“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  (Matthew 5)

“Recompense to no man evil for evil…if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men… Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”                                                                                                                                          (Romans 12)

 

God is the God of Balance. God is merciful and God is Wrathful. God Loves His own and God hates all workers of iniquity. God is tender and God is severe. Everything has it’s time and it’s place.

The passages above may seem to contradict one another. But if we believe that Scripture is inspired by God then we must believe there are no contradictions. Every word of God is Pure and every word of God fits together, nothing wanting. For example, in Christ’s sermon from the mount He says, Let your light so shine that men will see it and glorify God and then a minute later He says, When you do your good works let no man see thee.

What are we to do with these seeming inconsistencies? First we must know these are not inconsistencies. We must start off knowing that these puzzle pieces must fit together. When our Master tells us to let our light so shine and to be seen and then tells us to do our good works in secret, He is speaking of motive.

We should do good, even great works in Christ’s Name but we do not do this with the interest of drawing attention to ourselves. When we are doing a good work in Christ’s Name, we do so without looking for recognition, The Master said, if you do good works to be seen of men, then that is your reward and expect nothing from God. If you do good works in Christ’s Name and you do it without thoughts of praise and grandure, if you do good works only to please God and to help others, then God rewards you openly. These fit together nicely.

On to “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” being compared with the Master’s “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

What are we to do with this? Again, it all fits together. Eye for an eye tooth for a tooth speaks to judicial judgements. It does not speak to personal revenge. God put this law in place to keep life balanced, Eye for an eye means a balanced punishment for the crime committed. In other words, Justice does not take a life for an eye or a tooth. The penalty must fit the crime. Therefore, if a person kills another person, the killer has forfeited his life and should…no, must be put to death. The law of God states however, that one must not take personal pleasure in the death of the killer.

The law of God states that if a man kills another man, he is to be put to death. This law introduces the Avenger of Blood. The Avenger is a family member who had the right, judicially, to hunt down the murderer and summarily take his life. But, God adds a caveat, the Avenger of blood cannot take personal satisfaction and pleasure in the killing of the killer. If the Avenger of Blood takes pleasure and satisfaction, he then becomes a murderer in God’s sight, Who looks upon the heart of man. No pleasure is allowed in killing, it is a work of balance.

In this world that lieth in wickedness, the laws of God have been dismissed as brutal and inhuman and mean. God’s law of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is still in play, but the cultured and respectable puny humans have deemed the law of God too Brutal and law as barbaric..

An example of God’s law being dismissed can be seen in divorce. It is written, What God has joined together, let no [puny human] man put asunder. Then and if the divorcee marries again God calls it adultery. Why? Because God has Joined them together and no man, no paper or edict can tear that union asunder. In God’s eyes the man and his bride are still  joined together. In man’s eye the couple are divorced and free to marry again, but God doesn’t see it that way. God had joined them together and puny man then decrees and thinks that divorce is just and good. In God’s Eye and according to God’s law, they are still (1) one flesh, therefore when the couple marries another they are committing adultery.

We are not allowed to take personal pleasure in the punishment of another. We are called to see that justice and balance are done evenly. But in our world there is no law, we live in a lawless world. In a responsible world where persons are diligent with law and order we would hear of God’s grace and mercy in the Church and then justice and law being kept, killers, murderers, rapists, etc. would be hanged at a communal place where God’s laws are honoured.

The world is what it is, but when the Master returns all will be right and good.

Godspeed.

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in [H]is sanctuary: praise [H]im in the firmament of [H]is power. Praise [H]im for [H]is mighty acts: praise [H]im according to [H]is excellent greatness.”  (Psalm 150)

“…[M]y soul refused to be comforted.”  (Psalm 77)

 

Let me preface this article by saying, I have had long periods of melancholy. I would call them dark places and to be honest, I still have them but they’re are much, much longer periods in between. So I know what I speak of.  As I said before, in another article, my Uncle Jerry said to me once, “You have the disposition of a rattle snake.”  My sister once said to me that I would end up in prison. My Mother used to say, “I don’t know about you.” Sometimes she still does but for different reasons. When I was a teenager I fell into the destructive pattern of cutting. So again, I know of what I write in this article.

To demonstrate a great juxtaposition, I can say now, “The joy of the LORD is my strength.”  When I used to read that I wasn’t really sure what it meant.  Did it mean that God would grant me strength if He had joy from me and He would withhold it if He was displeased? I wasn’t really sure, but now I know.

I am strengthened when I find my joy in the LORD. Let me define joy, but first let me define happiness and fun. Happiness can come and go and is based on things outside ourselves, “Blessed [or happy to the third power] is the man when…[some condition is met].”  which means unhappy is the man when that condition is not met. Fun lasts only as long as something that is fun lasts. Joy, on the other hand, can exist when things are good as well as bad. Joy is based in God and not yourself, some condition, or while something lasts.

However, one can still fall into a bad mood with their joy intact. Joy has much to do with one’s outlook on life. I can fall into a bad mood and still know that God is enthroned and that all things will work together for my good. Joy allows me to be thankful even when I am down. The Christ-ian is a complex new creature.

How can we pull ourselves out of a bad mood? I have found praising God works wonders. In our (1st) first text above we are told to praise God pretty much every where and to praise him for His mighty acts and His excellent greatness. This means we can praise God anywhere, anytime, and at all times. We certainly have much praise worthy material: God’s mighty works, and His excellent greatness. So often we use words and do not think of their meaning. Excellent greatness for example, We should praise God for His greatness that excells all other things that have a quality of greatness or exceeds all others. The word greatness has many meanings. These are definitions for greatness from the dictionary:
1. Notably large in size.
2.Large in number or measure.
3. Remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness.
4. Full of emotion.
5. Eminent, distinguished.
6. Long, continual.
7. Principal, main
9. Superior in character and quality.
10. Remarkable skill.
11. General term of approval.
Again, God excells and exceeds all others that fit this definition.

When one wants to study God’s mighty works one need only turn to Isaiah 40 and Job 38-42. Here are just a few nuggets from these great passages,

“Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance:  behold, [H]e taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before [H]im are as nothing; and they are counted unto [H]im less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto [H]im? “(Isaiah 40:15-18).

