Theologians and scholars who call God's definition of faith inadequate have never come up with better. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Ecumenical translators butcher this verse in their modernist bibles, removing both the substance and the evidence. Jesus said “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” It is disappearing fast for “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.” For the vast majority of 'scientists' life came by 'spontaneous generation' in some primeval sea where dogs then turn into horses and lizards into bald eagles! Sounds pretty preposterous in one sentence, but that is what they are teaching your children in school. Faith in God, faith in The Word of God, and faith in God's Only Begotten Son, requires that you first take his Word, that He is your Creator. This year is the 400^th year anniversary for having the whole 'Word of God' available in the English language. It teaches that there is believing faith, saving faith, and living faith, and you can only obtain these by placing your faith in 'The Word of God.' “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by The Word of God.” Ecumenical translators took the substance and evidence out of Hebrews 11, don't let them take it out of your faith. For 400 years Christians have put their faith in an English Bible called 'The Word of God.' There is only a small remnant who still do, but we trust every word of that old King James Bible. It defines faith well. Put your faith in 'The Word of God', it says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Believe Him. Trust in Him. He is “the Prince of Peace.”

Msg #1101 Correspondence Rebuttal

When is the anniversary of the Geneva Bible? Was not that one also in English and actually still accepted by Christianity and the church even after the beloved KJV was finished? Were the Pilgrims modernists because they actually preferred the Geneva to the KJV. I do thinketh that the translators of the KJV would be appalled at the fetish that has been made of their work.

Thanks for writing. No, the Geneva Bible served a purpose but was to riddled with Calvinism to last very long in Bible believing circles. It is only the King James version that rang true, unbias, and infallible for these 400 years. The Pilgrims, God bless them every one, were not modernists nor ecumenical, as these diabolical attacks against God's truth did not rise to prominence until the turn of the 19th century. I have read much by, and much on, the King James translators, and I am certain there is rejoicing all over heaven that their humble effort for their King has had the impact on the world that is exhibited by the King James Authorized translation of the Bible. I am appalled that you call our celebration of longevity and impact a 'fetish' which is defined as "an object of unreasonably excessive attention or reverence." I am more appalled by those who give The Word of God no attention or reverence. I pray you are not in that camp and that your rebuttal is not an indicator that you are camped out with the ecumenical modernists using an NIV, NASV, NESV et al. But if so you cannot rain discouragement on our 400^th year celebration.

Msg #1102 Diligent Faith

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous.” The blood of righteous Able cried to God 'the guilt of Cain', cried to scribe and pharisee their guilt for not hearing the Word of God, and cries to us a more excellent sacrifice. The first born human was the first first degree murder, slaying righteous Able who knew that without the shedding of blood in a sacrifice, there is no remission of sin. You need a more excellent sacrifice, you need the only begotten Son of God. “By faith Enoch was translated that he might not see death” for “he had this testimony that he pleased God.” Enoch, the 7^th from Adam, prophesied saying “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all.” Enoch walked with God and never saw death. If you would walk with God and never see death you will need to appease God with a more excellent sacrifice and please him with diligent faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and the he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6) “By faith Noah ... moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” “Sirs what must I do to be saved? ... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” God's Word will not lead you into error, it is inerrant. God's Word will never fail you, it is infallible. You need FAITH in the more excellent sacrifice, FAITH in that lets you walk with God, and FAITH that fears judgment and saves households. How's your faith? How's your walk? How's your house?

The 400^th Year Anniversary of the KJV Book Recommendation

If you only buy one book for this 400th year anniversary of the King James Bible it must be because you already have Dr. Grady's “Final Authority” and need only buy his new “Given By Inspiration” book. It is “A multifaceted Study on the A.V. 1611 with Contemporary Analysis” from www.GradyPublications.com If you don't have the first, buy both books for this 400th year commemoration of the infallible Holy Bible available in English.

“Given by Inspiration” is not only excellent, insightful coverage of the dangerous 'Pseudo King James Only' crowd lurking in every Bible college and seminary, it is an excellent, insightful expansion on what we have called 'inspiration' ever since “Theopneustia” gave it unabridged definition in 1814. Therein Gaussen refutes the fundamentalists who think only the original autographs were inspired. Inspiration is bigger than dried ink or original autographs, always has been, always will be. Grady refutes errant fundamentalists as well, but he rounds out a concept of inspiration that enables one to stand with a King James Bible and say unequivocally “I hold in my hand the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Word of God.” Get that full picture and that full ability, and it will change the way you read your Bible and walk with its Author.

If you have not read Dr. Grady before get a dictionary and look up 'cynicism' and first get reasonably comfortable with the fact that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, .. ergo it is deserving of some cynicism, and Satan is the father of lies and the master deceiver, ... ergo deserving of every form of cynicism. You will then love this insightful author.

Msg #1103 People of The Book

There was a day when Christians were called both 'people of faith' and 'people of the book' (singular). Today's pluralistic society and Laodicean Church make little reference to these titles but they still must apply to a true Christian. Without faith it is impossible to please God. “By faith Abraham was called to go out... and he went out ... by faith he sojourned in the land of promise, by faith sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky.” Thoughtful theologians consider that faith consists of 1) knowledge, 2) belief, 3) trust, and 4) recumbency (i.e. rest & comfort) They coincidently echo God's analogy that “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but haveing seen them afar off (knowledge), and were persuaded of them (belief) and embraced them (trust) and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (recumbency.) Faith, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” is thus inexplicably linked to the Word of God. Saving faith comes from knowing the Word of God, being persuaded of and believing the Word of God, embracing and trusting the Word of God, and confessing and resting in the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. True Christians will forever be 'people of faith' and 'people of the Book.' Is it any wonder that ecumenical modernist have their sights set on the Word of God to remove 1John 5:7, Matt 17:21, 18:11, 23 14, Mark 7:16, 9:44,46 and 13 other whole verses of the Word of God. In this the 400^th year anniversary of the King James Bible we need to renew our titles as 'people of the book', and 'people of faith.'

Msg #1104 Saving Faith and Living Faith

James 2, Romans 4, and Hebrews 11 all show true faith to be both justifying and justified. This confuses most scholars. Don't let it, or them, confuse you. They are of the opinion that James2 was James' opinion and Romans4 was Paul's opinion. They are forever forgetting that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” wherein “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” and that “There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” (2Tim 3:16, 2Pet 1:21, Job 32:8) God says in Romans 4 that the saving faith that gets the judicial declaration of 'Justified' is completely without works. He illustrates this with Abraham who believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. God says in James 2 that the living faith that shows up in a true believer's life will be more than a professed faith, the profession will be justified by works. He illustrates this with Abraham, who after he believed God ans was counted righteous, in faith offered up his only begotten son. Saving faith, which without works secures God's declarative Justification, and living faith, which justifies your profession with works, are then each delineated in Hebrews11. There Abraham hears God's promises, becomes persuaded, embraces them and becomes only a pilgrim and sojourner here (vr 13), i.e. Saving Faith. Then Abraham's faith is 'tried' (vr 17) and he offered up Isaac, i.e. Living Faith. To be declared Justified by God you will need “repentance toward God and faith (saving faith) in the Lord Jesus Christ,.” without the works of righteousness. To justify your faith there will be trials of your faith (living faith) and ergo your faith without works is dead. Paul and James are not at odds here, scholars are.

Msg #1105 Faith to the End

Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph each get a verse in God's Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11. Isaac lived a life in transition with an eye for the evidence of things to come; Jacob finally blessed his boys right and leaned on the top of his staff; (one needs to read the whole Genesis account find why leaning on his staff gets mention in this hall of fame) and Joseph, who was faithful to death, knew that God would restore Israel in God's promised land. We should take valuable lessons from each. We live in a Laodicean Church age with an eye on the evidence of things hoped for. The 1^st century age of Ephesus had great beginnings; the 3^rd century age of Smyrna, great persecutions; the 5^th through the 15^th centuries Thyatira had a great enemy, the woman Jezebel; the Sardis Protestant Church age had defiled garments and “a name that thou livest, and art dead;” from 1611, 400 years ago, right through 1776, in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Church age had great revivals; and our own Laodicean Church age is marked by a great falling away wherein the 'man of God' in the pulpit disregards the commands of Christ and surrenders it to his wife. Like Isaac in transition believers have an eye 'concerning things to come.” Believers need to trust the Word of God and not wrestle with Him about things like Jacob did his whole life. And believers need to be faithful unto death, as was Joseph, knowing that God will restore Israel to the Promised Land and set on the Throne of David just like He promised. Keep the Holy Faith. Be in His hall of fame. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. He is coming soon. Keep the faith.

Msg #1106 Faith, a First Principle

The believers faith is the whole subject of Hebrews 11, in Galatians it is the 7^th fruit of the 9 listed, in 2Peter virtue and 6 additional things are added to it, but in Hebrews 6 faith is one of the 1^st principles of the oracles of God. There are 5 fundamentals for the Fundamentalist Christian, and 8 distinctives for a true Baptist, but Hebrews 6 lists 7 fundamentals as the 1^st oracles of God which need to be grounded in a believer before they move to the meat of God's Word. These 1^st principles of the oracles of God are 1) the principles of the doctrine of Christ,” who he was and what he did; 2) “The foundation of repentance from dead works,” because “except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” and all 'Christian Religion' is polluted with 'dead works;' 3) “the foundation of faith toward God,” here our prime subject is linked directly with repentance as in Acts 20:21; 4) “the doctrine of baptisms,” notice the plural, there is no water present when we are 'baptized' into the body of Christ, nor when Christ “baptizes us with the Holy Ghost,” indeed water only shows up for immersion that pictures death and resurrection, not washing; 5) “the doctrine of laying on hands,” for both ordaining as a pastor or deacon, the only 2 offices of the Church, and for removing one from that office, 6) “The doctrine of resurrection of the dead;” and lastly 7) “the doctrine of eternal judgment,” emphasis on ETERNAL! I have read many books which outline fundamentals and distinctives of our faith. Only this one lists these 1^st principles of the oracles of God, and commands that you know them all backward and forward, before going further. Let's hit the book.

