“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I haved loved you, that ye also love one another.”  (John 13)

There is something missing in Christ-ianity. This is a general statement and i do not speak specifically to any church or any person…not yet anyway, but i will. This missing something is or should be obvious and if it isn’t Woe unto us. Holmes need not be consulted on this. No one need venture to 221b Baker Street. Instead we will visit Christ at Matthew 2412, “…the love of many shall wax cold.” If we compare this with Paul’s teaching on the church’s falling away just prior to the anti- christ appearing, we must infer that love in the local church has been, and will be waxing cold as we enter or grow ever so closer to the tribulation period (i teach the doctrine that Christ-ians will NOT be raptured and will NOT miss the tribulation. I do not see it taught in Scripture.)

The lost persons in the local churches will certainly betray the body of believers in the local congregation as will unsaved family members. That is when we are full blown tribulation saints. But let us stick to the present.

The other day i came a cross a FB page and on this page the writers and commenter were attacking C.S. Lewis and Billy Graham. To know me and to understand why i did what i did, you need to know, i consider authors that have gone to be with Christ, as friends and teachers.

Therefore when i read what i read, my friends, teachers were being attacked viciously. I’ve heard this kind of hate before and the same is true of most if not all of them. They have not read these men for themselves. They are lazy and know nothing of what they speak. I know this because i was once like this. I too beat on Graham and enjoyed hearing others trash him. Why? Because Preachers and church-folk said he was no good. Thought me, if you can’t trust your fellow church member and pastor, who can you trust. I learned a valuable lesson through all of that Graham hate…Go to the source for yourself and lean not on another’s understanding!!!

After i condemned the lies and slander, they forgot about Lewis and Graham and came for me. Compared to what these Christ-ians(?) said to me and about me made their Lewis and Graham hate look like love.

Beloved, they called me lost, the son ofthe devil, they said i did notcare about sound doctrine, i was called an idolater and was told anyone who sits under myteaching is being taught falsedoctrine because i was a false teacher. These persons came at me all day long. They were like littles dogs biting at my ankles.

I ended the thread or conversation by saying that their is no love whatsoever coming from any of them. I suggested the Lord was not pleased with what was said. I was careful not to attack the persons but only their lies.

I am aware that there are Christ-ians that enjoy debate. I have a brother or we have a brother, rather that is like this. I call him 3rd Samuel. Sam enjoys debating others and these debates can get intense, but their is always the element of love and respect and the recognition that those debating are brothers in Christ. If a person is going to debate, this is the model.

However, the discussion i had on FB is the antithesis to a fruitful debate. It was more like the Christ-cursed fig tree. The persons i was exchanging ideas with, if they had Christ-ian love in their heart wd have sought to show me my errors instead of slandering me…a brother(?).

Reader, Paul makes it abundantly clear, without Christ-ian love one (1) has nothing. All the faith and all the hope and all the understanding and all the knowledge in the world is worthless without love beingin the mix.

An analogy: God would not be God without His Glory and Holiness. Likewise, the Christ-ian is not a Christ-ian without love.

Christ was not suggesting we love one another, no, He was commanding it. He did not say, love the person you like. No, His teaching WAS love neighbor and enemy….His new COMMANDMENT is to do so AS HE HAS DONE.

While it is good that thete exists affection in some love, it isnot necessary in Christ-ian love. Christ-ian love is defined in the closing verses of Matthew five (5). But Matthew thirteen (13) intensifies that love with “as I have loved you.” He later says, “I have loved them unto the end.” Therefore, Reader, let us love one another as Christ loves us and let us do so unto the end…the end that shall never come as there be no end to the Christ-like and the Christ-lover.

Godspeed.

“…so then with my mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”  (Romans 7:25)

The Word of God is full of passages that inspire the believer, bring hope to the believer, and bring extreme relief and the greatest of comfort.  Romans seven brings the latter, without doubt.

As the titles states Romans seven is beloved by any person who has been saved and daily battles the old man, the carnal nature, the flesh. The person who does not daily battle this enemy is not been blessed with new life in Christ.

The crux of Romans seven or the last fourteen verses is this: the things i should do, i don’t do and the things i don’t do, those things i do. Paul’s conclusion is our quoted text. With my mind i serve God’s law but with my body i serve the law of the flesh, the old man, the carnal nature.

However, Paul does not write this as to say we are free to give into this law of the flesh. Not at all. Paul is writing this to let us know that this battle is common to all believers, even him.

Paul continues his letter to the Romans in chapter eight by telling us that in light of his closing remarks in seven that there, “is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ…” Who battle the law of the body. Paul tells us further that to battle this law of the body, we are to, “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Let us therefore, walk after the Spirit, that we fulfill not the law of the body.

Godspeed.

“Knowledge puffeth up…”                                        (1 Corinthians 8)

The first (1st) item i would draw your attention to is the definiteness of Paul’s certainty in this beginning verse of this eighth (8th) chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Paul doesn’t say knowledge can puff up or knowledge might or may puff up but instead knowledge puffs up without any qualifications or quantifying of terms.

I have noticed this true in three area and remains in two. Knowledge puffs up in: the new convert, legalist camps, and in Calvinist circles.

We will (DV) focus on the Calvinist circles because that is where i pitch my tent today. The Calvinist or at least very many of them have similar traits among themselves. 1.The Calvinist judges others very quickly and without mercy or love. 2.The Calninist is very polemic or argumentative and contentious. 3.The Calvinist is more like Calvin (or at least how they imagine Calvin was) than they are Christ-like.

The only person tht would disagree with me is the Calvinist himself or herself.

In a recent conversation on FB, Regarding C.S. Lewis and Billy Graham, i was called by “the son of the devil,” “a person who does not care about the faith or sound doctrine,”  “one who is going to hell,” among many other things.

These persons plural begin speaking about me as though i wasn’t part of the converstaion any longer because thet were not able to answer my persistent single question. They said that, he (me) kept doing the same to all of us.”  What was i foing you might wonder.  I continued asking these Calvinist if they have ever read any books for themselves by either man…dead man they were assaulting. None of the Calvinists would dare answer my question. They proceeded to assault me personally. They could not answer my enquiries. These Calvinists were use buullet points like mindless left wingers.

