“…I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance…” (2 Peter 3:1)

“…to provoke unto love and good works…” (Hebrews 10:24)

 

I confess that I am a button pusher or one who provokes or instigates. One of my favorite things to do to other obvious Christ-ians, like those having a Bible study in a coffee shop or at a Panera bread shop, is to walk up, and ask them,  “How can anyone with any intelligence believe in something so silly as a “Guy in the Sky?” I then stand and watch and listen to these stalwart believers stand fast and declare their faith in Christ. Sometimes I continue to degrade them and seek to cause embarrassment. Then I tell them how pleased they have made their Heavenly Father and how they have blessed Him. I tell them that, I too, am a believer and lover of God. I congratulate them on their stand. We then Praise God together, and pray. We pray and thank Him for the grace to “give an answer for the hope we share in Christ.

I do this for a number of reasons: 1. Out of selfishness. I am so blessed and encouraged to see these believers of different ages, and backgrounds standing firm and speaking to the reality and greatness of our Almighty God. 2. To give these believers a real world opportunity to exercise their faith and to take a stand. 3. I believe it blesses and brings great glory to God. He is pleased to see His Name honoured and defended. 4. So that others, who may not be “churched,” to see Christ-ians defending their faith when someone confronts them, and basically calls them, Stupid. 5. I have an opportunity to praise God in prayer, with newly met, fellow believers, in the presence of others. 6. I leave them with something to talk about, think about, and share with others. 7. I want to be a blessing and leave people and places better than I found them.

When we do things like this, we are reminded of a passage where Isaiah, that says he will be found by those who look for him not. We, as Christ-ians, should actively seek out opportunities to be a blessing, be an answer to someone’s prayer, to stir up another believer to glorify God, to provoke others to do right. A pastor friend of mine sums this up with (3) three E’s…Exalt God, Edify the saints, Evangelize the lost. If one is actively participating in one of these at all times, one is in the will of God. I think, I would add (1) one more E, however. My (4) four E’s would be Exalt God, Edify the saints, evangelize the lost, and Engage Everybody, everywhere, in every way and everyday.

Christ-ians, today, especially in America, have so very many, many ways to Exalt God, Edify the saints, Evangelize the lost and Engage everybody.  We have access to tracts, Bibles can be purchased almost everywhere and given away, Social Media offers ways to “4E” who knows how many persons and peoples.

We have recently befriended a pastor in Pakistan, who is 4E-ing in all directions. We have the opportunity, honour and privilege to help this pastor through prayer and financial means. We are (DV), going to be on YouTube soon and my Pakistan pastor friend will (DV) show us in his school and mission.  Imagine that, a no-name preacher teaching children and adults in Pakistan India, through social media. We are trying to get him in touch with Chapel library, so that Chapel library might provide him with literature, tracts, books, booklets for no charge.  My point is, We were found by persons not even looking for us and we 4E’d (2) two different ministries (1) one in Florida and (1) one in Pakistan…from our bed!!! If anyone is interested or so led to look into the pastor in Pakistan, let me know. Also, If anyone is interested in Chapel Library, let me know.

We attended a wedding recently and over that weekend we spent time in a small town shopping strip. We entered an antique shop and there was Christ-ian music playing . Well, Guess what I did. I spoke to the store owner in a confrontational and condescending manner. We questioned how she, obviously a smart woman, could, for a second, believe in the God fairie tale. This woman, posture straitened, head up, staring into my brown eyes, began to tell me why she believed in God and how sad it is when others do not. I, then told her, “Miss, I am so pleased. I am a preacher and fellow lover of God.” She relaxed, let her breath out and we spoke to each other about the greatness of our God.

When purchasing Xmas gifts for the wife of my youth, We discerned the lady at the register was a believer. We spoke about our faith and our God. She gave me discount after discount after discount…We saved ($60.00) sixty dollars. In that (3) three-(4) four minute exchange, we all, she and I, Exalted God, Edified one another, Evangelized, somewhat, the lost, if they were listening, for we had engaged one another.

I have learned that if one speaks to another person, as if they already knew them, the other person reacts, in likewise fashion. I learned to ask persons, “Where do you attend Church?” This breaks the proverbial ice, and one is able to give a witness to God. If the person responds negatively towards us, we use the prophet’s “Woe unto thee, sir…woe unto thee” and we excuse ourself. If we are faced with a joyful believer, we use the prophet’s, “Blessed art thou.”

Sometimes, when standing in line, I begin to provoke by calling attention to a newspaper or tabloid headline. The conversation (DV), goes, at some point, to my God or ” Where do you attend Church?” We speak to them like we have always known them and persons will open up more often than they don’t. It could be called seed planting. It could be called planting a seed of guilt for they know they should be in Church, if they aren’t.

One can bring God into a conversation very, very easily without drawing attention to one’s self. In a conversation, someone say’s, “This trump guy (shaking his head) is gonna destroy our country.” another chimes in,” Yeah, did you hear what he said about, X?” Then the Christ-ian can say, with an innocent voice, You Know I read somewhere…that it is foolish to answer a matter before hearing it….I think it was….. King Solomon, in the Bible, that said that.” The Christ-ian can then lead the conversation toward Scriptural matters. One could share some of Solomon’s “one liners.” Once they are comfortable with Solomon, use Solomon’s Proverbs about sin and salvation.

I know, easier said than done. One thing to keep in mind, when giving a witness to a stranger, is, you’ll probably never see them again, anyway,but your words will stick with them, for His Word does not return void.

We, like Paul, are not ashamed of the Gospel. Why should we be? We see advertisements showing women in their under clothes and there, unfortunately, is no shame there. We see commercials that seek to seduce persons into sin and there is no shame there, either. We see commercials that support gluttony, greed, fornication, adultery, idolatry, etc. and there is no shame. So,? Why are Christ-ians ashamed or scared to speak of the Righteous Christ of Holy God? Methinks it is because, somewhere, at some time, Christ-ians were told, in some fashion, to be scared and ashamed of their faith. Is it because of church history and persecution? Is it because, we aren’t strong in our own faith?

