Sermons, teachings, devotionals ... 2-6-12
Serving, separated, sanctified, for Jesus' sake!
See twice-weekly "bits and pieces" below.
The Word is a life and light-giving Word -- “The Light of the world is Jesus.” Visualize the whole world in the darkness of sin, men groping blindly, restless and hopeless. We have the Light of life. We see him face to face. We bask in the sunshine of His glory. Pity the blind. Pray for the blind. Carry the light of the precious Gospel to their darkened souls. Tell them to arise and shine, for the Light is come and the glory of the Lord shall shine upon them. Help us, Lord, to walk in the light as we have fellowship with thee and with one another. Amen.
“That which I see not teach Thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.” (Job 34:32) Men are to learn of sin from the Word of God, are to examine themselves in the mirror of the Word of God, and are to be resolved to cease form sin in their own lives under the power of the Word of God. We are to hide the Word of God in our heart so as not to sin against God. (Psalm 119:11) Elsewhere in Scripture men are encouraged to stand openly against all sin and to warn all people of its consequences (the judgment to come).
The Christian who is zealous to promote the cause of Christ can begin by living in the power of the Spirit and so reproducing the life of Christ in the sight of men. In deep humility and without ostentation he can let his light shine. The world may pretend not to see, but it will see, nevertheless, and more than likely it will get into serious trouble with its conscience over what it sees. ---A. W. Tozer
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4) In today’s world, the hardest part of any revival will be getting people to remember that they are soldiers for Jesus Christ and that there is being waged a very real war for the souls of men. I myself merely laughed at my critics before, but now I’m boldly recruiting them to prepare themselves for the Revival Army of God.
I’m absolutely committed to having the attitude of “I’m not giving up, I’m not turning back, I’m not lying down, I’m not going to sound retreat, I’m not going to surrender, I‘m not going to quit.” In fact, the word “quit” ought to be cut out of the Christian’s dictionary. (Dr. John N. Hamblin)
Every Christian is commissioned by Jesus Himself as a soul winner. But few Christians really believe that and are content to let the church do the evangelizing while they sit home all day. This is where we begin revival by bringing our own selves in true humility before God.
By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt. He did not fear the wrath of the king. He did not hesitate because of the tears of his foster-mother. He did not consider the scorn of even his best friends. He did not even count worthwhile the fact that his own people did not believe in him. God had put in his heart a call and he answered. So really it was the Lord Jesus Christ whom Moses followed. He was a good disciple. “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple,” Jesus said at Luke 14:33. (John R. Rice)
It Seems So Unthinking. “It is difficult for anyone who has a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ to accept that the world hates Him, this One whom we love so much. It was difficult for me, and I still struggle with that. How could anyone reject the One who loves us more than we could ever comprehend, and whose sacrifice for those He created is so wonderfully unfathomable. Such hatred is often masked and develops progressively by stealth.” (Dave Hunt)
The essential features of the Gospel are:
We are not ashamed of it. See Romans 1:16.
It is the Gospel of peace. See Ephesians 6:15.
It is an everlasting Gospel. See Revelation 14:6.
It is called the Gospel of the Kingdom. See Matthew 4:23.
It is called the Gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24.
It is called the Gospel of your salvation. Ephesians 1:13.
It is ultimately the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mark 1:1.
It is also called the Gospel of God. Romans 15:16.
And it is the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. 1 Timothy 1:11.
What Does Jesus’ Blood Do?
The first question in the Bible was asked by Satan in the exceedingly beautiful Garden of Eden and was designed to subvert the truth of God and question His character. (Genesis 3:1) That question was answered emphatically in the exceedingly beautiful Garden of Gethsemane, as Christ's precious blood first began to flow from His holy body and onto the cursed earth. (Luke 22:44) Christ - the Pearl of Great Price !! (Matthew 13:46)
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[] The blood pays for our forgiveness. Ephesians 1:7.
[] The blood saves us from God’s wrath. Romans 5:9.
[] The blood washes and cleanses us from sin. 1 John 1:7;Revelation 1:5.
[] The blood makes peace with God. Colossians 1:20.
[] The blood opens the way to Heaven. Hebrews 10:19.
[] The blood is the infinite value that God has placed on our redemption. 1 Peter 1:18.
I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold, beyond the crystal sea,
About the angels singing, and the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there, the song of victory.
---Victory in Jesus
The man who does well for himself is the man who gives up everything for Christ’s sake. He makes the best of bargains: he carries the cross for a few years in this world, and in the world to come has everlasting life. He obtains the best of possessions: he carries his riches with him beyond the grave. He is rich in grace here, and he is rich in glory hereafter. And, best o all, what he obtains by faith in Christ he never loses. It is the good part that is never taken away. ---Ryle
The Saints.
Keep God’s Word. Jude 3
Grow spiritually. Ephesians 4:12
Avoid evil. Ephesians 5:3
Judge world. 1 Corinthians 6:1,2
Pray for others. Ephesians 6:18
Minister to others. Hebrews 6:10
The true Christian has no rights. We drink the bitter cup we’re given, we love our enemies and pray for them, and we contend for the faith. Anything other than that tends to be selfish or pointless. We don’t expect due process because (1) we know little of the facts because of the deceit and (2) their lie will be stronger than your truth in the eyes of the propagandized “jury.” Jesus never argued with anyone, He spoke the truth, got out safely when He could, and spoke the truth some more. His “Woe unto you…hypocrites” dared that any one came to Him with a false gospel. I don’t remember when anyone shared the dais with Jesus Christ.
Don’t let the word get out that we are pussy footin’ here at Goodship Lollipop Church.
Foolish Fellows and Their Folly.
Folly of the foolish. (Proverbs 15:5)
The infidel and his folly. (Psalm 14:1)
The self-righteous fool. (Proverbs 12:15)
The folly of the false professor. (Proverbs 26:11)
The foul-mouthed fool. (Proverbs 19:1; Psalm 74:18)
The rich fool. (Luke 12:20)
The end and lament of a fool. (1 Samuel 26:21)
(James E. Spink)
7 Signs Which Evidence That A Man or Woman is Born Again.
[William Malgo, founder, The Midnight Call]
1. He knows that he has been born again.
Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13.
2. His new life becomes visible.
Matthew 7:16; Acts 4:20; Ephesians 3:17; John 14:23.
3. He has a spirit of prayer.
Romans 8:26; Acts 1:14; 4:24; Revelations 3:2; 3:20.
4. He has a hunger for the Word of God.
John 6:48; John 5:39-40.
5. He will suffer much adversity.
John 16:13; Ephesians 6; Luke 6:22; Matthew 5:10.
6. He has victory over many sins and temptations.
Romans 725; Romans 8:10; John 10:28; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 15:57.
7. He awaits with joy and expectancy the return of Christ.
Luke 21:28; Matthew 25:6; 25:10;
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bits and pieces. no. 15
serving, separated, sanctified -- for Jesus' sake.
The more you love God's Word, the greater your hatred for a lie.
The new mantra: "I'm compassionate. Catch me if you can." Manners, natural affection, duty, accountability, godly sorrow, integrity, humility, loyalty, conviction, godly pride, sensibility, citizenship and much more has practically vanished from our eyesight overnight. Left standing is this lame smile that reminds you of someone who dipped in the snuff and can't form a sneeze. We are a vile nation who entertains itself by telling everyone else to straighten up under their hat. Will Jesus find faith on the earth? The question may be better stated, will faith on the earth ever find Jesus? How sad to watch a country, a church, and a people be judged under the ominous words at Isaiah 50:1, "For your iniquities have you sold yourselves."
Modern religious views on love are far estranged from the Biblical view and are important mostly because of political erxpediency, ego and fantasy nurture, and as a better-dressed rival to cheap demagoguery.
One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 having only opinions and interests.
There is only one acceptable answer to the Biblically sound rebuke and it's repentance. All else widens the falsehood and steepens the hypocrisy.
Alright, I will write on the blackboard 500 times, “I will be more loving.”
"But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." (Jeremiah 1:7-9) Many of the Bible's strong characters had an eclectic assortment of experiences that God used to season them. Certainly Paul seems to have led the parade in hardships. Many men and women today do not go out into the world in evangelistic, soul-winning, and missionary efforts and therefore fail to take the pulse of religion. Many people are content to experience religion inside the church a couple of times a week maybe for many years. Others just hide out in the church as a way of life. Jesus went so far as to send His people out with a sword, Him knowing the road of faith was fraught with many many dangers; few today even believe such dangers exist. See Luke 22:36.
We live in a world that refuses to be taught, reproved, or changed to God‘s satisfaction. It wants to do everything but honor and obey God.
When in the presence of two kind, caring, and compassionate men competing for the attention of the cameras, I try to get out of the way before the bloodshed.
Do abstract artists who work on a project for months ever forget what they were painting?
The Bible says that love is to be without dissimulation, it is not to be given a false appearance (extra-Biblical character). See Romans 12:9 where this principle is put forth in the very heart of Paul's exhortations for unity in the Body of Christ (not in the visible church). Christ's love received and applied by His people is the only context in which true faith is exhibited, and through which men's souls have hope of being rescued. All other love is of the world, and has nothing in Him, as inferred at John 14:30. When you pussyfoot with love you are in grave danger of perverting the true Gospel; God so loved the world; yeah, God is a consuming fire -- don't play with fire.
If I were to cite the one thing that has caused me great consternation toward our churches in these worst of times, it would be this: None will stand and say, “I was wrong and am to blame,” admitting that they have lowered their guard, did not sound the trumpet nor wave the banner, did not obey God‘s holy command to be separate and to preach the Gospel faithfully; above all, that they have been altogether unprofitable. (See Luke 17:10)
Nowhere in Scripture is there the slightest suggestion that church should lure people by presenting Christianity as an attractive option. ---John MacArthur
It is my opinion that the Christian conception of God current in these middle years of the twentieth century is so decadent so as to be utterly beneath the dignity of the Most High God and actually to constitute for professed believers something amounting to moral calamity. ---A W Tozer [And the deceivers keep coming out of the closet.]
Status Quo. Latin for, “Just look at the mess we’ve made.”
At Isaiah 44:26 God says that He confirms the word of His servant and He performs the counsel of His messengers. God not only backs you completely for bearing the Word of God faithfully, but He blesses you when you are steadfast in accepting His counsel. Your enemies will run to and fro looking to discredit you, but you are often the only one who is speaking with clear authority and working under any divine imperative.
Heaven or Hell is the Only Real Choice Life Affords Anyone.
In the final turning of the pages, it will one day be imminently clear to all men and women that there are only two ways to live your life on earth: By Faith or In Sin. God will never interfere with your freedom to choose, but He will hold you accountable for every one of those choices you make. Trust Christ today, make Him your Savior, accept Him as Lord. His love paid the sin ransom for you.
A man who foists the unloving badge on another has to be using his own love as a standard, otherwise he must look into the scoundrel’s heart.
God’s Word is the only measure, and Paul gives us the measuring criteria; positivism and legalistic love (the compassionate love that is according to modern religion essential to being accepted into the family of God) are far removed from any of these precious words of faith, character, and purpose:
2 Corinthians 6:6
What We Will Go Through.
[4]But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
[5] In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
What We Are Called To Do, And What We Will Face.
[6] By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
[7] By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
[8] By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
[9] As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
[10] As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
True Christian Love, a Sympathetic Concern for Each Other.
[11] O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
[12] Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
[13] Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
What We Do For Christ.
[14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
[18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Ever notice that folks can be sounder and more specific in the use of Scripture when hurling a vindictive spirit than when boasting of their great love and compassion? They do not have to be faithful to God’s Word because they are so loving, but my obedience to God’s Word proves that I’m unloving and deserving of the hatred of all decent people. Under what rock did that charming hybrid crawl out from?
This is a Massive Movement of Sentimental Religion.
“They [idolaters] have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, … a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand?” (Isaiah 44:17-21, selected)
1. God the Holy Spirit has quit working in them.
2. They refuse to be concerned, to fear God, to be warned of judgment.
3. A deceived heart, perhaps as a result of self-deception, is the cause of their problems, is what turns them away from God.
4. They cannot come to the point of repentance, to the humiliation of the cross.
5. The lie being that that idol they hold in their hand is made in the image of man, worshipped out of the ignorance of man, and made alive through the imagination of man.
6. A true servant knows who His Maker is.
The Book of Acts, which records the giving of the promise of the Holy Spirit, which records the establishment of the local church and the building of the true Church, which records the phenomenal growth of the missionary movement, which chronicles the Christian life of the Apostle Paul, which articulates the realities of the Gospel, which exemplifies contending for the Faith, and which documents the early history of Christianity -- this Book never mentions the word “love.” People on fire for Christ don’t seem to stop every five minutes to see who is and who isn’t being a fine upstanding Christian, churchman, citizen, and compassion vendor.
There is no love on this planet that does not first grow up out of God’s heart, a love that is often expressed in what men see has hatred. God’s intense hatred is infinitely higher than man’s love. “All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. (Hosea 9:15)
The Truth About Christian Love.
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:2)
Folks, when they call you names, and you are walking in the light, read these precious words of 1 John -- the Lord knows them that are His! Never be afraid to defend the Bible, it is one of His commands. See John 17:14,17,20, for example.
But on the other hand -- Jesus is coming !!!
We ought to seek revival -- know it, want it, hunger for it, weep for it. There must be a weeping burden for revival. I’m not sure many folks weep for human souls today, everyone is out for #1 and the liberal, modernist, self-serving ministry and seeker-friendly churches are leading the way. It’s sad on the one hand,
I shoveled out through the snow to get my paper to see what was going on in the world. The headline was “Snow Blankets Area.”