What it all came down to was that both men were not calvbinist enough. Lewis and Graham make good targets for these Calvinists because they are departed and nothing new will be produced by them to counter the lies these types sling around like monkeys at a zoo. Also, persons that they write for are in agreement with their lies that they rarely ever face someone that will challenge them. Calvinists or many of them have some knowledge on theology but little of Christ’s love for others that are not just like them.

The Calvinist is very polemic or argumentative and contentious. These types are always looking for someone to disagree with or for someone that disagrees with them. They do not realize that Calvin did not go around looking for someone to fight. Calvin and most men of God were like t.v. detectives in that the murders found them snd they rarely went searching for the dead bodies. I do not go looking for arguments, they find me. This is not so with the polemic Calvinist.

Many Calvinists exhibit very little Christ-like love for others. Instead pride and other negatives aspects ooze of of them. I find this type of Calvinist to be around and find myself limiting exposure to them. On the other hand, when i meet the rare Calvinist that demonstrates Christ-like traits and love for others, especially those that they disagree with, i find myself enjoying their company.

The true Calvinist seeks Christ-likeness instead of what they erroniously perceive to be traits thy find in “their Calvin.”

The true Calvinist is Christ-like in their conversation.

“…(H)is (W)ord was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”

Pastor Sonsek, Pastor Muxlow, and i have been reading and discussing a book. This book is called, “The Man of God.” This book speaks to the qualifications for the pastor. Pastor Sonsek has also been discussing some of this on Sunday mornings.

This article is meant to coincide with the book and the Sunday Morning services. We will not build upon his work, we certainly will not be disagreeing with him. What we are seeking to do is to write a kind of prequel to both the book and theSunday services.

Before the qualifications, before the desire of the office, comes the burning fire in the bones of the man thatis called by God, gifted by God, and would be a preacher of God’s Glory. This burning fire cannot be shut up or stayed (stopped).

The man that is called, the man that is gifted, the man with the burning fire in his bones will meet the qualifications. The first (1st) question the man that would be a preacher is, “Could you do anythingelse and be satisfied?” If the answer is “Possibly,”  “Maybe,”  “Probably,”  “I think so.” The man may be a man of God but he is not the Man of God. The only answer to the question is, “NO, NO WAY, NO HOW, I COULDNOT BE HAPPY OR EVEN SATISFIED DOING ANYTHING ELSE.”

This is true of anything God calls someone to. Could David be satisfied not being king? Could Paul be happy being anything other than the Apostle to the Gentiles.  I dare say, Paul would not be satisfied being an Apostle to the Jews. Nor would Peter or James be satisfied being Apostles to the Gentiles. John was an Apostle to the Jews until God sent him to Ephesus late in life. John would not have been satisfied being Apostle to Gentiles until it was his time to be so

What is true of the preacher and the Apostles is true of you. You and i, Beloved Reader, will not be truly satisfied or happy until we take flight and meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever, throughout Eternity. You may think you are satisfied with life as it is but that is because you know not what awaits you and you have not thought upon what Scripture reveals of your future.

C.S. Lewis wrote about a fish and how it is satisfied being in the water because it was made and meant for water. This is not so of you and me. We desire more because there is more and we are made and meant for More, Beloved.

We are meant to be with God and to be Christ-like. Christ-like in holiness and in glorified body…..Beloved, i’m talking flight, ability to transport according to will. Someone might say, “But wait a minute, i may be doing somethingi don’t want anyone to see me doing. I’m not too sure about someone just popping in or transporting themselves into my home” Perish the thought, Reader, There will be no sin in our home in Heaven. There will be Heaven in our home!!! Now give praise unto God.

How do i know this? We will be Christ-like and Christ can do these acts. Also if Star Trek can come up with this, so Did God…first (1st). Anything man can imagine, God has already created it and has put it into use. He has done it infinitely better also.

Your desire for something more speaks to your Salvation. If a person is satisfied with and in this world they are home, but we are not, for we are sojourners seeking another country.

As the burning fire burns in the bones of the man who would be The Man of God, so to does a holy fire burn within the Christ-ian who awaits the homecoming.

“…[T]hou art an austere man…”  (Luke 19)

“[P]aul’s words are weighty…”  (2 Corinthians)

It was said by Sherlock Holmes that the kindest man he ever knew [Paraphasing], was a killer of children but built mant children’s hospitals.  Obviously, Holmes was speaking about being outwardly, a kind man, but inwardly and in truth a very wicked man. This is something that has been thought by many Christ-ians through-out the history of the churh and before.

Many if not most of God’s men including, God Himself, have been thought to be and said to be hard and heartless.  In the Exodus and before in Genesis, it has been said about God, that He called and brought individuals into a walk with Him only to destroy them and to leave them to die.  Sarah, Lot’s wife, many of the Jews in Exodus doubted God’s kindness, faithfulness, and love.  Aaron, Miriam, and many other’s questioned Moses and by doing so questioned God.  Reader, and ministers, especially, if you have not been questioned by God’s people, you have not been following God for all that follow God will be questioned by God’s people.

Did not the disciples ask Christ if He careth for them or their lives as they rocked in the ship, as the wind and the waves beat upon the ship?  Have you not doubted Christ’s love by doubting His plans for your life? What godly father has not been doubted and questioned by his own family?  Reader, did Christ not say plainly, that all prophets find honour EXCEPt at home?  What Christ-ian father has not experienced this and does to this day.  This writer has been sought by many for his counsel, yet his only family look not to his counsel and doubt his guidance and even resent his counsel. This is the way it is.  It is a means in which God keeps His minister’s humble, me thinks.  When may come to a minister for his counsel, there is a danger of the humble man of God may grow in his pride and self-worth. The family will be used to keep him grounded.

From the beginning God’s Fatherliness and desire for our well-being was brought into question when the serpent asked Eve, “Hath God said?”  God’s well being was brought into doubt by the serpent’s questioning and Eve’s belief in this doubt.  Presently, God’s goodness is brought into question when you doubt His Word, Works, and Well-meaning.  You fall for the devil’s questioning,”Hath God said?”

