“But the fruit of the Spirit is …..Longsuffering…”  (Galatians 5:22)

“And Simon Peter answered and said…”  (Matthew 16:16)

“…James and John…said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”  (Luke’s Gospel)

“Then saith…Judas Iscaiot, Why was not this ointment sold for (300) three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  (John 12:5)

 

The Lord’s (12) twelve disciples were men living in close quarters; are we not to think they, at times, annoyed each other? Peter was a talker, no doubt. Peter was usually the man to answer for the other (11) eleven and could that not get irritating? Then there is James and John, both with a superiority complex. And there was Judas, always counting the money. Nathaniel, thinking himself better than those in Nazareth.

My point is this, Those bless-ed persons, who annoy us are gifts from God. These pple, if you will, are the very one’s that will make us Christ-like. These are they that will bring out the Spirit’s fruit of longsuffering. Longsuffering is a godly trait, for the Word states, God’s “longsuffering is salvation.”

What does longsuffering mean? Longsuffering is putting up with that which we would rather not put up with. Longsuffering is putting up with pple. However, it is putting up with people and doing so with and in the right spirit.

We know a man that has had clients and co-workers bold face lie about him and against him. This man has been, time and time again, set up to fail by co-workers but it all came to nought as “no weapon formed against [me] shall prosper.” And what is more formidable as a weapon than a human mind and a human tongue with ill intent, motivated by sin?

All of this comes down to one’s perspective. Is that bothersome person an irritant or a blessing? All of the troublesome, annoying, irritating persons in your life are there to help you become more and more Christ-like.

Imagine what God puts up with…….with you.

 

 

 

“But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.”  (Acts 4:19,20)

 

I learned today that it is considered illegal to share Christ with persons on a public bus.  One may share Him at the bus stop but never on the bus, itself. To witness to Christ on the bus is illegal as the persons on the bus are considered a “captive audience,” so says the Supreme Court. In this article we will (DV) follow this law to it’s logical end and we will discuss what one should do in light of this existing law.

If the persons on a bus is a captive audience does it not follow that persons riding a train is much more captive, or a plane? One cannot be more captive than on a plane. What about in my personal vehicle? What if I am sharing Christ with a person in my personal vehicle? Could this person report me?  What if I share Christ with a person in my home, could they report me?  Some of you may think I’m going a little far, but wait.

The Supreme Court missed something, I think. The persons on a bus are only “captive” until they tell the witness, “Thank you, I’m not interested.” Most witnesses would leave a person alone when they are asked to. If I share Christ in a store or anywhere and the person responds in the negative, I leave them alone and wish them a fine day, unless I’m in prophet mode, then I leave them with the prophet’s, “Woe unto thee, o’man.” It depends upon how negative they are.

The point i’m making is this, Are persons so fearful and so weak they cannot decline a witness from a Christian? Do persons need the U.S. Supreme Court to rule against our freedom of speech in order to protect themselves from our Christ-ian witness?  If this is the case then all places, your car, your home, could be considered captive spaces. The streets will be the only place that is not considered as a captive space. As soon as one (1) person complains the authorities will seek to quiet the disturbance or when a crowd begins to listen to God’s Word, (s)atan will send in someone to complain about the crowd blocking the way.

I wonder if an Avon lady would be thrown from the bus as her audience is also captive per the Supreme Court’s ruling. What if a person is very hungry and another bus passenger has a fast food meal, should the person with the fast food discard his food as the hungry person is held captive to the smell and to his mouth’s watering? What if we, you friendly neighborhood preacher man, boarded a bus, removed my jacket and a Bible verse adorns my shirt? What then? Should I turn my shirt inside out? Should I stop wearing Christ-ian shirts? Maybe Christ-ian shirts should be a thing of the past.

What if Ronald McDonald were to get into the bus? Should this not be considered a commercial or advertisement for the captive audience to see? What about any of the clothing that advertises for something? What about a sports themed shirt? What if I’m not the most athletic and that sports shirt reminds me of that or whats worse, What if this guy wears a sports themed jacket and he rides the bus everyday like I do. He reminds me every single day of my athletic short comings and I can do nothing about it, I’m a captive audience.

What about Christ-ian jewelry, we know what it does to vampires and demons (A Joke), but what about the easily offended and the litigious types?  Where doth it all end? The Logical end is liberties and freedoms lost and persecution begins.

Be not fearful of persecution:
* James tells us to “count it all joy” when we are tried. * Peter tells us to “greatly rejoice” when persecution comes. * Paul reminds us, “…the Lord is faithful, [W]ho shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” * Our Own Lord and Saviour, in His Sermon from His Mount, teaches that we should be Happy!!!, Happy!!!, Happy!!!  when we suffer and endure persecution for His Name’s Sake.

Many colleges have “free speech zones” for persons to exercise their (1st) First Amendment right. Does it then follow that everywhere else is not a place for free speech? To be fair, these free speech zones may be a dedicated location and a known space for the exchange of ideas.

What should a Christ-ian do in light of this law? Peter tells us, in his epistle, to observe and obey the ordinances of man. However, this same Peter, also shows that when Man’s law collides with God’s Law, God’s Law over-rules man’s law.

What did Daniel and his (3) three friends do when faced with man honouring/God dishonoring laws? They went with God; likewise, so shall we!

God owns everything under the heavens and above the heavens. God gave it all to His Son and we Christ-ians, are joint heirs with His Son, Who happens to be our Elder Brother, The Lord Jesus.