Methinks that in our day and time every thing is being thrown into the ring. No one is holding back anything. Why, should we?  Why not stir up the lost? Why not provoke verbal jiu-jitsu? Why not stand tall and tell the world, “I am a Christ-ian, and that means, I am better than you.” Why not provoke by saying, “God loves me, however, I doubt that He loves you.?”  This may stir up their thinking and they may find out that God does love them and that Christ did die for them.

My point, beloved, is this, In this world much seems backward and dark. Let us use this to God’s Glory. When someone say’s they do not care about God, tell them, “Maybe He doesn’t care about you either, and bring them into a conversation on God’s love. Or play yourself as an arrogant unbeliever, and provoke a believer to defend the faith and defend the faith in front of other non-believers.

There are many ways to Exalt God, Edify believers, Evangelize the lost, and to Engage everybody. One should, or dare I say must, find one’s own way to do so and then… to……… do so.

“He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. And [H]e straightly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing…”                                                                                                                                             (Luke 9:20-21)

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of [H]is coming….”  (2 Peter 3:3, 4)

“And then shall they see the Son of [M]an coming in in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27)

“And when [H]e had made a scourge of small cords, [H]e drove them all out of the temple…and overthrew the tables…” (John 2:15 a and c)

 

It has been said that the precursor to “Batman”, the “Lone Ranger”, “Zorro”, and “The Shadow” was the Scarlet Pimpernel. The Pimpernel was the first, it has been said, to have a secret identity and to be a hero of mystery.  It has also been said that Poe’s “Dupin” was the precursor to Sherlock Holmes. However, we “trow” this is wrong.  As you read the quoted passages above, the first shows that Jesus the Christ of God kept his identity a secret for a time. Hence, what we have here is a secret identity. When He, in Luke 4, reveals Himself to be the Spirit-anointed Messiah of prophecy, the people said, “is this not the son of the carpenter?” The people were amazed at the revelation of His true identity.  Think…Gotham City learning that Bruce Wayne is the secret identity of the “Batman”  or that “mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent” is really “Superman.”  Yes, Christ’s home town learned that this “meek and mild Carpenter-Rabbi” was, in truth, The Prophesied Messiah from Heaven Who created all things and could do all things.

Of course, Christ our Lord had His scoffers and scorners. These would doubt and speak against this Hero from the sky. The spirit of these scoffers and scorners exist to this day. The scoffers doubt not only the person of Christ and His Deity, but also His very literal existence. These scorners doubt His historical existence to this very hour. They would rather believe that life came from a non-intelligent, non-living explosion. These “smart people” will be proven wrong, for the real life, eternal life, began with the explosion of Resurrection, as Life and Intelligence Himself rose from the grave having defeated death itself.

It is true that all fictional superhero-types find their Prototype in Christ Jesus, the Lord of the Living and the dead. He kept His true Identity secret for a time and a purpose; He had his enemies; He defeated the Arch-enemy of all mankind, death; and He rose from the dead having all power and glory as His own possession. He monopolized the market on power and great glory, and He will not share it with anyone.  He is the Hero in which we all seek to attain. And we, whom He has freely chosen, will attain that state, as He that chose us also predestined us to become like Him.

This Man has all power and great glory. He can do as He pleases in Heaven and on earth. He has done as He has pleased in Heaven and on earth. This Man of power and great glory is both Sovereign and Good. Christ is the kingdom of God, personified. When He was last on earth He would manifest this power and great glory while Personifying the Kingdom of God; by healing the sick, casting out evil spirits, and preaching the Gospel to the poor.

Recently, a movie was released that depicts Batman going to war against Superman. In this movie there is a man, Lex Luthor, that sees Superman as a possible threat to all humanity. Luthor obtains a piece of Kryptonite which could weaken and even kill Superman if he were to go bad. Batman had the same idea; hence, the plot of the movie. Luthor spoke of a theory called the “meta-human theory” which speaks to superhuman-types living among us in the shadows. Luthor saw this as as real threat.

All of that reminds us of the puny human…religious leaders in Christ’s time. They were all worried and would huddle together as they tried to bring about a plan to kill the Christ of God. With all of that being said, I thought the impossible. What if Jesus the Christ of Omnipotent God went bad in His time? [side note: the (s)atanic religion of Islam teaches that He will. Research it.] When Christ was on earth He went about doing good and taught others to be good as well.

But… what if…when Christ was on earth, He went bad? Instead of giving sight to the blind, He took sight from the seeing?  What if, instead of giving hearing to the deaf, He took hearing from the the hearing?  What if, instead of giving strength to the lame, He took capabilities from the able? What if, instead of preaching the Gospel to the poor, He came and preached destruction and brought all manner of pain? What if, instead of taking the place of His elect upon the Cross at Mt. Calvary, He called into existence all of His elect and put them upon their crosses and mocked and wagged His head? Is that not a horrifying thought? For those who love Christ and know Him, we would rather not exist than these impossibilities be true.

Let us, each and all, be forever thankful that our Lord is a Good and kind Master. Let us be forever thankful that our God is eternally and everlastingly Sovereign and…and wields that power and great glory for our good. Our Saviour is immutable…unchangeable. There is no shadow of turning with Him…no variableness with Him, for He is the Same yesterday, today, and forever.

I love my Lord and my Saviour. He is my All in All. He is my true and living Supreme and Sovereign Hero.

Godspeed to you all…Praise Him all ye that hath breath.