“It is [H]e that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;  tha stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and speadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. That bringeth the princes to nothing; [H]e maketh the judges of the earth  as vanity.”  (Isaiah 40:22,23)

Reader, Do thyself a favour and read Isaiah 40 and Job chapter 38 – chapter 42.  By my count that is (6) six chapters. This can easily be read in one sitting or it can be broken up into one chapter per day for (6) six days or (2) two chapters for (3) three days. How ever you read these just please read these.

Other mighty works that should be considered and God should receive praise for is Christ’s work on the Cross and His resurrection. In the Old Testament the one act of God that is called upon time and again to demonstrate His power is the dividing of red sea. When the people needed to be reminded of God’s greatness and of His power and might, the prophets would point to the Red Sea. In the New Testament, the single act that demonstrates the great power of the Godhead is the Resurrection of Christ. I say Godhead because each person in the Divine Trinity is given credit for the resurrection. The Father raised Christ, Christ rose from the dead, by His own power, and the Holy Spirit is creditted with the resurrection of Christ.

If you want to pull yourself out of a bad mood, praise ye the LORD.

However, According to our (2nd) second text above, sometimes we can refuse to be comforted. The truth is some people are happy being miserable and that is not a contradiction in terms. I have known people through the years that simply refused to be happy. There are Christ-ians that are not happy lest they be mournful and these are not those that are comforted in their mourning (Matthew 5).

We have counseled persons and it is usually women…not being sexist, only factual, and these persons simply would not be counseled, they were not happy unless thay had problems to complain about. These persons liked to have attention and this is how they got it. If they were ever happy or joyful, they would lose everyone’s attention. When this became obvious I refused to speak to them anymore about their problems. I told them they have not a nd probably willl not ever do what we have suggested so there is no point to our discussions. When this person would try to sneak something in, I would refuse to discuss it if it was negative. I never saw her again.

I have also found some women who complain about how aweful their husbands are, are usually the problem. To hear these women belittle their husbands one would expect a monster, but we have found so often the opposite. I can think of (2) two women in particular. One sought the pastor’s counsel (not me) saying her husband was possessed by a demon. The pastor met the husband and found a quiet, humble man. In fact, this man, at this meeting submitted to Christ and has been a member of a church ever since and this goes back (2) two decades!!! The wife was the problem the whole time.
Another woman would go on and on about how aweful her husband is to her how he doesn’t pay attention to her etc. etc. etc. I met this husband. He was a descent guy, great father, and it turned out the wife was borderline.
[SIDENOTE: I am not suggesting that the wife is always the problem. I know many men that are aweful husbands and aweful fathers. I have often said the church should start a ministry called the (as)salt ministry. This ministry would visit abusive men at their homes and have very direct conversations. If that didn’t work we could visit them at their place of employment during their lunch break. One might object by saying the abusive man would only hurt his wife and or child(ren) when the (as)salt ministry left the home or the place of employment. To answer that objection let me say this, before the men left the abusive man alone with the abused wife and or child(ren), certain promises would be made to the abuser if he stepped out of line and a minister from the (as)salt ministry would remain behind in a car for the night. Another objection: The abuser could call the police and report the minister as a stalker. Answer to objection: The abuser could not do this lest he wants to confess to domestic abuse.]

My point is this, Some persons refuse to be comforted or do what they need to do to get help.

 

To summarize: If you want to pull yourself out of a mood or a funk, praise God, it’s that simple. If you are not willing to do this, then you are one who refuses to be comforted.

There is a hymn that reads, “Count your blessing; name them one by one.” When I led singing for a while or when I sing to the Lord alone, I change the words to, “Name them ton by ton.”

 

 

 

 

“Abstain from all appearance of evil”  (1 Thessalonians 5

 

This rule can be abused like other rules.  The rule regarding modest apparal is certainly another. The question in both of these is s simple one, who defines  modest apparel. To illustrate the (2nd) second point I will share a point made by another preacher. If you saw a woman wearing a nice dress with prints of flowers on it and gold colored buttons most would agree that it was modest apparel. However, an Amish women would consider her as dressing like a whore. Amish wear only black dresses with black buttons. Colors are considered worldy. So again, who defines modest apparel?

I remember reading a book years ago on this subject of modest apparel and I will never forget what I read in this one section. A preacher had been invited to preach a “revival” and would be staying at the home of the inviting pastor.  The pastor arrived with his family at the inviting pastor’s home.  The children pointed out to tgheir father, “Dad, look Pastor X’s kids are playing in short pants, don’t they know that’s a sin?.” To this their father retorted, “Not everbody believes the Bible like we do, they don”t undertsand it is a sin to dress like that.”  The irony in this is not everone believes that wearing shorts is a sin but everyone believes judging is a sin!!! The question remains, who defines modest? In the Old Testament it is defines as a person not wearing that which pertains to the opposite sex.

It could also be degfines as not wearing anything that is meant to cause members of the opposite sex to lust. Our Lord said that if a man looks upon a woman an dlusts after her he is guilty of adultery WITH her. As she is quilty of dressing in a way, hoping to cause a man or men to lust after her. Christ teaches that if men do lust after her, she is guilty as well.
Of course, there is clothing we all can agree on as being immodest. When it comes to clothing that we might disagree on as being immodest, I think it should come down to the dressers intent and motivation. I think most could agree on the timeliness of apparel, as well.
I remember years ago when I was a youth pastor, there were a couple young teen girl that would wear extremely short skirts and i think they knew what they were doing. I remember the pastor at the time drew me into a hall way and scorned me about their short skirts.  He told me, with his finger inmy face to take care of this. I remember getting back in his face and telling him to talk with their father as it was a job for him and not me. I could speak about this from a pulpit but not one on one or two on one. I am sorry to say, both girls ended up as you might expect.