The Word of God shall not be bound!!! and The Gospel shall not be quieted !!!

“And they called Barnabas, Juniper; and Paul, Mercurius…”  (Acts 14:11)

 

Whenever a celebrity is converted to Christ it makes big news. Recently one Justin Bieber, we are told, has been converted. I am usually slow to accept this as so often a conversion comes upon the heels of some kind of mistake or after the celebrity has caused a rucous and Mr. Bieber has caused his share. However, this conversion seems like it might be the real deal.

It has been reported that he has canceled his tour and ended his friendship with boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. due to his negative influence. These actions were on the councel of his spiritual councel, the pastor of a charismatic church. I recall Bieber “repenting” in away at a celebrity roast in his honour, which I do not recommend. I do not follow the career of Mr. Bieber so I cannot comment on his actions outside of what I’ve listed.

Bieber’s conversion, however, is not the purpose of this article. We intend to (DV) discuss 1. the foolishness celebrity conversions, real or not, bring out in pastors. 2. The idolatry it can cause. 3. The response it should bring out.

The foolishness celebrities bring out in some pastors.
Typically when a pastor “leads a celebrity” to Christ, said pastor wastes no time in putting the celebrity into the pulpit to give a testimony. This breaks (2) two commands in Scripture, 1. “Lay hands suddenly upon no man.” 2. The pastor or bishop cannot be a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he falls into the condemnation of the devil.
1. Lay hands suddenly… This means quite simply, do not put a new convert to service, leave him/her to time alone with God.
2.A pastor (or anyone for that matter) must not be put into the pulpit as they will be puffed up and fall as did the devil.

I have seen pastors cross this line many times.  They cannot wait to put their celebrity convert into the pulpit to give their testimony or how the pastor has been such a help.  This is often a play of the flesh. The pastor wants the people to see what he has done. It is a shame. Does the pastor put every new convert up in front of the masses and news cameras?  Methinks not. Some of the celebrity converts want to keep this quiet and they want to get to know God before professing their new faith. I believe Bieber was one as his baptism was kept quiet for sometime…I believe. Often with these celebrity converts the attention is thrown upon the celebrity, and the pastor as the media is not much interested in the God that saves.

I recall Martyn Lloyd Jones was sought after and asked if he would allow his services to be broadcast. He flatly refused. He said he was not in charge of when God would and would not show up. He was not able to keep his services down to the exact time the broadcasters required.  Undoubtedly these broadcasts would have brought many, many more persons to his services, but he would not. This was a man most serious about God.

 

Whenever a celebrity or a pastor becomes the focus of attention, idolatry becomes a possibility and probabilty. I have been witness to many a pastor that was the focus of hero worship. I remember a young boy saying to a very experienced evangelist, “I like your preaching better than…” To this the evangelist rebuked the young boy and told him sternly, one does not have favorites among preachers. The young boy was startled a bit but the evangelist knows the road the boy was headed down.

Hero worshiping a preacher is not only a danger to the worshiper but to the pastor as well. Paul, when he was called Mercury, distanced himself quickly and corrected the people. Angel’s when worshiped, refuse it. Herod when worsiped accepted it and was killed by God in a slow and horrible manner. Herod was eaten by worms from the inside out.

When a person hero worships a preacher or when a preacher accepts this worship or deep admiration, God becomes small…always. We dislike standing at the back of a church and shaking hands with the congregation as this is a danger to the humility and “smallness” of the preacher. We typically will leave the pulpit and find solitude to be alone with God in prayer. This has caused offense but once explained most persons understand. Some will not accept the answer but one would rather offend men than God. When a pastor announces at the end of the service that I would be in the back to shake hands, I do so, as the prophet is subject to the prophet and I do not wish to make the pastor look bad. However, as we stand there we are speaking with God as the congregants are speaking to us.

When the celebrity convert is put up as special, many God dishonouring things can happen.
1. As already mentioned, the celebrity and or the pastor becomes an idol.
2. The pastor breaks a number of commands given in Scripture, as already noted.
3. Some fans of the celebrity will make false professions of faith and will believe themselves saved.
4. If this celebrity convert is proven false, it gives a black eye to the ministry and Scripture is clear, “the ministry must not be blamed.”
5. Not only does the ministry look bad but the pastor, A representative of God, looks foolish.
6. Not only does the ministry look bad, and the pastor look foolish, but the Christ-ian faith, itself looks bad.
7. Not only does the ministry have a black eye, the pastor looks foolish, The faith itself looks bad, but worst of all, The world has another reason to mock God, Himself.
8. Those that will now mock God, the faith, the pastor, and the ministry continue to fill up their cup of sin with new sin.
9. When a celebrity convert is put front and center against Scripture’s command the convert will or can fall into the same judgement of (s)atan. The celebrity will become big in his/her own sight and God will become small. The celebrity will be asked to write a book and if the celebrity falls The effects of 1-8 is all the greater.
The proper responses that such a conversion, true or false, should bring out.
1. All praise and all Glory must go to God and God Alone for it is God and God Alone, Who saves the sinner and the celebrity is just a sinner to God. God does not get excited over the conversion of the celebrity and heaven and heaven’s angel’s do not rejoice any more or any less over one repentant celebrity.
There is no such thing as a celebrity from God’s point of view except His beloved Son. Truth be told, readers, There should be no celebrities from the Christ-ian point of view either. When we celebrate a human we commit idolatry, plain and simple. That’s not to say we cannot be entertained by Hollywood but we shalt not celebrate their career anymore than any other career.
2. When a celebrity converts to Christ after a crisis or a public snaffu, or a P.R. nightmare the conversion must be suspect. The standards of Christ-ian identification are the same for everyone, “by their fruits you shall know them,”   “friendship with the world is enmity with God.”  One’s faith will cause problem
Tim. Allen is an example of a celebrity convert. Due to his stand on issues he lost his television show on ABC. The Benham Brothers also lost their show, on HGTV, due to their faith. The Robertsons, of Duck Dynasty fame, have had their share of troubles, with A&E, due to their faith. Dean Cain (90’s Superman and Lois) also has lost work due to his faith.
3. When a celebrity converts to Christ, (2) two things should happen, (1) One. We should pray for them like we would pray for any new convert. (2) Two. The celebrity convert should be left alone so they can get to know God and His Word. No interviews, no testimonies, no book offers. This is true also of any new convert. They must be left alone!!! The only Hands that should be upon them are God’s Hands. So often the church does the new convert a disservice by denying them time with God and His Word by “getting them busy”. Hands Off!!! of all new converts.

