“… The fruit of the Spirit is love…” Galatians 5:22

The fruit of the fundamentalist is high and mighty judgment and self luv.

The very first fruit mentioned as being the fruit of the Spirit is love. This would mean, therefore, that when the Holy Spirit enters the sinner the very first manifestation of a change is in what the newborn saint loves. 1 john teaches us what this newborn saint will newly love. This new love will be set upon: 1. The Lord Jesus Christ/God  2. God’s Word, His ways, His works, His law  3. The church, I.E. the brethren or the body of Christ. As this love ripens, the saint will grow to love both his neighbor and his enemy.

The Lord speaks of another kind of love, which we will call “luv” from this point. It is the world’s love. He says in John 15 “…the world will [luv] its own.” The world luvs that which is of itself; a kind of spiritual Narcissism. The world loves not God nor does it love the things of God. It is a spirit of anti Christ-ian-ism as it exalts itself above all that is called God. This luv for itself necessitates it’s despisement of God. Neither can the world serve (2) two masters either. It will luv the one and hate the other. The world luvs its own and hates God’s own.

In my experience and in accordance to my acute observations, the fundamental-isitic-ism  of the Independent Church (Independent from God, me thinks) is more in line with the world’s luv than the love of God. Members of this member-centered church luvs its own. This church despises those of other flavours or denominations. I can prove it. If you ask these church members if you could attend their church with them as their visitors they would luv you. See? They will luv their own.

One cannot speak of the world without specifying what the Spirit of God calls it. The Holy Spirit calls this world the “present, evil world.” The Holy Spirit also discloses that (s)atan is the little god of this present, evil world.

Therefore, the luv wherewith the fundamentalists luv is more of (s)atan than of God. They luv their own and despise those of other denominations. How could a person sit in a church of God and not grow to love their neighbor and their enemy? They could not. Therefore the fundamental-istic types are sitting in a church of god…the church of the god of this present, evil world.

I am saddened and not a little angered by this.The Gospel teaches love and not luv. Christ said the world would recognize us as being His by our love one for another. He left us with a new commandment which is to love each other as He has loved us. This is the love of God that manifests and assures us of the Presence of God’s Holy Spirit, of the divine nature, and of the fruit of the Spirit.

“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.                                                                                                                         (Numbers 12:3)

“Take [M]y yoke upon you, and learn of [M]e; for I Am meek and lowly in spirit.                                                                                                                                                        (Matt.11:29)

 

Meekness is associated with weakness. Meekness is associated with weakness by those who do not understand it; by those who show off their authority and or personal strength; by those who believe intimidation is the means to get one’s way.

Meekness is not weakness.  

One who is fearless cannot be brave or courageous; likewise one who is powerless cannot be meek. In other words ….only one with fear can be brave and courageous and only one with power and authority can be meek.

What meekness is to the Christ and His people is what Bruce Wayne is to Bat Man. Likewise; What the prayer closet is to the Christ-ian is what the phone booth is to Super Man.

Meekness presupposes power, strength, and authority.

There have been a number of times when this writer has been “challenged”, both actively and passively by men in public places. By actively we mean a drunk man outwardly challenged us with words and physical language. We could have easily put this man down but we chose not to. Instead we made him look foolish. By passively we mean a man standing in our way of passage and refuseing to move. The choice is to go around or to go through. Weakness dictates go through but meekness requires going around slowly while looking the boy-man dead in his eyes.

 What does meekness look like?

Meekness is the 135 lb. “The Cobra” beating a larger 2–lb. Pittman at Pride championship. *Meekness is the humble preacher George Foreman winning the world Boxing title. *Meekness looks like a quiet, reserved young man becoming the enforcer on his soccer team and returning to his quiet reserved self off the soccer field. *Meekness is a preacher submitting others on the jiu jitsu mat.  *Meekness looks like turning the other cheek when one is struck on the opposite cheek. *Meekness looks like blessing those that curse you. *Meekness looks like doing good to those that hate you. *Meekness looks like praying for them that despitefully use you. *Meekness looks like committing all things to God Who judgeth righteously. *Meekness is the Almighty One going to Calvary to pay for the sins of His chosen people. *Meekness is staying on the cross…your cross and my cross when He could call legions of angels to descend and massacre all enemies of Christ.