Today I read a question on FB. The question was whether or not a man should compliment a female. I am sure this question is being asked due to the stories that are prevalent in the news today.  I think this would fall under the topic of avoiding the appearance of evil. It would also raise a furhet question already mentioned above, who defines an appearance of evil. This question could also be placed under the old, “Better safe than sorry” category.
As I dwelt upon this Fb question, I determined a few answers.
1. One should only compliment ones wife, daughters, mother, Grandmother, other family members, older women in the presence of one’s wife, one’s fiance.
2. In todays work place it cab become impossible not to spend time with members of the opposite sex. If this is true, here are some basic guidlines, inform you wife before hand, never touch except a very brief and firm handshake, keep business materials on the table, Possibly bring another co-worker, say grace and be seen. Do not pray with the member of the opposite sex. These are some brief ideas and i’m sure their are more.
3. Billy Graham and the men that worked for him all signes an agreement that they would never be alobe with a woman not their wives and this kept him free of cotroversy.
4. With all of the above being said, I must confess, that I, in the pass, did have lunch with (2) two members of the opposite sex often. I worked with both of these women. Both were married for many years and were both older than me by decades. Both their husbands knew about me and my wife knew about both of them, in fact one of them spent Christmas with my family for years. She knew and loved my children and were loved by my children. In fact I should speak in terms of present tense. This woman lives in Kentucky now and missed by me more than I can say. She also loves the Lord Jesus.
5. I know many persons would read number (4) four and would take a hard line and would never accept my frienship with these (2) two woman. This is were one would have to make a decision for themselves and base their friendship on a hard and fast rule or on an exception to the rules.
6. AS for a church pastor, it is safe not to spend time with women of his congregation, especially behind closed doors. Another person should always be present and this other person should be a woman if possible. In a perfect world this other person should be the pastor’s wife.  If it is impossible to have another person present and the meeting cannot be rescheduled, it must be recorded with the other person’s permission, if possible the meeting could be videotaped as well.
7. In the world we live in today, The rules above should be followed even if the meeting is between (2) two members of the same sex, Ie. (2) two men. What a world we live in.
8. What about (2) two young persons? What about (2) two college aged kids? My daughter has been dating a young man for (3) three years. They have known each other since kindergarten. CErtain ground rules will be something the (2) two young persons will need to decide along with both sets of parents. In our case, Everyone knows where the kids will be at all times, this includes both sets of parents. The kids are usually at either his parents home or our home. When they stsrted dating, I drew up a contract that both kids signed. When either set of parents go out of sign the kids will go with those parents or will spend most of their time with the parents remaining home.

I hope this helps as we are living in a world of mixed signals, not so-mixed signals, and the abuse of power and authority. Let us all be safe and wise in this world that lies in wickedness. I hope to write an article on the abuse of power and authority as this is a subject that causes me great anger. I cannot think about anything that causes me to seethe more. THe abuse of power and authority can be seen through out Scripture, and throughout the world down through the ages into contempory times.

This abuse can be seen in Scripture when a king sought to lay with another man wife as well as during the middle ages when a king retained his right to lie with a man’s new bride (Braveheart). This can be seen or heard of almost daily as women are coming forth and reporting celebrities and politicians that have abused their powers through out the years. This abuse of power was also very prevalent during the days of slavery. Whenever older men, including fathers, and relatives will sexually abuse young boys and young girls in the family.
When I am king for a day, all men and women that use their power to abuse those in subjection to them such as employees and young kids will be executed upon their convictions as well as all duly convicted rapists. The days of a (4) four year statute of limitations will be done away with forever. All statutes of limitations upon rape and or sexual abuse will end just like all statutes of limitation of murder.  I will see to it that all rape kits will be read within a very short period of time. As of now there are rape kits that have not been looked at for years and years and the statue of limitations have already elapsed.

Godspeed.

“Casting all you cares upon [H]im for He careth for you.”  (1 Peter 5)

 

We wrote an article recently concerning a Biblical priciple. This principle concerned doing for others what God does for us. In this article we mentioned forgiving others because God forgives us. We spoke about comforting others because God comforts us among others. In this article we would like to speak about being a sounding board or letting others cast their cares upon you.

You might find this a bit frightenibg. You might not feel qualified but that is the beauty of being a sounding board. Tou need not have the answers, you need only listen as the other vents frustrations, cares, anger, etc. I have heard other complain about being a sounding board as they feel as though they are being used, that the one venting doesn’t really want their councel, they are simple using you to hear themselves think. This is certainly the wrong attitude. My eldest daughter will bring some of her concerns to me, she will lay out frustrations, options, etc, on;y to come to her one conclusions and all I have done is nod my head, shake my head, raise my eye brows, say, huh or hmmm and them feel relief that she has figured things out for herself or God has anwered her.

Sometimes to help another one merely has to pretend one is hearing a non english person talking to you, only smile and make a non verbal gesture. It is or should be taken as an honour when another uses you as a sounding board. THe person speaking to you trusts you, considers you as being smart or wise and valuable.

In our text above we are told to cast our cares upon Christ because He cares for us, however this text does not promise an answer to our cares. One may infer that an answer could be forth right but the passage does not state it out-right. After having written that last  (2) teo sentences let me state clearly thay when an answer does come one should always acknowledge and give thanks to God for the answer. It is always good practice to give God thank for all things such as answers, or wisdom as coming from above. One can never go wrong in acknowledging God for all things, trust me.

As I wrote above, it is an honour when someones looks to you as someone they can bounce things off of.  It is cettainly a great honour to this writer. I view this honour as a major part of my ministry.  Like I wrote above, we might not always have an answer as the one speaking to you might come to an answer on thieir own or God may grant them wisdom. I have actually had someone thank me for my help in solving a problem when all I did was listen and acknowledge them with gestures, verbal and non verbal. We need not have all the answers, we need only be a set of caring ears, as James said, Be slow to speak and quick to hear…” (James 1).
I have heard it said, God gave is (1) one mouth and (2) two ears let us use them accordingly. THe Proberbs has so very much to say about listening and speaking. The wise man counsels us to keep quiet, and Peter tell us that the man that seeks a happy life, he will keep his mouth clothed. WE also read in the Gospels how often Christ would use brevity and silence in His ministry. The Proverbs also tells the fool that he will be thought wise if only he would keep quiet and the fool will be known by a multitude of works.  When i was a much younger and a much more foolish lad, I was a big drinker and I could actually hide my inebriation by keeping silence. Scripture teached that love will cover a multitude of sin, experience teaches me that silence can to. Please do not take the last couple of sentences as an encouragement to sin quietly. I am simply making the point that silence is a good quality to have, sin is not. One can be sure that sin will find you out, especially if you continue in that sin.