Never doubt your pastor’s love and well-meaning when you receive his rebuke, his reprove, his correction or his instruction.  Reader, this is to what he has been called for and to.  One (1) should doubt the pastor’s love when the pastor is always pleasant and pleasing.  Excuse my bluntness and crudeness, If the pastor is always kissing your butt he loves not your soul.  The pastor that is always apporoving does not seek your best.

The pastor has not been called to kiss your butt, overlook your sins, pat your back, blow smoke, smile and shake you hand when you have alcohol on your breathe, or see you treat your wife without love and respect and let you walk out of the church.  The pastor that sees bruises upon your child and does not take you aside, question you, and then threaten…yes, threaten, your well-being does not love you or your family.  The pastor is to be a shepherd and sometimes the shepherd must be physical.  The preacher that lets you sleep during a message does not respect the message or care for your soul. Reader, the pastor has been called, by no one but God, to love you; and that love comes in many forms, in many shapes, and in many sizes.

I call this the “A-Salting Ministry”  otherwise spelled as, “Assaulting Ministry.”  I think you understand my meaning. In other word’s the rod and the staff of the pastor and other men of God will [dis]comfort the abusive. There should be no physical or mental, or emotional abuse in the church of God nor in the house where a child of God resides.

I’m not suggesting that the pastor should walk around with a frown upon his face or a judgmental gaze. The pastor should have the look of the joyful upon his face until he shouldn’t  It is written of Christ, “[H]e looked upn them with anger…”  It is also written,    “[H]e looked upon him with love..”  and “[H]e look about, seeing all things.”  Reader, there are times when we should look about upon all things, observing all that we can.  There should be times we lool about with love in our eyes, and time when we should have anger glaring forth from our eyes. This is especially true of the pastor.

Your writer has been called, “The gentlest man,” one (1) man has ever know and the “Technician”, bysome in the jiu-jitsu world..  This same writer has been called “a hard man”, a “cold man,”  an “intimidating man,”  an “unfriendly man,”  a “loving man,”  “a great dad, a too strict dad, and even a physically abusive by someone that saw volley-ball bruises one of his daughters”  I suppose we have been all of these things or thought to be all these things by different persons at different times.  There have been church attenders that have approached others and siar, “We don’t think Brian likes us very much.”  Some others have seaid i am a “great” Bible teacher, while others have said, “I preach to hard and too much on holiness.”

When the man that thought I was th emost gentle man he has ever know found out about my jiu jitsu he found it hard to believe.  When my trainer heard what the mansaid about me, they laughed, but Reader, both “could be true.”  Can I not be a gentle man when gentleness was called for and then be the “Technician,” when that was called for?  Was Christ not meek and yet emptied the temple with controlled violence with a three (3) wired scourge?  Did Christ not shed His Blood for His beloved and will He not someday dip His vesture in Blood and destroy His enemies for His righteous ones (1’s) to bathe in (Psalm 58)? Meknows so.

Likewise, when those that think of me as a loving pastor hear that others believe me to be hard, cold, and intimidating, and unfriendly, they matvel and laugh.  when someone hears that I was once thought o be abusive by a stranger, they mock the thought.  Those that havs said, “Brian teaches too much on Holiness,” are living lives of unholiness and those that believe me to be a faithful minister og God’s Word, believe me to teach on holiness the right amount of time.

The above is true of all Bible ministers, I don’t normally speak to self, but it was helpful, methinks, here. The above is true, probaly of all persons at some point or another.  Do not some children (especially those raised in the world) think there Mom and Dad are the “best ever” only to think, much differently at another time? Many in the church will love the pastor when the pastor says something they like or believe, but when he teaches something they “we not taught,”  they turn on him like Autumn turns into winter. This pastor, preacher, teacher has been turned on many times just as some ministers have turned on him. If a pastor has not been turned on, the pastor is not serving his calling or the God that called him.

Reader, before you turn on a minister, “Search the Scriptures” first and “”Examine yourself, to see if you are in the faith.” before searching the pastor and testing his teachings.  One must, “search the Scriptures,” before one (1) “tests the spirits,” or proves all things.”  I am not saying a pastor should never be checked…GOD FORBID!!!  But do not do so based upon emotions or likes and dislikes.  Do so based upon….solely based upon, the Scriptures. To question the pastor is to question God if your questioning is based upon feelings, likes and dislikes. The Scriptures must be the authority before the pastor, but if the pastor lines up with Scriptures authority, it is your place to submit to the pastor who submits to Scripture…plain and simple, and Scriptural. To go against the faithful pastor is to go against Godhead, Himself period.

*Remember, “Many that followed Christ, departed to follow [H]im no more.” (John 6:66) Do not let the reference be lost on you.
*Remember, those that welcomed Christ into Jerusalem are the same that cried, “Crucify [H]im, Crucify [H]im!!!” The last principle is a principle that all employees should apply to their business life, in other words, the employer and fellow employees that praise you one (1) day, will seek for your crucifixtion the next.
*Was not Christ betrayed by one (1) of His twelve (12)? Remember, the disciples, “scattered” as the Shepherd was smitten.
*Remember the disciple that said, “I will die for you,” also denied Him three (3) times before morning.
*Remember how John Mark and all others, save Luke, and Christ departed from Paul when he was being persecuted and imprisoned.
*Remember how Moses’ own brother and sister betrayed him.
*Remember How David’s own son, Absolom betrayed Daid and sought his kingdom and death.
*Reader, a theme of Scripture is the betrayal by loved ones (1’s). During the tribulation, the saint is promised betrayal by family and friends and even those that have worshipped with us. 1 John 2; Book of Revelation)

(Romans 8:28-31)

In theology there is a phrase that we use called, “The Golden Chain of Salvation.” This golden chain looks at the doctrines that encapsulates the main doctrines of man’s salvation. These doctrines are
*The Doctrine of Election.
*The Doctrine of God’s Calling.
*The Doctrine of Justification.
*The Doctrine of Sanctification.
*The Doctrine of Glorification.
*The Doctrine of Assurance.