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, among themselves, are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12)

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. This day we spoke with (3) three pastors. These (3) three pastors could not be more different. One is a (17) seventeen year solid and steadfast pastor and the other, younger pastor, has been newly installed in a good and faithful church. The third pastor/preacher lives in Pakistan, and is doing good works, saving lives, and delivering Christmas gift boxes to the young children. He is also planting churches and building a church to God’s glory.

Me?  I’m un-employable due to a bodily organ that does not cooperate. The organ is the “most dangerous organ in all of my body” [Sherlock Holmes reference]. The organ is called Professor Pancreas-of the tytis clan.

There are (4) four pastors (as I’m included and that makes (4) four.) that are all different. Different in style and “sermon” “delivery.” And as to the theological viewpoints, (2) two are Calvinist, (1) one is Arminian, and The other one, ….methinks is Calvinist. None of the (4) four have ever met each other. I’m the linch pin. I’m friends and brothers in Christ with all of them.

What we think is so neat, is that, all (4) four of us are in love with God and there is no competition or comparisons or counting. This pleases the Lord, that I know.

Comparing is a type of self torture for some. “How many did you have in service today?” or “You don’t have a building fund!?” or “How many missionaries are you supporting?” Or even “How many kids raised their hands to ‘accept Jesus’ as their personal Saviour?”

Paul said it best, they are not wise that compare themselves with or by  themselves or others. If it is not wise, it must be foolish…..to compare.

Samson had long hair; Elisha was bald. John, the Baptizer, came not eating and drinking. The Lord Jesus came eating and drinking.  See, there is no comparison, God’s people, God’s servants, and God’s children, etc. are all wildly different. God is a Creator, He loves variety. He makes us all different in our faces, in our personalities, and even in our idiosyncrasies. We are God’s Action Figure Collection! We all have a purpose and that purpose is in accordance with God’s Good Pleasure.

To compare one’s self with another is to offend God.  He is the Potter and we are the clay. God makes us who we are. If one is to be content……one needs to settle that.

We are who we are… period. The clay does not tell the Potter, ” Make me into a statue of X.” The Potter decides what form, what shape, what personality, what trial, what Joy, and what bend one will take. God, methinks [no dogma], even appoints our pet sin to us, so that we might be humble and meek. It is the thorn in our flesh, so to speak.

We are all different and that is how it is supposed to be. We are God’s Action Figures. [I say that reverently].

Godspeed.

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  (Genesis 6:5)

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…”                                                                                                                                        (2 Corinthians 10:5)

“But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.”  (Romans 2:2)

 

The Biblical doctrine of human depravity is a doctrine that can be seen in action. When one tunes in to the news, one hears of murders, fraud, greed, arson, rape, shootings, kidnappings, etc. The natural man blames God, “If God is good why is there all the bad?” The student of Scripture, however, answers with, “The wages of sin is death…” and “There is a way that seems right unto man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” God is not the cause of all the bad. Sinful man is the cause of all the bad. The fallen, free will of man is the cause of all evils in this world.

We see in the quoted passages above that man thinks and imagines evil continually. One might argue, “Yeah, but…that was before the flood, we are a better people now.” Our answer to that is, “Nope.” The Lord Jesus said, He would return at a time, that resembled Noah’s time. That time was defined by God in Genesis 6:5, “Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Take note to God’s words, Every, only, continually. This is depravity.

Notice that God speaks of the mind, the thoughts, the imagination. He isn’t speaking to actions yet. When a preacher, like myself, proclaims the depravity of man, we risk losing credibility. We say, “Man is depraved” but when a person looks around s/he sees kindness, generosity, love, loyalty. “Where is this depravity the preacher speaks of?”

This depravity stews, spews and scorns….. in the mind. Our Lord Jesus told us that the world will love it’s own, but hate the Christ-ians, because He chose us and not them, He picked us out of the world and not them. (John 15)  The depravity is there, but it is hidden in the mind of man. Depravity reveals itself in times of trouble or excitement. Case in point, (2) two Spring Breaks ago, a young girl was gang raped with (100) a hundred (Estimated) persons recording the rape with their gods, err, rather, their cell phones. No one helped her, they only recorded the worst moment of her life. This is depravity. This is how the world loves it’s own. Depravity is like a possessing demon, one must pull it out and cause it to manifest.

“The world will love it’s own,” this is what our Lord tells us. The world will love it’s own, but it will rage against Holy God.

Imagine if you will, a very tight knit and close community. They all love each other and care for each other. In walks a stranger to this very tight knit community, and he is mobbed and beaten, tortured and dispatched by this close, knit, loving community. This is how depravity works. Human depravity, capable of all manner of sin, in fact, humanity is wed to sin. In our quoted passage above, Romans 2:2, Paul uses the word, commit. Commit…committed to……I think of marriage. Humanity is committed to sin. Humanity is married to sin.

In the previous chapter, Paul lists sins that man is committed to: “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  Most of these sins are sins of the mind.

Humanity has joined hand in hand in this world, even so, says, the Word of God, They shall not go un punished.

In all reality, it is, the World vs. Holy God.

Depravity was birthed at the fall of man. Depravity has grown up to be big and strong. Depravity is called by different names, carnal nature, the flesh, and the old man.

However, the Christ-ian has been blessed with a sound mind. A mind that loves the LORD Thy God and thy neighbor; a mind that has been renewed, and is still in the process of being renewed everyday. The Christ-ian mind is obedient to the LORD God, Who renewed it. The Christ-ian mind is the mind of Christ (Philippians 2). The Christ-ian mind thinks on these things: truth, honesty, and what is just, what is pure, what is lovely,  and whatsoever is of good report.

Of course, the insipid old man, the carnal nature, the lusting flesh are still around and they pop into our minds at the worst of times, mocking us, and prodding us to quit. Pray through all of that. When they get loud and bring evil thoughts into mind, you pray louder and louder. Shout if you must but, Pray through it.  Know this, one day we will be in Heaven with Him, and they will be in Hell without Him.