Godspeed.

“…I am continually with [T]hee: [T]hou hast holden me by my right hand.  (Psalm 73)

“But it is good for me to draw near to God…”  (Psalm 73)

“…[I]f any man thirst let him come unto [M]e, and drink.”  (John 7)

 

Everyday we use water, we wash ourselves with water, we drink water, we are made up of water, the earth is covered mostly by water. Whenever we use water, there is the opportunity to meditate upon the washing of the Word. We can use our imaginations to dwell upon Christ as the Living Water. We can also think about the judgement, wrath and fury of God as God used water to flood the earth.

One can think of the (3) three states of water, Liguid, Ice, and Steam. This can allow us to dwell upon the great truth of the Godhead Trinity.  Liquid being the Father, Ice being the Son, and Steam being the Holy Spirit. Liquid can go everywhere, into every crack, into every crease, into every nook, into every tiny space. This is why Water in Liquid form can represent God the Father. Ice on the other hand is more of a solid. This reminds us that the “Word became Flesh and dwelt among us.” Christ is God incarnate, likewise, ice can be thought of as Liquid in solid form. Then we have steam, steam is the (3rd) third state of water. Steam cannot be handled, caught or stopped. Steam can animate a heavy train.  You can see how water can be used as a prompt to think upon God, praise God and to offer worship to God.

Who doesn’t love a good stretch? After sitting down or lying down for a time, it feels very good to stand up and to stretch our arms and legs out with a big OOHHH!. It feels so good to crack our neck and to crack our knuckles. When you do this you have a fine opportunity to meditate and dwell upon the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

How about when we look in a mirror? We might remember the words of James. “For if any be a hearer of the [W]ord, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and he goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

Also…when we walk through a doorway, why not meditate upon our Lord being the Door to the Father? Why not look upon a door and note that it is held up by (3) three hinges? This could remind us of the (3) three nail wounds in our Saviour’s Hands and Feet.

When I drive I see many signs, one of these signs read, “One Way.”  When I see a one way sign, I think about Christ being the One and Only Way to God, the Father. I also think about people thinking their way of life is fine, but Scripture tells me that the end of their lives are the ways to death.

When you drive through a toll booth think about the Narrow way to God and how the Broad way leads to destruction.

When we see a hill, why not think about Christ’s sermon from the Mount?

 

This is not an exhaustive list of ways to keep God in your thoughts but it is a start. I hope these help,  to keep our minds on God is the way to experience peace.

The more time you spend with God the more you will become like His Son. The more time you spend with God, the more you will take His attributes upon yourself. Simple logic states that the more time one spends with anything the more familiar one will become with that thing. Likewise, the more time one spends with God, the more godly you will become.

If I could preach only (2) two messages for the rest of my life, I would preach (DV) God’s Sovereignty and all it entails. I would also preach the blessedness of walking with God and dwelling in His Presence, perpetually.

Godspeed.

“My voice shalt [T]hou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto [T]hee, and I will look up.”  (Psalm 5)

 

There are many ways one can dwell in the Presence of God. There are many ways to pray without ceasing. There are many ways to think upon God at all times. This may sound impossible but it is not. When we say pray without ceasing or perpetually dwelling in God’s Presence we are speaking about a spirit or mindset, maybe even an outlook.

The (1st) first thing you should understand is that your thoughts and actions should be considered prayer. God knows our thoughts afar off (Psalm 139). You can say to God, “Please accept my thoughts as prayer.”  In Ephesians (3) three, We learn that God is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think…” You can and should ask God to consider your thoughts as prayers. We learn from Romans (8) eight, that God reads the mind of the Spirit Who indwells us. This means that the Spirit can and will and does take your thoughts and turn them into prayers that are acceptable to God. Simply say to God that you want there to be an understanding between the (2) two of you, and that understanding is that God will accept your thoughts and feelings as prayers directed towards Him.
This thought-prayer-life should not replace your formal times of prayer. Your actions and decisions can also be considered prayers unto God if you cognitively direct the acts and decisions toward God. In other words, you can say to God that this action or decision you have made is because of Him. An example, if you pick up a piece of debris in a parking lot because that parking lot belongs to God, as it is under the heavens, and all things under the heavens belong to God this act can be considered a communication with God, Simply say or think, “God, I did that for you and for no other reason.”
Brother Lawrence, in his book, one of the most influential books i have ever read, said that he would not pick up a piece of straw or hay, except it be to God’s glory. His book, by the way, is titled, “Practicing the Presence of God.” When I become king of the world for a day, this book will be mandatory reading for all believers. This book is a litle book that is made up of (4) four conversations with Brother Lawrence (1600’s) and (13) to (15) thirteen to fifteen letters written by Lawrence, depending on the edition you read. I have said many times that this little book changed everything for me and I do not say that lightly.

Another way to remain in the spirit or mindset of prayer is by using a clock, watch or any device that tells time.
Examples: When you look at the clock and it reads 3:16, you can quote to God, John 3:16 and thank Him for your salvation. When the clock reads 5:20, you can give God thanks for all things, as Ephesians 5:20 says, ” Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the [N]ame of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Sidenote: this passage mentions the Trinity).  When the clock reads 5:21, you might remind yourself to prove all things before accepting something as truth, (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Connecting the clock with Bible chapters and verses can help you remain in God’s Presence, it’s a good tool for memorizing Scripture too.

When the wind blows you can think of the Holy Spirit as John 3 tells us that the Spirit is like the wind. In the Spring when plants begin to bud, let your mind go to Christ’s resurrection and then and there thank God for your salvation.

There are many, many ways to keep your mind on God if you want to keep your mind on God. In the Psalms, David says that the wicked do not like to have God in any of their thoughts. We should infer from that truth that the righteous should always have God on and in the mind (Psalms 10).