Msg #1107 A Valentine for Life

Christian marriage has its basis in the teachings of Christ which must start with him as the creator of male and female and the obvious consideration that they are not made equal but very different. Since the fall of man there is a rebellion in man's heart that causes him to oppose everything that God says; few things more strongly than the role of the man and the role of the woman in life. In the Garden God designed and created the female body, emotion, brain, and spirit to be an appropriate helper and companion to the male. He therein decreed that the male was to be the leader of the woman and she the submissive helper, meet for the man, i.e. “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” The New Testament of Christ amply reinforces these roles of the man and the woman, i.e. “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” and modernist man just as amply, rebels against these teaching, To both decrees modernists say “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast their cords from us.” Your marriage, yeah your whole life on this planet, will only be a taste of paradise on Earth in direct proportion to the surrender you show to your Creator and your submission to living in the role for which you were designed. I know what Hillary, Nancy and Sarah think of Christ's commands; I know what the modernist women preachers say, but your marital bliss and functional Christian life are directly connected to what you do with these roles. Overcome your rebellion against God's commands and you can have a very very Happy Valentines Day.

Msg #1108 Husband, Love Your Wife

God places all the responsibility for a properly ordered Godly home directly on the shoulders of the husband. While the wife is to submit, the husband is to lead with Christlike leadership. While the wife is to love and obey, the husband is to love as Christ loved, even to give up his life for his wife. In Genesis the fair and precious weaker vessel is commanded to leave the love, security and significance of her mother and father and to cleave only to her husband 'till death do us part'. Ogre is descript of a person who is felt to be particularly cruel and brutish, and that combined with selfish is an apt description for the husband living in the old nature while trying to keep the promises he made to the covenant wife of his youth. The Bible says that Christ living in you is the only way you could ever fulfill those promises of love. A husband is to provide the careful nurturing love, security and significance that a woman needs physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As the leader in the home the husband is to take the lead in this role of lover; is to embrace this weaker emotional package with a security that surrounds her body, soul and spirit; is to hold her in such esteem that she daily and forever knows her intense significance to his heart and soul. Roses on Valentines is but a start to not being a selfish ogre, the rest of the year. While spring is in the air remember your promised responsibility and the Christian command “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church.... so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.” Love her, nourish her, cherish her, even as the Lord the Church.

Essay On Balaam The Prophet?

Our family altar found us reading through Numbers in February and the question is asked “Was Balaam actually a prophet of Jehovah God when he was not even of the seed of Abraham?” In Numbers 22-24 Balaam son of Beor, as a prophet of the LORD, was called upon by the Moabite Balak to curse the children of Israel gathered across the river from Jericho. Israel was herein intent on entering their promised land and Balaam gave this prophecy:

“And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.” (Num 24:15-24)

Indeed Balaam was a prophet of Jehovah God. Indeed his prophecy is recorded in Holy Scripture as proceeding from Jehovah God. This Balaam likely recorded this history and verbiage and delivered it to Israel for God's preserved record keeping. And this Balaam was found dwelling in Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people. (Numbers 22:5) Pethor was of Mesopotamia (Deut 23:24) and the river spoken of was likely then the northern headwaters of the Euphrates. This river flows from Syria (Aram) north east of Moab and Numbers 23:7 states: “And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.” There was an Aram son of Seth brother of Arphaxad, (Gen 10:23) And Arphaxad was either the grandfather of (Gen 10:24, 1Chr 1:18) or great grandfather of (Luke 3:35-36) one Eber whose children were called Hebrews and who was the great, great, great, great grandfather of Abraham (Luke 3:34-35) Thus, if Balaam from Aram, was a descendant of Aram, which is most likely, he was not even a Hebrew, let alone a seed of Abraham.

Also a town of Aram is connected to Geshur and the towns of Jair in 1Chron 2:23. These are all in Syria north and east of Galilee, which fits the description of where Balaam came from.

Now in Gen 22:21 there was another Aram who had a grandfather, Nahor, brother of Abraham, and a brother Bethuel who begat Rebekah the wife of Isaac, but these all dwelt near Ur of the Chaldees (Gen 11:31) where Abraham and the other Hebrews had their roots. This Aram was also from Mesopotamia past the mountains of the east but from much further south. No cities or lands bearing his name are therein found and because of the previous connection of Gesher with Aram, he was thus not the ancestor of Balaam. There was another Aram as “Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; ... “ (Matt 1:2-4) but the descendants of this Aram were in the camp that Balaam was called upon to curse.

Thus here we have one Balaam, not a descendant of the chosen people of God, but a prophet of the Most High God just the same. Remember a prophet of God was one who stood and accurately said “Thus saith the LORD.” Balaam herein qualified. Now this prophet Balaam, the son of Beor, was slain with the kings of Midian (Num 31:8) and Numbers 31:15-16 records that:

“And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women (of Midian) alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.”

The acts of Balaam are brought up several more times in the history of Israel (Deut 23:4,5, Josh 13:22, 24:9,10, Neh 13:2 and Micha 6:5) but in the New Testament there is mention of the 'WAY' of Balaam, (2Pet 2:15), the 'ERROR' of Balaam, (Jude 1:11) and the 'DOCTRINE' of Balaam. (Rev 2:14) C.I. Schofield insists that these three areas point to three tragic pitfalls still being made by man. Balaam and his ass that spoke still provide an interesting aspect about God's dealings with Israel and with God's dealings with humanity. This prophet of God makes for an interesting study point in the revelation of God.

Msg #1109 A Husband's Christlike Communications

All husbands need a crash course in communications and those that are fathers more so. The Holy Bible tells us to “dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife.” Although it is often wise to keep your mouth shut, you can not dwell well like that. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Good communications produce a freedom of expression where no topic is off limits, and an atmosphere where being understood pervades. When everyone knows a subject that must be avoided or anyone reports they are not understood, then the communication lifeline needs repair. With good communication there will be no win-loose arguments and conversations will always reduce, not increase, tensions. Such communications produce a safe secure atmosphere that esteems, honors, and edifies. These five traits are the qualities found in our relationship with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We can talk to Him about anything and He always understands us. He never argues and talking to Him resolves problems and tensions. “Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you” produces safety and security in a friend closer than a brother who has promised us He will never leave us nor forsake us. We are to exemplify Christ in our attitude and action, and we sure need to have marital communications which exemplify his lifeline which is ever available to us. We should evaluate our homes and marriages for these good communication qualities. If you think you are doing OK, have your wife do the evaluation; you will surely find something to talk about. We can be more Christlike in our communications. “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Heb 13:16)

Theology Special Edition on Sacraments

In my Theology 504 class I am required to read the Reformed Augustinian Theology book of Thiessen, a neo-evangelical and past president of MacArthur's Master's College, and write and answer questions about his ecclesiology. I found it easy and enlightening to write this one on his catholic use of the word 'sacrament.'

Thiessen's definition of 'sacrament' does not build a large enough wall of separation from an ordinance; reinforce this wall. Ans pg 422 Thiessen tampers with the word 'sacrament' with out the brazen exposure that it deserves and he implies that the catholics have 'evolved' the word from its origins to make it more palatable. He says “Originally this word meant to make sacred, to dedicate to gods or sacred uses.” He is careful not to expose that all of its uses, including uses to which catholics 'evolved' the word towards, includes a mystical attachment to the act or item. In other words when something is declared a sacrament, it leaves the ordinary, leaves the physical and becomes metaphysical, it takes on a mystical, spiritual ability to alter the physical. A Baptist's insistence on the ordinances being called just that and never called a 'sacrament', especially a 'holy sacrament' is to 1) ensure the complete separation from the catholic use of these symbols; 2) to emphasize that they are symbols that have a witnessing and mental image only, and no mystical or metaphysical effect, and 3) to ensure that these symbols do not take on any initiation rites of their own, or 'means of grace', as protestants call it, as in the catholic use wherein they actually, mystically perform the uniting with the body of Christ (which they call the Holy Catholic Church); wherein they actually, mystically perform the crucifying of and, the eating and receiving of, the body of Christ; and wherein they actually, mystically drink of his actual blood. Baptist's will always be staunch about these definitions. There are but two ordinances and by a Bible believer they will never be referred to as 'sacraments.'

Msg #1110 Friends Face to Face

The phrase 'By faith Moses' starts two entries in God's Hall of Fame of Faith recorded in Hebrews 11. The first is the record of Moses' parents, the second for Moses himself. The common thread is that neither feared the wrath of the king's commandment as much as they feared the Lord their God. The parents were purposed to save Moses alive. Moses was 40 years in the courts of Pharaoh, then 40 years on the backside of a desert, and then, when God did use him, 40 years wandering in the wilderness, leading stiff necked and complaining children of God. He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. His example is herein recorded so that we would do no less with our own lives. When Moses stepped out of his comfort zone God revealed His only begotten Son, to the world “and the LORD spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto a friend.” God wants no less for you. When God spoke face to face he said “Go tell Pharaoh to let my people go,” he said “take hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the bason,” he said “stand still and see the salvation of the LORD,” he said “tell them I will send them bread from heaven,” he said “Strike the rock,... for my Son will be stricken”, and then he said “Speak to the Rock for my saints will speak to my Son, ... face to face, as a man speaketh unto a friend.” Tell people you see about the blood in the bason, tell them that God has sent bread from heaven. Let God reveal his Son in your life and spend your days speaking to your friend about your witness of Him.

Msg #1111 Generals and Harlots

The commandment to Joshua was “only be thou strong and very courageous” but one wonders how much strength and courage it took to march around the walled city of Jericho seven times. God's Hall of Fame of Faith records Joshua's strong faith and courageous trust. Taking control of the promised land where God commanded you to dwell will not take physical strength nor courageous bravery. For Joshua, He broke the walls and puts the enemy to flight, and so too for us. When our faith is strong and our trust in His Holy Word is courageous. Remember Joshua 1:8. In this 400^th year anniversary of the complete inerrant infallible inspired Word of God available in the English language, each should re-examine their courage in trusting the old book and the old paths. Every word is important, God said so. When the walls of Jericho fell there was a harlot who “perished not with them that believed not.” That awkward wording best captures what God said about her strong faith and courageous trust in the God of the two spies which she had saved. All the brains, strength and knowledge of Jericho perished in unbelief, but this harlot named Rachab gets named here in God's Hall of Fame of Faith and also in the lineage of the Christ as the wife of Salmon and mother of Booz, great grand father of King David himself. The point, God can use the greatest general or the least of harlots, only be thou strong in faith and very courageous to trust His Holy Word, and meditate therein day and night. “The Bible stands like a rock undaunted mid the raging storms of time; Its pages burn with the truth eternal and they glow with the light sublime.” Read it some today.

