“And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, …if it be a son, then ye shall kill him…”  (Exodus 15 a., 16 b.)

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,  according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.”  (Matthew 2:16)

 

While I cannot say for sure that Pharaoh and King Herod were either psychopaths or sociopaths, I can say their actions were of that nature. What is a psychopath and what is a sociopath? In a conversation I had with a psychologist, I gave her my definitions and waited for her to confirm them or to correct them. She agreed with my definitions. A psychopath is born a psychopath and a sociopath is made into a sociopath. That, for our intents and purposes, is really the only big difference between the (2) two. We will from this point refer to our subjects as p/s-path(s).

The p/s-path is a person without conscience and there is no hyperbole. This person is without remorse or sorrow. This person is self centered personified, everything and everyone exists to serve his/her purposes and pleasures. These persons are a god unto themselves and i do not exaggerate at all. The p/s-path can kill his entire family and feel nothing. When caught he would most likely blame his family for making him kill them. Readers, these people are real and they abound. It is estimated by the FBI that (1) one in (25) twenty-five persons is a p/s-path. That means, generally speaking, this ratio can be applied to your family, your friends, your co-workers, and your church. These persons view you and I as a piece of tissue paper. Once we have served a purpose we can be tossed away and never thought of again.

Not all p/s-paths are murderers. Some are politicians, like Harry Reed. Some are C.E.O.s of big business, they are called “masters of the universe” by those around them. And, I’m sorry to say, the p/s-path is at home in a Christ-ian pulpit- Jim Jones, David Koresh, and many others, including some of the “prosperity televangelists.” These are people who can, do, and will destroy lives. This type of person will pass bills that will hurt many. This type will buy a business and terminate all of the employees and he will call it “just business. ” This type will seek to usurp the authority of a church’s pastor by any means necessary and by any means, I mean, even murder. You can gain in sight by reading the history of King David and his son, Absalom.

What makes these persons what they are? For the psychopath – s/he is born without the frontal part of the brain working or fully developed. A car accident could damage this same part of the brain and one would become another person, in the literalness of terms. The sociopath is made by “society’s neglect.” The remake of the film “Halloween” is a perfect demonstration in the making of a sociopath. I am not recommending this film or condoning this film, but it does a service to those interested in sociopathy. This film has very many offensive words in it. [Side note: We are okay with characters being killed and slaughtered, but we are taken aback by a curse word. What does that say? I know not, but it says something.]

Another trait of the p/s-path (more so, the S) is a charming personality or s/he is thought to be charismatic. Charismatic, as in leadership, and not the charismatic faith. This type of person will be followed by many. The many will love and trust him. He, however, will have zero affection for them. Remember he sees tissue paper, where you and I see a Person made in the Image of God. These persons are extremely dangerous to all of us. They are not to be toy’d with.

In “Sherlock,” ( I do recommend) a BBC production, the main man is said to be a “High Functioning Sociopath.” Sherlock may be cold and off putting, but he is not a sociopath. P/s-paths are not to be toy’d with nor are they to be glorified and made “Cool.”

We know a p/s-path. This person is the epitome of wickedness. This person has damaged many lives and hurt many people. If i allowed myself to hate a person, this would be that person. If i had an arch-enemy, this person would be mine. I have heard, it has been said, that if a person were to be given the knowledge of a terminal illness a person would X the p/s-path out. As For me?…I would see this p/s-path in prison.

You could associate the p/s-path with knives, guns, and utter destruction. If this type of person were to be told that a terminal illness has accosted this person’s body, this person would proballey  massacre every one, known to this person.

Readers, Take Heed, and be vigilant. If you know a p/s-path be careful not to fall in with them. And remember, you are a tissue and the p/s-path is a god unto, himself.

Godspeed.

 

 

 

(Romans Chapter 14)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”  (Galatians 5:1)

 

When I was a child I was told by a teacher that people see things differently. I thought how can I see a dog and someone else see something else. She explained to me that people may see the same thing but think about it differently. For example, one may see a kitten as cute and cuddly, while another sees a little tiger that would eat you if it could.

This is also true in Christendom. Some see the movies as bad,worldly, and the devil’s work. They see it as a medium, whereby, (s)atan preaches his wickedness. There is truth to this. However, others see the movies as a form of entertainment and a way to bond with others. The movies give them something to share and talk about. Television is the same way. People view it differently.

When we watch television we watch it to be educated, to be up on current events, and social movements. We also watch it to be entertained. We also watch it to find Christ figures. We look for characters that remind us of others Christ-ians persons. For example, When we watch “NCIS” we are reminded of A.W. Pink. We see Mark Harmon’s, “Gibbs” as character that shares traits with Pink. We are then reminded to thank our God for the teachings of Mr. Pink as well as all other faithful writers and teachers. You see…we have glorified God by watching T.V..

There was a movie released a couple of years ago and it’s sequel is, (DV), “Coming Soon to a Theatre near You.” Some may view this film, “John Wick,” as an extremely violent film. It is about a former hit man, who fell in love, left the business and lived “Happily ever After…NOT.” After falling in love his wife was diagnosed with a terminal disease. The wife passes and he is crushed. The night after her funeral a package came, special delivery. The content of the package was a puppy. This was sent to him by his just deceased wife. Her message was ….John needed something to love so that he would not return to “the business.” In time some “bad guys” killed his dog. John Wick returned to his former life and brought vengeance with him. He was seething because the bad guys killed the last link he had to his beloved bride.

Again, some would see this as a very violent film and not to be seen by Christ-ians. Whereas, we, who stand fast, see this film and view it through theological spectacles. While one sees this film and it’s attendance as sin, We view it as a type of Christ’s second coming. We view it as sinners, that do evil to Israel, and the church, being rewarded for their evil ways. In other words, the bad guys = sinners; the puppy = the church; and Wick = the Christ figure. This same mold can be seen in the Matrix films.