To summarize: There is no such animal in the Kingdom of God as a celebrity convert. There are only sinners saved by God’s grace in God’s economy.

 

 

 

 

“Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”  (2 Timothy 4:10,11)

“From that time many of [H]is disciples went back, and walked no more with [H]im.”                                                                                                                                          (John 6:66)

“They went out from us, but they were not of us.”  (1 John 2:19a.)

“But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”  (Luke 22:48)

 

 

In our pop culture there is a dividing line between the good and the bad. Unfortunately that line has been blurred with the “anti-hero.” Outside of that blur we see things as good or bad. In professional wrestling, there is the “Baby face/Good Guy or woman” and there is the “Heel”/Bad Guy or Woman.  In western mythology there is usually a hero adorned with the white hat and the bad cowboy is adorned in black. In Star Wars there is the Jedi on the Good Side and the Sith of the Dark Side. In British fiction there is the White Knight and the Black Knight.

Back to professional wrestling. In the world of scripted sports entertainment and true/real athleticism there is what is called, the angle and the turn. The Angle is the plot and the turn is a good guy turning to a bad guy or a baby-face turning heel or the heel turning baby-face.

In the “real world” we see this happen all the time. When friends stop being friends or on social media, when persons unfriend others or family members stop speaking to each other or when spouses divorce. Persons turn to “heels,” or “black hats”, or they turn to the “dark side” from a certain point of view.

This is nothing new as there is nothing new under the sun. Adam turned “heel” on God, as the Divine Script called for. Cain turned on Abel. Delilah turned on Samson, Saul turned “heel” on David and there is King Manassah, who turned “baby-face” per the Grace of God.”

All of the above speaks to the doctrine of perseverance and enduring unto the end. There are persons in Scripture that proved themselves to be false disciples. The theological term is Apostacized. Judas was an apostate for he had apostasized. Judas was a reprobate long before he was an apostate, however. No one turns on God or surprises God. Christ knew and perceived all men and all their thoughts, He had no need to be taught.

In Scripture there are the “Known Befores” and the “Never Knowns.” There is a seal that stands strong, God knows those that are His as He has known them before the foundation of the earth. These are the saints that have been “God-Picked” according to His Own Pleasures and Purposes and His Own Free Will.

Christ’s Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, explains to us that there is a mixed multitude in the church, as there were mixed multitudes in the days of Moses. In His Parable, He states that the tares should not be pulled until the time of harvest. Therefore, as there are false believers in the church, we need not throw them into the ovens. There is a long list of false believers that have become true believers. Sinners are transformed into Saints in accordance to God’s Good Time for He saves according to His purposes and pleasures. It is expedient, sometimes, that God’s children spend time in the world so that they might benefit the church later. A low down sinner makes for a wise saint, IE. Saul/Paul of Tarsus.

Billy Graham had a preacher friend that was known world wide and he apostatized because he could not line up all the bad in the world with a good God. C.S. Lewis had a teacher that was a Presbyterian, W.T. Kirkpatrick, who had preached sermons, but one day, this logical, wise teacher became an atheist and “denied the Lord Who bought him.”

This could be explained as back sliding, or as a root with out good soil or as a person thinking they have been saved due to a poor witness of another or a zealous preacher telling them they are saved.

Reader, Examine yourself and see what spirit/Spirit ye are of. In the perilous times that are coming we will see the tares torn from the wheat, but at what cost to the Church?

Godspeed.

 

“Masters, give unto your servant that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a master in heaven.”
I am familiar with a young lady that has been seeking employment. The employers are not responding with opportunity. They say the position has been filled or with the “catch 22”, of experience is needed. Most employers require that employment seekers apply “on line” and not in person. While I understand the value of time, I also understand the folly of online job seeking. While on line job seeking can be a worthy tool, any employer that hires, based off of an on line application, is asking for trouble and wasted time. On line applicants can not make an impression on anyone as a face to face interview or an on the spot, spontaneous interview can.

I know the young lady, in question, is a very good candidate for any “entry level” type of employment. I understand she has held a 4.0 grade average her entire schooling career and that she is attending classes at a local juniour college. I’ve wondered if the college is the reason for her rejections as most employers want undivided loyalty these days, but then i realized, “Duh!.” If she is asked about her education she would answer with a private Christian school as an answer on her application. Could this be a reason?

