The Bible is accused of having many interpretations. When one studies it as a whole the private interpretations that make up a myriad of beliefs must boil down to only one truth. The truth about how one gets into the kingdom of God is found by searching the Scriptures, not the religions. In John 14:6 Jesus answered Thomas' question about knowing the way in this manner "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." That's pretty clear. To Nicodemus Jesus spoke plainly of a spiritual birth that was required. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) Nicodemus was confused about natural birth and spiritual birth so Jesus corrects him "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:5-7) The discussion about how to get into the kingdom of God and be saved from the consequence of our sin and the wrath of God will ultimately lean on the most famous rendering of John 3:16-18; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Jesus concludes this dissertation on entering the kingdom of God and gaining eternal life by saying "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." The Bible is clear about entering the kingdom of God and obtaining eternal life. Would that our religionists would be that clear. 410 Words For Thursday, August 4, 2005

Msg # 532 Eternal Life

Jesus concludes his dissertation on entering the kingdom of God and gaining eternal life in John chapter 3 by saying " 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. The Bible is clear about entering the kingdom of God and obtaining eternal life. He said, "Except a man be born again ..." he cannot enter; "Except ye be converted ..." ye cannot enter; "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Many call it "God's Simple Plan of Salvation." But many more muck it up with required baptisms, communions, sacraments, mortal sins, venial sins, intervening priests, offering plates and penance. In religion, the one who behaves best or sins the less gets 'in'. In religion being sincere and holding the faith counts for points at the pearly gates. But the Bible does not teach this. The Bible keeps it very simple "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1John 5:12-13) Are you a member of the kingdom of God? Jesus said "Except ye be converted ... ye cannot enter the kingdom of God. ... Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." The Word is purposely clear on this subject. There are only saved people, and unsaved people. Religions like to bathe in a sea of gray but the Bible truth here is as plain as black and white. You got salvation, and you know it, or you don't and you need it. It is easy to get because 'whosoever will' can get it. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Rom 10:13).

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
321 Words Thursday, August 11, 2005

Msg # 533 Back in School

We all love the excitement of getting school started again. With 12 years of a child's schooling New York is now sending out their fourth generation of children not trained in the Proverbs. Proverbs 22:6 that says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." is now part of a banned book in our public education. In 1963 Murray v. Curlett mixed up separation of Church and State with a foolish notion of separation of Bible and Schooling. The best literature in the world is found in the 66 books of the Bible, and it says "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." (Deut 6:6-9) Despite OHare's wicked & deceitful victory over our courts, Mr. Oliver opened my every 6th grade class by reading from Proverbs. In Gang Mills Elementary he read me "1. Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. 2. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. 3. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 4. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." from Proverbs 12. Church and State never came up in his reading. In our misguided social experiment four generations without training in the Wisdom Literature has not done us well. Proverbs 12:15 teaches us "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
350 Words for Thursday Aug 18, 2005

Msg # 534 Amazing Praising

It is amazing what praising will do. The last seven Psalms I call the dense pack of praise. "I will bless thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever." They begin their saga of praise in Psalm 145:1. I found them as a cure to clinical depression. So did David who wrote "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 42:11) Keeping our hope, our praise and our thankfulness center on the Lord God can be "health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." In Romans 1 we find seven steps in the pathway man took in departing from God. Note the second step in verse 21. "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God (downward step 1) neither were they thankful; (downward step 2)" They were not thankful. A Christian is commanded, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1Th 5:18) That's a pretty tall order that goes against our nature. That great saga continues " Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." (Psalm 145:2-3) In the morning stand and read the last seven Psalms aloud. It is a cure to clinical depression and you will find it is amazing what praising will do. It says in Prov 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Take it like a prescription, once every morning. It is not surprising that David's son, Solomon gives us this wisdom, "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." (Prov 4:20-22)

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
345 Words for Thursday Aug 25, 2005

Msg # 535 Separating Baptist

The Bible instructs Christians to "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1John 2:15) "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," (2Cor 6:17)
Independent Baptists separated from the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1950's under great fundamentalist leaders like Dr. John R. Rice, Dr. Lee Roberson and Dr. Jack Hyles. Taking a stand on the accuracy of the Bible and the separation from the world's dance, music and ways, they flourished and grew in this nations Bible belt. Good Samaritan was started in a garage in Dundee in 1991 by Pastor Rarrick, a graduate of Tennessee Temple Bible College. The Church bought the Old School House in Dresden in 1992 and has been there preaching the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the accuracy of His book to this day. In a day when modernist clergy are wrestling about what parts of the Bible they want to believe, and what parts they think are not really meant for our 'highly evolved society', Independent Baptist broadcast Psalms 12:6 "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." and preach the whole counsel of God as truth and applicable for all generations, just as God said it would be. The Indep. Baptist's refuse to use the modernist's bibles and take an undaunted stand on the accuracy and completeness of the King James English translation of the Holy Bible, differing them from the fundamental Regular Baptist firmly established in our state. Indep. Baptists have been planting Churches throughout New York State, and currently have over 200 Churches in fellowship here.
If a Church is going to believe the Bible they should believe the whole thing and not throw out the parts they don't like.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
373 Words for Thursday Sep 1, 2005

Msg # 536 Blessed 'R's

for Thursday Sep 8, 2005
Jesus began the greatest sermon ever delivered with the line "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:3) and therein began the requirements for our entry into the kingdom of heaven. In the introduction to this recipe for entry he gives 9 'Blessed R's.' Five deal with our entry attitude, two with what he makes us, and two with what the rest of the world makes of us when we are members of His kingdom. "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.' Until our spirit is broken and we can mourn for our sin and our lost condition, we will not find entry into His kingdom. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." All of his requirements go against our nature because it is our nature that keeps us out of his kingdom. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Man, by nature is in pursuit of selfish pleasure not in pursuit of His righteousness. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." In a model prayer in this message Jesus said "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." And concluded if we won't forgive, God will not forgive us. All these 'Blessed R's deal with our attitude before entry into His kingdom. The 6th is what Christ must do for us before we get in "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Jesus said "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." His requirement is "Except ye be converted ... ye cannot enter the Kingdom of God." In this greatest sermon ever delivered he says "That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:20) There is only one way to gain entry into the kingdom of heaven. It is His righteousness. Not our baptisms or memberships or deeds or creeds "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" (John 3:36).
Pastor Ed Rice Good Sam Baptist Church, 424 Words for Thursday Sep 8, 2005

Msg # 537 Being Perfect

"...Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:20) The scribes and Pharisees had a system of religion all worked out. It included keeping the law, ceremonial cleansings and even baptism. Jesus was not pleased with their religion and assured them that it would not get them into His kingdom. Our religions won't do it either. Six times Jesus hyper extends the law and the religious observances of the Pharisees with the phrase "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time ..... But I say unto you..." (Matt 5:21,27,31,33,38,43) He concludes with "Be ye therefore perfect , even as your father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt 5:48) Clearly in this text there is no works, no law keeping, no cleansings and no water baptisms that can get you that perfect. The clear teaching from the Bible is that only the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can wash away our sins. There is no physical holy water nor wafer that can regenerate and make us perfect. Only the imputed righteousness of Lord Jesus Christ can save us from our sin. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Rom 10:13) In 251 AD Local New Testament Churches declared non fellowship with the apostate Churches that practiced baptismal regeneration. The apostate Church in Rome made a league with the government, recorded the first baptism of a infant in 370 AD, and then mandated baptism of everyone with the Roman Law. For 1800 years religion has been trying to baptize people into the kingdom of God with water. The Bible says you need a Spiritual New Birth for entry, not a water sprinkling. If you are trusting water to get you in you are not trusting the Son. There is no water in "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" (John 3:36). And there is no baptism in "This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that not the Son of God hath not life." (IJohn 5:11-12)

442 Words words for Thursday Sep 15, 2005
Published in Loving Memory of Dresden's Grandest Bible Student, Betty Smalley, gone home Jul 2005 www.gsbaptistchurch.com

Msg # 538 All Know God

The Bible says that all men know that there is a God. "1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." (Psalms 19:1-4) You have likely met those who say there is no God, or that say death ends it all. But the Bible still insists that all men know that there is a Creator. In fact Psalms 14 calls the deniers 'fools.' It says in Romans that mankind is without excuse when it comes to knowing God. It says in John that the Light (the Lord Jesus Christ) lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Those that want to deny the existence of God want his name and reference blotted out of every area of the public. Whether it be the 10 commandments in our courts or the prayer in our schools their efforts are making Christians an untolerated minority. The godless evolutionary theories that glut our airwaves and schools scoff and deny the existence of our Creator. God is not threatened by this growing majority. Jesus said "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: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt 7:13-14) The Bible is pretty clear when it says "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." We know there is a God. We should put in the effort to pursue His straight gate and narrow way. This is where we find light and life. Our God reveals himself in His word the Holy Bible.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
350 Words for Thursday Sep 22, 2005

Msg # 539 The Majority is Wrong

In his sermon on the mount Jesus said "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: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt 7:13-14) He made it clear herein that the majority is not right when it comes to salvation. The theme of this sermon is not 'just try harder' as is taught by the majority who quote the 'golden rule' found just prior in verse 12. Jesus Christ is the only one born of woman who could ever fulfill the sermon on the mount. You would have to be perfect to keep these precepts. The majority of those who try are not on the 'straight and narrow' and get labeled 'thou hypocrite.' Christ's message here was not 'try harder' but 'Christ IN you, the hope of glory." Without Christ in you, i.e. born into you as he teaches throughout the New Testament, we will end in destruction. In closing this sermon on the mount Jesus says "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt 7:21-23) In the land of majority rule that we are becoming (the USA was founded as a Republic, not a Democracy!) it is hard for us to say out loud that the majority are wrong and not 'wise men that buildeth his house upon a rock' (Matt 7:24-27) Indeed the majority are on a way that leadeth to destruction. If Jesus is the WAY and the TRUTH, as he taught he was, one should invite him into his soul and get on his straight and narrow path.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
412 Words for Thursday Sep 29, 2005

Msg # 540 Jesus Is Coming Again

Jesus said to his disciples ".. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3) The second coming of Christ is called that because on his first coming he was rejected, scourged and crucified. Crucified between two thieves on a cross of redemption. 'As many as receive him. (John 1:12)." he calls saints, and the Bible says he is coming back FOR his saints. The Bible also says he is coming back WITH his saints to a battle called Armageddon. Thus the second coming of Christ is in two phases. Those who believe the Bible literally, understand that Jesus will first come as a thief in the night to meet his saints in the air and take them out of here. The Bible states that "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11) Clearly there is no horses or battle garment in this coming FOR his saints. Paul clarified this confusion about Christ's first coming FOR his saints then his coming WITH his saints when he wrote to the Church at Thessalonica. There he says " For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1Thes 4:16-17) Be ready when the Lord comes FOR his saints, else you will see him come WITH his saints at Armageddon.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
409 Words for Thursday Oct 6, 2005

Msg # 541 Coming Judgment

The Bible says the God who "so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3) will send his son to judge this world. (Rev 19:11) If the Bible is true the decadent and deceived kings of the world "will gather to the battle of that great day of God Almighty" in a "place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Rev16:16) Herein man is to be judged, not for their decadent immorality, but for their disposition for iniquity. Man is disposed to evil, rebellion, and self right. Disposed to 'my rights', 'my way', 'my life' and not to God's way. Whether it be our decorous morality or our decadent immorality our disposition of self rule will be judged, and it will be defeated in that day. Today we debate whether man is evil because of nurture or nature. In actuality a father's nurturing was supposed to curb our nature. The Bible says that Adam's fall into sin gave all of mankind a disposition toward self rule, rebellion and selfishness. Christians hold these truths to be self evident. God's judgment is coming to nations and to individuals. The Bible says "And as it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment." (Heb 9:27) But a Christian is one who is saved from that judgment, one who has had his disposition changed and received the disposition of Christ born into him. For a Christian there is no pending judgment because the Lord Jesus Christ took our penalty. A Christian is 'born of God' (1John 3:9) and is saved from the penalty of sin, saved from the power of sin's disposition, and after Armageddon we will be saved from the very presence of sin. Are you a Christian? Are you saved? Are you born-again? These are good Bible questions because if it's real God will save you till your know it and change you till you show it.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
350 Words for Thursday Oct 13, 2005

Msg # 542 Study of Prophetic Truth

A history lesson on Alexander the Great and a reading of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar will do more for your understanding of the Bible book of Daniel than all of the modernist Bible translations combined. The dreams and visions of beasts that this book contain are not to be visualized but to be systematically interpreted into the fulfilled prophecy of the Greek then Roman world empires and the two remaining and upcoming world empires. These last two kingdoms are to belong to the Antichrist and then to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is to return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19) and soundly defeat this pseudo Christ's world control with only his trumpetic voice.

For 1463 years (AD 313 Constantine's union of Church and State, to 1776 America's separation of Church and State) the Roman Empire's Church maligned this prophetic declaration of Scripture and taught instead that they would usher in the kingdom age of their Christ without a battle called Armageddon. But the Lord Jesus Christ insisted that "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matt 5:18) For a Christian today there is intrigue and great comfort in the study of Biblical prophecy. The prophecy of Daniel fits into the Revelation of Jesus Christ like a glove. Together they reveal the promised future wherein Christ removes his true saints from this world, allows an Antichrist's empire to rise and rot, then returns with his saints, crushes his enemies and reigns supreme for 1000 years, before bringing in a new heaven and new earth. What an awesome drama. For a Bible believing Christian an awesome future.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
348 Words for Thursday Oct 20, 2005

Msg # 543 Three Coming World Wars

Bible Prophecy describes three more world wars that will be accomplished to bring peace to the middle east. Ezekiel 38, Daniel 11, and Revelation 6 all describe WWIII. The false Christ that rides his white horse into world control in Revelation 6:2 looses the peace in the middle east to the red horse rider with a great sword in verse 4. WWIV would then be called the Battle of Armageddon wherein all the nations of the earth are gathered behind the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet of Rev 16:13-16. They march on Jerusalem to destroy Israel who gave this world the word of God and the Messiah of God. (Rev 12:17) The Lord Jesus Christ then rides in with his saints and makes the armies of this world 'lick the dust.' (Psalm 2, 7:9, Rev 19) WWV is very short, is described in Rev 20:7-9 and brings in the permanent peace in the middle east and in all eternity. <>Christians can believe Psalm 2 and know that there is coming a lasting peace to the middle east. It's coming only when the land owner, Jehovah God, steps in and with a strong arm settles the life long struggle between Arab and Jew, between Muslim and Christian, between this rebellious world and its Creator.

<> The ACLU is striving to kick God and His Word out of every visage of our society, but Christians have two solid promises from God; "I will never leave thee" and "I will come again." With perpetual wars in the middle east, active hatred for God's chosen people, Israel; with America's public rejection of God and the expulsion of His Commandments from school and courtroom, people still ask why there are so many calamities happening today. If the Bible is true, as Christians believe it is, then this earth is not evolving, it is devolving; Not improving but waxing worse and worse. One should better ask why God withholds and protects us from the so many calamities that are overdue our decaying morality and planet. Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY

Msg # 544 Jots and Tittle Accuracy

Jesus said that he was come to fulfill the law and prophecy. (Matt 5:17) He declared the verbal accuracy of each by stating "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matt 5:18) Jots and tittles can be found in a good English Bible by looking at Psalms 119. For every letter of the Hebrew alphabet this Psalm has eight verses about the precious Word of God. Verses 73 through 80 all start with the 10th Hebrew letter 'YOD' and that smallest of all Hebrew letters is shown above verse 73. The single mark used to make this little letter is called a jot. The tittle is the tiny overhanging mark that distinguishes the 7th letter, 'ZAIN', above verse 49 from the 6th letter 'VAU' above verse 41. Jesus used a very precise illustration for the accuracy of His Bible. When reading about the accuracy and exactness of the Scriptures in Psalm 119, watch for the acrostic of Hebrew letters and watch how all 176 verses somehow reference the Words of our God.

After giving this lesson on the verbal accuracy of Scriptures Jesus assures us that at his second coming 'the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet' would one day 'stand in the holy place' in the city of Jerusalem. (Matt 24:15) At his second coming the world would be as it was when the world flood came for wickedness (Matt 24:38-39) and as it was when Sodom was destroyed for sodomy. (Luke 18:28-30)

God has given us a way of escape from this upcoming evil. Jesus also said he that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37) Anyone can come to him today. The Bible says "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." (John 3:36) It also warns us "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" (Heb 2:3) There is salvation available to all who would believe his word. Jesus said "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." (Mark 13:31)

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
451 Words for Thursday Nov 3, 2005

Msg # 545 God's Moral Love

John 3:16 is a nutshell verse that captures and contains the love of Jehovah God. This one verse engulfs the four major atonement analogies found throughout the Bible. Every cherished word rings with importance. Consider "For God so loved the world..." Herein is found the 'moral love' analogy of a required atonement. Despite the God rejecting tone and rhetoric of our current society, mankind is the precious creation of Jehovah God, and He loves his creation, despite the iniquity that mankind has turned to. No people illustrate the genuineness of this love more than the nation of Israel. Perhaps no book more aptly manifests God's moral love for his chosen people than the little book of Hosea. The first of the minor prophets in the Bible's Old Testament, Hosea demonstrates God's unmerited, absolute, complete and perfect 'tough love.' Hosea, it seems, had fallen in love with Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim but also the daughter of whoredom. God grants that Hosea should marry Gomer and "take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from Jehovah." (Hosea 1:2) Writing the "Word of the LORD", the prophet goes on for 12 chapters to describe in vivid detail the lewdness and adultery of the 12 tribes of Israel that rejected Jehovah God and turned to other gods. God prophecies and describes the chastisement that they must undergo until they reach a place where they say "Come, and let us return unto the LORD (Jehovah): for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up." (Hosea 6:1) The 39 books of the Old Testament portray a world that has fallen into iniquity and an assurance that Jehovah God their creator that loves them, will always restore them. "Come now and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18) "For God so loved the world..."; that he will save you from your sins if you will come to him; that he will heal our sin torn land, if we would come to Him; that he restored his chosen nation Israel, to their land of promise, despite their iniquity, and that he will wholly restore them again someday. Jesus said "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Come today, "For God so loved ..."

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
450 Words for Thursday Nov 10, 2005

Msg # 546 Home Sweet Home

What should make our marriages a taste of heaven here on this earth is portrayed extensively in the Bible. Believing what is portrayed can be pretty challenging in this day when our society and our churches are in blatant rebellion against the rules of the Bible. The apostle Paul is rejected by the modernists and post modernists because he is very blatant when it comes to spelling out the doctrines of God. He wrote 14 of the 27 books of the Bible's New Testament. In a letter to Corinth on this subject of husband and wife he writes "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." (I Cor. 11) Herein he quotes the creation account of man and woman even as the Lord Jesus Christ did. We have been cultured to rebel against this clear Bible truth that women are different than men, created different, created with a different purpose, created as a different emotional, physical and spiritual package. We rebel the more when the Bible calls the woman the weaker vessel, but it is bold on the subject just the same. A fine china glass is weaker than a coffee mug, but that don't upset the modernists as much as our subject. The church "rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." (Psalm 2) Until we recognize the truths of God's counsel about the role of the husband and the role of the wife our marriages will not be a taste of heaven here on this earth. The modernists churches waffling on the Scriptures, the doctrines of the faith and God's account of the creation have thrown our whole society into such instability that the dysfunctional home is the norm. Now they are even beginning to think that sodomy is a suitable foundation for marriage. Christians believing the Bible know the clear doctrine on the home is that the man is to be the head of the home and the wife subject to her own husband. As our society and our churches march away from the teachings of the Holy Bible, Jesus still says he can fix your home and make it functional. Even make it the taste of paradise he intended it to be. "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Psalm 2) He said "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11) Rest in our homes would be blessed.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
455 Words for Thursday Nov 17, 2005

Msg # 547 Thanks Giving

The Bible's first mention of thanksgiving is found in Leviticus 7:11 "And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD. 12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried." I always like to look at the Bibles first mention of a word as it is usually very insightful. There are 5 types of offerings presented in the Old Testament Scriptures and they are described in Lev. chapter 1 thru 5 as the burnt, meal, peace, sin and trespass offerings. Of the five the unobligated peace offering issues out of a heart filled with thanksgiving. In the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all 5 of these offerings for us. A Christian need not go to the temple to offer up this thanksgiving offering. Paul wrote "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1Cor 6:19-20) In Christ we are "Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. (2 Cor 9:11) Christ will cause your thanksgiving!
After describing the "ever watchful providence of Almighty God" Abraham Lincoln ascribed that "No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens ... to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens." I agree with them both. If your His temple, let's make our thanksgiving known to God.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
407 Words for Thursday Nov 24, 2005

Msg # 548 Black Friday Greed

Black Friday sounds sinister. Rather than connoting the ink color in a retailers account, it makes me think of what the Bible says about coveteousness. “Let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. For the wicked boasteth of his hearts desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhoreth.” (Psalm 10:2-3) If you watch a child you can see our natural nature for coveting. Our son could be playing contentedly with 3 toys but will get up, drop his toys, cross the room and take away the truck his little brother just picked up. We never taught him how to do that. Our nature is to want it all for ourselves. Our holidays say thanks giving and the birth of the world’s Messiah but our nature says gimme and selfish greed. Successful parenting squelches a lot of this selfishness. But successful parents are kind of rare these days. Praise the Lord when one becomes a born again Christian, a new nature is born into us, a nature of Christ’s selflessness. If your a Christian going through these holidays provides the excellent opportunity to show forth the love of Christ that is born into your life. Remember that they were first called ‘Christians’ in Antioch, because of their actions, not because of a membership in something. (Acts 11:26) While our society is going crazy over materialism and the newest greatest toys that they can’t really afford, be sure you, as a Christian, keep your head on straight, your selfish nature dead (Romans 6:6,12-13) and be selfless through this whole holiday season even as Christ was selfless. Things will never slow down unless you slow them down. Stop and look at your priorities this year. Don’t be something that “the LORD abhoreth” in our materialistic society. If you have never called upon Christ to save you and make you a “new creature” (II Cor 5:17) make that your priority as his birth is celebrated this year. If you are a born again Christian, make it a priority to tell someone else how they can have a new life in Christ. Untold millions are still untold, untold millions are outside the fold. Christmas is a lonely time for many, and an empty and hollow time for the selfish. As a Christian you can make a difference if you would be the selfless witness that Christ commanded you to be in Acts 1:8

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
455 Words for Thursday Dec 1, 2005

Msg # 549 The Virgin Birth of Christ

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:” is the New Testament's introduction to the account of the virgin birth of the Christ. Jesus being born of virgin Mary is incontestable for one who “calls on the name of the Lord” as required in Romans 10, or one who ”believes on the only begotten son” of John 3. You cannot call him Lord and liar. You cannot believe in him, and not believe him. The virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is a fundamental of the Christian faith. Genesis begins the saga of a Messiah born of the 'seed of woman.' (Gen 3:15) Romans corroborates the necessity as it delineates the mechanics of salvation saying “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ...Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” (Rom 5:12,18) Thus the virgin birth of the Christ is boldly declared in the Book. An American Baptist once told me it was only taught in 50% of the gospels and thus only 50% necessary for faith. I suggested to him that he drop the latter half of his designation, because Baptists are a people who historically have as their only creed the inspired words of God, and we believe every one of them. Believing in the virgin birth of the Messiah is an essential of the faith for one who would believe in him. The Apostle John wrote “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” If you believe in him (John 3), and if you call on him to save you (Rom 10), it is a small thing to believe the Gospel of Matthew's account that says he was born of a virgin, or the Gospel of Luke's account that dictates just how this came to be. This Christmas, as Christians celebrate the virgin birth of their Messiah, you might ask yourself “What do I believe about the Christ child born in Bethlehem?” If you come to him, believing, you get eternal life. Reject him as liar you get eternal death. “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.” (John 3:36) This Christmas, you could come to Jesus, believing, and become a 'born again' Christian.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
442 Words for Thursday Dec 8, 2005

Msg # 550 The First Noel

Noel means day of birth or birthday, but because of it's application to the Christ's birth the word has taken on a holy meaning. The old English carol “The First Noel” describes that event with repeated choral emphasis “Born is the King of Israel.” It describes the angels public announcement of the Messiah's noel to the lowly shepherds as documented in Luke 2:8-20. It describes the wise men following a star from the east as documented in Matthew 2:1-18 and the holy gifts they brought in worship of this newborn king. But the 6^th and last verse of this carol captures the grandest miracle of what's come to be called Christmas. It describes how today one and all, with one accord can sing praise to our heavenly Lord. It acknowledges what is documented in the 1^st chapter of the Gospel of John, that Jesus was God and created heaven and earth from nothing. Then it boldly proclaims “And with His blood mankind hath bought.” This last verse is left out of most renditions because it shows Jesus to be God and because of this brazen description of the purpose of Christ's sacrificial blood. But it is very accurate according to the Bible which states “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”(Heb 9:22) This Jesus who was born in Bethlehem was born as the Prophet of all prophets (Deut 18:15); as the Priest of all priests (Heb 10:11-12); as the King of all kings (I Tim 6:15); as the Lord of all lords (Rev 17:14, 19:16); as our Jehovah God, (i.e. the mighty God and the everlasting Father) in the flesh (Isa 9:6, John 1:1,14,18,14:7-11) but also and certainly as the Sacrificial Lamb of God (Isa 53:6-11, John1:29). God the Son was born in Bethlehem to shed his blood and die for the sins of mankind. Christians worship the Christ child as their Prophet, Priest, King, Lord, “The mighty God”, “The everlasting Father”, and Sacrificial Saviour of their soul. To do less is un-Christian. If you are a Christian you can sing the 6^th verse of “The First Noel” with a new reverence and boldness. If not, Jesus implores us to “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (Joh 5:39) This Christmas make Jesus of the first noel your God, your Lord and your Saviour. Be a Christian.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
433 Words for Thursday Dec 15, 2005

Msg # 551 Wise Men Worship

The Bible says that “there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” The timing of their arrival was doubtless prompted by the appearance of the star, but their quest for the Messiah of Israel was prompted by their studies of Scripture. In their home in the east, left over from the Babylonian captivity of Israel, they could read the Scriptures that told of the timing of the arrival of the Messiah in Daniel 9:25. The wise men thus came to worship the God who would be born to the Jews. They came knowing the Scripture “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.” (Isa 9:6) And they came worshiping with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gold is significant for the purity, perfection and royalty of the only begotten Son of God. In the Old Testament temple the entire holy-of-holies was plated in pure gold. The pure frankincense was a very costly ingredient of the confection of perfume they used in worship wherein God said “beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.” (Exod 30:36) Frankincense was burned with the sweet savor offering of Lev 2, and put onto the 12 cakes of showbread displayed on the pure gold table in the temple. Christ taught that he was our sacrifice and is the bread of life. The sweet smelling myrrh was used in the holy anointing oil wherein God said “And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, ... and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, ... And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.” The gifts and worship of the wise men are picturesque of Christian's worship of Christ as their God and Saviour. When one accepts Him as Lord, God “shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.” This Christmas, lets be Christian; let's be holy.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
455 Words for Thursday Dec 22, 2005

Msg # 552 The Name of Christ

Today there is not much meaning in a name, it being chosen largely because of sound and only slightly because of definition. In Hebrew a name was assigned by definition first and foremost, and for God names are a crucial communication device. Thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.(Matt 1:21) What a marvelous name. What a marvelous meaning. The fore runner of Jesus was John, later called John the Baptist. John means 'Jehovah has graced.' Yes he has. John the Baptist did his task of announcing that Jehovah has graced us with Immanuel which being interpreted is 'God with us' (Matt 1:23). It was told to Mary “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall 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 for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33) And 740 years before the birth of the Christ it was told to Isaiah the Prophet “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isa 7:14) The very Hebrew name 'Messiah', rendered in Greek 'Christos,' means the anointed one. In the 39 books of the Old Testament there are anointed prophets, anointed priests and anointed kings, but in the 39 usages of the Hebrew name Messiah there is only one that is to be Prophet, Priest, and King. In this latter day there are many who would set themselves up as prophet but Christians have one Prophet, he is the Lord; there are many who would set themselves up as priests but Christians have but one Priest, he is JESUS; there are many who would set themselves up as king of your life, but Christians have but one King, he is the Christ. “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa 9:6) There is much in a name. If we are using the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as in 'CHRISTian' we should not use it in vain. We should understand every implication of the name we bear, and so should others.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
409 Words for Thursday Dec 29, 2005

Msg # 5X2 The Feminization of America's Christianity

The Bible is very clear when it says “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (I Tim 2:12) The leadership positions in the Biblical Church are to be occupied by the males of our species. Paul goes on in this insistence with his reasoning. “For Adam, was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (I Tim 2:13-14) The importance of the order in creation, and the importance of who was deceived, and who sinned on purpose is sited to defend Paul's insistence that women “learn in silence with all subjection.” (vr. 11) The male being the leader and the female being in subjection indeed found it's beginning in the Genesis account of creation. Adam was made in charge of taking dominion of the earth, Eve was made as the appropriate helper (help meet) for Adam. And so it continues to this present hour. “For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” (I Cor 11:8-9) The woman is inequitably made different, made with a different purpose and role and made the weaker vessel. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” ( 1Pe 3:7) China is weaker than my coffee mug, and made for a different function. The women is an emotional package that is different than man and made for a different function. The function of submission and helper, not of leader and responsibility taker. Not to 'usurp authority over a man' is inequitably what the Bible establishes for the woman's role in life. So much more in the Bible believing Church. To 'usurp' is to seize another's place or authority wrongfully. And that is indeed directly from our fallen nature, and in a woman's fallen nature. The nature we are to slay daily would rather seize than submit. It is just a matter of which nature we are going to allow rule in our Churches. The womans nature that says “Any thing you can do I can do better.” or God's nature that says “let the woman learn in silence with all subjection” and to “not suffer a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (I Tim 2)

Man is not without dishonor in the feminization of America's Christianity. For God clearly establishes his responsibility to provide the leadership in the home and in the Church. His failure to do so in no way justifies the women's response which is to jump into the pant's and the pulpits. He will be accountable for allowing them to commit this sin. If it is your wife wearing the pants or jumping into the pulpits shame on you for not providing the leadership that God requires of you. If it is happening in your Church leadership, shame on the men who allow such an un-Biblical concession.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
543 Words for a Friend but unpublished

Msg # 5X1 The Authority of Baptists

The Authority of a Baptist is the WORD. “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God.” (John 1) “The WORDS of the Lord are pure WORDS;” (Psalm 12:6) The Authority of the Roman Catholic is a pope in Rome, he dictates the priests and the penance. The authority of an Episcopalian is an archbishop in Canterbury, he dictates their sacraments and their sprinklings. The authority of a Lutheran is the doctrines of Martin Luther, he dictates their principles and procedures. The authority of a Presbyterian is the doctrines of John Calvin he dictates their predestination and TULIPs. The authority of a Methodist is the Wesley brothers, they determine their methods and measures. The authority of the Congregationalists is their congregations and they follow their wants and wishes. The authority of the Mennonite is Menno Simmns born in 1496 and they follow his dictates to separate from magistrate and Roman state and follow the scriptures baptizing no infant. The authority of the Quakers is the inner light expounded by George Fox born 1624 and the inner voice dictates what all must do. The authority of the Pentecostals, Assemblies and Nazarenes springing from the 1900s is their experience of Pentecost and those experiential dictates of holiness, tongues and charisma must lead them by their feelings.

As the Christian denominations have their authorities so to do the Christian Cults. The authority of the JW's is Charles Taze Russell and 'Judge' Rutherford's corporation, they dictated the abandoning of the Christian Church with it's doctrine of the trinity and Jehovah's return to North Carolina in 1914, then 1921! The authority of the Mormon is a teenage 'prophet' from Palmyra NY, who dictates that God is flesh and blood and tangible like us, that we could be gods too, if we marry enough women, and that in these latter 200 years alone God is sending his apostles, prophets, visions and tongues to reveal new truths. The authority of the Seven Day Adventists is their prophetes Ellen G. White. She dictates that God enacted a phase change in 1844, eliminates worship of Jesus Christ on his resurrection day, the first day of the week, and does away with Jesus sitting on the throne of David at his advent The authority of the Unitarian is Theophilus Lindley of London in 1774 he dictated no trinity, no preexistent God the Son, and the return of the Christ to reward the worthy with immortality. Non Christians also have their authority. Notably the authority of the Muslim Islamic is their prophet Muhammad born in 570 AD and unifying Arabic peoples to worship Allah the moon god and authorizing them to kill the infidel Jews, their Abrahamic brothers. The authority of a Buddhist is the Tibetan priest who thinks he was once a cow and may soon be again.

The predominate ingredient to all the non Biblical authorities is that they are 'johnny come lately', and that they morph, they change, they modernize, they are on sifting sand. You will always find some modernist prophet, sage or pundit who qualifies “we don't believe that any more, today we believe that ...”

Staged and written 6000 years ago the Genesis account of mans creation and purpose, fall and redemption, beginning and ending is confederated into 65 other books written over 4000 years of time by over 40 authors, with over a thousand acknowledgments of “Thus saith the LORD.” It never contradicts nor modifies its theme or direction. The Holy Bible and it alone is unchanging and covers Where did I come from? Why am I here? and Where am I going? Jesus authenticated it, corroborate it, fulfilled it and completed it via his 12 apostles. That makes it a superior and end-all authority for the Christian. So what is your authority? Is it sifting sand? A Baptist has always had the Bible alone as his sole authority for all faith and practice. If I were not a Baptist, I would be A-Shamed. If your a Christian and your church is engulfing anything modernist, including a modernist Bible, women Pastors, or homosexuality as a non-sin, you should carefully re-examine your authority, check and see if you are on bedrock or sifting sand. Christian's can stand on bedrock and be unmovable, indeed we are charged by our Lord Jesus Christ to be so.

Jesus said that the Scriptures are to be our sole authority. A modernist says they were written for a different time and a different people, ... that we have evolved so much farther since Paul wrote about 'the husband of one wife', 'women not usurping authority', and 'effeminate men being an abomination to God.' Barbra Walters suggests that we should believe what a conglomeration of all belief systems hang out before us, choosing and picking the ideas that make us feel warm and fuzzy down inside. But the Bible says that we have our authority settled forever when we hide it's words in our heart. 'Christian' and 'Bible Believer' should still be synonyms despite what Barbra says, despite what Rome did and despite what modernists assuage. Baptists need to hold tenaciously to being 'people of the book;' holding it, and it alone as their only authority for faith and practice. The Bible says that such will always be the minority remnant, but you will have a strong foundation whose cornerstone is the Lord Jesus Christ. Be a Christian, read your Bible. Be a Baptist, believe it.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
911 Words for reproof yet unpublished

Msg # 5x3 Bah Humbug Baptists

At fifteen I came across a zealot's tract (not gospel) that said I was a heathen idolater for celebrating Christmas and having a Christmas tree. I looked up the referenced Scriptures in Jeremiah with diligence and found that the zealot had taken them all out of context and given them his own twist to call my celebration of my Lord's birth pagan. Since that time I have heard from lot's of zealots, but have discovered that lava lamps are not demonic, vulture's reproduction rates vary independent of Armageddon, Proctor and Gamble is not a demon owned company, and Amazing Grace is not a song with a wicked rock beat, no matter what the 'tract' says.

The Christmas one remains distinctive. In Baptist Churches I have witnessed families stand in stark rebellious silence during the singing of 'Silent Night' and 'Joy to the World' as they harkend to what the herald zealot sang. They cursed my families Christmas tree, shunned us for idolatry, and denied what was happening all around them and called giving gifts a pagan practice. As the whole world celebrated the birth of Jesus whom they called Lord and Christ, they carried on a campaign against it and called it pagan. How might they have better used it to tell someone of the virgin birth, the shepherds, the wise men, and the manger? Instead they told my boys that they were pagan idolaters and their kids, so much more spiritual than mine, where not allowed to play with mine around Christmas time.