Who was called meek in Scripture or demonstrates meekness in the Scriptures?

Moses in Numbers 12:3; David in 2 Samuel 16:11;  Jeremiah in Jeremiah:26:14; Stephen in Acts 7:60; Paul in 2 Timothy 4:16.

Christ is the Epitome of Meekness

Christ commands His people in Matthew 11:29 to, “Take My yoke upon you,and learn of [M]e; for I [AM] meek and lowly in spirit.”

Elsewhere in Scripture it is said of Christ;                                                                                                 Isaiah said in the 53 chapter of his prophecy, “He was oppressed and [H]e was afflicted, yet [H]e opened not [H]is [M]outh: ]H]e is brought as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so [H]e openeth not  [H]is [M]outh.

Paul demonstrates the seriousness of his statement by …”beseech[ing] you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:1

Peter sets Christ as our example of meekness when he writes [Christ] Who when [H]e was reviled, reviled not again: when [H]e suffered, [H]e threatened not:but committed [H]imself to [H]im that judgeth righteously. (1 Peter 2:23)

How will the meek inherit the earth? The meek shall inherit the earth when Christ descends and removes the robes of meekness from His chosen soldiers.

The doctrine of meekness gives comfort and confirmation to those who hold back their power, strength and authority from being employed against another.

In a past posting we spoke of the importance of the order in which the Holy Ghost uses words. The order of words is a key, at times, to a precise interpretation which is the only kind of interpretation as Peter says, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the [S]cripture is of any private interpretation.”

• In Jude verse one we read, “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and the brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called…”

In this verse we find a great truth. But first let us look at the words that we are to expound upon. The words are sanctified, preserved, and called. In many churches the order of salvation runs like this…One is called to God, then saved (or preserved) by Christ’s finished work and then sanctified or set apart for the Lord’s use.

However, Jude is talking about something else. The Holy Ghost has inspired the order of the wording. God, in eternity past, set the foreknown individual apart to be saved or preserved in time by Christ’s finished work and then in time called to be a saint for eternity now and for all eternity future.

• Another verse that is misused due to attention not being paid to the order of the words is John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

In most churches the order is believe in God and be born again. However, that is not the order according to Salvation, Himself. What did Christ say in verse three? He said, in other words, This is a true statement, this is a true statement,  I say to you, unless  a man is born from above or is given spiritual life by the Holy Spirit he cannot understand the power or the things of God.

• In Galatians 4:6 Paul writes, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of [H]is Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” In this instance we are not so much concerned with the ordering of the words as the tense of the wording. Two points to notice. 1. The cause of God sending forth the Spirit into hearts and 2. When were the Spirit indwelt considered sons by God?

The cause was the sonship of the persons and when did God consider the persons to be sons? Before the Spirit was sent forth!!! Let us look at this verse again, ” And BECAUSE ye ARE [already] SONS, God sent forth the Spirit of [H]is Son into your hearts [Who allows you to cry] Abba, Father.”

Because preachers get this order wrong they cannot properly teach the great doctrine of adoption. God willing, we will explain what Biblical adoption means. It is not what you think or what most teach.

Order matters.

 

Numbers 6:24-26

“…so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection….” 1 Corinthians 9:26

” I have fought the good fight…”  2 Timothy 4:7

 

We, as Christ-ians, face many enemies and fight battles on many fronts. We contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. We contend for the nation by voting the christian conscience. We win or lose the latter through voting or lack thereof, as well as speaking to issues. Humanly speaking, Prayerlessness and the absence of Gospel preaching and the foundational truth of God’s sovereign power are reason also. How does prayerlessness effect a countries values and welfare is obvious if one knows the power of  prayer and the Power of the One to Whom we pray. How does the absence of Gospel preaching and/or a Gospel witness effect a nation’s values and welfare? By pure numerics the lost are having more of an impact on this nation due to giving birth and raising godless children. There is more of them than us. The only way to combat that is through hearts being changed, persons submitting to Christ’s Lordship and thinking Christlike.