Msg #1112 Be A Gideon

Only five of the thirteen Old Testament judges made it into God's Hall of Fame of Faith and Gideon leads them in. When the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, He delivered them into the hands of the Midians seven years. (Judges 6) In a cycle repeated thirteen times in three hundred years, Israel is greatly impoverished and the children of Israel cry unto the LORD who sends a Judge to deliver them from their bondage. An angel of the LORD said to Gideon, who was hiding from the Midianites, “The LORD is with thee thou mighty man of valour.” God uses the least likely people in the most impossible circumstances to bring about deliverance in a way that He gets all the glory. Gideon is such an illustration. God first has him throw down the altar of Baal that his own father had set up. With this test complete, and Gideon's assurance given via a wet fleece, Gideon collected thirty two thousand soldiers in his army. God sent twenty two thousand home and then selected only three hundred of the ten thousand remaining. (Judges 7) When the Midianites “lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude, and their camels were without number,” Gideon approaches with his band of three hundred. God likes these odds when He is doing miracles, there will be no mistaking what happened. Thirty three hundred years later He is the same God, and likes to work with the same odds, for the same reason. When you are at your whits end, that is when God shows Himself. When it seems impossible, Gideon has all his faith in his God. How about you? “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Be a Gideon in faith.

Msg #1113 Debras and Baraks

All of the judges that God used and particularly those in God's Hall of Fame of Faith recorded in Hebrews 11, illustrate the verses in God's first letter to the Corinthians “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, ...: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” In His hall of fame he lists Gideon, then recalls Barak, lists Sampson, then recalls Jephithae, lists David, then recalls Samuel. Interesting. In Scripture God always does things on purpose. For a modernist and neo-evangelical these are blunders and attributed to the authors. But for a Bible believing Baptist, God is the author and every chapter, every verse, every line is given by inspiration of God and is inerrant and infallible. It is also interesting that Judge Barak is in the hall of fame and Deborah the prophetess and judge of Israel is not. She is the one who spurred Barak into action, gave him the Word of the Lord about his pending victory, and then had to hold his hand and go with him or he wouldn't go! And for all that God gave Sisera, the opressing warrior with nine hundred iron chariots into the hand of another woman. In Judges 4-5 learn that God uses anybody in his purposes, He even used women against iron chariots of men, but God always requires men to be the leaders, and it is Barak that is listed in God's Hall of Fame of Faith.

Msg #1114 The Mighty Immature Sampson

Sampson is a man of great strength who walks across four chapters of your Bible with lustful immaturity and childishness. It is leadership traits, not chronology, that orders the judges in Hebrews 11. Gideon the valiant leader who did not end well, Barak the spineless leader who did not start well and Sampson the childish leader who did not start, run or finish well. He is just another of God's 'not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble.' In Judges15:14, when the chords on his arms broke like burnt flax, Sampson portrays “A bruised reed shall he(Christ) not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.” of Matthew12:20 Many Christians in His service who don't mature, I need not be yet another. Some Christians take themselves entirely to seriously, and forget that they are just bruised reeds, not fit for the flutist or burnt flax, not fit for the wick of an oil lamp. There is no shortage of these commodities but God takes joy and gets glory by using them. Some never sober, not comprehending 1Thes5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love ....” Of the immature judge, Sampson, it was said “So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.” May I mature and be sober now so my epitaph won't read like Sampson's. An unknown once told me “I walked a mile with laughter. She chatted all the way. But I was none the wiser for all she had to say. I walked a mile with sorrow. Not a word said she. But I will ne're forget the things that sorrow taught to me.”

Msg #1115 God's Promise

In leadership schools of military or industry we are taught that “Everything rises and falls on leadership”, but in God's Hall of Fame of Faith, in Hebrews 11, we are taught that “Everything rises and falls on Lordship.” Jephtha, the fourth and final judge in that hall of fame “was a mighty man of valour” (Judges11:1), an outcast of the family, recalled by the elders of Gilead in order to fight off the Children of Ammon who were oppressing Israel. God surely gave the Promised Land to Israel, his chosen people, but “Democracy Now” of NPR funded by our own Government, calls Israel dwelling in their own Promised Land an 'occupation'! President Oboma, in Egypt, called Israel the occupiers in a Palestinian Occupation. When the Children of Ammon called them occupiers thirty two hundred years earlier,. Jephtha was filled with the Spirit of God and took up arms to drive the Ammonites out of God's land. For his faith, he is given mention in Hebrews 11, but for his foolishness in making a vow unto the Lord he is remembered throughout history. When God fills us with His Spirit to accomplish great things for Him, as he does every born again believer, never get the idea that purposing harder in the flesh or vowing for greater and grander things is going to improve your performance. God's point throughout judges is what He told Zerubbable, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Jesus gives instruction “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; ...But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay.” Never forget Jephtha's stupid vow; never make one of your own. He said to live for Him “by my Spirit, saith the LORD.”

Msg #1116 Good Friday Not

Roman Catholic tradition of a Friday Crucifixion does not fit any Bible evidence. 1. John12:1 says “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, ” Passover, when they slew the lamb without blemish and without spot, (1Pet1:19) was on the 14^th of Abib, (Exod12:6, 34:18) His coming to Bethany was on Friday the 8^th and not on a Saturday Sabbath. 2. Palm Sunday was on the 10th of Abib, when the Passover Lamb was separated from the flock. (Exod12:3) Therein “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matt21:15) separated our Passover Lamb on that Sunday. 3. When Christ died on Passover, the14th of Abib, it was the 1st day and night dead, Friday the 2^nd and Saturday the 3^rd , exactly fulfilling the prophecy of Mt 12:40 “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” 4. The 15th of the month was the first day of the feast of unleavened bread and it was a Sabbath Day of rest, a High Day Sabbath (Lev23:6-7), as clarified in John 19:31. The next day was Friday, not a Saturday Sabbath as speculated by errant popes. 5. The15^thof Abib, a High Day Sabbath, and Saturday, the Weekday Sabbath, caused two Sabbath days in a row, and prevented the women from coming to anoint the body of Jesus until Sunday, very early in the morning. 6. When the disciples on the Emmaus Road talked of his crucifixion they said “and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.” Sunday, being the third day since the crucifixion, places the death and burial of our Lord on Thursday, not on Friday.

A Rebuttal to Good Friday Not

I read the attached article. I take one exception. Three days and three nights is 72 hours which the Jews took literally. Also the Jewish day started at sundown. So Sunday started at sundown Saturday. You date back 72 hours and you arrive at sundown Wednesday which is when Jesus was buried. The traditional good ("God's") Friday is incorrect and comes out of the catholic church which confuses many Jews just like the painting of the Last supper with everybody seated around a table. They were arranged in a U shape around a table reclining on divans or couches. Happy Easter. D. Brown

Thank you for writing. Baptist mentors trained me from my childhood that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday for just the reasons you gave. We agree that accepting a Friday Crucifixion requires the irreverent dismissal of the exactness of a verbally inspired, inerrant, infallible Bible. I do not wander from my mentors 72 hour interpretation of Matt 4:20 lightly, nor do I regard the customs for Jewish days above the clear teaching of Scripture. Jesus said therein, “Three days and three nights,” NOT “the evening and the morning were the first day.” You said you take one exception to my article, but in reality you took exception to all 6 of the rightly divided Scriptural arguments for a Thursday Crucifixion. I dare not defy Catholic tradition of the Day and Place of Christ's Crucifixion, or the Lord's Supper, because of Jewish tradition, but because it defies the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Scripture that One Jew gave to us. I humbly suggest you take the same tact for your arguments. God will bless the searching of His Scriptures over and above the searching of Jewish traditions. Happy Easter.

Re: Some verses that point to a Wed. crucifixion

As a missionary, and a pastor with less experience than yourself, I humbly ask that you consider these verses: Mark 15:42--"And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,"; Luke 23:54--"And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on."; and John 19:42--"There laid they [Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus] Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand."

I will only state what I taught this morning in my adult Sunday school class regarding the events of what is commonly called here "Holy Week". That, when compared with Matt. 12:39-40 and Lev. 23:1-6, Jesus died on a Wednesday. As you mentioned in your original Good Friday Not, there were consecutive sabbaths--but there were THREE--Passover Thursday, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Friday), and then the traditional sabbath on Saturday. This still explains why the ladies were not able to come to anoint the body of Jesus, because there was not time before sundown to do this work, much less prepare the spices. (They were probably preparing the Passover feast for their own families. They also, in my opinion, used what we call Saturday night, which would be AFTER their traditional Saturday sabbath, to prepare the spices. [Luke 24:1]))

If Jesus died on the day of Passover, then the following questions are raised: 1) Why was the Sanhedrin assembled, instead of eating the Passover feast? 2) What was everybody else doing there? Shouldn't they have been eating the Passover? 3) Since the Bible mentions in Heb. 13:12 that Jesus "suffered without the gate", would that have constituted more than a "sabbath day's journey" for some? Or at least their combined journey's between Caiphas' house, Pilate's judgment hall, etc.? 4) Since John 19:38 says that Joseph of Arimathaea was a secret disciple, and v. 39 infers (esp. compared with John 3) that Nicodemus was also, and since John 3:1 and Luke 23:50-51 infer that both men were part of the Sanhedrin, and thus zealous Jews, would they now risk being "outed" as disciples because they were defiled by a dead body on the Sabbath--esp. the Passover? [In other words, on a traditional Saturday sabbath, they could probably make reasonable excuses; but not for the Passover, and with such a pubic event as Jesus' crucifixion.]

I will also argue that the Biblical use of the word "day" almost always means a 24-hour period, unless the context dictates otherwise. With the added phrase "and nights" in Matt. 12:40, this definitely indicates 3 24-hour periods, i.e. 72 hours. Since Jesus was already gone from the tomb when "it began to dawn toward the first day of the week," (Matt. 28:1), then at the latest he arose around 6 am Sunday morning. That means he must have been in the tomb no later than Thursday at 6 am. Since the Bible is very clear that Jesus was buried after 3 pm (the ninth hour) but before sundown, this MUST be Wednesday evening. [On a side note: I personally believe that Jesus probably arose on Saturday night (pre-dawn Sunday for the Jews), although there is not a verse of Scripture that indicates exactly what time Jesus left the tomb--Matthew only states that he was gone before dawn.] If you choose to count Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights as your 3 nights, I still do not understand where you would come up with the third day--because a Thursday crucifixion only gives you Friday and Saturday--Jesus wasn't in the tomb on Sunday or Thursday during the "day".