When a culture is invaded with the truth of God's word and people get saved and Churches planted, every practice and celebration of that culture must be examined to determine if it violates Scripture. The practices which do must be abandoned, the ones that don't will be modified to insure the Lord gets praise from the practice. Thus the naked are covered and the polygamists are corrected, but the pagan practice not un-Biblical are not abandoned. Christmas is not un-Biblical no matter how pagan you think it may be. Celebrate the birth of Christ, discover why Luther cut down a Christmas tree. Explore the possibility that Christ may have been born on the longest night of the year, and make a big ado over what your neighbors are doing as they ignorantly celebrate YOUR Saviour's birth. Go Christmas caroling with someone who is attempting to reach his lost, Christmas celebrating, virgin birth ignorant relatives to the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't just call him a heathen idolater. His loved ones are celebrating his Saviour's birth. Don't tell him to set in the dark with no more Christmas tree and say humbug. Shame on Baptist who would listen to zealots and miss such opportunity to talk of Christ.

Pastor Ed Rice, Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY
460 Words for reproof on Christmas

Msg#601 For Week #1, Jan 05, 2006

A new year should be started with some self examination and character evaluation. We have three valuable tools for this task. The Psalmist says “Judge me, O LORD; For I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in they LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” (Psalm 26:1-2) He says “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”(Psalm 139:23-24) First, let Jehovah God of the Bible do a search of your soul. As your designer-creator He is most qualified. If you do not believe in God, Romans chapter 1 informs us that God does not believe in atheists and you are without excuse before him. And if you are breaking his 1^st commandment by having another god before you, whether it be the selfish god of materialism or the Arabic moon god, Allah; or if you are breaking his 2^nd commandment and bowing and praying before images, statues or idols as the pagan Romans did, then you can let the examination begin with His basic ten commandments. Communists and Americans have kicked those 10 out of their schools but you can still find them in Exodus 20 of a Holy Bible.

“O how love I thy law: it is my meditation all the day.”(Psalm 119:97) The Psalmist gives us our second tool of focusing on the Word of God as our authority and meditation. “Where with all shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed there to according to thy word…. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”(Psalm 119:9,11) All that makes us Christian is found in the book, the Holy Bible. Don’t trust someone else to read it for you, let God’s written testimonies “be thy delight and thy counselors. (vr 24)

A self conscious makes humans differ from all animals, and we use it as our 3^rd tool to do self examination. A noted Evangelist said a good test of your integrity and character can be had by setting yourself down and asking yourself, “What do I think about when I am not thinking? … What would I do if nobody would ever find out? … and What is it in life that makes me mad? “ What insightful questions about your integrity and character. Lets start this new year with some self examination. Let Jehovah God search your soul, let His word cleanse your life, and stop and ask yourself the hard questions of what you are made of. May God bless your honesty in this quest. May he give you a Happy New Year.

465 Words For Week #1, Jan 05, 2006

Msg#602 For Week #2, Jan 12, 2006

Starting a new year makes for a good time to review ones life's priorities. The Bible has many insights to such prioritizing. The book of Hebrews is written to the Hebrews to show that Jesus is better than what they had. There is no more need for a human priest, (Levitical or Roman). Christ is the only priest a Christian needs. In this awesome replacement of the old with the new there is ample encouragement to leave what is old and press on to the new. Chapter 4 begins an outline with 4 encouragements to 'Let us.' “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” The first priority of life should pertain to the soul. Jesus taught “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:26) Hebrews had already stated “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” (Heb 2:3) First look down the barrel of your mortality and ask where your soul will spend eternity. Contrary to popular modernist teaching, we are not all God's children. You are not God's child until you accept his Son. Accepting his son gives your soul eternal life. Prioritize for your soul.

“Let us labour therefore to enter into the rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (4:11) What do you labor for with your life? The religious leaders said to Jesus “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.” (John 6:28-29) Jesus gave no sacraments, no mortal or venial sin list, no work your way into heaven recipe; just believe in him. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. “ Let us labor on believing. I work a job, often two, but I labor on the word of God, I labor on my relationship with Him. Lastly we should prioritize being real not fake, not hypocrites. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” (4:14) Your soul, your labor, your profession, this year let's get them prioritized. If you do there is a forth 'Let us' in this chapter that gives us great power with God. May God be able to bless your priorities this year.

Msg#603 For Week #3, Jan 19, 2006

The Authority of a Baptist is the WORD. “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God.” (John 1) “The WORDS of the Lord are pure WORDS;” (Psalm 12:6) Any religion has at it's basis an authority. Religion is the entity in mankind that strives to answer the questions “Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? And How do I get there?” All religions have their root and authority. The Authority of the Roman Catholic is a pope in Rome, he dictates the celibate priests and the cost of penance. The authority of an Episcopalian is an archbishop in Canterbury, he dictates their sacraments and their sprinklings. The authority of a Lutheran is the doctrines of Martin Luther, he dictates their principles and procedures. The authority of a Presbyterian is the doctrines of John Calvin he dictates their predestination and TULIPs. The authority of a Methodist is the Wesley brothers, they determine their methods and measures.

Non Christian religions have their authorities as well. The authority of the JW's is Charles Taze Russell and 'Judge' Rutherford's corporation, they dictated the abandoning of the Christian doctrine of the trinity and said Jehovah would return in 1914, then 1921! The authority of the Mormon is a teenage 'prophet' from Palmyra NY, who dictates that God is flesh and blood and tangible like us and we could be gods too, if we marry enough women. The authority of the Muslim Islamic is their prophet Muhammad born in 570 AD and unifying Arabic peoples to worship Allah the moon god and authorizing them to kill the infidel Christians and annihilate the Jews.

Of coarse most religions will say they have evolved away from their authority and 'don't believe that anymore.' A fundamentalist is one who goes back to the fundamentals of their authority. A fundamentalist Muslim goes back to Muhammad's instruction to annihilate the Jews. A fundamentalist Methodist would call themselves Wesleyan Methodist, and a fundamental Christian would go back to his authority, the Holy Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ the righteous; all of them and only them. However modernist Christians and Muslims both put their faith in some cleric to determine what parts of their authority they should really trust. They rip out portions of their books and say 'that was then but this is now.' Who are you trusting as your authority? Baptists trust only the Holy Bible. (and not in Jerome's catholic Latin, nor an ecumenical international version!) We like it like that. He requires it.

Msg#604 For Week #4, Jan 26, 2006

The second epistle that the Apostle Paul wrote was one of great encouragement for new believers. Encouragement to pursue the right things with their new found life in Christ. Paul's first epistle went to Galatia as a powerful rebuke for compromising the gospel by faith with a strange salvation by works (or sacraments.) But here, in the book of I Thessalonians, Paul encourages and is encouraged by the use of the power of the gospel of Christ among them. This power demonstrated itself in two ways.(1:8-9) First, in the great changes that came into their lives, how they had left the gentile Roman idols to serve the living God. Second, they were now preaching this powerful life changing gospel to others. Paul says that they were 'elect' to do this work of preaching the gospel to others. They were elect to this work because they were saved believers. They were not elect for salvation so they could work; that is all backwards. They were elect to work because they were saved. Nowhere in the Bible is an individual elect to receive salvation despite Augustinian and John Calvin's doctrine. (Jews were, Gentiles were, but nowhere was an individual elect for salvation, don't mix the two.) But once you, as a 'whosoever will', call on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you (Rom 10:9-10), i.e. once you are saved from your sin debt (Rom 10:13), once you believe that Jesus was God in the flesh for you (John 3:16), now as one born again (John 3:3-7) and a recipient of eternal life (John 3:36) you are elect and commissioned to go out and tell someone else the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is to be your new pursuit in life. When the saints of Thessalonica undertook their pursuit they were jailed, beaten, and killed. In America (after 1791) all they can do by law is call you names like intolerant, narrow minded, and anti-pluralist. You are not really intolerant, just because you oppose something (i.e. immorality, idolatry or unbelief) you are intolerant when you prohibit something (i.e. Bible reading in School, prayer at a football game.) And you are not anti-pluralist until you forcibly prohibit another belief like Catholics and Protestants did, and Islamic Muslims and Atheistic Humanists do (i.e. by law prohibiting Bible and prayer, pledge and 10 commandments.) Consider too that Jesus was narrow minded and divisive. (Mat 7:13-14, Joh 14:6; Luk 12:51, Joh 7:43) Should his witnesses be less?

If the Bible is true, and you are a born again Christian you will realize the power of the gospel and pursue evangelism as much as the saints of Thessalonica did. Evangelism is converting others to Christ with persuasion not with a sword. May God bless you in your pursuits.

Msg#605 For Week #5, Feb 2, 2006

The Bible says “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.” Please don't be ignorant about the religion of atheism taught in your school district.

One could say, “I don't believe there is any gold in China.” And we would say they are entitled to their opinion and tolerate them. But when they start a movement and infiltrate some national teachers association and mandate that it be taught exclusively in all public schools, come on! When they insist that references of gold brought from China to America be removed from every text, pledge, and class and that teachers not be allowed to say 'gold' and 'China' in the same sentence one might see how ludicrous this is. Not the secular humanist; they can't see it at all. 'No gold in China' is a statement of faith until you have overturned every rock in China. Every rock to a considerable depth! Now if this country were founded on the gold that came from China, you might understand why those who know and love the heritage of this free country would be upset. If you found this movement using some of that gold to finance their faith based conjecture into the public square every one should get upset. The secular humanist has made a faith based conjecture that there is no god in the universe. Without turning over a single stone to substantiate this conjecture they have forced it into our public schooling and will not tolerate any other teaching. They have used the gold in the statement “Separation of Church and State” to cause a people, ignorant of it's meaning, to enforce their edict of separation of god and country and especially separation of Jehovah God and country. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of this Jehovah God (a by faith conjecture), is the sole founder of this thing called a Church (a by historical fact conjecture.) Its separation from state has to do with Baptists vs the Roman Empires Imperial Catholic Church and her daughters, not religion and not the public square. Do not ignorantly allow a religion of atheism make it mean separation of God and country. I have been told by the intolerably ignorant, that I could not take our Baptist Sunday School class into a village owned public square because of 'Separation of Church and State!' Atheistic Humanists are now using this faulty logic to force all public school teachers and staff to behave themselves as if they were atheistic in religion and thus prevent every other free exercise of religion in the public school. In the story line all it took was one child to stand and say “The Emperor has no clothes.” In America that child is mocked and scorned by NPR, hated by the NEA, sued by the ACLU and locked up by judicial decree. Could it be more obvious “The Emperor has no clothes!” and there could still be gold in China!

This is an excerpt from “Articles on Secular Humanism From a Baptist Preacher.” You should read the entire article at / humanism You may be blocked from this site on your schools computer because it contains information about God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ which is not allowed in your school because of 'Separation of Church and State.' Go figure. Go learn. Check out the Emperor. Do something.

Msg#606 For Week #6, 2006

February is for love. So is life, and like so many things in our universe love is three dimensional. Created in the image of God man is body, soul and spirit, God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and so too love, has it's three dimensions. The frigid winter months give way to longer days and glimmers of spring as Valentines day approaches and we consider something special for a 'significant other,' if you have heard that term. Imagine going through life without ever having significance or giving significance to someone else. Imagine if every relationship was only temporal and of short life expectancy. Love should show unselfish charity, demonstrate altruistic significance, and sustain unending security. We marry for love, significance and security; both to give and to receive all three, even 'till death do us part' security. All three of these have dimension in the physical, the emotional and the spiritual planes of our being. Jesus died on a cross on calvary to show his love, to provide your significance and to give you eternal security. The Bible says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) It is not coincidence that God uses his great love for us for the model for how husbands are supposed to love their wives. That perfect love could be such an unselfish love that one would give his very life for another. That perfect love could have such a depth as to give another's life all significance. That perfect love could be so binding as to give physical, emotional and spiritual security to another. His love for you is all of that, does all of that and can be all of that for you if you don't walk away, spurning His love. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:17-18) Two questions for you today, “What will you do with Jesus and His Love for you?” and “How does your love measure up to the model?” Don't spurn His love, and Happy Valentines.
402 Words For Week #6, Feb 5-11, 2006

Msg#607 For Week #7, Feb 12-18, 2006

If love is three dimensional encompassing charity, significance and security, and each dimension has the three human aspects of body (physical), soul (emotional) and spirit (spiritual) there would be 9 measurable attributes of God's love for you and of your love to your spouse. God's great love for us is best viewed through the lens of John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” All 9 attributes are therein visible. What lens would you use to examine the 9 attributes of love in your home this week?

With such a lens, and despite the extremities of the feminist movement, we would first observe that there is a difference between men and women. The Bible says God created them different, because he had different roles for each to fulfill (ref 1 Tim 2, 1 Cor 11). Men are found to have brains swollen toward the physical aspect of love, significance and security, while women have an enlarged heart for the emotional. If the Bible is true and Jesus didn't lie to us, there was a man, Adam, and a women, Eve, in this world before death and rebellion were present here. When they fell into disobedience death entered the world and a rebelliousness entered into human lives. We have been rebellious toward God and toward the roles that he made us for ever since.

When a preacher of the gospel says something Biblical like, 'Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church', or 'wives submit to your own husbands, reverence and obey them', this rebellion in mankind becomes quite visible and the refusal for the roles of men and women becomes quite evident. Overcoming this rebellion in our marriages and submitting to God's plan for our homes is very necessary for a successful happy marriage. A marriage should be a taste of God's paradise here on earth. How is yours? Does it have the measurable 9 attributes? Is there a spiritual plane to your home? Good Samaritan offers free Biblical counsel for your marriage. If you don't have a taste of paradise with your Valentine this year, find out how the Bible is your best counsel, and the Lord Jesus Christ is your best counselor. Dust off your Bible and give me a call, I promise it will help.

Msg#608 For Week #8, Feb 19-25, 2006

Todays pervasive ignorance toward the purpose of Old Testament Scriptures is most evident when we examine the 5 types of offerings. These offerings were made by law for 15 hundred years prior to Christ's offering of himself as our perfect offering. Modern Christians are now 2000 years removed from the practice of sacrificial slayings. Modernist Christians, as if they might be Christian at all without the blood, do not like to speak of the blood that Jesus shed as our offering. Leviticus 1 describes the burnt offering, 2 the meat or meal offering, 3 the peace offering, 4 the sin offering, and 5 the trespass offering. Differentiating the purpose and uses of these 5 can give a real Christian a more focused picture of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The ignorance is even more pervasive when we examine the laws of the Old Testament Scriptures. Despite the humanist's hatred for the top ten, a short reading of the Pentateuch reveals that there are a lot more than 10 commandments. These many laws have to do with keeping God's chosen nation, Israel, separate from the other nations, and pure from their sins for the 2000 years of their existence prior to their called purpose. That purpose is to bring into this world the pure and holy Messiah, Jesus Christ the righteous. Thus the laws are clear and the punishments meant to put sin away from this people. The severity of the laws and their punishments is scorned and mocked by Ted Kopple and other 'progressive thinkers' because it required adulterers and sodomites to be stoned to death. In America's mere 300 years of existence how far have we departed from God's commandments that were our founding? Israel was a chosen nation that would not be allowed to so stray from God's law. Should we then stone to death the adulterer today? A Christian knows what Jesus said about stoning the sinner, but also knows that the sin is no less a sin against God, and not easily dismissed. There will need to be 'wages' for sin.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23) Any sin can find forgiveness and cleansing in the offering made by Jesus Christ the righteous. “That is the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [or stoned!]... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom 10:8-13) Be saved from your sin. Call.

Msg#609 For Week #9, Feb 26-4th, 2006

The Bible says in John 13:33-35. “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” When Jesus told his disciples that they would be known for their love it was to apply as much today as then. There are many who, today, claim to be Christians, but exhibit none of the characteristics of Christ, especially lacking his supreme love for others. The 'Christians' who left charred bodies tied to stakes and came to this country killing the more were not Christians, but did mar the name, even to this day. So to the 'Christians' that go to our churches to fight and elbow their way to the top rung of things are not Christians, but do mar the name every Sunday. When you become a Christian, for real, you don't play around at an organization called Church, but a love of the brethren in Christ causes you to “forsake not the gathering of your selves together.” A born again Christian goes to Church on the first day of the week, the Lord's resurrection day, because of the new Love that is found in his life. That change causes them to love and gather with others who have had their lives changed by the Christ. If going to Church is a drudgery or unpleasant there could be one of three problems. First, perhaps you have not had your life changed by Christ; your not born again as He described it. Second, perhaps your holding onto some rebellious sin that has broken your fellowship with Christ, and thereby making fellowship with other believers uncomfortable for you. Thirdly, perhaps the church where you are trying to fellowship does not have a critical mass of true believers, it is kind of a civic club that does not preach or believe the Bible. Anyone of these discrepancies in your Sunday worship are easily remedied. You should re-read John 3 and Romans 10, examine your salvation need, and call on the Lord Jesus Christ to save your soul. If that has been experientially done, examine the sin that has broken your fellowship with your Lord, confess it, forsake it, and get down to the church house and let folks know you'll be back in fellowship. We have lots of christian club churches that don't even believe the Bible and have not preached it in decades. If you have been attending one of them, get into a church that teaches, preaches, and believes the whole counsel of God. It is easy to loose your first love in a shallow modernist country club church. It is that love that let's you, and all men know that you are His disciple. This aint a religion, it's a relationship.

Msg#610 For Week #10, Mar 5 -11, 2006

The most marvelous and most envied characteristic of being Christian is the knowing that you know. The apostle John said it best “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:13) What, an awful shame that some man made and so called Christian religions make it a cardinal sin to know that you have this eternal life and to know that your on your way to heaven. The Bible says “ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. “(1John 4:13) and “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: “ (Rom 8:16) We have already examined the new love that comes into a Christian and that is also clear evidence that we can know. “ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. “ We should state out loud here that a Rev Phelps who preaches hate from Westboro Baptist in Topeka is abiding in death no matter that his Church sign unfortunately says Baptist, and he is on the front page of the news. A Christian will have an abiding love because he has an abiding Christ. Again the Bible clarifies that this is something new for us when we receive Christ as our saviour. . “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. “ (2Cor 5:17) This great change brings a new 'love' and passes away the old 'hate.' It brings a new 'joy' and looses 'despair.' It brings 'peace' and eliminates 'trouble' and 'fear of evil.' It brings 'longsuffering', eliminates the 'short fuse.' It brings 'goodness' and eliminates 'rottenness.' Brings 'gentleness' and passes away 'gruffness.' Brings 'faith' and drives off 'doubt' and 'unbelief.' It brings 'meekness', eliminates the 'loud, prideful and brash'. Being in Christ, i.e. being a Christian, brings 'temperance,' the ability to tell your flesh and old nature no!, and it eliminates the 'short temper' and the out of control body and spirit. So, are you a Christian? Do you know that you know that you know? It is not a cardinal sin, it is a great comfort and peace in a world careening toward destruction. There are some things you just want to know for sure. The salvation of your soul is one of them. I am going to live forever. Are you? Would you like to? Call us to know more.

Msg#611 For Week #11, Mar 12 -18, 2006

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John begins his gospel with a clear statement of doctrine about who the Lord Jesus Christ was and concludes it with a clear statement about what you are to do with him. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” When it comes to clarity, there is no better book in the Bible. A Christian believes the Bible. If it says that “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”, and it says that Jesus Christ was the God who made all things, we believe it. To reject it is to be an unbeliever and thus not be a 'Christian.' Today we have to many that like the name but reject the Bible teachings of the Christ. Last month several 'scholars' from the 'Vatican city' rejected intelligent design and heralded evolution as their creator; out loud, in a news release! They reasoned that it was the only 'scientific' answer acceptable to the humanist's natural science. These 'Vatican scholars', thus, publicly denied the Gospel of Saint John to appease a bunch of humanists who believe in spontaneous generation of life from dirt! That is not Christian. A Christian believes Christ when he says he created all things; he created a garden of Eden, he created Adam and Eve; and male and female created he them. The Bible is not slack in this doctrine. If there was no fall of man in the garden that first brought death into this world, then there is no need of Christ, the redeemer of mankind. When the modernists are scratching things out of their bibles and the Vatican city is denying an intelligent designer, people under their brazen control need to re-examine what it means to be Christian. A Christian by definition is one who professes belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and follows His teachings with their life to become 'Christ-like.' Jesus Christ, our Lord and creator is a jealous God, I'd be careful calling him non-intelligent, or saying life first sprang out of the dirt of 'mother earth', no matter which way you wear your collar. The Bible says 'Choose you this day who you will serve', and “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”. Be a Christian, only believe.

Msg#612 For Week #12, Mar 19-25, 2006

“In (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1) A perfect prologue to a book would introduce every principle that is presented in the book. So to a perfect epilogue would conclude each. The Apostle John writes both for his Gospel. Opening with Jesus personified as 'the Word' and the creator, John illustrates Christ's presence in the world as a light in the darkness. There is no measure of darkness except we measure the absence of light. At night you cannot open your shade and flood your room with darkness. Darkness cannot flood a room, ... but light can. A small light in a dark world is visible for miles. These are features ascribed to the Lord Jesus Christ's presence in this world. He lives today in believers and such a presence floods my life each day. Yours? Such a presence changes the life of a believer. The light of Christ in our life enables us to do three things. To see into the dark and know what is there. To walk in the darkness and not stumble or fall. And to shine onto others and show them the Light of Life.

Some have said they can't understand the Bible, they can't understand their circumstance, or they cannot understand this world's mess today. The light shining on these enables us to see into darkness and know what is there. It don't take a modernist's version, a psychologist or political analyst; it takes the light of the world. The Bible says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Peter introduces his 2^nd epistle with 7 things to add to your faith followed by this marvelous truth: ”But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. ... (but) if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:“ (2Pet 1) The Light will keep you from stumbling in your Christian walk. Jesus said of His light that is now in a Christian, “Ye are the light of the world. ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.“ (Matt 5) And concerning the soon coming return of the Lord Jesus Christ it says: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. ... For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1Thes 5) It is good to have a light in these dark days. Come on out to Church and get one, or get your old dead batteries recharged.

Msg#613 For Week #13, Mar 26, 2006

Apostle John's perfect prologue introduces a perfect witness to the perfect Light with this sentence “There was a man sent from God whose name was John.” I said previous that a prologue introduces every principle to be addressed in a book. Here the witness of man is introduced and 2000 years after John the Baptist did his witness, Christians are still to “bear witness of that Light.” “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.” John's purpose, your purpose and my purpose as a believer is to be such a witness. The Roman religion made an artificial separation between 'clergy' and 'laity.' Such a status of 'clergy' is not Christian, i.e. it is found nowhere in the New Testament Scriptures. But Protestants wear priestly garb, backwards collars and pretend to be your intercessor just like a catholic priest! That is not Christian or Christlike. In fact God hates it. (Rev 2:2,6,15) ... No, there is no 'clergy' to witness and 'laity' to pew-set, we, as believers, are all called to 'bear witness of the Light.” The Apostle records of John the Baptist, “He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.” John was the best Baptist preacher in the world, and he said,”He must increase, but I must decrease.” A year before going to jail for lying a TV evangelist said “I am more important than just being a sinner saved by grace.” Pride came before his fall. Christians don't exalt themselves, toot their own horn, demand their rights, or become 'clergy' to rule over 'laity.' No, all Christians are to witness of the light that changed their life and say with John the Baptist, “I am not worthy to loose his shoe latch” and “He must increase and I must decrease.” Are you a Christian? There is a witness given “that all men through him might believe.” If you do not believe, you need someone that will bear witness of the Light. You need to put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If your a Christian your commissioned to be a witness to the lost unbeliever; to exalt and talk about the Christ that saved your soul. John the Baptist was sent (commissioned) from God to be a witness that all men through him might believe. The world won't like it, they killed John the Baptists. Be a witness just the same.

Msg#614 For Week #14, Apr 2 , 2006

The Apostle John wrote in the Gospel according to John about the WORD that came into the world that He had created and an enlightening and disturbing revelation is made in the prologue. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” It is enlightening because it reveals that every human is enlightened about the Only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ being the God and creator. It is disturbing because it reveals the worlds rejection of Him as their Lord. I have read much of the debate about Intelligent Design needing to be taught in our science classes. The humanist's atheist religion that has now barred itself into our schools and is holding our children hostage is not just pitted against enlightened scientists, it is pitted against John 1:9. They pretend there is no creator. They insist that our science teachers pretend the same. They forbid that thinking students say out loud that they are marvelously designed, but the Bible says that they know in their heart. Clinging to ludicrous big bangs, spontanious generation of life from a rock hit by lightning, and a natural evolution of an orangutan from a banana seed is not even natural, but it accomplishes their priority of denying the supernatural. After three generations of such foolishness crammed into the school curriculum they have convinced the world that evolution is scientific. Not me. Any Christian who sends his kids to the government schools teaching that there is no creator will loose the heart of his child to the atheists. Three generations now taught in school to reject the Bible and its Messiah. Those atheists holding our children hostage in the science classes have been very effective. When will the tyranny end? Inteligent Design might kick out a leg or two and has my vote, but the Bible still says “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” ... “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” What a sad commentary. I wonder if you comprehend the Light that shined into this world. I wonder if your children will. There are always a few, but very few.(Matt 7:13-14)

Msg#615 For Week #15, Apr 09, 2006

Despite their name Baptists talk much about receiving Christ as your saviour and little about baptism. When asked “Are you saved?” many report when and where they were baptized. The Roman Church, who used to call us 'ana-baptists', taught that you get into their Church and thus into heaven by being baptized, even if you were infant. In the Bible salvation and baptism are two distinct entities. The Apostle John wrote of Christ in the prologue of his gospel “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” All one has to do to become a son of God is believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are counting on water of baptism to wash away your sin, it won't. If you have been told that your infant baptism washed away original sin, it's not found in the Bible. Baptism is something done after receipt of eternal life, as a testimony that you are a saved believer, it will not get you in, nor wash away a sin.

Now look at John's examination of this belief in Christ which makes one born again. “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” We are born again by God not by water or any other physical works, flesh or blood, but by God alone. It is not even because we will it, it is because He wills it. When He came unto his own, it is not just talking about his coming to the Jews; the emphasis here is that He came into his own creation, and mankind received him not. Such rejection is amply illustrated when a local Head Start program refused me the privilege to sing “Jesus Loves Me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Jesus Christ the righteous creator of this world is rejected by our atheistic government schooling system. He is rejected by the masses. He is rejected by the majority and by the religionists. 'But' is an interesting conjunction in the Bible. One preacher said we should get our 'buts' out of the Bible, (now don't read that wrong). This one says that you could be different from the world, you could receive Him and be born into His kingdom. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Won't you receive him? Three generations of our school children have been taught to reject him, i.e. K-12 (now even Head Start- 12) If you will receive him you will buck the whole world, ... but save your own soul. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:” (The Apostle John's Gospel 3:36)

Msg#616 For Week #16, Apr 16 , 2006

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. “ (John 21) The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the culminating proof that all that he said and taught about himself is true. He was the only begotten son of God. He did come as the lamb that takes away the sin of the world. He did completely pay for the sin debt of man and rose victorious over death, i.e. the penalty for your sin. Now he declares that if you believe that, if you believe in him, you can call on him and make him your saviour, today. If you will not believe you stand in condemnation for your sin. (John 3:18) Christianity, yea, Salvation, is not as complicated as Churches have tried to make it with mortal and venial sins; penance and purgatories; lent and litany; sacraments and ceremony, none of which are in the Bible. The Bible says of Jesus “But as many as receive Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

We celebrate the Resurrection of Christ every Sunday, the first day of the week that we call the Lord's day. On the Sunday after passover, the 14^th day of the Hebrew's first month (Exod 12) we have a special recognition of that event. On the 10^th day of that month, when the passover lamb was selected from the flocks, the Lord Jesus Christ was given his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and selected as the passover lamb that taketh away the sin of the world. For 3 days the lamb is kept apart to assure it was without spot or blemish. So to was He was daily in the temple teaching. On the 14^th day the passover lamb was to be slain during the preparation. So, Jesus was slain and shed his blood on the cross of Calvary from the 6^th till the 9^th hour during this preparation time. (Matt 27:45, John 19:14) He was laid in a borrowed tomb, on that preparation day, and was there for 3 days and 3 nights, as he said. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the tomb was empty, the Christ had risen victorious over death. So the timing of Jesus' death coincided exactly with the selection and the slaying of the Jewish passover lamb, wherein it was said by God, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” In Exodus 12 the blood was a token. In Jesus Christ, the blood washes away your sin and makes you white as snow. The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us a Saviour victorious over death, who can give eternal life to whom he will. Do you have this eternal life? “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.” (John 3:36)

Msg#617 For Week #17, Apr 23 , 2006

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”(John1:14) Three marvelous Christian truths are emphasized in this closing to the Apostle John's prologue. Jehovah God was made flesh and blood. There is no other religion named among men wherein the creator of all the universe would step down from glory and take part in humanity. Man's religions would have man attain some level of godliness but for a Christian Jesus the Christ of Nazareth is worshiped as Jehovah God in the flesh. Even the popular Christianity of Rome lifts up man in Mary, and asks you to pray to her as your intercessor, or pray to other's that they deem to be saints, ergo it too goes the path of false religions. No, Christianity alone worships a man as their God, and bows unashamedly before the man Christ Jesus and calls him Lord & Saviour of their soul; doing otherwise is un-Christian. The Word, that was God, became flesh; don't miss it, and don't miss why from John 3:16.

Second it is emphasized that John was an eye witness. An unbelieving critic of the Bible named Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976) popularized the modernist idea that the apostles did not write the Bible. He robed his unbelief in form and source criticism of the Bible and the scholars of our day love to attack what they call the synoptic gospels and the general gospel of John. My disdain for this practice heightened this week when I heard a supposed Baptist preacher let Rudolf guide his sleigh with such balderdash. There are no synoptic gospels. Matthew did write the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark wrote Mark, and Luke wrote Luke. John here attests to Bible believers that he saw and he wrote! To believe otherwise is to dis-believe the Bible. Shame on any Baptist who would so disbelieve the Word of God that says “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? ” (Heb 2:3-4) Rudolf and the synoptic crowd are unbelievers, and a Bible believer has nothing but despise for their foolish gangling.

Lastly John emphasizes the undeservedness of mankind for such marvelous truths. Jesus said “I am the way the TRUTH and the life, NO man cometh to the Father, but by me.” That is not pluralism, that is Bible truth, that is God full of grace and truth. Don't believe like Rudolf, accept God's grace and truth today.

Msg#618 For Week #18, April 30, 2006

The media was all astir because they think they have found three major sources to shake the Christians faith in the Bible. The infidel Gnostics finally got their Essenian gospel of Judas published after 1700 years! Surprise surprise, Gnostics don't believe the apostles who wrote the Bible. That is not news. It is amazing that they would paste together a crumbled codex to learn what Gnostics thought of Judas, but there is no Gospel of Judas, just as there is no illegal domestic spying. Those are labels they use to sway your opinions and their polls their way. There is a Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Apostle Matthew, according to Mark, according to Luke, and according to the Apostle John. We should put that much effort into reading what they say.

Professor Doron Nof, a Florida university professor, believes Jesus walked on Galilean ice instead of water, and ABC wanted you to know what this infidel thinks about my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Why? To continue the attack on Christianity and mock the writings of the Bible. Modernists try to find natural explanations for every Bible miracle. They are uncomfortable calling the Bible a bold faced lie but they will not believe that Jesus calmed the sea, healed the sick, and arose from the dead, so they twiddle with Galilean ice. Even when Hollywood tried to re-portray Moses, they stayed as far away from Exodus 33:11 as they could get. If you want to know what God says about His only begotten son calming the sea and walking on water, or about His servant bringing water from a rock, you had best read it from a non-modernist Bible and not let Prof Nof nor ABC sway you from the truth.

Neil Shubin, a biologist at the University of Chicago revealed the fossil of a Canadian crocodile supposed to be 400 million years old. He supposed it was surely a missing link between land animal and fish. Surprise surprise. Darwinians really did need this find and wild speculation. Their last such missing link extinct for 400 million years was found completely unevolved and swimming around in 300 feet of ocean; Seymouria, their amphibian to reptile missing link turned out to be an unevolved plain old amphibian, Archaeopteryx, their missing link between a lizard and a bird, (after all they both lay eggs and have scales!) was found to be just a bird; Eohippus, their missing link between a dog and a horse was found to have 18 ribs belonging to different family and genius. Darwinian's deceitful speculations cannot even account for speciation! They should let alone genius-iation, family-iation or order-iation, no matter that public school, ACLU, NEA, NPR and now ABC are helping them out all they can. Evolutionary theory is bankrupt of missing links, transitional forms and facts. The Bible says God created in 6 days and rested the 7^th. I'd sooner believe that than believe life spontaneously generated itself from two hormonal rocks in a storm ridden primeval sea. You?

Msg#619 For Week #20, May 07, 2006

The gospel according to Luke records two disciples leaving Jerusalem on resurrection Sunday. As they walked to Emmaus on that excitement filled day they explained to the resurrected Lord that 'today is the third since the crucifixion'. When Luke and John both clarify in the Holy Scriptures that Jesus was crucified on a Thursday, which was the preparation of the passover and that the high holy day, not the crucifixion, was on the Friday, I tend to believe the Bible. The Roman inventions of Lent, Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday are not supported by Scriptures and I am amazed to see protestantism forgo their protesting and flock back to their Roman mother on such things. Jesus rebukes the two: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:” A justified rebuke for today as Bible Believers are a scarce and parse remnant of Christianity. Jesus went on and said “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” Three gems are found in this short accounting of the disciples on the Emmaus road. The first is what Jesus taught. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” If in heaven we get to review all the events of that day on a big screen reviewer, I will replay this long walk Bile seminar several times. During the sixty years of Bible preaching that followed the seminar the apostles recorded enough of it in their 27 books to keep us students for life, but I would have liked to hear it from the mouth of the Christ himself. The seminar would cover how Christ was the seed of woman in the Genesis 3 account, and the seed of Abraham in Genesis 12, and how he made death only a shadow for King David, how victory over death would fulfill a promise made to Isaiah and how the keys of death and hell would be issued to the Saviour as Hosea promised. These truths are expounded in the 27 books of the New Testament open before me this day. A second gem in the Emmaus road account is how Christ was made known to the disciples in the breaking of the bread. And a third when they said :Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?” These three, gems are recreated regularly in a Bible Believing Bible Preaching Church. You should be there, it could warm your heart till the words of Scripture burn within you. Burn as a light, a light to the world.

Msg#620 For Week #20, May 14 , 2006

Spring time brings spring cleaning and garage sales as it is time to get the junk out of our houses. Consider that it is time to get the junk out of our homes and our lives as well. There was a time when every gospel preaching church in the county had revivals in the spring time. I think they still do but spring revival services are very rare here. Jesus instructs us to “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.“ (James 4:8) We need to have spiritual spring cleaning. We need to realize that God still hates sin and calls it that. Modernists who won't call sin a sin may call it an alternative life style. God's Word still calls it sin, even calls it abomination, and calls those who commit it 'sinners'. I am one of these. So are you if Romans chapter3 is true. But I am a sinner saved by grace, perhaps you are too. That's a good thing to be, but in the spring time we should have revival. Revival where things once made alive within us are brought back to life or revived. We should do some spiritual spring cleaning.

There is a cute commercial where an ugly gramataphite goes in under a toe nail and moves in. It can't be removed by surface treatments. That is like sin in your life. It cannot be removed by surface treatments. It is going to take blood work. The Bible says that “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, ... the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (I John 1:7) And goes on to say “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (vr.9) Now these instructions are written to born again believers, sinners saved by grace. If you have not yet put your faith and trust in Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you need more than a spiritual spring cleaning, you need a complete overhaul wherein you are quickened, or made alive spiritually. That's more like a resurrection than a spring cleaning, but both are attained the same way, by coming to Christ, confessing your a sinner, trusting in his cleansing blood and receiving his forgiveness. Whether you need spring cleaning or complete overhaul, this would be a good week to seek it out. You are either alive spiritually through the new birth or dead spiritually through your natural birth. If dead you can be made alive in Christ alone. If alive there are things that need revived in your life. Either one will take blood work. The work is all done, Jesus said “It is finished” and now it only needs applied to your life for a cleansing that will make you whiter than snow. Let's get the spring cleaning done.

