The Horrors of the Lake of Fire
The bodies which these damned creatures will inhabit is Hell itself, but that’s just the beginning. Let’s use only the explicit words of Holy Scripture to try and paint a picture of this horrible damnation. God never intended that one living soul would spend eternity in this place. It was prepared for the devil and his angels. “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” - Matthew 25:41
Outer Darkness
“But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” - Matthew 8:12. This term is used three times in Holy Scripture. We are not talking about a moonless midnight or the condition of a dark and foreboding cloud. The term outer darkness would suggest a place completely outside the realm of all light: beyond the very light of creation or a place of uncreated blackness and darkness. In the Book of Genesis the Bible speaks before God created light, “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” - Genesis 1:2
In such a place of outer darkness or uncreated darkness, there will never be even a glimmer or ray of light. No beauty of a created sunshine or sunset, a rainbow, or even a moon or stars will ever appear. There will be nothing, as we know life, to brighten or cheer the constantly deepening gloom. We are talking about darkness totally beyond the reach of light.
Weeping and Wailing
“...and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” - Matthew 13:42, 49-50. The physical pain that we presently experience has no kin to what a resurrection of damnation suggests.
The mental stress of such an environment will be shattering. I would suggest that these words, “weeping and wailing” is more descriptive of emotion and mental pain than physical. We probably know nothing in this present world of the kind of insanity this suggests. It will be conscious insanity, while present insanity is more likely to be unconscious. A mental hell is the ultimate fact this truth seeks to convey.
Gnashing Of Teeth
“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” - Matthew 22:13. While weeping and wailing is suggestive of emotional pain, gnashing of teeth is probably evidence of both emotional and physical pain. This term certainly means excruciating pain that causes individuals to grind their teeth, but we are talking about more than physical discomfort. The term suggests rage or an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.
It’s one thing to hurt, but it’s another matter to be hopeless of ever experiencing relief. “Gnashing of teeth” certainly implies that these individuals have reached a state when they know pain is beyond their escape. It is a conscious experience of misery - emotionally and physically - that will never end.
Everlasting Punishment and Destruction
Acceptance is a basic need of every individual. Our Creator created the God-shaped vacuum in man and acceptance by Him is the basis of happiness. When the prodigal was away from home, sitting on a pig fence, the Bible says, “He came to himself.” In this renewed, clear state of mental health he wanted to go home. That’s God-given sanity.
The place of everlasting punishment is to be removed from this acceptance forever. Chastisements, as we now know it, are for a moment and we know that even as we suffer. This punishment is for eternity and we will be conscious of that. Please note that this Scripture emphasizes, “Everlasting punishment from the presence of the Lord.” The rankest sinner on earth can still drink in the blessings that fall on the just and unjust alike. While man is in his present state, even though he has rejected God, he still experiences a multitude of things that represent the Creator and His presence.
Where the Worm Dieth Not
“where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched” - Mark 9:44. The reality of eternal destruction reaches an indescribable level at this point. The very words, “where their worm dieth not,” mean exactly what he said. Jesus used a word that means a maggot or grub, which feeds on dead bodies. It is the exact word used in Acts 12:23 which states, “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died” - Acts 12:23. We are talking about dying bodies being invaded by devouring worms that cannot die. The only words to describe that state are “a living hell.”
Unquenchable Fire
“His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire” - Luke 3:17. Here we see fire that far surpasses what is presently known to man. Fire consumes; therefore, we know only of a fire that is limited to the limitations of our present world. Hell and the Lake of Fire are both unquenchable fires. Very clearly, it does not consume and is unlimited in its Fahrenheit. The Bible then adds the last level to this fiery judgment.
Tormented With Fire and Brimstone
“Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” - Revelation 19:20. “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” - Revelation 20:15
When you add the idea of being “tormented in fire and brimstone” to the prior elements of eternal damnation, the Lake of Fire becomes an unexplainable horror. Brimstone is burning sulfur. It is both a destructive chemical when burning and is insufferable in its heat and terror. The Encyclopedia Britannica says that .06% of the earth’s surface is sulfur and that it is the 9th most abundant element in the universe. When found in its original form, it is yellow, but turns red and then black as it is heated. It boils at 444.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Volcanoes are made up mostly of boiling hot sulfur. It sounds apocalyptic when you understand the changes of colors that sulfur passes through in becoming brimstone.
The torture of this kind of burning experience defies one’s comprehension. No wonder many modern preachers and students of Scripture have rejected this truth. How can God send men and women to a living hell? The truth is “He does not.” He is absolutely bent on keeping you out of this horrible place.
Don’t ever say, “God will send you to Hell.” Only your denial and rebellion before His marvelous grace can determine such a hopeless eternity. Yes, Hell is a horrible place! Everything the Bible says about Hell or the Lake of Fire is true. It will be a Christ-less and hellish place. Billions will inhabit its misery. Will you be one of them or will you fling yourself on Jesus Christ and His forgiving and cleansing Blood today? “What will wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Maranatha...Praise Him with all praise!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
.....The Horror's Of Hell! (Part 1)
In our present society almost no one trembles at the Word of God or before God Himself. We have become a proud, although broken, generation that is glorying in our self-esteem and positive thinking. Since we do not need to fear Him, we do not respect Him and are therefore slowly replacing Him with an impersonal god that is more on our human level.
Religious educators and leaders have convinced the modern preachers to present a more benign God and gospel to this generation to attract a larger portion of the community to their institutions. Indeed it has, but the level of Christianity in these churches is woefully unbiblical.
America needs a dose of the theology of Hell. A proper presentation of the final judgment and the eternal abode of unsaved and wicked men would help shake our churches back to their senses. Our permissive discipline in the home has destroyed the family and is now destroying the church. Three doctrinal truths must be clearly enunciated before the realities about Hell are taught and preached.
Commitment to the Bible
If you don’t believe the Bible is absolute, you will have trouble believing what it says about the horrors of Hell and the Lake of Fire. I would not dare write what I’m writing about this horrible place if I did not know the Holy Scripture was God-breathed and perfect. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” - II Timothy 3:16. I also believe the reverse is true, that families and society will have a greater respect for Holy Scripture when they clearly understand eternal judgment.
The Holiness of God
Our God is absolutely holy. He is perfect in every aspect of His eternal being and cannot tolerate rebellion in His universe without proper consequences. To think of our Heavenly Father turning murderers and rapists loose to continue the defiling of humankind right into eternity defies the perfect nature of His very person. The flaming sword at the entrance to the Garden of Eden sets the tone for how He treats sin and rebellion. Rebellion could not eat of the Tree of Life lest it exist forever.