Thanks for writing, and for the excellent analogies of Scripture. I have researched each of these points and Scriptures, praise the Lord, and appreciate your laying them out so succinctly. Two things have moved me towards a Thursday Crucifixion over the preferred Wednesday understanding which meets the preferred 72 hour criteria. One is the 8th of Abib, 10th of Abib and 14th of Abib analysis that I briefly mentioned, and the other, the testimony of the disciples on the Emmaus Road wherein it was both Sunday, and the 3rd day since the Crucifixion. God so carefully laid out the 10th day Passover Lamb selection, and the 14th day slaying of the Lamb, that I have to believe it was exactly applicable to the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the World. In a Wednesday Crucifixion scenario of these dates the 10th would fall on a Saturday which I still have trouble with, albeit not insurmountable trouble. I have rationalized calling the day of his Crucifixion the first day in the heart of the Earth (Matt 12:40) because no matter where his body was, the Son of Man was in the heart of the Earth shortly after he said "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:"

The most important point of this whole debate is our understanding and maintenance that not a jot or tittle of Scripture will be errant or fallible. Where traditions of man, either Catholic or Jewish, will most often fail, and where our understanding will forever be finite and fallible, His Word will never fail. That is a good place to STAND. And I appreciate your stand therein.

I'd likely not get much out of your Spanish lesson outlines but you could send them to my son, Shane, in Peru. We have spent time together in this discussion. Thanks again.

For a complete dialog of this Biblical discussion on the Day of Christ's Crucifixioin please visit

Msg #1117 Easter Sunday Reflection

It is shame to our pulpits that thousands attended Church Easter Sunday and yet still have no idea what the resurrection of Christ is all about. It is a greater shame to our pulpits that millions celebrated Easter in some way but attended no Church at all and know nothing about the resurrection of Jesus which is called the Christ. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” It will never be easier nor more clear to spell out the gospel that we preach than it is when standing before the empty tomb that we so honor on this Sunday immediately after the Jewish Passover Day. On that Passover day 1,978 years ago the man Jesus, who claimed himself the Christ, the Son of Man and the Son of God, was lifted up on an old rugged cross. He had said “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:” He had said “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he.” He had said “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” There the Son of God, the Son of Man died: 1) to satisfy the wrath and judgment of God against us for our sins; 2) to cleanse us from all of our sins, past, present, and future; 3) to justify us before God; 4) to make atonement for our souls; and 5) to purge our conscience from dead works. Now it is simply this, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. God's simple plan of salvation.

Msg #1118 Family Altar

You have heard it said “The family that prays together stays together.” But the Bible says “The LORD (Jehovah) our God is one LORD (Jehovah): And thou shalt love the LORD (Jehovah) thy God with all thine heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house...” (Deut 6) The 'Christian' father that does not read God's Words to his family daily is disobedient to God's law. To expect that your family might turn out OK despite your disobedience is pure folly. Fathers should have a set time everyday when they read God's word together at a family altar. The family altar time should be consistent, enjoyable and anticipated by all. It is not a time when dad preaches to the family but a time when God speaks to each. Everyone should have their own Bible and read a verse aloud, or follow along if they cannot yet read. It takes less than 20 min to read three chapters per day and the whole Bible in a year! Every child should hear their parents call their name in prayer, and every day is not to often. Every husband should hear his wife talk to her Creator about her wants and needs. Every wife should hear her husband close the family altar and begin the day with a conversation with his Lord. Although it don't rhyme “The family that has family altar, loving God and reading His word together, talking to their Lord and owner together, … stays together. Thou shalt meditate therein 'day and night!' Start today, stay together.

Msg #1119 Proverbs 31

The close of Solomon's Proverbs is a description of a virtuous woman. It is the most often visited Scripture on Mother's Day but it has direct application to every believer as we are described as the virtuous bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle. ”The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,... she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” It goes on to describe the most industrious, diligent, integrity filled, compassionate, talented woman imaginable. It is indeed idyllic. One must blush to compare ones self, ones mate or ones mom to this ideal, but the wisest man in the world received this description from his mom, and then records it here as inerrant, infallible Holy Scripture. It will surely highlight mom's noteworthy accolades on Mother's Day, but it can also highlight the shortfalls of any wife or mom,... or any Christian. Remember that this is not the sole application of such a powerful characterization. It describes what a believer is to be to his Lord. A mom, a wife and a believer cannot be all these things until the Holy Spirit of God indwells them and empowers them to be such. Then, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” New, and filled with integrity and ambition to the point of being the most industrious, diligent, integrity filled, compassionate, talented Christian imaginable. That is no small calling, and to fulfill it one must needs say with the Apostle Paul “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Undertake great things for your Lord this week, and for those mom's who have endeavor for the ideal of Proverbs 31, Happy Mothers Day indeed.

Msg #1120 David Was Chosen

Time would fail me to tell of the faith of David for faith is the substance of things hoped for. (Heb11) And when the God of this people of Israel chose their fathers, and when he had removed Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, … he raised up unto them David to be their king: to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. “Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.” (Acts23) In all the Bible God's choosing is of people corporately or of individuals for service in bringing his Messiah to people. While theologians pretend they were chosen for salvation and that before the foundation of the world!, disciples indeed continue in Christ's Word and become people after God's own heart, busy in His service to bring the Messiah to Jews and Gentiles. God's choosing David had everything to do with character and nothing to do with some fictitious decree written before the foundation of the world! God chose disciples and ordained them with authority to preach the kingdom of God to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. God's choosing has nothing to do with whether your loved one, neighbor or some other whosoever will some day get saved or not. It has everything to do with whether you will be His witness, you will preach His kingdom, you will be a man after God's own heart, you will bring the Messiah to others. If you're saved you're chosen for service: be a man after God's own heart fulfilling His will. By faith David brought the Messiah to people. So should you.

Msg #1121 The REAL 2^nd Coming of Christ

On Sunday May 22^nd 2011 we worshiped the resurrected and soon returning Lord Jesus Christ. Those who take the old Roman Catholic allegorical interpretations of Holy Scriptures, rather than their more honest literal rendering, will forever make ludicrous predictions about the end times and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Bible the literal rendering of the Second Coming of Christ entails his receipt of the Kingdom from his Father, wherein He will rule and reign with his saints from the literal Throne of David set in God's literal Holy Hill of Zion. Allegorical interpretation says that there is no Millennial Reign of Christ, only a Vicar of Christ bringing in a Kingdom Age ruled from the seven hills of Rome. That's their interpretation. The literal rendering for the Second Coming of Christ entails a literal seven year period of tribulation with 7seals of preparation, 7trumpets of warnings, and finally 7vials of the wrath of God poured out on this world, before there is a great battle called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Allegorical interpretations started with philosophers of Alexandria Egypt, (where all modernist Bibles have their roots) say the tribulation period is already started and is somehow been ongoing for these past 1900 years? That's their interpretation. The literal rendering for the Second Coming of Christ entails Jesus coming FOR his saints, to resurrect them and meet them in the air, where they are 'caught up together' out of this world “for God hath not appointed us to wrath,” AND His coming WITH his saints to a battle called Armageddon after that wrath is poured out. Allegorical interpreters say that is a new teaching and their Church Fathers from Alexandria never believed such a thing. Well Dhaaa! Stay literal, reject the reformed false teachers.

Msg #1122 Memorials and Liberties

It is shocking that only 1 in 5 (20%) of Americans know what Memorial Day is for. Fewer know that a constitutional right differs from an unalienable right which men have died for. Trained K through twelve that they are a chance product of evolution with no Creator, they cannot comprehend a God given unalienable right. It is the God of the Bible quoted on the Liberty Bell. The god of Islam never says to “Proclaim Liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof.” Both Osoma and Obama valued an “Arab Spring” but neither valued the words of Woodrow Wilson who said “The history of Liberty is a history of limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it.” President Thomas Jefferson said “God who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that liberties are a gift from God?” An “Arab Spring” will bring an Israeli Fall except for the fact that the 2^nd coming of Jesus Christ has everything to do with the deliverance and restoration of God's chosen people, Israel, into God's promised land. The men who wrote “We hold these truths to be self evident” wrote it with their Bibles wide open, not banned form schools or hidden from government. Learned-Clergy banning Bibles brought about dark ages previously. Christians, if there are even 20% left in our society, are to be children of the light with Bibles readily available and aptly used to provide light to this world. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, ... rightly dividing the word of truth.” Be children of light in these dark times. Read your Bible out loud.

Msg #1123 We Are Grafted In

Samuel, the last named member in God's Hall of Fame of Faith, was grafted into the Levitical priesthood which had sunk to its lowest rung of moral depravity. The Bible says of this Ephrathite that he called upon the Lord, and he answered him. Have I? This grafted in non-Levitical prophet and priest “Did according to that which is in God's heart and in God's mind!” Do I? This grafted in non-Aaronic Aaronic priest was established in a sure house built by God. You see Eli, his predecessor, did not raise his children right! Do I? The Bible says of Samuel “He will walk before mine anointed forever and the old Levitical priests office shall crouch before him for a piece of silver and morsel of bread.” Indeed they still exalt Samuel as the true Prophet and Priest of God. Gentiles were grafted in when His chosen people, Israel, ebbed so low as to reject His Messiah! And God says of us “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” Do I? God goes on, “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.” In God's new covenant individuals are not 'called', Gentiles are the called; an important distinction for a Bible believer. We Gentiles are indeed “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Whosoevers become part of the elect through faith in Christ. Don't get all haughty. Samuel sure didn't.