The Doctrine of Election: This often disregarded, forgotten at best, forsaken at worst, defines the free choice God the Father made in eternity past, prior to the Creation and founding of the earth. This free choice is quite simply, who will be saved based upon the finished Work of Christ and those who will have this works applied to them in time after the creation and founding of the earth.  This doctrine states the facts that God the Father chose who will be saved, and who will be damned.  This doctrine further sates, who will benefit by this free choice and the life, death, burial, and resurrection performed by God the Son. This doctrine further states that those chosen and those to whom Christ’s works will be applied to will be done so by the Work of the Holy Spirit in time. For many reaons many if not most preachers, pastors and other ministers avoid this doctrine and diavow it’s validity.  These “ministers” will answer for this great affront when they face God.

The Doctrine of God’s Calling: The Golden Chain or the doctrines of grace continue with the doctrine of God’s calling of those chosen. This calling takes place in time. Christ teaches that many will be called but few chosen.  This teaching demonstrates that God will call many through the outward call of Gospel preachers.  This outward call goes forth in the preaching of faithful minister.  However, we learn that though many are outwardly called, only few will be chosen.
Every time a faithful minister preaches the facts of the Gospel, everyone that hears this or reads this, receives a call to be saved.  This call goes out to every person, whether they are among the chosen or not. However, we learn from Scripture truth that ONLY the chosen will heed this call.  When ever a missionary preached the death and resurrection of Christ, all are being called, but only the chosen in Christ will heed and respond. This call can go forth in the preaching of faithful ministers, in Gospel tracts, in the personal reading of God’s Word, Road signd, a Christ-ian sharing the faith with, family, friends, and strangers.  Only those that respond in repentance and faith will be those that have been chosen.
Though a person may hear the call a thousand (1000) times, lest the person be among the elect or chosen, this person will never repond…never.

The Doctrine Of Justification:
*This doctrine is the doctrine that gave rise to the Reformation in the fifteen-hundreds (1500″s) under the ministry of Martin Luther.  Humanly speaking, after the close of the New Testament, there is probably no man more important than Martin Luther.  To be sure there were men before Luther and outside the N.T. that God used, but some no greater than Luther.  Men like Augustine, Hus, Wycliffe, Tyndale and others were used by God, but these men, were the forerunners of the great Luther.  There were men that came after Luther or were his contemporaries that must be counted among the greats but they are because of Luther.  Men like Calvin, John Knox, the translaters of the Geneva Bible, the Purtans, Spurgeon, Lloyd Jones. Pink, and many others, but these others would give much thanks to Luther.

The doctrine of Justification states, that those for whom Christ lived, died, and rose again, would have their sins exchanged with Christ’s righteousness.  Paul puts it this way, “Christ became sin for the unrighteous so that the unrighteous or sinful might become righteous in Him.”  Christ became NOT A SINNER BUT SIN ITSELF so that we the sinful might become the RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST as we stand BEFORE THE FATHER.  In other words, Christ becaome you so that you might become Christ in the view of God…Reader, i Write this with Goosebumps, and much praise and thanks!!!
It is only the elect and those called to benefit from election that will be justified.  This justification takes place in time just as the calling takes place in time.
“The Doctine Of Sanctification: This doctrine is found in Romans: 8 just as the above.  When chapter 8 states that the justified are predestinated to Christ-like, it teaches that the justified will become Christ-like through the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification.  To be clear…there is no sanctification without justification and there is no justification without sanctification period. Justification and sanctification are twins lust like Repentance and belief, like belief and obedience and love. There is no latter without the former and no former without the latter…EVER!!! n If one (1) demonstrates no Sanctification, there has been no justification period.  I am fully aware that many ministers do not teach this but these are not faithful ministers to God’ Word.

“You will know them by their fruits.”  This truth is also summed up in Paul’s Fruits of the Spirit in Galations 5.  Christ said, “If you love me you will keep [M]y Words, and commandments.”  To doubt the real time truth of Sanctification is doubt the Word, and works of Christ.  Christ did not die for the one (1) who will live and lead a life of sin and disobedience. Reader, if you doubt this, you may as well the entirety of God’s Word.  I cannot be plainer. Except to say, if you doubt this, you make God a liar.

The Doctrine of Glorification: This is such a comforting truth and promise.  We will not spend much time here, but God willing we will write at length on this truth in the future. This doctrine simply put tells us that when Christ returns we will be changed physically, and spiritually into His like-ness…in Romans 8, we are told that we are predestinated or the elect, called, justified, sanctified will be changed into Christ’s glorious image. Our vile bodies will be changed into His Glorious body and likeness, this occurs when we see Him as He is.  Oh Praise be to God for this promise and blessed hope.

The Doctrine of Assurance: This promise as spoken of in our prior article is the promise that all who have enjoyed and will enjoy the doctrines of grace or the golden chain of salvation should also, in time and space should enjoy the great promise and hope of our assurance.  This promise finds it’s founding in the above doctrines but also in the Person that ensures thea bove truths, promise(s0 and hope.  To dount any of the above is the doubt the Person in Whom all these promise find their reality and assurance.

The truth that you are saved in Christ is no less truthful than that Christ is in The Father and Father is in Christ.  For Christ tells us that as He is in the Father, and the Father is in Him that we are in Him as He is in the Father and the Father is in Him!!!!!  To dount your eternal placement in Christ is to doubt His in the Father and the Father’s in Christ….do you want to do this, beloved?  Do you want to be charged with this etrernal truth?  To doubt your assurance and place in Christ is not to doubt yourself but Christ’s place in the afther and the Father’s place in Christ…John14-16, 17.

THe only person that should examine their place in Christ is that person who finds no Christ-likeness in his person.  The person who is prayerless should esamine their faith. The only person that should doubt their salvation is the person who loves not God, loves not the brethren, his neighbor, and his enemies.  The only one that should doubt salvation is the one that does not love the Word of God, Reads the Word of God, Studies the Word, and does not seek life’s answers therein. The person that should doubt salvation is the person who does not long for the Lord’s return. The only person that should doubt salvation is the one that does not See Christ as Lord before Christ as Saviour…for it is the Lord Jesus that is the Saviour….Lord is ever before Saviour.

