijah soaked his offering.
We offer the world our lives and say, bless me for I have given myself to you, in the hope we are gratified.
God wants us to die to the world.
Jesus said, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” Jn 12:25
The people of this world will die in their sin to the damnation of their soul, but those who will turn to Christ have the forgiveness of their sin and inherit everlasting life.
Those who’s affections in this world will be ashamed at the coming of the Lord, but those who’s affections are to the Lord will shine as the stars in the firmament of heaven.
1 K 18:36-37
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
It will not be until we turn our affections to the Lord and plead his will and work be done that we and those around us come to KNOW that thou art the LORD GOD and that thou hast turned OUR hearts back again.
It is OUR Prayer, our repentance of misplaced affections that God will show himself strong. When we turn from the affairs of this life, when we turn from even seeking after the goods of this life vanly trusting that they give us our hope, comfort and joy, that then and ONLY then will the Lord hear our plea and answer our call.
God longs to show himself strong and trustworthy to those who FIRST PLACE THEIR trust in him TO THE EXCLUSION OF ALL ELSE.
God is a jealous God, and he will not give his glory to another.
(Isaiah 42:8) I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
You cannot serve both God and Mammon, you must choose, and it is time to do so!
See him reveal himself!
1 K 18:38-39
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.**
Beloved, there is coming a time very soon when the Lord will reveal himself, when there will be AN EVIDENT CONFIRMATION of him, and “every knee shall bow to him and every tongue shall confess to God, that Jesus Christ is LORD.
CHOOSE
CHOOSE NOW
40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
Jesus spoke of the signs of the times when his Judgement of this world looms near, the result Elijah dealt with will be the same at that time, but it wont just be the “Prophets” who will be taken, but all those who follow them, not one of them will escape that day of vengeance of our God.
It is a time to choose.
A Time To Choose 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain
The false gods of this world can never give to you the joy, hope and everlasting comfort of the Lord. It’s as if God purposefully restrained that rain, so we may seek after him alone.
The Lord alone, through Jesus Christ alone, is the one who provides all which nourishes and sustains us.
There is the “sound of abundance of rain”, it is available right now for those who turn to the Lord, but it will also come to the world when Christ returns.
Right now, in this day, you can hear Elijah asking, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him
It is a Time to Choose
Look at this world and ask yourself truly if you see any hope in it? Listen to the world mock you of your false affection toward it and ask yourself again.
Christian decide, either you will live full throttle for the Lord, or a world that is dying. Either you will share the hope of the Gospel to all those who see no other hope before them, or live like them.
It’s Time to Choose!
To you who do not know the Lord but are seeing this world for what it is, to you who have been mocked enough by the kings and rulers here, its time for you to choose.
The choice for you is between two ends, LIFE OR DEATH.
The Bible says “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23).
I can’t make that choice for you, I can only make evident that a choice is before you!
Turn in your Bibles to Joshua 24:15
This choice was given long ago by person of God to the people of God and the same is laid out for you this day.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Jesus is coming soon for those who choose him, to take them to be with him “until the indignation be overpast” says Isaiah 26:20,
Those who choose the world however, will endure its fruit until the Lord makes evident what fruit it is when he comes to judge it.
The choice is yours.
Choose wisely
Maranatha.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Rebellion
[2] https://www.acl.org.au/blog_mi_truth_daniel_andrews#splash-signup
The post A Time To Choose appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.