Msg #1124 Baptist Are Not Reformers

When adversaries came to the children of the captivity rebuilding the temple they said unto them, “Let us build with you for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.” But the chief of the fathers of Israel said unto them “Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God.” Likewise when Sanballat sent to Nehemiah saying “Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” Nehemiah sent messages unto them “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” When the reformers approach with their reformed theology and say God choose who would be saved before the foundation of the world, remember they have no part with Baptist's preaching the Gospel. When they say those that did not get elect to go to heaven are destined to hell without hope and without God's mercy recall that they preach a different gospel than we do. Have nothing to do with them. When they refuse the millennial reign of Christ, denying the 1000 years of Revelation20, and the 7 year tribulation calling it all allegorical, they are false teachers. Don't go to the plain of Ono with them. Calvinist are indeed false teachers. No part of Calvinism fits with a Baptist Bible Believer, true Baptist have no part with John Calvin nor John Piper; we are not protestants nor reformed. As reformed theology re-conforms to 'Church Father' notions, Alexandrian Bibles and the Holy Catholic Church they move back to their mother, the mother of harlots. Don't be sucked in, they “have nothing to do with us, to build an house unto our God.”

Msg #1125 Especially Fathers

“I write unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. … I have written unto your fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.” When the Apostle John writes with the hand of God he records his purpose in writing; his Gospel so “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name”; This Epistle “that your joy may be full”; This chapter “these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.” Here, he writes especially to fathers, saved, born-again ones who have a Father's Only Begotten Son as their redeemer, have a reconciled relationship with their heavenly Father, and who have a rejuvenated knowledge of Him. To know God as our heavenly Father is to know what a genuine father is. And to be a father, albeit always lacking in the perfection that he has called us to, gives one an insight into our relationship with Him that no other person can fully attain. Here then is the insight that the Apostle calls out for fathers. Herein is the difference that makes a father's redeemed relationship differ from the child or the young man that is called out separately here by John. Fathers know the weight of responsibilities, the necessity of being wholly dependable, the awe of being esteemed by their children, the joy of being relied on, and the hurt of being rejected by your own creation. Fathers have the taste of a unique relationship that can focus a knowledge of our heavenly Father like no other experience. I write unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. You have got to love this author. I do.

Msg #1126 Church Membership

For a Baptist, Church membership is what makes us part of a local body of believers as depicted in Romans and 1Cor.12. Protestant denominations thinks one is added to a universal, catholic or invisible body of believers once called the Holy Catholic Church. Bad doctrine! And we know where it comes from. When we get saved we are made part of the family of God, and when we are baptized and added to a local Church we are made part of a body of believers. There we see the “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” of the great commission. When one relocates to another area membership is agreeably transferred to another body of believers of like faith and practice; however, never to a protestant denomination with their invisible or Catholic church body. To otherwise be remove from that body of believers is like severing ones limb or thumb; it is never taken lightly but can possibly be warranted. If the limb is gangrenous and will do harm to the body by remaining attached it can be severed. Such is a Church discipline as outlined in the letters to Corinth and in Matt 18. If a limb goes limp and refuses nourishment or function it withers away in time and becomes dysfunctional. Baptist Church roles are purged of dysfunctional members periodically and those purged are separated and treated as an unsaved one would be treated, with perpetual prayer and witnessing, but certainly with a broken fellowship. These are the three means of removing from a Baptist Church membership. I suppose that two bodies could agree on a bone marrow transplant, but even then the marrow does not voice its opinion. Be very careful with your Church membership, it is a very crucial part of your growth.

Msg #1126b Faith from Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew eloquently walks us through a treaties on faith which provides a 'faithometer' to measure our own. It begins with a rebuke “If God so clothe the grass of the field, ... shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” We can trust him for needs. Then when a Centurion's recognizes Christ's powerful authority Jesus said “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” In dire circumstances, Jesus present, the disciples are rebuked; “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” We can trust him for calm. To the friend born of four, “Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; … thy sins be forgiven thee.” When the women touched the hem of his garment “Jesus turned him about, and ... said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.” Likewise the blind men pursuing him, barged into the house, and “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.” To a disciple walking on water he said “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” We can trust Him when out on a limb. To the believing 'dogs' “Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Mistook teaching brings the rebuke,”O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?” ... “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ... nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Again “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ...”

Msg #1127 After 235 Years Can God Bless America

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Ps33:12) Whenever we hear “God bless America” we should consider that He has. This verse calls for a blessing on the nation that he hath chosen, Israel, of whom the Bible says “And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;... For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Deut4:37, 7:6) No matter what Catholic, Protestant or Reformed theology teaches, the Bible says over and over that God will never forsake the promises he made to the nation of Israel, He will restore them to Canaan land and rule and reign over all the nations of the world for a thousand years from the throne of David set up in Zion. But this verse also calls for a blessing on the nation whose God is the LORD. That was, once, the United States of America, and God has blessed America as he said he would. Will God bless America, or be as He was to Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. (Hosea5:12) At its destruction Sodom and Gomorrah had sunk into sin for 455 years; “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; ...” We have only been a nation 235 years, yet exalt sodomy with 'conservative?' republican legislation from Albany NY. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD! US?

Msg #1128 Judgment and Peace for Israel

God surely judges sin”And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” After the flood God required that man govern himself and curb his own sinful ways “At the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” But the sinfulness of man still went unchecked until “The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; ... Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven.” Four Hundred years later, after the iniquity of the Amorites was full, God brings Israel back into Canaan land “unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.” God wanted Israel to utterly destroy the sinful Canaanites and possess their whole land. Muslims and news anchors call then 'Palestinians' but they are Canaanites left in the Promised Land that God WILL give to Israel just like He promised. Obama calls Israel the 'occupiers' and wants them in archaic borders! When Jehovah God is pitted against our President how do you suppose that will end? Pray for the peace of Israel.

Msg #1129 Now What?

Some perspective can be added to America's plight by examining Scriptures. First a fictitious debt ceiling that must be breached so we can continue to 'give-give- and give' to our nonworking populous reminds me of Proverbs 30:15 “The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.” Once a democracy figures out it can vote itself higher entitlements 'the hand writing is on the wall.' America is becoming an eerie foreshadow of Revelation18 “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” The Muslim hordes sweeping into nations to practice 'freedom of religion' do not have a religion but a theo-political, legal, economic, militant, governing system charged to overthrow governments and control nations. While our president calls it a 'great religion distorted by some extremists' America will not even realize she is courting Babylon, “that great city which made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” So to America's god of pluralism unites with Roman Catholicism to teach our children that we evolved here from primitive life from a primeval sea and mystery Babylon presses on toward Revelation17. What is a Christian to do? March on Washington? Descend on Albany? Have a TEA party? No. A true Christian is to do just what they were commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to do. Although the philosophers of Alexandria tore it out of their debase manuscripts, used in all modernist Bibles, the 400 year old King James Bible still says in Mark 16 “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Msg #1130 The Broken Vineyard

The heart of God for a nation is poured out in the vineyard song found in Isaiah chapter5. I'll advise against trying to sing it but advise strongly that you prayerfully read it with the intent of seeing the very heart of Jehovah God. His love for a people, His care, His provision, His blessing on a nation is crowned with this observation; “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” This little vineyard song is directed at God's chosen nation Israel, but a shadow of the song is fulfilled in the USA today. Our trek into godless socialism is ending poorly. God HAS blessed America, cared for her, provided for her, ... what could He have done more? He says “And now go to: I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof. And it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned nor digged.” LORD, bring our politicians to confusion, … He HAS! LORD, rub our nose in our iniquity as we have snubbed our noses at your holy commandments. He IS! LORD, turn us back, … He CAN! When God's anger turned against His vineyard, He advised: “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” He still can.

Msg #1131 The Stretched Out Hand

Many things can be implied when a Father stretches out his hand to a child. All of them are aptly implied in God's warnings to Israel spoken through Isaiah His prophet. Chapter5 begins with God's Vineyard Song, goes on with Six Woes upon Israel's callous behavior, and then introduces the 'stretched out hand.' “Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” The first occurrence of a stretched out hand is when Abraham's only begotten son was being offered in sacrifice on Mount Calvary; the second when Israel stretched forth his hand to bless Ephraim his younger grandchild instead of Manasseh the elder; the third use of the stretched out hand was to redeem Israel from bondage in Egypt. Here in Isaiah's writings the Father's hand is stretched out in anger, but that little phrase “for all this … his had is stretched out still,” has greater implication than chastening or anger. Since the day that God stretched out his hand and offered His Only Begotten Son on Mount Calvary, He has had his hand stretched out in invitation that says “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Although man-made religions, with their good works and penance payments, strive to pay their own way, His had is stretched out still. Although America ignores Him as their Creator and Lawgiver, his hand is stretched out still. Heavy laden? His hand is stretched out still. Has been for these 1,978 years.

Msg #1132 The Messianic Prophecy

The Bible says “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high” and there is no greater introduced Bible chapter wherein we behold Him. For the believer, Isaiah 53 gives a most intimate portrayal of his Lord, Saviour and Christ as is to be found in Scriptures. It is an exercise with pronouns 'he, him and his' for Messiah, 'us, we and our,' for His creation. In its Christology we find the 'Servant', the 'root out of a dry ground,' the 'man of sorrows', and we find him despised and rejected with his visage so marred more than any man. We esteemed him not, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. This portrayal is rejected by orthodox Rabbi's because herein the Messiah “made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.” Written 700 years before Christ's death this supernatural prophecy tells not only of his death, but it tells why he died. “He was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised four our iniquity: the chastisement of our peace was upon him.” You cannot be saved without believing that he was the Christ. That is what Andrew and John believed when John the Baptist said “Behold the Lamb of God”; what Nicodemus got from “whosoever believeth in him should not perish”; what the woman at the well accepted; what the nobleman and his whole house believed, and the meaning of “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he.” Trust the verse that starts and ends in 'All'. “All we like sheep have gone astray … and the LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of US all.” Got Christ?