Denzel Washington is an actor that, I believe, seeks and accepts roles that proffer a strong Christ figure. His Christ figure roles can be seen in, “Man on Fire,” “the Magnificent Seven,” and the “Equalizer.” Again, some see these films and the ones above as very violent and sinful. We, however, look for and find the Christ figure in these films. We are then given to praying and praising Christ for the attributes that we are reminded of and know to be His. Washington’s, “Book of Eli” is a must see for Christ-ian movie-goers. This movie manifests the great importance, great need, and the inestimable value of the “King James Version Bible” or The “Authorized Version.”

Having said all of that, we are not a proponent nor are we an opponent of people being saved after seeing a movie, like Gibson’s, “The Passion,” (Sequel is coming (DV)), or any other Christian film. God will do what God will do. We are BIG Proponent of persons and peoples being saved through the pre-incarnate Word, the Life, the death and the Resurrection of One Jesus Christ, Lord and God over all.

Also we would be remiss if we did not say…there are movies that a Christ-ian should not see and these are usually more obvious that not. However, the subtle one does executive produce a flick that is thought to be very Christ-ian, but is very un-Christ-ian, in deed. The movies about people going to Heaven or Hell and returning to describe what they saw are all of the subtle serpent. They should be ridiculed by the people of the Book as deceptive and dangerous.

“The VVitch,” from a couple of years ago, is so dark and non-edifying of a movie as there has ever been, shows the defeat of a puritan family under a (s)atanic “vvitch.” The VV is how puritans would write  a W and this is how the film makers, wrote it, too. There is absolutely no redeeming quality to this film, other than a depiction of a family without Christ. I am wrong, there was a good part, a child of the family died at the hands or curse of the vvitch, but we see his soul explode upwards to the God he loves and the God who loved him and the God that will ultimately damn the vvitch and all witches. Could this film have any God glorifying qualities in spite of itself? Of course, one can always find a way to glorify God if one only looks. This film allowed me to understand what it must be like in many Christ-less households…households, and not homes, in this world, in our country, in our county, in our village, or city, or even on our street. It has given me an urgency to be on the look out for these families.

One end I have in my ministries is to get persons to see or at least look for God everywhere. This is one more way.

Godspeed

Please forgive any typos or improper grammar and all punctuation errors.

“And Peter said…”  (Throughout the Gospels and Acts)

 

In our quoted text above we read a very common phrase found in the Gospels, “and Peter said..” Peter was always saying something or answering for everyone present. This is not to his shame but speaks to his readiness. This trait earned him a rebuke from our Lord every so often, but it earned him a “blessed art thou,” just as often. After a while no one was surprised by Peter’s readiness to respond, in fact, when the disciples were asked a question they probably sat quiet, and looked at Peter, waiting for their response. Again, these things are not said to shame Peter or those like him. There may be a lot of unanswered questions if Peter didn’t speak up.

We write the above not so much to speak of Peter’s ability or readiness to answer but to draw a contrast between Peter and others that sat quietly and simply listened. You find Peter speaking far more than John. However, John wrote (5) five of the canon books to Peter’s (2) two. This again, is not to shame Peter or to praise John, but to demonstrate a contrast. We also see James writing (1) book to Peter’s (2) two, and James lived his whole life with the Christ and obviously heard and seen much. James was also the head of the (12) twelve after our Lord’s ascent but, only (1) one book. The point is – sometimes the quiet one’s have the most to say, even though they say very little.

I have a brother-in-law that for the last (20) years has sat quietly under (4) four different preachers and (1) one prior to that. He was not one to speak up, yet there have been a number of times that he has caused me to sit and wonder at his wise words or silent glances. or raised eye brows that expressed more than several paragraphs spoken by others. He has also sat behind a piano and sang praises to God that must have angels blushing. He has rebuked me a number of times, which had me thinking and praying for many days.

This man has sat quietly, saying little, and asking few questions, but has proven himself to be a deeply spiritual and extremely wise saint. He never bragged about his spiritual practices but his knowledge proves years of sitting at the Master’s feet. My brother-in-law has been the source of great blessings to his parents and his family and friends. His nieces love him very much and are always happy to spend time with him, and he loves to spend time with them, too.

He is one that i find myself seeking, as an objective source, as he is not one to take my side due to our relationship. He is “no respecter of persons,” which is a Christ-like quality that demonstrates courage. I have seen and heard things from him that many would be hard pressed to do and say. When Robert felt it time to leave our small house church, he simply approached me and told me, “This will be my last Sunday here.” I was so proud of his courage and have never been hurt or angry at his choice. Robert is some one I am very proud of and fortunate to know. Robert is a man to be respected. One would do well to follow his pattern of quiet courage.

If you are a reader of C.S. Lewis, you have probably read, “Mere Christianity.” In one of the last chapters he makes the point of the change one sees in others after they have come to Christ. He also makes the counter point that there are, at time, very little observable changes in others after they have come to Christ. For example, if someone was a seemingly decent and loving person before meeting Christ one may not notice very little changes in them. While someone that was a great sinner will show tremendous differences after meeting Christ. I have known both. I can think of a woman that was sweet as could be before being a new creature. If one was to look for changes in her one would be hard pressed. However, the changes are there. The love for the Word, the love for the church, and the great love for the Lord are all present, but for some who know her only professionally or in passing these changes may not be observable. Those who know her in a deeper sense do see these changes.

I have known more of those that have had a very noticeable change, as their lives B.C. were lives of sin. However, one should not be more in awe of the latter than the former. They have both been greatly changed for the immeasurably better. I think of my neighbor now. One December morning, he knocked at my front door. I opened it and welcomed him in. He simply said to me, “The Lord saved me yesterday and I would like to start going to church with you tomorrow.” Not trying to show my shock and awe simply welcomed him, and that was it. To explain my shock let me add this, We have simply waved at each other in passing for many years and spoke very, very little. I can remember speaking of my faith to him only once as he stopped me in my garage years prior. This man has attended church for over (10) years now and he has been very faithful. This man prior to knowing Christ was an addict to Alcohol and gambling. He and his wife had a poor marriage for years. Added excitement came when his wife, also came to Christ and their marriage has been made so much better, and strengthened so very much. You see, both the woman from the above paragraph and this neighbor and brother, mine came from different back grounds and have demonstrated different changes after being made new but to those of us that are blessed by their friendships see the fruit in their lives and in their persons.