The former, contending for the faith, is done much the same way. However, Contending for the faith is a spiritual matter and it is done upon spiritual grounds and in the Spirit. In contending for the faith there are (2) two that are victorious. (1) One is the sinner who loses to Christ’s holiness and comes to Christ via Christ’s terms. This defeated victor confesses his ways are the ways of sin and Christ’s is the Way of everlasting Life and is True to His eternal Word. The Other Victor is Christ!

Paul likens the Christian life to a boxing and wrestling. You can ask anyone who is “in the fight” (this is not meant to discount anyone’s ministry behind the scenes. If there were no behind the scenes there would be no one “on stage”) and they will tell you it can wear one out. Praising God, praying thru, arguing (not debating) a point can tire a person out.

The title of this post is “How to Win the Fight Against a Larger Opponent.” The answer would depend on what kind of fight. An uppercut would be the wrong answer if we were talking about a political debate.

The fight we are talking about in this post is the “Contending for the Faith” kind of fight. In our last post we defined “fallacy” and gave examples of the more common fallacies used. Keep that in mind because that is your opponent’s “tell”. I.E. your opponent is telling you that they have 0 support for their position and they know their position is  being or has already been defeated. Keep this in mind also…You are not seeking to defeat a person but a position, a view, a point, a belief system, etc.

We can use the example of a jiu jitsu principle to elaborate upon the vital import of relevance.

The experienced jiu jitsu fighter is able to fight and beat larger opponents. They do it time and time again. Some j.j. fighters can tell you how they plan to defeat you and then do it even though you knew their plan.

When we were still training and fighting we learned this principle,  we are not fighting a man or competing against a larger opponent. We learned to focus on a body part or member. In other words, the fight was not between ourself (160-170 lbs) and a (220 lb) man. The fight was between ourself and a leg or a shoulder or an arm or an Adam’s apple or a carotid artery. While our opponent, who was not trained in Jiu Jitsu, was fighting a 170 pound man we were fighting a left shoulder of a right handed man. This is how one wins a fight.

That is also how one defeats an erroneous belief, a position, a point, a view, or an argument.

Do not debate the person but the position. Focus on the position only or in other words focus on that which is relevant to the argument. When a fallacy is used or brought in by the other person either ignore it or point it out as proof to the weakness of their argument… Then get back to the relevant point…Now.

St. Paul said he was not as one who “beateth the air” or shadow boxing. Beloved, our enemy(ies) are real and they are at the gate. If you do not believe me go to the Yahoo site, find any article on Franklin Graham or his sister, scroll down to the comments section and read what people say about them. You may as well interchange your name for Graham because they feel the same way about you.

Another way to shut down many of the haters is to simply ask them to support their position with evidence.  For example, “Do you have any proof?”,  “Can you support that statement with facts?”,  “Can you give me a website so I can see for myself”,  “What facts support your position?”, “Could you please explain further”, “Could you elaborate, please?”

Much of the time questions like these shut mouths and demonstrate ignorance. Hopefully when the mouth is stopped the mind will open. The Proverbs tells us the wise person will be ready to learn at this point.

There was a man of the pharisees, names Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto [H]im, Rabbi, we know that [T]hou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that [T]hou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto [H]im, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit…..Nicodemus answered and said unto [H]im, How can these things be?  John 3:1-6,9.

It has been said by wise men that one should know one’s enemies. It is said by St. Paul the Apostle that anyone that adds anything to the Christ’s finished work is an enemy of the Cross.