We can say without hesitation that time spent with God is time well spent. Time spent with God will keep us from spending time doing things we shouldn’t be doing. Time spent with God is a way to lay up treasures in heaven. Spending time with God is a way to worship Him. Spending time with God is a good way to become Christ-like.

If you are seeking peace, let your mind be stayed upon God (Isaiah 26).

Godspeed.

 

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)

 

One of the attributes the Christ-ian shares with Christ in their Christ-likeness is the enjoyment of giving. Our Lord said, “It is better to give than to receive.” I think and would like to believe this is true of all believers. It is certainly true of your writer. I love to give gifts, i actually get giddy when i have to wait to give a gift. At gift giving holidays, i have learned to wait until the last days before the holiday to purchase gifts because i cannot wait to present the gift, (pun intended). We have a tradition in our family, this tradition is called a sick gift. This gift is exactlty what it sounds like, when someone gets sick i get to buy them a gift.

I must confess my reasons for this spirit of giving i enjoy.
1. I like to emulate Christ as He is a Giver.
2. I like to see persons surprised and happy.
3. I like to spend money.
4. I like to know that i do not need the person to praise me for the gift because this tells me that I am giving for the right reason.

At this time of year I like to give non tangible gifts to others through my writing and preaching/teaching. This is not to say that Christ-ians should look at all they receive from God through a preacher or pastor as gifts. For it is written, “All gifts and perfect gifts are from… [God] (James 1). Though all lessons and messages from your minister should be considered as gifts from our Love-to give God. At this time, like I said, I enjoy giving very practical as useful gifts that can be used right now. To cover all my bases, let me also say, all preaching is practical and useful.

Now onto my gifts to my readers. Some of you may have already received some of these but there will be others things you have not received. Some of these things one may not expect to hear from a preacher, but if they looked upon the preacher as a shepherd, as a defender, it should make sense.
1. The gift of confidence.  Scripture states that there is strong confidence when one lives under and in the fear of the LORD. When you look at many of the saints in the Old Testament and the New Testament (post Holy Ghost descending) you see persons who are confident, clever, and capable. The reason and cause of these attributes is their fear of the LORD. When we say fear we mean (2) two things. (1). is genuine fear of displeasing God or disappointing Him and of His chasening Hand. (2). is a grave, deep, and sober reverence for the Godhead.
When a saint honours God in these ways, the saint is promised to be honoured by God. When one acknowledges God in all his ways, God will also acknowledge the saint in all his ways.
Here is a little trick to gain confidence over others and to gain the upper hand in any dynamic. I call it the drill. It is a way to win every stare down you may fall into. It is so simple but O’ so effective. When your opponent is *looking in your eyes, you look at them between their eyes. They will think, and it will look like, you are staring in their eyes but you aren’t. You will win the stare down with this drill. If ever one needs to intimidate another or to throw off someone who is possibly a danger, simply drill inside their brain.
2. This is graphic but is useful. I have written this many times, but not all of our readers have read all our articles. In this day and time, the media would have us think that we all are always a target to a predator. This may or may not be true, but methinks it is better to be safe than sorry. If ever attacked and you fear for your life, God gave you *(2) two thumbs that fit perfectly into an attackers (2) two eyes. Do not merely poke the eyes but drive your thumbs into the brain. I said it is graphic but it is useful. *Boxing the ears is helpful, *using your fist to punch the throat is useful or using the web between your thumb and index finger is very effective. The *old fashion karate chop to both sides of your attackers neck is no joke. The *forgotten charlie horse is very good, ask Jacob when/if you get to Heaven. The charlie horse is a knee, elbow, or heel to the attackers thigh.
The headbutt. Most think they know how to *headbutt others but many are mistaken, there is a science and an art to the proper headbutt. If I were to ask you what part of the body would you headbutt, you would probably say, the attacker’s forehead. You would be dangerously wrong. Never headbutt someone’s forehead with your forehead. One should use their forehead to headbutt the face of the attacker, the nose or mouth of the attacker and even better a side swinging headbutt to the jaw could knock the attacker out.

3. This will be helpful and could stop many persons from wasting their time with the wrong type of persons. Our Lord teaches us that humans speak from the heart. This means that one can read another person by the words they use. In Hebrews  (13) thirteen, the writer teaches us that the believer should offer God the fruit of our lips. These (2) two passages tell all of us that the words that persons use will tell you all you need to know about anyone. I know a person who was dating a girl. As this couple was sitting in a car, waiting for a friend to return from a convenience store, and this couple saw a young black girl pick up a piece of debris and put it into a trash can. The girlfriend said, “Aw, that’s a good N-word.” This person, at that moment realized, this girl is not for me. She spoke from her heart, this guy learned, at that moment, all he needed to know.
My readers, You can read a person by the words they speak. This is a gift that can save you much time and pain.

As the Magi brought our Lord (3) three gifts, so do I bring you, in this article, (3) three gifts.
The (1st) first and (3rd) third gift can be used tomorrow and I pray that the (2nd) second gift never needs to be unwrapped, but it will be there if it is ever needed.

Godspeed

 

 

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the [N]ame of our Lord Jesus Christ…”  (Ephesians 5:20)

 

As we have wrotten before, this is the day when some will give thanks to God and others will be thanking other people and some will be thanking the air. Those (1st 2″) first two mentioned are in the right and the third are funny, sad, and make me angry all at the same time.

It is good that there is a national day to give thanks but it should not give cause to being unthankful the other (364) three hundred and sixty four days of the year. Being unthankful is a gateway sin to all other sins (Romans 1). Being un thankful is a great way to offer priase and worship to God, when one runs out of things to pray for (as that could really happen) they can always offer thanks. In fact, the giving of thanks should be the greatest portion of one’s prayer time. When (1) one ceases to give thanks unto God (1) one should expect God’s giving to dry up. This is not necessarily due to God’s needing our thanks but it will soon cause one to forget one’s great need of God and that is not due to God needing us to remember our need for Him, it is simply true.