The Redemption of Jesus Christ
The cruelest thing you can suggest is that Jesus Christ died for everyone; that He took our sins on Himself as our substitute; and that He experienced the judgment of God against sin at Calvary. Yet, that same God will not send anyone to Hell because a loving God could not possibly do that. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” - John 3:16.
The Biblical Picture of Those Assigned To Eternal Horrors:
Nothing will awaken you to spiritual things like the picture of damned souls separated forever from everything beautiful. According to the Bible, the following is an incomplete list of persons and groups of individuals who will be lost and judged to spend eternity in the “Lake of Fire.”
1) The Children of this World’s Kingdom: “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” - Matthew 8:11-12
2) The Selfish and Worldly Who Live For Themselves: “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us” - Luke 16:23-26
3) Unprofitable Servants Who Bury Their Talents: “So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” - Matthew 25:28-30, 41, 46
4) Multitudes Who Were Undisciplined As Children: “Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell” - Proverbs 23:13-14
5) Those Who Offend And Do Iniquity: “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn” “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness” - Matthew 13:30, 38-41
6) Those Who Reject the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” - 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
7) Whosoever Was Not Found Written In The Book Of Life: “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” - Revelation 20:10, 15
8) The Fearful, Unbelieving, Abominable, Murderers, Whoremongers, Sorcerers, Idolaters, and All Liars: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” - Revelation 21:8
Difference Between Hell and the Lake Of Fire
Remember, Hell is the abode of the wicked dead, but the Lake of Fire is the place of eternal judgment. The wicked will remain in Hell from the time of their death until the White Throne Judgment. Then Hell will deliver up its dead to be judged. Then, they will be assigned to the Lake of Fire. It’s important to understand the kind of bodies that the wicked will possess for eternity.
Jesus described the resurrection of all men during His earthly ministry. John records His words, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” - John 5:28-29
Notice the difference in the two groups; one is a resurrection of life, while the other is a resurrection of damnation. The children of God will come out of the graves with glorified bodies, endued with life in the fullest sense. It will be life without the limitation of anything human.
The opposite is true for the wicked and unsaved. There is a resurrection of damnation. Even their bodies will be fashioned in the horrors of depleted humanity. Every conceivable limitation and misery of human experience will constitute the design of these eternal creatures. They will dwell forever in a body that is full of death. It will be an eternal death.
Maranatha.....
Religious educators and leaders have convinced the modern preachers to present a more benign God and gospel to this generation to attract a larger portion of the community to their institutions. Indeed it has, but the level of Christianity in these churches is woefully unbiblical.
America needs a dose of the theology of Hell. A proper presentation of the final judgment and the eternal abode of unsaved and wicked men would help shake our churches back to their senses. Our permissive discipline in the home has destroyed the family and is now destroying the church. Three doctrinal truths must be clearly enunciated before the realities about Hell are taught and preached.
Commitment to the Bible
If you don’t believe the Bible is absolute, you will have trouble believing what it says about the horrors of Hell and the Lake of Fire. I would not dare write what I’m writing about this horrible place if I did not know the Holy Scripture was God-breathed and perfect. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” - II Timothy 3:16. I also believe the reverse is true, that families and society will have a greater respect for Holy Scripture when they clearly understand eternal judgment.
The Holiness of God
Our God is absolutely holy. He is perfect in every aspect of His eternal being and cannot tolerate rebellion in His universe without proper consequences. To think of our Heavenly Father turning murderers and rapists loose to continue the defiling of humankind right into eternity defies the perfect nature of His very person. The flaming sword at the entrance to the Garden of Eden sets the tone for how He treats sin and rebellion. Rebellion could not eat of the Tree of Life lest it exist forever.
The Redemption of Jesus Christ
The cruelest thing you can suggest is that Jesus Christ died for everyone; that He took our sins on Himself as our substitute; and that He experienced the judgment of God against sin at Calvary. Yet, that same God will not send anyone to Hell because a loving God could not possibly do that. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” - John 3:16.
The Biblical Picture of Those Assigned To Eternal Horrors:
Nothing will awaken you to spiritual things like the picture of damned souls separated forever from everything beautiful. According to the Bible, the following is an incomplete list of persons and groups of individuals who will be lost and judged to spend eternity in the “Lake of Fire.”
1) The Children of this World’s Kingdom: “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” - Matthew 8:11-12
2) The Selfish and Worldly Who Live For Themselves: “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us” - Luke 16:23-26
3) Unprofitable Servants Who Bury Their Talents: “So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” - Matthew 25:28-30, 41, 46
4) Multitudes Who Were Undisciplined As Children: “Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell” - Proverbs 23:13-14
5) Those Who Offend And Do Iniquity: “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn” “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness” - Matthew 13:30, 38-41
6) Those Who Reject the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” - 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
7) Whosoever Was Not Found Written In The Book Of Life: “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” - Revelation 20:10, 15
8) The Fearful, Unbelieving, Abominable, Murderers, Whoremongers, Sorcerers, Idolaters, and All Liars: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” - Revelation 21:8
Difference Between Hell and the Lake Of Fire
Remember, Hell is the abode of the wicked dead, but the Lake of Fire is the place of eternal judgment. The wicked will remain in Hell from the time of their death until the White Throne Judgment. Then Hell will deliver up its dead to be judged. Then, they will be assigned to the Lake of Fire. It’s important to understand the kind of bodies that the wicked will possess for eternity.
Jesus described the resurrection of all men during His earthly ministry. John records His words, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” - John 5:28-29
Notice the difference in the two groups; one is a resurrection of life, while the other is a resurrection of damnation. The children of God will come out of the graves with glorified bodies, endued with life in the fullest sense. It will be life without the limitation of anything human.
The opposite is true for the wicked and unsaved. There is a resurrection of damnation. Even their bodies will be fashioned in the horrors of depleted humanity. Every conceivable limitation and misery of human experience will constitute the design of these eternal creatures. They will dwell forever in a body that is full of death. It will be an eternal death.
Maranatha.....
.....How You Can Know God!
A purpose, a meaning, a reason to live - these things we all desire and search for in life. Despite our search, we still feel empty an unfulfilled. Each of us has an empty place in our heart, a spiritual void, a God-shaped vacuum. Possessions won't fill it, success won't fill it, nor will relationships, or even religion. Only through a vibrant relationship with God can this void be filled. However, before such a relationship can be established, we need to face a serious problem.
The Problem: Sin
The Bible identifies this problem as sin. Sin is not just the bad things we do but an inherent part of who we are. We are no sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. King David once wrote, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5. Because we are born sinners, sinning comes to us naturally. Scripture tells us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 Every problem we experience in society today can be traced back
to our refusal to live God's way.