Correction. Yesterday’s ad read: “Color TVs, $3.99.” It should have read, “Color TVs $399.“ Sorry if you were inconvenienced by the riot.
An Election Gem.
"I want individuals to have their own insurance. That means the insurance company will have an incentive to keep you healthy. It also means if you don't like what they do, you can fire them. [NOT IN THIS CITY!!!] I like being able to fire people who provide services to me. You know, if someone doesn't give me a good service that I need, I want to say I'm going to go get someone else to provide that service to me." ---Romney
The medical-insurance scam is the first national crime wave of the 21st Century and the government is going to make it a fixture in American life.
Charity was once a virtue, it is now an industry.
The cross is the center of the world’s history. The incarnation of Christ and the crucifixion of our Lord are the pivot round which all the events of the ages revolve. The testimony of Christ was the spirit of prophecy, and the growing power of Jesus is the spirit of history. (Alexander Maclaren)
The resurrection of Christ was what called the church into being, and turned a group of shattered, demoralized men into evangelists who, against all odds, gave a new direction to history. ---E. Russell Barry
The Lord who has vacated His tomb has not vacated His throne. ---George R Beasley Murray
Consider how immense the sum of the sins of the world must be! The sins that one of us commits in one day are very numerous. If all our proud thoughts could be known, and all our rebellious feelings against God could be exposed, how vast would be the amount! But consider what millions of millions of men have lived on this earth; what treachery, what blasphemy, what murders, what idolatry, have defiled it in every place, at every moment. Yet all these multiplied crimes Jesus can take away; so great is the power of his blood. O that all the world would come to the Lamb of God, that they might all be cleansed from their innumerable transgressions." ---Mortimer
My boss said I apologize too much. I said I was sorry.
Christopher Columbus. Best known for discovering the capital of Ohio.
Self-righteousness (and a legalistic view of religion) is a necessary adjunct to those who either pervert grace or abandon it to a works gospel. A perversion is a false rendering of God's Word to create an opposite effect than what God intended.
I believe many pervert grace when they insist a man be compassionate to show that he is a Christian. Time after time, Jesus commended His disciples for their labors of love and they weren’t even aware that they done them. We possess the love of Christ but we obey His commands.
The organized church (the visible building) will end in failure. It is to fall under the weight of it’s own apostasy. See Luke 18:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2; 2 Timothy 3: 1-8; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 3:15-16. Indeed, the glory has already departed her. The pangs of modernism, formalism, worldliness, ecumenism, general departure, and denominational pressures have come upon the church in these past decades. It is the travail of Christ’s soul, I think, to watch the local churches self-destruct. Jesus can but now judge her and vomit her out of His mouth. Meanwhile, the true Church -- His Body made up of only true believers -- cannot become apostate, cannot fail. He still calls that invisible church out of the visible church, knocking on the door from the outside to get His people to flee the apostasy.
"There is nothing, indeed, which God will not do for a man who dares to step out upon what seems to be the mist; though as he puts his foot down he finds a rock beneath him." --F. B. Meyer
It is very clear that we turn away from apostates --- those who eschew the name of Jesus, who make the Holy Spirit frivolous or of no consequence, who are pretentious toward the Word of God, who hold sentimentality and sensuousness instead of the Gospel of grace, and who aid and abet sin under the deception of moral respectability. The Book of Jude tells you all about these charlatans. It minces no words, it is terrifyingly a Book of coming judgment; it also tells how to stand for Jesus during the apostasy.
The fastest way to congregational immorality is to try to enforce moral respectability. The most damnable of all false notions of Christianity is the teaching that moral respectability is equivalent to salvation. And no two people need to even agree on all the morality. This kind of weasel morality is filthy head to toe.
When was the last time you prayed…
1. Thanking God out of a pure heart? (Psalm 6:18,19)
2. In Christ’s name? (John 14:13)
3. That God’s will would be done? (1 John 5:14)
4. For someone to get saved? (James 5:15)
Deal with bullies kindly, be friendly, he has problems too. If nice doesn’t work, then belt him a good one between the headlights.
Whoever works for the Devil will get his pay from the Devil. He will give you hell here and Hell when you are through; and you play both ends against the middle. What a big fool you are to follow the Devil!, to pussy foot with the Devil. I tell you, religion [Christianity] has done too much good for this old world to be knocked. Don’t forget that! Some men in some churches are bigger rogues than some of the convicts in prison. Adapted, Billy Sunday
We are also a nation of cowards and wimps who are so afraid of being caught up in intolerance and offense that we are easily swept into the arms of brigands who oppress the good people that are unafraid to stand up and cry “Foul.” The apostles of Self have just about put America out of business by their greed, churlishness, bloated piety, pretentiousness, and superficiality.
In the World Ye Shall Have Tribulation.
I worry for Christians who find peace and comfort in this world -- Jesus never had a moment of either. God help the man who rises up in anger at what the Devil is doing to this poor old world.
“And [God] will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.” (Jeremiah 29:17) God does not pussyfoot with sin, rebellion, and a malicious spirit.
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“Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil“ (words of David, Psalm 56:5). If your enemy wants to hurt you, he can use your words against you, no matter how innocent the words may be. He is a headhunter and he means to hurt you.
The Bible is a good judge of people -- that’s why most of the race despises it.
You need not choose evil, you have only to fail to choose good, and you drift fast enough toward evil.
A good case can be made for believing that “repentance” is one of the least used words in the Christian church today. In a world that will not tolerate the mention of sin, and in churches where it has defined only in sociological terms, the Biblical teaching on repentance has inevitably been ignored.
Why repentance when all that is needed is a kindly spirit? That thinking comes from Hell and will return to Hell, dragging its sheaves with it.
Lesson: Proverbs 12. Righteousness.
The root of righteousness. (Verses 3,12)
The thoughts of righteousness. (Verse 5)
The mouth of righteousness. (Verse 6)
The house of righteousness. (Verse 7)
The fruit (or proof) of righteousness:
health (verse 18);
joy (verse 20);
gladness of the heart (verse 25);
life (verse 28); and
no death (verse 28).
There is only one standard for self-evaluation and for standing for Christ in a haughty and apostate world, and that’s the King James Bible. Those who love that Bible will find it uncompromising and exceedingly harsh in a number of places. It is nonetheless the only power and wisdom God has given you to do the things that please Him, and any and all promises of rejoicing will be found alone therein.
The most convenient answer to criticism is to call your opponent unloving. (Jesus was charged with deceiving the people.) Be sure you examine your opponent’s heart first, so as to be certain of your opinion. I have learned in life that those who will not receive Biblical reproof are waiting to strike back with boilerplates that will be much more Scripturally sound than their misdirected teachings. I have also learned in life that many important people in Christianity are sorely vexed by some things they learn from the Bible, and despite their Bible “pedigree,” they willfully work to oppose what they have learned. And then they run a subliminal and “gossipy” campaign that others accept those lies for their own life.
God is logical, He knows how to speak, he knows how to lead and instruct His people. Love the Lord, trust Him, and live your life for Him.
A person being wrong is never proven wrong by you disagreeing with him.
Few there are who by their words and actions really accept the Bible as absolute truth; few there are who really believe that Jesus Christ is all the things He claimed to be; few there are who know the love of Christ and share it faithfully; few there are who know that the church is on this earth for ultimately only one business, that of evangelism (including discipleship); few there are who understand a literal Hell; few there are who are willing to examine themselves, to surrender self and put on the new man in Christ; few there are who know the meanings of sacrifice, brotherly love, Christian service, obedience, holiness, the mind of Christ, and the full counsel of redemption including the suffering, the blood, the cross, and every man’s condemnation.
Why would you want to be joined to a church who will not be Christ’s Virgin Bride?
It is one thing to show a man that he is in error, but another to put him in possession of the truth. ---John Locke
Most churchers go from passion to compassion, because compassion takes a lot less out of you.
“My people hath been lost sheep; their shepherds (pastors) have caused them to go astray … for they have forgotten their resting place.” (Jeremiah 50:6)
What God really wants is obedience and godliness -- taking compassionate interest in others while keeping yourself clean and sober in Christ-driven labors. Grace should produce acts of Christ-like service and dedication, and a walk of separation: this is generally known as practical love and practical holiness. It is quite different from this heathen compassion of ostentation, back patting, and bathos. Also known as today’s Christianity so popular in my town.
God isn’t at all interested in external piety, sweetness of appearance or sound, or ceremony and ritual. Those things deceive a man and render his faith useless if not entirely false. You can find Jesus calling out the Pharisees as hypocrites for these various reasons and others throughout Matthew Chapter 23. He also said that kind of religion made Him sick. (See Revelation 3:16.)
"I've seen more Christians destroyed by ambition than any other sin - discontent in the heart, always pushing and jockeying - moving for some new thing, some new position . . . It's not what we do, it's that we do what we're called to do and that in it we glorify God." ---Carter Conlon
God does not keep a long leash on sin and reins it in: “But as for hem whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 11:21 Sin is no plaything!
You get acquainted with the light, give attendance to the light, and all at once you start paying attention to the Scriptures. No matter what the library of man says, the Scriptures suddenly become your measuring stick for everything.
Apostasy is increasing at an exponential rate.
1. Any believer who has been following the Lord diligently for the last 25 years or so can attest to the fact that evangelical Christianity is changing rapidly --- and not for the good. This is not only evident, it is God’s prophetic Word fulfilled in our day.
2. So, how do we handle it? By God’s grace! “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Romans 5:20) But His grace is given to enable us to grow in our understanding of and the doing of His Word. With that comes protection.
3. Unless we are diligent to that end, unless we are disciplined in our reading the Scriptures and living them out in our lives, His grace will be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:10), and we will be ripe for the escalating seduction of the apostasy. ---T. A. McMahon, The Berean Call
Nevertheless, they shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. Apostasy may seem exciting to those that are blinded by its odious effects, but all ungodliness is on a downhill slide and can end up only in the horrors of Hell itself. It is an absolute certainty that those who flaunt God’s will will incur His wrath. The believer best therefore keep Romans 8:28-29 close to his heart at all times:
Nevertheless, the time [of apostasy] WILL come! “They” has to be the organized church; it is talking about a people who once endured sound doctrine. Now, they lust after new doctrine, and they bring in new teachers (scholars, experts, and authorities). Pastors and church bodies shape their new teachers according to perceived needs and aspirations. If the church envisions making watches they bring in an expert watchmaker.
Fraud and Bad Preaching to Boot.
We had a pastor in our town found guilty of embezzling about 2 million dollars from his church over several years. I drove by the church almost every day, it was small and quiet; how they could not have missed 2 million dollars eludes me -- he had boats, expensive cars, and the other trappings of wealth and no one questioned it. On the day of sentencing, the congregation came forward and railed mercilessly on this poor wayward fellow. He’s a scoundrel alright, but not because he stole their money but because he obviously neglected to preach on forgiveness! Send him up the river, judge!
We Defend the Gospel.
The Gospel is under vicious attack today. May God help us to be among its victorious defenders.
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1. Stand for the Faith. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)
2. Have an Attitude of Readiness. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15)
3. Be Sincere in the Defense of the Gospel. “But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:17)
4. Embrace all the Witness, Evidence, and Revelation. “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” (Acts 1:3)
5. Support, Comfort, and Pray For Them That Defend with You. “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.” (Philippians 1:7)
6. Root Your Defense in the True Word of God. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
7. Be Well-Studied in Scripture. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39
8. Be Prayerful Toward God and Dependent on Him. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16)
I hope they don’t raise the bus fares. I need my hard-earned money to bailout billionaires.
In 2008, there were 6.7 million households in the US that had a net worth of at least $1,000,000. That was down from 9.2 million the prior year.
When you feel that your testimony is not being believed, and you have poured your life into it in sacrifice and faith, remember that Jesus was hated so badly He had to be raised from the dead before anyone paid serious attention and He‘ll have to come back before most are convinced. But He will and then the day will belong to Him!
When the shepherd speaks well of the wolf, the sheep are in trouble.
When you love the Lord with all your heart, you’ll love His church. You will despise her every enemy -- you’ll hold nothing back, you’ll give no quarter. You forgive no enemy who is without repentance.
What False Teachers Share in Character.
Works.
1. Cain -- he rejects the blood atonement, accepts certain trappings of valid religion, but molds his own religion based on human merit and natural feelings and instincts. A works gospel entertains seekers, is a “feel good” endeavor, gives life a sense of worth, albeit vaguely rewarding and temporal.
Religion.
2. Balaam -- seeks for himself religious notoriety, moral respectably, and earthly satisfaction. They are, for the most part willfully, ignorant of the higher morality of the cross where God satisfies His justice by imputing the righteousness of Christ in the sinner upon him placing his trust in Christ. Man is restless and wants to see immediate results -- God’s way delays results, and man is not rewarded as he is thought to be when he is out and about loving.
Rejection of Authority.
3. Korah -- simply said, there is a lawlessness among the false teachers and they reject authority. What ever authority they reject, it will always include the authority of God’s Word. The bible takes away a lot of the glitter that man seems to think he deserves. Man wants to build his own religion -- that’s where he can obtain the praise of men and physically enjoy his fruits -- why live and die and never see all the good you have done?
Rebellion: Homes, Schools, Churches.