Msg#621 For Week #21, May 21 , 2006

For most of us the 'M' in Mothers Day stands for memories. Remembering a mom and grandmother who did things the old fashioned way can make us long for the old fashioned. The Bible says that the womans place is in the home. (Titus 2:4-5) That is old fashioned, but it worked for our grandmothers. As our modern society is in rebellion against all of God precepts, this one draws vehement disgust, but it is the role that God has established and mans rebellion has not changed God's plan for mankind, nor his roles for men and women. Proverbs 31 is 3,000 year old motherly advice about life and marriage and wives. It closes King Solomon's collection of wisdom literature with stately heir. It boldly declares that a good mother will first be a good wife. Mankind's rebellion against marriage in our society almost rivals that shown against the role of women and our modernist role reversals in the home, church and government. But the Bible is clear that one man and one woman for one lifetime in a patriarchal not matriarchal home is God's intent for the stable environment where children are to be raised. It is filled with examples of failures. Solomon, who kept and guarded this advice of King Lemuel's mother as inspired Scripture, was a leading failure of her advice.

When you ignore or rebel against the Godly role of mothers as portrayed in the Bible your headed for failure too. When society dictates undisciplined children, a godless education, marriage as a flexible alternative, role reversals with matriarchal homes and matriarchal religion, the rebellion against God's precepts will cause your failure as well. I don't need to be a prophet to say that, Solomon said it very succinctly. God's wisdom cries out in Proverbs 1, “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold I pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.”

Being old fashioned is not very popular in our twisted progressive society. But following God's 3,000 year old advice for your life and for your home promises to bring his blessing. Following our societies rebellion against it promises your eternal ruin. In the aftermath of mothers day read a moms advice in Proverbs 31 and choose God's role for your life. Choose wisely.

Msg#622 For Week #22, May 28-, 2006

The Apostle Matthew wrote a dense pack of truth when he accounts the resurrection of Christ in the last chapter of his Gospel of Jesus Christ. It reminds me of Joe Friday who cuts to the quick by saying “Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.” He records here Christ's consoling first message to his disciples “Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.” When we are at the appointed place we know the PRESENCE of the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrected Lord spent 40 days with the disciples before he had to physically leave them again but he made us this promise “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” He said “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” in the closing instruction to the Hebrews, and his presence in a Christian's life through every task, every trial, every problem and every shadow is promised and assured. When we are at the appointed place we know the POWER of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew records “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. “ This marks a new covenant in authority, a new dispensation in dealing with man, a new arrangement of power and authority for our lives. Now all things go through the Christ. The only begotten Son is now in charge of all things, and whatsoever ye ask “in my name” he records “I will do it.” “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; ” (Col 1:19) When at the appointed place all that power is made available to us in the tasks that He gives us to do. Also in that place we have all the PROVISION of God. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19) This assurance comes to those preoccupied with the work of Christ, those who “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God... and all these things shall be added unto you.” as Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount. When you are at the appointed place you'll find the PROTECTION of God. After giving the disciples their commission to preach the gospel he assures them “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matt 28:20) When you are at the appointed place with Christ you have his presence, his power, his provision and his protection. The question that begs asked is 'Are you at the appointed place?' Christ, in his word appoints you a place where you will see him, hear him and know him. Don't wander through life without finding your appointed place in Christ.

Msg#622 For Week #22, May 28-, 2006

Msg#623 For Week #23, Jun 4-, 2006

Like the 11 disciples in Matthew 28, when we get to the appointed place we find the presence, the power, the provision and the protection of Christ. What a marvelous place to be in. But now that we are in it what should we be doing? Jesus commissioned the 11 with a task. Yeah, he has commissioned each believer with the same tasking. To first preach the gospel to every creature. To make known the saving grace that is available through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to every living human. Those who would believe, repent and receive the new birth in Christ are to be added to the Church by the outward testimony of being baptized by immersion in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. The Church is then charged by Christ to teach believers “to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you” So your appointed place, as a believer is in a Bible believing, Bible preaching, Bible baptizing local Church. When you are in that appointed place what are you to be doing? I like to say you should watch your mouth. You should have a mouth that is PRAYING, PREACHING and PRAISING while POSESSING your vessel in sanctification and honor. That's quite a mouthful, but the assigned task for every believer.

When I retired I didn't. In 1995 I retired from the USAF to Pastor a non-Baptist Church in Dundee, ugly fights ensued. In 1998 I took the pastorate at a genuine Baptist Church Psalms 133:1: says “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Although we have had a joyous 8 years in that pastorate there has been zero growth and I have preach to about 12 people each week for a long time. We will have our 8^th annual spring revival meetings this coming month. We expect there are a few families in Yates/Schuyler county who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and find a new life in Him. We labor because we shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (II Cor 5:10) We labor because we know the terror of the Lord, and strive to persuade men. (II Cor 5:11) We labor because the love of Christ constraineth us (II Cor 5:14) A lot of people, including family have not much understood what we are doing nor why. I have set aside an exceptional and lucrative engineering career to do what we are doing. We see the world rejecting God and God's Word and getting worse and worse. Life is so much more when you go by the book. Life is so terminal when you don't. Perhaps you need to visit during these revival services; you could find out what an independent fundamental Baptist is all about.

Msg#624 For Week #24, Jun 11-, 2006

When a society is so depraved of moral value that it strives for a constitutional amendment stating that sodomy is not for procreation nor rearing of children we need to re-emphasize Fathers day this year. The Bible pronounces woe on a society so twisted that they call good evil and evil good. (Isaiah 5) Mocking our creator and exalting the god of evolution has become so commonplace and effective in our schools that the homosexual lobby is in pursuit of their foot hold there. The Southern Baptist are finally pursuing the abandonment of public education because of its Godlessness. Independents promoted it's abandonment for a Christian education for years now. Yet the Episcopalian and Church of Christ 'religions' are openly promoting the sodomite agenda (AP 6/3/06) The Bible is undaunting when it comes to how we got here, and how we procreate in marriage. The Bible is clear that God created Man and Women on the sixth day of His creation work (Gen 1:26) and that a man committing sodomy with a man is an abomination (Lev 18:22, Gen 13:13, 19:4-5, Deut 29:21-25, 1 King 14:22-23, 15:11-12, 22:43,46, 2Kings 23:7 etc) Kleptomaniacs are made that way too, but they are forced to conform to moral right. Fathers day is to honor a sacred institution, the home. It, and the role of Godly fathers, who are loving and responsible husbands, leaders in the home and in our society, need to be so honored, exulted and emphasized this year. But that won't change the direction of our society.

As our society sinks deeper into moral depravity, calling good evil, and evil good, Christians should remember that moral activism is not the answer. Christ is the answer. When I was a boy, that was the sign on the hillside outside of Corning. The sign is gone, but the answer is the same. Father's, if you need your home transformed, Christ is the answer. When we need our society transformed, and we surely do, Christ is the answer. Getting individuals to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, as their saviour, creator and God is the only hope for our Godlessness. Christ doesn't reform you, he transforms you, he doesn't change your mind he renews your mind. If you have been transformed, you should tell your neighbor, he needs transformed as well. Happy Fathers day, phone your dad with thanks.

Msg#625 For Week #25, Jun 18-, 2006

School's not out, it is just starting. Final exams seem so final but they are not. They are the first of a series of exams that asks us “Did you get it?” When we fail a final exam we have to repeat the year of course work. When we fail one of life's exam we are destined to repeat the year without growth or advancement. Did you get it? Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth, acronymed as BIBLE, is going to have a final exam when we will all stand before our God and creator and answer for what we did with his only begotten Son that he sent to pay your sin debt for you. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” God states it very clearly in Isaiah 45:23 where he says “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Paul repeats it emphatically in Romans 14:11 “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” And more inclusively in Philipians 2:10 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” There is coming a day when you will take life's final exam, and answer for what you learned and believed about God's only begotten Son. John 3:36 sayd “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.” We need to study for our final exam, we don't know for certain when it's scheduled, but we know it is for certain.

People have told me, “Well that's your interpretation.” This is not an interpretation of what rhe Bible says, it is a report of what the Bible says. The modernist christians have passed off an idea that there are different interpretations and different versions of what the Bible says. They pick out the pieces that they want and discard the bulk of the God's Word. Baptist believe the whole, and discard not a piece. You will find that modernism, pluralism, atheism and agnosticism will abruptly end when the Lord Jesus Christ appears (or when you gasp your last breath of God's air and meet him face to face.) We will all appear before our creator, even if your convinced your creator is a chimp. Get a BIBLE and prepare for finals.

Msg#626 For Week #26, Jun 25-, 2006

Vice is legal sin. It is immoral. It is a lust of the flesh which when fulfilled, changes ones body chemistry and always wants more. It always leads down a path of known destruction but each one trapped in a lust fulfilling vice believes they are the exception to that destruction. This path to destruction is ugly and filled with contention, disease, agony and pleasure. The latter and the chemistry command an unrelenting hold on a persons will. One thinks that they can control it, but a vice always wins control and squanders what is valuable on a lust of the flesh. The five predominate vices of America are Wine, Women, Gambling, Gluttony, and Nicotine. They each share these characteristics, it is a lust of the flesh, it changes body chemistry, it awakens a desire for more, it has destruction at it's end, and it paves an ugly path wrought with false hope. You have a vice. God has a cure

Unscrupulous marketers and governments use these vices to make money off of the flesh binding addiction. Vice squanders what is valuable and precious in life to fulfill the lust of the flesh. Lives, marriages, children, homes, purpose, love, responsibility and possessions are daily poured down a bottle, hidden in dark motels, lottoed and blackjacked, engulfed and puffed out of sooty lungs. All because it's your pleasure, and you can beat the odds. “Hey, you never know.” But we do know, if we are honest with ourselves. It has all been demonstrated by time immortal. The black lung, the clogged artery, the lost bet, the genital herpes, the DWI, .. you loose, marketers win. Hey looser, you can break the addiction. The Lord Jesus Christ can set you free. “ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ... As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.(John 8:12,30-32)

A miss worded sign read “Don't let your vice kill you, let our Church help.” Independent Baptist Churches have ready access to a Reformers Unanimous (RU) program that can directly apply those word of Christ to your life. You can die to self and the desires of the flesh and live in fullness of life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thousands have, don't be the loser in this life, or the next.

Msg#627 For Week #27, Jul 2-, 2006

I own two houses that are over 100 years old. Since school is out I have been working 60 hours per week on house repairs. The endless foolishness reminded me of “This Old House.” ... not the show the song. My mom sang it all the while I was growing up. Unfortunately it was much later in my life that I realized that Ecclesiates chapter 12 and the song “This Old House” are not talking about any house but the one that houses your soul. As best I can recall my mom's wording:

This old house once knew my children This old house once knew my wife ... This old house was home and comfort As we fought the storms of life. ... This old house once ringed with laughter This old house heard many shouts ... Now she trembles in the darkness when the lightning walks about

Aint-a gonna need this house no longer. Aint-a gonna need this house no more. Aint got time to fix the shingles Aint got time to fix the floor. Aint got time to oil the hinges Nor to mend no window pain. Aint gonna need this house no longer Im a gettn ready to meet the saints

This old house is a getting shakey This old house is a getting old. This old house lets in the rain. This old house lets in the cold. Oh my knees are getting chilly But I feel no fear of pain. Cause I see an angel peeking through a broken window pane.

This old house is afraid of thunder This old house is afraid of storms. This old house just moans and trembles when the night brings things its own. This old house is is getting feeble This old house is in need of paint. Just like me its tuckerd out but I'm a getinng ready to meet the saints!

Maturity should bring on a quest for God. We don't have forever, ... unless you ask for it.

Msg#628 For Week #28, Jul 9-, 2006

The Bible says “ Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) The 'government' had given order that Christians were not to speak in the name of Jesus any more. Nineteen hundred years later the state of Maryland had passed a law that forbid people from praying in the name of Jesus Christ in their assemblies. That law was swiftly overturned but the intent was blatant. Our military chaplains are under continual legal challenge by the ACLU (aka the Anti-Christian Liberties Union) that they not be allowed to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The humanist's hatred for that name is over running Christian freedoms in America, but Peter was clear and true when he attack their bias hatred with “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved “ Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship; a relationship with the only begotten Son of God; a relationship whereby he takes my sin debt, pays it in full and sets me free with eternal life in my possession. Humanist want to deny me the right to use his name in the public square. Pluralists want to forbid that I tell others about the availability of this eternal life to all humanity. Family services has tried to make my teaching about this name, which is above every name, akin to child abuse in the home. For 230 years now there has been only one country where constitutional law requires that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” As they try to forbid Christians from naming the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in public school, public office, public prison, public square and public prayer they keep kicking at that first amendment. Praise the Lord, for God has blessed America. Will he continue to bless as the ACLU tries to kick his name out of school, public and country? “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved “ ... “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? “ (Heb 2:3-4) Salvation is available to any that would call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Christians are commissioned to tell that to everybody the meet, even in public! “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. “ (Rom 10:13) Have you called? Would you? Have your children? Will they? God Bless you as you name his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Msg#629 For Week #29, Jul 16-, 2006

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. “ The spiral rings in the little sea shell on my bathroom shelf, the spiraling horn on the big horn sheep that I shot in Colorado, and the pinwheel spirals of the M51 galaxy, called The Whirlpool Galaxy, all have identical mathematically derived spiraling structures. Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 BC) spent his life analyzing Eucalidian geometry and wrote “On Spirals” in 225 BC. Awesome does not begin to express the glory of God found in this connection between the shell, the sheep, and the sky. Indeed the heavens declare and the firmament shows His handiwork. Indeed “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1) His word says that down in side you know you were created, and are without excuse, when it comes to knowing God. (Romans 1)

This past year, the challenge of teaching 300 BC Euclidian geometry to high school students was quite like explaining colors to a blind man. The exasperating task of changing student ears into learned eyes is one of the most enjoyable of my life. But a whole dimension of learning is null and void in the upcoming generations. Our public schools teach your children that 'In the beginning a rock and a stone produced an amoeba' and that man evolved from dirt without a creator. Thus, Euclid and Archimedes, in their miss held theory, where barely steps above ignorant cave men. Euclidian geometry that focused the thinking of great men like Abraham Lincoln, is cast completely out of the NYS run educational system that favors the dummied down Math A and Math B curriculum. Where are our next generation thinkers that would explore the glory of God found in the hyperbolic spirals of the shell, the sheep and the sky? What teacher can turn ears into eyes and cause a blind man to see colors when math is taught only as a means of balancing ones checkbook? Shame on Albany for our public schools condition, shame on parents for letting it get this far. I went to public school before they kicked Euclid out, ... even before they kicked Jesus the Christ out, before they kicked God out!, and Mr. Oliver taught me “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.“ What are they teaching your children? Math A? I am forced to pay over $100 per month to our failing public school system that I despise. I want education reform. It couldn't possibly make things worse, but it is not the answer. The answer was kicked out of government schooling around 1963. The answer is Jesus Christ the righteous creator of the universe ('uni' = one, 'verse' = spoken sentence that brought all into being) We who know The Answer are called Christian, ('Christ' = Jesus the Messiah, 'ian' = living in me) and should keep our children where they keep Euclid, out side of the godless government school system. The Greek Parthenon was built around the golden rectangle that when unsquared, via Pythagoras of 500 BC, constructs the logarithmic spiral which defines the nautilus shell, the sheep horn, the sunflower seed pattern and the M51 galaxy of the sky. Where but in a Christian school would you learn that? Where will those who will ponder these truths be educated? 582 Words For Week #29, Jul 16-, 2006

Msg#630 For Week #30, Jul 23-, 2006

Paul writing to the newly formed and harshly persecuted Church at Thessalonica concludes his epistle with “ Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.” Let's learn something about prayer in this charge to the Thessalonians. It is interesting that this church, who had seen whole families killed by the Roman persecution, is asked to pray for others going through persecution. When you are going through a trial pray for others. We have a tendency to internalize problems and have a pity party for ourselves. When we turn our focus outward, to others, our trial stays in a more realistic focus. Paul tells these persecuted folks, “Pray for us.” Secondly notice what they are to pray for, “That the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified,” We need to start praying for that again in America There was a time when the word of the Lord had free course here. Not today. My son returned as a missionary to Peru this week and we prayed that the word of the Lord would have free course in Cajamarca. Considering that the course is more restricted in schools here in New York than anywhere in the world, we need that prayer as well as he. Pray that the word of the Lord be glorified. Humanists, running our public education, hate the Holy Bible and do not allow it in the government run schools. Modernists, running our Churches, do not believe the Holy Bible, and will not preach it's truths from the pulpits. (i.e. I Tim 2 and 3 can only be preached as truth by a man of God, actually in the minority in Yates county.) We should pray that the word of the Lord is glorified in upstate New York, it sure is lacking here. Thirdly, Paul says to pray that they “may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.” In Peru, these unreasonable men teach that Mother Mary, not the Lord Jesus Christ is mans advocate. Here in America, the unreasonable men slander our faith in Christ with atheist's fiction about the evolving of man from animal over millions of years, and the modernists with multiple versions of babble none being a believable, holy, and wholly inspired Bible. The ranks of true Christianity is a minority as Christ said in Matt 7. Truly “for all men have not faith.” like Paul warns. But for those who do it is written “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” (verse 5) May the Lord direct your heart. Pray for us. Pray for our missionaries carrying the gospel of Christ to foreign lands. Pray that it be glorified and have free course.

Msg#631 For Week #31, Jul 30-, 2006

Lawyers and priests, scribes and scholars suffer a deserved harshness by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Luke 10:25 says “ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” After an exchange the haughtiness of the lawyer comes to full view as Dr. Luke records “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?” (verse 29) The story of the good Samaritan has a depth that goes way beyond answering the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The deeper issue of man striving to justify himself, and the base question of inheriting eternal life are equally dealt with in this marvelously revealing tail woven by the master. Jesus choose his character “a certain man” representing all of mankind, and chose his journey “down from Jerusalem to Jericho” representing mans descent from the City of God (cf Psalm 87) to the cursed place (cf Joshua 6:26). His falling among thieves, loss of raiment, wounds and half dead condition is picturesque of mankind's condition in this world. Why is there so much evil and pain in this world? That was not God's design nor intent, it is mans journey away from the city of God, into the curse of this world that landed mankind among the thieves! Do you see the deeper dimension of Jesus' answer to the lawyers question? Verse 31 says “And by chance there came down a certain priest that way:” The priest is representative of the Old Testament Law that the lawyer was trying to keep. The law is effective at pointing out mans shortfalls but can do nothing to save him. Next comes a Levite, a minister of the temple, representative of mans religious works and efforts, as in sacraments to earn salvation. He passes by equally unable and unwilling to repair the mess of mankind. The master story now brings in the hero, the Good Samaritan. As Jesus so loved the world and came into the world to save sinners, so this Samaritan had compassion on the man fallen into such wretched condition. He bound his wounds gave oil and wine, put him on his own beast and put him in the hands of another comforter until his return. A Christian quickly sees that this is exactly what Christ has done for him. He bore in his body the wounds of our sin and by his stripes we are made whole. He has given us 'another comforter,' the Holy Spirit of God to indwell us until he returns for his own. When Jesus tells this self righteous lawyer a story that illustrates what a good neighbor is, He also deals with his self righteousness and his first question “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” There are people and organizations that call themselves “Good Samaritan” without going to the full dimension of Jesus' answer to the lawyer. You cannot keep the 10 commandments and inherit eternal life. You cannot religiously be baptized into, or do sacraments through a church and inherit eternal life. You cannot be a good Samaritan, i.e. a good deed doer and inherit eternal life. Man kind is in such a deplorable condition that no priest, nor religion, no Levite nor christian service can save you. Although plenty pass by on the other side, you need the saviour of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ to be your saviour. Ask him; He will. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. “ (Acts 4:12)

Msg#632 For Week #32, Aug 6-, 2006

The proverbial sayings used by the Lord Jesus Christ to drive home truths are as profoundly powerful today. If Matthew chapter 5 is called the sermon on the mount Matthew 23 would have to be the sermon of the valley. Jesus denunciates mans religiosity. We need a good dose of that today. Most of our religion is not “pure religion and undefiled” (James 1:27) Eight times Jesus calls out 'woe', 7 times 'hypocrites', 5 times 'blind guides' or 'blind', 2 times 'fools' and concludes calling the religionists 'serpents and vipers.' Such a message wouldn't come from nor set well with the spiritual pacifists of today, but in the middle of this denunciation we find a defining proverbial saying. Verse 24 says “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” Wow do we fall guilty here. In our society we legally protect sea turtles in the shell because they are precious and endangered, yet just this day we used forceps to tear limb from limb over 4,000 more precious human babies that were still in a womb and inconvenient. We strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. In Israel it was common to drink your wine (that's grape Koolaid for those wine bibbers who would misread the word) through a cloth to strain out the ever present fruit fly in the drink. Jesus never said this was bad, and doubtless did the same. The gnat was by law unclean for diet, but so too was the camel. The absurdity of the proverbial saying is their ability to gulp down a mug of drink that had a camel in it. I should point out here that Jesus always taught with the old, old proverbial sayings of his day and never used the new international versions. Our society gulps down camels, rejecting their Creator and with evolution teaching our children we came from two rocks in a primeval soup... “Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth:” (Jer 2:27) It nit picks about helmets on cyclists but overlooks homosexuals and pedophiles entering our schools. It swallows camels, but so do our churches. We exalt trifles in religion and omit the weightier matters. Deifying and praying to Mother Mary, saints and statues are camels we have swallowed. Acting like water could wash away sin, it's a camel but gulped right down in Protestant Churches. We independent Baptists fuss about apparel and appearance but let fornication and adultery pass by unembarrassed. Straining at gnats, swallowing camels, we are good at it. Individually we are as guilty. We gush compliments on friend and family because of turned over leafs and moral improvements, yet we never share with them the eternal truth about their soul. Good people die every day and bust hell wide open because we don't want to share with them what we learned. “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.” (John 3:36) We major on the minors, when we should be treating the important issues with the same scrupulosity of detail as the trivial. It's our nature. That's why Jesus emphasized it so. Overcome your old nature this week. Frankly search out the camels you are gulping down. Don't swallow gnats, but get rid of camels.

Msg#633 For Week #33, Aug 13-, 2006

When the Lord Jesus Christ returns and you meet him face to face, you will be 'found'. The Bible emphasized the question, 'How will you be found?' Jesus said “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luk 12:40) The whole premise that the Lord may return at any moment permeates Christianity.

The teaching is profound: “ And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household? ... Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Lu 12:42- 43) The Bible teaching that the Lord's return is imminent, is intended to keep you on your toes and responsible, and watching. For those who would live recklessly Jesus warns “But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” (12:45-46) Now, this requirement to live responsibly and be good stewards of what God has given to us is most applicable to the born again Christian, but it has an application for the unsaved as well. When giving lessons on stewardship Jesus likens all mankind as receiving 'talents' to be accountable for. The next breath you breath is given to you by your creator. It might not be like the 10 talents of riches and ability he has given to someone else, but you are accountable for it just the same. So what will you do with it, bury it in the earth or invest it in His glory? To invest it is to seek Him out and call upon His only begotten son for your soul's salvation as he has commanded. You will give answer for it. Do right. You will be found when he returns. How will you be found at His return, saved or lost?

Jesus again said “ I tell you that he will avenge (His own) speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Lu 18:8) Catholic doctrine has polluted the Bible principle that things will get worse and worse and in the last days the number of believers will be less and less. The narrow gate of Mathew 7 will appear more narrow and the straight path seem the more straightened. .The Bible is clear that Christianity will not be in the majority, if you are a believer Jesus said that you should expect to be the persecuted minority. In America for 230 years laws have limited the persecution, it is not like Pakistan where by law I would be killed for Baptizing a convert to Christianity. (That law, by the way, would easily be voted in democratically by a 2/3 majority over there. Democracy and majority rule will not solve the Middle East's problems, and it is not what our country is founded upon. We are a republic, not a democracy!) The hand of God once wrote on the wall over there, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” (Dan 5:20) So, today, if you or I were weighed in the balances, how would we be found? Makes you think.

Msg#634 For Week #34, Aug 20-, 2006

The Hebrews are asked “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” That question is ushered in with the exclamation “We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard,” Christians today ought to pay greater heed. Much foolishness has crept into the things which we have heard. It should go without saying that a believer in Jesus should believe what Jesus believed. He believed the Old Testament Law. He believed in the eye-witnesses that he ordained as apostles and commissioned to write his teachings. There are those, even in our pulpits, who pick and choose out just the Bible portions they like, trying to maintain their philosophy or political correctness. Shame. We cannot just pick some of the red letter quotes of Jesus and leave out the epistles or the law. How much of the Bible is to be trusted? With all the private interpretations and versions to be found, people, even some professing Christians, ocupying pulpits, are picking out the parts that they want to believe, and discarding the rest. The world claims all the versions contradict and no one really knows what the Bible says. People make up their private interpretations of their own 'designer truth' saying 'that might be true for you, but that is not true for me'. The truth is abandoned, Satan is tickled, and the world sees the Bible has no authority, even in the Church! Jesus said there is only one Truth and we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard. Jesus said it whether it is in red letters or not.

To counter this watering down of the truth a Christian should be well informed about how we got our Bible, well intended to believe all that his Lord requires of him, and well studied in the 66 books that we hold as the verbally inspired Holy Bible. Sadly, you will need to be better informed, better intended, and better studied than most of our pulpits are today. We should give the more earnest heed to the things which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us, in writing, by those that heard him; by those who have seen him with their own eyes; by those who have looked upon him; by those who's hands have handled the Word of life. The 12 apostles ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, wrote or authorized and passed on to us the 27 books that we call the New Testament of the Holy Bible. They read the Hebrew Scriptures, spoke the Aramaic language and wrote in the exacting Greek language of the 1^st century. The very exact Greek words that they wrote are preserved and available to us today. They are translated into the English language in exacting accurate verbal translation, in modern languaged hopeful renditions, in paraphrase ecumenical international interpretations, in poor misguided private perversions or in grossly errant deviant versions. Hundreds of English copyright versions glut our materialistic market. Each must have 'significant deviation' from the other to secure that copyright. You should always be aware which it is that you have in your lap and always understand that all the exact wording is available to us in the Greek and in only one un-copyright exacting English translation. Study. Pay the more earnest heed. It is worth the effort. It reveals The Truth.

Msg#635 For Week #35, Aug 27-, 2006

Hebrews 2:3 says “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; “ I have previously emphasized giving the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard. (vr. 1) In so doing we see an importance placed on the words of the 12 eyewitness, ordained apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan has waged a constant attack against the written record of these eyewitnesses. In 340 AD a Church in Rome alleged that she was the mother of all Churches with an apostolic authority that over rules these original ordained authors. But Jesus himself commends the free Church saying to her, “I know thy works,... thou hast tried them that say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” Critics of the faith, modernists who refuse to believe Jesus' miracles and his claim to be God in the flesh and mankind's propitiation, have aimed textual, source, redaction and form criticism at the writings of these original ordained apostles but God said “My WORDS shall not pass away.” The eyewitness, ordained by Christ, apostles wrote in the exacting expressions of Koine Greek and copied and distributed their writings throughout the known world, so that we can have preserved for us today, 1,916 years later, their exact wording. The many 'versions' that the world has heard about and that modernists exploit in their attempt to deny Biblical authority, are not versions of the Bible but versions of the English translations with 'significant deviation' from the original apostolic writings, lest they not get their copyright dollars. There are bad versions of the Greek around as well. Those families of manuscripts copied by the Western Empire, that thought they were the mother of all churches and higher than the original apostles, were translated to Latin and are called today the vulgar Vulgate. Bad copy. Those families of manuscripts copied at Alexandria Egypt, where they thought themselves the mother of all worldly wisdom, are the oldest known and most eloquently copied, but are riddled with omissions and gross errors because they were copied by unbelievers. (When your Bible notes and scholars say 'the oldest and best manuscripts omit this verse' they are referring to an Alexandrian manuscript copied and edited by the world.) The exacting Greek, copied and preserved with complete emphasis on verbal inspiration comes to us inerrant in the Byzantine family of Greek manuscripts. There is only one English translation, not copyright and based solely on these verbally inspired Greek manuscripts. There are not multiple versions of the Bible, just multiple versions of copy right profit margins.

Msg#636 For Week #36, Sep 03-, 2006

In paying “the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard” you will often hear the exclamation “That is just your interpretation of the Bible.” I have been told that if you take a portion of scripture given to 12 people you will end up with 13 interpretations. That may be true, but if you take the Bible in its entirety, omitting none and rightly dividing all systematically, there are not multiple interpretations. This can be well illustrated with the Jefferson Bible. Thomas Jefferson, calling the miracles of Jesus and the writings of the apostles amphibological nonsense, extracted just the red lettered words of Jesus into his “Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth.” That may be a wonderful interpretation of moral behavior, but it is a horrible interpretation of the Bible. I respect Thomas as a founding father of our nation, but as for his Bible, it is 'his interpretation.' An interpretation in this sense is thus contrived when you extract a portion, you want to believe and discard the rest. The world and modernist Christians extract the golden rule, and 'judge not lest ye be judged' and discard the rest and then regularly recite to Bible believers the line, 'Well, that's your interpretation.' When one systematically believes the whole Bible and “studies to shew himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Tim 2:15), it is not a private interpretation. (2 Pet 1:20) You can rightfully say 'That's your interpretation” to those who discard portions of the 66 books of the Holy Bible because they only believe and site their selected favorites. You cannot rightfully say that of Baptists who hold to the verbal inspiration of every word, and make no private interpretation. (Excepting here the American Baptists that have rejected the virgin birth of the Christ and accepted the modernist translations of the Bible.) What then accounts for the 135+ denominations with distinctive interpretations of the Christian faith? Denominations spring from the central control of doctrine from a mother church or original founder. The Protestant denominations sprang from their mother Church in Rome, and hold many of it's error, i.e. infant baptism was derived by Roman law and is nowhere in the Bible. Wesley for Methodists, Calvin for Presbyterians, Arch Bishops for Episcopalians, they have their authority in the doctrines of founders, popes or leaders. Baptists have their sole authority in the inerrant, verbally inspired words of the Holy Bible We are rightfully careful about avoiding private interpretations and modernist versions.

Msg#637 For Week #37, Sep 10-, 2006

Taking the more earnest heed of the things which we have heard, let us consider “So Great Salvation.” This salvation is the theme of the Bible; from Genesis to Revelation, from the fall of man to the returning of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and great glory. The theme is the restoration of man, who was originally made in the image of God. The Bible says “How shall we escape, if e neglect so great salvation, ...” Consider your need for this salvation. “How shall we escape... “ supposes first that there is something to escape, second that you know a need to escape, and third, that you have a desire to escape. The Bible is clear on the first; man has fallen from his innocence. Eternal death and the wrath of a righteous God hangs over every human. There is but one means of escape. The second two suppositions depend on you. In his book, “Mere Christianity” C.S. Lewis establishes that you know, down inside, that you have shortfalls to being what you should be, even what you were made to be. You are made in the image of your creator but there is a flaw in the works somewhere, and there is a departure from what you were intended to be. Lewis used 5 chapters to establish this and did it right well. The humanists holding the keys to our school houses are Bible rejecting evolutionists who dismiss both the Creator and His image. His book needs revival today because Lewis came from his atheism to the Truth about his need for 'So Great Salvation.'

The third supposition swings on how badly you view yourself. The modernist christians will tell you your not that bad, if everyone would love each other we will all be good enough for God. The religionists will tell you that you can do some good deed, penance or sacrament through their church and make up for your fallen state. But the Bible says you are “desperately wicked” (Jer 17:9), that my sin makes me condemned by God (John 3:17-18) and that we are all in iniquity, gone out of the way. (Isa 53:6) That is more serious than a little church-going can fix.

If you desire 'So great salvation' it is available free for the asking. Rather than hanging with the modernists who pretend your not that bad and don't really need it, or sticking with the religionists that say a little water, wine or wafer will make you good enough for God, you need to come to Christ and be born again. Gathered at Good Sam, and any Bible preaching Independent Baptist Church are some people who realized how bad they were, and accepted an undeserved pardon of their sin. We have been pardoned, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled to God. We are Bible Christians, fundamental believers, who were once vile, but now we are washed, but we are sanctified, but we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:11) Your invited to visit, but to be a member you will have to give testimony that you deserved hell when God saved you with “So Great Salvation.”

Msg#638 For Week #38, Sep 17-, 2006

The free and available salvation from sin's eternal penalty and sin's overwhelming power is exalted in Biblical Christianity's “So Great Salvation.” The theme of Christianity is not “Love thy neighbor” as expressed by our politically correct modernists, but that God so loved..., that he gave us a propitiation. We need to see the stark difference. Though you don't need a degree to study this salvation theme of the Bible a dictionary is often helpful. Therein you find that a conciliatory offering to a god is in view here. Thus a propitiation is to conciliate an offended power; or to appease an angry god. This Biblical idea that God is offended, even angry at man's sin is soft peddled in modern Christianity. The idea that there is only one propitiation acceptable to Jehovah God our Creator does not set well with our pluralistic, 'have it your way' society, but that is the premise of Christianity. God, can only be reconciled to man, with a propitiation which will appease his holy anger. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) This propitiation must first be seen with respect to God's great love to man. The Bible says that God SO loved that he gave us this propitiation. He does not love us because of the price he paid, he paid the price because he loves us. When the world is so busy denying what they are doing is sin, and the modern 'christians' are equally denying that all sin is vile, fundamental Bible believing Christians are often portrayed as judgmental or hateful because they call iniquity sin. In reality, the true believer, knows the great love of God toward the sinner, and the great value and potential for every soul, no matter what depth of sin that soul is presently tangled in. Confrontation with those who deny their sinfulness, however, was inevitable for Christ and is likewise for those who preach the same message of repentance. Why then do we labor? It is not a premise that I am right and you are wrong, I am sanctified and you are damned, that marks the believer evangelizing this love of Christ and repentance toward sin. It is that “I am a nobody who wants to tell everybody about The Somebody that can save anybody”. Evangelical Christians must not leave out any of those four 'body's of truth. When you think your a somebody, you miss the mark. When there is somebody you won't tell, you miss the commission. When Christ isn't the central Somebody, your not Christ-centered and hardly Christian. When you think God won't or can't save somebody, your limiting the power of His Gospel. Why do we preach the love of Christ and repentance from sin? Why do we labor? The Apostle Paul puts three reasons in print in II Cor 5, “Wherefore we labour, ... For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; ... Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; ... For the love of Christ constraineth us;” If your saved, you need to tell somebody, they need what you have. He is the only answer.