The Solution: Jesus Christ
God understood our problem and knew we could not solve it alone. So he lovingly sent his own Son, Jesus Christ, to bridge the chasm of sin that separates us from God. Jesus laid aside his divine privileges and walked the earth as a man, experiencing all the troubles and emotions that we do. He was arrested on false charge and killed on a Roman cross. But this was no accident. He willingly suffered the punishment deserved by us all. And then three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death forever!
The Response: Accepting God's Offer
To know Jesus Christ personally and have our sins forgiven, we must acknowledge that we are sinners separated from God and that our only hope is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came and died for our sins. But we must not stop with this realization We also need to confess and turn from our sins. And then we must invite Jesus Christ into our life as Lord and Savior. He will move in and help us to change from the inside out. If you are ready to repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior so that you can receive his forgiveness, take a moment to pray:
Heavenly Father, I'm sorry for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and ask you to forgive me. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins Jesus, I ask you to come into my life and be my Lord, Savior, and Friend. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
If you prayed this prayer and meant it, you can be sure that God has forgiven you and received you into his family.
The Problem: Sin
The Bible identifies this problem as sin. Sin is not just the bad things we do but an inherent part of who we are. We are no sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. King David once wrote, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5. Because we are born sinners, sinning comes to us naturally. Scripture tells us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 Every problem we experience in society today can be traced back
to our refusal to live God's way.
The Solution: Jesus Christ
God understood our problem and knew we could not solve it alone. So he lovingly sent his own Son, Jesus Christ, to bridge the chasm of sin that separates us from God. Jesus laid aside his divine privileges and walked the earth as a man, experiencing all the troubles and emotions that we do. He was arrested on false charge and killed on a Roman cross. But this was no accident. He willingly suffered the punishment deserved by us all. And then three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death forever!
The Response: Accepting God's Offer
To know Jesus Christ personally and have our sins forgiven, we must acknowledge that we are sinners separated from God and that our only hope is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came and died for our sins. But we must not stop with this realization We also need to confess and turn from our sins. And then we must invite Jesus Christ into our life as Lord and Savior. He will move in and help us to change from the inside out. If you are ready to repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior so that you can receive his forgiveness, take a moment to pray:
Heavenly Father, I'm sorry for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and ask you to forgive me. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins Jesus, I ask you to come into my life and be my Lord, Savior, and Friend. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
If you prayed this prayer and meant it, you can be sure that God has forgiven you and received you into his family.
Monday, November 28, 2011
.....Is It Okay For A Christian To Celebrate Christmas?
"Well, that's a no-brainer," you're probably thinking. "Of course Christians should celebrate Christmas. Christmas and Christians go together like those little curly shoes on an elf. They're inseparable!" And yet, the deluge of email this ministry receives around this jolly season is resplendent with believers who are struggling with the origins of Christmas. They really want to know if they are pleasing Jesus, or in actuality are worshiping a false god, truly something to be concerned about.
Christmas Past
I read a book called Fossilized Customs about the origins of Christmas and found the inception and the symbols we use in its celebration very interesting. The author contended that since there are many former pagan elements used for Christmas, that we should no longer celebrate the holiday.
He claimed Christmas was a fabrication of the Roman Emperor Constantine who replaced the worship of the sun god Mithra on December 25th with the worship of Christ. He also pointed out that Christmas over the centuries has picked up many of its festivities from other cultures, like the exchanging of presents, the burning of a Yule log, decorating an evergreen tree, and featuring the medieval Dutch Sinterklaas (Santa Claus). And then, of course, there is today's full scale consumerism.
Christmas Present
Should we then drop Christmas and Easter, and even Sunday worship, and go back to celebrating the Jewish feasts as some concerned Christians have resorted to? Well, let's not give up on Christmas just yet, though, for I think the author of that book missed the whole point of what it means to be a Christian living under God's grace.
What does this "living under grace" mean? Romans 8, Acts 15, and the whole book of Hebrews make it crystal clear that a definite transition occurred in how we obey God's moral law since Christ. It states that believers are free from the 613 laws given to Moses with their appointed feasts and ceremonial rituals, nay even the 10 Commandments. How could that possibly be? Because that old Law was just a pointer to what sin is. It couldn't cleanse because nobody could meet its standards. Instead, the Mosaic Law has been replaced with "love the Lord your God" and "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:30-31).
For instance, take the Fourth Commandment about keeping the Sabbath. Because of God's principle of grace, it becomes not one day that we should set apart for the Lord, but every minute of every day. Do you see how grace frees us from the Mosaic Law and yet enables us to fulfill it through Jesus Christ?
We are now under "law toward Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:21), the "law of liberty" (James 2:12), and no longer under the "law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). Bear in mind that we're not free to sin (Romans 6:1-2), but because we are free to worship God in a relationship deeper than do's and don'ts, we can choose to celebrate certain holidays or not.
As to knowing that Christ's birthday was really in the Fall and not on December 25th, does which day really matter? Not to Paul, who in Romans 14:5-6 declared, "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord." Living under grace gives us the freedom to give spiritual significance to any day we please, or not to do so, and, as Paul warns, we do not have the right to judge and condemn those who decide to give spiritual significance to different days.
And just because the Romans feasted and exchanged gifts during the festival of Saturnalia, does that negate Christians following the example of the Wise Men giving gifts to baby Jesus? Of course not! How many of you are thinking of Saturn in front of the plum pudding? No, you're thinking of Jesus.
Symbols have different meanings to different people. To a Christian, the rainbow symbolizes God's promise never to destroy the earth again with water. But in modern American society, it is a symbol of the Homosexual movement. Are we therefore to wash our hands of the Rainbow and surrender it to the devil? I don't think so.
Christmas Future
The book's author missed the point that as Christians we can celebrate Christ's birth on December 25th and have a Christmas tree and all the festivities because we are honoring God. It's certainly okay then to celebrate Christmas because it's a time to remember Jesus' birth and kingship, looking forward to the time when He will return in victory to set up His Kingdom. Christmas, Easter, and the Lord's Day are times of worship and remembrance for the Church, and just because that grinch Satan has attempted to water down our honoring of God doesn't mean we just throw the whole act of worship away.
If Christmas is to you about celebrating our Savior, and you use the decorations and festivities for such a purpose, God knows that your heart and purposes are right with Him. For in reality, to a Christian, every day should be a celebration of Jesus Christ.
"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." - Romans 11:36
Merry Christmas!
Christmas Past
I read a book called Fossilized Customs about the origins of Christmas and found the inception and the symbols we use in its celebration very interesting. The author contended that since there are many former pagan elements used for Christmas, that we should no longer celebrate the holiday.