If a child grew up to be lazy, a reveler, a cheat, a criminal, we would easily suspect the parents for not teaching the child, morals, ethics, and sound principles. We’ll think they never instructed their children in the fruit of labor, of sacrifice, of the price one pays for the life a free republic demands. Didn’t we once lay that charge to our homes, schools, and churches? But today, all three of those building blocks of life and society categorically dismiss any blame for the present precarious and rebellious condition of our people and our nation. We live in a time when our schools, homes, and churches aid and abet a rosy cozy mindset (gospel) of shunning responsibility (accountability), rejecting authority, and looking for ways of justifying the lust for doing whatever feels good (or makes easy money) no matter at whose expense. The news in recent years is that kids raised in Christian homes leave the church. I’m certain that the god-ordained answer to that problem lies in the rebellion trinity of school-home-church, and the seed of the problem is a perversion of Biblical truth and imperative.
The car has replaced the horse but after all this time we still haven’t seen a bronze statute with a man behind a steering wheel.
First rule of politics: don’t say something that someone might remember.
Encouraging Words in the Thick of the Apostasy!
1. We are in Christ and that will never change. “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:” (Jude 1)
2. We are in the love of God and that will never change. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 21)
3. We are perfect in the eyes of God, and Jesus will never let that change. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” (Jude 24)
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in after death. ---The New Hampshire Statement of Faith, circa 1853
“Increasing numbers of Christians are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe, but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible of clear definition.” ---A. W. Tozer.
It is the problem of the ages, getting a man to look at himself and become humble before a holy God. Hypocrisy is common to all men, saved and unsaved. Many men aren’t afraid to touch any base, and are called hypocrites, legalists, and Pharisees. Others commit all manner of hypocrisy and no one calls them on it. The difference between the believer and unbeliever is that while a believer is teaching from the Word of God, he himself is listening and taking careful notes. Self-evaluation is an imperative of Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:28) and requires three disciplines: conscientious Bible reading, daily confessional prayer, and self-deprecation.
William MacDonald has said well that those who are counted worthy to attain unto eternal life are those who judge themselves, who vindicate Christ, and who confess that all worthiness belongs to Him.
Quips, Quotes, and Quandaries.
[] If America forgets where she came from, if the people lose sight of what brought them along, if she listens to the deniers and mockers, then will begin the rot and dissolution.” ---Carl Sandburg
[] Find one soul in all of Scripture who came to God seeking grace and went home without finding it. Name one!
[] Oh, so many Christians know the 23d Psalm to perfection but have never come to know the perfect Shepherd.
[] I have learned in life that compromise and cowardice go hand in hand. Where you find one, you find another.
[] If you are planning to outsmart God, it might be best to pray that you not outsmart yourself.
[] The saving Savior is a keeping Savior. ---Rice
[] “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.” (Psalm 3:6)
[] All year they were calling for a ban on guns in bars. I’m calling for the ban on beer in bars.
[] The man who will not know the Bible will be forever alienated from the Bible ever knowing him.
[] A person who wanders is not always lost.
[] Most people aren’t comfortable with the truth about Jesus; in this day, especially Christians.
[] You might laugh your way into Hell, but you won’t laugh your way out. ---Dave Hunt
Lighter Fare
When two hunters sat comfortably in their invention, a decoy cow, and waited for their prey, did it ever cross their mind that their first customer might be a sawed off bull?
They gave me a choice of being a park hunting guide or fishing guide. I took fishing guide -- not likely anyone will ever mistake me for a fish.
Sorry, ma’m, but our police remote brain scan clearly indicated that you were thinking about parking here illegally.
I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to request vanity plates. The lady looked at me and said, “You gotta be kidding!”
Most men will eat food a fly has landed on, most women will not. Should anyone want to eat food a fly will not land on?
They wouldn’t let me withdraw from my rainy day account. It wasn’t raining.
I read Moby Dick --- For an all-time literary classic, it was actually good.
We had a field trip at school today. We went to a field.
A.D.1607: the last time the Gospel was preached in Central Ohio.
I’m sick of greed, lust for power, violence… I’m not going to read the sports pages anymore.
God’s Plan of Salvation.
1. What does God want you to do? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
2. How can you believe? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
3. What can you do to show that you believe? You can sincerely pray this prayer - or another prayer from your own heart - and tell God that you believe and accept (trust) His Son as your Savior.
Lord, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sins and help me to turn from them in hatred for them. I know that I deserve Hell for my sins. But I believe that Jesus died to pay for my sins and to take the punishment for me. I know that He purchased my salvation with His own precious blood, and has given me the precious gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. I trust Him and accept Him now as my Savior. Amen.
bits and pieces. no. 13. 2-1-12
Our Highest Motivation is to Please the Master.
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:18) You can tell when compassion is in its place. Not because someone says so. Not because someone preaches it so. Not when the world proclaims it so, or even feels it to be so. There is a delicate fragrance that rises up out of it. God’s Word will pour off the lips like molasses. The Gospel will beautify the moment. The name of Jesus will fill up the senses. The sweetest sounds will be a cascading in the ear. The Spirit of God will sweetly fan the warming fires of the soul. And echoes of eternity will stream from lofty mountain grandeur. Lord God Almighty is high and lifted up and His servants are at their labors!
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“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)
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“When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.” (Psalm 141:6)
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“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)
A fool mistakes power for virtue, acclaim for merit, conviction for truth, revenge for justice, license for liberty, and kindness for weakness. The fool follows a morally and doctrinally insensitive course out of harmony with God’s Biblical standards. Rarely does being a fool mean having a low intellect, or being mentally weak. Anyone who lacks sufficient spiritual reasoning can be a fool by the definition in Scripture.
When you meet the devil, you know you are not going his way. If you never meet him, you know you are going in the same direction.
If it were true that “He that angers you, conquers you,” I should by this time own my city, or at least its preachers.
The weak power of the world defends the weakness of its doctrines; the power of God defends and preserves the strength and severity of His immutable doctrine.
A hypocrite is a man who preaches love and then spends his days hiding his dirty laundry, proving that deceit is king and pigs love slop.
In America, the "rulers of the Jews," the religious breed, could go to jail for their crimes against Jesus. They slandered Him and publicly assassinated His character; they denied Him His freedom of religious expression; they denied Him due process; they entered into gang activities; they stalked Him; they eavesdropped; they perjured themselves; they committed hatecrimes. No, those things can't happen in America. Sure, and ducks hop!
We must eventually pay the fiddler, although in my case we’ll have to hire an entire full piece orchestra.
The Bible was written for our learning (Romans 15:4), not for deceiving. The nature of the Word of God is to fight against hypocrites! ---adapted, William Tyndale
“Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.”(Isaiah 59: 7-8)
“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9:16) The crucified life (see Galatians 2:20) -- I live it that Jesus Christ may be glorified in me, not that someone would get saved thereby. People are saved by seeing Christ upon the cross, not upon me. They see Him there when a man of God preaches the Word of God under the power of the Holy Spirit of God.
You can’t have church without the Holy Spirit; He has to be in the preacher, He has to be in the church, He has to be in the people. He gives birth, life, and guidance to the church. ---Carl McIntire
We apologize for the lack of sex and violence in tonight’s programming. We will try to do better next time.
The race horse is an amazing animal. It can take several thousand people for a ride all at once.
A monumental sickness has settled upon the United States. It is a festering putrid character that rests upon this nation, its people, its institutions, and its leaders. All of society clamors after the dragon, righteous thought has dissipated; a sinister specter of evil now marks the collective character of society - a national humanistic / hedonistic persona drives our pursuits. ---Jim R. Schwiesow
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”(Hebrews 5:8-9) If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. And when we keep His commandments, we will suffer for His sake (not because of him, but for Him, on His behalf). In fact, we actually learn obedience through the suffering for Christ. Each of our sufferings will pluck at our heart, for He suffered it before us.
“Shouldest thou help the ungodly? And love them that hate the Lord?” (2 Chronicles 19:2) It is a very good question. It is something our generation, which has gone lovey-dovey on everything, should think about. My friend, God never asks you to love one who is an enemy of God. It is one thing to love a sinner. It is another thing to love his sin. We need to distinguish between the two. We are to hate the sinner’s sin. If the sinner will not change, but persists and insists on sticking with his sin, then he becomes identified with his sin. They are people who are actually God’s enemies, they are enemies of the Word of God, and they are inveterate enemies of Christianity. ---J. Vernon McGhee
No one ever proved there to be anything wrong in this world by using a corrupt Bible. New bibles aren’t produced to make sin to appear exceedingly sinful, just the opposite. The biggest thing wrong in this world is those filthy (man-worshipping) translations. It amazes me the number of people who practice Christianity and are falsely passing themselves off as sincere Bible students.
The menu system of communication is a strange bird; we've had it now for twenty years and no one -- not one of us -- doesn't think it's a joke. How much of our national working hours are consumed by this foolishness? How much impatience (anxiety) is built up in our people? How many filthy advertisers take unfair advantage of us when we simply want a little information? How degrading American commerce has become! We are a nation of greed and deceit and our passions are perverse -- and it's the little people who pay the tab.
Since nine tries out of ten result in failure, the company will now enforce a policy of all employees doing ten times as much.
The City of Pamplona, Spain, is hosting the annual running of the bulls, or, as the bulls call it, the annual trampling of the dim wits.
The Liberal Enemy.
My strongest testimony lies in the fact that I have survived and have continued to grow, serve, bear fruit, and love the Lord Jesus despite the bitter hatred of the liberal preachers in my town (and other towns as well). I came to recognize them to be liberal when I learned about their terrible contempt for the people and things of Christ. I do not love them; I cannot forgive them because they lack repentance; I cannot take legal action against them because I’m a Christian; I cannot openly rebuke them because they have never revealed their fabrications to me; I cannot even befriend the complicit congregations. I can pray for them -- pray that God’s people come out from among them, and pray that God will prevent further harm by them, and pray that God will convict them of their defilement. John says we should not pray for them. "There is a sin unto death: I do not say that [you] shall pray for it." (1 John 5:16)
Great Men Are Tempted
I once read a remarkable sermon by the great preacher/evangelist Charles Spurgeon, a very good man of a couple of centuries ago in great Britain, a man whom I have always admired as godly and devoted, an extraordinary soul-winner, who was seen in the eyes of the public as a stalwart of Christian virtue; yet in that sermon he testified of an unnamed transgression that had overcome him the night before in a moment of weakness. Whatever it was, there was no question about his bitter contempt and hatred for it. His honesty was so compelling, the tenor of the message so tearful, and the sermon so very embraceable; by his admitted imperfection, in my eyes this giant of a man grew even greater in stature with every word.
I’m absolutely committed to having the attitude of “I’m not giving up, I’m not turning back, I’m not lying down, I’m not going to sound retreat, I’m not going to surrender, I‘m not going to quit.” In fact, the word “quit” ought to be cut out of the Christian’s dictionary. (Dr. John N. Hamblin)
Every Christian is commissioned by Jesus Himself as a soul winner. But few Christians really believe that and are content to let the church do the evangelizing while they sit home all day. This is where we begin revival by bringing our own selves in true humility before God.
Coach, They say winning consecutive games can do a lot for the morale.
Sure, why not?
So what was the longest winning streak you’ve ever had?
27 minutes.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18) The filling of the Holy Spirit is not necessarily marked by any particular feeling or ecstatic experience. The real proof is in the life, manifested by such characteristics as are described in the context of the passages referring to the Spirit’s filling. In our text, it is obvious that such a filling is accomplished by:
1. Redeeming one’s time. V. 16
2. Understanding God’s will. V. 17
3. A happy and Bible-filled conversation. V. 19
4. A continuously thankful heart. V. 20
5. A right attitude and relationship with one’s spouse. V. 22-25
6. Boldness in witnessing, standing for God’s truth. Acts 4:31; 13:9-10
God‘s People in a Godless World.
---based on a piece by Herschel Ford
1. We need to live more consecrated lives.
2. We need the power that comes from a deeper devotional life.
3. We need to develop the right concepts of a New Testament church.
4. We need a revival of our missionary zeal.
5. We need to remember that Christ may come back any minute.
The ruin of America can be explained very simply: meetings.
It is a myth that children don’t know the value of money; they know the value of theirs -- it’s yours they have that problem with.
The Chip is on the Wrong Shoulder.
1. For $1.00 I picked up a “clearance” book titled “The Righteousness of Faith.” It turned out to be an haranguing of “those who judge.” He quoted Paul a hundred times and as far as I could tell, thumbing through it, he never mentioned the quotes where Paul by divine inspiration makes rebuking a Bible command. (See 2 Timothy 4:2, for example)
2. Why is it that these subliminally false “puritans” want to bombast the good people who stand boldly against sin, error, hypocrisy, and the apostatizing churches but never -- Never! -- mention the most glaring and harmful source of the wrong kind of judgment: gossip does vastly more damage to innocent people’s testimonies and growth than any thousand “judgmental” Bible believers. And gossip judges precisely as the author of this book describes.
3. Apparently that filth is permissible but the good motives of the sincere Christian have to go. And gossip is even more permissible when the preacher heads it up.
4. I say to all, judge righteous judgment and anathema to you perverted gossipers no matter how high up in the church you may think you sit. You and your words are but dung, and will be brought down to the lowest and hottest Hell; I say that on perfect Bible authority.
5. Ezekiel 36:3 speaks of a people who use infamous words against God’s people --- infamy carrying the meaning of tearing down a reputation, bringing scandal and shame, discrediting, abominable and damnable words.
A New God, Same Old Enemies.
Our greatest challenge in America today is to overcome the deceit and powermongering of our church system as it has fully refused to speak to the consciences of men and women, to be the voice of righteousness, as consigned to them by the Holy Scriptures. They have willfully made Self the new god of our once Christian land, and are allowing all of our enemies to creep closer as good Americans have been duped into believing they have nothing constructive to say, and that this unholy one world church is being formed without a whimper of dissent, at the expense of our nation. (The first line of attack is on our children through the school system.) Watch and see it happening before your very eyes. It is not too late for us to begin speaking out in unity. We once said "Just say No," and we never needed those words more than we need them today.