Do you know the reason the “King James Version” of the Bible is called the “Authorized Version?” or why the “KJV” even exists?  Before the “KJV” there was an excellent translation called the “Geneva Bible.” The problem with the “Geneva Bible” was the notes. The “Geneva Bible” was the first (1st) Bible with study notes. In the notes the commentators stated that God’s Sovereign rule and reign was to be obeyed and honoured above the soverign rule and reign of the then ruling King James. King James, of course, did not like this and he then “authorized” a new “Version”, free of notes, to be produced.

As history is doomed to repeat itself, I wonder if employers see a Christ-ian employee as a problem best left alone or as a person of divided loyalties. Employers believe that Christ-ians would seek to have Sundays off and Wednesday nights off. Some Christ-ians may even require Saturdays off. Employers would know that a Christ-ian would not lie or deceive customers and clients for them. Employers might even expect a Christ-ian employee to pray over their lunch in sight of others, thus possibly offending others. Employers also would expect the Christ-ian employee to seek his or her conversion and the conversion of employees, and the conversion of customers. They would expect the Christ-ian employee to also refuse to work on Christ-ian holidays as well. So today’s employer is much the same as yeserday’s king. They do not want their employees loyalties divided.

On the other hand, the employer with knowledge of the “Christ-ian character” would be happy to employ a person who loves Christ and is devoted to His service. The wise and knowledgable employer would know that while the Christian employee is working for them, they are in truth, serving the Lord. The wise employer may know and understand that this certain employee might require some understanding  and some “perks” or even special considerations on spiritual issues, However, this wise employers would know this Christ-ian employee will out work everyone else.

The wise employer knows that the Christ-ian employee will not steal from him or her nor will the Christ-ian employee lie to them. The employer would know that the Christ-ian employee will show respect to everyone and will always seek to do right by everyone. The wise employers will also understand that the employee will not use company time to convert others, for the Christ-ian recognizes that that would be stealing from the wise employer and this they “Shalt not do.”

The wise employer is like Potipher and other royalty, the employer knows that God will send blessings upon where ever His servant’s foot treadeth. For Christ is Lord of all places of employment whether they be fast food, retailers, whole salers, legal institutions, medical institutions, engineering institutions, educational institutions, Christ is Lord over political institutions and even….religious institutions,  and everything and everyone else. This young lady will be employed when and where per God’s good purpose and pleasure. “Fear not little [lamb].”

Godspeed

“It is wtitten in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God…”  (John 6:45)

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16)

“For laying aside the commandments of God,ye hold the traditions of men…”  (Mark  7:8)

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the  after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”                                                                                                                                     (Colossians 2:8)

“Ye have heard it said….But I say unto you…”  (Christ from the Sermon from His mount)

 

We have been around long enough to have heard it all or at least most of it. We have heard the preachers that speak more of, “I, I, I than of Him, Him, Him, or of He, He, He.” This is a trap many ministers fall in. They begin to speak of all that they have done, seen, been through and have expeienced more than they speak of Christ or of Paul or of the persons God has chosen to be our examples by their experiences. I am fully aware that the disciples would return to Christ and tell of their adventures and exploits but He even told them not to rejoice over their exploits but to rejoice that they are written in the Book of Life. Paul would report to church’s of what God has done and is doing through him, when ever he spoke of himself, he confessed to doing something foolishly. Missionaries often report back to their supporting churches but if they be in the right spirit they speak of what God is doing with them or through them. The wise servant gives all glory unto God. The Scriptures tell us to “remember Lot’s wife” and we should. I encourage you to remember Herod, as well. Herod accepted the people praise and God killed him in a rather tortuous manner.

Not only have I heard ministers preaching self, I have heard all too often of, “Well, that’s not what we were taught.” This often comes up when a new pastor steps into an already established church or when a visiting speaker preaches at a church, or when a child’s minister teaches something that parents have not heard before. I am in full agreement with searching the Scripture and questioning the minister, but the searching of the Scriptures should come first.

There was a person that was more or less Biblically illiterate and questioned a minister of over (40) forty years about his beliefs on baptism and the after this minster explained what Scripture states, this person replied, “Well, that’s not what I’ve been taught.” We remember when a “baptism is necessary for salvation” person stormed away, after doing a kip up from a chair. He had just been shown from Scripture that a person is a child of God before “believer’s baptism” is submitted to.
[Sidenote: if you are wondering this minister’s stand on baptism I will give it here. Do we believe baptism is necessary for salvation? No and yes…Baptism is not necessary for a person to be saved from their sins, but for that person to be right with God after having been saved, they must submit to his will and be baptized. Babtism is an “outward sign of an inward work of God’s grace,” it is also a sign of submission to your Lord’s will.]

This stand of “This is not what I’ve been taught”  can be a sign of one’s desire to be true to Scripture, or it can be a sign of pride and of a rebellious spirit, or of a contentious spirit.

They way to “try the spirits” is to determine or to deduce from where the “taught” person is comeing from. Is the taught person using Scripture to inquire of the minister? or is this person confronting the minister with the “traditions of men?” Normally, these challenges are on secondary issues, like the type of baptism, thoughts on church membership, day of the week to worship, choice of music types, and not on the major doctrines of Scripture or they could, however, be a challenge upon what is thought to be “secondary,” like election, sanctification, holiness, evolution v Creation, the virgin birth, and the like.

The (3rd) third title, “The Lion, The Church, And The Traditions Of Men” asks the very important question of, Who or what is your Spiritual Authority? I used the word Lion in the title because their is a quote that states, The Bible is like a Lion, it needs not be defended.” I used the word Church because many see the church as their authority, like Catholicism and any other denomination or individual person that subscribes to, supports, or subjects themselves to the tradition of men over the clear teaching of Scripture.