Depravity is the evil in the mind that is hidden by smiles. Depravity is a politician shaking hands with another politician, they are smiling and laughing, yet, in their mind they are saying, “I wish this guy would die.” Depravity is, “Hello, it is nice to meet you,” while the mind is thinking about fornicating. Depravity is, “I wish all Christians would die and go to hell.” That is an actual quote from a comment thread under a Franklin Graham news article I read months ago. If one wants to see or rather read, the foaming at the mouth, depraved citizenship, look up an article on Franklin Graham or his sister, Anne Graham Lotz on yahoo or google. Scroll down to the comments sections and you will read, for yourself, the hatred and evil imagining the people have for God and His own.

If one understands human depravity one will never be surprised by the evil that is perpetrated. One will not be surprised by be-headings, Christ-ians being burned alive or dropped into vats of acid. One will not be surprised when a man kills a police officer or a politicians is wrapped up in scandal. One will not be surprised when persons they have known for years simply, fall away from the faith. One will not be surprised by a mother killing her children, or a religious figure falling into sin.

To be human is to be depraved; To be human is to be married to sin and pleasured, thereby.

To be Christ-ian is to bring thoughts under constraint and to think independently, upon good things, good things like honour, loyalty, love, respect, truth, justice, mercy, grace, and above all, Think about and talk to God.

 

“Thou shalt have no other gods before [M]e.  (Exodus 20:3)

 

What do the following have in common? Self, other persons, celebrity, the human body, cell phones, cars, clothing, houses, ideas, careers, politics, politicians, and sin?  These things, these concepts, these institutions can be deified. In other words, one can make a god out of anything. When one deifies anything it becomes an idol. When one treats anything as an idol, it is called idolatry. When one takes part in this, one becomes an idolater and is guilty of idolatry. One is guilty of having another god before the One True God…see above.

What would constitute something as a god? Obedience? worship? love? longing? trust? attention? and care? How about sacrifice?  A god is something that is loved above other things, is obeyed, worshipped, longed for if separated, a god is trusted,  and much attention is given to it.

In the Scriptures we find others gods being worshiped, obeyed, and sacrificed to. There is Molech, Baal, Dagon, Beelzebub, and  (s)atan, and “another (j)esus” (We’ll speak to this another time). Molech was a furnace in the shape of a demon (what we would call, a demon) and the worshipers of Molech would sacrifice their offspring to this furnace god. Baal, it would seem, is a god that requires blood, as the worshipers of Baal, on Mt. Carmel, began to cut themselves, to get their god, Baal’s attention. Dagon was the god of the Philistines. The Philistines gave praise and worship to Dagon, when Samson was taken captive. This was just before God…the Almighty, gave Samson the strength to “bring down the house” in the most literal of terms. Beelzebub is another name for (s)atan. When translated, the name means, “king of dung.”

In our contemporary times these gods are not gods of consequence. However, there are gods among us. These gods take a different form than gods did in the past.

Evolutionists worship the god, education. Fornicators worship the god, sex. C.E.O.s worship the god, business. Many persons and peoples worship the god, smart phone. Those who put their political party above their “religion” worship the god, politics. Those who are self centered are worshipers of the god, self.

You see, many gods are among us.

We are not saying that any one with a car, house, phone, education, etc. are idolaters, of course not.  However, if any of the above is loved, obeyed, sacrificed to, or longed for, to the excluding of God, you are an idolater.

Psalm 115:1-8; “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto [T]hy [N]ame give glory, for [T]hy mercy, and for [T]hy truths’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in [H]eavens: [H]e hath done whatsoever [H]e hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths , but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: Noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not, neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them, so is everyone that trusteth in them.”

This Psalm is repeated in psalm 135. In Psalm 115, after this description of false gods is given, the Psalmist continues with the exhortation to trust in the Invisible God of Israel. The puny human mind, however, wants a god that can be seen and touched, so the heathen ask the the question, where is their God? and the Psalmist answers the question with Psalm 115.  In Psalm 135, the Psalmist repeats himself, however, after giving the description of the false gods, instead of exhorting the people of God to trust in the invisible God of Israel, the Psalmist exhorts them to Bless the LORD. To bless the LORD is to give Him reason to be happy.

These gods of 115 & 135, are soulless and cannot be made happy, for they are non-living. These are trinket gods that one might put into one’s pocket or worn around one’s neck. Note what the end of Psalm 115:8 says, “They that make them are like unto them, so is everyone that trusteth in them.”  A person, who trusts in theses little trinkets, or the larger gods of tribal worship, or any of the other idols, deified by men or women,  are just like their god. They are spiritually dumb, spiritually blind, spiritually deaf, and spiritually lame. The material used in “making their god” is gold and silver. This speaks to the value of the false god.

Our God is not like this, is He? Our God is OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT, and OMNISCIENT. Our God does not require the death of our children, nor does He require our blood. Instead He gives life to us and our children, and He has given His Blood for His people and they that worship Him will become more and more like Him. Our God is invisible….that means…His enemies…. won’t …see… Him…… coming. Our God is unmovable, unshakable, and immutable. That means He cannot be swayed in His Character, He is never taken by surprise, and He is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever. Our God is Sovereign over all things, over everything, He knows all things, and He is Ever Present for His chosen and elect people, who have been re-made in His Image.

Someday soon this God will return, in the Person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will see Him, as He is, for we shall be like Him……GLORY…..GLORY….GLORY to GOD.

“…Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the [G]ospel of the Kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”                                                                                                                                                  (Mark 1:14-15)

(1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

 

“…the gospel of peace.”  (Ephesians 6:15)

 

Besides the Name of our Lord and Saviour, a word within our faith, with tremendous import, is “The Gospel.”  The Gospel means good news. The Gospel is good news to mankind. This Good news to mankind has been Authored by God. God used holy men of old the write what He breathed into them. Therefore, The Gospel is of Divine Authorship and Divine Authority. The Gospel is to be believed and obeyed.  Those who reject the Gospel do so at their own eternal peril. They who receive the Gospel, by faith, do so to their eternal delight.