He claimed Christmas was a fabrication of the Roman Emperor Constantine who replaced the worship of the sun god Mithra on December 25th with the worship of Christ. He also pointed out that Christmas over the centuries has picked up many of its festivities from other cultures, like the exchanging of presents, the burning of a Yule log, decorating an evergreen tree, and featuring the medieval Dutch Sinterklaas (Santa Claus). And then, of course, there is today's full scale consumerism.
Christmas Present
Should we then drop Christmas and Easter, and even Sunday worship, and go back to celebrating the Jewish feasts as some concerned Christians have resorted to? Well, let's not give up on Christmas just yet, though, for I think the author of that book missed the whole point of what it means to be a Christian living under God's grace.
What does this "living under grace" mean? Romans 8, Acts 15, and the whole book of Hebrews make it crystal clear that a definite transition occurred in how we obey God's moral law since Christ. It states that believers are free from the 613 laws given to Moses with their appointed feasts and ceremonial rituals, nay even the 10 Commandments. How could that possibly be? Because that old Law was just a pointer to what sin is. It couldn't cleanse because nobody could meet its standards. Instead, the Mosaic Law has been replaced with "love the Lord your God" and "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:30-31).
For instance, take the Fourth Commandment about keeping the Sabbath. Because of God's principle of grace, it becomes not one day that we should set apart for the Lord, but every minute of every day. Do you see how grace frees us from the Mosaic Law and yet enables us to fulfill it through Jesus Christ?
We are now under "law toward Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:21), the "law of liberty" (James 2:12), and no longer under the "law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). Bear in mind that we're not free to sin (Romans 6:1-2), but because we are free to worship God in a relationship deeper than do's and don'ts, we can choose to celebrate certain holidays or not.
As to knowing that Christ's birthday was really in the Fall and not on December 25th, does which day really matter? Not to Paul, who in Romans 14:5-6 declared, "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord." Living under grace gives us the freedom to give spiritual significance to any day we please, or not to do so, and, as Paul warns, we do not have the right to judge and condemn those who decide to give spiritual significance to different days.
And just because the Romans feasted and exchanged gifts during the festival of Saturnalia, does that negate Christians following the example of the Wise Men giving gifts to baby Jesus? Of course not! How many of you are thinking of Saturn in front of the plum pudding? No, you're thinking of Jesus.
Symbols have different meanings to different people. To a Christian, the rainbow symbolizes God's promise never to destroy the earth again with water. But in modern American society, it is a symbol of the Homosexual movement. Are we therefore to wash our hands of the Rainbow and surrender it to the devil? I don't think so.
Christmas Future
The book's author missed the point that as Christians we can celebrate Christ's birth on December 25th and have a Christmas tree and all the festivities because we are honoring God. It's certainly okay then to celebrate Christmas because it's a time to remember Jesus' birth and kingship, looking forward to the time when He will return in victory to set up His Kingdom. Christmas, Easter, and the Lord's Day are times of worship and remembrance for the Church, and just because that grinch Satan has attempted to water down our honoring of God doesn't mean we just throw the whole act of worship away.
If Christmas is to you about celebrating our Savior, and you use the decorations and festivities for such a purpose, God knows that your heart and purposes are right with Him. For in reality, to a Christian, every day should be a celebration of Jesus Christ.
"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." - Romans 11:36
Merry Christmas!
Friday, November 25, 2011
.....Are You Counting Your Blessings?
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very blessed season of Thanksgiving!
During this Thanksgiving season are you counting your blessings? I hope so. We all need to be doing that. What do you consider to be your greatest blessing? Is it your health, your job, your family? What about spiritual blessings? Are you counting them? If so, what are they?
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year - a time of family, fellowship, and good food. I have many wonderful memories of family gatherings at Thanksgiving and I am sure you do, too. Personally, I believe that for a Christian every day of the year should be a day of thanksgiving. I have found over the years that a heart filled with thanksgiving is one of the best medicines for emotional and physical health.
Thankful For Material Blessings
I make it a point at least once a month if not more frequently to sit down and make a list of things in my prayer journal that I am thankful for. I sometimes spend as much as 30-45 minutes working on the list. And, in the process, I try to think about things that we tend to take for granted - things like pure water, electricity, air conditioning, a house to live in and a car to drive.
Did you know that 80% of all sickness in the world is attributable to unsafe drinking water? Did you know that if you keep food in a refrigerator, clothes in a closet, and sleep in a bed with a roof over your head, you are richer than 75% of the entire population of the world? Did you know that out of every 100 people in this world 18 struggle to live on less than one dollar a day and 53 struggle to live on two dollars a day?
We have so much to be thankful for in this country, and we tend to be so unthankful. We fret over the fact that we don't have a color TV set in every room, when most of the world lives without access to electricity. It's one of the reasons that I believe that every American teenager should be sent to live a couple of weeks in a third world country like Mexico just to see how most people in the world are involved in a daily struggle to merely survive. All of us in the United States should be living with an attitude of gratitude.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Psalm 100 which is labeled with a superscription that says, "A Psalm of Thanksgiving." It is the only Psalm that bears such a label. And it says in part, "Shout joyfully to the Lord all the Earth, serve the Lord with gladness. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise." That is the attitude we should live with, even in tough times when things are not going smoothly for us.
Thankful For Salvation
The thing we should be most grateful for is the salvation that Jesus provided for us through His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. What a glorious gift! And, it is precisely that — a gift. The Bible teaches very clearly that the forgiveness of our sins is something that cannot be earned. It is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Have you ever thought about the fact that salvation by grace through faith is one of the things that sets Christianity apart from all other religions?
Every other religion in the world teaches the satanic concept of salvation through good works. Christianity alone teaches that one cannot be saved by good works. Our only hope is the righteousness of Jesus which is applied to us when we put our faith in Him. Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas has a wonderful way of putting it. He says, "Every religion in the world except Christianity is spelled 'D-O,' only Christianity is spelled 'D-O-N-E.'" In other words, Jesus did it all for us by sacrificing His perfect life for our sins.
Thankful For The Rapture
A second spiritual blessing I want to thank God for is one that is yet to take place. It is based upon a promise of God that can be found in John 14, 1 Corinthians 15, and 1 Thessalonians 4. It is called the Rapture of the Church. The apostle Paul describes the Rapture in detail in 1 Thessalonians 4 beginning with verse 13. When Paul finishes his explanation of it, he writes in verse 18, "Comfort one another with these words." The promise of the Rapture is supposed to be a source of great comfort to those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ.