Traditions of men, in Scripture, would apply to, “It has been said…” and in our day, the subject of; what is modest apparel, the choice of how one entertains one’s self, the type of music one listens to, what one ingests, how one wears their hair, or how one adorns themselves, etc. etc. etc. Those that subscribe and subject themselves to these ideas are those that support the traditions of men and not the teaching of Scripture. The brethren, some saved, are called legalist. They are typically taught in a “fundementalist” church or college or have been raised by parents that subscribe to the above. These consider a woman in pants as a sinner but do not consider themselves as being judgemental or of having a “beam in their own eye.” These types also consider movie theatres as sin, though they allow video stores to be acceptable, even though video stores rent pornography and movie theatres do not. These are all traditions of men and not upheld by Scripture. The theorum or the equation goes like this, – (A man’s opinion + unstudied Church persons + Accepted as Biblical Truth = False doctrine and Traditions of men/legalism).

However, there are also those that have been erroneously taught doctrines from Scripture as the doctrine of adoption, most teach this doctrine incorrectly, even some of the most sound teachers. The doctrine of election is one that is avoided or mistaught and or outlawed. The doctrine of our sonship, when it began is most times mistaught. The doctrine of sanctification is usually taught well, but there is a portion of sanctification that is missed or left out, as in Jude v1. The teaching of the end times are usually taught by ministers as they have been taught and have not “searched the Scriptures” for themselves.

Many ministers, for the entirety of their service to God teach what they have been taught. Many missionaries, on the other hand, will find themselves discovering that that which they have been taught is error and through self study and submission to the Holy Spirit, they learn the truth of Scripture and reject the traditions of men, while still loving the Church and seeking to remedy erroneous teaching and the effects of that erroneous teaching. Some missionaries are then forsaken for their stand upon the Scriptures clear teachings.

Therefore, Reader, Fellow Christ-ians, Brothers and Sisters,
Search your understanding and beliefs, then search the Scripture to see if your understanding and Scripture line up. Do not search with the “spirit of I’m right” but search with the “spirit of a sanctified and open mind,” and above all search prayerfully and with the Spirit of Truth leading you. Take a concordance and look up keywords and study each of the passages you are sent to.

Be like the Bereans, who “studied to see if these things be true” and not like the Pharisees who studied the Scripture not, as Christ invited them to. Don’t be embarrassed or angered if you find that you have believed wrongly for many years. Accept your misunderstanding and failure to “search the Scriptures” personally with a humble spirit and thank God for showing you the truth of His Word for this showing of truth is a manifestation of His love for you. Then slowly study the truths of Scripture for yourself and begin to meekly and with a quiet spirit address others with these truths. Understand some may be thankful for your witness to truth and others will not. There is always a cost to the proclamation of God’s Truth, even and especially in the house of God.

Godspeed.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”   (2 Timothy 3:1)

“When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”                                                                                                                                    (Matthew 24:33)

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed…”  (2 Thessalonians 2:8a)

 

One of the things I have learned in my (2) decades of teaching the Word of God is credibility can be lost even when you tell the truth.  This truth reminds me of Paul’s words, ” The more I love, the less I am loved” and “Am i become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”  When Paul stood among the wise greeks of Athens, he spoke boldly of Christ and many listened to him, however, when he spoke of Christ raised from the dead, they could no more listen. His credibility was lost. Fortunately there were some that had an ear to hear but for the most part Paul was despised and set aside by the wise of this world.

Even among other preachers, I can sense a bit of arrogant unbelief when certain truths or doctrines are brought up. Many preachers are slow to “prove all things” due to there position. I do not speak ill of these preachers/pastors, God forbid. David would not speak against the LORD’s annointed and neither shall i. Pastors have the responsibility of over-seeing the Lord’s flock as the LORD’s undershepherd. They need to weigh in mind what the flock can handle and what should be revealed very slowly. This responsibility is not a stumbling block for me, however.

The Lord has allowed me to be His “free man,” and therefore, I am able to share thoughts, right or wrong. The weight that pastors shoulder is a great weight. Paul in his second epistle to Corinth shared all of his wounds earned in service to Christ, the physical beating and the dangers he faced are extordinary. However, he seems to imply that his concern and feeling of responsibilty and love for the church is his true burden and besets him far more than any of his many physical infirmities.  Brethren, Pray for your pastors for they are the watchmen of your souls and they will answer to Christ for their sheperding of your souls. They have taken a great responsibility that is often unknown. In other words, your pastor will be held responsible before Christ for your lives. Flock, love your pastors and recognize their burden and love for Christ and for you.

Now on to our subject.
Eschatology which means the study of last things or the study of the end of this world as we know it. It is the study of upcoming prophecies yet to be fulfilled. I did not give much focus in my ministry on prophecy. When prophecy becomes a hobby horse unbalanced and unsound doctrine are not far behind. Unbalanced prophecy watchers are soon led into UFO and new age teachings. Unbalanced Prophecy is similar to the gift of tongues in that it is outward show. By outward show, i mean,”Look at this, Look hear!, There’s a sign and that’s a sign too.” It’s not too hard to fall into sensationalism.

Peter teaches us the purpose of prophecy. The purpose of prophecy is to prompt us or compell us unto holy living. Peter says, in light of all these truths what kind of people ought we to be and the answer is a holy people set aside for the Lord’s purposes’ and pleasures.