With the above being said, what is the Gospel? The main answer, most would give, is this: The Gospel is the good news, that the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, and died for sinners, taking their sin upon His Person, He was then buried with mankind’s sin. In accordance to prophecy and promise, He rose again the (3rd) third day and was seen by over (500) five hundred men over the course of many days. We do not disagree with this. For this is the greatest of good news. Christ Jesus, the Lord and Saviour of mankind, took man’s sin upon His person, and suffered and satisfied God’s eternal wrath against sinful man. The news gets better….any person, who believes this news, and finds in the Person of Christ Jesus, a perfect substitute, can be saved from the pleasure of sin, the penalty of sin, and the power of sin, and some day the very presence of sin.

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus, gives proof, and power, to all things He every did and said. Christ came preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, He sent out His (12) twelve disciples and later His (70) seventy disciples to preach, as well. What message were they to preach and where were they to go? The message was the Gospel…of the kingdom of God. The Gospel was the good news that God’s kingdom was nigh present. What does that mean? Remember this, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.?” Christ sent His disciples to the cities where He, Himself, would traverse. The message His disciples were to preach is God Kingdom…God’s will be done on earth.

Before Christ sent His disciple forth, He enabled them to heal and cast out evil spirits. So, they would first preach that God’s kingdom…reign has arrived, and then to demonstrate God’s will, they healed and worked miracles, and showed God’s power over (s)atan. All of this would demonstrate or foreshadow, it seems, the “age of grace”  that Christ would usher in through His death and resurrection.

Christ instructed His disciples to take this Gospel of the Kingdom to certain places. He also instructed them to remain, and to teach, in the homes where they found persons awaiting the Messiah’s reign. He instructed them, as well, to depart from those cities that did not welcome God’s reign. The disciples should, then shake the dust from their feet, as a testimony against them.

Christ would, then, at a later time, would travel to the welcoming cities and households and would manifest the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, through preaching and miracles. Christ, Himself, is the Kingdom of God, you see. 

How many Gospels are there then? The Scriptures speaks to the Gospel of the kingdom, as we have seen. The Scriptures also speaks to the Gospel of…grace, hope, peace, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, God, etc. There is, however, only (1) one Gospel with many glistening facets.

What should we preach today if we are to preach the Gospel? When we preach the Gospel, we do as our Lord directed us to do. We preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, which finds it’s power in the Gospel of Christ Jesus. We preach, “Christ crucified,” and risen. We preach that man can enter God’s kingdom through Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life…and that man is kept out of the kingdom of God, as well, for “No man cometh unto the Father but by [M]e.”

Man must be aware, however, that if he comes to Christ, Christ will usher him into the life, where God’s will is done, on earth, as it is in heaven. The Gospel, preached this way will also bring man to the reality of a sinful life. If coming to Christ brings man to a life of holiness and righteousness, then man must be leaving a life of sin and unrighteousness.

 

Let me spell it out clearly, Before a man is saved, the Holy Spirit is sent declaring the Kingdom of God (the Lord Jesus) is at hand. If the Spirit finds hospitable host (one that agrees with what God has said, concerning his unrighteous life) and longs for the Lord Christ to dwell in his home, The Spirit will remain and Christ will assume the reigns from then on.   In other words, a man must know he is lost, before he can be saved. The preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom will make this plain and simple as will the preaching of “Christ crucified.”

” I am all things to all people.”  (St. Paul)

 

When Paul said this, he was not admitting to being a man pleaser, for to be a man pleaser, Paul would say, is to disqualify one from pleasing God  Our Master Jesus, would say, no man can serve two masters, he will hate the one and love the other, but to serve both is impossible. Paul, purpose in being all things to all people, was to be attractive to the Jew and the Gentile, the wise and the barbarian. He was not playing a part, he was putting more attention or a spotlight upon the part of himself that would be more welcomed by his listeners.

Christ, our Lord is a Prophet, Priest, and a King. He fulfilled (3) three offices. In each of these offices He would use different attributes and tools. As Prophet, He would speak boldly to man for God; as Priest, He would humbly petition God, in the stead of others, and as King, He would show forth His authority, might, goodness, and mercy, and graciousness. These are (3) three offices He fulfilled perfectly.

In this article we will write upon the offices we all fill, for example, I am a Christ-ian, a man, a husband, a father, a preacher, a prophet, a priest, a son, a brother, a nephew, and uncle, a friend, an American, a voter, a reader, a writer, etc. In each of these offices, I must think differently and in a way be a different person, if you will. To demonstrate, if one is a husband to a friend that is adultery; if I act as a father to my wife, I am condescending. If I am always the preacher, my children may see me as distant.  You get my point.

We should all fulfill our offices when we are in them. We should not bring our offices with us when they are not appropriate. If one is in the office of prophet when one should be in the office of priest, a person in need will feel unheard and they will feel as though they have just heard a sermon and not spoken with a friend. In the office of priest we are to take our friends needs to God and petition Him for them or with them, depending upon their spiritual state.

We should realize to whom we are speaking to and handle them accordingly. When we council another person, sometimes we are a Calvin and sometimes, a Luther. A Calvin is a little more soft spoken, a little more careful and maybe a little more “intellectual”. Whereas, a Luther, though just as sound and well taught, is more to the point and blunt. Calvin makes small flesh cuts, Luther takes the entire arm.  Calvin was quoted as saying, “A pastor needs two voices. One voice to in treat the flock and another to chase off the wolves. [paraphrased].” This is fulfilling two offices.