Don't pass up this Thanksgiving season without accepting Jesus as your Savior. Remember to thank Him for His loving sacrifice on your behalf. Give praise for the great hope Jesus has given us, for we know that those who love Him will soon be gathered home to Heaven.
Maranatha!
During this Thanksgiving season are you counting your blessings? I hope so. We all need to be doing that. What do you consider to be your greatest blessing? Is it your health, your job, your family? What about spiritual blessings? Are you counting them? If so, what are they?
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year - a time of family, fellowship, and good food. I have many wonderful memories of family gatherings at Thanksgiving and I am sure you do, too. Personally, I believe that for a Christian every day of the year should be a day of thanksgiving. I have found over the years that a heart filled with thanksgiving is one of the best medicines for emotional and physical health.
Thankful For Material Blessings
I make it a point at least once a month if not more frequently to sit down and make a list of things in my prayer journal that I am thankful for. I sometimes spend as much as 30-45 minutes working on the list. And, in the process, I try to think about things that we tend to take for granted - things like pure water, electricity, air conditioning, a house to live in and a car to drive.
Did you know that 80% of all sickness in the world is attributable to unsafe drinking water? Did you know that if you keep food in a refrigerator, clothes in a closet, and sleep in a bed with a roof over your head, you are richer than 75% of the entire population of the world? Did you know that out of every 100 people in this world 18 struggle to live on less than one dollar a day and 53 struggle to live on two dollars a day?
We have so much to be thankful for in this country, and we tend to be so unthankful. We fret over the fact that we don't have a color TV set in every room, when most of the world lives without access to electricity. It's one of the reasons that I believe that every American teenager should be sent to live a couple of weeks in a third world country like Mexico just to see how most people in the world are involved in a daily struggle to merely survive. All of us in the United States should be living with an attitude of gratitude.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Psalm 100 which is labeled with a superscription that says, "A Psalm of Thanksgiving." It is the only Psalm that bears such a label. And it says in part, "Shout joyfully to the Lord all the Earth, serve the Lord with gladness. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise." That is the attitude we should live with, even in tough times when things are not going smoothly for us.
Thankful For Salvation
The thing we should be most grateful for is the salvation that Jesus provided for us through His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. What a glorious gift! And, it is precisely that — a gift. The Bible teaches very clearly that the forgiveness of our sins is something that cannot be earned. It is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Have you ever thought about the fact that salvation by grace through faith is one of the things that sets Christianity apart from all other religions?
Every other religion in the world teaches the satanic concept of salvation through good works. Christianity alone teaches that one cannot be saved by good works. Our only hope is the righteousness of Jesus which is applied to us when we put our faith in Him. Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas has a wonderful way of putting it. He says, "Every religion in the world except Christianity is spelled 'D-O,' only Christianity is spelled 'D-O-N-E.'" In other words, Jesus did it all for us by sacrificing His perfect life for our sins.
Thankful For The Rapture
A second spiritual blessing I want to thank God for is one that is yet to take place. It is based upon a promise of God that can be found in John 14, 1 Corinthians 15, and 1 Thessalonians 4. It is called the Rapture of the Church. The apostle Paul describes the Rapture in detail in 1 Thessalonians 4 beginning with verse 13. When Paul finishes his explanation of it, he writes in verse 18, "Comfort one another with these words." The promise of the Rapture is supposed to be a source of great comfort to those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ.
Don't pass up this Thanksgiving season without accepting Jesus as your Savior. Remember to thank Him for His loving sacrifice on your behalf. Give praise for the great hope Jesus has given us, for we know that those who love Him will soon be gathered home to Heaven.
Maranatha!
.....A Day Almost Forgotten!
Of the major holidays we celebrate at the end of the year, Thanksgiving Day is given the least attention. Some of the other holidays during this period have developed into pure and simple self-gratification events; even Thanksgiving Day has done so to a point. Have we actually become so self-centered?
From Halloween through New Year's Day, we have become a people who dote on our own pleasures. We honor hobgoblins, witches, wizards, turkeys, and Santa, but are weak in giving thanks and remembering the Son of God. It's all about give me candy, stuff me with turkey and dressing, give me sports and load me down with presents.
The true celebration of Thanksgiving Day has been placed so far on the back burner it has almost been swallowed up and forgotten. Notice how early in the year the decorations are seen in the stores for Halloween and Christmas.
We most certainly are a nation of greedy, self-centered and commercialized people. Retailers and wholesalers just cannot get enough money, and shoppers do not use good sense. We are spoiled to the core, and demonstrate little appreciation for the things that really matter.
Yes, Thanksgiving Day is the day almost forgotten among the five special days at the latter part of the year. Even with what little attention remains for this special day, are we truly thankful for the many blessings God has provided us? I’m sure some people are, but as a whole, we are not. Even as this holiday flies by with so little fanfare, most are more concerned with the meal, parades and ballgames.
I often wonder how many Christian households will even ask God's blessings upon the food (It's called "grace" or "the blessing" for those unfamiliar with those terms by the way.) that the ladies have spent hours in preparing. These dear women start the day before and continue early Thanksgiving Day morning to provide a special meal for their families, which will be devoured within minutes. Afterwards, men with protruding bellies and loosened belts will waddle over to their easy chairs in preparation for the college bowl games, while the ladies, who must be worn out, clean up. (I realize this doesn't fit every household. It is just a general picture, so don't get excited.)
Most of us have so much to be thankful for. But many people, even in this great country, cannot identify with the scenario in the previous paragraph.
Should we feel guilty if we enjoy the food, parades, and/or ballgames? Now of course not, but they should not be the main attraction. I'm sure that many grateful people, Christians and non-Christians, will enjoy this special day next week with these pleasures, but still ponder on the numerous blessings they have. Christians especially, should definitely thank our Lord for all that He has provided.
Do enjoy the frills of Thanksgiving Day, but be thankful, and don't be timid in expressing that the God of the Bible loves us and has made the way possible, through His Son, to spend eternity with Him.
One's family means so much. They are the closest to you on this earth, and sometimes they get the least positive attention. Appreciate them and show it.
At least for one day block out the negatives of life and look for the blessings even if you have to look hard. Even if you do not know God, He has blessed us all with air to breathe, water to drink, a heart that beats, and a mind that can know Him.
From Halloween through New Year's Day, we have become a people who dote on our own pleasures. We honor hobgoblins, witches, wizards, turkeys, and Santa, but are weak in giving thanks and remembering the Son of God. It's all about give me candy, stuff me with turkey and dressing, give me sports and load me down with presents.
The true celebration of Thanksgiving Day has been placed so far on the back burner it has almost been swallowed up and forgotten. Notice how early in the year the decorations are seen in the stores for Halloween and Christmas.