Msg#639 For Week #39, Sep 24-, 2006

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” This verse marks the beginning of the Bibles section of Hebrew poetry. The most powerful poetry ever kicked out of a public schooling system is the revelation of God in Job, the prophecy and songs of God in Psalms, and the wisdom of God in Proverbs. Despite America's new found despise of Hebrew poetry it is the most powerful genera of poetry in the world. Here in Job there are three major crescendo's which involve Job's need (9:28-35, 16:21), Job's faith (19:25-27), and the revelation of God to Job (38:1-41). All three of these, of coarse, are germane to an examination of “So Great Salvation” that we are giving the more earnest heed. (Heb 2) But the first captures the role of Christ, our redeemer. When one rejects the trinity and the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, as do the Russleites and Smithites among us, they miss the majority of the Bible and all of Christianity. The book of Hebrews and poetry of the Hebrews insist that God be made flesh and dwell among us in order to be a redeemer of mankind, a mediator of a new covenant. This need is made blatant by Job's cry for a 'Daysman' in “Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. (Job 9:33)” As in all Hebrew poetry the wording is such as to give meaning in replication of phrases. Here Job declares his need of a daysman-redeemer “For (God) is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. (vr 32)“ This daysman-redeemer-priest has three important functions as described in the New Testament book of Hebrews. First he must be a man. Only as a man can he suffer the frailties and flaws of humanity. To suffer exhaustion, hunger, frustration and temptation he was a human. He had to be man to suffer death, and indeed the cruelest and most public of all deaths is what he suffered. He had to be man to lay his hand in equality on humanity undergoing judgment. Second he must be God, not a god, but the God. An equal part of the triune Godhead. The creator of man and the universe. As this God-Man he lived victoriously over the frailties and flaws and was without sin. As such he arose victorious over death. He had to be God to lay his hand in equality on God standing in righteous judgment. Thirdly he must “stand betwixt us.” Stand between man and God as an advocate, our only advocate. Others mean well praying to saints or Mary, but in reality saints are barred from being our advocates in anything and the Bible forbids us addressing our prayers there. Standing betwixt He is our propitiation, that died in our place. Standing betwixt He unites man and God as one, even as He is one with God. Christianity alone has such a proven daysman. If you, of your free will, personally receive him as your Lord and Saviour of your soul, you can be Christian. Believers became disciples by continuing on in the doctrine of the apostles.(Acts 2:42) Disciples came to be called Christian because they acted like Christ. (Acts 11:26) Are you a believer? A disciple? A Christian? You can't be that without a perfect daysman.

Msg#640 For Week #40, Oct 01-, 2006

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is aptly named and powerfully revealing. After the Apostle John had been preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ for over 50 years his Lord gave him a revelation “to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” There is coming the last Yom Kipor before the return of the Christ. Our Hunt for the Last October Bible prophecy conference is more in respect of the Jewish Feast of Trumpets that points to Messiah's 2^nd coming than it is to Tom Clancy's book of similar name. The Revelation of Jesus Christ solidly nails this event in the annals of prophetic truth. If Christ does not return both for his saints and then with his saints the whole of Biblical prophecy can be dismissed as sham and sophistry. Under it's 1200 years of tyrannical rule Roman Catholicism errantly adopted all prophecy about Israel to itself. In this re-appropriation of prophetic truth the Revelation of Jesus Christ was dismissed as a fanciful far fetched figurative book. It is in actuality a well organized clearly stated literal revelation which behooves your study. In it John accurately reports what he has seen, the things that are, and the things that shall be, exactly as he is commissioned by his Lord. When you have an apostles word on it, you call it Holy Bible and don't dismiss a word of it despite what some cleric or supposed scholar may say about it.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ has a divinely inspired and powerfully complete introduction in the whole of chapter one. The 7 spirits of Christ, the 7 attributes and 7 titles of Christ, the 7 Churches of Christ, the 7 stars and the 7 candlesticks, put an notable emphasis on the coming completion of His role as prophet priest and king. Where 6 is the number of man, 7 is the number of completion. Since the day of his creation man has not been complete. This is a revelation of the completer. Every word of the introduction is key and interwoven throughout the book as it shines light on the whole of scripture. The divinity of the Christ is found in his taking the title “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last;” The appearance of His 7 Churches as 7 golden candlesticks is a powerful picture that reverberates throughout the whole of scripture. His Church is plural and not the One Mother Church that catholicism tried to form. His Church is local and visible, and not the invisible no membership Church that some contend for today. His Candlesticks hold candles. If your candle is not membered with a local Bible believing Church that believes and follows the doctrines of the apostles, your not where the Lord Jesus Christ would have you to be. The Revelation of Jesus Christ is not figurative fabrication. It is figurative interpretation. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is (still) at hand.” All through October we study this revelation. You should join us in that study.

Msg#641 For Week #41, Oct 08-, 2006

As a farmer has a well worn path from his house to his barn so ought a Christian to have his familiarity to the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Two thirds of the Holy Bible is prophetic and two thirds of prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. Yet two thirds of Christendom remains ignorant of this Revelation. In writing of “the things which are” John records messages to 7 churches. We need to learn to “rightly divide the word of truth”, as Paul encouraged young Timothy, and to fully understand the “mystery of the dispensations” as he charged the Church at Ephesus. The “Church age” we are in will come to a close at the catching away of the Church when “we which are alive and remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds.” The age of grace in which His saints are to be the spirit filled witnesses which preach the gospel to every creature will be over at that trumpet sounding. The world will then be plunged into the most horrible and awesome 7 year transition period between dispensations. This Revelation of Jesus Christ deals largely with that transition and the events leading to His second coming as King of kings and Lord of lords. Although mocked by the world, discarded by catholicism, and twisted by Ellen White and other cults, this dispensational transition is clearly outlined in the Revelation before us. These messages to the 7 churches mark the last mention of the Church in this dispensation of grace. The 7 also mark out distinct phases of history that Christianity has passed through. The last message is to the “church of the Laodiceans” where we find an ineffective, even apostate Christianity which considers itself “rich and increased with goods, and (in need) of nothing.” That is an altogether fitting description of America's Christianity. I hope not of yours.

The titles used by the Christ in addressing each of these 7 churches is a very insightful study. All titles tie back to the introduction of the Revelation and portray various aspects of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. They include very figurative language like “he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand” or “he which hath the sharp sword with two edges” which make us go back and find what the stars represent and where the sword proceeds from. The stars in the right hand give clear illustration of the autonomous independence and singular eldership of His local churches, the sword clear representation of His word. The Catholic pope just rilled the Muslims by admonishing their use of their bloody sword for persuasion. But he has a “Doctrine of The Two Swords” of his own hidden away under his robes. The catholic sword drips with Baptist blood that I'll not allow unnoticed, and declare here to be their misrepresentation of this two edged sword wielded by Christ not by his Church! The clear insights from these titles culminates in the last message to the last church before the rapture portrayed in 4:1. “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” American Christianity has profained all three of these title attributes, but Baptists will not. The Amen speaks to the “so be it” of our final authority, the Holy Bible. The faithful and true witness speaks to the accuracy of every word of this authority. The beginning of the creation speaks to the rejection of every fiber of atheistic evolution even to where we will not subject our children to its propagation in government schools. If yours is not a Bible believing Church that esteems these three titles your likely in a Laodicean ineffectual church. Come out from among them and be ye separate is Christ's command.

Msg#642 For Week #42, Oct 15-, 2006

'Left behind' is starkly descriptive of what becomes of non-believers at the first phase of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says Jesus will meet his saints in the clouds, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. But what of the non believer and the pretend believer? What becomes of them? Biblical Prophecy clearly shows a 7 year transition between the Church age and the millennial reign of Christ. The Revelation of Jesus Christ shows the stages that this world will go through in that horrifying 7 year period. Jesus previews it as seeing the “abomination of desolation” (Matt 24:15) “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (verse 21) His stern instruction comes as “whoso readeth, let him understand!” This stark warning is given, not that you can make it through this tribulation period, but that you might escape it. The tribulation period is portrayed in the Bible book called the Revelation of Jesus Christ so that believers would know the pending 'terror of the Lord' and all the more 'persuade men' to trust the Christ as saviour. (2Cor 5:11) The horrid indescribable portrayal is presented that an unbeliever would know of the pending wrath of God and repent of their sin and trust Christ as their Lord and saviour of their soul. It is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ because that is exactly what it reveals, Jesus the Christ.

The tribulation period starts rather timidly for those 'left behind.' The beginning phases are illustrated as if 7 seals that bind the great book of God's judgment were one by one being removed. This preparation phase begins with a new world order portrayed as a white horse rider that comes 'conquering, and to conquer.” (Rev 6:2) This world leader brings tentative peace to the middle east and solves all the world problems with a one world government and peace on earth, good will toward men. A new world order with a one world government and a one world religion is the pursuit that already has seed in our world today. The rider is a pseudo-Christ, a fake and charade that is accepted by the whole world in their blindness. Tentative indeed, as the ongoing opening of these preparatory seals reveals the horror and death and persecution that this new world order brings in. The opening of the 7^th seal brings about silence in heaven for the space of a half an hour (Rev 8:1) Silence in preparation for the trumpeting voice of Christ that pronounces the next 7 woes to befall the earth and mankind prior to the pouring out of the 7 vials of the wrath of God. Horrid beyond description is this transition period between the age of grace, that we occupy now, and the millennial reign of Christ that is ushered in by his second coming and the infamous battle called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Rev 16:16)

Believer, “knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” are you a witness that is persuading? To the pretender and unbeliever Jesus must say “Depart from me, I never knew you.” What a revelation. Will you be caught up to meet him in the air or will you be 'left behind'? There are only the two paths available to mankind, and you must choose before it is too late. Choose wisely.

Msg#643 For Week #43, Oct 22-, 2006

The Bible says that “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Prov 29:15) The child left to himself is a snapshot of what happens to those 'left behind' when Jesus returns for his saints. The white horse, red horse, black horse, pale horse and then massive martyrdom of saints of Revelation chapter 6 is the shame that mankind is brought too. These illustrate the natural course of this world as “The Lamb that was slain” opens the first 5 seals on the book of His judgment. As we look to the Revelation of Jesus Christ to contain the cataclysmic ending of the world as we know it, it captures both the nature of man and the news articles of today's paper. It is hard to imagine that a religion sweeping over our supposed sophisticated society could once again promote world domination and utter annihilation of the Jews as a nation and a people, but Hamas in Gaza, and Hezbollah of Lebanon has worded that fundamental of Islam. That is why they are called fundamentalist Moslems. The Bible says that left to himself man will pursue a one world government and then strive to annihilate His chosen nation Israel. Our news papers portray the foreshadowing of exactly what is laid out in panorama in The Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book of the Holy Bible.

When the Apostle John was told to record “The things which shall be hereafter” his record began right after he heard the voice as it were of a trumpet talking which said “Come up hither.” Those who believe the Bible and the dispensational truths that are contained therein, recognize that as the same trumpet like voice of the Lord Jesus Christ which calls for the rapture of the saints of the Church (John 11:25-26, 1Cor 15:42, 1Thes 4:14-18) The Second Coming or Advent of Jesus Christ is believed by all of Christendom. Even, to some extent, the Adventists and other cults that sprang from the 1800s believe in his return. Baptist have stood as the remnant that cling to this clear Bible teaching of the pre-tribulation rapture of the saints of the Church. The Bible says that Jesus will come 'for his saints' and meet them in the clouds. The Bible says that Jesus will come 'with his saints' and carry his rightful title of King of kings and Lord of lords. These two truths are easily reconciled with a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church. The two truths are forever mucked up in the teaching of catholic and her daughter, protestants, teaching about the second coming of Christ. They get even more mucked up in the cultic teachings of Russelites, Smithites and Ellenites. The Bible teaching of this pre-tribulation rapture of the Church is clear and decisive. Those not raptured out, both unbelievers and Christian pretenders, have been called the 'left behind' and the child left to himself bringeth shame.

The Holy Spirit of God taken out of this world when the saints depart is tasked to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:8) just as a parent is charged to reprove a child. When that reprover is taken away from the world (2Thes 2:7) mankind does what he wants, illustrated via the 7 seals of Revelation, then the devil does what he wants, illustrated via the 7 trumpets of Revelation, then God does what judgment demands illustrated via the 7 vials of Revelation. I pray that you will not be 'left behind' if the Lord should return today. He could, for his return is imminent.

Msg#644 For Week #44, Oct 29-, 2006

Revelation 11:3 says “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophecy 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” When we rightly divide the word of truth the timing, placement and possibilities of these two witnesses is awesome. The Old Testament book of Daniel outlines 70 weeks of years wherein God “finishes the transgression and (makes) and end of sins,” for His elect nation Israel. (Dan 9:24-29) Sixty nine of the 70 weeks of years are already accomplished and the final 7 year period of this promise is in our future. It is called “the time of Jacob's trouble” in Jeremiah 30 and “the great tribulation “ by Christ in Matthew 24. Good Bible interpretation easily demonstrates that the tribulation period described in the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the 7 year period being the 70^th week of Daniel's vision, where God is dealing with His elect nation Israel (not the Church which was 'raptured' out previous) and that the 1260 days is half of that week of years (recalling that a Hebrew calendar has a 360 day year and a leap month every 7 years or so.)

The two witnesses herein referenced are thus Jews, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ on the streets of Jerusalem after the re-initiation of the Jewish temple during the first half of the 7 year tribulation. From this indescribably powerful witness we see 144 thousand virgin males becoming God ordained and God sealed witnesses to the whole world. The destiny of these 2 witnesses and of the 144 thousand witnesses is richly portrayed in the pages of His Revelation.

Around the turn of the last century we find many cults springing out of the very poor Biblical interpretation about these promises made to the Jews. The gross error in interpretation began when catholic doctrine tried to steal every promise made to Israel and apply it to a universal mother church. This twisted world church interpretation fed into the protesters of catholic indulgences, thus Protestant Churches ended up teaching that we are presently in some kind of tribulation period and that God would not literally keep the promises made to his elect nation Israel. No, the Bible teaches very clearly that God will keep every promise made to Israel, and that nations paired with Satan himself will repeatedly attempt to annihilate Israel. It is very clear when it comes to God's dealing with Israel and that is very separate from God's dealing with his Church. Tentacles of catholic error reach deep into church doctrines of the kingdom, election, enduring to the end, and eschatology. If you cannot discern these difference between Jew and Gentile, Israel and the Church, in your Church's teachings, you should seek out a Church which rightly divides the Word of Truth. At the rapture of the Church, believers will be taken, pretenders will be left behind, and afterwards God will be dealing with the promises made to his elect nation Israel. Understanding the difference makes us pray for the peace of Israel and look for the return of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ.

Msg#645 For Week #45, Nov 05-, 2006

The Bible says “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” (Mark 9:50) Three times Jesus makes inference that those in his kingdom are to be like salt. Salt has so many uses that it was once used as wages to the Roman soldiers. We have called our wages 'salary' ever since. Google salt and you find that the saltinstitute.org has an overwhelming amount of information about salt and that we near Seneca Lake live on a major salt deposit. We find three functions of salt as a preservative and purifier, a thirst maker, and a seasoner. Doubtless Jesus had in view each of these when he said of those who enter his kingdom in his Sermon on the Mount that “Ye are the salt of the earth.” His saints should have the noticeable effect purifying their local. When you are present at work, dirty magazines should get removed and foul tongues should get guarded. If just your presence in the room is not doing any purifying perhaps you have lost some saltiness. The presence of salt induces a thirst for water. Your presence in the world should make people thirsty for the living water Jesus preached about in John 4 and 7. Salt so seasons a baked potato or ripe tomato as to make it delightfully edible. As a saint, your saltiness should make every circumstance of life well seasoned to the point where all things work together for good (Romans 8:28) and you can give thanks in everything. (I Thes 5:18) In his Sermon on the mount Jesus said that those who enter his kingdom would be the salt of the earth. How is your salinity so far?

In Mark chapter 9 Jesus was rebuking his disciples for opposing those who didn't follow Jesus just like them. He again uses this salt analogy to show that Christians are to be salt amongst errant Christians. Although the modernist's bibles from the worldly library of Alexandria leave many of these verses out Jesus clearly warns here that the most important aspect of Christianity is the salvation whereby people miss the eternal fires of hell where “their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.” When in the presence of errant Christians, salty Christians are to purify, cause thirst for right, and seasoning for the flavor of truth.

In Luke chapter 14 Jesus uses the salt analogy again. This time so that you consider the cost of turning into the salt of the earth. All the problems of life are not solved and over when you accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Indeed they will heighten. Being full time salt can be emotionally draining, physically demanding, spiritually exhausting, but it captures well Paul's assurance that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Lastly Jesus warns in all three contexts that salt that has lost it's saltiness is worse than worthless. That is very strong language, but is included in each reference to a saints saltiness. This week, as a believer watch that you can purify your environment, create thirst for the living water and make life delightfully edible. If not your relationship with the saltmaker needs to be adjusted.

Msg#646 For Week #46, Nov 12-, 2006

The Bible says that God created all things in 6 days. The rampant disbelief of that creative act cannot make it, nor it's evidences disappear. The late Dr. Morris, founder and president emeritus of the Institute for Creation Research points out that we were Created-Formed- Made.

“Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” (Isa. 43:7) “There are three main verbs used to describe God's work of creation in Genesis. There are “create” (Hebrew bara), “make” (asah), and “form” (yatsar). The three words are similar in meaning, but each has a slightly different emphasis. None of them, of course, can mean anything at all like “evolve.” or “change,” on their own accord.

“All three are used in Genesis with reference to man. “And God said, Let us make man in our image ... So God created man in His own image ... And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground” (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7).

“Although the subject of creation is commonly associated with Genesis, it is mentioned even more frequently by the great prophet Isaiah. The words bara and yatsar are used twice as often in Isaiah as in any other Old Testament book and are applies uniquely to works of God. All three verbs are used together in Isaiah 45:18 in order to describe, adequately, God's purposeful work in preparing the earth for man: “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord, and there is none else.”

“God created, formed, made, and established the earth, that it might be the home of men and women. But what was God's purpose for the people who would inhabit it? Our text answers this most fundamental of questions, and once again, all three key verbs are used: “I have created him ... I have formed him ... I have made him ... for my glory.”

“This biblical perspective alone provides the greatest of all possible incentives to live a godly and useful life. The reason we were created is to glorify God!”

Thank you Dr. Morris for that clear insight about creation and our purpose. The Bible clearly answers questions posed by all mankind. Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? And How do I get there? Are questions clearly dealt with by any religion, including the secular humanists who control our government schools. God's revealed answers are critical to eternal life. When considering the beginning and the ending, it's good to consider the testimony of one that was there. Jesus, the Christ is the creator, the alpha and omega. All Christianity hangs on that truth. Jesus said you must stand on it or be crushed by it.

Msg#647 For Week #47, Nov 19-, 2006

The great Hebrew King and Psalmist, David records the now 3000 year old poem which starts “ I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” (The Holy Bible, Psalm 116) This poem, like all the Hebrew poetry that the ACLU has censored and effectively banned from our government schooling systems, is marvelously organized into patterns of profound thinking. Hebrew poetry does not normally use rhyme or meter to set it's pace but profound thought. This one uses a triune marriage of enlightened musing about the salvation of ones soul, which makes it especially profound for the Christian reader. It begins with the plight of a soul without God's salvation. Such destiny is described as “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. ” The simplicity and availability of this salvation is captured in his phrase “Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. ”

Then, in verse 5, the marvelous power and miracle of this salvation is expressed in the triune provision of 'grace', 'righteousness' and 'mercy.' This theme is the whole thesis of Paul's letter to the Romans which is a masters thesis on the balance of righteousness, grace and mercy found in so great salvation. Martin Luther was studying it when he broke from the penance practices and indulgence sales of Roman Catholicism. David introduced these ingredients of salvation 1000 years before the Christ made it real and accessible. Paul delineates the superb and intricate balance of these ingredients. God's Word demonstrates marvelous undeniable continuity in this regard. In verse 7 the poet sets his soul to rest. If you are troubled you can find rest for your soul in this tremendous discourse called the Holy Bible.

The second portion of the poetic trilogy of Psalm 116 deals with ownership. You cannot give your soul into God's keeping and hold your life for yourself. When God saves (and owns) your soul, he owns your life. The trinity of thought here is found in verse 9 of the poem. It says He delivered my soul from death, removing the 'hell' of verse 5, delivered my eyes from tears, removing the sorrow of verse 5, and delivered my feet from falling, removing the trouble of verse 5. You could parallel these into salvation for your body, soul and spirit, the full trichotomy of man. A person's salvation must apply as much to his body, and spirit as it does to his soul. The psalmist expertly expresses this truth.

The third of the trilogy is the thanksgiving found in this poem. David pens it as “I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the LORD.” (Vrs 17) As we approach a time of national thanks giving, to Jehovah God, we should notice a trinity in the thanksgiving of this poem. It is a free will offering, it is a sacrifice, and it involves a calling upon the name of the Jehovah. Happy Thanks Giving.

Msg#648 For Week #48, Nov 26-, 2006

The purpose of life is a profound consideration best defined by our creator. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. “ (Rev 4:11) “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. “ (Eccl 12:13-14) Three very practical applications of these verses hang upon our understanding of the fear of God, the Lordship of His Son, the Christ, and the indwelling of His Spirit. In any Church today there will not be a handful of people who could describe, much less practice, the fear of the LORD. Most have swallowed the line, that it only means 'reverence', discarding the 'tremble in your boots' or 'fall down as dead', fear. In my Bible I find more of the latter two than the first. The first English translators got it right when they said,” Fear God.” Fear his Righteousness, He can tolerate NO unpunished sin in his presence. It often amazes us what sins 'good Christians' rationalize in this life. The supposed preachers of the gospel imprisoned as a pedophile or defrocked as a homosexual are glaring depictions of our ability to rationalize away gross sin. God's holiness does not settle in well with our old nature of sin. Fear of God's righteousness will enable you to “die daily” and “mortify the deeds of the body”. The Bible is clear that we are to “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,(any sex outside of marriage, any sexual disobedience of God, etc.) uncleanness, (lustful thinking, pornography, dirty jokes and sexual innuendo, etc) inordinate affection, (pedophilia, homosexual relations, etc) evil concupiscence, (evil lusting, sexual gluttony, etc.) and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: “ (Col 3:5-6). Fear His righteousness because he will not dismiss or overlook your sins, and fear his presence.

If your godly parents could watch every thing that you said and did every day, America would have no teenage pregnancy, no fornication problem, no rapists, and no drug problem. But since godly parents are rare today, and most parents have now brought these sins into their living rooms we need a renewed fear of God's presence. He is watching when you roll up that sleeve or slide down those jeans. He presently sees your deeds, hears each word, and knows your thoughts. We need a sobering acknowledgment of him in all our ways (Prov 3:5-6). We should also fear his absence. Romans outlines 7 steps away from God wherein the end result is God giving him up unto, 'vile affections' (Rom 1:26) These 'vile affections' are clearly defined as homosexual relations. America has turned its back on God, walked down these 7 steps and today is promoting these vile affections as their alternate lifestyle. When God gives up his outstretched arms to a person or a people they are in dire straights. But not as dire as one who goes to their deathbed rejecting his only begotten Son. They enter eternity without the presence of God and go to a lake of fire prepared for Satan and his angels. If you rejected God's messiah (Christ in Greek) and can read this today, you can repent and receive Him with the fear of the LORD. ... “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)

Msg#649 For Week #49, Dec 03-, 2006

Fifty years years before the Assyrian destruction and captivity of Samaria God's prophet Amos faced off against JerUSAlem and gave 6 sound reasons why she too deserved a similar fate. The message of an angry God is recorded for us in the 2,800 year old Bible book called Amos. Chapter 6 starts with the word 'Woe', a command we later used when a horse needed to cease and desist prior to pending punishment. God used it first in the Bible to point to the pending doom of nations and request their repentance. In verse one His chosen nation was trusting in it's size. In verse 2 in her self comparisons with others and supposed superiority. In verse 3 she was trusting in living for the supposition that she had plenty of time before her judgment and in verse 4 in her material wealth and fatness, ease and gluttony.

Both Samaria and JerUSAlem had fallen into idolatry, where they worshiped created things, pagan god's and the creature more than their Creator. If you would know what a country holds dear as it's religion you should but look to what is taught to her children in her schools. Secular humanists know this well as they indoctrinate ours with their religion of godless evolution. The six tell tale signs of pending doom preached by Amos then are not unfamiliar to our own nation nor the history books. They marked the fall of the Grecian Empire exalting education as it's idol. They marked the demise and fall of the Roman Empire exalting pagan Roman religion as her idol. The Soviet Union met their devolution and fell after indoctrinating 6 generations of her children that there is no god, no creator, no moral right nor wrong. The earmarks found the internal rotting away and fall of the British Empire which even today is a leader in the fallacious 'science,' so called, that the creature created itself from a spontaneous generation of life. They call such foolishness 'science' and teach it to our children today. What do you suppose is the course of this country that carries all six earmarks related to God's anger with his chosen people of JerUSAlem? We Christians, who know the love of God and the anger of God should blast as the Prophet Amos did, with God's message of 'Whoa', 'Repent' and Woe.' Yet our pulpits are strangely silent as they pretend evil is good and good is evil. Woe to them that are at ease and acceptance and tolerance in our untrustworthy pulpits and in our mislead pews.

The fifth verse points to their fifth woe. Therein we find a nation that trusted in and lived for their entertainment. I write this on the eve that thousands of Americans are sleeping on the streets so they can be first to get a $600 entertainment toy. They live for their godless and selfish entertainment. The sixth and final woe to a country trudging a path away from their Creator, Redeemer and the Jehovah God of the universe points to their love of strong drink and drugs. They had a drug problem. Need God say more to JerUSAlem before he allows it's fall into a Babylonian captivity? Will America repent and turn, or proceed and burn? Heard any 'Woe's lately? If your not in a Church where these 'Woe's are preached, you should be. As Christians we should be openly and boldly speaking the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the 'public square', vr 10; shoring up our children with Bible commandments and truth, vr 11; and preparing the rock hard soil of American hearts for the reception of the glorious Gospel of Jesus the Saviour, the Christ, vr 12-13; else we meat the certain doom, vr 14. The warning is clear, the command is certain. Let's get to work. 640 Words For Week #49, Dec 03-, 2006

Msg#650 For Week #50, Dec 09-, 2006

In allowing the Bible to declare to us the very purpose of life we have found it's declaration that we were created by the Lord Jesus Christ and that we are created for His pleasure. (Rev 4:11) Our Government

Schools have indoctrinated you with a hypothesis that there is no creator and we evolved into existence accidentally by random chance. This indoctrination contends that life has no eternal purpose, that you

function and procreate for the survival of the fittest, and that life sprang spontaneously from 2 rocks of a primeval sea. I fear for our nation as it approaches a majority of young people who have heard only

this ludicrous hypothesis in their indoctrination void of all Bibles. The Bible contends that your were created, not civilized from a tribe of apes. It contends that you are here for your creator, not for a self satisfying advancement to the highest rung of a food chain. This is a big difference in philosophical view. It should concern us all that only the humanistic evolutionary philosophy can be taught in our science

Just the same the Bible contends that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and that you need to call your creator your Lord. For a Christian Jesus the Christ, the only begotten Son of Jehovah God is his Lord. This Lordship of Jesus Christ is not something that grows on you in time. It is something that you took on at conversion. And Jesus said “Verily Verily I say unto you, “Except ye be converted ..... ye cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt 18) When you repented and believed on Christ, it did not require sorrow or tears or penance, but it did require a change of your Lord. You were once lorded by sin, or self, a world, or a religion, but you 'converted to' or 'repented' (changed) toward a new lord, the Lord Jesus Christ on whom you called. (Rom 10) A problem in our Churches is that many have made a commitment or a confirmation class but have never been converted to Christ; they have never repented and changed to a new lord in their life. Had they, they would be born again under a new Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't just be confirmed ... be converted. Don't just be religious, convert your ownership to the Lord. Don't be agnostic, be trusting in the one who gives eternal life. If he is not your lord, Jesus commands that you repent and take him as such. His word says “Except ye be converted ... ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18) and “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3) Will you enter the Kingdom of heaven?

Msg#651 For Week #51, Dec17-, 2006

We celebrate his birth in Bethlehem; we covet his message about peace on earth, but we often forget his message to repent and believe. This Christmas season make the effort to hear and believe 'What the Bible Says' over what traditions and spin off religions report. If you dust off your Bible and read it this week you might be surprised to find it's truths plainly legible and different than your Church's teachings. The command to repent and believe is quite like a command to 'Leave NY and go to London'. You cannot go to London without leaving NY, so obedience to this command would include both leaving and going. You could leave NY and not go to London, this would be disobedience to the command. You cannot go to London without leaving NY and thus the parallel that you cannot believe on Jesus without repentance. In Jesus' repeated command of 'repent and believe' the repenting is the leaving off of something, and the believing is the clinging onto something. Repenting is not the being sorry for what we did but leaving off of what we are trusting in or leaning on. There is no penance in repentance. Penance came from a bad Latin translation and is nowhere found in the Greek New Testament, nor a trustworthy English translation.

I recently talked to a man who was Roman Catholic priest and 'father' to a parish in Trinidad. He was becoming more trusting in the Bible and less trusting in his Church and listened intently to the messages of Evangelist Billy Graham. This Catholic Priest had done all that the Evangelist asked in his invitations and more. He had received Christ. He had made a commitment to Christ. He had stepped out for Christ, leaving home and entering the country of Trinidad. He was executing all manner of Catholic penance, and yet he knew something was lacking in his soul's salvation. The Evangelist had not preached repentance so this priest continued on in error until the Bible showed him his need to let go of his Church's doctrine, his good deeds, his penance, and his works and forsaking all others cling only to Christ. Repent and believe, as Jesus said. The testimony of Richard Bennett, Converted Catholic Priest can be read at www.bereanbeacon.org.

When the rich young ruler came to Jesus asking “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18) Jesus pointedly illustrated what repentance is all about. The man had to let go of everything else and cling only to Jesus. There was no sorry penance, nor regret for ones sins in Jesus' command to him. It was therein like the command “Leave NY and go to London”. The man would not leave his riches. He might have followed Christ with his riches in tow, but to inherit eternal life you need to leave off of everything else and cling only to Christ, you need to repent. That does not necessitate tears, sorrow, penance, nor even regret. It necessitates leaving off of something... yea of everything else, and converting to Christ. “God ... commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Act17:30) “Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19) This Christmas could be your merry-ist ever if your sins were blotted out. Jesus said “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5) Religion won't get you into His kingdom. Repentance will.

Msg#652 For Week #52, Dec24-, 2006

The Christmas message is meant to be the Christian gospel message. The Christmas spirit of giving is only important because of the Christmas gift of God's only begotten Son, the Christ, the Saviour of men. During the preparation for Christmas the Bible believer will spend more time with their Bible opened and less time than most on lights and trees and gifts. In the weeks before Christmas we like to spend time examining the prophecy of His coming and the preparation for His coming. The prophecy trail has its beginning in Gen 3:15 and becomes very explicit in foretelling his birth, life, death and kingship. It is promised that he would be born of the 'seed' of woman, not of man and that He will be God in the flesh not just a prophet but The Messiah. The Old Testament prophecy of Christ's first advent is a marvelous, marvelous fore telling of all that we, as Christians, believe and hold dear.

In the preparation for the sending of the Christ there was a SIN problem to be dealt with. God could not send his son through the 'seed' of sinful of man. God sent his son through the 'seed' of woman to hurdle the sin of man problem. So Christ cannot come into your heart until the sin problem is dealt with; it will require repentance (not penance, repentance) Also, God needed a herald for his King. God had to deal with Zacharias' UNBELIEF to get a herald born in the earth. Christ cannot be born in you until the unbelief problem is dealt with as well. Thirdly, God needed his Christ born in the city of David called Bethlehem, as he promised. Doubtless Mary and Joseph knew about Micah 5:2. But God moved in a Roman Emperor to cause all the world to be taxed. Without REBELLION, Joseph took his 'great with child' wife to the little village of Bethlehem. God cannot send Christ into your heart when your heart is full of rebellion and lacking in submission. I should mention here that rock music is synonymous with rebellion, and Christianity is synonymous with submission. Thus the term 'Christian Rock' is in actuality an oxymoron. Rebellion in mans heart needs to be dealt with before Christ can enter. God cannot send his son into your heart when it is filled with rebellion and lacking in submission. Even as God had to prepare the world for the reception of his son, God needs to prepare your heart for the reception of his son. The Bible says that when he does move into your soul you are born again, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. (John 3, 1Cor 5:17) If you had no change, or only a man made change, you'll need to examine your conversion, perhaps there was no new birth. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil 2:12) Don't miss eternal life because of your sin, unbelief or rebellion.

This Christmas season, as you marvel at all the things God did to send his son into the world, marvel at all the things he did to send his son into your soul. If you make room for him there, you can have a very merry Christmas.

Msg #701 Looking Back

If there is anything we learn from history it is that we don't learn anything from history. King and Scholar Solomon said it well when he pronounced that 'there is no new thing under the sun.' As we stand on the last day of a year and look back on life, I hope we can disprove the former and project upon the latter of these statements. Learn some lessons from the year gone by, and understand that you are not the first person down this road of life. That's why we purpose to be followers, .. followers of Christ,.. Christians.

Having just come through a marvelous time of celebrating the birth of our Lord I am drawn to consider what happened next. Luke chapter 2 was read by Bible believing Christians across the world on Christmas day, but we often stop short of it's 52 verses in marveling about Christ's first advent. That last verse of transition between the Christ's childhood and his public ministry states that “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) When we look back on the year gone by I wonder how much growth we can find in these four areas.

Jesus increased in wisdom. At this writing I am in my early fifties and in pursuit of my 4^th college degree. I cannot remember a year when I was not enrolled in some college extension course or other, except this one. I'm not saying pursuing college is the only way of increasing in knowledge and wisdom but it is a measurable one. What measurable means of Bible study are you engaged in to grow in wisdom as Jesus did? Your Bible believing Baptist Church will have a Bible institute that you can enroll in. Get enrolled.

Jesus increased in stature. The average American is 30 pounds overweight, making them obese. It's not the chemical laden sodas, nor the processed sugars, nor the host of unpronounceable ingredients in our diets to blame, it is our lack of discipline and temperance. I know I should eliminate those three things from my diet but I don't have the discipline for it. Temperance is an interesting word. It is one of the 9 fruits of the Spirit of God that is to increase in us and it is enacted when your mind and spirit tells your body 'NO' to something that it wants. We are obese because we have more unpronounceable chemicals in us than we have temperance. Did you meet some physical milestones this last year? Increase in physical stature and endurance, Jesus did.

Jesus increased in favour with God. One of Paul's prayers for the saints at Colossee and Ephesus was that they grow in the knowledge of God and His will. If you have more than 5 close and personal friends in this world your above normal. Friends are two that spend time together sharing anything in their lives without thinking less of the other. Abraham and Moses were friends of God. This last year were you friends with God?

Jesus increased in favour with man. What kind of social life did you have in this last year? As a Christian you are commanded to be the salt of the earth and the light in the darkness. You can't do that locked away in tight little circles. When is the last time the light of your Christian testimony shined on someone lost in the darkness?

This year when you are tempted to 'let old acquaintance be forgot' take some lessons on life to heart first. What would Jesus do? Increase.

Msg #702 A Christian's New Year Start

The Bible says “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5:17) The question that looms before man because he is already proven to be more than an evolved animal is “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The Christian has found the answer to that question in the salvation experience described in the Holy Bible. The answer there is also contained in our label that you must be 'IN CHRIST' Now the Holy Bible goes on to describe characteristics that show up in a person if they are truly Christian, and this verse is a key indicator of the internal changes that one finds in himself if that be true. As we step out into each new year it is always wise to examine ourself, to insure that we are 'IN CHRIST' and then evaluate ourself to find old things passing away and all things becoming new.

The 'Church' itself has become an enemy of the first examination, so it would behoove you to go straight to the word of the Apostles. Check out Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul and Peter on 'Getting In Christ'. Therein you must, Be converted to enter into Christ in Matt 18:3; Repent and believe in Mark 1:15; Repent or perish in Luke 13:3; Be born again by belief in John 3:16-18,36, 1John 5:12-13; Believe and call upon Christ in Romans 10:9-10,13; and Be begotten by the resurrected Christ in 1Pet 1:3-5, 2Pet 1:1-4. There are no sacraments, works, penance, baptisms, memberships nor confirmation classes in the marvelous Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you 'IN CHRIST' today? It is hard to act Christian. Most don't 'act' that well anyway. It is easy to be Christian. Stop the act and get 'In Christ.'