Godspeed.

“Whosoever shall call upon the [N]ame of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10)

Reader, We have written upon the “Ugly” in the Christ-ian Faith.  That “ugly” is the unforgriven Christ-ian.  There is not anything that is more unsightly that comes to my mind.  Today, God willing, we shall write upon that which is the most saddest in the Christ-ian faith. Today, we will write upon the doctrine of assurance, God willing. But first (1st) let us ask a few questions. *What is the doctrine of assurance?  *What are the signs of assurance?  *What is one (1) really saying when one doubts this doctrine.  *What or Who is one truly doubting by calling assurance into question?  *What must one (1) do to enjoy thix doctrine of assurance?

What is the doctrine of assurance?
*The doctrine of assurance cab be defined simply as owning and enjoying one’s salvation.  Assurance affords the believer to trust in, be thankful for, enjoy one’s salvation that is found in Christ, Alone and not in themselves.  Everyone, at somepoint during their salvation experience, can question their salvation.  However, at some point in this experience one must stop worring and doubting. At some point it begins to insult God and His Word and His faihfulness.

What are the signs of Assurance?
*Love for the Godhead
*Love for the brethren
*Love for God’s Word and Promises
*Do you still call upon the Name of the Lord?
*Do you obey God as a rule in your life?

The above general rules or characteristics of ones (1’s) life, or walk with God speaks well to one’s (1’s) wlk with God.
*Love for the Godhead: A consistent walk with Godhead signifies one’s (1’s) love for God. A  person once asked Martin Luther how he might know that he is truly saved.  Luther, who struggled with this same concern for much of his life, answered quite simply, “If you are concerned about being saved or one (1) of the elect, you are certainly one (1) of God’s elect, for none but the elect think aupon these things.”  How simple, but profound an answer.

Are you concerned about the salvation of loved ones (1s)? This is a sign of one’s sure election, Reader.

Do you have a genuine love for and an attraction to the Triune God? Do you love God as Father?  Do you love God’s Son as brother, as Lord, and as Saviour?  Do you call upon the Name of the Lord?  If you find yourself calling upon the Name of the Lord Jesus, You have been, are, and will be saved.  The promise of calling upon the Name of the Lord has been despised the the church.

Many in the church see this promise as being relegated to the salvation prayer, but what ignorance does this betray in the church and the Bible”so-called” teachers. “To call upon the Name of the Lord,” is a promise for all believers until He returns.  The promise is for everyday……”Whatever believer spends his or her life, calling upon Me, shall enjoy Me, my Salvation and shall endure until the end.”  Reader, do you call upon the name of the Lord?  Is He your Lord?  If Christ is not your Lord, you ARE NOT saved and have not been, for Christ is not the Saviour but to those who call upon His Name as Lord.

Do you lean upon the Holy Spirit for guidance, support, to maintain your faith, to increase your faith? Do you trust Him to grant wisdom, knowledge, understanding?  Do you find in Him for your growth into Christ-likeness? Do you thank the Father for the Spirit’s aid in all things and especially His indwelling.  Reader, do you love God in His great Triunity of Loving Persons?  Are you thankful that God the Father chose you unto His Salvation?  Do you love and thank Christ for His love and passion in your name?  Do you love the Spirit of God for His Presence in you life and drawing you to Christ?  Reader if you can aswer th above questions in the affirmity, You are blessed saved.  Reader, you must know this simple but awesome truth:  Your salvation was decided upon by the Godhead, in sternity past and came to fruition in time…the only part you have was being the etrnal object of God’s love and decision. True you must repenr and believe, but MY GOD, believer, those were decided upon by God and GRANTED by Him as well.  Rentencae was GRATED to you. belief was GIVEN you.  STOP LOOKING INWARD AND BEGIN LOOKING UPWARD.

Do You Love Your Christ-ian brethren?
*This is a simple question, Reader,  Do you or do you not love the brethren?  Are you concerned about them, do you pray for them, do you rejoice with them when they rejoice and weep with them when they weep?  These tears need not be physical. Do you desire the spiritual growth of others?  Are you concerned when you see others drifting away?  Do you pray for others?  Do you pray for those that are not saved?  Reader, these are signs of one’s (1’s) salvation.

Do you love the Word of God?
*Do you love the Word of God?  Do you read the Word? Do you believe the Word?  Do you obey the Word? Do you search the Word, Do you study the Word of God? Is the Word your spiritual meet and drink? Do you find yourself degending the veracity of God’s Word?  Do you share the Word of God?  This is a sure sign of being saved, Reader and a sure reason to be concerned about your salvation.

Do you obey the Lord?
*The author of Hebrews, most likely Paul, said in chapter five (5), Christ is the Saviour to all then that, “OBEY Him.”  Reader, Christ is the Saviour of those that Love Him (1 Corithians 16) and obey Him in Hebrews five (5).  It cannot be stated for simply than this, either believe it and enjoy peace or doubt it and suffer from a hopeless and doubt filled salvation.  The latter is truly a pitiful existence.

To choose the latter is to greive the Godhead for a time and graduate to an affrontery and offense.  Reader, the doubt one’s (1’s) salvation will grieve the Godhead for a time until it graduates into a great affront and even offense in everyway.  Paul stated clearly in 1 Thessalonians 5, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.”  To grieve Him is to sadden Him for a time that may grow into anger.  Reader, YOU DO Not Want TO GRIEVE HIM OR ANGER HIM. To doubt Hima nd His work and His goddness will do both. To Dobt the Ghost…is to doubt the Work of Christ and the Word of God.

Reader, to be blunt and even harsh…To doubt God in this matter is to exalt youself above Him and His Sovereign work and free choice, His love and His power.  To doubt Him and His power is to exalt yourself, and you sin above Him and His BLOOD’S GREAT WORTH AND WORK…Reader, at some point your doubt stops being a sign of the worth you place upon God’s whatever and begins to be an AFFRONT upon, His Word, His Work, AND HIS WORTH.  Reader, it is time to believer He can save to the uttermost and to confess your doubt in His work, Word, and worth, and denounce your salvation…not on the gournds of you and your unworth but of the grounds of God’s failure, His unfaithfulness and ability…you and your whatever is greater than God!!!