God Was At Work Between the Testaments.
1. We don’t as Christians give much thought to the inter-testament years, some 400 years of geographical and personality development of Palestine. But three incredibly providential events (not including the utterly miraculous distribution of Alexander the Great’s Grecian Empire and dissolution of his family) paved the way for the prophetic fulfillment in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
(A) Hycannus conquered Idumaea (Edom) and imposed Judaism, thereby setting up the rule of the Edomite King, Herod the Great, to become king of the Jews.
(B) Aristobulus, who reigned short of one year, subdued Galilee, enforcing Judaism -- making it sure that every child born of Galilean parents would therefore be born into Jewry, including Jesus Christ of Nazareth! And
(C) a series of political and military maneuvers weakened several Greek cities on the Palestinian Coast, which not long after would make them prime for restoration to Jewry upon the invasion of -- you guessed it, Rome!
2. The essential character of Palestine, the assurance of the Edomite mindset to rule, the mandatory parentage of Christ put into virtual law, and the practically opening wide the doors to Rome’s invasion -- and God provided a star in the sky!
A man in my town was arrested for creativity, or as the police called it, arson.
What’s the use of happiness? It can’t buy money.
A lot of church members are claiming that their sins are just hobbies. They don’t want anyone to get the idea that they’re a lifestyle.
Want Revival?
“Jesus said unto him (a lawyer), Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:37-
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4) In today’s world, the hardest part of any revival will be getting people to remember that they are soldiers for Jesus Christ and that there is being waged a very real war for the souls of men. I myself merely laughed at my critics before, but now I’m boldly recruiting them to prepare themselves for the Revival Army of God.
Too many different bibles has made us dumber, not smarter.
Some preachers do not read the Bible because it takes so much time away from appreciating themselves.
The failings listed here breed deceit in a church, or among the congregation: [] Diminutive attitude toward Jesus Christ.
[] Bible indifference and illiteracy.
[] Frivolity toward the Holy Spirit.
[] Laxity toward sin, discipline, accountability, and doctrine.
[] Nominal leaders or less than spiritually competent leaders.
[] Lack of vision, of priorities, of passion for “Jesus’ work.”
[] Self-righteous, controlling, falsely humble or sentimental pastors.
[] Shallow preaching, diluted messages, minimized discipline
The Book of 1 John, We [with certainty] Know That:
1. A righteous life proves regeneration (that you are born again). 2:29; 5:18
2. We will be like Christ at His coming. 3:2
3. Christ came to take away our sins. 3:5
4. Brotherly love proves we have passed from death unto life. 3:14
5. The Spirit testifies that Christ is in us. 3:24
6. We have eternal life. 5:13
7. Our prayers are answered. 5 15
Victory in Jesus !! He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood. He plunged me to victory, beneath the crimson flood. (from a grand old hymn)
The insanity at the present time in this nation has reached manic proportions, mad men reign, crime flourishes, vice entices, avarice is rampant, evil triumphs, honor is subdued and immorality is encouraged. ---Jim R. Schwiesow
The New Testament is certainly not the source from which modern Christianity has learned to conduct itself.
Doctors are men who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, in human beings of whom they know nothing. ---Voltaire
The Cyber Fix
I have no doubt that our nation is becoming gravely addicted to their electronics. My statement is being more and more verified as fairly reputable and well-documented studies conclude this to be so. Beyond the potential for a national “mental” health nightmare, I have to ask the most obvious question -- how is anything getting done in America if everyone is “wired” around the clock? I retired in 1997 from the federal government and already people were becoming habitually occupied by computer games, like solitaire. And frankly, hardly anyone would openly admit that anything was wrong even though they consumed a couple or more hours every day. Even now, there is little concern even though teenagers text 80 messages a day. I’m absolutely positive that I didn’t make a total of 80 telephone calls in my entire span of teenage years.
We Are A Confessing People
We are concerned with two important aspects of our Christian work.
1. Our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
(A) We confess him. Matthew 10:32
(B) We love Him and are grateful to Him. 1 John 4:19
(C) We are in the business of
(1) pleasing Him; 2 timothy 2:4
(2) obeying Him; 2 Corinthians 10:5
(3) making Him known through our service of labor on His behalf. 2 Corinthians 15:58
2. Our resistance to sin.
(A) We confess it to the Lord. 1 John 1:9
(B) We repent of it. Acts 17:30
(C) We combat it. Hebrews 12:4
--By staying in the Word of God. John 17:6
--By prayer. Luke 11:4
--Be preaching against it. Luke 24:27
--By rebuking it (and keeping separate from it). 1 Timothy 5:20
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
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[] His love has kept us from Hell.
[] His love has kept us from perishing and going to spend eternity with the Devil and his angels.
[] In being clothed in His righteousness, we shall not be found naked with our sins wide open.
[] Lord, we see the magnitude of Your love in everything.
[] May Your love be ours when we do our good works for You and Your cause.
The doctor seeks to amuse the patient while nature cures the disease.
A point about compromise: folks, it’s give and take; they’ll take ten and give you one.
Gas prices are so high, my cabbie took the straight way to the airport.
Just Another Brash Young Man.
A young man from Bible college spent a summer at my house without charge. Ostensibly he was “interning” at the church, but in reality he was acting like a jerk. Everything about that young man was counterfeit, including his lack of manners, his thanklessness, his worldliness, and his shifting of responsibility. He was obviously taught that love is salvation, the church was preeminent, moral respectability is Bible wisdom, piety is the Holy Spirit, and preaching is for anyone who is asked to do it or wants to show off. He was the incarnation of every Christian who refuses to learn the Bible, lives outside of Christ‘s imperatives for the Christian life, and by his hypocrisy makes other bad Christians. I greatly regret that I was practically dishonest in trying to make his stay with me seem tolerable, but I was naïve and didn‘t want to rock the boat. I was disgusted. That the church would train a young man in such foolishness and teach such anti-Christian values staggers the imagination. A preacher preaching a half-truth will bring these kind of burdens upon society.
Many people have nothing but praise to give on Sunday morning, as indicated by the collection plate.
When two oil companies merge, would you think maybe they will have formed a chain of the filthiest restrooms?
Early Church vs. Present Church.
---Tom Wallace
Early: Receptive to the Word.
Today: Rebellious to the Word.
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Early: Obedient to the Spirit
Today: Disobedient to the Spirit.
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Early: Added to the Church.
Today: Subtracted from the church.
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Early: Continued in prayer.
Today: Ceased praying.
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Early: Steadfast in service.
Today: Unstable in service.
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Early: Fearful of God.
Today: No fear of God.
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Early: Sold possessions.
Today: Keep Possessions.
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Early: One accord.
Today: Discord.
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Early: House to house.
Today: Church to church.
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Early: Glad
Today: Sad
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Early: Praised God.
Today: Praises man.
Quips, Quotes, Quandaries.
[] The doctrinal content of the Gospel is this: repentance, trusting Jesus Christ, Christ’s Lordship, the terms of discipleship, and commitment to Christ.
[] Ours is a nation without purpose, without grace, and without integrity - a divided nation of broken completeness and without hope.
[] Democracy is the form of government that allows us to shift the blame periodically.
[] Because you have it easy, don’t take it easy.
[] Gossip can stretch five of your words into a murder wrap.
[] Who the man of God is, is as important as what he says. ---Paul Chappell
[] “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” ---Jesus‘ words at Luke 19:12
[] Make you ready to take to the fields -- for the planting and for the
harvest !!
[] No man has the right to paraphrase the Bible and call the result “the Bible.”
[] Arrogance should never be construed as meaning standing up to error, evil, heresy, falsehood, and hypocrisy.
[] “There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.” (Proverbs 20:15)
[] I am in favor of a new rating for television shows: “TG“, for “thoroughly disgusting.”
[] How poor a guide enthusiasm is when it is not informed with the mind and Spirit of Christ. ---Stalker
Lighter Fare
I can hop but I how do you hippity.
Sign at Motel Entrance: Please leave your values at the front desk.
There is a new terrorist virus making its rounds -- it’s harmless but it makes everyone mad just thinking about it.
A fully automated bank in my town received a hold-up note and immediately mailed the crook $200,000 in unmarked bills.
Welcome to tech support. If your computer becomes obsolete while you are holding, press 1 for our sales department.
I think I’m addicted to my computer.
How so?
I keep writing “com” after every period.
Best not to pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.
I was out on the links today and I just barely missed a hole in one.
How close?
8 strokes.
Where can you park a truckload of pigs? In an empty porking place.
How can the dollar be weak when we have been giving it such a workout?
Why do lions eat raw meat?
Because they don’t know how to cook.
God’s Plan of Salvation.
1. What does God want you to do? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
2. How can you believe? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
3. What can you do to show that you believe? You can sincerely pray this prayer - or another prayer from your own heart - and tell God that you believe and accept (trust) His Son as your Savior.
Lord, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sins and help me to turn from them in hatred for them. I know that I deserve Hell for my sins. But I believe that Jesus died to pay for my sins and to take the punishment for me. I know that He purchased my salvation with His own precious blood, and has given me the precious gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. I trust Him and accept Him now as my Savior. Amen.
It is Biblically accepted to be angry at what the Devil is doing to this poor old world, to be indignant over the deceit and apostasy. It is a mistake to vent your spleen because someone disagrees with you; you may not even know you’ve done it, yet a hundred wrongs can be spawned thereby. We are the light of the world, the salt of the earth; we are to speak the truth in love; we are to season our words with grace; as much as is in us, we are to keep the peace. I’ll leave the reader with these very harsh passages of Scripture to help you find balance with the foregoing: Matthew 23; 1 Corinthians 11:1-15;2 Thessalonians 21-12; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; James 5:1-6; 2 Peter 2 (all); Jude (all); Revelation 3:14-22. I believe it takes diligent Bible study, growth, and exposure to the “inside job” that the Devil has undertaken to get control of the church. Jesus was never particularly easy on the religious elite; no one loved them more, but the greater complexity arose when it was obvious that they were presumptuously leading the lost sheep into the disaster of unbelief. Jesus is telling us that any apostasy is incurable unbelief, and while it is useless to preach to them or evangelize them, still their followers deserve warning of the great danger they incur by being confederate with them (Isaiah 9:16), or being under their authority. Remember that to the eyes of the world, such men come in on the sly, professing truth, but raising up disciples and taking them unto themselves, and then parade as Christians while in their heart they are something entirely different. They come as angels of light but Jude calls them wandering stars that will be consumed by the blackest darkness. The true people of God own a spirit of discernment through love of Scripture and we alone can sound the trumpet, to give the warning, to call the believers and the salvageable out in Jesus‘ own words “Behold I stand at the door and knock!” (Revelation 3:20)
bits and pieces. no. 12. 1-30-12.
You're their big man on campus -- until you rebuke their sin.
To humble the pride of man, to exalt the grace of God in salvation, and to promote real holiness in heart and life. We are committed to the Word of God, the King James Bible --- inerrant, infallible, inviolable, and indestructible.
If God were alive today, He would be shocked at what’s going on in the churches.
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20) With John, love is more than sentiment, more than a feeling. It is a principle which moves the hand and opens the purse. If I am not my brother’s keeper, if I am not, in the measure of my power, my brother’s providence -- wisdom for his folly, a hiding-place for his shame, open-handed for his need, wet-eyed for his sorrow, glad in his joy, -- oh, then let me at least spare him the insincerity of my profession, “I love God.” ---C. I. Scofield
We are as dumb as cucumbers when it comes to loving and doing good, but Oh the genius we show when hating and doing evil -- especially when we mean to give someone a hurt. Some run up a debt to society, but every one of us runs up a debt to the Almighty -- and if it isn't paid by Christ, it never will be paid although the unsaved will make insufferable payments throughout eternity.
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” (Hebrews 6:9) You may think you can weasel out of this, but the Bible is chock full of warnings that some things necessarily belong to salvation. In the most tender of words, our Savior said that if we love Him, we WILL keep His commandments. (John 14:5) His commandments are known to us because we search the Scriptures. And then He said, if we keep His commandments, we will abide in His love (John 15:10). No, this is not a grace-denying condition laid upon salvation -- this is a manifestation (a proof, a fruit) that we are the sons of God. Look at whom Jesus loved at Revelation 3:8! They have kept His Word and His Name!
Many hyperventilating preachers pull out this “love” card to discredit an opponent, but in the long run, the man who is really unloving is the man running from the Bible not to it.
Did you ever notice the total lack of forgiveness in them who accuse you of being unloving? They’re at war to the finish! How dare you be unloving in my garden of roses, love, and Me.
Don’t be so naïve as to believe you’ll win the battle against your enemy. God has the victory in hand through His Son to Whom He gave all power --- yours is to hold the line “until Shiloh come.” (Genesis 49:10) [Shiloh is a picture of Christ.]
The quickest way to get yourself into the gossip mill is to make a personal decision that runs counter to the status quo.
What the world has need of now is fewer random acts of kindness and more random acts of evangelism.
Psychiatrist: We are going to bring you back to reality. But first, you have to sign a release.
As far as I’m concerned it is absolutely ridiculous to believe that you can be completely positive about all things, and resent anyone who brings negative to the table. I can see why you might not want to invite Jesus to your table, He has a few negatives He would like to share - In No Uncertain Terms.
God always visits his people when they reach the point of desperation. ---Stephen Olford
This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls on the earth! ---Keith Green
What’s with you, did you eat an extra bowl of stupid this morning?