I am a better person for having known these people I have written about. They have all sat under my preaching and teaching for years but have now, per our Lord’s will, departed for other ministries. I have been so blessed to have pastored them and so glad to still pastor them in private ways, as I am so proud knowing that they have taken our teachings with them. They are proof that a flock is as great a blessing to the shepherd as is the shepherd to the flock.

My brother in law and neighbor have both had a rough few days. My brother in law has had a serious surgery on Tuesday and my neighbor has just lost his very loved sister this week as well. Please pray for them.

We have written of those to whom we have ministered and now I would like to write of (2) two that have ministered to me. My friend and mentor, Richard Sandlin, author of (2) two books and writer at “Today’s Journal,” is in a strait betwixt (2) two. He, his family and his wife of (5) decades have learned of her pancreatic cancer. Please donate what you can and not “as the Lord leads.” No need for sounding spiritual. We know it is the Lord’s will that we all support each other and to do so until it hurts, financially.

Mrs. Sandlin, who has been an unspeakable blessing to the Lord’s people since she was (8) eight tears old. She has had one round of Chemotherapy and it has proven to be too much for her system. She and her family, after much prayer, spiritual counsel, and many tears have decided to do away with the chemo and enter into Hospice.

I have known her husband; this preacher, pastor, evangelist, and writer for at least (20) years. They both have been huge, huge helps in the lives of my wife and I. He named our eldest daughter’s middle name. We had, Hannah Loder but were searching for that middle name, Sandlin said, “Faith, because Hannah had Faith.”  This man also flew from California to Illinois to ordain, your truly. Mrs. Sandlin has taught ladies, sang for God and His church, and has also written much to the glory of God and great benefit to us, who know her. This dear saint has been given “only a matter of months” to remain with us. When we say, “only a matter…” we speak as mere humans, but we also know “God is Able,” and “My God is so Big, so strong and so mighty; there’s nothing my God cannot do for, Mrs. Salle Sandlin.”

The Lord may choose to deliver her from this cancer or He may choose to deliver her from this world. The choice is always His. We have often said, “One’s salvation is not only a gift to the one who is saved, but a gift to those that love them, too. It is an inheritance to God’s only begotten Son.”  This Christian couple are the parents to many children and grandparents to many more grand children. They have sacrificed so much for their ministries and shall be repaid one hundred fold. Please give at their Gofundme.com account.

Now I speak of a man and women that I have known for almost (20) twenty years. We speak of Pastor and Mrs. Ronald Ruben. Mrs. Ruben’s name is, Margaret. There is much history between myself and the Rubens. I was a member and teacher at Freedom Baptist Church when we voted Pastor Ruben in as the Church’s second pastor. He was the man for the job and his (17) seventeen year pastorate proves it.

I believe that we all, if we pay attention, play different parts that have already been played by those recorded in the Scriptures. For example, I have played, “the Good Samaritan” to a sick man at a road side. I have also played the Timothy to many Pauls, the prodigal son, Solomon’s fool many times over, the publican who beat his chest, and unfortunately the pharisee, too.

In relation to Pastor Ruben, we have played Paul and Barnabas. We, or rather, I had a “no small” disagreement with him and i departed. We have been absent from the Church, “Lighthouse Baptist Church” in Romeoville, Illinois for over (10) years. The name of the church was changed from Freedom to Lighthouse. During that time he has pastored faithfully, as I have taught the Scriptures from my home, in welcoming churches, and on this and other websites. He has seen the church through valleys and stood with the church on the mountain tops. He has preached Christ for a zillion years. He has not taken pay for his Gospel services from day one…to my utter insanity. Why do I right about this man and his Lord-loving wife? …..She, too has cancer, though it be in remission. She has had a recent check up and all is well. Pastor Ruben also has skin cancer in different places, but “It is well with [both their] soul[s]” and their bodies. All Glory and thanks to God.

Pastor Ruben and I, after a decade, crossed paths at Walmart over the summer. We spoke in front of the store for many minutes. Our meeting wrapped up with, a “let’s do lunch.” The “Let’s do lunch” was a real one. We have had lunch (4 or 5) four or five times now and I have gleaned so very much. He and I were two trees planted to close together. One of us (me) needed to be dug up and replanted. We both have grown and he is now one of my most prized friends. I am fortunate to attend Pastor Ruben’s Wednesday night Bible Study. The Bible study has allowed me to learn much, have much confirmed, and to be reunited with friends, never forgotten, and much loved.  This Christ-ian couple have done much in service to their/our Lord while fighting cancer and other usurping agents of (s)atan. This man and this women, independent of each other, are Trophies of God’s Grace. This man and this women together are an example of what a Christ-ian couple, under grace, and in love with the Master should be.

Methinks, We will write about people we know in future articles. Not to their glory, but unto God’s great glory.

” and this is the confidence that we have in [H]im, that, if we ask anything according to [h]is will, [H]e heareth us. And if we know that [H]]e heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desired of [H]im.  (1 John 5:14-15)

 

There are truths in Scripture, that, if read quickly and poorly we will not understand them properly and we will walk away with unsound doctrine. We will also walk away doubting our Lord and His Word. The doctrine of prayer is certainly one of these doctrines. Many have misunderstood the Word of God to say, God will answer all your prayers in the fashion you desire, “Ask anything in [M]y [N]ame and I will do it.”

The above passage and the quoted passage sounds pretty cut and dry.  Christ and John teach that God will do what ever we ask. However, this is not the meaning. In the quoted passage at the top of our article has the caveat, “…if we ask anything according to [H]is will, H]e heareth us…” Also, in the passage in the last paragraph it is written, “Ask anything in [M]y [N]ame…”  We must understand these caveats if we are to understand Scripture’s teaching on prayer.

To ask anything in Christ’s [N]ame is to ask for anything that He, Himself, would ask for. To ask anything “according to [H]is will…” is to ask for anything that He, Himself, would approve of.  Therefore, if you ask for something and you receive it not, you can rest assured it was not according to His will and/or it was something He would not seek.