One of the great enemies to logic and fair minded and sound arguments is the fallacy. What is a fallacy? I define fallacy in simple politically incorrectness terms. A fallacy is a trick one uses when one is fully aware that their point or argument is weak and is not supported by truth, evidence fact.A fallacy is also used to get attention diverted from one’s self.

One of the most commonly used fallacies is the laugh and roll of the eyes. We are all familiar with this. I know a sociopath that uses this one like some fallacy company is paying him.

We will list (DV) some of the more common fallacies with little explanation as they will be understood. We will (DV) give an example here and there of what one might say if one uses the trick.

Many fallacies have Latin names but we will use everyday language.

A fallacy may appeal                                                                                                                                    Authority – “Well,….the president said……”                                                                                          Experience – “Look youngster, I’ve been doing this since you were in diapers…”                      Fear – “If we do not get this done we are doomed”                                                                                Righteousness – “The pope said……so it must be true…”                                                                  Attack the person, his character or his past, etc.                                                                                    Straw man – Misrepresent an opponent’s view, point, or argument.                                              Demonize an opponents argument while making their’s appear saintly.                                      Evade questions                                                                                                                                                Ingratiate self and or flatter opponent and hearers.                                                                            Ignore evidence and facts.                                                                                                                             Be veRY LOUD.                                                                                                                                                     Generalize – “All Christ-ians  are……. All Calvinists……No Arminians……All Americans…  Reductionist – oversimplify                                                                                                                           Red Herrings – “WwwwwhhhhaaaatttteeeVerrrr, what we should be talking about is this….”                                                                                                                                                                    Am appeal to humour.

 

In our text we find Nicodemus appealing to humour and trying to flatter the Lord. He does this in order to ingratiate himself to Christ as well as trying to take Him off His guard. We see Christ’s method and therefore what our method should be in the face of a fallacy. His method is to simply ignore the fallacy and to go to the heart of the matter…”Verily, verily I say unto thee, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” If you do deal with the fallacy all you should do is to point out the deceitful behaviour.

Application(s) 1. Always have support for your views, points, and argument. 2. Make certain that your support is honest and pure. 3. Take time to examine your stands and points of views. 4. Look to Scripture to find life’s answers as well as help for everyday life.

“…Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

From Paul’s first epistle to Timothy in the (4th) fourth verse and the (2nd) second chapter we find a verse that is rather simple to understand…or so it may seem.  Those from the Arminian school of thought read the verse this way; “Who will have [ALL] men to be saved….”  Those from the Calvinistic school of thought read it this way; “Who will have all men to be saved…”  The Arminian believes that God would have each and every single person saved.  The Calvinist would teach that God would have not only Jews to be saved, but Gentiles from all tongues, nations, tribes, races, etc. to be saved.

While the two (2)  schools debate, we all miss out on Paul’s actual intent.  This is where precision matters.  One rule to sound interpretation is that the order of words is important.  If this simple rule were followed then teachings like Jude 1 would be taught properly, as would Galatians 4:6; I John 5:1; John 3:3, and many others.  God willing, we may teach on these passages in the future.

In keeping with the order of words-rule let us look again at 1 Timothy 2:4; God will have all men to be 1. saved and 2. come unto the knowledge of the truth. Does that match up with Scripture? Are men saved and then they come to the knowledge of the truth,  OR do men come to the knowledge of the truth and then become saved?

Throughout Scripture men learn from God and then they repent and then they believe. Salvation comes to man in that order.

With the above being clarified let us then investigate what v. 4 means.  To do this let’s look in v.1 -3.  In verse 1. Paul exhorts the reader to make all manner of prayer for all manner of men; for Kings and for those in authority. The purpose of prayers is seen in verse 2, “[so] that we (Believers) may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. v.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour…”

In other words verses 1-3 teach us, as believers, to pray for our president, those in congress, and for those in the senate on the state level, and the federal level as well as our mayor and our governor so that we, as Christ-ians, may lead quiet, peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. God is pleased with this kind of life. Then we move into v 4. where we now understand that God is pleased with our prayers for authorities, or authorities that show kindness to Christ-ians,  and for Christ-ians that lead good, godly lives because Christ-ians are kept safe (Greek word for saved in v.4)  and are able to come unto a [furthering] knowledge of the truth.