“They hate him who rebukes in the gate, and they abhor him, who speaketh uprightly.” (Amos 5:10) “They” are the religious leaders. Amos, the prophet and writer of the Bible Book of that name, was hated because he spoke uprightly -- he was faithful to all of God’s Word. He no doubt stood in the gate of the city, and rebuked the idolatrous worshippers who were coming to Bethel. Certainly this annoyed those religious leaders, who have the sorest toes imaginable.
This just in: The surgeon general has just issued a warning against the attorney general.
A show horse was brought into the church and was put to answering questions. Someone asked how many Commandments there were and the horse responded by pounding his foot ten times on the floor. Then someone asked how many apostles there were, to which the horse responded by pounding twelve times.
Finally, someone asked him how many hypocrites were in the church and he went into a four-footed tap dance.
Eternal life is eternal: not ten minutes, not ten years, not twenty years, not ten thousand years, but eternal. You cannot extend it or reduce it by your actions whether they be good or bad --- the length of eternity is eternal and it is simply the gift of a loving God.
If it got dark any earlier, we would never have to get up.
When I was pastor of a country church, a farmer didn’t like the sermons I preached on Hell. He says, “Preach about the meek and lowly Jesus.” I said, “That’s where I got my information about Hell.” (Vance Havner)
There is only one question that will be asked at the Final Judgment. Only one. “What did you do concerning My Son Whom I sent to the cross to die for your sins ‘that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life?’ “ Any and all other questions that God could ask on that inauspicious occasion are rendered moot when that question is asked. Sadly, most of you know full well you crucify Christ daily by your self-esteeming unbelief.
If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself. --- Augustine. [Amen! The same can be said to those who corrupt the Bible.]
Part X. Are We Pussy Footin’? It’s Christian or It Isn’t.
1. Part A. The Christian is a Day Laborer, working for ...
A crown for a disciplined life. 1 Corinthians 9:25.
A crown for enduring to the end. James 1:12.
A crown for being a soul-winner. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20.
A crown for being faithful (obedient). 1 Peter 5:2-4.
A crown for loving the imminent return of Christ. 1 Timothy 2:4.
2. Part B. What God Assures Us When We Live In Christ.
A. We’ll know what we worship. (Jesus’ words to the woman at the well at John :21.) B. We’ll behold the Lamb. (What John the Baptist said at John 1:29; 36.)
C. We’ll stand in/walk in the light of His Gospel, of His glory. (2 Corinthians 4:4; 4 6; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 1:7)
D. We’ll partake of His nature. (2 Peter 1:4)
E. We’ll dwell/abide in His love. (John 15:10; Ephesians 3:19; Philippians 1:9; 1 John 3:14;4:16)
F. We’ll trust in His leading. (John 13:13)
G. We’ll take up His cross and follow Him. (Matthew 10:38; Hebrews 6:10)
H. We’ll join in His labor. (1 Corinthians 3:9; 15:58; 1 Thessalonians 1:3)
I. We’ll grow in His likeness. (Psalm 17:15; Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2)
J. We’ll accept His lordship. (Psalm 100:3; Acts 2:36; 1 Corinthians 2:8, and many others)
3. Part C. The True Christian Lives Through:
Prayer. John 16:22-24.
Christ’s death. Romans 6:6-7.
Doctrine. Romans 6:17.
The Holy Spirit. Romans 8:1-2.
Christ . Philippians 4:13.
Grace. Ephesians 2:7; Romans 6:14.
Exaltation with Christ. Ephesians 2:5-6.
God’s will. Philippians 2:13.
Hope in the return of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Faith. 1 John 5:4-5.
4. Part D. The Christian who is zealous to promote the cause of Christ can begin by living in the power of the Spirit and so reproducing the life of Christ in the sight of men. In deep humility and without ostentation he can let his light shine. The world may pretend not to see, but it will see, nevertheless, and more than likely it will get into serious trouble with its conscience over what it sees. ---A. W. Tozer
“But let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
“And there they preached the Gospel.” (Acts 14:7)
Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be better men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your strength, pray for strength equal to your tasks. ---Phillips Brooks
"You will never please everybody. Some men will say you have gone too far. Other men will say you haven't gone far enough. I just compromise and say I won't please anybody." ---A.W. Tozer
Life is easy: just do the impossible, do without the indispensable, and bear the intolerable. ---Katherine Norris
If all the people sleeping in church were laid end-to-end, they would be more comfortable.
I’ve reached my own conclusion about the shape of the earth. Terrible!
We Speak in the Name of the Lord.
O How many there are who rebel against the precious name of Jesus Christ!
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"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." (James 5:10-11)
(1) The prophets spoke in the name of the Lord.
(2) In so doing, they exemplified for us the suffering that comes with obedience to the name of Christ, His Word, and His Gospel.
(3) James said they (the prophets) were patient, spiritually happy, and able to endure the hardships. Acts 1:8 makes it clear we have no power by ourselves, nor does the church, but our power comes exclusively by the Holy Spirit.
(4) Such men will know in their hearts that in contrast to the hatreds of this world, our Lord Jesus is tenderhearted; we are in His tender care every breathing moment.
(5) (See Romans 8:28.) In the final run of things, divine justice will have been served, and every slight, slander, and malevolence rendered to the Christian will be revenged in wrath by the Almighty.
We Labor in the Name of the Lord.
Oh how many labor in their own name, and at best give Jesus secondary thought. This is “another Jesus.” (See 2 Corinthians 11:4.)
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“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Hebrews 6:10) Further, our works are done toward His name, and those works are in obedience to our Lord’s command to minister to one another. (John 13:13-14) The professing Christian always comes full circle to the name of Jesus Christ, and the works that are provoked in us by that name. If you don’t love, honor, and obey His name, and do not know the reward God holds for you because of your faith in that name, you have no name -- “under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) You are playing church, you are out in left field somewhere, you are dilly dallying among the red herrings.
If you study the Bible without applying it to your daily life, then it would be better not to study it at all. ---Zac Poonen
The witnessing Christian ought to first put himself under the authority of God’s Word.
“Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.” (Psalm 9:20)
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There is too little concern among professed believers today about their ignorance, the general ignorance of the Word of God! They ought to be deathly afraid of their ignorance toward the Word of God, repent in ashes, and lay prostrate before God. They should read Psalm 119 and learn how far they are from a personal relationship with the Author of the Bible, indeed the Author of their eternal salvation.
Faith In the Word.
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2) A huge number of professing Christians have heard the Word of God and now want nothing to do with it (see Hebrews 6:5). Many preachers, writers, and public personalities cull the Bible’s wisdom but want little to do with its revelation of God and distressing picture of man and his sin. Nor is it popular to talk about duty, true discipleship, and true unity. We will not understand the Bible until we approach it with the same simple trust for it as we have for Christ. The Word of God is at the same time the written Word (the Bible) and living Word (Jesus Himself).
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Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:11-12) Our labors for Christ have no meaning if:
(1) they come from extra-biblical authority;
(2) we are not motivated by the eternity with Christ that awaits us (His rest); and (3) we do not accept that this two-edged sword that cuts deep toward those to whom we preach, also cuts deep toward the one preaching it. Your first congregant when you preach is you.
The word “Christian” is a word whose definition is monopolized by the New Age movement and the Entitlement generation. It is defined as “anyone who says they are kind, caring, and compassionate.” In that same dictionary, the word “do” has been deleted; “Christian” is far more profitable by feeling it than doing it. Proving once again that deceit is king and pigs love slop.
Sir, may I see your dog’s papers?
Papers? My dog can’t even read.
Honey, how did the attack on the King’s castle go?
Piece of cake.
Surrendered easily, huh?
No, everyone was at the soccer game.
Titles for God.
Creator. Isaiah 40:12,22, 26.
Judge. Psalm 96:10,13.
King. Psalm 47:2,7,8..
Defender. Psalm 18:35.
Preserver. Psalm 121:3-8.
Shepherd. Genesis 49:24.
Basketball develops individuality, initiative, and leadership. Now get out there and do exactly what I tell you to do.
We would not need a CPA to audit your checkbook to determine the object of your affection. Where you spend your money is clear and compelling evidence of your love. Remember the principle Jesus gave: “For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.” (Matthew 6:21) ---Shelton Smith
Preach abroad … it is the cooping of yourselves up in rooms that has dampened the work of God, which never was nor ever will be carried out to any purpose without going into the highways and hedges and compelling men to come in. ---
Jonathan Edwards
I know a preacher in my town who has hid out in his office for so long, he still doesn’t know that the congregation has built three new wings, a gym, a parking garage, and a casino.
Another King.
In the name of your own soul and its own salvation, in the name of the adorable victim of that bloody and agonizing sacrifice whence you draw all your hopes of salvation; by Gethsemane and Calvary, I charge you, citizens of the United States, afloat on your wide sea of politics, there is another King, one Jesus; the safety of the state can be secured only in the way of humble and whole-souled loyalty to His person and of obedience to His law. ---A. A. Hodges, 1887
I’m always open to some honest criticism from you judgmental pin heads. ---a local preacher, to his Face Book friends
When on his deathbed he was asked, “What are your speculations now (noted Chemist) Michael Faraday exclaimed, “I have none! No speculations now. I know whom I have believed. My soul rests on certainties.”
I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in which direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it. But we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. ---Oliver Wendell Homes
Ten thousand blessings on your head, and may the Lord set the sideboards of your soul out and load you up with bread from the King’s table. And as you run over the rocks and ruts of life, may some of the bread jolt off for the hungry multitudes. And when you come to the marriage supper of the Lamb, may there be a great crowd following your wagon. ---Uncle Bud
There is no place in the Kingdom of God … for subterfuge, for camouflage, or for anything less than open-handed honesty. ---Joe McKeever
The little white liars, the overweight liars (big fat ones), and the dirty, filthy, chronic liars who favor a rug are all invited to tea during Mrs. Dolittle’s Ninth Commandment Hear Nots on Tuesday nights in the fiction section of the church liebrary. This week, the pastor will talk about his new autobiography.
You might want to have a lawyer handy when the enemy spikes its gossip wires -- before you know it, they’ll have you assassinating Lincoln.
Although our sins of this generation might be similar to ages past, and the Bible does show - and graphically at times - the “rotten to the core” societies of ancient times. But our wholesale acquiescence to our personal and national sin defies a comparison. Should the Lord tarry, this generation will almost certainly go down in history as the do-nothing generation, a cowardly, impassionate, unoffending, immoral, sentimentalizing, self-adoring, sniveling, vindictive, and spiritually bankrupt society - the nation who forgot God and was glad in doing so.
Quips, Quotes, Quandaries.
[] So many folk are so adept at reviling Satan, that they lose their touch for talking with God and walking with Jesus Christ. (See Jude 9.)
[] Our Faith must be tested. God builds no ships but what He sends to sea. ---D. L. Moody
[] Holiness is an impossibility - without the HOLY Spirit.
[] If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes. ---Corrie ten Boom
[] I often think that the reason people don’t want to hear your side of the story is because they might have to take your side.
[] God claims by grace those who have no claim to grace.
[] The end of life puts the longest on a par with the shortest. ---Augustine
[] As the peculiar people of God, we have something far greater than the world --- it ought to be well worth sharing with that world.
[] Don’t let your focus be hocus pocus.
Lighter Fare
When it says 2:00 P.M. on your wrist, should we say, “It’s two o’ watch?”
I have a shirt for every day of the week. It’s blue.
I’ll never understand grown-ups if I live to be eight.
I was making $200,000 a year, had 200 people working under me, owned a second home in Aspen, and was being considered for the Senate. Then I switched to Decaf.
When I was your age, my clothes were made by two ladies -- Polly and Esther.
A man decided not to pay his taxes and jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a debt-defying leap.
Give it to me straight, Doc, how serious is it?
I’m going to have to take you off the food channel and put you on the exercise channel.
That bad, huh?
I want to see some tolerance around here or I’m going to bust some heads.
We’re in trouble with our dog again.
How so?
He was arrested for booing at the cat show.
This room is for on-call surgeons. Operators are standing by.
The Pentagon cut our budget, Sir.
How does it affect us?
We’re now down to a one-gun salute, Sir.
EXPOSING ERROR: IS IT WORTHWHILE?
(Editorial note: Christians are never responsible for the result, only for doing the command.)
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Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951), a Godly fundamentalist author, writer, and teacher for many years, served as pastor of Chicago's Moody Memorial Church from 1930-1948. [This was before Moody went modernist.]
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Objection is often raised even by some sound in the faith regarding the exposure of error as being entirely negative and of no real edification. Of late, the hue and cry has been against any and all negative teaching. But the brethren who assume this attitude forget the large part of the New Testament, both of the teaching of our Blessed Lord Himself and the writings of the apostles, is made up of this very character of ministry--namely, showing the satanic origin and, therefore, the unsettling results of the propagation of erroneous systems which Peter, in his second epistle, so definitely referred to as "damnable heresies."
Our Lord prophesied, "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Within our own day, how many false prophets have risen; and oh, how many are the deceived? Paul predicted, "I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch. My own observation is that these, "grievous wolves," alone and in packs, are not sparing even the favored flocks. Undersheperds in these "perilous times" will do well to note the apostle's warning. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock., over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers." It is as important in these days as in Paul's -- in fact, it is increasingly important to expose many types of false teachings that, on every hand, abound more and more.
We are called upon to "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints" while we hold the truth in love. The faith means the whole body of revealed truth, and to contend for all of God's truth necessitates some negative teaching. The choice is not left with us. Jude said he preferred a different, a pleasanter theme -- “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. For these are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3,4). Paul likewise admonishes us to "have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Eph. 5:11).