We most certainly are a nation of greedy, self-centered and commercialized people. Retailers and wholesalers just cannot get enough money, and shoppers do not use good sense. We are spoiled to the core, and demonstrate little appreciation for the things that really matter.
Yes, Thanksgiving Day is the day almost forgotten among the five special days at the latter part of the year. Even with what little attention remains for this special day, are we truly thankful for the many blessings God has provided us? I’m sure some people are, but as a whole, we are not. Even as this holiday flies by with so little fanfare, most are more concerned with the meal, parades and ballgames.
I often wonder how many Christian households will even ask God's blessings upon the food (It's called "grace" or "the blessing" for those unfamiliar with those terms by the way.) that the ladies have spent hours in preparing. These dear women start the day before and continue early Thanksgiving Day morning to provide a special meal for their families, which will be devoured within minutes. Afterwards, men with protruding bellies and loosened belts will waddle over to their easy chairs in preparation for the college bowl games, while the ladies, who must be worn out, clean up. (I realize this doesn't fit every household. It is just a general picture, so don't get excited.)
Most of us have so much to be thankful for. But many people, even in this great country, cannot identify with the scenario in the previous paragraph.
Should we feel guilty if we enjoy the food, parades, and/or ballgames? Now of course not, but they should not be the main attraction. I'm sure that many grateful people, Christians and non-Christians, will enjoy this special day next week with these pleasures, but still ponder on the numerous blessings they have. Christians especially, should definitely thank our Lord for all that He has provided.
Do enjoy the frills of Thanksgiving Day, but be thankful, and don't be timid in expressing that the God of the Bible loves us and has made the way possible, through His Son, to spend eternity with Him.
One's family means so much. They are the closest to you on this earth, and sometimes they get the least positive attention. Appreciate them and show it.
At least for one day block out the negatives of life and look for the blessings even if you have to look hard. Even if you do not know God, He has blessed us all with air to breathe, water to drink, a heart that beats, and a mind that can know Him.
Yes, there are many things we can be thankful for, if we just stop long enough and think about it. So let us not skip over this day, but give it its due, and not allow it to just be forgotten among all the pandemonium at this time of year.
God Bless You!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
.....A Greater Authority!
"And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders." - Mark 14:43
The storm clouds of betrayal that had been brewing in Judas' heart finally broke. He led a mob of religious leaders and soldiers to Gethsemane, where he knew Jesus would be. What follows is fairly familiar to most of us. Judas walked up to Jesus and kissed Him, which was a pre-arranged sign to the arresting officers to seize Him.
It's one of the most despicable and shameful examples of human behavior...taking a kiss, something meant to communicate blessing, and using it as an instrument of betrayal. Judas certainly bears his share of blame in this, but Jesus mentioned something as He was arrested that ought to pique our attention:
Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." - Mark 14:48-49 It's that last sentence we need to unpack. Despite Judas' betrayal, despite the mob that had amassed to lawlessly seize Him, despite all the sin and treachery that had led up to this moment, Jesus saw a greater authority at work. The Scriptures foretold of Him being betrayed, arrested, beaten, and sacrificed for man's sin (Isaiah 52:12-53:12). Judas did something very evil, but God was still in control and would even use man's wrongdoing for good.
In life, it's awfully tempting to focus on the sin that comes our way. People lie to us, hurt us, maybe even betray us. When that happens, we ought to take a cue from our Lord by recognizing the greater authority at work. God is in ultimate control, and He assures us that He will use everything, even evil, to fulfill something good in our lives.
"...all things work together for good to those who love God..." - Romans 8:28
Maranatha! (Come Lord Jesus)
The storm clouds of betrayal that had been brewing in Judas' heart finally broke. He led a mob of religious leaders and soldiers to Gethsemane, where he knew Jesus would be. What follows is fairly familiar to most of us. Judas walked up to Jesus and kissed Him, which was a pre-arranged sign to the arresting officers to seize Him.
It's one of the most despicable and shameful examples of human behavior...taking a kiss, something meant to communicate blessing, and using it as an instrument of betrayal. Judas certainly bears his share of blame in this, but Jesus mentioned something as He was arrested that ought to pique our attention:
Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." - Mark 14:48-49 It's that last sentence we need to unpack. Despite Judas' betrayal, despite the mob that had amassed to lawlessly seize Him, despite all the sin and treachery that had led up to this moment, Jesus saw a greater authority at work. The Scriptures foretold of Him being betrayed, arrested, beaten, and sacrificed for man's sin (Isaiah 52:12-53:12). Judas did something very evil, but God was still in control and would even use man's wrongdoing for good.
In life, it's awfully tempting to focus on the sin that comes our way. People lie to us, hurt us, maybe even betray us. When that happens, we ought to take a cue from our Lord by recognizing the greater authority at work. God is in ultimate control, and He assures us that He will use everything, even evil, to fulfill something good in our lives.
"...all things work together for good to those who love God..." - Romans 8:28
Maranatha! (Come Lord Jesus)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
.....Happy Thanksgiving!
Count your blessings instead of your crosses!
Count your gains instead of your losses!
Count your joys instead of your woes!
Count your friends instead of your foes!
Count your smiles instead of your tears!
Count your courage instead of your fears!
Count your full years instead of your lean!
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean!
Count your health instead of your wealth!
Count on Jesus instead of yourself!
Thank You Lord for my wonderful family; for true friends, who stand with me in good times and bad; for my Christian brothers and sisters, who pray with me and for me. Yes, Lord, as I stop today to count my blessings, I do have much to be thankful for! In Jesus Name...Amen!
Count your gains instead of your losses!
Count your joys instead of your woes!
Count your friends instead of your foes!
Count your smiles instead of your tears!
Count your courage instead of your fears!
Count your full years instead of your lean!
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean!
Count your health instead of your wealth!
Count on Jesus instead of yourself!
Thank You Lord for my wonderful family; for true friends, who stand with me in good times and bad; for my Christian brothers and sisters, who pray with me and for me. Yes, Lord, as I stop today to count my blessings, I do have much to be thankful for! In Jesus Name...Amen!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
.....Hearing And Obeying God!
"Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." - 1 Samuel 3:10
There are two questions before us. The first question is: How many of us are willing to hear the voice of God? Jesus said, Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate (Matthew 23:34, 37-38). Were these people willing to hear the voice of God? Thousands of years before Christ was born in Bethlehem, the Holy Spirit said, "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you." - Proverbs 1:20-26
Lord, there seems to be a thousand voices calling to me in this world. Help me to discern Your voice above them all and obediently listen...Amen!