Having said all of the above….”There’s a sign, look at this.”

In fiction, there is black and white; good and bad, right and wrong; there is no confusion. I’m good…err, rather Batman is good and the Joker is bad…see? easy, the dicotomy is apparent.  Sherlock Holmes is good and Professor Moriarty is bad. Simple to see.

In our world it is not as simple as that. It is not as easy to point out good vs. bad, right or wrong.  There is good and bad in all of us. There is no White Hat that always does right and there is no black Hat that always does wrong. Thanks be to God that He has worked all of that out. In ourselves we are lost, blind, deaf and dumb …spiritually speaking. But, God, having chosen us in Christ, we receive all of Christ’s merits, works, and His imputed righteousness. The exchange is unfair, unblanaced…Christ takes our sins upon Himself, having never experienced sin upon Himself or inside Himself. Yet He dies the sinner’s death in our very stead. Then all of His goodness, innocence, and righteousnes is imputed or given to us. This, my readers, is the Gospel and the doctrine of justifaction.

The Gospel doesn’t end there. The Christ rose from the dead and with Him, He brings everlasting life, death having been defeated openly,  and the defeat of death is shown by the Son of God at His Resurrection.

Having been saved we see the world differently. We see what was fun is now sin and we must avoid it. We see things differently because we are seeing things from a different point of view. We now look at things through the lens of Scripture. Old things are passed away and we are God’s new and better Creation. What was casual and expected in the past is now seen as wrong and seen as rebellion against God. We see the world from a new and godly perspective. We begin to look at all things Biblical.

Now that we are seeing things differently, we are able to discern between good and bad; right and wrong; True or False. We have a renewed and renewing mindset.

With that being said, I see things, as Billy Graham said, “Are coming together.

I think (not feel) that the Wicked one has been revealed. I will not tell you what to think but I would tell you where to look.

Goerge Soros is the black hat, bad guy. He may even be (s)atan incarnate. No hyperbole.

The name Soros = Urn or receptical for keeping dead man’s bone. Christ said to the opposition, “Ye are of your father the devil.”  He also called the enemies Whited sepulcers, full of dead men’s bones.

Soros has used his money and influence to back President Trump’s son in law, Jerod Kushner. Soros funded the purchase of a building in New York for Kushner, the address is 666. Anti christ does not use his own power but uses the power of others to get his way. Kushner uses Trumps’s power to work a peace treaty between Israel and the Philistines. When this peace treaty is signed, the end begins. It is clear cut in Scripture, read Daniel 7 and Daniel 11. The name, Kushner means furrier, as in wolf in sheeps closing. Kushner is Trump’s most trusted advisor. Kushner is a Jew as is Soros. Christ said in John 6 that the jews will receive a man that comes in his own name.

All of this may make Vice president Pence, a false prophet as well.  Trump, however, I think is innocent in all of this.

Do your own research on the men I have named. Thinks me, we are heading into exciting times. The Lord has foretold us all of this and He has told us not to be troubled and I am not. These time exilerate me. Christ , our King, and the Lover and Keeper of our souls is at the door….Behold!!!

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”  (James 3:1)

“A bishop then must be blameless…”  (1 Timothy 3:2)

 

There are many, many warning in Scripture. This warning and the warnings similar are often ignored. These warnings speak to the men that desire to be teachers of the Word. These warnings are very serious and should be taken thus. We find of Lord leveling these charges against religious hypocrites such as the Pharisees and the Scribes.  No sinner has ever received stronger rebukes as these religious hypocrites.

Our Lord would sit at meat with sinners and call them friends. Our Lord would not sit at meat with religious hypocrites before rebuking them with in minutes of entering their homes. He would ball them children of the devil and call their converts, “Two times the children of Hell!”

However, these warning were also extended to men who longed to be teachers of the Word withour being bidden.  James 3:1 are solemn words.  James warns those desiring to be teachers as these men will receive the greater comdemnation. In other words, men who take this great responsibility without being bidden by God shall be judged harshly for these men are not qualified to be teachers!!! These men will lead men into error.  They shall be blind leaders of the blind and will lead men into ditches.

I have sat and listened to many men that were not called of God. These men were well meaning but it takes more than meaning well to lead God’s people through the Scriptures. Many of these men would use other men’s sermons but they were still dead. Many men believe that if they preach Spurgeon’s sermons God will bless them as He did Spurgeons.  This is utter folly! I remember a good man having the first six months worth of sermons prepared before ever having a church. These sermons were preached by a preacher g-father many years prior. Sermons are like manna, they must be fresh!

I remember another preacher. This preacher had been in the ministry for over (40) forty years at this time. He sat down a burned (40) years worth of sermons in the middle of his garage !!! This man had pastored and serves as an Evangelist for many years. I can’t even imagine the number of sermons that were burned.  The reason for this was his sermons were being used too much and his ministry was beginning to go stale.

This writer does not save his notes, in fact, for the most part he doesn’t use any notes. Nor does he use a sermon mor than once. That is not to say he doesn’t preach the same topics but he doesn’t use the same “material.”  We are not bragging but only sharing a personal conviction.

We have known other ministers that have preached sermons from whatever book they are recently reading. Some preachers will preach sermons based off of sermons they have heard from radio and or T.V. preachers. Let me be clear, no preachers preach sermons that are 100% original with them for there is nothing new under the sun but that is different from plagiarizing.  When a preacher copies another he ceases to depend upon God!!! Whenever a preacher uses another preachers ideas or qoutes, the borrowing preacher must give credit to the sources. If he cannot remember his source he must at the very least admit that the material is not new with him.