There are other possibilities, also. Possibility, 1. It is a request, which He has chosen not to answer, yet. Sometimes God will not answer a request for years. I have waited for His answer on somethings for over (15) fifteen years.  Some prayers will not be answered until, “We all get to Heaven, what a day that shall be…” Sometimes, God will answer you, yet, it is in a way you do not recognize. In other words, God will answer the root request while you are looking for the flower of the prayer. You may request a certain car or home. You are watching for a certain car or home. You may never get that car or home but you may get something else. You may think God did not pay attention to your specific request only to find out you got something far better, This is God answering the root request.

2. You must realize and believe that God always answers you even when you do not receive your request. It is imperative that we, as believers, understand that He always answers us. God, like our earthly parents will often say, “No.” This may seem like a cheap answer or a way to protect God and unanswered prayers but it is not. It is a simple fact, God will often say, “No.”  This was covered in the first paragraphs. We saw that God will not answer prayers unless they are according to His will and/or something Christ would seek.  However, sometimes God will simple choose not to say, yes.  there have been time when I have asked for things that I know Christ would seek and are in accordance to God’s perfect and revealed will and He still said, “NO.” What do we say to that? God simple chose to refuse, case closed.  You can ask until the day you go to Heaven and He will continue to refuse period.

3. Sometimes God says, “No” because it is not according to “YOUR WILL.” Yes, you read that right. Sometimes we ask for things that we, in the future, will be sorry for. Garth Brooks sang a song called, Thank God for unanswered prayers.” This is true for every born again child of God. I remember in my late teen years and very early twenties that I was in love and loved a girl. She was my first true love. To make a long story and probably familiar story short, we dated for almost (4) four years. We broke up and my heart broke, too. It was one of the roughest times in my young life. The odd thing was i broke up with her. I prayed and prayed for another chance. I fell…no, I walked into drinking and other self destructive actions. This girl tried to help but I was so angry with God that I was mean to her, my mother, my grandmother, etc.

I dated other women for a time and then met my last and best love, my wife.  You see, the point is this -if God would have answered my prayer for a second chance with my first love, I would have never met (humanly speaking) my last and best love. I would not have the (3) three best daughters in all of the world, I would not have the friendship with my in laws that i do and I would not be serving God in my ministries.  You see, God knew my will better that I did. He said, “No, Just wait a little as I will answer your root request.” I also learned that though I rebelled and rebelled well, God still loved me and cared for me. Ultimately it was God’s unwavering kindness and love that crushed me into submission…My readers, God is So So Good.

In our title we ask, “really?” and “Are you sure.”  We have answered both but, in case you missed our answer, “Yes, Really,” and “We are more sure of this truth than of many others things, like the grass being green and the sky being blue.”

In light of all of the above, what do we do when God does not answer us in the affirmative? We do what we did before. We love Him, we trust Him, and we continue to serve Him, faithfully. We can still inquire of Him regarding our petition. Scripture does teach us to do so, however, there does seem to be a time when our petitioning should cease, per Paul’s thorn in the flesh. How does one know if the petitioning should cease or continue? Methinks there are a few ways to go about this. 1. Seek to be extra sensitive to God’s will, this will take prayer and training, but it will come in time. Once you obtain this sensitivity or discernment, you will know when to stop. 2. Be honest with yourself and God, what is the true and pure purpose of your request…His glory, your benefit, or another’s or all (3) three? 3. Would God be more glorified by your present circumstance or by granting your request?…be honest. 4. Are you beseeching God from a place of flesh or spirit?  These are considerations for ceasing or persevering in prayer.

Another consideration in the area of prayer is sin. Sin must be factored in to one’s prayer life. Depending upon who you listen to concerning sin and prayer, you will depart in hopelessness or hopefulness. Some teach that any sin will obstruct answers to prayer. This is, of course, false teaching. Others will teach that habitual and willful sin will obstruct answered prayer, this teaching we find to be accurate. However, If one’s attitude toward this habitual sin and any other sin is that of contriteness, sorrow, frustration, anger, etc. one is in a good place. If we confess our sins, God, for Christ’s sake, will forgive us. If we sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Our Lord Jesus.

We have spoken and written often on ceaseless prayer. If we could preach and teach upon only (2) two subjects for the rest of our life, we would proclaim the sovereignty of God and the Blessedness of Ceaseless Prayer. Ceaseless prayer is not saying your prayers on your knees, 24-7. No, ceaseless prayer allows you “to be instant in prayer.”  Ceaseless prayer eliminates that coldness when coming to God after a long absence. Ceaseless prayer begins in the morning and continues throughout the night hour, until the next morning. in other words, Ceaseless prayer never ends and never begins once it has begun. Ceaseless prayer is thinking upon God all through your day, it is making decisions based upon His revealed will and His glory, it is praising Him and giving much thanks to Him. Ceaseless prayer is making your requests known unto God and watching for His decision, it is praying in the place of those who cannot pray, this is intercessory prayer. Ceaseless prayer is entering God’s Presence and never leaving. Ceaseless prayer can be wordless prayer if our thoughts are directed to God. Ceaseless prayer is the committing of all things to God, Who judgeth righteously. Ceaseless prayer is wishing “Godspeed” to police officers, firemen, first-responders, snow-plowers, etc. when they cross your path. Ceaseless prayer is God-think. Ceaseless prayer is praying for those God brings to your thoughts. Ceaseless prayer includes all manner and types of prayer, needs, requests, petitions, praise, thanksgiving, confession of sin, etc. etc. etc.

please forgive any misspelled words and grammatical errors.

“I am come in [M]y Father’s [N]ame, and ye receive [M]e not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43)

“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus…” (2 Corinthians 11:4 a)

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from [H]im that called you into the grace of Christ unto another [G]ospel, Which is not another… (Galatians 1:7)

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”                                                                                                                                                 (Matthew 24:24)

 

We wrote a few articles back about the horrific, but impossible, idea of the Christ gone rogue. The point of that article was to cause us to think and to be thankful for the Goodness of God. Our God is Sovereign and He is Good. But what if our God was sovereign and selfish and brutal? The world’s dynamic would be comparable to North Korea. What if our God was good but not sovereign? We would be in a sad state, we would be worshiping an impotent god that wants goodness to reign but cannot bring the goodness to fruition because of weakness.