This does not imply harsh treatment of those entrapped in error -- quite the opposite. If the exposure to error necessitates unkind reflection upon others who do not see as we do, our answer is: "It has always been the duty of every servant of Christ to warn against any teaching that would make Him (Christ) less precious or cast reflection upon His finished redemptive work, and the all-sufficiency of His present service as our great High Priest and Advocate."
Every system of teaching can be judged by what it sets forth as to these fundamental truths of faith. "What think ye of Christ?" is still the true test of every creed. The Christ of the Bible is certainly not the Christ if any false "-ism." Each of the cults has its hideous caricature of our lovely Lord.
Let us who have been redeemed at the cost of His precious blood be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." As the battle of the forces of evil waxes ever more hot, we have great need for God-given valor.
There is constant temptation to compromise. "Let us go forth unto Him without the camp, hearing His reproach." It is always right to stand firmly for what God has revealed concerning His blessed Son's Person and work. The "father of lies" deals in half-truth and specializes in most subtle fallacies concerning the Lord Jesus, our sole and sufficient Savior.
Error is like leaven, of which we read, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to the imperiled souls for whom Christ died.
Exposing error is most unpopular work. But from every true standpoint it is worthwhile work. To our Savior, it means that He receives from us, His blood-bought ones, the loyalty that is His due. To ourselves. if we consider "the reproach of Christ greater riches that the treasures of Egypt," it ensures future reward, a thousand fold. And to souls "caught in the snare of the fowler" -- how many of them God only knows -- it may mean light and life, abundant and everlasting.
God’s Plan of Salvation.
1. What does God want you to do? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
2. How can you believe? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
3. What can you do to show that you believe? You can sincerely pray this prayer - or another prayer from your own heart - and tell God that you believe and accept (trust) His Son as your Savior.
Lord, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sins and help me to turn from them in hatred for them. I know that I deserve Hell for my sins. But I believe that Jesus died to pay for my sins and to take the punishment for me. I know that He purchased my salvation with His own precious blood, and has given me the precious gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. I trust Him and accept Him now as my Savior. Amen.
bits and pieces. no. 11. 1-27-12
www.soldiersoftheword.com: has been given a new face of a sort
The vile man it is who pollutes the communion to prove his manliness (his power over the weak and the poor). We’ll see how strong you are when you stand before the omnipotent God who will put you in Hell.
I have learned in life that most people are not comfortable with the truth about Jesus. Much of the church’s energies today are directed at making people more comfortable with “Jesus,” and they ridicule those who would be Bible hardliners.
Our Lord has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. We are to win the lost to Christ and establish New Testament Churches. This work will not be accomplished by means of education and training; it will only be accomplished by people with pioneering spirit, people who believe God for what must be done. ---Clarence Sexton
In order to get the Gospel out, we need power; that was His promise, “Ye shall receive power.” And we need the leading of the Lord. Although it is our business today to get out the Word of God, there is no power in us, there is no power in the church, but there is power in the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who moves through an individual or through the church or through a radio program. The question is whether we permit Him to do so. “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” ---J Vernon McGee
Many become Christian for lack of anything to do, a lack that continues well throughout their “Christian life.”
Your conscience is like a buzzing bee; it can make you feel uncomfortable without ever stinging you.
“The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:28) The fiction and phony baloney in so many pulpits today relate right back to this verse. They spite the Word of God by their lascivious, vindictive, and self-worshipping fantasies.
We have fellows wearing priestly garb and parading as ministers of the Gospel who are plain liars. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) The devil is nobody’s fool. He works from within. He tries to get into the pulpit. And sad to say, he’s done this in many places. ---Oliver Greene
In my town we have church leaders who have lived a lie for so long, they don’t recognize the truth anymore. All that they say and do is for their own self-preservation, and to eliminate all threats. Their worst threat is a man who is honest and obeys the Word of God. If you are such a man, and your reputation isn’t shot, if you yourself aren’t by their tongue the leading liar in the state, if your friends and family haven’t smugly withdrawn, and the religious elite aren’t attacking you at every turn, then you better look again to see if indeed you really are such a man. “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (John 16:2)
Keeping the laws by the grace of God for the glory of God makes us all the same kind of people. ---Carl McIntire
God created the world out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing He can make something out of us. (Martin Luther)
Crowns in the Bible
Incorruptible 1 Corinthians Crown 9 15
Crown of Life. James 1 12 Revelation 2 10
Crown of Rejoicing. 1 Thessalonians 2 19
Crown of Glory. 1 Peter 5 4
Crown of Righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:8
It’s a privilege to pay taxes: if they don’t stop going up, I may have to give up the privilege.
If all is not lost, just where is it?
As soon as I got my head together, my body began falling apart.
This day I intend to worry about nothing, and am wholly eager to love Jesus, learn more about Him, do His work, win sinners to Him, rest in His arms, savor His love, care little about much else.
Being gentle and kind are good things to be but remember that Jesus was also gentle and kind, yet He spoke over and over again of a burning Hell for unbelievers -- there are two sides to the salvation coin and neither can exclude the other and expect to be complete. Many think compassion will win people -- people are saved when a man of God, preaches the Word of God, under the Spirit of God. That’s God’s formula, that’s God’s immutable Way.
I tried to make a comeback but then I realized, I hadn’t been anywhere.
Waiter, there’s a fly in my raisin bread.
Well, give me the fly and I’ll give you a raisin.
God has always forbidden His servants to unite with the Devil’s outfit. “Come ye out” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17); “have no fellowship” (Ephesians 5:11); “preach the Word … Reprove, rebuke, exhort …” (2 Timothy 4:2) Such is the admonition of the Almighty to His servants.
In Decision Magazine
To a large extent, the American church has become merged with the world. It has adopted so many of the world’s ideals and standards that it has lost its ability to stem the tide of crime, deception andf immorality that is sweeping the nation. For millions of church members there is no deep commitment to the cause of Christ, no regularity of attendance at public worship, no sacrificial giving, no personal religious discipline. ---Billy Graham
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Anyone who has followed Billy Graham the past fifty years knows that he speaks here hypocritically. He has willfully abandoned Biblical separation, often under the cover of “infiltration.” He has not flinched in eagerly mixing with inner-faith multitudes, entertaining all manner of interdenominational conclaves, inspiring non-Christian dialogue, conducting evangelistic campaigns using Roman Catholic representatives to counsel those who come forth, and being chummy among the famous and well to do. It wasn’t long after he deserted his fundamentalist roots, that he began to prosper in terms of incurring material wealth, and today is among the very rich of society. Perhaps I’ll leave this verse as food for thought: “… Deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).
“ And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)
I am not surprised at the apostasy. I am absolutely dumbfounded at the almost complete inability of our preachers to take the blame for the horrid Satanism of our world today. There is no remorse for tearing down the faith once delivered to the saints, for removing the ancient landmarks, replacing them with self-serving lies, and putting up a well-manicured façade of corny affections, preeminent pulpits, foul-smelling doctrine, and sinister gospels.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers [nicely painted ground-level tombs], which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.” (Matthew 23:27)
Stop the Bloodshed!
Abortion is not a political issue. Abortion is a criminal issue. Good people, you need to quit dilly-dallying with partisan politics and religious issues, stand up and demand that we not murder our babies. This idea of waiting every four years to agree to a usually anemic strategy to end abortion is stupid. Every day we should cry out to God, “Stop the murder!,” and to our society, “Stop the murder!”
And tell your preacher to quit all the back scratching and start putting the fear of God before the eyes of this deprave society who murders its young and its old, and tries to justify the murders of those in between. Killing people is wicked and we have no options but to stand up and be counted, if for no reason than they will kill you legally if they can find an expedient reason (for some of us, we’re game only because we do the will of God).
Don’t water down the Gospel, just water it.
“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.” ---Winston Churchill
The modernist is the first at the banquet, the last to the fight.
“Translations” Do Not Say the Same Thing
1. I recently read a very interesting book by a man in my area here that sets out to answer a handful of questions about our Christian Faith. He is a superlative writer, and masters the basics as well as anyone.
2. But in the area of, “Is the Bible just any book?” -- there, he makes the statement that all the translations say the same thing, although some use different words to say it. That simply is not true. There are more than a hundred verses that there would be no trouble proving that his statement is false, and hundreds more that are greatly suspect.
3. God has His language and man has his: they never coincide. A child of 8 would recognize the differences, and many of the “new bibles” are bent on changing the very theology itself. Taking ”begotten” out of John 3:16 is a major step toward impugning the doctrine of our Lord’s resurrection.
4. People don’t believe this because they refuse to test it and we live in an era where no one would dare offend anyone of being devious in rewriting the Bible. Bible people would never think of changing it, not even subconsciously. Oh, sure! And a duck hops and a dog moos.
5. Why Christian people can accept (and point their little Pharisaic fingers) that there are unbelievers anywhere and everywhere except on the staff of a new bible translation beats me. Most of the “changes” are not cosmetic -- they are done with every intention to achieve a desired slant. And there is nothing new under the sun to set the change in motion except their prejudices. Why are they embarked? To change it!! They can‘t improve it. If they are making it easier, then they are mocking God for not being smart enough to know His Word is too hard for us poor illiterate people.
6. The same folks sit in on annual denominational conventions -- and they argue there the same as they argue at the publisher’s enclave. I have no doubt of any kind that you can find a dozen “staffers” in any bible re-write that would shock you by their theological divergences, some even in unbelief.
7. Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and college intellectuals may want to just love each other and get along but they have big -- and separate -- ideas for that Bible!! You are a sucker to believe a man won’t steal from you when he gets inside your vault and has free roam and comes and goes as he pleases.
8. Read your paper, stand at the booking desk of your police station, watch Forensic Files, remember whence you came. Man is born in sin and he sins.
9. Don’t even think about telling me you didn’t hate parts of the Bible before you fell in with Jesus. I utterly detested those kids being torn to pieces by those bears on Mount Carmel. Martin Luther detested Revelation. Jefferson just surgically removed the parts he didn’t like. In Jeremiah 36, King Jehoiakim burned the Word of God piece by piece in the fire. No one surrounding Israel in the Middle East today wants to believe their own Koran that Palestine is given to the Jews as an inheritance of God.
10. Put your trust in Christ and in His Word and don’t defile yourself with these modern concoctions called translations.
I would think it very easy to be kind, happy, positive, tolerant, inoffensive, politically correct if that is all in life you intend to do. Those things might well be harder to preserve if you had a faith to defend, principles to stand for, a country to serve, discipline to inflict, values to cling to, personal standards to enforce, and sound doctrine to endure. Those things are imperatives of the Bible.
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A person can satisfy the second set of determinants in one of two ways: do them and suffer retribution, or call yourself a kind, positive, tolerant, inoffensive, correct “Christian,” solving the matter quite quickly, and unimpeachibly at that. The first Christian and the second Christian do not subscribe to the same faith, no matter how hard some plead that they do.
Feeding your excuses to your conscience is like feeding sleeping pills to your watchdog.
“Victorious living is no myth!” (Hugh Pyle)
I heard an old Indian once say that the Indians could have avoided a lot of trouble with the white man if they had just had stronger immigration laws.
What False Teachers Generally Are Interested In. Jude 11.
1. Works. Example of Cain -- he rejects the blood atonement, accepts certain trappings of valid religion, but molds his own religion based on human merit and natural feelings and instincts. A works gospel entertains seekers, is a “feel good” endeavor, gives life a sense of worth, albeit vaguely rewarding and temporal.
2. Human Religion. Example of Balaam -- seeks for himself religious notoriety, moral respectably, and earthly satisfaction. They are, for the most part willfully, ignorant of the higher morality of the cross where God satisfies His justice by imputing the righteousness of Christ in the sinner once he places his trust in Christ. Man is restless and wants to see immediate results -- God’s way delays results, and man is not rewarded as he is thought to be when he is out and about loving and appeasing men.
3. Rejection of Authority. Example of Korah -- simply said, there is a lawlessness among the false teachers and they reject authority. What ever authority they reject, it will always include the authority of God’s Word. I’m sure many sound Christians would be utterly amazed to find out how little their peers know or read of the Bible. The Bible takes away a lot of the glitter that man seems to think he deserves. Man wants to build his own religion -- that’s where he can obtain the praise of men and physically enjoy his fruits -- why live and die and never see all the good you have done?
Why Do The Heathen Rage? (Psalm 2:1)
If we ever forget that we are “One nation under God,” then we will be a nation gone under. ---Ronald Reagan
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The simple answer to the question, “Why do the heathen rage?” is quite obvious, they hate God. They despise His laws, deride His servants, deny His holiness. They hate Him because they love themselves and their evil ways They love their sin more than the only true Savior, Jesus Christ. ---Tim Green [In today’s world, there are virtually no lines of distinction between popular Christianity and the true Christian faith,]
You deceivers do not read your Bible and you lie that you do. All deceit is a filth. It is the way of the Destroyer, it is his mark, it is the weapon of his pride. It is a great enemy of Jesus Christ. It will put the deceiver in Hell. It is to be reckoned with and repented of. It is no frivolous matter, the entire world will fall in line with deceit and will eventually be cast into Hell because of it and the filth it spawns.
Many of us have observed such goings on as: the deceit; the slander; the Biblical illiteracy among preachers; the unbelief all through Christendom; the self-deceit of apostasy; and the slick removal of Christ, the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the Gospel of God by preachers who think they have a better message and can love better than Jesus can. Filth is the name of the game in religious circles today.
May Heaven Come Down And Glory Fill Our Soul!!! (Hymn)
An Indian had a terrible nightmare -- he dreamed we gave him back the country.
I Will Give Them a Heart to Know Me.