The preacher that misleads or misguides his hearers is worthy of great judgement. One could reference Jeremiah 23 and Matthew 23 for a taste of this condemnation. This warning should cause teachers to be true in his teachings and that they be pure.  Theses warnings should drive the teachers to be students of God’s Word and cause them to be sound in their doctrines and not to be lazy in their studies.  The Word of God is not for the lazy or slothful.  The minister must be about his studies and prayer. All other responsibilities should be left to elders and deacons.  This is rarely the case, however, as these sarning are not taken seriously when one can re-preach and old sermon, or preach someone elses or preach out of a book, etc.

The above is not the only type of preacher out there, God Forbid! There are many good and faithful ministers abounding, and God’s blessings upon preacher and congregation prove it. I know a number of preachers that are ever true to God, God’s Word, and their congregation.

 

 

“David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD…therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus…”  (2 Samuel 6:21-22a.)

“And [they] rose up to play. And the LORD said unto Moses, …thy people…have corrupted themselves…”  (Exodus 32)

Let me set up the context of the above passages.
King David was bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. As he was over joyed he danced in little clothing.  He did not care about this as he was, in his mind, alone with God. This is always a good place to be.  The Lord Jesus went to this place, “Jesus being alone, prayed, his disciples being with Him.”

Michal,  David’s “groooan up” wife was watching this and as soon as David arrived home she began to belittle him for acting so among all the people. David responded with 2 Samuel 6:21-22. David was not being vile but he was being sarcastic as he knew how his “groan up” wife viewed him. David played before the LORD.

Our second passage from Exodus 32 shows us that the people of Moses corrupted themselves by their style of play.  As Moses was a long time away and with God, the people sought Aaron to make a golden calf out of their golden jewelry.  Aaron gave in and did as the people asked. Their worship of the golden calf was called “play” by God. They were only playing by worshipping a golden calf god. This is similar to young children playing house or doctor…the pure way. They were playing as this god was an imaginary god.  This is the wrong kind of play.

 

I have been employed by various and differing employers. These men were all different and had their own ways. However they all shared one trait.  This shared trait is the temper tantrum. I have seen groan men, owners of companies, use there thumb and pointer finger to shoot an employee that they were greatly angered by. No Kidding.  I have seen groan up men, throw things and kick things out of anger. I have heard groan men call other groan men bad names. I have seen a wolf in sheeps clothing kip up out of a chair as I made them see their error in spiritual matters and stomp on the ground and drive off. Readers, I have seen groan ups stick their tongue out at me and other groan ups give me the middle finger. I’ve seen a groan up man, who owns a large company simply walk away from a meeting with a client because he didn’t like what he was hearing.

Murder and sexual escapades, are these not the games of youth that destroy marriages and families today? Murder, is this not the ultimate acting out of a childish person? If I can’t get what i want I will kill. This is a temper tantrum.  Adultery or fornication, is this not what lost teenagers do? Pornography, was this not what lost teenagers looked at? Adult bookstores…what is adult about them?

Again, Augustine said, Business is the adults playground.  An adult carnal philosophy is – he that dies with the most toys wins, isn’t it? Look at the lost world today, For many “groan ups” everything is me, my, mine. These are the thoughts of little children.

There are those who have never grown up, these are they that are given to their passions.  These are they that want it their way. These are they that still kick, hit, and snort in temper tandrums. These are they that still judge others by using themselves as the standard. These are they that are trying to keep their youthful appearance at all costs. These are they that cannot settle down with a wife and family but go out and look for love elsewhere. Domestic violence, spouse abuse, child abuse, is this not what bullies do when they are young? This is the bad kind of staying young.

There is, however, Those who have grown up and have found opportunities to become little kids again without becoming irresponsible. Then there are the Christ-ians, Who have been hand-picked by God, who have all their steps ordered by the LORD, Who call out to Daddy in prayer. Who still wonders at all of God’s creation…Who have been born again and will play forever before the LORD and will believe that there is a Great and Perfect Being “in the sky” that loves them and keeps them and will someday return for them.

Godspeed

 

 

 

“Ye that are spiritual judge all things, yet ye are judged of no man”
(1 Corinthians 2:13-15)

I am going to make a confession (DV).  I am fully aware that this confession could cost me my ministries and the respect of my Christ-ian piers.  I have thought long and hard on this confession but I must be open and transparent…even if it is to mine own hurt (the Psalmist).  Prior to making this confession, however, I ponder what my readers are expecting?  Do they expect a confession about opiode abuse? Alcohol abuse? An addiction to online pornography? What do you expect from me?

I confess….that….I …own over (60) sixty Batman action figures….(60) sixty and counting. I further confess to enjoying super hero comics and DVDs. I confess to enjoying Myomoto Usagi Yojimbo (A Samurai Rabbit) comic.  I enjoy “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” stuff.  My readers, you will not find me in the porn section of a video store (where I have found a believer entering once) or at a liquor store buying alcohol but you may encounter me at a comic book store or in a toy section of a store. You might even find me at a Toys R Us because I am a toys r us kid.

This writer still plans on being a wrestling or MMA champion or a Super Hero.  If you find all of this offensive you are a bore even C.S. Lewis says so. Worse than a bore, you are a “groan up.”  We will now continue our argument for remaining a child-like adult (DV).