Now, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The English language would be well served if it maintained it's accuracy (i.e. not modernized) and contained an Aorist tense. Such a tense would be a combination of past tense, when a verb started it's action, present tense, when a verb is currently acting, and future tense, guaranteeing that the action would continue on and on. Such would be the verb in this verse 'are passed away'. In this new year, for a real Christian, we can look back and see some vices, habits, attitudes and sins that passed away last year, and some that need to pass this year. In this new year, for a real Christian, we can look back and see some studies, habits, attitudes and virtues that became new last year, and some that need to be added this year. This is a growth check, don't shrink from it. It was Peter that said “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pet:5-8) Be Christian and have a 'fruitful' new year.

When I worked in the business world it was wise and required to devise a mission statement, a vision statement, and a set of goals that would move one toward them. As a Pastor I have often revisited this wisdom for both our Church and for individual lives and rejoiced in the fact that God has already written our mission statement, our vision statement and our goals. The matter in question is; do you trust God's written word, or prefer the man made mission plans for your life and Church? God requires that you trust in Him and He promises “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” (Jer 17:7) He also says, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jer 17:5)

God's Holy Word, when you believe it, and when you study it, gives a clear plan and purpose to His Church, which man of late tries to call a “Faith Based Initiative.” In the business world, a mission statement answers, what is my mission? i.e. What do we do? How do we do it? For whom do we do it? A vision statement contains what you ultimately envision for your mission or business. And your goals and action plans guide your daily, weekly and monthly actions. Jesus Christ told his Church “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.“ (Matt 28:18-20) This three part commission is the Churches mission statement. It is very specific and sequential. You don't add to your number (baptize) unbelievers, you preach the gospel to them. You don't teach the world to observe Christian morals, you teach that to your born again, baptized members, as you preach the saving gospel of Christ to the world and the worldly. God's mission statement does not align well with the man made pluralistic one used in our mega and modernist churches. One is blessed, one is cursed, who are you going to trust? His vision statements includes only two Church offices, a Bishop-Pastor held by a husband who is apt to teach and rules his house well, and Deacons who are husbands which are grave, and rule their houses well (1Tim 3). Modernist churches don't like His mission statement and can't stand his vision statements. They never even get to his goals and action plans.

Even as God has missions, visions and action plans for His Church, He has them for his individual believers as well. Your mission statement starts with “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Your vision statement, written by God, goes on to contain what He envisions for your walk and life. His action plans contain direction for your days, weeks, and months. The action plan includes, by the way, that you be assembled with other believers (Heb 10:25) on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7, 1Cor 16:2 ), under the authority of a Bible believing Pastor (Heb 13:17). You should trust his statements. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD.”

Msg #704 A Personal Vision Statement

When I was in the military we had a personal 5 year plan and 1 year plan, looking at where we expected our personal goals and decisions to take us. As a Christian it is wise to have a 1 year plan, a 5 year plan and a 1000 year plan. The mission statement for a Christian is most succinctly stated by Christ as “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Jesus also detailed a vision statement for each believer in what is truly the 'Lord's Prayer' of John 17. There he states “ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ... For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. ... I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” (John 17:3,8-11) Would that you and I, as Christians, had this as our primary drive and motivation. To know and be one with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ. The apostle Paul is a fervent example of this priority. His tremendous vitality as a soul winner, a preacher of the gospel, and outgoing witness was not drummed up by a motivational speaker or by maintaining a 'seeker sensitive' mentality. No! Liberals like Hybels and Warren and their purpose driven vision have gutted evangelical Christianity of truth and doctrine of Christ. Paul built his dynamic vitality around this one thing in Christ's prayer for his believers, to 'know' Christ. As Paul states it: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” (Phil 3:8-11) Knowing Christ, not with a head knowledge but with an intimate personal daily relationship, is the vision statement that will fulfill our mission statement. Striving to know His Love, His Compassion, His Holiness in an intimate daily walk with Him should be at our core. Pursuing His prayer life and knowing the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death, so that 'I die daily' that is the 7 fold vision statement Paul had and that Christ wrote down for us. Don't let some shallow motivational speaker write your life's mission statement or vision statement, trust the one that Christ wrote for you. Put away Hybel's book and pick up His. It is the core of a true believer. Be purpose driven to know Him and you can fulfill His mission for your life “Ye shall be witnesses unto me.”

Msg #705 A Hard Look at Sin

The Great Awakening was needed in the mid 1700s and it came as a result of hellfire and brimstone preaching of the Word of God. We need to see a Great Awakening again in America. The first came 150 years after the Word of God, the Holy Bible was released from the bondage and burden of the repressive Catholic monastery and openly printed and distributed. Prior you could have been jailed for reading a Bible in public. It had been locked away in a vulgar Latin translation, not legal for distribution to the common man for 1300 years. William Tyndale made its availability in English his life's prayer and his his life's work and it cost him his life. A Great awakening today would come after the Word of God, the Holy Bible has been locked away from our society by the ACLU for a mere 47 years. To think that in a free and open and now pluralistic society the Bible could be banished from every classroom and federal building is atrocious. I t points to mankind's utter despise and rebellion towards the God that created him. It should astound thinking people that the Bible is out and the Koran is in. The one teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and the other the aggressive intolerance of an Arabic religion. The one the foundation stone of our founding and freedom, the other the foundation stone of our demise and 9/11 destruction. A religion that promotes the overthrow of our free government and the installation of a totalitarian Islamic state is the fastest growing religion in America. It is high time for Armerica to bring out some of the hell fire and brimstone preaching of the Word of God and pursue a new Great Awakening.

In 1741 Jonathan Edwards preached on the text “Their foot shall slide in due time.” Deut 32:35. America is standing on very slippery ground, and 'due time' is as likely now as it was then. He concludes that fitting and famous message:

“Now undoubtedly it is, as it was in the days of John the Baptist, the axe is in an extraordinary manner laid at the root of the trees, that every tree which brings not forth good fruit, may be hewn down and cast into the fire.

“Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation. Let every one fly out of Sodom: "Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed."

That mountain is the rock cut out without hands, the Lord Jesus Christ. Man's rebellion against his creator is strongly evidenced in America, their turn to false religion, their promotion of acceptable sodomy, rebellion against proper order in home and marriage, even trying now to outlaw the spanking of a child, believing it takes a village to raise a child and not just a father and a mother in a home. We live in slippery immoral times. The Word of God is legally banished from our children and our children's children. You should step out of the slippery slime and stand on the Rock, Christ Jesus.

Msg #706 It Takes a Woman in the Home

For those who believe the Bible, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, accept Him as Lord and Saviour of their soul, and are called Christian, the dictates of God put us at odds with 'political correctness'. Nowhere is that more striking than when I report that God made woman for a different purpose than His created male of the species. With a power hungry woman seeking our most prominent national leadership position this dialog will doubtless come to a forefront this year. The Bible says in Gen 2:15-25 and throughout, that God created the female our our species to be the appropriate helper to the male, not the leader for the male. The Bible reaffirms in 1Tim 2 & 3, and throughout, that the role of the woman in His Church, “which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth,” is to be one of submission and subjection , not one of leadership and domination. The Bible reaffirms in Eph 5, and throughout, that the role of the woman in the child rearing home, where the husband(male) and the wife(female) are to know each other glorify each other, and be made one flesh with each other, is to be one of subjection and submission to the leadership of the husband, even as Christ is to be the leader in and over the Church. It is undeniable, Bible! It is included in all the precepts about the fall of man. It is included in the curse of Gen 3:16 that emphasizes, even demands, this ordering of the sexes.

The modernists who do not believe the Bible must ignore and soft peddle its dictates as they install their women bishops and feminize the Church. So to we have feminized our news broadcast, and now our Senate. Satan's desire is that we belittle God's word, God's purpose, and God's dictates and now feminize the whole lump. It worked out so well for him in the garden of Eden that way. (1Tim 2:13-15)

My purpose in writing this brief outline of God's dictates about the role of women is not political, national or even ecclesiastical. It is that your marriage and home may be a taste of paradise here on the earth. It will bot be such outside of God's order. If any part of God's order of the sexes herein outlined raises the hackles of your nature, you need a new nature, a Godly nature, born inside of you. If your not a born again Christian you will have a natural rebellion against God's ways of ordering things. Strangely enough your rebellion against your Creator will make you intolerant towards Christians who want to order their lives after God's Word, who want to spank their children , as He commands, and who call sodomy sin, as He does. Intolerance towards Christians is the only intolerance that is politically correct these days.

It is doubtless the more challenging task, and doubtless the more rewarding, for a wife to be submissive to her husband. It is also the most rebelled against in our society. If you will order your home after God's order of the sexes, he has promised to bless you, to make your way prosperous and to bring you good success (Josh 1:8) May you decide to do it His way in your home. If we can get enough homes doing it His way, it may change America's pulpits to the proper gender, and even be seen in the voting booths of America. Jesus said his kingdom was likened to a little leaven that can leaven the whole lump.

Msg #707 It Takes Man in a Home

Jesus' prayer for those who believe on him is recorded in John 17. It details what Christ desired for his followers and I have extracted and highlighted four of these desires as guide stones towards Christian Joy. “And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ... All mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. ... that they may be one as we are. ... That they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Valentines day is not a Christian holiday. It marks the calendar of the 14^th of February but for one reason, that is to remind the incorrigible and coarse husband to be a tender and compassionate romantic towards the one who surrendered the flower of her youth to appropriate herself his help meet in life. I know no man that needs no such reminder, though I know some who don't properly take advantage of it. As one would expect the effectual recipe for Christian joy, given by the Lord Jesus Christ in his prayer for his saints, is an excellent fit in our quest of marital joy. Throughout the Bible God likens our relationship with him to the marital relationship between a husband and wife. Consequently the guide for our rightful, growing, and joyous relationship with the Lord is a good guide for a rightful, growing, joyful relationship in our marriage.

Lets look at the four ingredients. First that I might know my wife. This “knowing “ in the Bible is descript of the most intimate of a physical relationships, and the most intimate of a mental relationships, and the most intimate of an emotional relationships. Knowing God is to be far deeper than a head knowledge or theology. So too is knowing our wives. The Bible commands husbands to “dwell with them according to knowledge.” (1Pet 3:7) Use Valentines day to mark how much you have known your wife in this last year and map out how you will improve in that quest in the year before you.

Jesus said “I am glorified in them.” A marriage that tries to proportion on a 50-50 basis is duped and doomed. Such proportioning speaks of division and not union. In 1970 as a teen, I worked in the Polly-O Cheese plant with coarse unsaved men. To this day I remember how crude a form and vulgar a mouth they often spoke of their wives. The vile mud they slung at these wives was smeared on their own face. I purposed then toward my fiancée that I would ever glorify my wife; even as I was to ever glorify my Lord and Saviour. This knowing, glorifying, and unifying of two into one flesh is the interweaving of a three fold cord “that is not quickly broken” (Eccl 4) In America our homes are more like a frayed knot than a three fold cord, and half of them are coming unfrayed with child destroying ugly divorce as their consequence. On Valentines I am reminded that my marriage needs help, and your marriage needs help. Let Him be your help. Happy Valentines Day.

Msg #708 Pursuit of Wisdom

In a dream God told Solomon “Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.“ (1Kings 3:12) Three thousand years later, there is still none wiser than he. The Bible says “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.“ (1Kings 4:29-30) Of the 3,000 proverbs of Solomon we have 1,000 recorded in the Bible. In them Solomon marvelously describes how to pursue after God's wisdom for yourself. Therein you would find that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

In his second book, Ecclesiastes, Solomon starts a new tact in chapter 7. Consider the wisdom of the advice “The day of death (is better) than the day of one's birth.” and this new tact shows Solomon's pursuit of wisdom, in answer to ones purpose in life. Diligently pursuing purpose under the sun is here called the “sore travail (that God has given) to the son's of men to be exercised therewith.” Ecclesiastes is Solomon's rational in that pursuit, when undertaken without using the revelation of God. It gives interesting perspective into a humanist mind.

The subtle change in philosophical direction is marked by his ended quest for the works of man to be full filling. Instead he found all such works to be a “vexation of spirit”. In his introduction Solomon said that he would travail, in wisdom, but without God he would find all works to be a vexation of spirit, (1:14) then, without God, he would find all wisdom to be vexation of spirit (1:17) Up to this point Solomon has shown that all manner of works is vexation of his pursuit. (2:11, 17, 26, 4:4, 16) Then in chapter six, all materialism, whether successful or not, was shown to be vexation of spirit. Now he is approaching his second tact which is stated in 1:17 “And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.” So consider that on this new approach to the quest before us, Solomon considers not the good name, nor the day of one's birth, but the day of death as the wise teacher. In your mind, go to your funeral, and recognize that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:“ (Heb 9:27)

Don't be foolish with your soul. Solomon's father taught him “Be wise now therefore,... Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.“ (Psalms 2:10-12) The Apostle James says if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, nothing wavering, asking in faith. Outside of God, you will not find wisdom. You might even fall for the line that the bald eagle evolved from a lizard. There is no wisdom there, but that is all you can get in our government school systems. Solomon has been banned and America is in a mess. Get your children reading the banned book, the Holy Bible, do it for their souls sake. May America wisely come back to Jehovah God.

Msg #709 Faithfulness in the Home

The Christian home is the mainstay of stable society and it's core basis is fidelity. The wisdom of Solomon puts it this way “Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. ... Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.“ (Proverbs 5:15,18) This fidelity is called for in the vows exchanged on the wedding day, where the love, the security, and the significance are promised before God till death do part. These vows are violated in the marriages that entertain or pursue divorce. And such violation not only destroys a marriage union, it destroys a home, it destroys the security of children. God's plan for marriage is serious and blessing is promised to those who will make it work, cursing to those who would separate. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:9) Those in our society who try for security without marriage vows rub their own errant ideas into the face of God and their home will not have His blessing. When a couple marry they grasp a security in their relationship that is necessary to the human heart. Such security is mirrored in the words of Christ when he says to born again believers,”I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” (Heb 13:5) He would not break that vow to us, nor should you break yours to your spouse. It brings a needed security to a marriage, a home and to its children.

A husband is commanded to love his wife as Christ loved the church. This love is not a gushy way of feeling, it is a selfless caring for the well being of another. Three things emphasized by the Lord Jesus Christ, can help secure a love that could last till death do part. Faithfulness, forgiveness, and good communication. The first of these is addressed directly in your marriage vows. The other two are key to keeping the first active. An important part of being 'one flesh' is the act of forgiveness. When an act or word in your marriage holds grudge or unforgiveness it divides. Division is directly opposed to the bonding involved in being one flesh, one mind, one spirit. Holding a hurt that will be brought up again in a later fight, is by definition, unforgiveness. Jesus said “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt 6:14-15) A forgiving heart is inherently Christian. Unforgiveness is a problem in life, and a real problem in marriages.

Good communication is a delightful challenge for marriages. Again, the 'art' of becoming one flesh, one mind, one spirit, will only culminate with good communications. I recently read, that a man is alloted a thousand words per day and the woman twenty thousand. I am sure that was based on observation not research. But it is normal for a man to get home from work with only two words left in his allocation, “Where's supper?” as his precious wife only used only a thousand words and that on a three year old! Good communication will be a challenge in your home. Take the challenge, purpose to be faithful, forgiving and a good communicator in your marriage. It can be a taste of paradise here on earth, and last till death do part. May God bless your home.

Msg #710 Essentials of Marriage, Forgiveness

In defining the institution of marriage the Bible is specific about some attributes and subtle with others. Forgiveness is a marital essential that the Bible ties directly to our Christianity, but does not attach directly to it's discourse on marriage. Anyone who has been married for any length of time knows how essential forgiveness is. Anyone who has seen their marriage crumble and fail could give a testimonial about an absence of forgiveness. The Bible gives a command to forgive, a method for forgiveness, and an imperative to forgive. It says “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph 4:32 ) God gives us example of supreme forgiveness and says in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah “ ... for they shall all know me, ..., saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer 31:34) The hardest part of your forgiveness will be to 'remember their sin no more'. That is the part of divine forgiveness which we often lack. After a time, when we get into a marital fight we bring up a trespass that was long ago 'forgiven and forgotten.' But it wasn't, if we bring it up again in a later conversation or fight. Look at what Christ taught about our shallow forgiveness methods, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt 6:14-15) Complete forgiveness will be challenging to your old nature. If your born again God gives you a new nature wherein you can do all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, ... Even completely forgive.

For your marriage, for your family, examine these four excellent steps to forgiveness.

2. Make the promise to lift the burden of guilt from the person as far as the wrong against you is concerned. Remember the person's sin no more - never mentioning it again to the person, to others, or to yourself, even by innuendo.

3. Seal your forgiveness with your behavior, demonstrating love in suitable ways with tenderhearted kindness, and doing what the Bible shows you to be right in the situation.

1. If you hold on to your resentments, they will turn to bitterness. As a result, your life will be poisoned, and others lives, too “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” (Heb 12:15)

2. By refusing to release the burden of the other person's wrong against you and choosing to carry that burden yourself, you will become crippled in the living of your life. “And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Heb 12:13-14)

3. If your are not willing to forgive, (and forget), there is no way you can expect to walk in personal fellowship with God. “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. “ (Matt 18:35)

Msg #711 Essentials of Marriage, Communication

The Bible instructs husbands “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” (1Pe 3:7) We live in a society that rejects the Word of God because of their rebellion, their ignorance or both. If the Bible says we are to put away murderous sin with capital punishment their will be a vocal group that will rebel against it. If the Bible says that the rod of reproof is necessary in correcting our children there will be a group of PH-Something pushing to make it illegal. Or perhaps some name grabber saying instead that “It takes a village”. Even if the Bible says a husband and wife shall be one flesh and form a new permanent, till death do us part home where children should be reared in admonition and truth, TV fools raise their ugly head and say Adam and Steve, or Rosie and Bertha can do just as well. These are mans rebellions against their creator's order. Jehovah God gave an instruction book for life, and man has been in rebellion of it for 6 thousand years now. This is not new.

Those who believe the Bible believe it was written by an all knowing God who knew what would be in the heart of man in the twenty first century. Believe in the sufficiency of the Word of God for today, and in its sufficiency for our marriages. The challenge here, for husbands, is in dwelling with our wife according to knowledge. That depends on our weakest asset, communication! Check out your “dwelling according to knowledge” with these 5 characteristics of good communications. 1) Both husband and wife feel a freedom to express themselves and to be themselves. Acceptance or rejection sends one of the most powerful messages know to humans. 2) You have learned to listen with your ears and your hearts to one another. Ways to improve your listening skills are regular topics at seminars and well worth your attention. 3) The husband wife communications should never be win/loose confrontations. Resolved disagreements or conflicts do not come about in the broken down communication link found in this type of contest. 4) Recognize and correct communication practices that cause frustration. Learn to have a good Biblical fight with your spouse. Christ gave excellent guidelines about conduct while in a fight, and conduct that resolves disagreement. I call them the BEST approach; standing for Bless, Edify, Share, and Touch communications. Lastly 5) you will feel safe and secure in your relationship if you get to know one another through good communication. Husband's and wives can remain closely in touch and intimate for a life time.

Christ provides a way for husbands and wives to love and live out their lives together, outside of their own selfish nature. He does this by giving us a new nature. If you need that new and right relationship with your spouse, it begins with a new and right relationship with your creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. You were created by Him and for Him. When you repent of your sin, give him your soul, and take him as your Saviour, you become a new creature. One that can love with a selfless love and have a home that is a taste of paradise here on this earth. God bless you as you seek Him in your life.

Msg #712 A Couple Questions from God.

In Genesis 3:9 the Holy Bible says “ And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” This marks the first of a series of questions that God asks of his creatures and it should be given consideration. First consider why did God ask the question. Did he not know? A short study of God's omniscience leads us to understand that God did know, he even knew how many hairs were in Adams head that day. (Matt 10:30, Luk 12:7) So if he knew, why did he ask? Remember this when God asks us questions it is not to satisfy His lack of knowledge but ours. If God came to you and asked “Where are you at in relationship to your SIN?” How would you have to answer? Is your sin covered with a fig leaf of mans making? Are you hiding yourself from the presence of God because of your shame? I have seen people, even in churches, parading around in rebellious nakedness, denying even that there is sin between them and their creator. Some just call their sin an alternate life style and rebelliously press on with it. Some, trained in American atheistic schools, deny that they even have a creator, choosing rather to believe a rat jumping off a cliff discovered value in wings and became a bat. They teach that in our schools now and call it natural science. Whatever your background you should face off to God's question: “Where are you AT in relationship to your SIN?” God does not ask to satisfy His lack of knowledge. He has already stated clearly that “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin”. (Heb 9:22) Jesus shed his blood to cover your sin. (1Peter 1:18-21) Jesus said there is no other way. (John 14:6) “ And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”

In Genesis 32:27 of the Holy Bible God asks Jacob “What is thy name?” Jacob had lied about his name previous. Had lied in order to get the family blessing. Now, God was wrestling with Jacob, so that he might obtain eternal blessing and Jacob, for once, had to be honest about who he was, a lying, cheating, conniving sinner. God would ask you: “Who do you think you are?” If you are not honest about your lying, cheating, conniving sinful and lost condition, you will not receive eternal blessing either. Jesus said it clearly “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Lu 13:3) He sent out his apostles “ And they went out, and preached that men should repent.” (Mr 6:12) And so they preach it to you: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,” (Acts 3:19) When your converted you get a new name written down in the lambs book of life. (Rev 20:15) “What is thy name?”

If you have never been born again, saved from your sins, redeemed by the blood of Christ, the Bible says “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2Cor 6:2) It says “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” (Heb 2:3) You can be set free of your sin debt today, by trusting in Christ as your Lord, your saviour, and your redeemer.

Msg #713 A Couple More Questions from God

Many have asked me why Good Samaritan quit putting my messages in the Chronicle Express. We didn't, but the Chronicle can only fit in so many churches each week and Good Sam is one of the smallest ones in this area. Many have asked why we don't publish everything that is going on at Good Sam, like all the other churches publish their events. Pretty much all that is going on at Good Sam centers around our commission to preach the pure Word of God, so that is what we publish. We do that at each of our services and Bible studies that are already listed in this paper. Good Sam Baptist Church was established here in 1991 with a commitment to preach and hold to the fundamentals of the faith from the old King James English Bible. We will not use a modernist ecumenical bible, we sing only the old fashioned hymns of the faith, and we preach hell hot and heaven sweet, like Jesus did. It has been a straight gait and narrow way. We raise funds with tithes and offerings not with bazaars, bingos or buffets. We have not become a mega church with several avenues of entertainment to publish, but we are a joyous, God centered, Bible centered group of believers here between the lakes. If you long for the old paths you are invited to join us. My penny pulpit column goes to multiple papers each week and can be read at gsbaptistchurch.com. Here is this weeks column.

When God asks a question, he is not looking to satisfy his short sightedness. In 1Kings 19:9 the Holy Bible says “ ... behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?” Elijah, here was not where he was supposed to be in relation to his trust in God. He had just made a 63 word prayer and called fire down from heaven previous to this scene. (1Kings 18:36) He had slain all the prophets of Baal (vrs 40) and successfully prayed for the abundance of rain.(vrs 42) When one Queen Jezebel raised up against him he fled to a quitters cave and filed papers of resignation. God might ask you today “What doest thou here in a quitters cave?” If you are born again and have seen the miracle of God's redeeming grace come down into your life, seen sin slain and the abundance of rain, you have been commissioned to be His witness, to preach his gospel to every creature. What are you doing spelunking in a church that does not even believe the Holy Bible? What are you doing resigning to a priest promoting a sacramental system of penance and works? In America a majority of Churches have entered in the wide gate and are on a broad path. A majority have left the faith, departed from the book, and abandoned their commission. If your a born again Christian, God might ask, What are you doing here? Elijah knew better, but needed to be asked “What doest thou here, Elijah?” When is the last time you confronted a friend, a neighbor, a kin about the eternal destiny of their soul? Are you a Christian that resigned your commission? Christ said, “Ye are my witnesses.” Read the account of the precious promises that met Elijah when he came out of his cave. (1Kings 19:11-18) He got a new commission, new king, new help, new encouragement and new zeal. Come out of your quitters cave and check out your exceeding great and precious promises. (2Pet 1:4) And besides all this add to your faith virtue.(vr 5-) You can have a new commission, new king, new help, new encouragement and new zeal. God asks “What doest thou here?”

Msg #714 Palm Sunday and Passover

For the events around Easter celebration Christians have mixed tradition with Scripture so much that few recognize the truth now days. Jesus the Christ was our passover lamb. “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” (1Cor 5:7) The Bible says in Exodus 12 that the passover lamb, without blemish, was separated from the rest of the flock on the 10^th day of the month and slain on the 14^th day of the month. Our “lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) was separated on what is called Palm Sunday. In accord with Scripture he was then examined for four days, then slain on a cross on the 14^th day of the month. John 12 says that Jesus came to Bethany six days before the passover, at that Friday night supper, Mary anointed this 'passover lamb' with precious ointment. On the first day of the week, Sunday, after His resurrection, two disciples report that this “is the third day since these things (the crucifixion) were done” (Luke 24:21) That puts the crucifixion on the passover, the 14^th day of the month, and that puts the passover lamb's acceptance ceremony on the Sunday that we call Palm Sunday, the 10^th day of the month in accord with Exodus 12. The important lesson here is that traditions of men subtract from the Scripture. This year go through the Easter season with your Bible open and tradition is skepticism. The Scripture is clear, “ .. that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1Cor 15:3-4) This Easter you could accept him as your Saviour and Lord and have a very Happy Easter.

Msg #715 Springtime and our Creator

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;” (Eccl 12:1) We are finishing up thirteen weeks of study in the Preachers book called Ecclesiastes. The wisest King in the world, (God said so) lays out a dissertation expecting every man to strive to find the purpose of life. Spring time in New York makes his conclusion, 'to remember your Creator while your young', simple. At a Christian School this week, I was asked “How could someone see this (spring time, sunshine, birds and bugs) and believe in evolution?” Consider that for most, a godless, creator-less indoctrination begins in our kindergartens, goes K-12, and mocks Bible truths and all things we can know about our Creator. Just the same, spring time, and the celebration of Jesus' resurrection is the best time to consider your Creator. The marvels of life springing back, flowers blooming and fish biting makes the evolutionary speculation so much unsubstantiated conjecture. It is, however, to Solomon's dismay, swallowed by the majority of minds. This spring, if you do not mind being on the narrower path, entered via the straighter gate, your Creator could become your Saviour. John said of Jesus Christ, “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” {John 1:1} Acknowledging him as your creator is a step towards acknowledging him as Saviour and Lord. Be a Christian, this spring, remember your creator.

Msg #716 The Resurrections

The greatest dissertation on the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the tomb is found in 1Corinthians 15. Paul later wrote to the saints at Philipi that he wanted to know the power of the Christ's resurrection in his life. At Corinth there were 15 errors in the Church. Paul dealt with them a chapter at a time. Error number 15 was tolerating the presence of some who did not believe in the resurrection of the body. Paul eloquently laid out the three fold purpose of resurrection and the order of the resurrections. Christ was the 'first fruit' of the resurrections. You and I will follow in our bodily resurrection.

Paul lays out the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church in his explanation. That is where we read of the sound of the trumpet and our departure in the twinkling of an eye. Saints call that 'rapture;' defined as being caught away. It is indeed in the Bible. There will be a second resurrection as well; called a resurrection of the dead. There every individual, who missed the first resurrection, will appear before their Creator and give answer for why he rejected His only begotten Son and the free pardon from sin's penalty. Which resurrection will you take part in? The resurrection of the living or the resurrection of the dead are your choices. Jesus said “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev 20:6) The apostle John said of it “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1John 5:12) Got life?

Msg #717 Bible Ignorance and U.S.

The Holy Bible is a book of great depth and wisdom in the affairs of nations, in the affairs of Christ's Church, and in the affairs of individuals. Our national ignorance of this Book is startling. Our Ecclesiastical twisting of the Book alarming, and our individual illiteracy of the Bible is deplorable. It is not a book written by man about God. It is a book written by God about man. It is the revelation of God to man, thus the Messiah, (the Christ), the manifestation (the revelation) of God is called “The Word of God.” A unique parallel.

The Bible does not condone hate, nor modern stoning, nor slavery, nor burning of witches. These are all man's ignorances. It did give strict rules to the nation of Israel until they could bring the Messiah into the world. One must always discern who God is commanding in any passage of Holy Scripture. The Bible does not condone inclusivity nor tolerance. It does say “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” in Luke 13 and “Except ye be converted ... ye cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” in Matt 18. Obviously God is not tolerant of our sin and requires that we be changed to be in his presence, kingdom and Church.

The Bible says much about the Arabs and Palestine with Israel's presence there. Because the A.C.L.U. (a.k.a. Anti Christian Liberals Union) convinced U.S. that 'Separation of Church and State' means separation of Holy Bible and country we shall remain an ignorant people. But you don't have to. You could get into a Church that knows, teaches, and believes the whole counsel of God. You should!

You could also join us in reading the whole Bible through in a year. Read and hear more of these messages at GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #718 My Shepherd and My Pastor

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Is He? Do you? God says “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them on the mountain: they have gone from the mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place... All that have found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not,...” (Jer 50) Again he said “Woe unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture saith the LORD.” (Jer 23) And again, “ Son of man, prophecy against the shepherds of Israel, prophecy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feel themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” (Ezek 34)

If your a sheep without a pastor to feed you, you need to be in a Bible believing Church under a Bible preaching pastor. If your Pastor is not the man of God that feeds the sheep from the word of God you will not grow into a strong healthy contented sheep. If your pastor does not know any better than to use a modernist ecumenical bible, or hold a modernist contemporary praise service instead of preaching the old fashioned Holy Bible with power and conviction, consider your plight carefully. God charged pastos to eed his sheep. If you didn't need that, if you could feed yourself just fine without it; if you could do fine in a 'home church' then He would not have given pastors such a serious and vehement charge. Get yourself under a man of God who feeds from the King James English Bible. You will grow.

Msg #719 My Shepherd Makes Me

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” If He truly is, you truly won't. At Good Sam we sing “He is all I need.” For a Christian He is. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:” (thus “He restoreth my soul:”) he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (thus “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”) If your attitude is still that of the rebellious child, i.e. “You can't make me!”, He is not your shepherd. The Good Shepherd will make you do some things that are meant to restore your soul. “... If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor. 5:17) Are you? Do they? A vice is an immoral habit that does harm to your soul. I know in the military the top four vices are smoking, drinking, gambling and womanizing. If you had a Good Shepherd, trying to restore your soul He would make you give up your vices, and “lead you in paths of righteousness for His names sake”. Do you? Does He? In those righteous paths your soul will not want. If you want a new life under a new shepherd that will deliver you from smoking, drinking and lottery tickets, I'd like to introduce you to my shepherd. Jesus said “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10) When you take Him as your Lord and Saviour, he will make the old things pass away, vice included. He will become the leading light of your soul. He can even drive off the shadow of death! To learn more or hear this message preached go to GSBaptistChurch.com. Make Jesus Christ your Shepherd.

Msg #720 My Mother Makes Me

To honor our mothers in this month take note of what the Words of God contain about them. The wisdom of God concerning all of life itself says “ The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” ( Prov. 10:1) These words of Solomon, inspired and preserved by God for these 3000 years, contain some good insight about the role of mothering. “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Prov 29:15) Someone who is inordinately selfish, undisciplined, and immature cannot fulfill the selfless disciplined role of motherhood to rear a responsible God fearing child. Today the God fearing child, and the selfless disciplined mother are both rare. Being such is worth the effort. As Solomon notes: “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.” (Prov 23:24-25) We have heard 'the hand that rocks the cradle', but my mom laid down a pretty stern law, and swung a pretty good paddle as well. Solomon's introduction says “ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:” (Prov. 1:8 ) His exhortation went on “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:” (Prov. 6:20) Mothers are to raise up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We should honor those who have done their best with what they had. 'It takes a village' mentality opposes the rearing of a disciplined and God fearing soul. To learn more Bible lessons on child rearing visit GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #721 Moral Majority Needed

Moral right was properly thrust back into the political arena by the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, Baptist Preacher Extraordinaire, and founder of the Moral Majority. Upon his passing there needs to be a resurgence of moral right emphasized in that arena. Baptists, in pursuit of religious liberty (Not tolerance! Liberty! There is a difference,) secured what is called separation of Church and State. Dr. Stringer's first line of “The Faithful Baptist Witness” says “On April 11, 1612, Edward Wrightman was burned at the stake in Litchfield, England for declaring that the baptism of infants was an abominable custom. His death was the last execution of someone in England for being a Baptist.” Religious liberty was drafted into our first amendment with a trail of Baptist blood. A State legislating moral belief crosses the religious liberty boundary of separation. Miscreant humanists have tried to make separation of Church and State mean separation of God and Country and separation of Bible from everybody. Government operating without godly morals will legislate Bible morality as wrong and strive to hush our Baptist voice in the name of inclusivity. Governor Spitzer sponsors such queer legislation. We could once again see Baptist's jailed for religious convictions. Not about infant baptism this time, but about sodomy being a sin against God, a moral sin against society, and an evil practice needing repentance not tolerance. It's still our right to believe and preach that, but just barely. Baptist precedent is always the Bible. “But (Apostles) Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto (government) more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19) America needs Godly morals in the majority again.

Msg #722 Mother Taught

Moral right and wrong is a matter of ones religious belief system. Moral right and wrong starts with what your mother taught you. Proverbs 31 starts with 7 things that King Lemuel's mother taught him. The 7 principles are straight from the Bible and are highlight a godly mother's teachings. “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.” (Proverbs 31:1) Prophecy is not the predicting of the future but the reporting of “Thus saith the Lord....” A godly mother teaches what the LORD has said in his revelation to us.

In verse 2 a godly mother teaches her child their identity, their security and the importance of her marriage vows. A godly mother is avowed to their father for life. A godly mother warns about the vice of womanizing. Verse 3 says “Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.”

A godly mother teaches abstinence for booze; “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:” (vr. 4) In verse 7 she teaches proper compassion.

A godly mother teaches to. “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” (vr. 9) Simpletons think the Bible says 'judge not.' In actuality it says “Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.” (Psalm 106:3) Biblical mom's teach righteous judgments.

Lastly a godly mother teaches careful selection of a mate. “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” These 7 prophecies were taught to King Lemuel by a godly mom. A godly mom should be in a Bible believing Godly Church. To learn more visit GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #723 Revive Us Again

Psalm 85:6 says: “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” When we advertised our revival services last year at this time we got a couple calls asking “What is a revival?” Unfortunately a couple generations in America do not know.

In 2^nd Chronicles chapter 7 Solomon prays at the dedication of the temple and asks God to hear the prayer of his people. ”Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 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 (1) humble themselves, and (2) pray, and (3) seek my face, and (4) turn from their wicked ways; then (1) will I hear from heaven, and (2) will forgive their sin, and (4) will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. This 'if-then' scenario gives a description of the revival that America needs.

Do you want revival? Are you willing to pay the cost? We at Good Sam are having revival services this week. You should join us. Learn more at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #724 Foundations for life or death

“The wise man built his house upon the rock. .... The foolish man built his house upon the sand.” The song sung as a child comes from Jesus' sermon on the mount. Be wise be a doer of His word. Israel had a problem being a doer of God's word.“ ... they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” (Ezekiel 33:31) They liked the praise and worship service with their rock band but “lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.” (vr. 32)

In this parable there are no houses that sustained only collateral damage. It is not so in our rebellious nature but with God there are only two categories; Right or Wrong; Good or Evil; True or False; Wise or Foolish; Saved or Lost; Heaven or Hell. One house stood firm, the other fell flat. What is your foundation resting on rock or sand? “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1Cor. 3:11) God says “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice,” (Deut. 30:19) “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” (1Kings 18:21) To learn more about your 2 choices visit our revival services or visit GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #725 Separate From the World

In the Bible's 'Hall of Fame' of faith in Hebrews 11, Abraham is prominent. In Genesis 24 Abraham set's about preparing a future for his only begotten son and he instructs his servant “... Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither (to Ur where I came from) again. The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house,... sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land (Palestine) ... : only bring not my son thither again.” Abraham's overwhelming concern is that his son not go back to where Abraham was, but that he stay in the promised land. A Christian should share that concern for themselves, their family and the children of God. If you are saved out of the world, don't go back.