Msg #1133 Believing the Literal

There is coming a day when the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. The Revelation of Jesus Christ accompanies that day with no more pain, no more death and streets made of crystalline gold. The nations of the world, the economy of the new world order, and the Sodom-n-Gomorric attitude of humanity is currently lining up for the judgments and events that will precede that day. There are only a few walking a straight and narrow path to believe the infallible prophetic events that Jesus taught and believed. There is a wide and broad path filled with protestants, neo-evangelicals and mega-churches who would sooner believe the allegorizing of their 'Church Fathers' than the literal inerrant Words of the Heavenly Father. God's Word presents a pre-tribulation rapture of the saints in the twinkling of an eye, a seven year period of tribulation such as this world has never seen, seven vials of the wrath of God poured out on a rebellious humanity, and a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ sitting on a literal throne of David in the literal city of Jerusalem. There will be a judgment of the saints, of Israel, of Babylon, of the Beast and false prophet, of nations, and of Satan, all before the seventh and final judgment of the unsaved dead before the Great White Throne Don't be swept away by the teachings of the allegorizing mega majority. Before anyone steps on streets of pure gold there will be judgment and Jesus spells out the literal events. If your crowd rejects any of these I humbly suggest you move away and get on a straight and narrow rendering of Christ's Second Coming.

Msg #1134 Silver Linings

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Sometimes we Christians laboring in apostate, agnostic America grit our teeth, set our jaw, and determine to do what is right no matter what. We forget that “the law is not of faith,” and that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Some have set more standards than God has, and some have abandoned all standard and wondered off into the apostasy. I am reminded of Peter who once rebuked the Lord for teaching his pending death, and once he filled with self righteous zeal to say “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” See therein that our self determination and our zeal for the Lord will be worse than ineffectual and illicit the Lord's response, “Get thee behind me Satan.” In his denial Peter had minimized his potential to sin, misunderstood Jesus' call to prayer, and mingled with the wrong crowd. To often we ignore that written record and do the same with our determination and zeal. When our labor is fruitless, and the power of God to change lives around us seems vain I bolster up my zeal and determination to not grow weary in well doing; when I should bolster up my faith and determine to not fall asleep in the prayer garden. Things sure looked bleak on that threshold of victory. They always do. That is why we have profound sayings about 'silver linings.' When God seems miles away, when your labor is vain, when you're weary in well doing, in the dark of the midnight remember Gethsemane. “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. ... tarry ye here, and watch with me.” There is coming a silver lining.

Msg #1135 Belief Indeed

What you believe is cardinal to what you are. This world has hypocrites who say they are one thing but in their truth are quite another. A wide and broad path full of 'Christians' say they 'believe in' Jesus. Believe is used 289 times in the KJV Bible, only 15% of those are in the Old Testament, while 30% are in the Gospel of John alone. In the Old-Testament Israel was commanded “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Religions still strive “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” under OT aw. In our New-Testament John records “They said unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Recall that in John 3 Jesus said “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Believing in Jesus is believing that he is the promised redeemer of Gen 3, and the kinsman redeemer in Ruth; the promised seed of Gen 12 and the seed of a virgin womb in Isa 7; the Prophet in Deut 18; the Priest in Psalm 110, the King for the Throne of David in 1Chron 17; the Anointed, and only begotten Son, the King on God's Holy Hill of Zion in Psalm 2. Again John records, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Many are not disciples indeed. Where are you at in continuing in His Word? “Thou shalt meditate therein day and night.”

Msg #1136 Catholic is not Christian

Every true Bible believing born again Christian needs to fully understand what the Roman Catholic Church is and its gross seepage into all Protestant denominations. Satan's three pronged attack which was so effective in the Garden of Eden was immediately leveled against Christ's Churches. Alexandria Egypt, the city of scholars and philosophers, launched Satan's attack against the Gospel. The genius, scholar, philosopher, Clement of Alexandria cunningly intertwined Greek philosophy into the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. His equally genius student Origen of Alexandria, a Catholic Church Father, built a critical hexapla of Scripture for Satan's “yea hath God said?” attack against God's Word. Jerome translated his work into the Latin Vulgate which replaced all 'repentance' with 'penance', and all 'presbyters' with 'priests.' Satan perverts God's Gospel, and twists God's very words; now he needs a tyrannical sword in the hands of an apostate baby baptizing church in Rome. The scholarly genius of Saint Augustine and the 'conversion' of Constantine gives the Roman church the doctrine of the two swords and the audacious authority to demand conformity. History details that the perverted baby baptizing gospel of Alexandrian philosophy, the word-smithing Bible twisting of Alexandrian scholarship, and the authority mongering, allegorizing, church father, St. Augustine make up Satan's three pronged attack against Jesus Christ and his churches. Through all 1,500 years of Satan's success, however, there remained a tiny remnant faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e God can save anybody; faithful to the Bible of Jesus Christ, i.e. God's Word is infallible, inerrant and preserved forever; and faithful to the authority of Jesus Christ, accepting and following no other 'church father.' To what extent is your Church free from these three prongs of Satan's attack and attached to that tiny remnant of true believers? Makes you think.

Msg #1137 A 9/11 Remembrance

It is inconceivable by civil society and unreportable by a liberal media that Islamic Jihadists would hatch a plan to blow up the surviving mourners of the three thousand souls they executed ten years ago. It is still inconceivable and yet unexplained to the children marred by its memory that Islamic Jihadists crying “Allah is great” would fly four airplanes into those three thousand souls. On this tenth anniversary of that inauspicious horror we remember the innocence and heroism of those who were slaughtered on that day. It is distressing that our liberal press, pluralistic leanings, and political correctness forbid us from identifying those Allah worshiping Islamic Jihadists as Muslims because we must pretend that Islam is a peace loving religion like our leaders told us. Judaism worships Jehovah God of the Bible who said “The LORD your God is One God, and thou shalt have no other God's before me.” Allah is a false god like Baalim and Ashtaroth the gods of Syria or Dagon the god of the Philistines. Christianity worships Jehovah God's Only Begotten Son and Anointed One (Greek 'Christ') as their only God and Creator. For a Christian Allah is the diabolical opposer of Jesus Christ, the Way the Truth and the Life. Allah is a god of jihad and hate and butchery and we should gladly and quickly contrast him with our God who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. . On this ten year remembrance Muslims should be ashamed of their god and Christians should share their God's charge to “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, .... Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

Msg #1138 What's a Baptist?

Satan's three pronged attack against Christianity was not assuaged by the reformers who protested its Catholic presence. They discarded Catholic indulgences, penance and purgatory, but continued in the baby baptizing, sacramental attacks against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They discarded the Latin Vulgate but they continued the dilution of God's very Words with Alexandrian errors. They would not give up a 'clergy' using magistrates to kill, burn, or drown the dissenters who refused their doctrines or baptisms. An overlording clergy exerting authority over others was carried into every protestant denomination. I must haste to point out that Baptists, previously called Anabaptist, (and a lot of other things), are not Protestants nor are they a denomination. Baptists were the ones being killed, burned or drowned by Catholics and Protestant denominations. The Anabaptist re-batizers never accepted infant-baptism, Catholic authority or Catholic over lording of autonomous churches. They were called Donatists when Constantine ordered their execution, Paulicians and Waldenses when Roman Catholicism tried to annihilate them, and Anabaptist when Protestants (including John Calvin by the way) killed, burned or drowned them as heretics. Just because John Smyth, saved and baptized by immersion, declared as a pastor in the early sixteen hundreds that “a magistrate … is not to meddle with religion!”, he is not our founder, just an excellent representative. The Gospel preaching, 'Every Word of the Bible believing', believer baptizing, autonomous standing group of believers that came through the dark ages always standing against the Romans and their denominations have a perpetuity that takes us back to our founder the Lord Jesus Christ. We have no Church fathers, apostolic or otherwise, no creeds, no sacraments, and are not 'reformed' from anything. Narrow gate, and straight way, we are Baptist. If your not, take it off your Church sign and stop pretending.

Msg #1139 Where did the Baptists Go?

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” Those who believed all that the Scriptures taught and entered via that straight gate are traced across the face of Europe in a “Trail of Blood”. These never aligned with Rome and stayed separate from Protestants. They crossed the ocean to America with the old name Baptist because they believed what the Bible said about baptism and rejected what Catholics and Protestants taught about it. In America they left behind all the slanderous names applied to them in Europe and unified under the title of 'Baptist', never becoming a headquartered-organized denomination. They divided into Northern and Southern Baptists at the Civil War. The Northern Baptists following after liberalism were called American, those pandering to Protestantism, Regular Baptists. Regulars were eventually all entangled in Calvinism, modernist bibles riddled with errors (to be fixed with the Alexandrian versions), and the Reformed teachings of 'Church Fathers!' American Baptists, not believing the Bible, had a social gospel, and Regular Baptists, believing Calvin, had a wimpy gospel that was only for a predestined few! They all had 'errant bibles' needing the errors edited out by modernists, and Church Boards always controlling the body! It was Satan's three pronged attack all over again, now with a reformed protestant flavor. Southern Baptists took on the vices of the world, the denominational controls of association, and the reformed no 'pre-tribulation rapture' doctrines of Protestants! A true remnant needed to be independent of all of that and they are. Today know as the Independent Baptists who only preach from the unmodernized KJV Bible. Praise the Lord for that tiny remnant. Praise the Lord I am one of them.

Msg #1140 Prophecy is Literal

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. ... ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.” The confusion wrought by changing this Feast of Trumpets into Rosh Hashanah, making their 7^th month the Jewish new year, shouldn't prevent us from hearing the sound of that Trumpet. As plain as 1,2,3. Christ's first coming was a fulfillment of the 1) Passover, 2) Feast of Unleavened Bread, and 3) Firstfruits Offering, and His second coming is portrayed in the 1) Feast of Trumpets, 2) Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and 3) Feast of Tabernacles. The trinity in both of these holy days foreshadows the awesomeness of Christ's advents. A Bible believer that remains as ignorant as an unsaved Jew here is inexcusable. One who is tangled in allegorizing away the prophetic promises of God and Christ's literal return, to set on the literal Throne of David in the hills of Zion should bear more shame. Believe God first, and Clergy only as a last resort. Whether Roman, Catholic, Protestant, Reformed or Charasmatic, they have spiritualized away, the Millennial Reign of Christ, the literal seven year period of tribulation that Jesus affirmed in Matthew 24, and the rapture of the Church that He affirmed in 1Thessalonians 4. As surely as the fallen temple stones had a literal fulfillment, Christ coming FOR His saints in the clouds before He comes back WITH His saints at the Battle of Armageddon has a literal fulfillment. Rightly dividing the word of truth is always better done without Clergy that rely on their 'Church Fathers' rather than our Heavenly Father. Study.