A person’s salvation and eternal secirity is based in Go’d free choice, Christ’s Work performs in the Place of God’s chosen and the Spirit’s application of Christ’s Work performed in the place of the Father’s free choice.  This is as much Gospel truth as it is Christ’s Work in the stead of elect sinners.  To doubt God’s salvation is to place “what you did” above what He did, does, and eternally will do.

It truly is a pitiful thing to see a believer living in doubt…in doubt not only of salvation but in God, God’s Word, God’s Love, and God’s blessed faithfulness.  At some point your doubt becomes less of a thing of humilty and more of a thing of God’s inability and faithlessness to Himself, His word, and His chosen and beloved.

Believer, it is past time to grow up into the faith of God’s Word and promises.  We invite you to spend time in Roman’s chapter seven, the last several verses as well as the life of King David.  If the man he speaks of in Roman’s seven (he speaks of himself) is saved than I think you are. If David, with all his baggage, remains a much loved servant, son, and saint, me thinks you will too.

Reader, Take your eyes off of self and “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face…”

Godspeed.

“And the king [Saul] said unto the footman that stood about him, Turn and slay the priests of the LORD…” (1 Samuel 22)

Those that know me know I enjoy Sherlock Holmes and Professional Wrestling and have so for years.  Both have taught me a lot and have been very instumental in my life. I have never found baseball, football, basketball (with the exception of when my daughters play and that goes for volleyball and my future son-in-law’s (DV) soccer) or any other sports very entertaining. Amateur wrestling, Mixed Martial Arts, Pro wrsetling have been of interest though.  What does pro wrestling and Holmes have to do with our titles and our quoted text?

In the current rendition of Sherlock Holmes from BBC, in which Benedict Cumberbatch plays Holmes, he has seaid and claimed to be a “High Functioning Sociopath.”  In the WWE, there is a wrestler that is called the “Scottish Psycopath.” These are term that are grossly misapplied. Neither are Holmes or the WWE wrestler pathological.  Both show far to much concern and care for others to be what they claim to be.  Both these fictional characters have a large amount of merchandise available. The misapplied terms are available on t-shirts, and other items.  This is dangerouse. This is dangerouse because it removes the concern one (1) should have for the true socio/psychopaths.

Among the true socio/psychopaths in history are:
*Albert Fish: This man and I call him man and not monster because to call him monster is to be unScriptural. This man kidnapped, molested, killed, and ate little children. Fish would send letters to the parents telling them what was done to their children.  This man had his own children, too.  He “loved” his children while taking the children of others.

*Ed Gein: This man operated in the fifties (50’s). Norman Bates and many other movie monsters find their origin in this man.  This man was raised by a domineering and religiously legalistic mother.  This man dug his dead mother up and kept her in his care.  Gein would kill women and would use their parts to “decorate” his home. His bowls were the top half of human skulls, his lamp shades were of human skin, and he wore an apron that was cut from a woman’s frontal section, private parts and all.

*H.H. Holmes or Henry Mudgett: Was active during the Worlds Fair in early Chicago. This man made a hotel and turned it into a chamber of horrors.  Rooms would have knock out gas let in and it would do it’s job, leaving the person in the room unconscious and they would then be taken and Mudgett would have his wicked way with them.

Henry Lee Lucas: Lucas’ mother was a prostitute, moonshiner, and  would make Lucas dress as a girl she made him wear a dress to his first day at school, this he alleges, but is doubted. The reprobate mother would also force Lucas and his brother to fornicate in the homosexual way. One (1) of Lucas’ brothers stabbed Lucas in the eye, causing blindness in that eye.  You see, Reader, this is how a textbook sociopath is made. One (1) of Lucas’ last victims was the son of John Walsh, yes, that John Walsh from “America’s Most Wanted.”

*There is of course, John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Gary Ridgeway (Green River), Dennis Rador (BTK), Jeff Dahmer, and many others.  These men have left a trail of misery, murder, dismemberment, heartbreak, and loss behind them.

You can see why misapplying the term socio/psychopath to Holmes and pro-wrestlers can be dangerous.  if a hero like Holmes is a high functioning sociopath, then how bad and how dangerous can a sociopath be, really?  The wrestler that is coined the Scottish Psychopath, is cheered by many so how dangerous can a psychopath be?

Let’s Define Our Terms:
*The sociopath is made in the laboratory of an unloving and abusive environment.
*The psychopath is born. The psychopath is born with a brain deficiency. The frontal lobe that control impulse is missing. However, if a person receives a hard enough impact to one’s (1’s) frontal lobe, one (1) can have a pathological change in personality.  Any kind of trauma  to the frontal lobe can change a person’s personality into a psychopathic personality.

The pathological, whether made or born is characterized by the absence of a conscience and having a certain charm about him or her and they come in both sexes.  All others live to serve the purposes and pleasures of the pathological.  The pathological views others as being present to be utilized to their liking and can be tossed away when finished.

There is no difference to the pathological between a person or a tissue or a washing machine.  The non-pathological (hopefully you and me) will use a tissue and toss it away and will not give thought to it again. We use a washing machine, when not in use, we do not think about it. and when it breaks down, we throw it out and buy a new one. We do not ever sit around and think about the good ole days with the other washing machine, do we?  This is how the pathological views you and me.

The pathological person, the person without a conscience is drawn to the position of authority. Positions like CEO, Politician, and I’m sorry to say, Leadership in the faith. There are many pathologicals in CEO positions, in government, and in the ministry. This is why and how a CEO can terminate thousands (1000’s) of jobs, this is how politicians can act as they do and vote as they do, and how preachers can build kingdoms unto themselves and lord themselves over the flock of Christ.

Having defined our terms let us look a possible pathologicals in Scripture: 
*King Saul:  King Saul certainly had charm, he was certainly capable of very wicked and atrocious actions.  The murder of the seven-nine (79) priests of the LORD. Notice from our text above, these priests are not called priests only but priests of the LORD. The LORD Who was once Saul’s LORD, but the LORD would reject him. This man would also, after all he has done, whine about no one caring for him.