The Bible says to Christians “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (2Co 6:17) Don't go back into the world for your life, your rife, nor your wife! No not for your Employment, Education or Entertainment.. Don't resort to the worldly 'lying – cheating – stealing' mentality that is expected on a job. Don't resort to a public school system that requires teachers to act and teach atheism. Seek out a Christian school and a Christian college. Don't follow after Hellywood for your pleasures. In these three 'E's strive to “ seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt 6:33)

A Christian should not go back to the world for their Life, their Rife, or their Wife. Abraham illustrates well this important lesson in Genesis 24. Are you a Christian? Learn this lesson and learn more at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #726 A Bride for the Only Begotten Son

In Genesis 24 Abraham sets about to take a wife for his only begotten son Isaac. Every detail of this story foreshadows our heavenly Fathers plan to take a wife for His only begotten Son, the Lamb, the Christ. The Holy Spirit of God is played by Abraham's servant, commissioned to go to the kin and woo and win a wife to come back for the son. The believers that carry the Holy Spirit into the world, kneel at the well outside the city, then carry the new convert on their shoulders to maturity, is played by 10 camels. The wooed one, who accepts the invitation of God, makes that free will choice to change families, and converts to the family of God, is played by Rebekah.

The details of Abraham's relationship with Isaac, including his offering of his only begotten son on the hill outside of Jerusalem, point to and foreshadow God's act of love in offering his son. John 3:16 says it clearly: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ”

Now in taking a wife for Abraham's son, we see the invitation that is presented to you. Every detail of this record lends itself to a revelation from God that only born again believers will be part of that chaste virgin that will be the bride of Christ at his second coming. Have you accepted that invitation? The Bible says that “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” If you have accepted, be a camel, take the invitation to someone else. This whole 45 min message can be heard at GSBaptistChurch.com/audio. It is worth your time to consider these things.

Msg #727 The Camels are Coming

The foreshadowing of revelation found in Genesis 24 is phenomenal. Baptists do not spiritualize nor allegorize the Holy Scripture as do Catholics. We do not fabelize nor fictionalize Holy Scripture as do Protestants and Modernist. It is our sole authority! Consequently, Baptist hold to the soon coming return of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a literal 7 year period of tribulation, followed by a millennial reign of Christ here on earth. This is clearly revealed in Scripture, as is a pretribulation rapture of the Church. In the account before us Isaac comes out into the field at eventide: “ and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.” (Gen 24:63) Isaac being united with his espoused wife mirrors the uniting of Christ with his espoused wife depicted in I Thes 4:13-18. The Bible says that this union will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. It is immanent, and it has been so for 1900 years now. The Apostle Paul, expected it at any moment and he preached all through the 60's. The Bible says the trump will sound and all those who have put their faith and trust in Christ will be caught away to meek him in the air. What a glorious reunion. What a sad day for unbelievers and the pretenders that went through the wide gate leading to destruction. There is a narrow gate and a straight path. It is not for the majority, but it will lead to life everlasting and that reunion in the air. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Mt 24:44 ) To learn more about being ready visit us at GSBaptistChurch.com ... or in person.

Msg #728 Respecting Your Birthright

For Bible Believers the infamous story of Esau selling out his birthright for some red pottage contains spiritual truths. The significance of the sale is highlighted by the father's favorite, the outdoors man,despising his birthright and selling it to his twin brother, the manipulating mamas boy working in the kitchen on home made red pottage. The Bible says Esau despised his birthright. If you are born again, that new birth comes with the same birthright. I wonder if you are despising yours.

This birthright enabled three spiritual things that Esau despised. They were not transferred by his sale. Spiritual things cannot be bought nor sold with material things. They were transferred by Esau's despise. The priest hood of the household was in this birthright. A Baptist distinctive has always been the rejection of the Roman churches priest craft, and the priesthood of each believer. You, as a believer, are responsible for your daily personal and family devotions in God's Holy Word. Your Pastor should lead you to green pastures, but you need to feed yourself. Do not despise your birthright and neglect these.

This birthright would have enabled Esau to be a Satan Bruiser, and an Earth Blesser. God promised in Gen 3:15 that a seed line would bruise Satan's head, and in Gen 12 that Abraham's seed would bless the Earth. If you have His spiritual birthright you can be a Satan Bruiser and an Earth Blesser. Use your birthrights and you can snatch people from Satan's Kingdom and see your righteousness purify your corner of the Earth. Have you sold out your birthright for the red pottage of materialism? Do you have His birthright? Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God ” Read more at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #729 Well Digging or Well Poisoning

A Christian is to be a well of living water to a dry and thirsty world. Isaac, Abraham's seed, the promised 'Earth Blesser', learned that digging wells in the desert was a challeng. There are 3 things we can take from his experience recorded in Genesis 26. A well is a blessing to others and a blessing for generations. You could be an oasis for others when your living all out for Christ. Jesus said Out of your 'belly' shall flow rivers of living water. Your belly is the seat of all your emotions. Our every emotion should make us speak forth his glorious name to someone. Be a refreshing to some soul today.

Digging wells is hard work and often futile. After digging a few Issac learned the wheres and hows of well digging and dug where his father had dug previously. If your a Christian get busy digging. You can't make a difference to everyone, but you can make an eternal difference to someone. Even if your a 'no one' you should tell everyone about the SOMEONE who can save anyone. If your saved don't be keeping it to yourself. Jesus said follow me and I will make you fishers of men. If your not a fisher of men your not following him. It is that simple.

It is easier to fill in a well than to dig one. In this world there are well diggers and well poisoners. Which are you? Isaac found conflict, confrontation and well fillers. Jesus said you would too, yet he told you to “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, ... ;” Don't just sit there. Your to be His witnesses, a Christian! Be a well of refreshing to someone today. Tell them about your Lord and Saviour.

Msg #730 Above all things, Be Real

The Apostle James writes a touching but challenging epistle to his flock that was scattered from Jerusalem through persecution. He is closing that letter when he writes to them “But above all things, my brethren, ... let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” 'Above all things' is an important preface here. Nothing will propagate and proselytize a Christian's faith like authenticity. Above all things be real. As a youth pastor I watched 'Christian' parents loose children to the world because they were not authentic in their homes. There was no family altar, no daily prayer life, hours of TV but not hours of Bible. Above all things be real, be honest, don't be hypocrite! Let your yea, be yea; and your nay, be nay. Why? “Lest ye fall into condemnation.” Your children know whether you are real or fake and fake parents fall into their condemnation. The cost is high. Jesus said the same in his sermon on the mount. There he emphasized “When thou doest alms (giving)” ... be not as the hypocrites; “When ye pray” ... be not as the hypocrites; “When ye fast” ... be not as the hypocrites. The Apostle Paul puts it as “Let your love be without dissimulation.” (Rom 12:9)

I have counseled to many parents that wish they could go back and do it right; wish that their young children had seen a mom and dad pray and read their Bible together every day; wished that their children had seen dad lead in family devotions; wished that their children could say “I heard my mother call my name in prayer.” James says to his scattered flock “Above all things” What in your home is above all else? Be real.

Msg #731 A Dysfunctional home.

Genesis 27 records a dysfunctional family produced when we have our home 'our way' not 'God's way'. The Bible not only tells us what happened, it tells us what happens. Here a home that produces fight and hate includes a father who won't see. Parents want to believe in children so much that blinded eyes are commonplace. It includes a father that gives up. Of the homes with fathers still present, many have given up on child rearing. This home has a dad and mom divided, playing favorites and taking sides. Children come into the world with an uncanny ability to divide husbands and wives if you let them. But the most dangerous and common ailment here is a mom manipulating around the fathers authority. Here we see mom teaching lying and manipulation. My mom used to say “Wait till your father gets home.” I knew what that meant. Today mom's say “Wait till your father goes to work, then we will have our way.” They teach children how to trick fathers to get their own selfish way.

Men attack a problem head on, direct into conflict, charge the hill, climb the mountain etc. Women, in general, take around about solutions, diplomacy, manipulation, twisting the facts and getting their way by craft. It is not politically correct that men and women are wired differently. It is very obvious, and should be said out loud before our next election. This chapter highlights the human traits of a home 'our way'. A home 'God's way' begins with a father that will be the spiritual leader in daily family devotions. Without that, a home will be as dysfunctional as Isaac's home in Genesis 27. A father that won't lead spiritually makes the whole home dysfunctional. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #732 Seven Things Isaac never taught Jacob

Genesis chapter 28 gives seven things that Jacob did not know about God. His father never taught him. Chapter 27 closes with a conniving manipulating Rebekah trying to twist Isaac around to her goals and purposes. It is discouraging how many homes are operated that way, the father not being the spiritual leader that God charges him to be. Since Isaac never introduced his children to God, God, in Gen 28, now introduces himself to Jacob. Jacob did not know God. Abraham did. Isaac did not school his sons in theology.

Jacob did not know that God's angels were regularly ascending and descending into the affairs of man. (vr 13) Abraham knew. He fed them a meal once. He did not know that God stands above all. Abraham learned God's names to be El Elyon, and El Shaddai, the Most High and Almighty God.

Jacob did not yet know God by his personal name. In verse 13 He was the LORD God of Abraham, but only the God of Isaac. Abraham was called the friend of God. Isaac did not teach his children about their grandpa's LORD.

Jacob did not know the promises of God. Isaac never took his children to the real Bethel, (12:8) nor taught them of the promised land. Jacob did not know that God is in every place, nor that HE was the gate of heaven, not this patch of land outside of Luz

And Jacob did not know how to build an altar, he built a pillar. Abraham built altars when he learned about God. (cf Gen 12:7,8,13:4,18, 22:9) Jacob, here, built a pillar. What theology did your father teach you? What are you teaching your children? Do you have a family altar? Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #733 Catholic caps on the well of living water

Genesis chapter 29 gives exceptional insight into man's tendencies to cap off and control God's well of living water. Here Jacob, just now starting his journey with God, comes seeking his kinsmen and finds the well capped and litigated with rules for the water dispersal. The Roman Empire's Church attempts the same with the living water of Jesus Christ. He too comes seeking his kinsmen, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” And he too finds a church system with all kinds of rules about opening the well. In the Bible there are no mortal or venial sins, no confessionals, no sprinkling of babies, in fact no sprinkling at all! There are no beads, nor candles, nor purgatory to rescue loved souls from. Like the man made rules that kept the flocks of Laban from partaking of the water of life freely, religionists have put a rock on the well and made up rules about who can open what when. It is my greatest joy to be a Baptist preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One who can, for some, take the stone off the well and give access to the living water. If your a born again Christian you can do the same. If you or a loved one is tangled with a church that baptizes babies or sprinkles, it is not following Christ, it's following man made rules about entry into God's kingdom. It's worth the effort to break out of their error. Jesus said “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #734 Are you Converted to Christ?

The Epistle of James is a tremendous exhortation written by the Pastor of the First Baptist Church at Jerusalem, written to his flock now scattered abroad. It was 'First' because it was the first local church. It was 'Baptist' because it held to the Baptist distinctives taught by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. As the three major themes of his letter intertwine there are two highlights in his conclusion. His last two verses state: “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

Pastor James starts by acknowledging that any one of his members could be in error of the truth that sets the soul free from sin. There are 'professed' Christians in the Church who never have tasted conversion. The world knows this better than the church pew as they lament about hypocrites. After James' previous exhortation that his saints 'above all things be real', this one exhorts us to police out our hypocrisies. Protestant's add to their number by un-Scriptural infant baptism or un-Scriptural sprinkling and are ever plagued by this problem. Soon the majority of their congregation have never been converted or born again. James is not addressing them. He is addressing Scriptural believers who gave a testimony of conversion and then followed the Lord in believers baptism before they were admitted into Church membership. There are wet Church members who error from the truth and were never converted, never born again by the Lord Jesus Christ. Is your salvation real? It is hard to act christian. It is easy to be a Christian. Ye must be born again i.e. converted. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #735 Sowing and Reaping

In a study of Genesis 27 we find that Jacob and his mom sowed lies and deceit and false identity. God uses the rest of Genesis to teach the reproof “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” In the chapter after his great lie, Jacob is first introduced to Jehovah God, the friend of Abraham. In the very next chapter Laban treats Jacob to a lie and deceit and false identity where an older sibling is passed off as the younger. Recall that Jacob and mom had passed off the younger for the older. God uses irony of life to lead us into an understanding of who he is and what he wants from us. God always confronts our sins. You can find a Church to attend where sin is not confronted; they will say “come as you are.” God is not there. God always confronts our sin. If you go to a Bible preaching Church you will be confronted and uncomfortable, ... but only until God deals with your sin. You may read other books but the Holy Bible reads you. Ecumenicals and modernists are not looking for a Bible version that we all can understand as much as they are editing up one that won't confront their sin. God can still use the irony of life to move you closer to his side. Will you let him? Will you set under the preaching of God's Holy Word this week? Don't settle for the milk toast religion of the modernists. Get into a Bible preaching Baptist Church. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #736 Lying, Cheating and Stealing

Lying, cheating and stealing is in your nature. Some of us have had moral right whipped into us enough to curb the worst of it but it is still in our nature. In Genesis 30 we are following the journey of Jacob back to his grandpa Abraham's promise of, and position with Jehovah God. It was recorded 3,600 year ago for our learning. Learn! It is an uphill journey for Jacob. Jacob's father, Isaac, never taught him about Jehovah. His mother, Rebekah, taught him to lie, cheat, steal, and hood wink dad. God was now bringing him on a journey to change his name to “God prevails”, in Hebrew, “Israel.” In this chapter of learning, Jacob finds a way to strip bark on poplar, hazel and chestnut and get newborn sheep, goats and cattle stained ringstraked and spotted. It worked on both purebred brown and purebred white herds of his father-in-law Laban. Jacob hood winked Laban out of the best of his herds. He stole them by deceit. In the next chapter, when thing's are turning against him, Jacob fabricates some lies about a vision from God, and an angel who told him to choose the ringstraked herds. People will lie to you about what God told them. You will lie to people and blame God or Satan for your vile actions and their consequences. We all like to be more pious than we really are. Some, like Jacob, will lie through their teeth about their piety. Learn his lesson about lying cheating and stealing, pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #737 Pursued with Promise

In Genesis 32 Jacob, the supplanter, conniver and cheat, hears from God and obeys. He ends up alone with God, who wrestles with him till the breaking of the day. God is wrestling with Jacob, but Jacob will not let go. Before God blesses him, he asks “What is your name?” Jacob is finally honest before God, and not pretending to be something that he is not. God gives him a new name, Israel, meaning “as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

Have you been alone with God? Have you been honest with God about who you are, really? Has God wrestled with you about your sin? Jacob lived a life doing things his own way. He was now over 60 years old and it was about time he got things straight with his Lord. He only did it because God pursued him with promises and had great things for Jacob to do. No matter how old you are, or aren't, God is pursuing you with promises. He wants you to get alone with Him, where you can be honest about yourself. He wants to deal with your sin, and His mercy endureth forever. He wants to change your name, write it in the Lamb's book of life, and do something worthwhile with your life.

It is interesting that Allah, the god of Mohamed, wants people to blow themselves up, kill and maim others. Jehovah God of the Bible, wants your life lived so that you can 'rescue the perishing, and care for the dying.' Won't you give Him your life. He pursues with promises not with arms. There is a narrow gate and a straight path that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Will you prevail?

Msg #738 Eternal Life

The Bible says that God created us in his image to be with Him for all eternity. We are created like Him with a body, soul and spirit but when man fell into sin the fellowship with God was broken. Sin brought separation from God, and it brought death into the world. Although God created us to live forever, man's disobedience to God brought judgment of death and separation.

The Bible says that our separation from God can be repaired by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” If we remain separated from God in our life, we will be separated from Him when we die. But if we repair the separation in our lifetime we get his eternal life and stay with Him forever. The Bible says, “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.” No matter if you go to Church or not, or which Church you do go to, you only get eternal life with God by asking His only begotten Son to save you from the separation.

The Bible says that God has a prepared place for a prepared people. There will be no more separation there. There will be no more death, no funerals. The most important thing you can do in this life, is to repair the separation from your creator by accepting His only begotten Son as your Saviour. The Bible says so.

Msg #739 Repentance and a New Life

It says in II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” In Genesis 33 Jacob is walking away from a wrestling match with God and he walks away as a new creature. Previous, Jacob swindled the prestigious birthright from his brother. In chapter 33 he wholly submits to his brother, bowing seven times. (verse 3) Previous, Jacob lied and stole to get the blessing that would make him lord and his brother his servant. Now, (verse 14) Jacob makes himself the servant and Esau his lord. Previous, Jacob swindled and stole cattle form Laban. He even promised God ten percent of all his loot. Now, (verse 10) Jacob freely gave away his possessions. Jacob had an encounter with God and he left as a new creature, submissive, a servant, and selfless. He walked at a slower pace for the sake of others. (verse 13) He built his first altar of sacrifice (verse 20) instead of his pillars of remembrance, and the God of Abraham became his God, 'El-elohe-Israel. Have you had such a personal encounter with God? One that changes your rebellious, sinful heart to one like Christs, with submission, servant hood and selflessness? It is called becoming Christian. It is done by calling on Christ in repentance and conversion. Jesus said “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, ... ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” When converted, you will be a new creature too. Paul calls it “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” It took Jacob 60 years to surrender. When he did his whole life changed in one chapter. So could yours. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com.

Msg #740 Sin, An Ugly Embarrassment

Genesis 34 exposes the ugliness of sin, the vileness of man's vengeance, the world more noble than God's people, and the return of Jacob's selfishness all in one chapter. It is properly embarrassing to read in public. If it were possible, God was embarrassed to record it for us. Dinah was impatient to lust for friendship with the world. Shechem was impatient to lust after the flesh. Jacob's sons were impatient to lust for a vile vengeance. The men of the city impatiently lusted to have Jacob's possessions. And Jacob closes the chapter with so many 'I- MEs' that he never considered the 'Elelohe-Israel' that closed the last chapter. Sadly, it was the worldly Cannanite leader Hamon and his son, Shechem that wanted to do the right and noble thing. That 'right thing' got recorded into God's law for all Israel 300 years later, in Deut 22:28-29. What a sad commentary on human behavior, and even sadder commentary on the behavior of God's chosen people. When Jacob was teaching his son's how to deceive and heist cattle from Laban he never considered that they would more vilely deceive and heist everything from a whole city of Canaanites. It has been properly said that the way you lean is the way your children will fall. When they do fall they will land considerably farther from God than you imagined. Your talk talks and your walk talks but your walk talks louder than your talk talks. This chapter leaves us to ponder how badly Jacob did at child rearing. The most important thing a parent can do in life is follow God's rules to bring up our children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6) How are you doing at that? Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #741 Dwelling in Bethel

Genesis 32 through 35 is an interesting study for a born again Christian. Through Jacob's journey in life it vividly portrays his surrendering to God, his new life's attitude and character, his old life and sins catching up with him and finally God's call to complete sanctification. Born again believers walk this path and will doubtless benefit from examining God's call to dwell, permanently in Bethel. “ And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, ... Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel;” (Gen 35:1-3) In going to Bethel Jacob saw the necessity to put away strange gods, clean up, and dress differently. He buried the strange gods and their earrings under an oak tree in Shechem. (vr. 4) Earrings (and other body piercings today) represent the bondage of the world. The bondage of rebellion, the bondage of independence, the bondage of doing it your own way are all pictured when a boy gets his ears pierced. Today the rebellion shows plainly as they pierce things in order to make a bold and anti-social, anti-parental statement. Christianity is submission, opposite to rebellion, opposite to rock n roll. To dwell in the house of God, Bethel, you need to bury your witchcraft, your rebellion, and your earrings under an oak in Shechem. You need to clean up. God says “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (I Pet 1:16) You also need to change your garments. You do not 'come as you are' to dwell in Bethel. Where is it you are dwelling?

Msg #742 The Rapture of Saints

The Bible is very clear when it talks about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said he would come back 'for' his saints, and come back 'with' his saints. He was clear when he said he would come back “as ye have seen him go” into the clouds (Acts 1) and clear that He would meet us in those clouds when he comes as a thief in the night. A thief comes unannounced, takes precious things and leaves unawares. The Bible says Jesus will come back unannounced, catch up his saints into the clouds, and leave unawares. (I Cor 15, I Thes 4) Today's modernists say that the word 'rapture' is not even in the Bible. But it means 'the transporting of a person from one place to another' and it sure is in my Bible. The Bible also speaks of His coming 'with' clouds instead of 'in' clouds. “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. ...” (Rev 1:7) You can trust your clergy to make these facts completely allegorical, or you can believe your Bible literally. Jesus is coming back first 'for' his saints, then 'with' his saints. The Revelation of Jesus Christ says the Lamb of God, Jesus, the only begotten Son of Jehovah God, is coming back 'with' his saints to judge this world. In Islam, Muslims must totally annihilate two nations before their god, Allah, sends messiah to the earth. (That is not a peace loving religion!) In true, Bible believing Christianity, our Messiah will come in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and rapture his saints to be with him in the air. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #743 The Sevens of Revelation

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is all of that and more. It contains seven sevens with 7 messages, seals, trumpets, vials, personages, dooms, and 7 new things. A true apocalyptic book presenting very literally the things which are and the things which shall be. As one reads this tremendous New Testament book it is good to consider how you go about putting together a jig-saw puzzle. It is best to find all the frame pieces and put the frame together first, then you can sort out the individual pieces more intelligently. So to for the Revelation of Jesus Christ. A lot of scatter brain interpretations have come about because they did not have a good framework for this apocalyptic insight. At the end of this Church age, the believers will be raptured out and Christ will begin to fulfill the promises he made to Israel. There will be a 7 year tribulation period divided in half. The seven seals of the Book of God's Judgment are opened during the first half. The seals represent the preparation for the opening of the book. The seven trumpets sound representing the voice of God pronouncing woe. Therein are the next 3 and ½ years of wars and supernatural destruction. This is followed by 7 vials of the wrath of God. Then the unprecedented battle of Armageddon followed by 1000 years of millennial reign of Christ here on the earth. Then, and only then, do we find the new heaven and new earth with streets of gold and foundations of jasper. Take this framework and take the Light of John 1, and you will find the book of Revelation very literal and comprehensible. It brings supernatural blessing to those who read and believe. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #744 The 70^th Week of Daniel

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a revelation and concluding commentary on all Biblical prophecy and the whole of the Bible. It especially clarifies the prophecies recorded by Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah and Daniel. Daniel 9 is of note because it explains the time scale for all apocalyptic prophecies. Verse 24 starts “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people (Israel) and upon thy holy city, (Jerusalem)” We learn that these 'weeks' are 7 year periods, rather than 7 day periods, and we can use the next verses to determine that the Messiah was to come in the 69^th week. He did, but the 70^th week is still unfulfilled. That 7 year period is yet to come upon this earth, but in Matthew 24 Jesus assured us that it would come. Revelation reveals the 70^th week wherein God deals with His promises to Israel ”to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” These are 6 things that God promised directly to Israel and Jerusalem. The tribulation period that Jesus promised is not about the 'Church' at all. It is about God fulfilling the bold and certain promises that He made to his chosen nation Israel. Roman Catholic doctrine, their offshoot Protestant Churches, Latter Day Saints, JW's, and Adventists all miss that distinction completely. They each say that they are now God's chosen, they dismiss Israel completely, and try to muscle in on the promises made to Zion. Don't fall for it. God must keep his promises to Israel, and He shall. Prior to that 7 year tribulation, the believers will be raptured home, don't be 'Left Behind'. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #745 Armageddon

The Bible says that there are three more world wars coming. All three will center around a obscure country called Israel. In each case nations will siege Jerusalem and Jehovah God with His only Begotten Son will step in and destroy her enemies. Ezekiel 38 describes one war to occur after the rapture of the Church described in I Thes 4. The last war is at the end of a millennial reign of Christ. (Rev 20) The middle world war is described in the most detail. It marks the end of the 7 years of tribulation. Called Armageddon, it marks the 2^nd coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rev 19) Jesus Christ says “... the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, .... And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Rev 16:14-16) This battle, and the return of the Lord to the Mount of Olives, where he was crucified 2000 years ago, culminates the outpouring of God's wrath upon the earth. You can avoid that wrath. “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.” (John 3:36) Concerning this war the Psalmist says “Be wise now therefore, ... Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalm 2:10-12) Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #746 Dwelling in Succoth

When a person gets 'born again,' 'converted,' and 'saved' they cannot go back to what they were. God will not allow it. Prior to your conversion, the Bible describes you as 'dead in trespass and sin', as 'a servant of sin' and as 'condemned already.' That is what you got 'saved' from. When you come away from the new spiritual birth, you come away changed, with old things passed away and all things become new. When Jacob came away from wrestling with God, he and Esau departed in different directions. The Bible says “So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.” In Hebrew 'Seir' means hairy and shaggy. That pictures a path back into the world rather well. “And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle:” 'Succoth' came to mean, booths for cattle. Jacob influenced the place where he settled. Do we? Although Jacob built his house east of Jordon, he crossed into the promised land to worship where Abraham had offered his only begotten son near present day Jerusalem. “ And Jacob came to Shalem, ... and pitched his tent before the city.” This pictures the Christian who repented and had his life changed, but still has a priority on houses and lands on this side of his promised land. It pictures the Christian who is still dealing with entanglement of his past (ref Gen 34), yet has his place of worship separate from his abode of life. In chapter 35 God says to Jacob “ Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God.” Jacob now made the great changes in his life that let him dwell full time with God. Change is good. Make some today. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #747 God's Eternal Last Word

The Bible assures us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable” And further that “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” It is diabolical how critics of God's Words have followed a corrupted Alexandrian text and tore out 1,131 of God's Words from 357 magnum verses. (15.2% of them!) One hundred and thirty one times they remove the name Lord, Jesus or Christ from these verses, (43.4% of them!) yet they say they are not changing any major doctrines. They now have the world saying that nobody really knows . I do. My King James Bible has all the Word's of God carefully translated, and it says “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Peter tells us “the word of the Lord endureth for ever.” Of the 201 English Bible versions still in print, only one has all the words of God still intact, you should be using it. The majority of 'Christendom' is not, they have been deceived, but majorities on broad paths are wrong. In Dover they considers the first 6 chapters of my Bible as a fable. In court they have 'scientifically' proven that life came from a two rocks rubbing together in a primeval sea, and that humans are not made in the image of God, but evolved from orangutans. Where is God during all this diabolical deception? Take heart, the Bible says “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” The wide gate allows in a multitude of twisted bible versions, and godless mockery of my Creator. Stay on a straight and narrow path of righteousness; God will have the last 'Word'. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #748 Two Natures

As much as the Word contrasts two natures with “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.” it contrasts spiritual Jacob and earthy Esau in Genesis. “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.” You have an earthy side, and if born again, your have a spiritual side wherein Christ's Spirit is born into you.. Jesus said “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” So He illustrates this with the 11 Dukes of Edom vs the 12 Sons of Israel. Genesis 36 goes to show the best of the earthy's nobility, thus the title 'Duke.' Modernist bible versions try to get as far away from the King's English as they can get and miss the Dukes of Edom. The best of man, and the most noble, as caught in this word, falls so far short of Spiritual, even as Isaac's first born falls so far short of his second, and God's First Adam falls so far short of his Second, “the second man is the Lord from heaven.” The Bible says “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Christians spend time trying to be Dukes, when they should spend all their time being Sons. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Don't live your life like a mere Duke of Edom, live it like the submissive Son of God. Be CHRISTian. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #749 Being a Portrait of Christ

The 37^th chapter of Genesis opens the struggle of a 17 year old son of Israel who is hated by his brothers. He is hated as a favored son, a tattletale, and an arrogant dreamer of his importance. God could have brought him out of this affliction, corrected the misguided father, and resolved the family differences. Instead God heightened the tension and give more dreams to Joseph. God's purpose was that Joseph would present an early portrait of His only begotten Son. As the story of Joseph unfolds things always seem to go from bad to worse. This chapter leaves the lad despised by his brothers, escaping death, sold into slavery, and mourned by his father. All this to paint a portrait of the one “who came unto his own, and his own received him not;” who “was despised and rejected of men;” who “should taste death for every man;” and who was to be “crowned with glory and honour.”

What Joseph went through does not seem fair and is not what we hear as the 'prosperity gospel'. He walks across the last pages of Genesis portraying the Truth. Being a portrait of Christ is more important than worldly prosperity, health or ease. Are you being a portrait of Christ? If you are a born again Christian, Christ dwells in you, and we are in this world to be His witnesses. Act Christ like in trials. God could not take Joseph out of his problems and still make him a good portrait. Oh that God could use your trial as a portrait of His Son. We are often so eager to get out of circumstances that we become distorted portraits of our Lord and our God. Through it all, look like Him. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #750 God Incarnate at Christmas

For a Christian the prophecies of Christ's first coming are clear and emphatic. Modernists and cults hate to acknowledge the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ but the Old Testament prophecies are clear about it. Unbelievers have translated Isaiah 7:14 improperly but Jesus taught it's proper translation “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” in Matthew's gospel “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Seven hundred years before His incarnation and birth in Bethlehem Isaiah assigned the child these 5 titles “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Charles Taze Russell of Pittsburgh, and Joseph Smith of Palmyra denied these titles to Jesus, but the Bible is clear and emphatic. Jesus was Emmanuel, The mighty God, The everlasting Father. As we celebrate his birth in this Christmas season be sure and emphasize that Jesus was God incarnate. True Christians worship Jesus the Christ as God.

Isaiah also gives the greatest Old Testament description of why God was made flesh and dwelt among us. “... he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3-6) He paid your sin debt. Merry Christmas. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #751 See the Daysman and Sacrifice

The Bible says that God became flesh for three important reasons; to be man's daysman or advocate, to manifest Himself to mankind, and to be the perfect sacrifice for fallen man. The plight of fallen man is nowhere better mused than in the book of Job in your Bible. The decay and destruction of sin's toll on the most righteous of men is pondered in Hebrew poetry until the 9^th chapter when Job cries out “For (God) is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.” God sent His Son, born in Bethlehem, to be our daysman, advocate, and mediator. Men of religion have put collars on backward and tried to fill that role but the Bible says “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1Tim 2:5) Then John records the Words of God as “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ... No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Just prior to his crucifixion “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, ... He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” We beheld him, “The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” God's perfect sacrifice. Have you received him as your daysman and sacrifice?

Msg #752 On This Wise

The Bible says “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Jesus was clear about where he came from. And the Bible is clear about the circumstances of his Birth. It gives four inspired perspectives of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not to be reconciled, but to be believed. Matthew presents the birth of the King; Luke the birth of the Man. Mark shows the deeds of the Servant and John the deeds of God in the flesh. Not detracting from the former, the latter two required no details of His birth. Luke records “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” The Roman Empire took census for taxing by requiring, at various times and regions that people register in their place of birth. By God's providence Judah's turn came up when Mary was due and the miracle trail continues. Forty days after his birth (Lev 12) Jesus was presented at the Temple in Jerusalem, less than 10 miles away. Back in Bethlehem the Wise men finished their minimally 45 day trek following His star and worshiped Him there. It is not recorded whether Joseph finished his Roman paperwork before fleeing to Egypt, but there is no indication that they were more than 3 months in Bethlehem. Herod's slaughter of 2 year olds originated the phrase 'overkill' but does not indicate the displacement period for census takers. The sequence and circumstance of Jesus' birth is more than believable, it is recorded as divine truth. If you believe it, you can be saved. If your saved you can believe it all. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #753 Twelve Days of Christmas

When you consider the 12 announcements of Christmas, rather than the 12 days, you can learn a lot of Bible. The first New Testament announcement of the advent of the Christ came to the priest Zacharias in Luke 1:13-17. The second to Mary in verse 30. Miraculously, John the Baptist heard next in verse 41. Forth Elizabeth and Mary both announced his coming to family and friend in Judah in verses 42-56. The 5^th announcement was at John's birth when the dumb priest spoke clearly in verses 68-79. When Mary returned to Nazareth, Joseph was told in Matt 1:20-21. We are so familiar with the 7^th announcement made by the angles in Luke 2, but the shepherds were excellent heralds themselves in verses 17-20. The 9^th announcement was formal when he was named JESUS on his 8^th day here. On His 40^th day here the 10^th and 11^th announcements were made in the temple at Jerusalem. There it was not the High Priest that received him nor lawyers or scribes, but a just and devout old man and a fasting widow who made these two announcements. The last announcement, of the 12, is made by the wise men who came from the east. They saw His star, likely at His conception. They traveled the 9 months of His arrival and the 40 days of her purification. They told it to king Herod, who told the ignorant scribes who had just missed Simeon and Anna's proclamation at the temple. The wise men caught up with Jesus in Bethlehem and worshiped him there. Do not miss the announcement of God being born in the flesh. And where ever you catch up with Jesus, call him Lord and worship Him there. Wise men still seek him.

The Bible tells us “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” There are four things we should forget as we press on in the new year. Genesis 27 finds the first mention of forgetting anger. Put it behind you, don't stew and embitter. A Christian should not let the sun set on anger. The second mention is Joseph's forgetting. “For God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.” We remember them as 'good old days' because we have forgotten the toil and struggle. It is wise to do so. Thirdly forget all the accolades that you receive. You are never as great as you have imagined yourself to be. Fourthly forget the sin that is under the blood of Jesus Christ. When God forgives, he remembers your sin no more. That means He will not bring it up again. If He will not, you should not. Put sin under the blood, then put it behind you and press on in righteousness.

But the Bible says there are some things we should never forget. “Only take heed to thyself ,... lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen: ... but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;” Never forget God's goodness. The Psalmist sings “Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?” (Psalm 88:12) Never forget God's mercy. “Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the ... house of bondage.” Never forget God's commandments. “Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes.” Lastly, never forget your promises to God.

The Bible says “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” (Gen 12) Each new year recall that 'This world is not my home, I'm only passing through. God's Word says ”By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. ... For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” The songwriter says “I am going to a city where the roses never fade.” And our Lord said “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Christian, don't forget where you are going. And you don't need that much baggage to get there. Carry to much and you won't enjoy the trip. Lost one, don't trust a religion, priest or prophet to get you there. “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14) There is not a more blessed journey than the one through the straight gate and up the narrow way that leadeth unto life. Only a few find it. Be on your blessed journey now, and stop whining about it.

Msg #803 Seek Wisdom

The Bible says that “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.” In Proverbs 9 it is as if there was a mansion all assembled for your exploration, a meal spread for your delight and an invitation sent that you spend your life therein. In this description seven is the number of completeness, and pillars paint the picture of strength and majesty. Explore God's wisdom. It is laid out on 12 foundations with 12 gates in 66 books written by 40 authors over 3000 years. Gaussen said that “God put his left hand on Enoch, the seventh man from Adam, and his right on John, the humble and sublime prisoner of Patmos. The celestial anthem, seven hundred years before the flood, began with these words, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all;” (Jude 1:14) but already, in the mind of God, and in the eternal harmony of his work, the voice of John had answered to that of Enoch, and closed the hymn, three thousand years after him, with these words, “Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him! Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen!” (Rev 22:20) And during this hymn of thirty centuries, the Spirit of God never ceased to breathe into all his messengers; the angels, an apostle tells us, desired to look into its wondrous depths.” This book of Wisdom, banned from America's education system, to often lies closed and dusty on our shelves. You could easily read the 66 books of your Holy Bible through this year. You would find the wisdom of God in there. You could find His only Begotten Son as wisdom personified. Learn more Bible truths at GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #804 A Bishop a Deacon a Christian

The Bible says “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; ... Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.” (1Tim 3) These things were written down for us “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Clearly, those who would be leaders and ministers in His Church will be husbands. Modernists and progressives who think we have evolved way past what God wrote for us 2 and 3 thousand years ago, do error when they put wives in positions to rule. Annually we revisit the responsibilities and Biblical qualifications of God's two Church offices, Bishop-Pastor-Ordained Elder, and Deacons-Ministers-Servant Elders. They are surely husbands and rulers of their homes and children. “(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” But they are also to be “vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; ... not a novice.” A Church Pastor (shepherd), holding the office of Bishop (overseer) and exemplifying the maturity of an Elder (in Greek 'presbyter' and NOT the Latin 'priest') should say “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Our Deacons (ministers, servants) should be “men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.” Indeed our leaders and ministers are to be examples so that all Christians will be Christlike. How are we doing? How are you doing?