Msg #1141 Apocalyptic Knot

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established... and it shall be exalted above the hills, and many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Catholic and Reformed Theologians allegorize away God's promises and call them apocalyptic fiction. They are a-millennial, post millennial, and wrong. This promise, recorded in Micah is typical of prophets foretelling a kingdom age where God's Only Begotten Son will rule the world from His Holy Hill of Zion. (Psalm2) In the Revelation of Jesus Christ each Church's message concludes with “he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.” Those with no ears call this 'Apocalyptic Literature' which needs to be allegorized until there is no literal 1000 year reign of Christ. Here, 'believing is seeing' as Jesus said when teaching the crowds in parables. When you allegorize out the words of this prophecy you loose the blessing promised to those who keep them. Ears that hear know that the trumpet saying, “Come up hither” in Revelation4 is the same one that calls the saints to be 'caught up' in 1Thes 4. One not believing the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, has no ears and will disbelieve other things too. Study your inerrant, infallible, inspired Holy Bible like a workman, (with both ears), that needeth not be ashamed and never classify Holy Inspired Scripture as just apocalyptic fiction. The Lord is soon returning.

Msg #1142 The Wrath of God

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the best literature ever organized into a book, but to a believer it is God's communication to us of things which must shortly come to pass. The very heart of this communication it is a description of a tribulation period described by Jesus in Matthew24: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Catholics, Protestants and Reformed Theologians trivialize God's Word in pretending Jesus was not speaking of a literal tribulation, but the Revelation of Jesus Christ emphatically describes this seven year tribulation period in no uncertain terms. The things that must shortly come to pass begins with a seven sealed book. Only the lamb as it had been slain, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and root of David prevailed to open the book. Each seal prepares the way for the coming wrath of God. With four horses, martyred saints, earth quake, and then silence in heaven. The 7^th seal introduces 7 trumpets that announce and give a taste of the coming wrath of God. They destroy 1/3 of the sea, 1/3 of the land, and 1/3 of mankind. Exactly halfway through the book and the 7 years, at the sounding of the last trumpet, Satan is cast down. In chapter 16 the 7 vials of the wrath of God begin to be poured out on this rebellious, fist shaking, creator denying world. Just before the final vial the world is gathered for the Battle of Armageddon. It is real. It is coming, and “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Got Life?

Msg #1143 Armageddon

“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” In the world that word is synonymous to their doom. In Catholic, Protestant and Reformed theology it is only an allegorical war where good conquers evil. But for a Bible believer Armageddon is the culmination of the 7 year tribulation and the gateway into the 1000 year Millennial Reign of Christ. The Bible says that Jesus comes back with his saints riding with him. The nations are all gathered to annihilate Israel and overrun Jerusalem and the foot of the King of kings and Lord of lords touches the Mount of Olives which divides making a great valley all the way to Meggido. There is such a slaughter of rebellious mankind that blood flows to the horse's bridle. This vengeance of God on the nations of the world is prophesied from Psalms 2 through all the prophets. “The Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle ... Thrust in thy sickle, and reap...for the harvest of the earth is ripe... for her grapes are fully ripe. ... and He thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. “He binds the great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. The Battle of Armageddon is not apocalyptic fiction, it's the embodiment of the 2^nd coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. “The souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held ... cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? ... Even so Come Lord Jesus.

Msg #1144 Even So Come Lord Jesus

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” (Isa) ... “Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. ... That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; ... Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: ... And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” (Joel) The prophets of old are clear and you should make sure what 'camp' you are in. USA put a socialist in the White House; NY put sodomy on the national agenda; and Travis Smiley led a Black Caucus through the doctrines of Karl Marx as Wall Street demonstrators adopt an anti-capitalist pro-communist agenda. You can imagine every nation pitted against God's Chosen Nation; promoting its annihilation. Don't wast time petitioning Albany, Washington, or the U.N., Christians need to petition the throne of Jehovah God; “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in in the night.” (Thes) “The LORD shall roar out of Zion and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” (Joel) Even so come Lord Jesus.

Msg #1145 40^th Anniversary Romance

“The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's” is a lover's favorite book of the Bible. The opening verse says “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.” For kissing, one is never to old or been married too long. Kiss goodnight. Kiss goodbye. Kiss often. “Draw me, we will run after thee.” Stay young, chase her around the house on occasion. “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest” Don't keep secrets from your spouse. He says “Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.” She responds “Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.” Couples should speak to each other romantically, tell what you like in intimacy, and express it with passion. She says “His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.” What do you smell like to your wife? Take a bath! Brush your teeth! The poem continues “O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.” Learn to talk and learn to listen. What attracts you to each other? Talk of when you met and why you married. A renowned line is “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” Have a banquet with your spouse, with the TV off! Go to dinner together. Sneak home and have lunch with her, or meet her somewhere for lunch. Keep romance in your marriage. Keep the Song of Solomon handy too.

Msg #1146 Thanksgiving Without the Camp

Christians should take full advantage of every November. “The fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Having a national day of Thanksgiving is surely temporary in a nation which no longer knows God , nor acknowledges Him as their Creator. While we have it true Christians need to go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach and offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually. The chapter 13 of Hebrews shows the bankruptcy of Religion and the requirement of true Christians to get out of camp and offer authentic Thanksgiving. “Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” “For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.” This going out of the camp to burn the sacrifice directly portrays our salvation in the priest's consecration of Exodus 29:14, and our sanctification via the trespass offering burned without the camp in Leviticus 4:12 & 21. Moses spake face to face with God, where? Without the camp in Exodus 33:7. And the burnt offering, representing the complete surrender of every fiber of ones being was burned 'without the camp.' in Leviticus 6:11. Lepers were healed 'without the camp' where they were cast. Blasphemers were stoned 'without the camp' and our Saviour, so charged but innocent, died for our us on Golgotha, outside the gate of Jerusalem. The Atonement Sacrifice was burned 'without the camp.' Christianity is a relationship NOT a religion, NOT a universal or catholic organization or one of its piecemeal denominations. A true believer should come out of those camps and give Thanksgiving this November. Once out, stay out. Get in an Independent, Fundamental Bible Believing Baptist Church.

Query to Msg #1146 How Far 'Without the Camp'

So only Independent, Fundamental, Bible Believing Baptist churches are the true messengers of the Gospel??? Kinda being exclusive don't you think?? If this is the case then the Fundamental Baptist church I am in is not and you should remove me from your mailing list.

Thank you for writing. Per your question I must first clarify that I don't think Independent, Fundamental Bible Believing Baptist Churches are the ONLY 'true messengers' , but they are the only ones that I can categorically endorse, and even that is tentative and riddled with exceptions. As to my suggesting that you leave your 'Fundamental Baptist' church, I would not categorically recommend it. As intended in this essay I strongly recommend all to get out of ANY Protestant 'Camp', Church or Denomination. Baptists are not Protestants. Be aware, however, that most Baptist Churches have compromised themselves back into Protestant's camps, via liberalism, denominational controls, or reformed theology. (Note that Reformed Theology is Protestants attempt to reform bad Catholic doctrine and get it to conform a little more closely to the modernist bible.) I don't know your particulars, but you have clarified that 'Fundamental Baptist' is not an IFBBBC, thus for a decision about staying or going you need to weigh your Churches particular shortfalls for yourself.

I can, however, state some particulars, based on my own experience in many a Baptist Church during my 23 year military career. If yours is in the American Baptist Association (denomination) that hob nobs in liberalism, and supports the efforts of the World Counsel of Churches, get out of the camp. If yours is in the Southern Baptist Association (denomination) that takes up 'Lotty Moon' offerings, embraces a-millennialism, has Church dances, and likes rock bands, get out of the camp. If yours is in the GARBC Association (almost a denomination) that loves Reformed Theology and hugs John Calvin, has a board of deacons in charge of anything, and thinks the modernist bibles are an improvement to the KJV, get out of the camp. Otherwise I expect 'Fundamental Baptist' is a good sound Fundamental Bible Believing Baptist Church like its name implies, and that it has not drifted back into the religious camp of the protestants.

As to your continuing to read my Penny Pulpits, each one has a 'stopsendingmethese' button somewhere near the bottom, clicking it will blacklist your email from my php distribution list, however you might read Psalm 119:165 before clicking it, and don't leave offended. Enclosed is a copy of a checklist that I made up years ago. Hope it is a help.

ARE YOU IN A BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCH?

You are NOT in a Bible Believing Church IF:
(Check off those that apply read the scriptures and give this to your preacher.)

___ 1 Your Preacher does not clearly regularly teach how to be Born Again! (John 3: 5-7,16-18, Titus 3:5-7, Rom 4:6-8, 10:9-13)
___ 2. Your Preacher is a woman of God and not a MAN of God. (I Tim 2:11-12; 3:1-7, Titus 1: 6-9; Titus 1:5- 2:15)
___ 3. Your Preacher is a Priest or teaches you to pray to Mary. (Matthew 23:9, 1Tim 2:5-6, Heb 7:23-28)
___ 4. Your Preacher or Church coddles to sodomites, lesbians or political correctness. Sodomy is blatant Godless immoral sin. Your Preacher should regularly call sodomy, adultery, fornication and murder SIN and an abomination against God like the Bible does. (Lev 18:22, 1Cor 6:9-10, 1Tim 1:9-10)
___ 5. Your Preacher or Church has sacraments teaching that you can work your way to heaven. (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 3:26-28, 4:5-8, 2Tim 1:9, Tit 3:5-7)
___ 6. Your Preacher or Church baptizes infants or thinks baptism provides some kind of sin washing mysticism. (John 3:16-18, Eph 2:8-9, Acts 2:41, Acts 8:36-37)
___ 7. Your Preacher or Church teaches there are many ways to get to heaven. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1Tim 2:5-6, John 3:16-18)
___ 8. Your Preacher or Church teaches no literal burning ETERNAL HELL. Jesus sure taught that there was! (Psalm 9:17, Matt 5:22, 10:28, 18:9, 23:33, Mark 9:43-48, Mark 3:29, Luke 16:19-31)
___ 9. Your Preacher or Church preaches from, or even likes the New International Version, a liberal copyright book that completely omits Matt 17:21, 18:11, 23:14, Mark 7:16, 9:44, 9:46, 11:26, 15:28, Luke 17:36, 23:17, John 5:4, Acts 8:37, 15:34 24:7, 28:29, Rom 16:24, IJn5:7, Mark 6:11b, Col 1:14b +64,000 other inspired words!! If your preacher has not warned you about this book, get a real Bible preacher. Infidel liberals love this book. Does your Preacher?