[] And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7)
[] “And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 32:46)
[] “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 22:19)
[] “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.” (Jeremiah 31:21)
[] “And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.” (Ezra 40:4)
[] “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.” (Daniel 10:12)
[] “Thou has proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou has tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” (Psalm 17:3)
[] “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8)
[] “Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.” (Joshua 24:23)
[] That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. (1 Kings 8:58)
[] “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.“ (Psalms 119:16)
[] “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;” (Proverbs 2:2)
QUIPS, QUOTES, AND QUANDARIES
[] “Few men have virtue to withstand the high bidder.” (George Washington)
[] Waking up is a great blessing of life, but greater still will be the doors of opportunity that God will open on that day.
[] The believer’s heritage: a wonderful promise, a wonderful presence, a wonderful peace.
[] Like the surgeon says, it’s $200 for cuttin' and a thousand for knowin’ where.
[] If you want to get into who’s who, you better learn what’s what.
[] Nearer, my God to Thee, nearer to Thee, it is the Lord’s way. Goodbye, all. --President McKinley, dying words
[] In most churches, the names are changed to protect the guilty.
[] A “Today” preacher has no ideas and a profound ability to express them.
[] Put all your eggs in one basket and watch the basket. (Carl Sandburg)
[] Sin kills boredom and takes the flesh hostage.
[] Anger can be a great catalyst to achieving new ground for Jesus Christ; it also can be the instrument of a man’s freefall into spiritual suicide.
[] Gideon did what God told him to do, looked silly at times, was one man against the great host, a man of valor. ---Carl McIntire
[] The truth needs so little rehearsal.
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and My people shall never be ashamed.” (Joel 2:25,26)
LIGHTER FARE
What do cats eat for breakfast? Mice Crispies.
Babylon: what far too many preachers do with their sermons.
Is Darwin’s birthday a holiday for apes?
With all the research going on, I’d like to find one scientist who can tell me when mosquitoes sleep.
I spent two years in an asylum. I was crazy about the place.
I’d like to get married. I just haven’t met Dr. Right.
I just came back from the doctor.
Which doctor?
No, but close.
My brother-in-law has terrible insomnia. He wakes up every few days.
God’s Plan of Salvation.
1. What does God want you to do? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
2. How can you believe? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
3. What can you do to show that you believe? You can sincerely pray this prayer - or another prayer from your own heart - and tell God that you believe and accept (trust) His Son as your Savior.
Lord, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sins and help me to turn from them in hatred for them. I know that I deserve Hell for my sins. But I believe that Jesus died to pay for my sins and to take the punishment for me. I know that He purchased my salvation with His own precious blood, and has given me the precious gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. I trust Him and accept Him now as my Savior. Amen.
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bits and pieces. 1-25-12.
"Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD: …And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock …” ” (Ezekiel 16:35,38) I don’t think the genuine Christian community has come to grips with the awful problem it faces. “Christianity” as a phenomenon (not as the traditional faith) has degenerated into an immensely popular religion of “harlotry” for a very simple reason -- it has rejected the Word of God. It has unshackled itself from its spiritual oxygen. It not only has found a running forum for its own fleshly sentimentality, but the world “digs” it, too. Compassion sells well from the Devil‘s fruit stand, as does disdain for the true things and people of God. When you can no longer tell Christianity from the world, when compassionate wolves and undisturbed sheep are lying down together in the bingo parlor, each scratching the other’s back, you have built the first float for the Antichrist’s inaugural parade.
The great failing of the Bible that causes men to reject it is that it teaches us to save nothing but our souls.
Mere heathen morality and not Jesus Christ is preached in most of our churches today. [and in most of our critiquing ministries]
How shall I feel at the judgment, if multitudes of missed opportunities pass before me in full review, and all my excuses prove to be disguises of my cowardice and pride? ---Sangster
To hear some people glorify their church, you would think there was no Jesus, no judgment, no apostasy, no hardness, no perilous times, no Satan, no suffering, no tearing down of the grand old faith, grand old Book, and grand old Gospel. That big cheese fundamentalist up north has declared ecumenism the sacrosanct foundation for his version of the new cart -- that the church is a hide-out, church full and Christ less.
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (the words of Jesus, Mark 7: 20-23)
1. These people called Jesus, "Lord," even as many of the faithful do. But there is great Biblical distinction between Lord and Savior. Lord governs your life and Savior redeems your soul. I have met many many people who enjoy the notoriety of being a Christian under the Lordship of Christ. Sadly to say, they have no interest in His salvation -- that’s a personal thing; but Lordship is something people can see and admire in us, or something giving you moral respectability, or something soothing to the conscience, or something that busies an hour or a day. Lord binds you to good works, the Savior binds you to a testimony of loving commitment.
2. These people will have done works in the very name of Jesus Christ. I suspected some if not many of the works were out of pride, works of ostentation instead of humble service. Christianity has evolved into a compassionate pass time that presumes (wrongly) to be unaccountable.
3. These people apparently assumed they would go to Heaven, may have been “at the very gate.” They were probably in a church that taught love and good works to be equivalent to salvation. My! Isn't the earth full of that! What is the ecumenical spirit but for a universal brotherhood of man joining hands across the sea to fix everything and anything that is held down by gravity.
4. These people, Jesus said, were workers of iniquity. They weren’t just everyday sinners, they worked at it. I think of all the spitefulness by those who abuse grace. “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” (Psalm5:5)
5. Jesus did not forget them, nor did He change His mind about them, nor had He made a mistake concerning them, He never knew them (in a personal relationship)! They certainly knew about Him, they certainly did works that people believed were on His behalf, and they certainly strew certain truths around as credibility. He threw them out of His presence!
6. Jesus made it very clear that anyone that belonged to Him would know this bunch: not by seeing their heart, not by sitting with them in church, not watching them at work, not by their outward appearance. BUT BY THEIR FRUIT! What did they do to enhance, enlarge, and enrich the kingdom of God?
7. Many serve the church, few will serve the Savior. But that is the will of the Father! That’s why God saves us, to work in His vineyard, expand His kingdom, and to reflect the glory of Heaven in this otherwise dark and filthy piece of rock, one day to be consumed in His wrath. “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son [on the cross], and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)
Selfish Men Know Better Than God What Message to Send.
Much of our troubles in these days is because the churches have softened the message of the Gospel, of sin, Hell, damnation, and the holiness and righteousness of Almighty God. These were regular fare in our nation for centuries and upheld the peace and reined in the evil. I make no apology whatever for this criticism of the churches and neither do I dare remove myself from complicity. Repentance is the first step back to God and there can be no revival while the people of God are drifted away in unfaithfulness, worldly affiliations, and personal aggrandizement. And quit the blameshifting and stand on your own two feet.
The News Today:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
(2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Only with the Holy Spirit’s illumination, leading, and convicting power can we really appreciate the Bible’s message for our lives and obey its imperatives for our labors. Only when we immerse ourselves in the Word of God can we be shielded from the froth of deceit.
“The nature of men and women -- their essential nature -- is so vile and despicable that if you were to portray a person as he really is, no one would believe you.” ---W. Somerset Maugham
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (1 John 7)
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:18)
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (Timothy 3:13)
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” (1 John 3:7)
I’m not against kindness in the least. You cannot win a single soul to Jesus Christ if you have no Christian kindness. But you can easily be kind and never win a soul to Jesus Christ, particularly if you no longer think that‘s of any importance now that you‘ve joined this crusade to save the world by kindness which is an “obviously better” ministration than what God has given us. Doesn’t He command every one of us to go into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature? You do that and I can assure you completely that your kindnesses will be well-regarded by Jesus Christ. Most of you will not do that because you -- and not Him -- deserve the acclaim. Christianity is but a gargantuan following of limelighters.
The biggest tragedy of the churches may seem innocuous at first : the lack of vigilance. Bad people have crept in unawares; wolves have come in in sheep’s clothing; deceit has become a mainstay and calling card; compassion has displaced accountable responsibility; grace has been virtually slandered; the Word of God has been cut to bits; good things and good people have been tarred and feathered; and sanctimonious, vindictive, and manipulative pulpits prevail.
I honestly believe that the Bible -- and Jesus himself --- teaches us that if you are not for him, you are against Him. Neutrality, which is laying low so as not to be seen, is a vote against Him.
People will one day be surprised at the severity of the lies they were told, especially by gossipers they expected better from and errant preachers they believed in. I know preachers in my town who are liars from sun up to sun up. What is self-deceit but chronic lying?
What Scripture says should be decisive in any analysis or attempt to understand our times. We clearly read that there will be an Antichrist (instead of Christ). Second Corinthians 11 speaks of another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel. Verses 13-15 identify false apostles of Christ, an imitation angel of light, and fake ministers of righteousness. You must agree this does not speak of communists, atheists, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. This speaks of the greatest danger in all of history, and the Great Imitation, which will climax in the [the rise of] the Antichrist. Thus, if you are looking for an enemy, you don’t have to step outside your door. (Acts 20:29-31) ---The Midnight Call
The Bible says to sound the trumpet and warn the people. The church is doing just the opposite -- they are removing the trumpets altogether. Jesus also said there will be many false prophets, false christs, and false people. These deny Christ and propagate dangerous heresies (and subtle forms of unbelief).
If you’ve been watching for the Lord’s return, you’ll already have seen that His judgment is encroaching on our country. The prophecies of the end times show a religious generation without natural affection, disobedient to parents, trucebreakers, without control of themselves, and traitors. Deceit and self love will dominate man’s motivations. It is upon us and is happening right before our very eyes.
“Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.” (Jeremiah 15:19)
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Jesus’ words at Mark 7:21-23)
This verse explains well how so many men and women can put up a veneer of love, religion, altruistic fervor, leadership, and reputable living and yet be caught in slander, rape, fraud, murder, all manner of hateful crime against his fellows. And most of the time people sit back and treat lightly, are even amused by, the many symptoms. I would like to say you deserve what you get, but that shows so little compassion for the victims whose lives are rarely vindicated of this scum.
The basis of true religion might be stated thusly: There is one true God and I myself am not He.
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16)
We live in the most thankless, whining, judgmental, arrogant, presumptuous society the world has ever known, bar none. Just look at your TV, your movies, your newspapers, your sports, your entertainment, your music, your electronics, your churches and schools, your own lives -- such smugness, such interpersonal loathing, such immorality, violence, and pomp.
All God’s people are expected to be soul-baring, armor-bearing, sword-bearing, seed-bearing, cross-bearing, fruit-bearing, but we have only one Sin-bearer, and that is Jesus Christ. And only one Gospel. So what has happened to the true Gospel?” Selfish men have turned it into a beehive of love bug propaganda.
The more grace Christians have, the more clearly they can see the contrast between holiness and sin. This will necessarily lead them to pray more often, earnestly, and fervently, give them a disrelish for the vanities of the world, and a sincere and hearty desire to devote all they have to Christ and to serve Him entirely.
The church used to rightly discipline errant brothers. Today, brothers rightly separate themselves from the errant church. An errant church makes Jesus sick; it proves itself in that it hasn’t the fear of God before its eyes (see Romans 3:18). It will also make His true people sick.
If America forgets where she came from, if the people lose sight of what brought them along, if she listens to the deniers and mockers, then will begin the rot and dissolution.” ---Carl Sandburg
Most churchers go from passion to compassion, because compassion takes a lot less out of you.
“My people hath been lost sheep; their shepherds (pastors) have caused them to go astray … for they have forgotten their resting place.” (Jeremiah 50:6)
The Biblical prescription for posting at every exit of a church: “You are now entering a mission field!” [In most churches, it should read, "You are now leaving a mission field."]
Throughout the Book of Zephaniah in the Bible, God rebukes all types of leadership in Jerusalem -- princes, judges, prophets, and priests -- because of their callous disobedience, irresponsibility, and sin. If you are a leader in the church consider yourself in a privileged position, but be careful. God holds you responsible for the purity of your actions, the quality of your example, and the truth of your words. ---Life Application Bible
You do not choose to be in the business of bringing men to Christ, you choose Christ and you are at once in the business.
We must choose daily the way of the cross over the way of the crowd.
7 Signs Which Evidence That A Man or Woman is Born Again.
[William Malgo, founder, The Midnight Call]
1. He knows that he has been born again.
Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:14; 5:13.
2. His new life becomes visible.
Matthew 7:16; Acts 4:20; Ephesians 3:17; John 14:23.
3. He has a spirit of prayer.
Romans 8:26; Acts 1:14; 4:24; Revelations 3:2; 3:20.
4. He has a hunger for the Word of God.
John 6:48; John 5:39-40.
5. He will suffer much adversity.
John 16:13; Ephesians 6; Luke 6:22; Matthew 5:10.
6. He has victory over many sins and temptations.
Romans 725; Romans 8:10; John 10:28; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 15:57.
7. He awaits with joy and expectancy the return of Christ.
Luke 21:28; Matthew 25:6; 25:10;
The most popular source on the theme of “love” in the Bible is I John (and parts of 2 and 3 John). While 1 Corinthians 13 is also popular, people have more trouble with it because it is virtually insurmountable in human terms. Before you go love bugging on down the road you might think on these things:
1. “Love” and “know” in their various forms are both used very frequently in 1 John.
2. John’s purpose for writing does not include a “treatise” on love.
1:4 The Joy of Salvation. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
2:1 The Christian Walk. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not
2:26 Bracing for the Enemy. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
5:13 The Gospel. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
3. At 3:23, we are to love one another as He gave commandment.
A. The instruction is for (and among) believers.
B. It is accomplished out of obedience to Christ and not out of the natural will of man.
C. This Book says, in the same way, we are to do as He is or He does in these matters as well: fellowship, abiding, likeness, purity, righteousness, and representation. Love is not singled out.