This is not the case. For our God is Good and He is sovereign in all things, He is sovereign over all things, for all things were created by Him and for Him. All things work to His Glory, He is the Writer and Editor, He is the Stage Manager, He is the Author and the Finisher of all things. He is the Granter of intellect, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. He is the One Who provides air, water, minerals, herbs, and all good things and He does so according to His pleasure and purpose. As I have said before, we are God’s action figures. He poses us, He places us, He allows us to win and to lose, He ordains all our actions, decisions, and choices. The earth and it’s inhabitants are God’s Toy Chest or His Chess board.

Our God is the God that raises up nations, in order to work His Will. He has ordered nations to overwhelm His people, Israel. These God-raised nations are used by God to chasten  His chosen people. These nations acted as a scourge and were used by God as an act of chastening love. Then God punishes these nations for overwhelming and hurting His People. God punishes these nations that wrought His will! This is our Great God!

One might ask how this could be considered just and right. It is just and right because 1. God did it and does it. If God did it and does it, it is just and right, for He is Just and Right. 2. He used the sinful and deadly ambition and the want of power and control that was inside of these nation’s leaders. This is our God!

This God, our great and mighty God, became flesh and dwelt among us. He went about doing good and teaching others to so. However, our Lord and Master has been given a different reputation or label. People of this wicked world do not know the real Jesus as Lord and Saviour of mankind. If you were to look at pictures of Jesus, you would find that more times than not, He is idealized as weak, frail and even feminine. This is not Lord Jesus.

The nandy pandy weak and mild little Jesus has never been. This truth will be horrifying to many. This truth will shame many. This truth will damn many.

Our Lord Jesus is the wholly Sovereign God and Creator of all things, and He is the ever, Good God, and He is the Wholly and fully Perfect Man. This is our God in flesh.

 

Our Lord had all the emotions and intellect than humans have. Therefore, He could be angered, “And when [H]e had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts…” We can also see our Lord tearing through the temple with a scourge of (3) three small cords, berating and accosting the felonious salesmen. These sellers of sacrificial fodder had turned the Temple of God into a den of thieves. Our Lord and God would not suffer these wicked fools. He drove them out of the Temple as He did Adam from Eden.

We can also enjoy our Lord as He denounces, dismisses, and dispatches the religious leaders and politicians, while calling them hypocrites, whited sepulchres and full of dead men’s bones. He would also label them as a generation of vipers. This is our Lord and God!

There are many doctrines in the Scriptures, but all the doctrines are secondary to our Lord Jesus. You must get Him right. You must know Him, the real Him and not another or a false Christ. You must get Him right.

 

“Knowledge puffeth up…”  (1 Corinthians 8:1)

 

We have written before on this site that many ideas, concepts, teachings, and actions are and act as a double-edged sword.  We made the point that, to be a witness is to be used of God in His saving of souls and in the witnessing against them if they refuse God’s love.  The Christ-ian witness works both ways.  In this article we will (DV) write  of more swords of the double-edged variety.

Knowledge is powerful.  Knowledge, of course, can be used for good and evil.  One can use rat poisoning to keep the rat population from growing and spreading disease.  Rat poison can also be used to kill a spouse that puts the milk in the wrong spot in the refrigerator. The person that combines the chemicals to make the rat poison compound probably never meant for his product to be used to kill a person.  Likewise, knowledge was meant to better man and to better society (I’m not referring to the tree of knowledge). Knowledge should enhance the lives of its student, and it does, but knowledge is a double-edged sword.

Knowledge enhances a person and his life and changes his outlook on life.  When a person learns of God and salvation through His only begotten Son, all things become new; including world views such as opinions, ideas, and actions.  The knowledge of God’s Son changes the course and direction of one’s life and eternal destiny.  As you grow in the knowledge of God and in the Christ-ian life, many things can happen.  Your mindset can take different paths.  The knowledge of God should cause you to become a person of humility, compassion, thankfulness, etc.,  However, it can also puff you up.  By puffing you up we mean building up your pride.  This is abnormal.  When knowledge makes one proud something has gone wrong.

Knowledge is a gift.  If you grow in knowledge you should acknowledge God’s kindness and His giving of gained and increasing knowledge.  When knowledge enlarges the ego and allows one to belittle others, something has gone dangerously wrong.  This kind of pride, which certainly affects a person spiritually, is a great offense to God.  Whenever anything causes you  to set yourself over others, this is not of God, for (s)atan can educate as well. Consider the schools of higher education.  Education has become a tool to spread wickedness and wrong thinking.  This “education” is not of God, but is against God.

When we were younger we were tossed to and fro in our dealing with stress.  We would become physically affected by our allowance of wrong thinking.  God led us into the study of logic and critical thought.  For this we thank and praise Him for His tender care and the compassion He showed to us, and our faith in God grew as our fears lessened.  Fear and worry can not coexist.  One must give way to the other.

However, with this understanding of logic and right thinking we learned to recognize the lack of logic and the prevalence of wrong thinking in others.  This, to His glory, did not cause pride in us but frustration. We grew frustrated with the decisions, actions, and wrong thinking of others.  We found ourselves uttering, “What,!?” “Why,?” “How?” when we would hear what others have said, thought, and done. Logic and right thinking was a double-edged sword.  Instead of remaining frustrated we have learned to guide and help others in the area of their thinking and decision making.  We do not claim to be smarter than others; God forbid!  We have, however, been given the gift of a renewed, renewing, sound, and developing mind. Therefore, we seek to use it to God’s glory and the benefit of His people.

Very often we find friends re-posting and believing false reports on Facebook.  We try to point out to them the reasons the “news” article is fallacious or false.  We know we risk offending some, but it is a risk well taken.  Most have proven themselves wise and received the instruction well, showing themselves to be one of Solomon’s wise children. We often hear someone say something that is rank with error and again we risk much, but we find a way to tactfully and tenderly correct their thinking.  Again, we do not think our selves as smarter, but simply taught of God in the area of thought and discernment.  We certainly make our share of mistakes and catch ourselves thinking illogically and wrongly, but we catch it and correct it.  In this we seek to help others.