*Absolom: Absolom was a son of David and it is written concerning Absolom that David never chastened Absolom. This son of David would betray David, his father as Lucifer had betrayed his God and as Judas would betray the Lord jesus. Absolom would cause the people to come to him instaed of David when seeking counsel and he would tell them what they wanted to hear. The people fell in love with or rather fell for Absolom’s machinations. David would have to escape with his life and would live in exile again for a time.  Absolom would find his end at the point of a knife, while hanging by his hair in a tree, hence doth not nature itself say a man should have short hair.

*Herod: Anyone who could have all male children under the age of two (2) murdered   should definitely make our list. Many of the royalty in Scripture could be suspect. A   pathological can be known by it’s fruit and lack of emotion, sympathy, and empathy.

*Pharoah: Though this king showed something at the death of his son, it couldd be   argued that he was trouble by his line possibly ending and not the loss itself. Anyone   who could put others into chains, bondage, and slavery should be suspect.

Cult leaders: Cult leader like Jim Jones, Warren Jeffs, and of course, Charles Manson, are certainly suspect and should find a spot on anyone’s list of sociopaths and pychopaths.

*Warren Jeffs is a man of (s)atan, there can be no doubt.  This man is a product of mormonism. This wicked man sodomized young, very young boys within his own family. One (1) of these boys would kill himself years later. This worker of iniquities would marry young , very, very young girls in there very early teens and maybe even younger.  This reprobate would fix marriages between men and very young girls. The cult leaders are wicked in their own ways. Jeffs is in prison and still runs his cult from behind bars. One (1) day he will die and enter into his fiery and flaming reward. God shall be glorified by this man’s utter and perpetual and eternal torment.

*Jim Jones: Jim Jones is the origin of the saying, “Drinking the Kool Aid,” came from. This self-filled man used kool-aid to kill nine-hundred (900) persons: men, women, and children. Jones built his cult in Guyana and named it, “Jones Town.”  Naming a town after one’s self is certainly a red flag and should be suspect and put on a list. This cult leader also had a sitting senator murdered.  Jim Jones was a god unto himself but he died like men and is in Hell.

*Manson: This man is the poster boy for cult leaders and sociopaths and I do not think anyone would dispute that. I think most of you, Readers, know about this man. This very cerebral sociopath is now in Hell. This man ruined many, many, many lives.  Many are in prison because of this man’s charm and subtility. This man was the spitting image of his father, a liar and a murderer from the beginning of his worthless, but destructive life. His mother was a prostitute. This man left carnage in his wake wherever he would go. This man’s murders by proxy in the sixties (60’s) was a temper tantrum. Manson would lay waste to so many because he didn’t get a recording contract. This cult leader is the antithesis to our Lord even in name….  Manson or son [of] man.

It is estimated that one (1) in twenty-five (25) persons are sociopatho-logical.

If you like, watch “Ferris Bueller’s Day off” and you will see a sociopath at work.

Godspeed.

“And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go…?

We have recently made a decision.  It was a decision, I never thought we would have to make again. This decision is about becoming a part of a church. For those that do not know, we have not be part of a church in over a decade. That’s not to say, we have not fellowshipped or have not been about the Lord’s business.  We have fellowshipped with other churches in the area, Lighthouse Baptist Church, Bible Baptist Church, Families of Faith and a few others we’ll not name due to their unscriptural manner of “worship.”

For the last decade or so, we have taught the Scriptures in our home. We have taught them expositorially. We have studied the Scriptures for ourselves as we have always done. Over the years we have had Tuesday Childrens church for a time, a Wednesday Bible study, a Friday’s Women’s Bible study, where we looked specifically at the roles women play in the Scriptures and we did so by looking att he women in the Bible. We have had a Sunday School hour, a Preaching service, and a Sunday night service. We also held services at a nursing home for a decade and a half.  We have written on different blog sites as well over the years. We have ministered in churches where we have been invited. Recently we have had a Sunday morning service, and this blog site.

I do not write the above looking for praise, God forbid.  I write the above simply to show that we have not been inactive, though we were not part of a local church.  We have been more active if anything.

All of the above has been written to demonstrate why this decision was so very difficult to come to. However, due to what we have seen and heard at Bible Baptist Church, under the pastoral rule and guidance of Pastor Kipp Sonsek, we have been compelled by God to attend this church, when I say compelled, I do not mean to say, against our will, no not at all. We chose the word compell to demonstrate the strength in which God has answered our question. “Shall I go up…?”

To further domonstrate what we are giving up:
*Autonomy
*Leadership
*Will now submit to another’s pastoral authority.
*Offerings…not filthe lucre but offerings.
*Offering up to God my preaching and verbal teaching gifts for safe keeping in order to go where He leads.

Some of the deciding factors:
*Martyn Lloyd Jones once said, he could forgive a preacher of anything if that man   would give him a sense of God’s Presence. This child of God, this brother of Christ, and   this student of the Holy Spirit senses God’s Presence.
*The Doctrines of Grace are preached freely and loudly.
*The pastor’s Burning Bush like passion.
*The pastor’s library is lines with faithful men of God.
*The pastor’s family. From his mother to his wife to his children.
*The Pastor’s view on the governing of the church as in plurality of elders, and deacons as described in Scripture and designed in Heaven.
*The number or persons and families that have departed.  It has been a principle of   mine  for years, when a new pastor is installed into a church, around sixty percent (60%)  of the membership should depart.  Call it the “Gideon Syndrome,” if you will. This  falling away is a good sign. It is a sign of health. Certainly, it will test the shepherd and  the flock, but as God is in it, it shall stand as a mighty fortress.

I look forward and I reach forward, NOT forgetting what is behind, but instead, Praising and thanking God for all of it. I wait upon God to see what God has for His child and for my wife (also God’s child), and my daughters (also His children) and my Father-in-law and my Mother-in-law, (both God’s children).