___ 10. Your Preacher thinks he is elected to go to heaven and you, or your loved ones or neighbors might not be. (John 3:16, 2Peter 3:9)

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything. I would sooner drive 50 miles to Church than to subject my family to the kind of error found in this checklist. For the sake of your own growth, for the sake of your family, for the sake of your community get into a Bible Believing Bible Preaching Church.

Printed and Distributed by Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Pastor Ed Rice,
54 Main Street Dresden NY 14441, www.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1147 The Thanksgiving Stairwell

There are seven steps that lead man down and away from God's presence. Consequently, these same seven steps lead us back into his presence. The question begs to be asked; Going up, or going down? None stand still on this stairway. The seven steps are outlined in Romans 1:21-23. The top step, the highest achievable by mere humanity is to 'know God.' The context of this Scripture justifies that every accountable human alive was at one point on this step and is therefore without excuse. This dissertation to Romans goes on to account that one can only get back to this step via a propitiation found in Jesus Christ alone. This top step captures every level of intimacy conceivable in the mind of mere man. Staying on this step is God's intent for his creatures. To know God, i.e. to know Christ, is our highest calling. Moses captures it in Exod 33:11, Paul in Phil 3:10. The second step “They glorified him not as God” is the departure from the top. Third step “neither were thankful.” Emphasis is on our Thanksgiving here. The steps go down rapidly “Became vain in their imagination;” “Their foolish heart was darkened;” “They became fools” and finally “They changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.” Bottom of the stairs finds a terrifying verse “Wherefore God also gave them up.” A truly saved, born again person came up and had an eternal light turned on on that third step up from the bottom. Because it is an 'eternal light' that they got in 'So Great Salvation' they can never stray away from God past the third step down from the top. Which step are you on? Which way are you going?

Msg #1148 Thanks for Mercy, Thanks for Grace

Rounding out a month that emphasizes Thanksgiving can best be done by offering up thanks and praise for God’s great mercy and grace. The born again Christian, by God’s mercy, will not face judgment. The little prophetical book of Zephaniah is replete with the promised judgment, but a whispered reprieve is found there: “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, who have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.” Thank you God that you have pointed me to this meek exit from judgment and I am no longer under condemnation. Three 5 and 9s in 1Thes., Rom., and Hebrews, state that a believer is not appointed unto wrath. The wrath of God will be poured out on this world and on every individual that does not believe, trust, and call on the name of His only begotten Son. Thank you Lord that I am now not appointed to wrath, I deserve it but your mercy endureth forever. Thanks that we are not getting what we deserve should be followed by thanks that we are getting what we do not deserve. John14 says “In My Father's house are many mansions; … I go to prepare a place for you.” Thank you Lord, for putting my name on a mansion in your presence, not just a room. Jesus goes on: “If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father.” Thank you God, that I have seen you, via your written word I saw you this morning. Chapter 15 goes on: “Henceforth I call you not servants,… but I have called you friends.” Thank you Lord that I can be your friend. Thank you Lord for your mercy and your grace to me.

Msg #1149 First Advent of Prophet Priest and King

Studying the advents of the Christ can cause one to stand in perfect awe of every word of the Scriptures. It is only wise to study every aspect of the second advent of Christ in October right after the Feast of Trumpets, and to study every aspect the first advent of Christ in December, leading up to the Christmas celebration. The latter is a study in Biblical history, the former in Biblical prophecy. Ergo sometimes the First Advent of Christ does not get all the deserved zeal. The Christ was promised as a (1)Redeemer, “And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”; as a (2) Prophet that must be heard, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; ... whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”; as an (3) Interceding Priest, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”; as a (4)King on the throne of David, “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever ... thy throne shall be established for ever.”; and as the (5) Only Begotten Son of God, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” The awe of the First Advent is that he fulfilled all of this, but was also “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: ... and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Response to Message #1149

I have been enjoying your Penny Pulpit articles. I was wondering if you have any information on the actual date of Christ's birth. I've read and heard a number of things from different aspects, but am searching for more evidence, especially internal Biblical evidence.

The course of Abia would seem to hold significance since that would help us date John the Baptist's birth, while John the Baptist's birth would help us to date the birth of Jesus. I gather that Abia's was the 8th course (I Chron. 24:10), but have questions about it from there.

Another thought involves working backward from the death of Christ at the Passover. If we can establish His age at the time of His death, then conceivably we can go backwards 9 months from the Passover date. So can we establish from the Scriptures that the Lord was indeed 33 1/2 at the time of His death as is often mentioned - or do we need His birth date to do that?! I know we have Him beginning to be about 30 in Luke 3:23.

OK I've said enough and been vague enough to give you an idea of some of the thoughts I'm processing without getting into all of it. If you have a chance and have any thoughts, I'd love to hear them. Thank you.

It is a joy to hear from you, we have been up to our neck in missionaries (smiling the whole time because 6 of them are our grandkids), but your question continues to intrigue me. I have heard something of the 8th course for Abia's service and found it to be an intriguing but naughty insight. Intriguing because it seems to promise solution, naughty because I am no longer certain that God wants the riddle solved. My hypothesis is that Christ was born at Passover time. Like all the other hypothesi it lacks Biblical evidence. Presently I'd sooner clearly word revealed truth about how his birth came to be than speculate about when his birth came to be. My small mind is consumed with the former and disillusioned with the latter. All that said, I would still be intrigued to analyze what you find in your pursuit, especially if it points my Passover hypothesis. There are riches in Scripture that our finite minds will only begin to comprehend down here. There is a pinhole of light beaming out of this course of Abia and if you have time to peer into that pinhole let me know what you see. I am presently consumed with defying Reformed Augustinian Theology and its creep into Baptist circles; its my master thesis due out by 1 Jan 2012.

Thank you for getting back to me. Sounds like you have no small task on your hands in finishing your thesis as well as church and other matters. I appreciate your response. I have not spent an inordinate amount of time digging into this either, and my groping mind seems to run smack dab into walls whenever I think I might be getting close. My leaning at this point would be around the feast of tabernacles toward the latter part of Sept. However at this point, I find no satisfactory confirmation from Abia or any other scripture. I have a little more to pursue on that end, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it. I'll be glad to try to let you know if I come up with anything that seems worthwhile. One intriguing thought about the feast of tabernacles (say Sept. 21st give or take), that could very well put Mary's conception on Dec. 25th! Nonetheless, I'm reminded of the little poem, "We dance around the ring and suppose; the secret sits in the middle and knows."

Msg #1150 ALL That The Prophets Spoke

Mary saw some things and pondered them in her heart. She saw her son called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins, and Emmanuel, which being interpreted is 'God with us.' She believed the messenger, Gabriel when he told her he would be great, and called the Son of the Highest. She believed the Lord God would give him the throne of David, and that he would reign over the house of Jacob forever. Mary believed what Gabriel said about her son, that there would be no end to his kingdom, and that he would be called the Son of God. What do you believe about Jesus? Texas Governor Rick Perry was afraid to publicly call Mitt Romney a member of a cult. A believer should not be afraid of truth. We sang the 'Crayon Box' in Sunday School and yellow is still for the Christian who's afraid to tell.” Mormonism is NOT Christian, it IS a cult of Christianity. Mormonism is cult because Joseph Smith, their charismatic founder, like Charles Taze Russel, the charismatic founder of the J.W.s, was guilty of Christ's reprimand “O fools and slow of heart to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken.” For the prophets told us clearly and emphatically of Mary's child; “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Every religion of man that denies the trinity of God and the Deity of Christ qualifies for Christ's rebuke, 'O fools' and for the description of 'cult.' So what do you believe about Christ? Don't be slow to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken.

Msg #1151 The Annunciation, The Son of God

The angel Gabriel's annunciation to Mary contains tremendous insight for those who believe. “Hail thou that are highly favored.” Certainly you and mankind are highly favored by God, “For God SO loved the world!” But the once in eternity miracle about to unfold in Mary is what makes her the highly favored here. “The Lord is with thee.” Certainly the Lord has made promise to every believer, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”, but for Mary, in this instance, the Lord with her is essential. “Blessed art thou among women.” A phrase so mimicked by apostate Mary worshipers that it really needs to be more fully analyzed. To be 'blessed' is to be in a position where God does something for you that cannot be humanly accomplished. Without a divine, supernatural intervention there is no blessing. The response to a sneeze is of ten “Bless you!”, because your heart just now momentarily stopped and God allowed it to start again. The salutation “May the Lord bless you.”, is made as a request that the Lord do something for you that is otherwise humanly impossible. Mary was blessed among women, not because of her character, nor her attributes nor heritage, but because God was about to perform the once in eternity miracle whereby she would be the mother of His Only Begotten Son. This Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King, this Son of God would “be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Everything promised about the Messiah was being fulfilled and reiterated in this annunciation.

Msg #1152 Second Advent Joy to the World

Christmas is past. All the verses to “Joy to the World” have been sung. But the Earth did not receive her king; every heart did not prepare him room. For most Americans the afterglow of Christmas is a mounting credit card indebtedness. “And in despair I bowed my head; 'There is no peace on earth,' I said, 'For hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on Earth, good will to men.” For the Christian the afterglow of Christmas is the pending fulfillment of many of the carols we sing. The first advent of Christ is marvelously miraculous. The Infinite, Almighty God, taking on finite flesh, and being born among us as Redeeming Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King, the Only Begotten Son of God. Miraculous! But most of the Carols of Christmas were crafted by somewhat Reformed Catholics who considered no upcoming millennial reign of Christ. All we get is what we got, they thought. To the Bible believer there is yet a whole chapter to be fulfilled in Second Advent of Christ. “Till, ringing singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of Peace of Earth, good will to men.” The Second Advent of Christ, got all mucked up in Catholic Doctrine, it failure didn't get Reformed by the reformers, and is grossly misrepresented by the Adventists and the other cults. But when He comes back as King of kings, and Lord of lords, THEN “the Saviour reigns”; and THEN “He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove. The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of his love.” THEN we shall repeat this sounding Joy and sing Joy to the World with its full meaning. Merry Christmas, believer.