Any friendship that is null of thanks will eventually dry up and end. We should always be quick to offer thanks to others. we should give thanks to God, family, friends, co-workers, and strangers. Giving thanks not only shows appreciation to another but it acknowledges them and what they did or did not do. I have noticed that the giving simple acknowledgement or others is greatly missing in our society. When simple acknoledgement disappears thanks and thankfulness is soon gone.

When i was a kid people would wave to those they passed when driving.  I still wave at drivers I drive past and people i see walking or working in their yards. Some wave back, some do not and some seem shocked. When I pass others while walking on a side walk or in a mall I will smile, nod my head or simply say, hey, hi or hello, and I get the same reaction. Sometimes I see persons delighted and react with pleasure and are even thankful for the acknowledgement.

We are told in Scripture to acknowledge God in all our ways. One way to do this is through thanksgiving for all God does for you and others. How often do you acknowledge God or give Him praise and thanks for what He does for others? Do you ever other Him thanks and praise when He actsl in the lives of others. Do you ever read about or hear about something in the news and thank God for it as you recognize it as a work of God?

I remember seeing a story featured on the news and I was awestruck and I was moved to tears and thanks. The report spoke of and showed a car driving  on a street or racing others cars, it went of the road drove sideways on a dirt wall and began to roll back down the wall toward the road and at the car did this it was about to smack observers and just then it seemed like something from inside the wall of dirt reached out and pushed the car, causing it to pass over the observer, miraculously missing them. Even the news reported, who sees much on the job was somewhat mesmerized at the event.

Readers, this was God caught on camera.I was overwhelmed and sat frozen asthis was shown over and over again. I recored what I could and I watched it over and over and replayed it for eveone I knew. If you are not somewhat awestruck by this, I am not explaining it right.

After writing the above I would like to itemize things I am thankful to God for:
* The Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
* God, the Father Who loved me and chose to put me in Christ and send His Son to die for me, to be buried for me, and to rise for.
* Christ my Lord and Saviour Who came to seek me and to save me and define me.
* The Holy spirit, Who lives with me, Who revealed to me God the Father and God the Son, Who is leding me to be Christ-like, Who leads me, guides me, teaches me, reminds me, and allows me to understand God and myself.
* I thank God for my ministries and for putting me into the ministry, enabling me to do what I do and for showing me His trust and faithfulness.
* I thank God for the forgiveness of my sin(s) and my salvation.
* I thank God for allowing me and teaching me to do for others what He has done and does for me.
* I thanks God for the forgiveness of my sins and for those sins He uses to keep me humble and allows me the grace to look upon others as He looks upon me.
* I am thankful for the Word of God and for all it means to me and for the understanding God allows me to have in it.
* I thank God for my wife, who loves me so very well and who is the evidence of God’s love and favour.
* I thank God for my children, who has made it so easy being a parent. I have loved every second I have had with them.
* I thank God for my Mom, who loved me, and still loves me. I thank God for all the patience she had for me and for the times that patience ran out.
* I thank God for my Dad, who demonstrated the grace of God like no one I have ever known. He truly was made a new creature in Christ. For those that knew him and know him has seen a work of God.
* I am thankful to God for my Father-in- Law, Mother-in-law,a nd Brother-in-law. There exists many jokes regarding in-laws but nonever applied to mine. I am thankful for the close bond we have shared for over (2) two decades. The bonds of Christ-ianity, family, and friendship could not be stronger or more empathized.
* I thank God that I was fortunate to really know all of my Grandparents, Especially my Big Mama and my Grandpa.
* I am thankful for my Aunts and Uncles. Especially the one who helped lead me to the Lord Jesus and for the one who is with God now and who I always looked forward to seeing because she alway, always made me laughand that is not walways easy to do. I am thankful for my uncle that taught me much about life.
* I am thankful for my cousins, the ones I see and the ones I wish I could see me more.
* I am thankful for my brothers and sisters, we may not be as close as other brothers and sister but we are still brothers and sisters.
* I am thankful for my nephews and nieces, a prouder uncle there is not.
* I am thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Who have taught me much about God and God has allowed me to teach about Him.
* I thank God for all those that it has been my pleasure knowing.
* I thank God for all those it has not been a pleasure knowing, but i have benefitted from knowing anyway.
* I am thankful for all the health I have enjoyed and for the illnesses and infirmities that have taught me somemuch about God, myself, and others. Like Paul, “I glory in my infirmities.” I am also thankful I can understand that, too.
* I am thankful for others who have showed grace in their difficult times, what a show of grace they have been.
* I am thankful that I can be thankful in and for all things.
* I am thankful for red lights and green lights for even they serve God’s purposes and my well fare.
* I am thankful for the people I have known for years but have moved on. It’s sad but that is how life works for better or for worse.
* I thank God for those that I had lost contact with but now know again. It shows that God’s people may be distant from each but we are still God’s people and the love between God’s people never dissappears.
* I am thankful for the great differences that distinguishes God’s elect and those that are not. This can be easily recognized in families. One part of the family is obviously Christ-ian and the other side of the same family is obviously not. The difference is like night and day. I have known families and one side is Christ-ian and the otherside of the same family is decidedly not Christ-ian and the difference cannot be different or over-stated. One side has allthings in order and the other side could not be more disfunctional.
I am thankful that God has given me a hunger and thirst for righteousness and for knowledge and that He is the answer to both.
* I am thankful for the minds and spirit God has put into my daughter, I look at them and could not love them more nor could I be more thankful, nor could i sit in more wonder. * I thankful for the love my children have for me, it is so evident. In our home no on one has ever or will ever have to wonder if they were loved or were the object of much thankfulness and praise to God.
*I am so thankful that my wife and children know God and have their very own walk with Him and that it is as evident as it is.
* I am thankful for the love and petience my wife has had and has in me and also for the time when her patience, too, runs out and she puts me in my place.
* Trust me when I say it is not easy being a wife or daughter to a man of God. They all think that they take a back seat to God and they are right. But with them having a healthy relationship with God allows them to understand. There are times, a lot of times I will spend hours and days locked up in a bedroom with God and I am thankful they understand this and that they know they can still come in when they need me or want me.
* There are times when I will remain up whole days and whole nights reading, studying, praying or just spending time with God. When this happens i can then go into hibernation for days afterward and they understand this and put up with it for a time. I am thankful for their understanding and patience.
* I am thankful for the different local churches I have been a part of. and for those that have been a part of me.
* I am thanful for the jobs I have had in my life and all That I have learned about life from them. I also give thanks to God for all that I have learned from co-workers, bosses and clients that I have learned from. At the time I may not have known to be tahnkful but afterward I have learned to be. The one company I worked for and had so much to complain about (wrongly) is the one job I am most thankful for today. In fact, it is the one company and boss I would return to if I ever returned to one. This job and company gave me the most persons i still have contacts with today, almost (2) two decades later. A better team of persons I have never worked with before or after.
* I am thankful to God for all the persons he has allowed me to, hopefully, influence over the years for Him, a greater honout does not exist.