Msg #805 A Sovereign God Who Cares

The Bible says that in Jesus Christ we have a high priest which can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; for he was in all points tempted like as we are, yet He was without sin! (Heb 4) Frank Graeff asked the question in hymn “Does Jesus care when my heart is pained to deeply for mirth and song? As the burdens press, and the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long?” He responds in chorus “O yes He cares, I know He cares! His heart is touched by my grief; when the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Saviour cares.” The sovereignty of God requires that He not only cares but he is in control. He knows every fiber of your being every thought and intent of your heart. He is in control of every circumstance that surrounds you. The Bible never portrays a God who has fatally plotted out details of our lives, nor predetermined the decisions we make. Instead an infinite God is present and in control of every detail of every finite being that is made in His image. An insignificant sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His eye, “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matt 10) He cares. He knows. He controls. He answers prayer. Does he care when the test results are malignant? Is He sovereign when it is our son or daughter? Does he care when the ambulance door closes on the crumbled body of our loved one? Is he in control of that aneurysm that breaks or that clot lodging in the heart. A Christian knows the Sovereign God of the universe is in complete control of His precious children. They know and they trust Him.

Msg #806 Sanctified Christians

God states clearly in His Word “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.” You can realize the seriousness of that statement by reading its context in Leviticus 10. The Old Testament tabernacle, priests and sacrifices are more than ceremony, more than symbol, they are types of Christ. They had outward physical meaning, inward spiritual meaning, and anticipatory meaning. They display, affect, and anticipate the real event of the coming sacrifice of the Son of God. God is serious about your sanctification if you draw near through His only begotten Son. Christians are to be separate from the world. 'If it is doubtful it is dirty' is a a good rule for both shirt collars and Christian living. Priests were expected to live holy lives; we more so. Christians are to be holy and “perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect”; expected to “Flee ... youthful lusts”; expected to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Leviticus 10 demonstrates God's seriousness about sanctification of those who would picture every detail of His Son's sacrifice. If you are a Christ-In you may be the only shekinah glory that your kin and neighbors ever see. Ghandi, who led millions in the Christless, hopeless religion of Hinduism, said before his death “I would have become a Christian, had it not been for Christians.” The message of God was clear to him; Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life:” God's few witnesses in America are to often more tarnished than Nadab and Abihu, of whom God said “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.” Live Christ-like this week. Let your light so shine before men.

Msg #807 It Takes God's Love in a Home

God designed and created the marital union between a man and a woman to typify His endearing and intimate, precious and submissive relationship with us. The relationship is to touch every fiber of our physical, emotional and spiritual being. (Gen 2:) In no other human relationship is the depth of emotion so effected. In no other relationship is the intimacy of body and soul so exposed. It is to be a purposeful exposure of vulnerability and trusting submission to another. When the trust is broken there is no pain nor knife that can cut so deeply into the heart, spirit and soul on an individual. Although man vows to never break this trust and to be faithful to it until death do us part, they often fail and inflict such pain as this unfaithfulness can only attest. God is NEVER unfaithful. God can always be trusted in this intimate relationship. Man is always the broken link when it comes to this so great love.

First Peter 2 included our command to “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear (obey) God. Honour the King.” (1Pet 2:17) Then the Apostle Peter illustrates how Christ, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls so loved us. That He “Did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; When He suffered, He threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously: Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we are healed.”

Outline each part of this verse because the clincher for our relationship in marriage comes in the next chapter where it says “Likewise ye wives, ... Likewise ye husbands, ...” Indeed we are to do likewise. Happy Valentines.

Msg #808 A Godly Wife

The Bible says that the meek, quiet spirit and chaste, submissive, Christlike conversation of a wife can win the souls of any that obey not the word. It is not in our nature to submit like Christ submitted, but 1Pet 3:1 starts with 'Likewise ye wives' indicating God's command that wives so be in subjection to their own husbands. A Baptist preacher running for political office publicly admitted that the Bible does say that, but for politics he added “My wife is anything but submissive.” That appeased the world's views but it did not please nor honor God. In our society the submission of a woman to God's Word, God's plan for marriage, and her own husband is one of the most rebelled against commands in the book. Just ask your preacher, who is 50% likely a woman in open rebellion to that command! One of the reasons we are not fulfilling the great commission to win the world to Christ is the disobedient rebellion in the Christian home. I can count on my fingers the homes I know to that have a chaste, submissive, meek, quiet, Christlike wife. Yet God has given this great promise that such a conversation will win the unbelieving brothers and sisters, cousins and nephews, neighbors and kin of such a woman. For your home to be what God commands in I Peter 3, your heart will have to be what Jesus commands in John 3. “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” ... nor see a submissive life, nor see a chaste submissive behavior, ... nor see “that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.” Pray the Lord will make you that submissive, that Christlike, that holy.

Msg #809 A Husbands Love

The 'likewise' in 1Pet 3:7 is different than the one in verse 1. In verse 1 it was a lesson in Christ's submission; in verse 7 a lesson in Christ's love. “Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge”; knowledge of how much Christ loves His Church. He went through cruel mocking, punishment, and death for her, and gives us a model for how much we should love our wives. “Giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.” Jesus, the perfect unspotted 'Lamb of God' gave honor to mankind 'while we were yet sinners.' “Likewise ye husbands,” ... honor the wife. A woman is packaged differently physically, emotionally and mentally. That does not make them the weaker vessel as much as God's command to them that they be in subjection to their own husband. The husband's charge here is to recognize their vulnerability and love them as Christ loved His Church. Christ loved you when you were unlovely. The Bible commands you to 'so love' that lovely one who vowed to love and obey you 'till death do us part.' 'Likewise' here is a tall order, but it is an order. Often our love pales in comparison.

In the Bible saved women are rightly called 'sons' of God. (John 1:12) My wife responded “Yes, and men are called the bride of Christ. Deal with it.” Saved husbands and wives are ''heirs together of the grace of life” ... eternal life ... joint heirs with Christ. Our homes are to portray the love of Christ. That love is in the submission of the wife and the love of the husband. When one would obey without the other that picture is more magnified not less; and Peter's 'likewise' is all the more the imperative. May God bless your marriage and home. He wants to.

Msg #810 The Ark of Covenant

It is curious that when approaching the Hebrew Tabernacle the Ark of the Covenant would be the very last of the furnishings seen; found buried deep under curtains and shrouded behind a veil. Yet when God instructs the construction of this tabernacle the very first thing in His priority is this ark of the testimony. Think of these words, ... the 'chest' where the testimony of a covenant between God and man is carried. God had said “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Exod 25:8) At the tabernacle's first mention, the central point and priority of God's description begins with this 'chest' called the 'ark of the testimony', the ark of the covenant', the 'ark of the LORD', and the 'ark of God'. The word 'covenant' is for an alliance or pledge, treaty or league, agreement or marriage; while the word 'testament' is more for a witness, a testimony, or evidence of the agreement. In the whole of Exodus it is referred to as the evidence of the agreement, 'Ark of the Testimony.' Shittim wood used in the ark represents the feeble, frail, fallen, flesh of humanity. The word became vulgar in colloquial use for what is separated and discarded from the flesh, but in this ark of testimony the base wood is not discarded, it is gold plated. The awesome representation brings together the depraved humanity of man, shittim wood, with the full deity of God, pure gold, and combines them into one ark of testimony. It is a portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ, flesh and deity in one. If your a Christian, your old wood is to be gold plated and be beaming forth the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn more of this Hebrew Tabernacle at GSBaptistChurch.com/temple

Msg #811 The Contents of a Covenant

Everything in the Hebrew Tabernacle portrayed our Lord Jesus Christ, and thereby should portray those called by his name. In the tabernacle the ark of the covenant contained ”the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;” (Heb 9) The tables are the commandments of God. Jesus said, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10) Today, to enter into God's covenant, you must first obey his command. Not the ten in the Hebrew ark, but the one that says “now (God) commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17:30) Salvation does not come without following this command. Jesus then says to the saved “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John14:15) Aaron's rod that budded was a dead stick used to test who would be the priests of God. Aaron's dead stick came to life, blossomed and bore fruit. So did the author of our salvation. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2) He was raised from the dead, and if saved, “you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” very much like Arron's rod. When you have His salvation, you are a priest and can enter into his presence. The ark had a golden pot of manna. Jesus is the bread of life, as he said. The gold is his deity. Manna is also portrayed as “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4) The tabernacle is an awesome portrait, in every detail. Are you?

Msg #812 The 10^th of Abib

For fifteen hundred years before Christ's arrival God had the Hebrews paint an annual picture of the day of his crucifixion. Exodus 12 records that on the 10^th day of the month of Abib they were to choose out a lamb that was without spot or blemish, separate it from the flock and keep it up until the 14^th day when they were to slay it and catch the blood in a basin. When the lamb of God, was selected from the flock, on the 10^th day of Abib, He was escorted into the city of Jerusalem amongst garments and palm leaves strewn in His path and as the people cried “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord' Hosanna to the highest.” (Matt 21) Almost 2000 years ago now, it had become the custom that the Galilean Jews observe the passover meal a day early to alleviate the overcrowded city during this annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. So Jesus observes his 'last supper' with his disciples in the evening of the 13^th day of the month Abib. On the 14^th day of the month, on the very day prophesied and exercised for 1,500 years, the day and the hour that the passover lamb was to be slain in prophetic remembrance, the spotless lamb of God, was hung on a cross at Golgotha, and gave up his life's blood for you and for me. God still says “When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the palgue shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land...” Christianity is larger than one could portray in 300 words, it is the eternal plan of God for the ages, as portrayed in the whole of the Bible.

Msg #813 Serve a Risen Saviour

Of all the resurrection accounts Luke 24 records my favorite when he tells of two disciples explaining to the resurrected Jesus Christ the events of His own crucifixion. For the errant catholics they clarify the crucifixion was on a Thursday, three days earlier like the Bible says, not two like tradition says, but to the rest of us they demonstrate the love and tenderness of God. He did rebuke them as fools but then he showed them from the Scriptures, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets” how Christ ought to have suffered these things to “enter into his glory.” Indeed Baptist preachers of the gospel have been doing that for these past 2000 years. Paul said “Moreover, brethern, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, .... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;” We sing, as did Paul in 1Cor 15, “I serve a risen Saviour, He is in the world today. I know that he is living, what ever men may say.” Praise the Lord, Christianity does not pray to dead saints nor honor some dead prophet who gave out a life changing philosophy. It serves, yea it worships as God, the resurrected only begotten Son of the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't be tangled in the counterfeits, and untangle your loved ones from man made 'religion.' Christianity is not a 'religion' it is a 'relationship.' Live that relationship before others so they can see your risen Lord, so they too can look and live.

Msg #814 Tabernacle Candlestick

The holy place of the Hebrew Tabernacle had three furnishings just outside the holy of holys where God met with Israel. (Exod 25) Only priests were allowed in this holy place even as all born again Christians, called priests and kings under the new covenant, are the only ones allowed in such a holy place today. Two furnishings, the table of shew bread and the altar of incense are typified by the song we sing in Sunday School, “Read your Bible, Pray every day, If you want to grow.” The only light that shined in the holy place, the candle stick, with 6 branches and 7 lights pounded out of one piece of pure gold, does not signify the light of God unto the world; for it only shone in the curtain shrouded holy place where only priests entered. It excellently typifies the perfect and complete light of a pure and holy God that lights up the holy place where you, as a Christian break the bread of God's Holy Word daily, like the shew bread is placed daily. It beams light to the bended knee of the believer in his daily prayers, like the altar of incense is tended in the daily ministration. If you are not a born again Christian, you cannot enter the holy place, nor see the candlestick; you need to do your business outside at the brazen altar first. If you are a Christian, have you been in the holy place today? Your presence is commanded. Have you bathed in the light of God with an open Bible and bended knee as only a blind man that has received back his sight ever could. If you have been quickened, (Eph 2) you will long to be in the 7 complete lights of God's pure candlestick.

Msg #815 Redeemed by the Blood

The Hebrew Tabernacle that God designed as a portrait of his relationship with man had a central tent covered with four practical and symbolic curtains. (Exod 25) The inner most was a 28 x 40 fine twined linen curtain made of blue and purple and scarlet with cherubims of cunning work. Ten 4 cubit linen curtains came off the Hebrew loom symbolic with cherubims, the winged creatures present where God meets with man; with scarlet, the color of the blood that can wash away all sin; with purple, the color of the royalty of kings and priests which God has made his born again believers; and with blue, the marvelous backdrop of the heavens when man looks up through God's unpolluted air back lit by his Son. The 50 pure gold taches that connected one curtain to the next represent the pure righteousness of God that through mercy could robe saints in such linen. A 30 x 44 mohair curtain overlapped the linen and is picturesque of the scapegoat that went free while his mirror was made the sacrifice for sin. The goats hair curtain was seamed together with 50 taches of brass representing this judgment of sin. The soft mohair was covered with rams skin dyed red. The symbolism is clear and vivid for any born again believer. An outer layer of badgers skin served two practical and symbolic purposes. The heavy grizzled coat of the carnivorous burrowing badger was a protection from the harsh wilderness environment outside of the holy place, and its disheveled blandness concealed the inner gold and beauty of the tremendous contents of the Hebrew tabernacle. A born again believer may not look like much to the world, but nestled in that soul is covenant relationship with Jehovah God through the blood of His only begotten Son.

Msg #816 Unity in Christ Alone

The Bible says “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133) but this unity is never condoned or expected for those outside of the Christ. Indeed this unity of brethren is attainable by those who are redeemed to God by the gracious sacrifice of His only begotten Son. The 20 boards that stood in the two walls of the Hebrew Tabernacle amply illustrate this. They were dwelling together in unity of mind and purpose and each was separated from the dirt of this world by two sockets of pure silver. God was emphatic about this and the silver pictures the act of redemption throughout Scripture. A Church should insist on, as Baptists always have, a testimony of a soul's redemption experience prior to entry into Church membership. Redemption is not baptism, and baptism is not redemption. A public profession of both the repentance and faith present in conversion cannot be replaced with some behind the door confirmation classes and it always preceded baptism in the Bible. If your Church receives members solely by this public profession of a redemption experience it may have the name 'Baptist' on the sign out front; no mere baptism will do, and certainly no infant baptism with ensuing confirmation classes will do. The unity of Psalm 133 is thus expected inside the walls of a Baptist Church, and when it is lacking there is usually a board that has no sockets of silver separating it from the world. Check your silver. Is it pure? Check your membership policy is it proper? If there is any un-Biblical board in your Church it will break the unity. Even a deacon board that is cited in NY State law, is nowhere found in my Bible. Keep all your boards Biblical.

Msg #817 The Temple Veil

When the Lord Jesus Christ finished his sacrificial work as the passover lamb He became our high priest and in preparation the veil in the temple was rent from the top to the bottom exposing the holy of holies and the ark of the covenant to the priesthood. (Matt 27:51) The picture which God had painted for 1500 years, using a veil of blue and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work with cherubims, was rent in two by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and under the new covenant a believer priest has full access to the very presence of God, into the place where Jehovah God dwells. Born again believers have this access with no other mediator than our Lord and Saviour. For the past 1500 years religionists have been wearing various robes, backward collars, and religious paraphernalia pretending to be your priest or mediator when the Bible clearly communicates the priesthood of all believers. My Bible still says “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven,” (Matt 23:9) even while there are religionists who where a dress and insist that you call them 'father', or 'holy father', and one, who just visited NY, insists on being called 'The Holy Father'! If your pastor refuses to wear a robe or collar, portraying the connection with this error, you could be in a Bible believing Church with 'Baptist' on the sign and the priesthood of all believers in its statement of faith. Our priesthood is clearly contained in the ark of the new covenant, the Scriptures of the New Testament. Study it to show yourself approved unto God, and be careful with anyone presenting themselves as a mediator between you and your Father, even in their dress.

Msg #818 The Brazen Altar

The brazen altar for sacrifice was the 7^th construction description given in the Hebrew tabernacle, God's explicit portrait of the redeeming work promised for mankind. Within this 5x5 cubit brazen altar priests would sacrifice the sweet savor burnt offerings, meat offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings and trespass offerings described in Leviticus. It was the first furnishing encountered in approaching the holy place, and portrays God's judgment upon sin; “for the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23a) The picture is so powerful that brass comes to symbolize judgment throughout the remainder of God's revelation, just as gold represents His righteousness because of the mercy seat; silver, redemption because of the sockets holding the tabernacle. God is so holy and righteous, and His heaven is so perfect, that no sin can enter his presence. Sin must be judged righteously and His judgment says sin gets the death penalty; thus the brazen altar was a place of sacrificial death, and you cannot enter the holy place without passing by this place of sacrifice. But this was just the portrait. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. ... He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb 10:4-10) Your sacrifice will not get you into the holy place. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Receive Him, God's perfect, man's only, sacrifice for sin.

Msg #819 The Seven Things in Proverbs 31

Genius literature has a prologue and epilogue and the latter in Proverbs gives 7 things that mothers should be teaching. In the Bible, seven is the number of completeness. The righteous do not fall 7 times because someone is counting, nor are there 7 abominations in man because someone has a list. Likewise here, emphasis is on the completeness of a mother's teaching. In the 1^st verse she teaches a son what God says, for the meaning of 'prophecy' is captured in the phrase 'Thus saith the Lord,' as used over 1000 times in your AV Bible. In the 2^nd she teaches him his identity, and note particularly the reference to marriage vows. Mothers are to be married, life givers and teachers in this profoundly worded context. In the 3^rd a son is not to be a womanizer and in the 4^th he is not to be a winebibber. These two vises are the downfall of most wayward men and a mother is to keep sons off that path. The 5^th lesson is one of compassion, found in verse 8, and the 6^th one of sound judgment in verse 9. The most commonly referenced lesson which a mother must teach her son is the seventh, given in this closing chapter of the book of wisdom. It is that you marry a God fearing virtuous woman who can teach these 7 lessons to your children. It is unfortunate that these superb lessons are so little heeded in our twisted society. It does not take a village, it takes a Christian, God fearing, Bible reading mother, and they are all to rare in villages of America. Praise the Lord if you got one called mom, and all the more if you have one called sweetheart. I got both. Happy Mother's Day.

Msg #820 Got Life?

Jesus likens becoming a Christian to a new birth wherein one is added to the kingdom of heaven, completely saved from their sin debt and redeemed from this world's owner in a single act of spiritual new birth. (John 3) Likening this to a physical birth condemns the sacramental work systems developed by man made religion whereby do-gooders and church donors get in when 'Saint Peter tips the scales their way.' Thus a born-again Christian should perceive the three errant 'P's of apostasy wherein the Latin Vulgate translated the Bible word for “repent” as the Latin “do penance”, the Bible word “elder” as Latin word “priest” and the Bible word “ordain” as the Latin word “predestinate.” Be careful who does your Bible translation and your thinking for you. These three errors have permeated Christianity for 1700 years, and now we have the modernist and unitarian Bible Societies hobnobbing with Rome to do all modern Bible translations. Satan is ecstatic, but born-again believers need to be wary. The Lord Jesus Christs taught conversion by repentance and faith; He taught no New Testament priest-craft; and He taught that whosoever will may come. He also taught that He was God in the flesh, that there is only one way to eternal life, and that whosoever believeth on him would, in the present tense, receive it. The attack against the words of God is still rampant. But this word is sure; “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. ... He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (John 3:36, 1John 5:12) Are you 'born again' like Jesus taught? It is essential!

Msg #821 Justifying Faith and Justifying Works

It is clear in the Bible that justification of the sinner is by faith through grace whether you read Ephesians 2 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” or Romans 1 “The just shall live by faith.” Justification, here, is declarative wherein God declares one 'just-as-if-I'd' never sinned. When justified, and there is no holy water, holy wafer, or sacrament involved in that justification, you are declared righteous by God the Father, because of your faith in, and conversion to, the redeeming act of His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Recall that He said “Except ye be converted, ... ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Justification is an absolutely free and undeserved gift. You cannot be declared justified because of any works, penance or baptisms you may do, it is only by grace. When Paul declares this truth in Romans 4 he directly quotes James, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem, who said “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” James was contending that faith needs to be justified after your salvation; Paul dealing with how we are declared justified. The word justify has two meanings; declared justification done by God and explained by Paul, and demonstrated justification whereby real faith is shown and evidenced in James' definition. God in Paul was not at odds with God in James. Romans sets about explaining how you are made the righteousness of God, James to explain the effect of that righteousness when it is real. Both clearly reveal, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation” Be saved and be real.

Msg #822 Pure Oil, Pure Light, Pure Word

Exodus 27:20 says “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.” The first break in the construction details of the Hebrew Tabernacle deals with the oil that will burn inside the holy place. This oil, representative of the Holy Spirit of God, burns for a light, not to the world, but for the priests as they serve in the holy place. It must be a pure oil with no admixture of another spirit. There is a spirit that contradicts the Word in worship and causes people to babble or howl in confusion without edifying. There is a spirit of pride, apathy, or rebellion that competes in the holy place, but only pure oil lights the bread of life and the golden prayer altar. The olive source is representative of Israel, and only the chosen seed of Israel could be the Word which lights the Word. Modernized Bible versions do not light the true Word like oil of olive does. It is a beaten oil, pounded fine and pure in a mortar, even as “ he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: ... and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa 53:5) And it is an 'always oil' that was to burn from generation to generation forever. Some would have you think that the pure Word of God was lost for a thousand years and the efforts of Critic Tischendorf, Bishop Westcott and Professor Hort will restore purity by ripping 5,604 Greek words out of their Nestles bible. God says His light would burn always, and it did burn pure throughout those dark 1,000 years of Roman persecutions. Keep the oil pure and use His Light on His pure Word.

Msg #823 A Prepared Place for a Prepared People

The Bible clearly says that there is life after death and that Jehovah God has a prepared place for only prepared people. Every man made religion has God's heaven far less than the indescribable eternal place that His Bible describes. The Apostle Paul writes therein “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1Cor 2) Jesus, the King himself, says of His place “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matt 25:34) Cults of vulgar men try to make it a place of sexual gratification with available virgins or women perpetually pregnant. My wife won't go to Joseph Smith's imagined heaven. If the measurable spectrum were logarithmically stretched from your floor to the ceiling a child could see the ROYGBIV colors through a l inch slit about 3 feet up. Heaven is perfect, sinless, and beyond our eye's ability; are you perfectly prepared? Every man made religion has God's condemnation and wrath far less than the indescribable eternal place that His Bible describes. The Bible's hell has no purgatory, end, or drop of water. It is for the unprepared. The wages of sin is death; this death is passed upon all men; and “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev 21:8) Choose life! “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.” (John 3:36)

Msg #824 Your Commission

Five times the commission of the Lord Jesus Christ to the disciples is recorded by them. In Matthew “All power (i.e. authority, right, liberty, jurisdiction, strength) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, ...” (Matt 28); in Mark 16:15 “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' in Luke 24:47, “ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”; in John 20:21, “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”; and in Acts, “ ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” As a Christian you are commissioned, commanded, and expected to give the gospel to your neighbors, acquaintances and even strangers that you meet. If you are saved from the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev 20:14-15, 21:8) by calling on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 10:9-10), how could you not tell your neighbor, who is headed there, how they too can be saved. More than telling them that 'you love Jesus' more than inviting them to Church, you need to tell them that 1) All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God; 2) Their sin has an eternal penalty in the lake of fire; 3) One cannot save themselves by works or deeds, memberships or baptisms, 4) Christ paid their penalty in full, and 5) their believing and calling on Him will enact their salvation from that lake of fire. Untold millions are still untold. You will talk to one of them today. Do not let them remain untold! Follow His command, not your spirit, tell them.

Msg #825 Is Acts 8:37 in Your Bible?

The Bible says in Acts 8:37 “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest (be baptized). And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ... and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” A Bible verse that clearly portrays baptism of only born again believers and that by immersion under water is so despised by baby sprinkling religions that it is ripped out of all the modernist versions of the Bible. Check your Bible for Acts 8:37 and if that verse got pulled take a note that you need to get an accurate Bible with all the verses included. The ecumenical modernists translate from the Alexandrian corrupted manuscripts from Egypt. They call these 'older and better' manuscripts to get rid of Acts 8:37, a myriad of other verses, and most all of the full names of “The Lord Jesus Christ.” Accurate versions and translations include these verses and full names all the way back to the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries. Back then there was no infant baptism, no holy water, no baptism by sprinkling, and ONLY baptism of believers by immersion, like Jesus was baptized and like Jesus taught his apostles. Baptists got tagged with that name because they are a people who kept going that far back to establish everything they believe and practice by the writings of the actual apostles. We call those writings the Holy Bible. With all the omissions in the myriad of modernist bibles, Baptists, of all people, should recognize the NIV, NASB, NEB, NJB, etc., as the holey bible, and get a hold of one that still has Acts 8:37 in it. God only wrote one book, don't trust a translator that won't get you the whole thing.

Msg #826 The Fearful Unbelieving

The Bible says in Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” This depiction of eternal punishment is often denied by man made religions but in the Bible there are only two destinies of the soul, this second death or partaking in eternal life. Your destiny is determined by what you do with the Only Begotten Son of God. We might agree on a fate for the abominable and the murderers but leading off in God's list is 'the fearful, and unbelieving' and that might describe some nice folks. In a study of God's 63 uses of the phrase 'Fear not' one realizes that the fearful are the unbelieving and the unbelieving have cause fear. “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” and God said “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Likewise for us; “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.” Then the Son said “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” those found in Christ need not fear what their reward will be for “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Jesus said to believers “Fear not; I am the first and the last.”

Msg #827 The Abominable Things

There are 39 abominable things called out in the Bible and half of these had to do with keeping the Hebrew diet, behavior, and sacrificial system for their clean vessel and clear portrait of their coming messiah. That leaves 15 sins that God especially abhors still applicable to today. Five considered heinous to our Creator have to do with our procreation; involving sexual sins, adultery and homosexuality. But before examining any abomination to closely we should consider that “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10) and “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ... For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3) The Bible says every one of us comes before God guilty and condemned until we call upon His Only Begotten Son for forgiveness and eternal salvation. The danger of these more abominable things is in their more catastrophic destructive results. Lives are ruined, children are marred, and incurable consequence are procured. Still many tangled in a 'sexual revolution' remain defiant of God's precepts and others may look down a self righteous nose at their awful plight, without remembering that “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD”(Prov 12:22), “the froward is abomination to the LORD”, (Prov 11:20) or “A false balance is abomination to the LORD.” (Prov 11:1) Being forgiven of the eternal penalty for sin, as a born again Christian is, does not get us release from the present awful consequence of sin. Salvation does not cure HIV or herpes but secures eternal forgiveness of the condemnation of sin. All of us should be especially careful of the sins God calls an abomination. They lead directly to present ruin; but the Bible still says “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom 10:13)

Msg #828 Where the Fire is Not Quenched

As a Christian our salvation experience and our love of Christ compel us to tell others how they too can be saved from the horrible eternal fate of the second death called out in Revelation 20:14-15. If one does not experience that compulsion they are likely yet in their sin; not understanding what they needed saved from, the principle of repentance, nor the sincerity of belief required in Romans 10:9-10. For those truly saved from that lake of fire and brimstone, called the second death, there is not only a compulsion to tell others there is a command. Jesus said 'Go ye and teach all nations (Matt 28) and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16) that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in my name; (Luke 24) as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you; (John 20) that ye shall be witnesses unto me.' (Acts 1:8 ) So why will they not listen when we tell them the gospel? Today the existence and doctrine of an eternal hell is being systematically removed from the minds of man. The word 'hell' is found 54 time in the Holy Bible but only 14 times in the modernist's NIV bible. Its eternal existence was denied by Charles Taze Russell, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen White and other cult founders of America. They are called unbelievers in Revelation 21:8, don't be their followers. Many reject the gospel message of salvation because they just don't understand what they need to be saved from, thinking God wouldn't really do what he said, or that they can save themselves. True Christians need to turn up the temperature of hell fire in their preaching until it gets as hot as Jesus preached it, “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:44,46,48)

Msg #829 America Has a Prayer

On this 232^nd celebration of this great nation's independence I read aloud Daniel 9 where Daniel prayed for his country. And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, “O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our (governors), our (leaders), and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of (New York), and to the inhabitants of (Albany), and unto all (America), near and far... because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our (governors), to our (leaders), and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all (our United States) have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse (could be) poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. ... As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil (should) come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.

Therefore (could) the LORD watch upon the evil, and (bring) it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. And now, O Lord our God, that hast ... gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from (us): because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, (These United States) are become a reproach to all that are about us.

Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon (this nation and turn our hearts again toward thee), for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and (this nation which was once) called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for this thy people are called by thy (Son's) name “

I am thinking what God said that “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.”

Msg #830 Study the Words of God

In Daniel 9, the Bible reveals a gray headed Daniel studying the Scriptures written by Jeremiah the prophet and gaining an understanding of some things about God. The Bible reveals a challenge to young Timothy to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Tim 2:15) Before the modernists conjectured that “it is just a book written by man” Christians, young and old, were called 'People of the Book' and believed what it said that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, (What IS right) for reproof, (How to GET right) for correction, (How to KEEP right) for instruction in righteousness: (How to TEACH right) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Tim 3:16) When Daniel studied and understood, it did three things for him, first he says “I set my face unto the Lord God,” In your circumstance you need to do exactly the same. Second, Daniel said “I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, ...” In the mess of this world we need to do exactly the same thing. The key here is the study of God's Word. Study like God told Joshua “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; (i.e. It will always be in your mouth) but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Oh, the third thing that Daniel got from the studying the Scriptures, ... The touch of God “While I was speaking and praying ... about the time of the evening oblation.” (Dan 9:21)

Msg #831 A Dysfunctional Nation.

In Ezekiel's prophecy the Bible says “So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezek 39:7))This follows a long and explicit justification of the slaughter and deportation of Israel from her promised land and she is likened to a whorish adulterous woman that forsakes her loving husband for a horde of other men. If a nation's religion is what is taught to it's children in their school systems the USA is fitting of he same description. The Bible says “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; (Jehovah)” (Psalm 33:12) As a nation we, and Israel, horribly violated God's first three commandments. Israel is the nation that God chose and the USA is the nation that chose God. Our whoredoms after false gods will meet a justified judgment and God will not let us “pollute his holy name” much further. What God does to nations He does 'for His names sake.' (Psalm 23) God says that America who now rejects Jehovah God as their Creator, “who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,” (Rom 1:25) will someday turn from their godless evolution, their humanist manifesto and idolized materialism to “know that I am the LORD their God.” (Exod 29:46) We could do it before our demise if we would “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalm 2:10-12)

Msg #832 A Nation Says 'Aha'

In a year filled with politics and many loose worded national opinions the Holy Bible in Ezekiel 25 gives us due warning to be careful what we say. Individually the Bible warns us in James that “the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5) but nationally the most dangerous tongue was found in the land of the Ammonites. God says to them “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; ... Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, ...” (Ezek 25:3) The Lord GOD goes on to destroy Moab “ Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen; ...” In this chapter God destroys Edom, because they “dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance” and He goes on to say “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy (Israel) for the old hatred; ... I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.” These nations answered to an angry God because they spoke against God's Israel. Our politicians are becoming timid to call Israel the chosen people of the Lord GOD, dwelling in the promised land of God. It does not fit political correctness nor religious plurality, but Israel is just that, and our timidness to say it out loud is leading down a path of compromise which will end poorly. God's Word says that one day the USA “shall know that I am the LORD.”

Msg #833 Getting Nothing From The Bible

The Bible has much to say about nothing. It says in Ephesians 2:8-9 that there is nothing you can do to gain eternal life; it is a free gift of God received by trusting in his only begotten Son. In John 14:6 there is nothing other than Jesus the Christ who can usher you into the presence of a Holy God. In John 3:18 if you do nothing you are already under condemnation, indeed Romans 10:9-10 says you must believe and call on the Lord Jesus Christ to get out from under that condemnation. The Bible says in Mark 8:36 there is nothing that should keep you from making the decision to receive God's Only Begotten Son for your personal saviour. In Mark 9:43-48 the Bible says there is nothing in this life to be compared to an eternal torment of being cast away from Jehovah God our creator. In Revelation 20:14-15 it says there is nothing that can keep you from that lake of fire except having your name written in God's book of life. There are some blessed nothings in the Bible as well. Romans 8:38-39 says there is nothing that can separate the saved from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 10:27-30 says nothing can take away our eternal life nor pluck us from God's hand. In a Christian's proper walk the Bible says in Psalm 119:165 nothing can offend us; in Psalm 23:1 nothing is our want; in 2Peter 1:5-8 nothing can make us barren nor unfruitful; and in Jude 1:24 nothing can remove our exceeding joy. The Bible says in 1Corinthians 15:55-57 that death and the grave have nothing on the born-again believer. Do they have anything on you?

Msg #834 Satan, Tyrus, and US

In chapter 26 of God's prophecy through Ezekiel, God stands on a precipice of time and looks down on the waves crashing against the shores of Tyrus. There, in mankind, He sees both the shadow of Satan himself and the rebellious, materialistic, prideful heart foreshadowing US. These words are not just history, they are 'His Story' They do not just tell us what happened, they tells us 'What Happens.' In this instance Tyrus was looking for an opportunity to step in on God's territory and lift themselves up against Him and take advantage. Because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, “Aha, she is broken” ... God said, “I am against thee, O Tyrus. ... and will destroy thee.” (Ezek 26) Man has not learned better than to say 'Aha' against God. Psalm 35:21 says “ Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.” Psalm 40:15 says “Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.” We have said in our churches and schools “Aha, God did not create everything in 6 days like He said.” We have said in our courts “Aha, it's OK to kill for convenience if the victim is still unborn.” We have said in our homes and now in our churches “Aha, it's OK for women to rule over men.” We have said in our public square “Aha, queer behavior is just an alternate lifestyle, let them marry.” God called all these 'Aha, Ahas' SIN, and says “Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.” (Psalm 70:3) Micah 5:8 says we should “Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, ... JEHOVAH is his name ...” Jesus, his Son's name.

Msg #835 Egypt's Pride and US

In Ezekiel God reveals why he judges nations. Chapters 29-32 give insight into Egypt's prideful opinion that they were spontaneously generated and then evolved to higher order beings to became the gods of this world. God hated the pride of this nation who said of the Nile river, “My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.” (Ezek 29:3) In chapter 29 God said he would flop them into the wilderness like a fish out of water and a year later he did just what he said. They sound pretty haughty, but since O'Hair and ACLU kicked God's Bible from our schools, children are taught that God is a liar, that we spontaneously generated without Him, and that we evolved to a higher order beings which must save the planet. It is just as haughty, or more so. In Ezek 31 God says to the Pharaoh “Who do you think you are?” He then asks him to learn from history and see what happened to the greater kingdom of Assyria who filled with pride and thought themselves self made. If there is one thing we learn from history, it is that we don't learn from history. Pharaoh and all Egypt were brought to humility because God judges those who lift themselves up and deny their Creator. Our 'conventions' thumb their nose at Jehovah and deny their divine Creator but He still beacons “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa 1:18) He pleads with you, as well, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17) Be saved today.