We are reminded of the “Great Knock,” William T. Kirkpatrick.  This man is not a man well known to history, but he is well known to those who see value in C.S. Lewis.  When he was a young man, Lewis was sent to Kirkpatrick for tutoring.  Lewis called his tutor a personification of logic [think Spock]. When Lewis arrived in Bookham, the home of the Knock, he said that it was not what he had expected.  To this kind of small talk, the Knock responded with “STOP, Upon what basis did you build your expectation?”  At other times Knock Kirkpatrick would question his wife’s friends with “What exactly do you mean?”  He was not belittling anyone, he was simply asking for support of one’s statement.

We have often found that this form of verbal jiu-jitsu is extremely effective in “stopping their mouths.”  We have frequented comment sections online and have found people making the most inane of statements.  These commenters spew unfounded, un-supported, and un-researched fiction.  They are simply types of human emoticons spewing the vomit of envy, pride, dissatisfaction, hate, ignorance, bitterness, malice, and blatant falsehoods.  I have found that the best way to counter these imbecilic statements is to ask, ” Can you support that comment with any facts?” or “Can you cite one source for that comment?”  The spewers of wickedness all shut down and crumble like a century old barn.  On my part, I am seeking to educate these bitter spewers, but on their part, they are simply shredding their credibility and disallowing others to take them seriously.  We have also found that in these commenting sections the spewers encourage each other in their unsupported vomit.

Learning the (“martial”) art and science of logical and critical thought has become a double-edged sword, but it is a sword we will be ever thankful to wield against fallacies, falsehoods, and faux vomit.

Question: How do you keep yourself from being puffed up with the God-given gift of knowledge and the God-given ability to learn?  Answer: You must always acknowledge God in your learning.  You must always remember to bring God into the equation of intelligence and learning.  Intelligence is a gift, after all.  Is it not?  And if knowledge, intellect, and the ability to understand and to comprehend is a gift, why does one grow in pride?  The intellect is a God-given gift.  It is given and allowed to develop per God’s great grace.  There is no place for puffed up; there is only space for thankfulness and love.

Love is another way to balance the increase of knowledge.  One should love God and demonstrate love to others by using the increase of knowledge to God’s Glory and man’s benefit.  Paul tells us that our gifts are for the perfecting of the saints.  This is a demonstration of Christ-ian love and the right use of God’s gift of the intellect. In my mind. intellect equals leadership, and one should lead others into the area of increased knowledge.   If one uses this gift of intellect and knowledge to lord over others or to belittle others, it is using God’s gift for (s)atanic purposes and pleasures. This ought not to be.  One way to use knowledge and to remain humble is to know that one knows so little and to acknowledge there is so much more to learn.  One must realize that learning is absorbing the letter aaaaand the spirit.  For if one absorbs only the letter it tends to kill and puff up.

Knowledge is like a tool.  One may know what it is used for but not how to use it rightly and beneficially.  If we were Catholic we would canonize one Bezaleel as the Patron saint of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, aaaand  workmanship.  Bezaleel was “filled with the [S]pirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work all manner of workmanship.”   Bezaleel was given his knowledge and he knew what to do with it.  [Side note: Bezaleel is a Christ-type or prefiguration of Christ].

Bezaleel was to be used to work on the Ark of the Covenant and this had to be done right; hence the filling of the [S]pirit.  Bezaleel was to use this intellect to glorify God and to put forth a great work of God that would point to Christ.  I used the words, this intellect and not his intellect.  Bezaleel’s intellect was a gifting of God for a certain purpose.  The purpose, we know now, to be a picture or type that points to Christ.

This is true of us today. Our intellect, whatever or however developed, is a gift from God.  It is one of the ways we reflect God’s Image back to Him and to His glory.  A person may not pride himself\herself upon their great intellect, for it has been given for a purpose. One must must find this purpose and work therein.  If you want to know if you’re using this gift properly, ask thyself, “Does my intellect glorify God? Does it demonstrate a Christ-likeness?  Does it benefit others?  If one can answer in the affirmative, there you go.  If not…….There you go.

“…[W]eep with them that weep.”  (Romans 12:15)

 

If you have read any of our writing you must know that we believe the Word of God. We honour it, we obey it, we love it, we even sleep with it. However, there are times when even the Word of God cannot help. These times are very rare. Typically these times involve a broken heart.

If you are familiar with C.S. Lewis’s book “Grief Observed” you are familiar with his spiritual breakdown. If one is “not a reader” one can watch this play out in (2) two well done films. These films are both called “Into the Shadowland.” One of these films stars Anthony Hopkins and the other stars Joss Acklund. Both films capture the heartbreak and spiritual breakdown of a Christ-ian who has lost his beloved wife. Lewis had only known this woman, Joy for a few years but they lived and loved a lifetime in those few years. Joy died of bone cancer and Lewis was confounded.

In his book, “Grief Observed,” one would read comments such as, “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing.” And “Where is God?….go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence.”

Of course, Lewis found that door open again and His faith remained. He turned from grief to thankfulness. He began to thank God for the little time he had with Joy. Lewis also became guardian-father to Joy’s sons. They grieved together and gave thanks together, I’m sure.

In times like these one does not need a sympathetic family member or friend quoting Romans 8:28 to them. “We know all the Scriptures,” one beloved friend said, when grieving over his wife, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Words don’t help. Even His Words. In times like these one needs not encouragement, one simply needs understanding. One does not go to the Word of God, but one runs to the God of the Word. One does not need or even want comfort, one wants to know God is Present and aware of these awful times. One wants to know,  “Jesus wept” with me.

When difficult and heartbreaking times come, we see our utter helplessness made manifest. We simply stand there, eyes wide open, shoulders hunched, and with hands opened. We see what we cannot help, we feel that feeling, and we cannot do anything about it. All we can do is utter a sigh of hurt and sadness and pray; pray and sigh. All we can do is weep with them that weep. All we can do is…be

All we can do is… be. Be a servant to the grieving, Be a shoulder to cry on, Be a faithful Pray-er, Be a sounding board, Be one, who is vented upon by the grieving, Be a door keeper, just Be present.