I could go on and on, but we will cease here. If you read this and think to yourself, “what about this, isn’t he thankful for this, please know that I am thankful to God “for all things.”

I hope you are able to sit around a thanksgiving dinner today with those you are truly thankful to God for. I hope you are truly able to thank God and not just the ceiling. If You are able to truly be thankful to God, you can truly be thankful for the salvation that is fould in Christ and Christ Alone.

If you cannot thank God or know not how to show God praise and thanks today, I am truly sorry for you, but I am thankful that today can be the day all of that changes for you, for today is the day of salvation and might be the day of your salvation.

I am thankful that today we can explain to uou the Gospel Of Christ and how one is saved from their sins and it’s great penalty of everlasting torment in a place clled Hell.
To be saved by Christ, one must understand that one has greatly offended God and His Holiness. How has one done this? One offends God by one’s very existence and love of sin. Everyone has sinned and everyone is a sinner. If you have lied or used God’s Name in a sinful way, if you have ever stolen, committed adultery in a bed or in your mind, if you have every loved anything or anyone more than you have loved God, if you have ever wanted something that another has had you my reader have sinned and offended the Holiness of God.
Anyone, my reader that has done any of the above you have sinned and are deserving of justice which is Hell. Even if you have offfended in only one point of one of the sins listed above, you have broken them all according to the Word of God. Even if you have only committed sin in your mind, you have broken them all. Even if you have never comitted any of the ming in action or in mind, the Scripture stated that you are still a sinner bu your very nature of existing. My reader, I am simply saying that there is absolutely no way you have not sinned and offended God and His righteousness. I am telling you, that according to God and His word, you are going to hell and thay there is absolutely no hope for you outside of the Gospel of Christ.
IN other words, your “good” works will not save you from your sins and it’s great penalty. Your “good” works and bad works will not be weights and even if that was the case, Scripture teaches that all the works you may consider to be “good” are as filthy as a woman’s bloody menstrual clothe!!!
My reader, the only way of salvation is if Christ died for you and the only way to provr that and to know it is by your submission to His terms, which are repentance and belief.
repentance is a desire to turn away from yoyr sins and rebellion against God’s will and to believe in what He did in your stead.
What did Christ do in the stead of all believing sinners? He lived the perfect and sinless life that God requires of us all, He died in the stead of believing sinners, He was buried in the stead of believing sinners, He rose again in the stead of believing sinners, and He appeased the great wrath of God in the stead of believing sinners. Christ is offered to all that will repent of their sins and believe in Him, who will seek to submit to His will and His ways.
Today is the day to repent and believe andto know what it is to be thankful and to give thanks.

Godspeed.

 

“…[F]or I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content…..I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  (Philippians 4:11, 13)

 

While it is true, one can do all things if God is enabling one to do these things, but that is not Paul’s meaning or purpose in Philippians 4:13. Paul’s meaning is contentment. In other words, I will be content where God puts me, I will be content with who God has made me, I will be content with what God gives me, I will be content with what God does with me because He strengthens me and enables me to do so.

This writer is a home church preacher/pastor. We preach for, we teach for, and we pastor only a handful of believers. When God opens a door and allows us to minister to other churches or other ministers we are happy to do so. Some may look at our ministry as a small and non-effective entity. These could not see themselves in this scenario. Some may think we are wasting our gifts, but I am content.

With our ministry God allows us to preach where and when called upon, other ministers do not have this option. In our ministry, we have no overhead or governing body, as do churches. The absence of overhead and governing bodies allow us to support missions and ministries freely and without the restraint of others. In this ministry, I am accountable to God and to those He has given me. Other benefits include: writing without fear of losing a ministry, meddling in the lives of others, being an honest sounding board for others, being accountable to God for only a handful at the judgement seat, and being forthright and honest to those seeking counsel. In this God-given ministry I am content.

Methinks contentment is the sign of being in the right place at the right time. All this talk of contentment and we have not yet defined the word. Content is defined as being in a place or state of satisfaction.

To be content there must be certain conditions met:
1. You must trust God and His sovereign plans for your life.
2. You must know that God is and that God is Good.
3. Even if you cannot sense God’s Presence, you must know, by faith, God sees you and God knows what is happening in your life.

Consider David and his sheep. David was to be the future king of Israel, he may not have known it yet but God did. David was content with his sheep. Even after Samuel anointed David to be king, David remained content with his sheep, 1 Samuel 16:18. After David was called to the palace to play the harp for the rejected king, David was content. Remember, David knew he was to be king, Saul did not. All the trials that David was put through, he remained content. He trusted in God’s timing and in God’s purposes. Isaiah said, “[H]e that believeth shall not make haste…” To make haste is opposite to contentment.

Consider Absolom, David’s son. Absolom could not wait for the kingdom to come to him by natural causes. Instead he set himself up at the king’s gate and intercepted those seeking King David’s counsel. Absolom did this in an attempt to turn the hearts of the people away from David and to himself. He was successful and David was forced to escape his palace. Absolom’s actions led to a civil war, which he lost, he also lost his life. Absolom’s discontent led to his death.