This concept works well in the work place, as well. One might develop a “persona.” In other words, one might put on a costume when in the work place. When I was in the business world, I would not be the typically, reserved, quiet, observer. In stead, I was the out-going, friendly sales guy. Presently, when I step into the pulpit, I am not the nice, friendly, warm and welcoming person I normally am, in stead we are the sober, grave, Spirit-focused, no humoured Bible expositor. I am not a different person or playing a part, we are filling the office of a God’s called preacher.

Another way to look at this concept is, hats. We all wear many hats. There are mom hats, dad hats, employee hats, employer hats, etc. These offices or hats all deserve out full attention and we can wear only one at a time. To wear the employee hat in the dad office deprives both employer and child of their rightful attention and focus. Sometimes, it is needful for a person to take off the parent hat and put on the friend hat when speaking with a grown child and vice versa. Spouses must be able to take off their parent hats and put on their husband and wife hats and enter the man and woman office.

To be successful in each office one needs to be thoughtful and know where one office ends and another begins. One must be aware of what hat is being worn before engaging another.

I hope this all makes sense. Please overlook any spelling, grammar, of punctuation errors.

Godspeed.

” One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth everyday, alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”  (Romans 14:1)

 

We are never amazed at the differences of opinions and the emotions that arise around this time of year. Nor are we reminded how tired we have grown of the prayer in school arguments. Nor do we ever get surprised by people questioning us or commenting to, us or at us, regarding the manner in which we adorn our persons. We will, in this article speak on each of these separately.

 

Whenever X Mas rolls around around, one can count on the Christmas v. X Mas.  One person will say how much they love this time of year and another will correct them and inform them that was originally a pagan holiday and that it is not Christian to celebrate it. Sooner or later the subject concerning the Fat man in the red suit will surface and all bets are off. The one will say that S. C. is just a fun tradition and the other will call it an out right lie to children and a (s)atanic deception to turn attention away from Christ. The irony is that the debate, itself, turns the attention away from Christ and cause unnecessary division.

We will, in the article, (DV), give our thoughts on the topic. We hope we will be able to limit our thoughts to this piece and speak of it no more. We do not think our thoughts will convince anyone to change, nor do we seek to do so, as every man must be persuaded, himself as the quoted passage states.

What do we believe about this time of year? First, we enjoy this time of year as it is a time for family and regardless of one’s view points, anytime family can come together is a good time. Do I celebrate Christmas, “No.” Do I purchase gifts and receive gifts? “You bet I do.” Do I look down on those that do celebrate Christmas? “Nope.”  Do I or did I every tell my children about Santa Claus? “Nope.”  Do I look down on parents that do? “Nope.”

So where does my personal opinions fall? Before I state them, let me preface them by promising to offend someone? The offense is not my intent nor is it my motive. Besides, I cannot offend any one, really. You will be offended because you will allow it.

Do I celebrate Christmas? “I do not celebrate Christmas, but enjoy X Mas. I see Christmas as the Christian “Pearl of great price” being thrown to the “swine.” Christ belongs to the Christ-ian and not the non believer. While Christmas, we are told, celebrates the birth of the Christ, the truth is it only pretends to celebrate, “The Baby Jesus”, if Christ figures in at all.” These persons celebrate and “love” the “Baby Jesus” hate the “Man Christ Jesus!” They are comfortable with the idea of “Jesus” safely bound in a manger, but despise the Man Christ Jesus, that would certainly scourge them, and run them out of His Father’s house on Christmas Morn! Always remember, it was the religious persons that crucified Him.

I do enjoy X Mas as a “secular” holiday when I can spend money without my wife becoming angry with me and telling me “Dollars add up, Loder.”  X Mas, to me is like any other day, it “is the day which my LORD hath made and we will rejoice and be glad in it,” like all the other days He has crafted. Everyday is a reason to rejoice in my Master’s resurrection and to be glad for it. I do not set aside one day as a special day to celebrate His birth or resurrection. Every day is the day for Celebrating my Lord and [H]is great love, wherewith [H]e loved me, and gave [H]imself for me.

Do I “do (s)atan Claws,” err, Santa Claus? Obvious not. I never told my children that (s)atan Claws was a real person, but neither did we allow them to “ruin” it for other children, nor did we teach them or allow them to judge others that did. (s)atan Claws was a (s)atanic, titanic-sized deception that good and well intentioned parents fell into to. The truth about the Fat man in the red suit, as I see him is this, He came from the North, he came bearing gifts, his colors were red and white, he knew if you’d been bad or good, and he read your letters, I.E. prayer requests. If you were bad you got coal, to keep the fire of hell stoking.  Hmmm, now Who does that sound like………”MMMmhhh? Mmmmeee thinks, Christ? Isn’t that special?” One cannot be intellectual honest and not see the likeness.

The danger in “doing Santa Claws” is this; A/the parent(s), someone, that all children should believe, tells the children, about Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, Oh, and God. Then, on some bright shining morning the parent(s) drop the bomb, and they tell the child, “I’m sorry, Schnuckums, Santa isn’t real, nor is the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, or the Sandman.”  and Schnuckums responds with, “But, ‘sniff, sniff’ what about God?”  “Oh, Honey,” says Mom or Dad, “Oh, He’s still real.” The child, in his sub conscience,  wonders,  Huh, for how much longer will God be real. You may think me hyperbolic, but think again. In closing this portion, we will do so in a jesting manner… the kids are should be comforted by learning their home is not so easily broken into by a fat man, a mutant Rabbit, a crazy lady, stealing teeth, and a wacko sprinkling sand!

Do I judge parents that celebrate Christmas and all it’s trappings? “I do not.” You may or may not believe me, but that is my answer. Christmas, to me is a personal choice that each person has the liberty to decide for themselves and their own.