God is a collector of action figures.  Does God not order the steps of a good man? Did Paul not warn Timothy against “grown ups” looking down upon his youth? Paul told Timothy not to allow this. He did not tell Timothy to act older than he was. Did God not choose you as a person might choose an action figure? Are not your actions God ordained? Does He not provide you with clothing as a little girl might dress a Barbie doll? Does He not feed you as a little toddler might pretend to feed a baby doll?

Let me use two (2) disciples for an example of “childlike” groan up and a “groan up” adult. Peter believed he could walk on water…how child-ish is that?  Thomas, on the other hand, refused to believe in the risen Christ except he saw Him with his own eyes. What a “Manure” way of seeing things. Christ told Thomas that he believed after seeing but the one who believes without seeing is blessed more. Yes, the childlike believer is blessed greater than the “groan up” believer.

After-all, let us look at what we, as Christ-ians, believe:

1. We believe that A Jewish Man called Jesus Christ lived a life without doing a single thing wrong. We believe His actions were pure as were His thoughts!!!  To the “grown up” human this is impossible to conceive of much less believe.
2. We believe this Jew died over (2000) two thousand years ago as He was crucified on a cross in Jerusalem and that (3) three day later He rose from the dead.  For the “Grown up” this is impossible.
3. We believe that this Jew ascended up into Heaven, IE. Floated up into the clouds.
4. We believe this Man has been sitting on a literal throne in a literal place called Heaven.
5. We believe that this God-Man hears our prayers and answers them.
6. We believe that soon this Man Who died and rose again over (2000) two thousand years ago will arise and return to this earth and set up His kingdom where we will reign with Him.
7. We also believe This Jesus Christ is part of a Godhead and shares sovereign power and control with His Father Who is God and with the Holy Spirit Who is also God. Yet we claim to believe in only One God.
8. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells within everyone who repents of their sins and believes in this (3) three Person God that is only One God.
9. We believe this God to be Everywhere at once, knowing all things, and being all powerful with zero exceptions.
10. And we believe that this great Godhead dwells fully in the God-Man Named Jesus Christ, that lived and died and lived again over (2000) two thousand years ago.

    No “grown up” with all his or her mental faculties in tact could honestly believe these things.  Even Jesus Christ taught this!!!  “Except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of God.”  (John 3).  In other words, unless you become a little baby again you cannot believe in Me. This Word stunned the “groan up” Nicodemus.  Paul said the same, “The natural man (The “groan up”) receiveth not the things of the Spirit…. for they are spiritually discerned” or received as a little child.

Often times when wishing someone a happy birthday, I encourage them to escape adulthood whenever possible. I certainly do. One of the reasons my kids and I get along so well is I can still be one myself. However, one must know when to be “a kid” and when to be a “grown up” or when to be serious.

When I sit down to the Scriptures I am gravely serious, yet still owning a childlike faith. I do not play around with the Word of God.  When I take my place in the pulpit to where God hath called me, all childish things are put away. I become a man much like, “the Man Christ Jesus.”  There are no jokes and we do not play around. For though our faith is childlike our calling to ministry is a call to soberness and gravity. When I am in the pulpit or acting out of the office of minister there is no thought of Batman, super heroes, the Samurai Rabbit, cartoons, comics, or MMA championships, etc. NO, I am a man of God, teaching the Word of God to the people of God and there be no place for childish things, except childlike faith.

How about you?  Are you a boring “groan up” adult all the time?  or are you a “childlike” adult who is ever growing up but never becoming a “groan up” adult?

Let me correct one thing from above. I did enter an adult bookstore several years ago. I entered it’s doorway and asked rather LOUDLY if i might tell the persons present about the death, resurrection, and forgiveness of The Lord Jesus Christ. The store clerk, with respect, disallowed me from doing so, though I have already done so. I learned a valuable lesson the next day. I recounted my experience to Pastor Ruben of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Romeoville/Plainfield. He asked me if I had ever done the same thing in a “Jewel” Grocery store.  His point being, a lost person at “Jewel” is just as lost and in need of Christ as a person in any adult bookstore. A very important lesson was learned that day from a good pastor, who hasn’t groan up yet either.

Before we conclude let’s take a quiz to see if you are all “groan up” yet or if you are still a kid at heart.

1. Do you play video GAMES?
2. Do you still get excited about Cars (Bob Price, Uncle Jerry), Trains (Chet Evans) or airplanes or boats (Bill Neehouse) Do you view them as more tham a mode of transportation?
3. Are you a Trekkie or do you still avoid “the Darkside?”
4. Do you enjoy the GAMES of football or baseball or soccer, etc?
5. Batman or Superman, choose one. Did you choose one?
6. Do you enjoy Super Hero movies, animated or live action?  Do you still enjoy action adventure movies?  Psychologists will tell you that most persons, especially men, live vicariously through these films and through watching sports.
7. Do you have a toy somewhere in your office? on your desk? or a baseball bat or football on a shelf? Or Swords on your wall (Allen Muxlow)?
8.  THe “Lone Ranger” or The “Shadow” Choose one, did you choose?
9. Do you have in your closet a character t-shirt?
10. Did you know that the action figure industry shows it’s demographics to be adult males?
11. Why do you think Super hero films do so well?  Why are many of the action figures priced so high?  It is because adults are funding it all.
12. Do you collect Sports cards or collectibles?  Some sports collectables can sell in the millions of dollars.

 

As I conclude, I must point out that my confessions above should not cause me to lose anything, I was using hyperbole. However, if my confessions cost me your respect that is fine because you would bore me anyway…..Groan ups, UGH!

Godspeed