If one compares this interpretation with Jeremiah 29:7 they will see the compatibility.

Application(s);

Be precise in your study of Scripture; Procure a concordance.  Procure a “Treasury of Bible knowledge”.  Pray for our human leaders and God’s will over them.  Thank God for good leaders.  Confess you trust in God when being ruled by bad leaders.  Seek wisdom when choosing new leaders.  Thank God for the freedom we enjoy as Christ-ians and as Americans (in that order).  Know that the heart of the king (and authorities lower than a king) is in the [H]and of the LORD.

Numbers 6:24-26

“The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another”                                                                                                                                                 (Genesis 31:49)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity?”                                                                                                                                                    (Psalm 133:1)

 

What a shame it is when brothers and sisters in Christ lose touch with one another. We confess we are very good at losing touch with many in our Christ-ian family. We make no excuse for it as we are simply the type of person that likes friends at a distance. This does not mean I do not love them or that I am not available for them and to them but we are not the small talk hanging out type. Having said that we want to be clear that we do not want to lose touch with longtime friends/brethren.

In the texts above we would draw your attention to “when we are absent one from another” in the first text. We could infer that these persons had every intention of coming back together at a later date. In the second text we learn that it is “good and…pleasant…for brethren to dwell together in unity.” God is pleased when His children are in unity. Paul would call it hearts knitted together. In fact  in the Proverbs is listed (6) six things that God hates and the (7th) seventh is abomination to Him. That abominable seventh is those who would sow discord among brethren.

We can think of a number of believers we have lost contact with over the years. Some of these have their reasons and others do not. One in particular is a brother that just had surgery and we knew nothing of it. This is the time we ask ourselves what happened there? Why did we lose contact? There was no problems or discord; so what happened? I’m glad to have remade contact with this beloved brother. We can now pray for him and look forward to having fellowship with him in the future (DV).

Some lose contact when there is a church split and some lose contact because of life getting in the way or someone moves away. None of these are good reasons but only excuses.

The Christ-ian family is a precious gift from God. The Christ-ian family supports one another, cares for one another, suffers with one another, we weep when another weeps and we rejoice when another rejoices. The Christ-ian family gives us a very little insight to the Godhead or Trinity. As God is one God in Three (3) Person with a like minded-ness and unbreakable unity with it’s foundation in love so is the church family. The Church family is one body made up of different parts and it is to be like-minded, unified. We are to love each other for this was Christ’s new commandment to us…that we love one another.

How can we love each other if we are silent and distant?

Again, I am are very guilty in this matter and I confess it before God. Having said that I do not mean to imply that I will be a lover of small talk and hanging out. No. But as an under- shepherd of His flock I will be more faithful to use my staff to look under the sheep’s fur. In other words I will begin to mettle more in the lives of those I love.

Numbers 6:24-26

“Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold it is a stiffnecked people: Let [M]e [A]lone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under [H]eaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.”                                                                                                                                  (Deuteronomy 9:13,14)

 

If one were to search the Scriptures to learn of God’s his-tory with the Jewish people and other nations one would find God’s grace and mercy toward the Jewish people and His severity toward the heathen nations.

The student of Scripture is use to reading of God’s tender loving care of His chosen people as well as His tough love at times. What the student of Scripture is not use to is God stating His plans to destroy His chosen people…The Covenant People… The people of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob…The people of Divine Promise.

However, that is exactly what we find in Deuteronomy 9:13,14. After reading something like this one might begin to doubt God’s promises or even doubt God, Himself! Let not your hearts be troubled, dear child of God. There is no way God would have carried through with His threat. In fact one might say it would be impossible for Sovereign God to do so.

How could we state that so definitively?  Because God said this to Abraham, “Look now toward [H]eaven, and tell the stars, if thou art able to number them: and [H]e said unto him, so shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD;and [H]e counted it to him for righteousness.”