How to know if God is in it.
*Is it Scriptural?  Is there an example in Scripture?
*Does God speak against it?
*Are you twisting Scripture to get your way?
*Will it glorify God?
*Could you envision Paul doing it?
*Are you moving too fast?
*Too slow?
*Where did this idea come from?
*Have you really prayed and are you truly seeking God’s will and God’s glory in this?
*and if all this fails….you will know if God is in it or not when He is pleased to let you know.

Daniel had to wait upon God’s answer.  Nehemiah was heard and answered right away.  There are times when you must ……………………………………………….w…..a…..i…..t……………….. on God and there will be times when He, in such profound and amazing condescending grace, will wait upon you.

This will not change (DV) thechildrenofissachar.com in the least.

Godspeed.

“Your enemy…” (1 Peter 5:8)

Notice the personal pronoun, “your” this denotes a possession.  The word following this possessive pro-noun reveals the possession and this possession is an enemy.  To make this even more personal and profound, remove the possessive pro-noun and insert you name and use the possessive form with an apostrophe s (‘s).   It will look like this  “Loder’s enemy,”  or  “Robin’s enemy,”  or “Ruben’s enemy, or “Sonsek’s enemy,” etc…

Batman’s enemy is the Joker,  Holmes’ enemy is Moriarty,  Our enemy is (s)atan.  Unlike Batman’s enemy and Holmes’ enemy, our enemy is not fictitious nor does he fall from a precipice and die.  It is true, however, that our enemy dis fall from THe great precipice, but he did not die, other than spiritually, and he did die, in terms of, his relationship to God. (s)atan is very much a living, thriving enemy to you amd me, there must be no doubt upon this matter.

One(1) of his greatest tricks and traps is being elusive and playing behind the scenes….”we wrestle not against flesh and bone, but against, [(s)atan and his unholy host.] Another trick and trap is not being believed in and for those that do know of him, they are made to look: silly, foolish, ignorant, stupid, childish, ridiculous, etc.

When C.S. Lewis published “The Screw Tape Letters.”  he was asked, “Do you mean to bring up the literal devil?”  Lewis’ answered in the affirmative.  Reader, one cannot believe in the Godhead and then disavow or the devil and devils. You simply cannot.  The Godhead speaks to this deadly and most dangerous enemy from the very beginning and he is spoken of throughout Holy writ up until the end!!!

This enemy was called Lucifer, but after he was thrown to the earth he was (s)atan. He is called a liar and a murderer from the beginning, this arch-enemy of man killed the spirit and the ralationship between man and his Creator God. This enemy also killed in the literalist of terms, Job’s children as Job is one (1) of the earliest writings in Scripture, before Abraham, before the law, and before all that we know in Scripture. Our enemy is a killing enemy.

This condemned enemy is called the serpent.  This speaks tto the form he chose in Eden and it speaks to his nature and character. The innate fear persons have of the snake is due to the treasury accomplished in Eden.

The serpent moves like no other, it is subtle to be sure, it can mask itself among it’s surroundings. The serpent can climb trees, poles, posts. The serpent can lie in wait for hours upon hours. The serpent take many forms. There is the rattle snake (deadly), there are the Constrictors (deadly), there is the Sea Snake (Very venomous) There is the king snake, this favoured snake is able tgto withstand the poisons of other snakes, easily and is also able to devour and eat the other dangerous snakes at will.  There is the Hognosed snake, this snake has no teeth, but eats his meals alive, you can watch a frog move inside of the non-venomous snake until you can’t. This Hognose can also play dead.

The one (1) trait, in all snakes throughout the world is it’s nature to turn on you. I have lived with many snakes in my youth and I have held so many more and I can tell you, the snake will turn on you, it is it’s nature to do so. Once, when i was holding a Ball Python, which is “said” to be the “friendliest”  of Constrictors, turned around, looked me in the eye and struck at my face. God, having gifted me with quick reflexes was able to catch the SERPENT in mid-strike.  The store clerk said, “it must have been your cologne.”             “I don’t think so, Tim.”

My Uncle Jerry told me a fable years ago.  A snake asked a turtle if he could ride on his shell a cross the river.  The turtle said, “No way, you’ll bite me.”  The snake in retort to the turtle said,  “If I were going to bite you would I have not done so already?  Besides, if I bite you, wouldn’t we both die?”  The turtle thought about it and then allowed the SERPENT to ride over the river upon his shell.  About midway, the SERPENT bit the turtle!!!  To the turtles dismay, he said, “Why would you do that, now we both shall die.”  The snake replied, “It’s my nature.”  the turtle died and the snake swam away.

There is so much truth to this fable, it speaks to the untamed nature of the snake.  With some alterations, it couls also speak to the depraved human nature of man.

Your enemy can take many, many forms:
*Cult- J. Witnesses, Mormons, Islam.
*(s)atan’s puppets in the local church, tares among wheat or weeds among desirable plants.
*Polticians, especially, but not limited to, the Leftists, Liberals, Progressives.
*Public Education System.

Your Enemy(ies) will use:
*Temptations, these are innumerable. Some are listed in Galatians five (5), “Works of the flesh,”  and Romans one (1)  “all unrighteousness.”  These are also called: Pride of life, Lust of the eyes, Lust of the flesh.
*Your mind, if allowed.
*Your body, if allowed.
*Your will, if allowed.

The world in which we find ourself sojourning in is a world with it’s own god, he is called, the “god of this world.”  Christ did not reprove the tempter when the tempter offered Him all of the kingdoms of the world…doubt not, Reader, (s)atan is the god of this world. BUT, doubt not this either, Our God is God of gods.  (s)atan reports to our God as seen in Job. (s)atan is called “Prince of the power of the air.”  This tell us where he inhabits, but he is free to “ROME” the heavens and the earth. Your enemy is able to blind unbelievers and to overtake them and possess them at his will. It seems God has given your enemy a free reign upon this earth, within limits dictated by God.

Readers, We are behind enemy lines and your enemy knows it and he knows about us and he even knows about specific saints.

Take heed, Sojourner, we do seek  and we do await anothet Kingdom, but until then, “Be vigilant, for your enemy, as a roaring lion seeketh whom he may devour.”  The most frightening word in this passage is not lion or enemy, but “may.”  “May” speaks to permission, my Reader.