4. At 3:14, brotherly love (love between believers) is proof of being converted, of having been born again.
5. John was not only the “apostle of love” but also, “son of thunder” and “John the revelator.”
6. In the New Testament, truth and love are directly combined once it seems, but faith and love are directly combined at least five times.
A letter to churches I intend to mini-mass-mail in the next few days:
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 20-25
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In a dozen years of ministry in two principal states and others less intensively, I have had free roam in many healthcare, nursing, and retirement establishments. I have ministered in many hospitals. I have sat in many restaurants and patronized many stores. I have gone into a fair number of police departments, fire stations, community colleges, and hotels and motels. I have spread the Gospel along hundreds of streets and have talked to thousands of people about Jesus Christ. I have sat in many churches. I have disseminated many pieces of Biblical material and Christian literature (with an emphasis on the way of salvation).
I take my rightful boast -- in Jesus’ name, and for His sake alone.
So what is my point?
Dateline Low Road Baptist Church.
Well, how many tracts did you ship?
7,351,987, preacher.
How many did you hand out?
Hand out?
In all the twelve years and in all those places I honestly do not recall specifically seeing a salvation tract or hearing about them given out(even talking to people on the streets) except what I have put out. Occasionally, even rarely, I would see milquetoast devotional material, but no salvation tracts. I can count on one hand the times I can remember the use of tracts being encouraged from the pulpit.
That would lead me to believe that there are a lot of shippers of tracts and extremely few who are handing them out. It is almost comical when you think about it. Picture a Thanksgiving and a local church sends thousands of turkeys to India, China, Russia, and Timbuktu. Meanwhile a massive number of people die of starvation within five miles of the church. It may sound funny, but that is exactly what’s happening.
I do not want to think ill-will of any whom God chooses to save from any tract anywhere; I will not have anything but joy in my heart when I learn -- here or there -- that a soul came to Christ because a doctrinally and Scripturally sound tract came into his life.
But it is something of a false appearance saying that you will win the world to Jesus Christ and then neglect your own town, indeed your own back yard. When Jesus said “all the world,” He didn’t mean to start as far out as you can and work your way in. I speak to the churches mainly, but myself and the rest of true Christianity are guilty to some degree as well.
Salvation comes when a faithful man of God, preaches the Word of God, under the power of the Spirit of God. While the tract, the faithful tract, is certainly a tool, it was never meant to replace personal, face-to-face evangelism as soul-winners are obediently sent out from the local church.
I hope what I have said will quicken us to greater stewardship in our tract-giving. I'm aware that you'll say you're winning them by tracts but I will ask, "Are you winning them conveniently or obediently?" I am certain that there is a consequential difference between the two; spurning God's given way is ALWAYS wrong.
For Jesus’ sake
Minister don
Some Thoughts I Collected During My Summer Stay in the Hospital.
Nurse Square Pants, was Attila the Hun really your first husband?
I may have been the first person to be incarcerated in a hospital who went in with thirty years of life in the bank and ten million worth of kind spirit aboard the love boat and came out bankrupt, almost dead, and divers looking for the cruise ship.
I am beginning to think that the serpent being the symbol of the doctoral oath of practice is by no means an accident.
The biggest big business in America is not steel, automobiles, or televisions; it is the manufacture refinement and distribution of anxiety. ---Sevareid [Tell me about it -- been to Columbus hospitals lately?]
"If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." --- David Livingstone
They handed me a list of symptoms, conditions, and treatments and told me to mark the ones I could afford.
I don't mind paying 900 dollars for an ambulance ride to the hospital, but do they really need to stop for breakfast and a haircut?
Lord, have mercy on these unbelieving scoundrels who say “Lord, Lord,” and are talking to themselves. Hold it not to their charge. Sincerely, in Jesus’ matchless name, Amen.
What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn’t much different than tedious disease. ---Pope
Health is just the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
I used to eat natural foods until I learned that people die of natural causes.
I refused an autopsy.
I didn't worry about my health as long as they just came into my room and put on the usual rubber gloves; but it got worrisome when they also began taking showers, wearing gas masks, and building a decontamination station in the doorway (not to mention the hearse driver who kept looking in every fifteen minutes).
Sign on my bulletin board: Dangerous personality disorders -- Free Samples.
They offered me financial assistance since I was so weak. I elected to direct deposit into the doctor's bank account, and the nurse's, and the aid's, and the ...
They called her the "goatherder." I didn't know why they called her that until I realized that she was over all the other nurses.
There was a tremendous quaking of the building and we thought it was an earthquake. Someone quickly called all the nurses back from their aerobic dancing.
I stood my ground and told them that I had no previous record of suicide.
When I was discharged, they brought me back because I was alive without permission.
If you don't believe in the resurrection of the dead, be here when the shift ends.
My worst nightmare was that nurse Kapittle and I would somehow be bonded in holy healthimony 'til death did us part.
God’s Plan of Salvation.
1. What does God want you to do? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
2. How can you believe? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
3. What can you do to show that you believe? You can sincerely pray this prayer - or another prayer from your own heart - and tell God that you believe and accept (trust) His Son as your Savior.
Lord, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sins and help me to turn from them in hatred for them. I know that I deserve Hell for my sins. But I believe that Jesus died to pay for my sins and to take the punishment for me. I know that He purchased my salvation with His own precious blood, and has given me the precious gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. I trust Him and accept Him now as my Savior. Amen.
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bits and pieces. no. 9. 1-23-12
One day when the wraps come off the beautiful multi-million-dollar church with the large steeple and acres of plush green, it will be discovered that most of her members and every one of her neighbors are in a place of eternal torment. It will be a tragedy of such enormity, the universe will tremble and stand aghast in utter disgust and disbelief.
Peope tell me of great preaching in their church. When you listen to their recordings, you find out that religion today is a collection of cacophony (loud sounds, no meaning), scintillating fervor (sparks of glowing oratory), and jelly-bean doctrine (syrupy words in many colors except black and white). How does anyone even get helped let alone saved by such corny palaver?
The only conversions most people want to make is to shut the mouth of their opposition.
Deceit and confusion give the enemy an awful lot of ammunition against you. Remember, God understands your mistakes -- and the enemy has a problem much greater than yours.
Let advertisers spend the same amount of money improving their product that they do on advertising and they wouldn’t have to advertise it. ---Will Rogers
When the shepherd speaks well of the wolf, the sheep are in trouble.
When you love the Lord with all your heart, you’ll love His church. You will despise her every enemy -- you’ll hold nothing back, you’ll give no quarter. You forgive no enemy who is without repentance.
How I know I am a member of the true church of Jesus Christ -- the Body and Founder.
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I’m born again, a child of God
I love the true church
I’m living a holy life
I’m serving out of love for Jesus
I’m faithful to the full counsel of Scripture
I’m producing fruit
I contend for the faith
I’m unwavering, unswerving, and uncompromising
I’m a sinner saved by grace.
Those who don’t receive Jesus as Savior are controlled by the Devil. Yet, those who are trusting Christ have put Him in control. (See Joshua 24:15) Don’t let the Evil One sow seeds of doubt in your heart -- get Him behind thee! You do that through Jesus because you have no power in yourself to resist the wiles of the Devil. There are only two kingdoms to choose from and everyone who ever lives must choose one of the two. There is no middle ground -- lukewarmness means you have chosen against Jesus Christ. (See Galatians 2:20)
Song of the Ancient Retiree
[I went Medicare this year.]
Perched in my shorts on the edge of my bed,
With a shoe in my hand and my teeth in a cup,
I’m looking for clues, so I don’t have to ask:
Am I going to bed now or just getting up?
Fight the Good Fight of Faith.
(See 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Corinthians 15:58.)
Keep faithful in your work. Let your aim be steady as a star. Leave the world alone to brawl and bawl. You may be assaulted, wronged, insulted, slandered, wounded and rejected. You may be abused by foes, forsaken by friends, and despised and rejected by men. But with steadfast determination and unfaltering zeal, pursue the great purpose in life that He has given you and the object of your being, until at last you can say, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do. “
A man or woman who comes to the Bible Study flaunting a chip on their shoulder will not be welcome long. Who wants you?
Are the people who make pretense of being great Bible students but know little so utterly goofy as to believe that those of us who have plied ourselves to it diligently for years might just be able to figure that out?
“If a historian were to relate truthfully all the crimes, weaknesses, and disorders of mankind, his readers would take his work for satire rather than for history..” ---Pierre Bayle
I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold, beyond the crystal sea,
About the angels singing, and the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there, the song of victory.
---Victory in Jesus
The man who does well for himself is the man who gives up everything for Christ’s sake. He makes the best of bargains: he carries the cross for a few years in this world, and in the world to come has everlasting life. He obtains the best of possessions: he carries his riches with him beyond the grave. He is rich in grace here, and he is rich in glory hereafter. And, best o all, what he obtains by faith in Christ he never loses. It is the good part that is never taken away. ---Ryle
The true Christian has no rights. We drink the bitter cup we’re given, we love our enemies and pray for them, and we contend for the faith. Anything other than that tends to be selfish or pointless. We don’t expect due process because (1) we know little of the facts because of the deceit and (2) their lie will be stronger than your truth in the eyes of the propagandized “jury.” Jesus never argued with anyone, He spoke the truth, got out safely when He could, and spoke the truth some more. His “Woe unto you…hypocrites” dared that any one came to Him with a false gospel. I don’t remember when anyone shared the dais with Jesus Christ.
Scripture. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (Revelation 2:9)
Our calling rings from a modest and simple command -- glorify God and win people to Him.
Our Father’s God, to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by thy might,
Great God, and King.
(from My Country ‘Tis of Thee)
The Prescription For Godly Living in Canaan Land.
[] Don’t be beguiled by people who fool you by their good works and seduce you into partaking of their heresies, falsehoods, and idolatries.
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Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. (Deuteronomy 12:30)
[] Remember the covenant God made with you, that you not forget Him and turn to other gods.
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Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. (Deuteronomy 4:23)
[] Don’t let your heart be deceived and be led away to serve other gods.
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Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; Deuteronomy 11:16
[] Make your love and service to God a life work, and teach them to your children.
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Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; (Deuteronomy 4:9)
[] Understand well, this day you have become the people of God.
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And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.
Quips, Quotes, and Quandaries.
[] The most conspicuous person missing at the House of God on Sunday morning is God.
[] Jesus Christ disturbs everything He confronts.
[] It easy to be tolerant of the principles of other people when you have none of your own. ---Herbert Samuel
[] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)
[] And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (1 Corinthians 3:22-23)
[] " When you come to a fork in the road, take it." (Yogi Berra)
[] The front door of your house opens outward to a glorious mission field; it also opens inward to one.
[] Stand for God. 2 Chronicles Chapter 34:2
[] We do what we can. (Mark 14:8)
[] Lord, give us the yearning to tell people about Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen.
Lighter Fare
My kid was playing “Titanic” in the bathtub so I gave him some ice cubes.
(Headline) Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers.
There is a certain irony that your own seven-year-old cub baseball player would be the cleanup hitter.
The Earthquake Research Society ended its meeting early: It was adjourned by a motion from the floor.
Where does a bat take a bath? In a bat-tub.
What’s with him?
Oh, he’s just been bitten by the green-eyed-monster.
You know, they have a salve for that kind of thing down at the drug store.
When I was little, we were so poor the tooth fairy left me IOUs.
(Man to friend coming out of the IRS Office) That was a tough audit. I even had to wear a hospital gown.
Not only did it rain on my parade, but I got a fine for not having a parade permit.
After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a Historian - until I realized there was no future in it. Besides, everything had been finished by the time I started to work.
Remember Each Day
You are a child of God
You are saved forever
When you sin, ask your Heavenly father
to forgive and cleanse you
Regularly read your Bible
And spend time in prayer
Yield your life to God’s control
Realize the importance of your local church
Support it with your tithes, talent, and time
Tell others how to be saved
The Church in Glory
Revelation 7:13-17
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How bright these glorious spirits shine!
Whence all their white array?
How came to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?
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Lo! These are they, from sufferings great
Who came to realms of light,
And in the blood of Christ have washed,
Those robes which shine si bright.
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Now, with triumphant psalms, they stand
Before the throne on high,
And serve the God they love, amidst
The glories of the sky.
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His presence fills each heart with joy,
Tunes every mouth to sing;
By day, by night, the sacred courts
Which glad Hosannas ring.
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The Lamb which dwells amidst the throne
Shall o’er them still preside,
Feed them with nourishment divine,
And all their footsteps guide.
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‘Mong pastures green He’ll feed His flock,
Where living streams appear;
And God the Lord from every eye
Shall wipe off every tear.
-----Isaac Watts and William Cameron
Regret
I bow my head in sorrow,
My eyes they fill with tears,
When I look back across my life
And see the wasted years.
---
Down through the years I wandered
Without a goal in mind,
Until at last He found me
My Savior good and kind.
---
He left His realm of Glory,
Of Heaven far above,
And came to die in Calvary
To prove His gracious love.
---
God knows that I’m sorry,
And He’s forgiven me;
But how I wish the wasted years
Were given back to me.
---
That I might live each one again
In service for my King;
And for the wealth he’s given me,
Some small gift I could bring.
---Andrew Murray
God’s Plan of Salvation.
1. What does God want you to do? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
2. How can you believe? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
3. What can you do to show that you believe? You can sincerely pray this prayer - or another prayer from your own heart - and tell God that you believe and accept (trust) His Son as your Savior.
Lord, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sins and help me to turn from them in hatred for them. I know that I deserve Hell for my sins. But I believe that Jesus died to pay for my sins and to take the punishment for me. I know that He purchased my salvation with His own precious blood, and has given me the precious gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. I trust Him and accept Him now as my Savior. Amen.