If God broke His Word to Abraham by destroying the Jewish people and starting again with a people after Moses then the salvation we enjoy would always be in doubt. The righteousness (salvation) that Abraham enjoyed was based upon his belief in God’s promise of a great nation coming forth from his loins.

Our salvation (imputed righteousness) is also based upon God’s Word to Christ (Isaiah 42) only. So if God broke His Word to Abraham His Word would always be in doubt.

But again, the destruction of the children of Israel at the Hand of God was and is an impossibility for God’s Word stands true now, then, and forever.

The thinker might then ask, “What was the point of the threat then?”

O’ Beloved, God knows each of His people in an intimate way. He knows what is needed and when. God knows the who, the what, the when, the where, the how of your lives. He knows how to tend your heart. He is able to change your perspective just so. He knows your thoughts afar off. He knows what time you wake up and what time you sleep. He knows where the pain is and why the pain is. God knows…you.

And God knows the heart Moses.

Imagine the frustrations of leading a million plus persons to a land they have not known nor seen. Imagine how Moses felt as his God bestowed authority is challenged by those he is called to lead and those within his own family. Imagine your decisions being questioned every day. Imagine the responsibility Moses must have felt.

The point of the threat was to show to Moses his own heart. Moses may get angry at the people, Moses may get annoyed with the people, Moses may want to choke some people but at his core of being Moses is a Man of God with the shepherd’s heart. The shepherd’s heart is a creation of God and He develops it as He wills.

Notice what God says to Moses in Exodus 32:7 “thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves…” now read Moses’ response, “LORD, why doth [T]hy wrath wax hot against [T]hy people, which [T]hou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty [H]and? It seems as if God is saying, “I am through with these people; they are now your problem.” to which Moses replies,  “Nope, they are all Your’s.”

Though it may seem like a game of hot potato it is not. God wants His ministers to look upon His people as their own. Remember the words of Christ to Peter, “Feed my sheep.” In 1 Peter 5:2 Peter directs other elders to “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof…in other words, love them as your own.

 

Application:

We are forbidden from seeking revenge.  We are to commit our trouble to God for vengeance is His. But wait. Here is an opportunity to see thine own heart. Does thine heart call for vengeance when it could be asking for mercy?

God will test a person in order to show said person his true heart. Solomon said in his Proverbs that it is the wise man that knows his [own] ways.

God’s promises never falter nor do they fail.

 

Numbers 6:24-26

“What man of you , having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”

Though we do not enjoy it we have also been called to *point out the dangers found in other preachers as well as pointing out false prophets and false teachers. Why is this calling necessary? This calling is necessary because the norms of a man centered religion and false prophets/preachers/teachers are of eternal danger to a man’s soul.

Did you know that in the days of the reformers and the puritans that heresy was considered a greater crime than murder? Murder is the slaying of the temporal body but heresy was the premeditated slaying of the everlasting soul.

We find it necessary to point out false or simply misunderstood doctrine in a ministry. Sometimes we must point out a wrong spirit in a man. By wrong spirit we mean a wrong mindset or a wrong “heartedness”

For example there is a woman in Mississippi that has spent many, many years at a church. She has been cleaning the church and others buildings on the church proper since I was a little child ( I’m now 44 yrs of age). She also drove the church bus to collect children and those who needed transport to church. Again, she did this since I was a little child. About a year ago this saint had hip replacement surgery.

This woman never received a call or a visit from her pastor, IE. shepherd. She did not receive a visit from any of her “church family” with the exception of two ladies.

It has been a year since the surgery and the pastor with a business man’s heart has yet to leave the ninety and nine to seek the one. We would rebuke this mega church minded preacher in the Name of Him Who came seeking… His heart is a far cry from the Christ like heart and the heart of a true under shepherd.

When confronted by another saint with the message of “change your ways, preacher, or you will lose people.” To this rebuke the business man replied “We may lose some but we will get others.”