Let us consider the prodigal son. In Christ’s parable, the youngest son was not content with his life. The discontented son demanded his authority and all the adult responsibilities that came with it. We know the end, do we not? The discontented son, who was in way over his head, squandered it all and became homeless and penniless. This person’s discontentment led to the loss of family, shelter, and money. Of course, when he figured everything out and understood his mistake and his affront to his father, he went home and his loving father received him. However, if the father chose to deny his son, discontent would have cost him everything and did for a time.

To be content is to be thankful and grateful to God for all that is.
To be discontent is to be unthankful and ungrateful to God for all that is.

A non-exhaustive list of the discontent would include:
Lucifer/(s)atan
Eve
Adam
Cain
Job’s wife, could anyone honestly blame her?
The Israelites, especially in Judges
Jezebel
Ahab
Haman
Proverbs’ Gluttons
Judas Iscariot
Ananias and Sapphira
Simon the Sorcerer
The Lost man
Some Christ-ians
You?

 

There are (2) two things we can be discontent with:
1. Our closeness to God
2. Our Christ-likeness

The more you learn of God, the more you learn from God, and the more you know God, the more content you will be. To know God is to know God is all you need and will ever need. “He that hath the Son hath life…”

“…[A]s many as received [H]im, to them gave [H]e power to become the sons of God…                                                                                                                                                    (John 1)

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of [H]is Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

 

In the west (that’s us), adoption is one family taking in a child as one’s own. This child previously belonged to another or a different family. The original family either died or was presumed unfit.  This is assumed to be true of the east (Bible land) as well. This is untrue. Adoption in the east is different than one thinks..

Abraham had a servant and Abraham had a son. The servant was Aleazar and his son was Isaac. Aleazar, being the servant had authority and the son did not. In fact, Abraham dispatched the servant to find a wife for the son, Isaac, as the son had no authority of his own in adult matters. However, at the appropriate age, Isaac was given adult status and authority over a portion of the father’s property and possessions. This is also the meaning behind the prodigal son. The prodigal son did not want to wait for the appropriate time and demanded his authority early.

One reason so many do not understand the Biblical doctrine of adoption is due to their refusal to accept a much denied other doctrine. In this article we will (DV) seek to make clear both doctrines. But first let us demonstrate what many believe adoption to mean.

Many, if not most, preachers and therefore, most believers think the doctrine of adoption means that God has adopted His children from the family of (s)atan. While this makes sense according to the west’s definition, it is not Biblically accurate. The fact is, the believer never was a child of the devil. The believer has always been a child of God!!!  Let me say that again, If you are a child of God, you have always been a child of God….always.

Let me share with you a proof text, Galations 4:6. After I share this text with you I will ask you a question. It is not a trick question, but a simple question. Galatians 4:6, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of [H]is Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father.”  My question is not a theological one but a grammatical one. Read the text again and then tell me what was the cause of the Holy Spirit being sent into your heart? Another question, this time, a theological question, Does Galatians 4:6 imply that you were a son before the Spirit was sent into your heart? Another theological question, What did/does the Spirit allow the son to do? Answer, The Spirit allows the son to call God, Abba Father or Daddy.

You see, the Spirit was sent to dwell in our hearts because we were already sons!!! If you are a child of God you have always been a child of God. However, we did not know this because we didn’t have any spiritual authority. We didn’t pray, we didn’t love the Word, the Church, nor did we know the love God. We were disobedient and wrathful children and if we did have spiritual authority, imagine all the damage we would cause!!!

After the Spirit is sent to the children of God, they now understand this relationship and we cry, Daddy. We are also now endowed or endued with spiritual authority. When does this adoption occur? Adoption occurs at the moment we are saved. But remember salvation did not make us sons (John1:12) but it empowered us, it gave us authority to be “called the sons of God.” Now we can pray, now we love the Word, now we love the church, now we love our Abba, Father.

An Analogy: I have (3) children. When did these children become my children, before or after they were born? Before they were born, of course.

We have given you a definition and an example of adoption from the life of Isaac. We have sought to explain the doctrine of adoption from John 1. Now we will (DV) turn to the book of Hebrews.

After Abraham returned from a great war involving (5) five kings, he gave a tithe to the Priest, called, Melchisedec, “And as I may say so, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.” Also, “By faith [Abraham] 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…”  “With Isaac and Jacob? when did this happen? it didn’t. As Isaac was in Abraham’s loins, so would Jacob be in Isaac’s loins. The point is, God saw Isaac and Jacob as Abraham’s sons and heirs prior to their earthly existence.

[Sidenote: The above is also the explanation of being, “In Christ”…All the works Christ did, (His Pre-Flesh Existence, His sinless life, His death, His burial, His Resurrection!, and His ascention) we did, too, as we were and are “in Him, from-ever to and through for-ever “in [H]im.”]

For the doctrine of adoption to be what it is, the doctrine of election must be understood and accepted as sound. The doctrine of election is the other doctrine we spoke about above. For many, election is a forbidden doctrine. Many a preacher has twisted it’s meaning, in order to teach it safely and to keep his ministry.

The fundemental doctrine of election is God’s free will and free choice to save whom he wills to save and to pass over whom He wills to pass over. The doctrine of election bleeds into the doctrine of definite atonement. The doctrine of definite atonement speaks to Christ atoning for the elect only or in other words, those who will believe. Christ did not atone for all men and their sinful nature or their sins.

The Blood of Christ, certainly and without doubt, could have atoned for all sin and all the sins of all men but that was not His design, likewise Christ could have healed the great multitude of impotent folk in John 5, yet He healed only one certain man. Read John 5.

Those who fight against this great doctrine of election are choosing sides with the lost and their “free will”. Those who deny this doctrine, not only choose sides with the lost, they choose to side against God’s freedom of will. The irony is, humans have no real free will.

Humanity, according to Scripture, is a servant to the sin nature and can be used by (s)atan, according to his will at any time. Christ, speaking to the Pharisee said, “….the lusts of your father, ye will do.” Who is their father, you might ask, “Ye are of your father, the devil…” Christ has just told these religious, pride-filled men that they are condemned to do as the devil does and would have them do. This is true of all non-elect unbelievers.

The reason ministers wrongly teach adoption is because, in order to teach it rightly, they must teach other “dark” doctrines rightly.