"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18
There are two questions before us. The first question is: How many of us are willing to hear the voice of God? Jesus said, Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate (Matthew 23:34, 37-38). Were these people willing to hear the voice of God? Thousands of years before Christ was born in Bethlehem, the Holy Spirit said, "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you." - Proverbs 1:20-26
Lord, there seems to be a thousand voices calling to me in this world. Help me to discern Your voice above them all and obediently listen...Amen!
"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18
The second question is: How many are worthy to hear His voice? In Acts 13:46b Paul and Barnabas told the people, "Since you reject it . . . we turn to the Gentiles." This is a terrible judgment. But here is the gist of what I want to say: A radical and sweeping reformation is imperative among the people called Christians - Protestants generally and evangelicals in particular. What is meant by reformation? Some may recoil from that word; I have heard people say, "I do not believe in reformation - I believe in regeneration." That sounds good and it gets some amens, but the fact is, if you do not have reformation you cannot have regeneration. The Holy Spirit will not come and regenerate carnal, stubborn people who will not obey Him. First there must be a reformation. "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:16-18
Father, sometimes the cost of obeying You seems so great, so painful. But what infinite cost is not obeying You...Amen!
Come Lord Jesus!
Father, sometimes the cost of obeying You seems so great, so painful. But what infinite cost is not obeying You...Amen!
Come Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
.....The Fiery Serpent!
Old Testament Picture:
"Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived." - Numbers 21:4-9
New Testament Teaching:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:14-15
"Then I said, 'Behold, I have come - In the volume of the book it is written of Me - To do Your will, O God.'" - Hebrews 10:7
It really is all about Jesus!
"Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived." - Numbers 21:4-9
New Testament Teaching:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:14-15
"Then I said, 'Behold, I have come - In the volume of the book it is written of Me - To do Your will, O God.'" - Hebrews 10:7
It really is all about Jesus!
.....Prayer For America!
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and seek your direction and guidance. We know your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that's exactly what we've done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.
We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it moral pluralism.
We have worshiped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building esteem.
We have abused power and called it political savvy.
We have coveted our neighbors' possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it "enlightenment."
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been elected to office by the people of The United States of America and who have been ordained by You to govern this great nation. Grant them your wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will. I ask this in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ...Amen!
We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it moral pluralism.
We have worshiped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building esteem.
We have abused power and called it political savvy.
We have coveted our neighbors' possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it "enlightenment."
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been elected to office by the people of The United States of America and who have been ordained by You to govern this great nation. Grant them your wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will. I ask this in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ...Amen!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
.....The Gospel!
Gospel means Good News. And in a world of sin and suffering, we each desperately need God's Good News. But before we can understand the Gospel, we must understand the bad news.
In the beginning God created everything very good.(1) The Lord placed man in a garden paradise.(2) However man was given a free will and a choice.(3) Though mankind lived in a perfect environment, he chose to rebel against His Creator.(4) As God warned Adam, sin resulted in suffering and death. The curse described in Genesis affected all creation, and today we see the horrible results.(5)
Scripture also explains that, like Adam, we have all "sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(6) To see if this applies to you, please review God's Ten Commandments.(7) Have you ever told a lie? One lie makes us a liar in God's eyes. Jesus explained that lust was equivalent to adultery.(8) Have you ever had lustful thoughts? Scripture explains, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer."(9) Have you ever despised another person? The Lord even warned: "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."(10) Have you ever gossiped or spoken foolishly?
Whether our sin is envy, greed, pride (which was Lucifer's sin),(11) or using God’s name lightly – we must admit that we are all guilty of sinning against our Creator. The Bible explains that the penalty for any sin is death – both physical death and spiritual death – which is eternal separation from God.(12) The final destiny for those who spurn their Creator is the lake of fire, which is the second death: "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."(13)
However, there is Good News! Before time began God had a plan to rescue mankind.(14) Because the penalty for sin is death, the Creator came to earth as a man,(15) lived a sinless life,(16) and died to pay the penalty for our sins.(17) He then rose from the dead – defeating death – and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will trust Him.(18)
Scripture states that God is love.(19) And He demonstrated His own love toward us by stepping down from heaven to offer His life so that we might be reconciled to Him forever!(20) Jesus Christ is the Creator.(21) On the cross He bore our sins and then rose for our justification.(22) The Lord now offers everlasting life to all who will repent from their sins and trust in Him personally.(23)
By placing your faith in Jesus Christ you can enter into a relationship with the Creator of the universe that will last forever! This is His free gift and His desire for you.(24)
God our Savior "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."(25) But remember, because God is completely just and holy,(26) every sin will meet with a just punishment.(27) Therefore, only Jesus – who alone is perfect and righteous, who alone died for our sins, who alone rose from the dead – can save you.(28) If you neglect God's great salvation, the consequences are eternal. Scripture warns "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."(29) God will pour out His "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil."(30)
Therefore, "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."(31) Instead, "Repent, and believe in the gospel."(32) If you do, you will live in Heaven with our awesome Creator forever!
1. Genesis 1
2. Genesis 2
3. Genesis 2:16-17
4. Genesis 3
5. Genesis 3:17; Romans 8:20-22. In fact only the Bible explains the origin of Creation, sin, death, suffering, conscience, and a host of other fundamental truths.
6. Romans 3:23
7. Exodus 20
8. Matthew 5:27-28
9. 1 John 3:15
10. Matthew 12:36
11. Isaiah 14:12-15; 1 Timothy 3:6
12. Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23
13. Revelation 21:8
14. 1 Peter 1:20
15. Matthew 1:23
16. 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5
17. 1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 6:10; Hebrews 10:10
18. Matthew 28:6-7; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Romans 10:9
19. 1 John 4:8
20. Romans 5:8
21. John 1; Colossians 1; Hebrews 1
22. Isaiah 53; Romans 4:25
23. John 3:36
24. Romans 5:15-18
25. 1 Timothy 2:3-4
26. Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 37:28
27. Matthew 10:26; Revelation 20:12
28. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21
29. Hebrews 10:31
30. Romans 2:8-9
31. Hebrews 3:15
32. Mark 1:15
In the beginning God created everything very good.(1) The Lord placed man in a garden paradise.(2) However man was given a free will and a choice.(3) Though mankind lived in a perfect environment, he chose to rebel against His Creator.(4) As God warned Adam, sin resulted in suffering and death. The curse described in Genesis affected all creation, and today we see the horrible results.(5)
Scripture also explains that, like Adam, we have all "sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(6) To see if this applies to you, please review God's Ten Commandments.(7) Have you ever told a lie? One lie makes us a liar in God's eyes. Jesus explained that lust was equivalent to adultery.(8) Have you ever had lustful thoughts? Scripture explains, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer."(9) Have you ever despised another person? The Lord even warned: "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."(10) Have you ever gossiped or spoken foolishly?