It has been said many times that Christ would die for a person if that person was the only person on earth. That is the compassionate heart of Christ. Let us compare…The business minded preacher would not bother with a 75 years young lady having surgery if that lady was the only lady in the church having surgery.

Though this idol shepherd took no note of a missing sheep The Good and Great Shepherd did and does. The Good and Great Shepherd also took note of His idol shepherd’s behaviour.

Did we rebuke this man to his face? No we did not as the woman in Mississippi requested us not. However, if this written rebuke were to find its way to the idol shepherd this writer would not be much bothered. If the idol shepherd is offended let the offended party address the offending party via e-mail (bkloder@sbcglobal.net) or in person at a future (DV) date.

An independent thinker might say at this point, ” There is two sides to every story.” The thinker would be correct. However, in this instance there is never a reason for a pastor to forsake a member lest it be for heresy. While it is true that when a party is offended said party should go to the offending party and settle things (Mt.19) if this is not happening it is job #1 of the pastor to get things settled (Philippians 4:1-4).

 

*Before pointing out error in a ministry or a man it is essential that I first remove the beam from mine eye. Before one judges all things (1 Corinthians 2:15) let one “examine himself” (11:28) “for if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”(11:31)

Numbers 6:24-26

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men…” (1 Timothy 2:1)

This verse teaches us to pray for all men including kings and all those in authority. Paul exhorts us to go to God with all manner of needs for men such as supplications (which are requests for needs as in supplies), prayers (talk to God about all your cares Re: all men and kings, etc), intercessions (praying for men who cannot pray and who’s prayers would be an abomination is God’s ears) and giving of thanks for all God has done for you and for those who forget to thank Him and for those that do not know to thank Him.

Some have found Paul’s other exhortation to “pray without ceasing” rather daunting. However, if one studies the Book and searches for all that we are to pray for it is not a daunting task. Beloved, there is much to pray for.

• Sensitivity to God’s will and directions.
• To be taught His ways
• Understanding of His Word
• Wisdom on applying His Word
• A Christ like mind set
• To glorify Him
• A prayerful spirit
• Growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
• A deeper and more abiding love for Christ
• Grace to overcome sin and sins in one’s life
• Daily needs
• Forgiveness of sin/sins
• Asking God that the above requests be given to others as well as self.
• When you hear an police, fire, or ambulance siren do you pray for those involved in the emergency as well as the officers, fire fighters, and EMTs?
• Husbands
• Wives
• Mothers
• Fathers
• Children
• Brothers
• Sister
• Pastors
• Aunts
• Uncles
• Nephews
• Nieces
• Cousins
• Friends
• People we may not know but hear about via T.V. radio, or other media
• Do you thank Him? There is much to thank Him for; Christ and the Salvation we have and enjoy in Him, your walk with Him, the grace(s) we are given, the hope we have in Christ, God’s great and everlasting mercy, your health as it is, your trials and tribulations, your victories, your apparent losses (2 Cor. 2:14), your family, your friends, your job, your church, the food you eat, the money you purchase the food you eat with, the strength and energy He provides you to do what you do, air, water, fire, air conditioning, green lights, red lights, all the spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3-4) the Spirit’s fruit in your life (Gal. 5:22), the crucified life (Gal.2:20 & 6:14), the Divine nature given to you (2 Peter ch. 1), your prayer life, your progression in Christ likeness. The list could go on and on.
• Do you pray for loved one’s and there hardships and heartaches?
• Do you pray for this nation and the nation of Israel?
• Do you pray that God would hold back the tide of wickedness that energizes our government?
• Do you ask God to strengthen those in government that still stand for Him and Righteousness?
• Do you ever pray AGAINST the violent animalistic Islamic enemy we are facing?
• Do you ever pray against spiritual attacks and oppression and for those that are suffering under them?

Beloved, There is much to pray for without ceasing so Pray on and pray through.

Numbers 6:24-26