Onto the much debated subjects of our time, prayer in schools.  At first glance this is a “no- brainer” for Christians every where. Of course, prayer should be in schools. Then a litany of evils will soon follow that have occurred since “God was kicked out.”   Do I believe prayer should be in schools” Let me be clear, “No, No way, Jose, Nada, Nyet, etc. ” Am I anti prayer, I am not, I am a believer and teacher in “practicing the Presence of God, ” in praying without ceasing and being instant in prayer. If we could only preach on (2) two things, we would preach on the subjects of constant prayer and the Sovereignty of God over all.

Why then would we be against prayer in school? The first reason: Prayer has never, nor will ever, leave schools, public places, the military or any where. The praying people will always pray and they will “pray everywhere.” The second reason: If Christ-ian prayer was recognized in school, so would the Muslim’s call to prayer, the (s)atanic mass, the Catholic mass, the gay church, etc. Kids being kids, which do you think would draw most of their attention? The children would also be taught, indoctrinated, and brain-washed to respect all religions, ideas, lifestyles, and cultures. Do you still think it a good idea? Instead of praying for prayer to return to school, let us pray that it will return to the House of God, the House of prayer.

Onto the adorning of my body. Why don’t i wear shirts with another person’s name or likeness on it? Let me again, preface my comment. I do not judge others that do, as it is a personal choice based in Christian liberty. We do not wear clothing with a person’s name or likeness on them because we were, “bought with a [high] price,” and we advertise and bring attention to only One Person, Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is our personal opinion that when one where’s a likeness or name they are advertising for that person.

This personal conviction does not extend to wearing one’s employer’s name or logo, for God has appointed that employer as your master for “eight” (8) hours a day, and that employer is under God’s authority also. We do not see a  conflict of interest in wearing a sports logo like Cubs, Bears, WWE, MMA, Bulls, Packers,  etc. This simply shares one’s interest with others. I am convicted, however, with a person’s name or likeness. We, ourself, are not able to wear the name of any athlete, politician, fictional character as we advertise for Christ, Alone. There are many Batman shirts on the market that we enjoy looking at but to wear one “goes against conscience and until I am convinced by Scripture….” You get my point. I must confess that I do, on rare occasion, wear a Batman logo under my shirt or privately to bed for this does not advertise or bring attention to anyone and besides that, “I’m Batman,” to be heard in my batman voice.

If anyone is offended by any of the above, it is not my intent, motive, or even a possibility. If you are annoyed, besmirched, angered, infuriated, irritated or otherwise overcome or overwhelmed, it is not my doing. I have been speaking to my personal convictions. I have not been speaking to what you should or should not do, to your own “[M]aster, you will stand or fall.” That is the thing with the liberty Christ has won for each of us. We can and should, “Have faith to ourselves.” That is to say, enjoy what you enjoy, and if need be, keep it between you and God, for the LORD shares His secrets with whom He wills, and vice versa. John said, if your conscience bothers you not, great. This of course, does not include sin or unwise activities. If sin or unwise activities do not cause your conscience to shout out, you should “examine yourself.” If one enjoys something others do not, or are viewed by some as non-Scriptural, keep your enjoyments to thyself as you do not want the weaker brother to fall into the sin of pride-filled judging,  or the new believer to struggle with a subject s/he may not be ready for. One does not want to take part in the fall of a brother or sister, who struggles with the liberty you enjoy.  This is not hiding anything but protecting another’s conscience.

We, ourself, enjoy, WWE, MMA-Jiu Jitsu, “The Walking Dead,” “The Exorcist” T.V. series and the edited version of the movie, “Supernatural”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Criminal Minds,”  “Law and Order,” “Batman, and Judge Judy”  Things we do not like, Commercials that blatantly play on my emotions, starving kids, the homeless, animals, etc., most “Christ-ian” programming, CNN, MSNBC, the “Kardashians,” most ‘Reality’ T.V.,  We like many other things, but we listed the freedoms we thought might cause some to question us, which, in fact, should cause them to consider themselves and any legalism that is lording over them. We also wanted to demonstrate our Christ-ian liberty at work. The Christ-ian’s Shield of Faith will protect them from any “corruption” a program may cause.

Many, while thinking the above is un-Christ-ian, will allow their children to watch shows like, Bear in the Big [Pinko] House, and “Dora, the Supplanting, Extortioner” [of children’s emotions] and go to schools, where their little “sponge(s)” is/are absorbing (s)atanic lie after lie, without challenging the teacher and the system.

Paul teaches us that we should enjoy, richly, all that God has given us and that means enjoying things others don’t, can’t or just won’t.

Godspeed

“And [H]is disciples asked [H]im, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? [imagine being there with Him] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But, I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of [M]an suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that [H]e spake unto them of John the Baptist.”  (Matthew 17:10-13)

What is it that constitutes a person?  Who Am I?  What is it that completes a person? Descartes, said, “I think ,Therefore, I am.” Others say, a person is the sum total of his/her experiences. Yet, again, some say, a person is what s/he eats.

Well, then, in keeping with the above, we are what we read and we are what we allow.

With all that said, What or who am I?

In my mind’s eye, I see a sponge. This sponge is absorbing the Patriarchs, the apostles, the early church Fathers, the Reformers, the Puritans, and the Inklings.

With this absorption, we have taken in to ourselves; that is to say, into our minds, thoughts, emotions and into our bodies, the likes of:  Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Noah, Samson, Gideon, Ehud, David, Joeb, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Peter& Paul, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Watson, Richard Sibbes, Isaac Watts,  Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon,  Arthur Pink, C.S. Lewis, and Martyn LLoyd-Jones and Joel Osteen…..Gotcha! There is no Joel Osteen in my theological make up.

So,……….. Who are we?….  Who are you?…………..We, Christ-ians, are the sum total of THe God-Ordained Saints, Teachers, Preachers, Reformers, Puritans , and Inklings…….A..N…D…….on top of that……………………… GOD IS FOR US, AND HE IS IN US!!!……………. Who completes us?   …………..God does. We are in Christ and the Godhead is in us.