When we are heartbroken we may grow angry. What is to be done with this anger? Do we vent on God? God forbid. Let us focus on the real agent of misery, Sin. Cancer is like sin, it corrupts, it takes, it hurts, it kills. “The wages of sin is death,” we are told in Scripture. We are told further, “Be sure, your sin will find you out.” Sin is a serial stalker and a serial murderer. Sin is our true enemy. Praise be to God, that we have, over the years been able, through the Holy Spirit, to mortify many sins of the flesh. We all, through the Spirit, have mortified/killed sins, here and there.

Some sweet day all sin and it’s defilement will be cast away forever and we will be as He is. We will be reunited with loved ones, we will meet the men and women of the Scriptures, and the authors that taught us much. The great attraction, however, shall be our Master bringing all things together and allowing us to behold His great glory, Forever.

“Looking for that [B]lessed [H]ope; and the glorious [A]ppearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13)

 

Everyone loves a return of someone special or of someone that is loved.  When a soldier returns home from a war or from serving their country the family, of said soldier, is elated and full of joy and thanks. When a police officer returns home after a shift the officer’s family is also full of joy, and thanks, not to mention relief. If one is a fan of sports one, once in a while, experiences the return of an athlete from retirement or injury. Sometimes the return of an athlete is celebrated and sometimes it is a let down.

I remember, as a teen-ager, a wrestler returned to television from a very long retirement. It was an unexpected return but it was  [I still get goosebumps] exciting and I was speechless. I also remember a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter made a return from a lengthy absence from the Octagon [A octagon shaped ring encaged with chain link fencing). On this occasion the returning fighter lost within a minute of the fight. This return and subsequent loss was a letdown to his fans. I was not a fan, nor am I a fan of anyone. I enjoy some athletes more than others but I do not allow that word fan, for that denotes fanaticism.

There is a return scheduled that some look forward to with great anticipation and hope. This return is greatly longed for and is expected. However, this return is not looked forward to or longed for and certainly not expected by many others, if not most persons today. This return promises to bring tremendous, even world-wide change. This return will usher in a new age of righteousness. All of members of mankind will either be for this Returning world-Leader or they will be against Him. He will require full devotion and loyalty as He always has. This Leader, we have been told, will rule with a rod of iron. He will appoint new leadership through out the world and He will not need any other puny governing body to approve of His appointments. There will be no success at staying His Hand or questioning His Authority.

His government will be world-wide and eternal. He will carry this government upon His shoulder, as He has carried His embedded people upon His shoulderS. The beginning stage of His eternal government, it seems will last (1000) one-thousand years. He will rule this righteous government from Israel.

However, prior to this coup (Governmental overthrow) He will war a great war, for He is a Man of war. This Man of war has never been defeated, no, not one time. He has been ever-victorious and has caused His embedded, good and chosen soldiers to be great in battle, as well. This Man of war has provided great armour for His warriors of righteousness. They have been provided shield and sword, the double edged variety. Their breastplate is the breastplate of their Leader’s imputed righteousness. Their helmet is the very helmet of their salvation, the helmet that Goliath lacked. Their loins are bound up in truth, Their feet are shod with armour that has been prepared by the Gospel of their Leader, for they have learned there warcraft from Him. This Man of War and His Righteous Army will overwhelm their enemy.

The war will be fought in Israel. All the world’s armies and military will be gathered together to destroy Israel, the home of this Man of war and the future home of His army and governing body. This great Man of war will return with a great shout and a trumpet. All will see this Man of war, for He shall descend from the Heavens with an army of angels, and He will, then call His earthly, hidden, and embedded army from off the earth and into the air where they shall ever be with Him, and where they will be draped in righteous armour.

As the world beholds this returning Man of war, they will behold His stare as if it were fire and the Word of God will be spoken from His Mouth and all shall be pierced asunder.Upon His thigh it is written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, and to the enemy’s  horror, His vesture will be dipped and dripping in the blood of His martyred saints. This fearsome Man of war will call upon the foul of the air and shall direct them to feast upon the flesh of His enemies. He will direct them as God did direct their ancestors into the ark of Noah.

The world will ask the question, the same question that Heaven asked (2) two millennia ago, “Who is this King of glory?”  And the answer will be the same, “The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. This LORD strong and mighty in battle, this undefeated Man of war, this everlasting Governor of Righteousness, This KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS…What is His Name?   His Name is Jesus Christ, He is Lord and Saviour of mankind, The fullness of the great Triune Godhead is pleased to dwell in Him, He is the LORD of Heaven’s Hosts, He is the One Who rose from the dead after defeating death and the grave.

Yea! He is our God and Lord, Jesus Christ the blessed hope of us all.

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies.” (Matthew 5)

“Increase our faith.”  (The Disciples)

 

Christ, in  the Gospel of Matthew, uses the Words, “But I say unto you.” He uses these Words to correct the peoples acceptance of the words of rogue rabbis that have been quoted down through oral history. In this instance He corrected the words and instructions that allowed the j

Jews to hate their enemies. To correct this error Christ would say, “Ye have heard it said…but I say unto you, love your enemies.” He would continue to make His argument by asking what reward they should expect if they did as everyone else. He would tell His hearers that by loving those that loved them and hating their enemies they weren’t doing anything special. They should do as God does in showing kindness to those that hate them. They should pray for those that despitefully use them and to be good to those that hate them. They should bless those that curse them. In a related teaching He would instruct His people to forgive those that wrong them, to which his disciples respond, “Increase our faith.”

I have heard many believers complain that it is so hard to love others that are not kind to them. They have gone so far as to almost admit to not taking this command of love very serous or even attempt to do so. We admit it is almost an impossibility to love one’s enemy if the Lord’s teaching is misunderstood.

Our Lord did not command us to like our enemies nor did He command us to have warm affection feeling for them. People that believe this or add these meanings th Christ’s teaching are much like Eve when she added her, “…or even touch it,” to God warning concerning the tree of good and evil. Those that add further meaning to our Lords words are like those legalist’s that add tradition to the level of command.