Whether our sin is envy, greed, pride (which was Lucifer's sin),(11) or using God’s name lightly – we must admit that we are all guilty of sinning against our Creator. The Bible explains that the penalty for any sin is death – both physical death and spiritual death – which is eternal separation from God.(12) The final destiny for those who spurn their Creator is the lake of fire, which is the second death: "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."(13)
However, there is Good News! Before time began God had a plan to rescue mankind.(14) Because the penalty for sin is death, the Creator came to earth as a man,(15) lived a sinless life,(16) and died to pay the penalty for our sins.(17) He then rose from the dead – defeating death – and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will trust Him.(18)
Scripture states that God is love.(19) And He demonstrated His own love toward us by stepping down from heaven to offer His life so that we might be reconciled to Him forever!(20) Jesus Christ is the Creator.(21) On the cross He bore our sins and then rose for our justification.(22) The Lord now offers everlasting life to all who will repent from their sins and trust in Him personally.(23)
By placing your faith in Jesus Christ you can enter into a relationship with the Creator of the universe that will last forever! This is His free gift and His desire for you.(24)
God our Savior "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."(25) But remember, because God is completely just and holy,(26) every sin will meet with a just punishment.(27) Therefore, only Jesus – who alone is perfect and righteous, who alone died for our sins, who alone rose from the dead – can save you.(28) If you neglect God's great salvation, the consequences are eternal. Scripture warns "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."(29) God will pour out His "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil."(30)
Therefore, "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."(31) Instead, "Repent, and believe in the gospel."(32) If you do, you will live in Heaven with our awesome Creator forever!
1. Genesis 1
2. Genesis 2
3. Genesis 2:16-17
4. Genesis 3
5. Genesis 3:17; Romans 8:20-22. In fact only the Bible explains the origin of Creation, sin, death, suffering, conscience, and a host of other fundamental truths.
6. Romans 3:23
7. Exodus 20
8. Matthew 5:27-28
9. 1 John 3:15
10. Matthew 12:36
11. Isaiah 14:12-15; 1 Timothy 3:6
12. Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23
13. Revelation 21:8
14. 1 Peter 1:20
15. Matthew 1:23
16. 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5
17. 1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 6:10; Hebrews 10:10
18. Matthew 28:6-7; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Romans 10:9
19. 1 John 4:8
20. Romans 5:8
21. John 1; Colossians 1; Hebrews 1
22. Isaiah 53; Romans 4:25
23. John 3:36
24. Romans 5:15-18
25. 1 Timothy 2:3-4
26. Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 37:28
27. Matthew 10:26; Revelation 20:12
28. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21
29. Hebrews 10:31
30. Romans 2:8-9
31. Hebrews 3:15
32. Mark 1:15
.....I Am Outraged: Christophobia!
You cannot turn on the news or read a paper these days without hearing that some person or group is outraged about something. Someone is always yammering that someone else offended them or hurt their precious little feelings by expressing an opinion they don't agree with.
Quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of normal, average, polite society being expected to kiss the behinds of every freakish, offbeat, extremist, perverted, political nutcase. When did it become a nearly punishable crime to offend someone?? Why is the average American expected to completely accept every opinion the main stream media and Hollywood projectile vomits our way?
Oh, I'll have plenty to say about political correctness and its cancerous, insidious erosion of our freedom of speech in this country, but for starters, I'm gonna coin a new politically correct word. Christophobia: The irrational fear and often violent reaction of a person against those who have given their hearts to Jesus Christ, trusting entirely on Him for the cleansing of sin and reconciliation to the Father in heaven. Yep, Christophobia. Good one, huh?
Christophobes can be identified by their undisguised hatred and disdain of true, Bible believing Christians. They are repulsed at a knee jerk, visceral level at the gentleness, purity and unnaturally loving nature of the real Christian and feel the need to deride and mock their lifestyle and values.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm talking about the genuine Christians around the world who, more and more, are few and far between. Not the 'purpose driven life' or the 'God wants you to be prosperous and rich' or the 'all faiths lead to God' mega church group. You know the players, I'm talking about; the well dressed, hanging around the coffee bar between Sunday services, gossiping about who is sleeping with whom and where on earth Sister So-and-so got that awful outfit, pseudo-Christians. The ones who act pious on Sunday and make sure everyone knows how much they gave to the building fund this week, but then act like hell Monday through Saturday.
No, those folks actually get along just fine in their everyday lives because they are living just like everyone else. Real Christians are the oddballs who refuse to gossip, steal office supplies, use clean, intelligent language and go home to their families every evening instead of hitting the bars with their co-workers. They're the strange ones who actually seem to care and offer their unselfish assistance when you are having a crisis or who listen empathetically to your broken heart.
Recently, I've noticed a very weird dynamic developing in the media. Christianity is being looked down on more and more. I've even heard them being labeled as 'terrorists', especially if they support Israel. Black is white and up is now down! Puleeze!
Now, heaven help you if you dare correctly identify as muslim those who carry out suicide bombings against innocent civilians or who kidnap and behead on YouTube some poor schlub who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, all for their 'god' allah.
Yesseree Bob, those violent, mass murdering Christians are out of control and want to take over every aspect of your lives! Run while you can! You never know when one of those crazy people will jump on you and hold a gun to your head if you don't convert to their religion. Geesh, maybe you and 3000 other people will be blown to smithereens one beautiful morning just because you don't believe like they do. And later that day on the news, maybe you'll see them dancing and celebrating your death and suffering in the parking lots of their churches.
I will have much more to say on the state of society in subsequent articles but for now, I am outraged that there are Christophobes roaming our streets. Maybe I'll hold a protest and block traffic and throw garbage all over the place and hold up signs with meaningless blather and make inane statements to reporters and refuse to shower for three weeks and…and…well, you get the idea. Or maybe I'll simply pray for Almighty God to open their eyes to their lost and hopeless existence and their great need for Him. Wow. How threatening.
I have every idea some fool will write a lame comment citing the Crusades, abortion bombings, hypocritical evangelists or even the Westboro 'Baptist' Church inbred freaks. Don't even go there. I write this with a heart that is weary of being mocked, misunderstood and lumped in with those who use the precious name of Jesus to justify their selfish goals and agendas and who wouldn't recognize the Son of God if He were standing in front of them. If what I've said offends you, welcome to the club.
I can only pray the life I live and the way I treat others inspires Christophobia in the people I meet who have no use for God. What a great honor that would be!
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