 

Please forgive any misspellings, grammar mistakes, and punctuation errors, for I am an unlearned and ignorant fisher of men.

“…walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind…” (Ephesians 4:17)

 

Before you, dear reader, continue, please read, Ephesians 4:17-the end of the chapter. You will need to have the context of this passage to really benefit from this article. Yes, You do have the time, it is the inclination you may not have.

If you have read Ephesians 4:17-32, you most likely saw the difference between the Christ-ian and the non Chris-ian Gentile (Gentile = non-Jew). Paul starts by directing the Christ-ian to walk not as other Gentiles walk, or live (Walk = Live). Paul said these other Gentiles walk in the vanity or empty/worthlessness of their mind, their understanding is darkened, due to their rejection of God. Paul goes on to say, [They are] past feeling  [or caring] having given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness [sinfulness and unholiness] with greediness [or self interest and self centeredness].

Paul then, begins to show the difference between the unclean, God-less Gentile and the Blood-washed Christ-ian. He says, the believer has put off the the old corrupt way of life, which was in accordance to deceitful lusts. The new man and his mind has been renewed. The new man has been created or recreated by God in righteousness and true holiness. The new man has put away lying, and sinning out of anger, he has ceased to steal, and to talk dirty. This newly created man has “let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from [him], with all malice.

The newly re-created, Blood-washed man has replaced the above life with speaking truth with his neighbor, labouring with his own hands, and helping the one in need, he has begun speaking words of encouragement and he has become kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving of others. The New man will continue to do these good works because he has come to realize all that God has done for him, and that it was for Christ’s sake. The new man no longer grieves the Holy Spirit, Who has sealed him until the day of redemption.

Now, How can anyone, being intellectually honest, not believe the Christ-ian to be better than the non? If the Christ-ian is not better, why do we all seek to share Christ with them? If the Holy Spirit indwelling the Christ-ian doesn’t make him/her better; what could? Isn’t the beginning chapters of Hebrews all about one thing or one Person being better than another? When Paul calls the believer, a new creation/creature in Christ, does this not necessitate, the new creature being better? What is the alternative but the Old creation/creature in Adam that is described in Ephesians 4?

Am I suggesting that we, Christ-ians, walk around with our holy noses in the air? Of course not. What I am suggesting, or rather plainly stating, is this, Know who you are and from Whom you have come. Know that you are, “Simul justus et, Peccator!” That is to say, you are a saint and a sinner at the same time. You, Christ-ian, are a hybrid. In your sinner-hood, you are depraved and are a pure blood’d sinner, a sinner overflowing with the sinfulness of sin. But…but, in your Saint-hood, you are a pure blood saint and that Pure Blood comes from God, Who purchased [you] with His own [B]lood. How dare we say, “We’re not better…we’re just 4given!” That is an insult to God, our Re-Maker!

The Good News for the saint is this, God only looks upon the saint-side and chooses to remember no more, the sinner-side. PRAISE GOD, ALL YE THAT HATH BREATHE!!!

Is Paul not better than the masters of the damsel possessed with a spirit of divination (Acts 16)? Is Peter not better than Simon, the Sorcerer (Acts 8)? Is Stephen not better than his killers, Saul included? Is not Issac better than Pharaoh? Is not David better than Goliath and the rejected King? How about the Children of Israel, are they not better than every first born in Egypt? Was not the new King Manasseh better than the old King Manasseh(2 Chronicles 33)? Is not St. Paul, the apostle better than Saul, the Pharisee?

Q. What is it that makes the Christ-ian better than the non…………………………………….? A. The Lord Jesus Christ, The Son of God. God Incarnate died and rose again to remake many persons and peoples, new and better. God chose to make an elect number of persons into the new creation/creature in Christ.

We, in our own person, are not better or superior than anyone else. However, when the Passion of the Christ…When the Gospel apprehends us, we are changed and made new. When we, then, factor in the Promised and Indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ, we cannot, but, acknowledge our newness is real and it is better than….

Q. If we, Born again Christ-ians, are = to everyone else, why should everyone else seek to be like us?                                                                                                                                                             A. We, born again Christ-ians, are not = to everyone else. The Christ-ian is being more and more conformed to a Christ-likeness. This conforming or transforming takes place in the mind. God has given the Christ-ian a renewed mind that is sound. God will continue to update and renew the ever transforming mind of the Christ-ian. The Holy Spirit will bring us to the predestined end of Christ-likeness. Christ-likeness was promised us at our new birth. So, how can a believing Christ-ian not see that we are, supernaturally, better than others?

Again, we are not talking about being prideful or haughty. We are simply stating a Scriptural fact. The fact is logical, and is acceptable….The Christ-ian is better than the non Christ-ian. God loves us; not them.

Now that we have argued our case, what’s next? We, as Christ-ians, must be above pettiness; we must be above revenge or ‘getting even,’for if one is to, ‘get even’ with another, one must descend. We, as Christ-ians, must soar, we must soar like God’s eagle. We, as Christ-ians, must not run amok with the swine.

The historical Christ-ians knew their strengths, gifts and power and their place. These Christ-ians used their strengths and gifts to help others. They prayed for the prayer-less, they spoke to the old creature/creation about the new Life in Christ. The Christ-ian accepted and knew the office of priest and prophet and s/he fulfilled it with God’s grace.

The Christ-ian does not; must not look down on others, for without the Godhead, the Christ-ian would be one with the others…spiritually dead and in Adam.

Some may ask, “Where does this guy get off thinking Christ-ians are better than others”

Our answer is this:  The Christ-ian life is better!!!……. That’s the bottom line, …..because God, in His Word, say’s so.