When our Lord uttered these holy words He was speaking to one’s action towards one’s enemies. He expects us to give a glass of cold water to the enemy, to feed them and clothe them in a time of need. He would expect us to share His words with them and to keep ourselves from gossiping and backbiting against them. He would desire us for hoping evil toward them. He would expect us to be kind to them as our God is kind to them.

Our Lord never intended for us to feign a faux or plastic like for them other than a sign of Biblical concern for their needs. This, however, does not then allow us to show outright contempt for them. We must show a courtesy and a respect when in their presence and a readiness to forgive them if forgiveness is ever sought. We are aware that this is almost an impossibility for those of the world but this is exactly the kind of thing that makes the children of light different from them and like our Father in Heaven.

We commend our fellow siblings of light to the empowering grace of God when His commands become difficult to obey. We remind you that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings and we remind you that we have been made partakers of the divine nature of God. When it become difficult to love and forgive others let us call upon God and ask His help in appropriating the spiritual blessing and the divine nature. Let us thank Him for their existence and presence. One need not ask Him for the grace but the access to them and the ability to honour Him by their use.

We have always found great blessing when we have obeyed God rather than the flesh. We have always been encourage onto greater acts of obedience when we have loved instead of hated our enemy. My fellow believer, there is not a choice in this matter. You have not been given the choice to love instead of hate. To give in to the flesh, the old man, the carnal nature is to sin against God, Who loved you and forgave you.

Therefore, beloved, “Hear Him” and do as Christ did when He walked this earth. Remember that He too, “was tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Let us go and do likewise.

“And when Jesus came to the place, [H]e looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.”                                                                                                                                                          (Luke 19:5)

“And [H]e looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.”                                                                                                                                                       (Luke 21:1)

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.                                                               (Luke 21:28)

 

 

I learned years ago, when I was a landscaping foreman to “look up.” I learned to look up in the trees for dead branches, low hanging “widow-makers”, limbs or branches rubbing against each other, which allows insects and disease to set in. Also, I had to keep an eye out for branches rubbing up against buildings and reaching toward windows.

I also learned to look up when I found an interest birds. I enjoy watching birds as they perch on wires and tree limbs. I enjoy watching them in flight. Recently, my eldest daughter and I went to a mall and, as is my custom, I looked up and to my excitement and reward my daughter and I beheld (2) two majestic and rather regal hawks. These hawks were perched on a J.C. Penney marquis. (1) one of the hawks caught sight of a smaller bird and launched after it. Wow. Again, we were rewarded for looking up.

We see from the (3) three quotes passages above that our Lord Jesus would look up and He instructs us to look up. He instructs us to look up because it is from above our redemption and salvation shall come. Our Lord forewarns us that many will seek to deceive us with false Christs. He disspells this by telling us that He will descend from above with power and great glory when He returns. There should be no confusion.

This thought of our Lord’s return is meant to cause excitement and hope within the Christ-ian. His promised return should cause pure living, prayer, worship and evangelism. However, we are disheartened to report to you, beloved readers, that many professing believers are not looking for Christ’s return. These professing believers say things like, “I know I should be excited, but I want to see my kids grow up.” or “Yeah, I know that He is going to return soon, but I really want to see my X get married and have babies.” These are very disheartening to this preacher. These kind of statements cause me great concern.

When professing Christ-ians say things like this, they are admitting, unknowingly, to loving family more than Christ. This is a type of rebellion, as Christ said, very clearly and directly, that one must love Him more than family. He even said we must love Him and hate family. Paul teaches us that Christ must have the preeminence, which means, in my mind, above 1st place.

Men came to Christ asking to be one of His followers. These men, however, wanted to take care of other worldly matters first. Christ rejected them all. Christ said, if a man looks back wards after having taken hold of the plough, this man is not fit for the Kingdom of God. The Scriptures exhort us to remember Lot’s wife. Christ-ians are not to look back, we are to look up. Looking back speaks to love for the world, which is enmity with God; Looking up speaks to Hope. Looking up speaks to Christ as our blessed Hope. The Heavens declare God’s glory, so one must look up to see the Heavens declaring God’s glory.

Paul told us that he was between a rock and a hard place. Paul wanted to depart and to be with Christ. However, Paul also knew he must remain for the elects sake, as this was his Master’s will. Paul teaches us to forget about the past and reach forward to greater things.

Professing Christ-ians that want Christ to “wait a little while” remind us of the men who asked to be His followers but were rejected because of their worldly cares. A Christ-ian looks up longingly for His Master’s return. A Christ-ian loves to dwell upon the thoughts of Christ’s return. A Christ-ian looks up, through prayer, and calls upon Christ to return and to do so quickly.

Christ asks and wonders if He will find faith on earth at His return. After hearing many persons hoping Christ tarries His return, We , too, ask and wonder if He will find faith on earth.

On the other hand, it is a wise Christ-ian that asks, “Why  do I look forward to Christ’s return or why do I want to go to Heaven? The only correct answer is… to see Christ and to be in His tangible Presence. Of course, we also want to reunite with family and friends. Of course, we want to meet persons from Scripture and the authors that taught us so much. But Christ Jesus, our Lord, our Master, our Saviour, our ever-Present Companion; The Godhead, in Whom the Trinity is pleased to dwell is the attraction. It is He that we must look for, long for, and love His Appearing.

Heaven is not an escape from life. Heaven is not a better place. No. that kind of thinking is wrong, wrong, wrong. Heaven is the Place where we can finally be with Christ. Heaven is the place, where some will hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Heaven is a place where sin does not exist. Heaven is the place where we are saved from the very presence of sin.

How do we know there is such a place? Our longing and our looking testifies to the reality of Heaven. A fish does not long to fly in the sky. This is because the fish is exactly where the fish should be. Why do we, humans, imagine mythical places? Why do we humans read about others worlds? Why do we even dare think of such a place as Heaven? It is because it is real and it is where we are suppose to be.

Beloved Christ-ian reader, Look up…Look up for your redemption draweth nigh.

One is wise, who has this mind set: Everything is secondary to Christ; One must get Him right. If one is right with Christ, God’s only begotten Son, one is in a good place.

Beloved reader, LOOK UP.