Msg #836 A Loving Father's Corporal Punishment

Three Old Testament prophets wrote down God's messages after the Babylonian captivity and none is so tender as Zechariah. In the Rice households there was a practice of starting and ending child discipline with a candid discussion and a word of prayer. The initial discussion and prayer would never eliminate the 'whipping' that had already been bought and paid for, but the one that followed was always intimate, reconciliatory and productive. The initial assured that the offender knew the purpose and intended result of the corporal punishment, and the latter assured that the punishment had achieved it's goal. (Those who will not use corporal punishment in child rearing, or practice such an approach, God promises that their methods are wrong, and I'd sooner believe Him!) Zechariah is God's intimate, reconciliatory and productive discussion and prayer after the corporal punishment against His chosen people Israel. As in life, it reveals the tender heart of the father as it plots out a new direction for the punished child. The first 6 introductory verses alone are worth the effort it takes to find the book in a Bible. The ten visions in the first half of the book will take Bible study effort on your part and the 2^nd half paints a picture in time from 500 BC to the still upcoming 1000 year Kingdom Age of the Lord Jesus Christ, the 'King, the LORD of hosts.' The 14 chapters are worth your reading in one sitting. Those who say the God of the Old Testament is 'harsh' and the God of the New Testament is 'love' do not know God, nor his precious Book. God's promise in Zechariah's third verse is for you. God sent His 'Carpenter' to fix anything that you have broken or messed up. Give it to Him today.

Msg #837 Waiting for His Coming

In Matthew 25 Jesus likens the coming kingdom of heaven to a long drawn out wait for the coming of a bridegroom to a wedding. This parable is not fully portrayed in American weddings, but then in Israel before he would come and take his bride, the groom would make full physical and financial preparations of a stable home. Only then would the bridegroom go to initiate the wedding ceremony and celebrations. Then as now, eager bride's maids would wait and attend the bride for the glorious coming celebration. Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to these brides maids waiting for the coming groom and explains the main comparison thus “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matt 25:13) On the outside the 5 foolish bride maids looked and acted just like the 5 wise ones. They all had their lamps all trimmed and in hand; the naked eye could not discern the prepared from the unprepared in looks or acts. Just so Christians today wait for the coming of the bride groom, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus' parable indicates that half are not fully prepared, for they are lacking the oil, i.e. the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God that comes with an authentic new birth. This illustration is not for pretenders not real enough to watch for His coming, nor hypocrites and modernists who deny and castigate the accuracy of God's Word. Here the foolish were believing, and sincere, and busy, ... but lost, ... sincere, but not born again. Don't just test your sincerity, test authenticity. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ... The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Rom 8)

Msg #838 Investing Wisely

In Matthew 25 the second illustration that Jesus gave to conclude the 'Olivet Discourse' is often called the parable of the 10 talents. A sojourning man left 'talents', representative of his resources, with three servants. These talents were given out “according to (a servants) several ability,” (Matt 25:15) and there was a gain expected for every invested resource. A servant here, is not to represent a Christian as much as it is to represent humanity. God, your Creator, has given you His resources, a working brain, and the air that you breath. Some He has given even more resources. He is ever expecting a gain on His investment. The very least gain acceptable for any is the believing and accepting of the redeeming act of the Creator's only begotten Son. Without that much gain you are headed for outer darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth as recorded in verse 30. The wicked and slothful servant hid his master's 'talent' in the earth. Where have you placed your Creator's investment? The first and greatest commandment is that “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” (Mar 12:29) You only have your heart and mind for a little while. There is a day of reckoning coming soon, and He is expecting a return on His investment. We all can do something for the Glory of God. Your Creator wants a gain from the breath of life that He gave you. Be a good steward of the simplest resource that God has entrusted to us. He gave us life, invest that in Him, and he gives us eternal life, and just like the 'good and faithful' servants we double that resource He entrusted to us.

Msg #839 Jesus, The Life Giver

The Gospel According to Saint John is the first book recommended for reading to new believers. In it the Word is made flesh, ch1; the miracles begin, ch2; and the new birth is expounded, ch3. Christ is the living water, ch4; the quickener, ch5; and the bread of life, ch6. In todays English the 'quickener' often needs additional consideration. Made quick is not the sense of this old English word. Indeed the definition is best taken from Scripture and in John 5:21 it says “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” To be quickened is to be made alive, or brought back from the dead, and here Jesus said this power is His, that He “quickenth whom he will.” With that profound explanation Jesus gives two profound truths. First, Jesus, the Son is to be honored as God, loved as God and worshiped as God. (vr. 23) Cults and 'isms' stumble horribly at this truth, but Christians do not. Charles Taze Russel, founder of the JWs, and Joseph Smith, founder of Mormanism rejected the deity of Christ and the trinity of God. The Unitarians in the Bible Societies reject the deity of Christ and rip His name from their bibles but Christians can not. Second, Jesus explains that he alone can give eternal life to mortal man. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (vr 25) Got life? Praise God. Praise Jesus.

Msg #840 Sheep or Goat?

Twice in Matthew 25 Jesus portrays the Kingdom of Heaven in parable then he closes, by telling of pending judgment “when the Son of man shall come in his glory.” Christians look for and long for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ but when he comes “then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:” (vr 31) and judge the nations as it says here. Some consider this a judgment of works, for humanity to care for the poor and treat each other equitably; it is not. Notice herein that the sheep and the goats were separated before the 'works' were brought up. Righteousness is a state of being not a work of entry. Either you are a sheep, righteous and justified, or a goat, in iniquity and condemnation (John 3:18) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9) There are no works that you could do, or sacraments to incubate, to receive a new life in Christ. It is a free gift! Here the works are the fruit of the righteous, for “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt 7:16) Fruits do not produce righteousness; His righteousness in us, produces fruit. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2Cor 5:21) Sheep or goat is determined not by works, but by birth; there is still time for your new birth, but do not put it off, the judge will be returning any day now, and the Bible says “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ” (2Cor 6:2)

Msg #841 Rapture

The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will be as a thief in the night (1Thes 5). The world will be overdue God's wrath as it was in the days of Noah “when the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually;” (Luke 17:26, Gen 6) and as it was in the days of Lot when “the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven.” (Luke 17:28, Gen 19) Sodom was living a lifestyle of sodomy. America is thereby well qualified for His coming “as a thief” to steal away his saints who will be “caught up together ... in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:” (1Thes 4:16) When addressing the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the Bible says he will come to take out his saints “as a thief in the night” and yet come as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords;” where “every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him;” it says He will come “for His saints” and yet it says He will come “with his saints;” “in the clouds” and “with the clouds.” Jesus was not sloppy with prepositions, as are modern translators, not believing in verbal inspiration or pre-tribulation rapture. He indeed will come first “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:” (1Cor 15) to take a prepared people to a prepared place. If the trumpet sounds today, the saints will be 'caught up and transported to heaven' (or in Latin 'raptured.') The unprepared will be 'left behind.” Only “He that hath the Son, hath life.” (1John 5:12) and He is first coming for his own.

Msg #842 A Seven Tribulation

Jesus tells of the tribulation that will come upon this world and starts dead center in the middle when the 'abomination of desolation' stands in Jerusalem. (Matt 24:15-22) This event is also dead center in the middle of the Revelation of Jesus Christ in chapter 13, where this man is likened to a multi-headed beast and given a number of 666. This horrendous tribulation is prophesied in Daniel 9 where in the 'midst of that week,' or the 7 year period, the 'anti-Christ' rises to power, kills God's two witnesses (Rev 11:3-12) who were indestructible for 1260 days (3 ½ years), and treads under foot the holy city for 42 months. (or second 3 ½ years, 11:2 ) He receives his power from Satan and is worshiped by the whole world (13:4) as he aggressively tries to annihilate Israel for 1260 days (12:6) who is protected by God for the 'time, and times, and half a time' or 3 ½ years. (12:14) In this last 3 ½ years a false prophet does many 'signs and wonders' that are more real than Benny Hinn's or other TV charlatans, (13:11-14) and causes all to worship the dragon-Satan, and this anti-Christ-beast. (13:11-14, 16:13, 19:20) This 7 year period is real, true, and sure. (Rev 22:6) All the world will follow false teachers and false gods after Christ raptures his true Church our of here. Don't be left behind. Jesus said “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25) Remember, only “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1John 5:12)

Msg #843 Armageddon is Coming

Bible prophecy tells of 3 more world wars coming. All three center around a hatred toward Israel and in the one ending the 7 year tribulation God draws together all nations “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Rev 16:16) Satan will have deceived all the nations of the world, placed them in a new world order and caused that there be a one world religion. (Rev 13) When one hears talk like “We all worship the same god”, or sees the growth of pluralism, or the liberal progressive 'new world order' they should shudder for the direction of our nation. The left turn it took to follow along Satan's deceit is disguised in a liberal progressive platform that never talks about it's planks, only about it's personalities. It steadily mocks and eventually hushes Evangelical Christianity into a subdued Laodicean silence. I encourage Christians to “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:...Who made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant. ” A fundamentalist Christian is a servant centered on the love of Christ. (John 3:16) A fundamentalist Muslim is a warrior centered on killing Jews and infidels. (Koran 2:190-, Hadith 1:13, Sura 9:5) Yet, in making a recent endorsement Colin Powell said it is right in his eyes that a Muslim be our president, and Jimmy Carter said in Tolerance Magazine that Fundamental Christians are the culprits thwarting tolerance in America. God warns about this left turn when He says “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; ... Therefore ... their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have ... despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isa 5:20-24)

Msg #844 The Coming Messiah

God has made some promises to the Jews. Israel shall have a Messiah to sit on the throne of David and rule and reign this world as His kingdom, and He is the one that had his hands, his feet and his side pierced for you and for me. Zechariah 12:10 says “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, “ (Zech 12:10) And The Revelation of Jesus Christ matches that prophecy with “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” (Rev 1:7) Catholicism, and then Protestant theologians, taught that they would usher in this kingdom for the Christ (the Greek word for 'Messiah',xyvm 'mashiyach' ) Jesus was explicit, he was the Christ, he would return as the King of Kings, he would fulfill the promises to the Jews. He will not accomplish this through his Church, we are here only as His witnesses. As He told his apostles “But ye shall receive power, ... and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Students of Biblical Prophecy know that Christ will open a door in heaven and call to his Church saints 'come up hither' (Rev 4, 1Thes 4) and that when He next opens heaven and comes on a white horse, as the promised Messiah to the Jews, as King of Kings, He comes WITH those saints. (Rev 19) Be a saint, be a student.

Msg #845 Christian Temperance

Paul, writing his first epistle, emphasizes the pure grace that brings wisdom and change into a Christian's life. He puts this outline before the Galatian churches as they struggle against legalism, it shows up in each of his other epistles, and it includes what one used to 'walk', contrasted with what one is now to 'walk'. Remember the 'walk' talks and the 'talk' talks, but the 'walk' talks louder than the 'talk' talks. Before conversion one walks in the lusts of the flesh categorized and listed in Galatians 5:19-21 with four selfish-sex sins, nine selfish-religion sins, and four selfish-self sins. If you got off a selfish path it was because wise parents whipped you off, usually literally. After being born again your new Lord brings new fruit into the new life that you have in Christ. For those following the command “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh,” these new fruits are categorized in three groups of three. Three for your soul emotions; love, joy, and peace. Three for your relationships with others; longsuffering, gentleness, and goodness. And three for your walk; faith, meekness, and temperance. The latter of these fruits relates directly to that most noble inner struggle to be self-less instead of self-ish. All of child-rearing has to do with instilling a selflessness over and above ones natural selfishness. All the list of lusts of the flesh have to do with selfishness, but temperance has to do with the restraining of the flesh and telling it NO. A Christian has this power, or fruit, given to them by their Lord, as they walk in His Spirit. How's your temperance? How's your fruit? How's your walk? If you're born again you should have all three.

Msg #846 No Left Turn

What is a Christian to do when the world around him votes to take a hard left turn away from following after godliness? God's command to Joshua as he headed into the promised land was “Only be thou strong and very courageous, ... observe to do according to all the law, ... turn not from it to the right hand or to the left.” (Josh 1:) As America clearly voted against the holy sanctity of life, marriage and home Christians should make an extra effort to keep their eyes on their Lord. In Isaiah 6: the disturbing change in his nations leadership gave the prophet a better focus on the Lord's throne. “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” As we do the same, we should also utter his responses “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:” and concerning his witness he said “Here am I; send me.” Christians are always to bear witness of Jesus Christ their Saviour. As America turns left, denying the Creator and embracing godless evolution, Christians should not be in league with them. Jehoshaphat's compromise in 1Kings 22 cost his children the kingdom of Judah. Don't jump into compromise like a 'Jumping Jehoshaphat.' And as America takes this turn toward socialism, the Thessalonians, in similar circumstance were told “this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2Thes 3:10)Be an example, get a job. It is a pretty sorry Christian that prays to his government for his daily bread. As America turns away from Godliness, Christians need to portray His righteousness with greater resound.

Msg #847 A First Plank of Godliness

The Bible says “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” (Gen 1:1) and “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion ... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them,” (Gen 1:) further stating “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen 2:7)The very first plank in a Christian's platform is the sanctity of human life. Every human life is holy; it is not your own, not owned by humans, not owned by humanity; it is given by Jehovah God, and owned by Him. Human life is very different from animal life in this regard, and ANY teaching that God's humans are just animals or ANY teaching that God's humans have evolved from mere animals is in direct rebellion to the revealed Word of God and in direct rebellion to this principle of the sanctity of human life. Further, the whole act of human procreation is holy; God forms and owns the human life in the womb at conception (Psalm 22:9-10, Psalm 139:13) and even the seeds of that act before conception. (Jeremiah 1:5) It seems 52% of Americans believe German biologist Haeckel, who before 1900 imagined a scheme for Darwin whereby human embryos evolve like animals from amphibian, to chicken, to pig, to monkey, to .... finally become human-like after birth. This 100 year old fabricated lie is still taught as science to our school children, so too, they teach man was once monkey. A Christian does not believe the evolutionist but the Bible, holding firmly to the sanctity of human life. No human is or ever was an animal.

Msg #848 Christians Thanksgiving

The Bible says to Christian's “In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Like many things that are expected of Christians this is not in our nature but it is in His nature, and now expected of us. Given our Christian heritage it is not surprising that Abraham Lincoln established a national day of Thanksgiving. As our nation moves from Godliness to evolutionary atheism it does its best to deal with this national day. True Christians, with His nature of thanksgiving implanted within, should lead the way when it comes to thanksgiving. The Psalmist says “I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” Innocency is an ingredient for true thanksgiving and it is only attained with your sin's penalty paid by the Lord Jesus Christ on the old rugged cross. In Psalm 50, 107 and 116 God puts thanksgiving on equal footing with physical offerings saying “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:” And in Psalm 69 thanksgiving magnifies God: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” In Psalm 95 it is an ingredient for coming into God's presence and in Psalm 100 and Psalm 147 it is part and parcel with our joyful noise, sometimes called singing. Every Psalmist's mention of thanksgiving is just the starting point for a Christian's thankfulness. This year your thanksgiving to Jehovah God should be seen by others. Sure its proper for everyone to be thankful, but a Christian giving thanks to his Creator and Saviour can show forth His glory in a country that needs to see it.

Msg #849 A Christian's Planks

Three planks of a Christian's world view are the sanctity of human life (Gen 2:7), of marriage (Gen 2:23-24, 1Peter 3) and of the home (Deut 6:4-7, Prov 13:24, 19:18, 22:15, 23:13,14, 29:15,17, Eph 6:1-4). The latter two are built upon the first in that God designed a stable wholesome environment whereby new life could be brought into this world to propagate the human race. God's design for the humans that He created in His image is that a male have an appropriate helper beside him for his mature life. The human specifically designed and constructed to be that help 'meet' is called woman, the female of our species. God ordained this union and established its order, character, longevity, purity and fidelity. This union is designed by God to be the secure, loving, significance giving platform, indeed a taste of paradise one Earth, where children are to be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. When Adam by disobedience entered into his sinful nature he passed on to us a nature of ineptness, or the inability to do God's design, a nature of unwillingness to follow God's instructions, and a nature of rebellion against the authority of God to tell him what to do. In that state marriages fail, children are malformed and society lands where America is today. When one is born again into the kingdom of God he is given a new nature whereby rebellion is dissolved into Godly selfless love, unwillingness is overcome by submission and ineptness is overpowered with “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13) Christians are now free to move about within God's design, make marriage a taste of paradise and rear children God's way. So which nature are you operating in today?

Msg #850 The Glorious Announcement

From Genesis to Malachi the Bible reveals and promises the coming of an 'Anointed One', in Hebrew 'Messiah', in Greek 'Christ.' From Matthew to Revelation the Bible reveals that Jesus was the Christ, and that he fulfilled, or will soon fulfill, every previous revelation. The world's modernist scholars accuse power mongering 'Church-Fathers' of making 'Jesus' the 'Christ' with fables and exaggeration. They strive against the Christmas message that “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, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Indeed every one of the 39 books of the Old Testament contains some revelation about the coming Messiah. The Christmas Advent was thus first penned by thirty Jewish writers over a three thousand year period. Jesus is the promised seed of Genesis, the Passover Lamb of Exodus, the five offerings in Leviticus, the serpent on the pole in Numbers 21, and the Promised Prophet in Deuteronomy 18. Jesus is the Kinsman Redeemer of Ruth, the Daysman and Redeemer of Job, and the Messiah of the 16 Prophetical books. This Christmas pay no heed to those unbelieving 'scholars', the Bible says Jesus is not only the promised Christ, he is “The mighty God” and “The Everlasting Father.” (Isa 9) For a Christian the miracle in Bethlehem is still that God was “made flesh and dwelt among us”, that “He was in the world, and the world was made by him” and especially that “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” Keep a hold of that and you will have a Merry Christmas, get a hold of that and you will have your first Merry Christmas.

Msg #851 Wise Men Still Seek Him

The wise men who came from the east to worship a king of the Jews at his birth knew more about this Hebrew Messiah than was revealed by His star. (Matt 2:) Five hundred years prior to their diligent quest God's Hebrews were captives in their homeland. Throughout the Babylonian captivity the Jews maintained their Holy Scriptures and books were there penned. Wise men studying just the book of Daniel, written in the east, partly in Arabic for their benefit, would reveal that the Hebrew Messiah was to be the “stone cut out without hands,” (Dan 2:34, 45) “the Ancient of Days,” (Dan 7:9,13,22) and though He would reign forever, he would come and die 483 years after the return of these Hebrews, (Dan 9:25-26) Thus they brought gold that was ransacked from the Jewish temple, frankincense for its golden altar of incense, and myrrh that was used to embalm the Jewish dead. It is curious how those closer to the truth are often farther from it. For a dollar you could purchase an accurate English King James translation of all ancient Scriptures that the wise men of Matthew 2 had only partial access to, and all 66 books speak of this Messiah who said “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) You are not far from the truth. The Messiah (Greek “Christ”) said to the Jewish Sadducees “Do ye not err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God?” (Matt 12:24) That Messiah also said “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke 12:48) The whole truth is near at hand, and wise men will still search it out, and so worship the Ancient of Days, the Hebrew Messiah.

Msg #852 Named The Might God

The miraculous report which angels heralded to shepherds two thousand years ago is every bit as exciting today for those echoing a shepherds words “The Lord is my Shepherd.” (Psalm 23) The ruddy boy who composed those words in the 23^rd Psalm, a thousand years before the angelic announcement of the Lord's birth, was David, the shepherd boy, giant slayer and king. Messiah was born seed and lineage of King David. Angels announcing the birth of Christ to shepherds during lambing season is all the more fitting when this newborn Shepherd was to be the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) The Apostle Peter says of those who receive him as their Lord, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” Receiving this Jewish Messiah as Lord and Saviour makes one say anew and afresh “The Lord IS my Shepherd, I shall not want.” The Apostle John reports “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:) When celebrating Christmas and starting a new year only leaves you, and your wallet, hollow and empty, you need to get in touch with this Shepherd of souls. That ruddy lad wrote “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25) And if you have not received him, I echo the words of the Apostle Paul “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” With a Shepherd for your soul you are guaranteed a joy filled New Year.

Msg #901 New Beginnings

The Holy Bible is a book with 'new beginnings' as a theme. For a Christian it says: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5) After redemption, a theme of Exodus, we enter into a promised land to live and serve our God, the theme of Joshua. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.” (Rom 15). God first commissions Joshua as leader and a Christian as a witness.(Acts 1:8) A leader, and a witness, will keep an eye on the goal, meet the needs of others, and persuade complete participation. There are 'natural leaders' but the rest of us need to work on these three attributes to fulfill God's commission. Next God gives Joshua his goal and walking orders; the Christian's are in Matthew 28. What a promise Joshua had from God, if you get your foot there it's yours. A Christian does not 'get there' just sitting on his promises, the first word of our commission is also to 'GO!' God tells Joshua He will never leave him and charges him for courage and trust. The Christian is so promised and charged as well. God emphasizes that Joshua and we keep “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” near to our heart and meditation “that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein.” Obedience is paramount for success. First Joshua clears up some internal divisions; and likewise Christ charges us to clean up and sanctify every area of our heart, soul, mind and strength for His service. These similarities are not a coincidence; purpose to read His whole book in this next year and you can have a Happy New Year.

Msg #902 Promise Land Problems

The land which God promised to give to Israel had foot holds of Canaanites, Hivites, and Girgasites. Genesis 10 says the Gaza strip was held by Philistines then. The land of milk and honey promised to a Christian is likewise occupied by enemies of the promise, and there will need to be offensives into enemy territory. Crossing the Jordon into the land of promise is not parallel to crossing onto streets of gold, as in some spiritual songs, but a crossing into conquest and conflict where a Christian must destroy the occupants of lust of the flesh-ites, the eyes-ites and pride of life-ites. Just as Israel's conflict over their promised land will continue until their Messiah comes as King of kings, so a Christian's conflict with the world, the flesh and the devil will continue until the coming of their Lord of lords. In their very first battle the walls of Jericho fell “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord.” So too the devil's toughest strongholds in a new converts life will fall, not by might nor by 'grit your teeth and make a resolution' but by faith and obedience. Faith is not the power of positive thinking nor hoping so hard that something happens; it is trusting God's Word and leaning on God's promise. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom 10:17) When Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, he trusted God and obeyed his commands, then had only to clean up after a defeated foe. When a Christian takes the same steps of faith and obedience, God will defeat the strongholds of addictions and depressions and leave only the clean up to the saint. This year get into the Word and grow your faith.

Msg #903 What's Buried in Your Tent?

Going into the promised land was beset with occupants who would keep the rightful owners from enjoying the milk and honey of God's promises. In Joshua 7 the promised victory over Ai was beset by the hidden sin of Achan. When a Christian hides away disobedience to God's commands they will also find victorious Christian living beset by defeat. When our milk and honey filled victorious walk with Christ goes sour dig around your tent and you will find such a disobedience buried there somewhere. In each of us is a tract of stubbornness and ignorance, of sin and disobedience deep within. Break up some fallow ground in your life. Dig it out stone it, burn it and put it away under a heap of stones. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Prov 28:13) The way that Achan rationalized away his sin and buried it in his tent is not different than the rationalizing that a Christian does as he uses worldly entertainments, indulges in vices and cheats in his business dealings. The way God put his finger on Achan's sin and dug it out of his tent is not different than God probing into your life to reveal a disobedience. The way that Joshua stoned it all, burned it all, and buried it all in stones, should not differ from your handling of your stubborn tract of sin. If your sin is booze the stones to bury it with are in memorizing Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-35, and 31:4-5; Anger - Prov 15:1,18,16:32 and 19:11. For any vice your pastor can find the verses you need to bury it in. Confess that sin, forsake it and move on to the new victories and new conquests that await.

Msg #904 Football Mania

Joshua 9 chronicles six Palestinian occupants pitted against Israel's dwelling in the promised land; five were sold on the annihilation of Israel, but the Hivites decided for a peaceful coexistence with God's chosen nation. Not only does this seem like a headline in a paper today, it has an exact application to a Christian's walk in God's promised land. A vice is a legal but destructive addictive habit that vies for the annihilation of the soul. Advertisers and governments use, sell and tax the 5 legal vices because of their dominate control over your old nature. They need to be completely removed from a Christian's life so he can “abide in the vine” and live in the new nature of Christ. That leaves the Gibeonites who ”wilily” covenanted to be left in the land but in bondage and servitude as “hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation.” (Josh 9:27) The Gibeonites surrender aptly pictures the Christians dealing with foot ball mania. You may substitute other manias of sports, hunting, fishing, boating, racing or collecting, but they each bring a Christian to violate God's first commandment and refuse his saying “I will love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind.” It may not be a vice pitted for your soul's destruction but it sure is pitted for your soul's distraction. The Gibeonites were put in bondage to serve the congregation, but they were still a foot hold whereby the other kings tried to get in. Be careful here, read Joshua 9 and 10 and make sure your manias are put in proper bondage or remove them all together from your new life in Christ.

Msg #905 Vices In Control?

After the Gibeonites had made a league to cohabit Israel's promised land with Joshua there remained 5 other kings pledged to the destruction of God's chosen people. “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.” (Josh 10:8) Five vices pledged to the destruction of a Christian's life are alcohol, tobacco, gambling, fornication and drugs. These addictive bondages each beg the question “Who is in control?”; and for a true Christian there is only one correct answer: vices need to be removed from your life like Joshua removed the kings from the promised land. “Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand.” In the Scriptures that follow that promise “Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with Israel, save ... Gibeon; all others they took in battle.” (Josh 11:18-19) For Joshua's victories God sent hornets and hailstones and even had the sun stand still in the sky. God will give you victory over vice and set you free of that bondage. Do not compromise; put it out of the promised land; be free of vice. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed ” (John 8:31-32, 36)

Msg #906 Born Again's 5 Parts

Romans 8 is a parenthesis in Paul's soteriological dissertation wherein 5 aspects of ones salvation are listed for consideration. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” No matter who you are you are not “in Christ Jesus” unless you are #1 'Converted.' Jesus said “Except ye be converted, ... ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18) Conversion takes “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21) The converted one is immediately #2 'Immersed' into Christ. Then you are #3 'Justified' or judicially declared to be without condemnation. When justified immediately #4 “the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Rom 8:9) And if the Spirit of God dwells in you then #5 God “shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom 8:11) If you are a born again believer then all five of these happened to you instantaneously. If they did not happen you are not born again into the Kingdom of heaven, nor a Christian. Pretending to be what your not makes you a charlatan who will hear the Lord Jesus Christ say “I never knew you: depart from me, ... into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt 7:23, 25:41) That is very serious business from the lips and soteriology of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 8 Paul consoles those who ARE born again, who ”walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” for ”The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Rom 8:1,16) Romans 8 is a great consolation to a Christian, but if you are missing the walk or the witness you still need to be converted.

Msg #907 The Peace of Jerusalem

The Bible exhorts us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.” (Psalm 122) As I viewed it from atop Mount Carmel last week the Promised Land dwarfed to a proper dimension while God's chosen people loomed into a proper perspective. Overlooking the lush green Jezreel Valley, Nazareth, Caesarea and Megiddo it was clear that God still loves Israel with a mighty love. Christians love what God loves, but unregenerate depraved man and his religions hate what God most loves. Man made religions are diabolical in their hatred and massacre of Jews. Today, Islam is open about its annihilation goals for Judaism and Israel. In 1492 as God cracked open a door for Christians to escape persecutions in Europe, God threw open the doors for Jews to enter their homeland and escape Catholicism's sword in Spain. In the 40s even America turned back boat loads of God's Chosen People attempting to escape the diabolical slaughter of Jews in Europe. A Christian standing on the Promised Land of the Bible, will more love what God loves, the people to whom this land was promised. In 10 days I learned clearly that every time a Jew sinks his plow in that ground the earth brings forth her increase, and every time an archaeologist sinks his shovel into that ground, Bible truths are found exactly accurate and profoundly pertinent. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. ... Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.”

Msg #908 Husbands on Valentines

Just like an owners manual would the Holy Bible gives sound direction for God's intentions in our love and marriage relationships. The liberal progressive's world view of the backwardness of God's design should never sway a Christian from these firm well proven directions laid out in the 3^rd chapter of Peter's first epistle. For Valentines day we need not mention that there are 6 verses detailing the wife's behavior and only one for the husbands, nor emphasize the requirement for wives “being in subjection unto their own husbands” or Peter's example of Sara's obedience to Abraham, nor her calling him 'lord', because for Valentines day it is usually the husband that needs prodded out of his lacking of romance and selfish nature. Take note then that the single verse for husbands in this chapter starts with the word 'likewise' and refers back to Christ's behavior and love toward his beloved bride, the Church. With perfect love He suffered without complaint, 2:21, He did NO sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, 2:22, who was reviled, but reviled not again, and threatened not, 2:23, who bare our sin, 2:24, and became the Shepherd and Bishop (overseer) of our souls, 2:25. Such is a tall order for us, that we should do likewise, but it is indeed His requirement for our marriage relationship. Sure it is great to get her flowers and candy, but this year we should endeavor to give her a Christ like husband, that is being ever more conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the destiny of those who are 'in Christ' and moving in that direction early can make your home a taste of paradise here on earth.

Msg #909 The Valiant Men's King

The Scriptures continually challenge us to “choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Josh 24:15) and that “no man can serve two masters.” (Matt 6:24) There were some valiant men from Jabeshgilead squeezed into the end of Samuels first scroll, who illustrates these principles admirably. Their king and saviour had died in battle on Mount Gilboa, and the Philistines took his desecrated body and hung it on their trophy wall in Bethshan. The Bible records that “All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.” Why would the valiant men of Jabeshgilead risk their lives to rescue the dead body of their dead king and what do you suppose a Christian might do for their Living King? Reading Samuel's chapter 11 from this scroll tells exactly why for each. Jabeshgileadites never forgot the mess they were in. They were to have their right eye plucked out unless they found a saviour. (1Sam 11:2) Jesus said it would be better to have the eye plucked out than “that the whole body should be cast into hell.” (Matt 18:9) Never forget the mess you were in. They never forgot the message they received. (1Sam 11:9) Paul wrote our message down: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;... how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” And they never forgot the mercy they were shown. (1Sam 11:11) Christians should ever serve the Living King and never forget the mercy they were shown.

Msg #910 Forgive, Serve, Give Thanks

Jesus' departure from Galilee and final course to Jerusalem where he would be presented on what's called Palm Sunday, as the spotless lamb that taketh away the sin of the world, is riddled with lessons which capture and summarize every purpose in his coming. Luke 17 begins the holy journal of that journey, and its prelude contains three powerful lessons. Jesus first taught his disciples that offenses would come, take care they not initiate them, and be instant in forgiving those who do. These charges are contrary to our old nature and will take the faith of a mustard seed. Jesus would soon fulfill each in cross bearing. Then Jesus, the supreme servant of Isaiah 53, gave instruction on how to be a faithful servant unto death. Christians need reminded that we are to minister to others, not brow beat, command, or ridicule them. A servant that does only the commands is an unprofitable servant. (vr 10) Upon entering Samaria Jesus heals 10 lepers. Nine of the ten follow in strict obedience to his commandment and are healed and restored to the congregation by law. One of those ten turned back to Jesus, glorified God, gave thanks, was then found at the feet of Jesus, and was made whole. That one was a Samaritan and I hope he typifies your relationship with your Lord and Saviour. There are many 'Christians' running about with pharisitical obedience, cumbered about with much serving and to busy to thankfully sit at Jesus' feet. There you will find this healed leper. Jesus preceded his journey to the cross with lessons on coming offenses, forgiveness, and servant hood. He would soon live these lessons. His first miracle on this journey was to heal 10 lepers. He would soon heal our leprosy on a tree. Give thanks.

Msg #911 Galilee to Calvary

As Jesus walked from Galilee to Calvary he taught four important lessons about approaching God. Luke 18 opens with two prayer parables teaching that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” . If a lowly widow can use consistency and persistence to get the ear of an unjust judge, we can get the ear of the all just judge. The question framed is “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Next, a parable for those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous.” You contend “That's not me!” but our old nature is replete with phariseeism and deplete of mercy begging publicanism. God promises “every one that exalteth himself shall be abased,” but previously promised “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” In keeping the emphasis on the salvation, which Christ is about to purchase, Luke now journals two encounters. “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” It will take child like faith, trust, and belief to enter the kingdom of God. Little children are both astutely persistent and remarkably humble. Jesus said “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The forth driving principle for entering the kingdom, attaining eternal life is illustrated in the “certain ruler” who asked him for it. Like him, there are many who will not let go of every thing else and cling only to Christ. He had kept all the other commandments, but this one he refused. If clinging to possession or pride, let it go, humble yourself as a child and beg like a publican. Enter the kingdom of heaven.

Msg #912 Follow Him to Calvary

The twelve disciples, after spending three years at the feet of their Lord, were not in sync as Jesus took his journey to Jerusalem where he would be offered as the passover lamb for the world. They were following Jesus but were not following him. Jesus often remains far ahead of us as we strive to follow. On the journey Jesus told the rich young ruler, “Sell all that you have, come and follow me, and gain eternal life.” The disciples said “We have followed you for three years now, what do we get?” He told the parable of the vineyard workers where those who labored for only one hour got the same pay as those who labored through the heat of the day. (Matt20:12) Jesus told them that he would be mocked, spit upon, scourged, and crucified in Jerusalem, but they could not see it. (Mark10:34) He touched the eyes of blind men and “immediately their eyes received sight.” (Matt20) He told his disciples that he would rise again on the third day, but they remained blind to this promise. He commanded another blind man to be brought unto him, “And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” (Luke18:42) James and John had a contention about who would be the greatest in the kingdom and wanted to sit on Jesus' right and left hand. “But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask:” and he called a publican down from a tree outside of Jericho and stayed with him that night because “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke19:10) Jesus' miraculous and instructive journey from Galilee to Calvary was punctuated by confused misunderstanding disciples. We follow him, but often we don't follow him.

Msg #913 A Ten Pound Servant

The parable of the ten pounds given at the threshold of our Lord's triumphal entry is not to be confused with the stewardship parable of Matthew 25 nor the vineyard parable of Mark 12. Ecumenical forces of modernists strive to create a synoptic dilemma of these separate teachings of Christ and thereby loose the power of them all. As the Christ, the son of the living God, approaches Golgotha, this parable divides mankind into four categories, three found in the 10 servants, and one in the citizens that cry “We will not have this man to reign over us.” You will fit into one of these four categories, because the 'certain nobleman' has indeed gone off to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return, exactly as Jesus taught he would. The servants become part of the kingdom via John 3 “Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” and Matthew 18, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted,... ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Once a 'born again' 'convert' you are a servant of His and will fit into his categorization of the 10 fold 'Well done servant” or the 5 fold 'Likewise' servant or perhaps the 1 fold 'take it away' servant. This parable was aimed at those who missed his teaching in Luke 17:21 that his kingdom is presently 'within you.' Good servants stand with a towel over the arm to “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way.” Practice that and you can become a category 10 servant. What of the citizens who “would not that I should reign over them?” Jesus said “Bring them hither, and slay them before me.” Don't be found in that crowd, be converted, ... be born again.

Msg #914 The Anointed Messiah

No apostle gives more detail about the last week of Christ's work than does John who begins chapter 12 with a declaration of Jesus' arrival in Bethany 6 days before passover. Exodus 12 declares that to be the 8^th day of the month of Abib, and gathered at that Friday supper in the large house of Simon the leper where Lazarus sat and Martha served, were those closest to Jesus. Here, Mary of Bethany reenacts the anointing of the feet of Jesus as first done by the woman forgiven much and loving much. (Luke7) Ecumenical modernists fussing over synoptic foolishness try to make these two anointings the same and miss the perfect picture. Though there are several other Marys who will in 10 days unsuccessfully gather to anoint the body of the Passover Lamb, this one did it at his first coming to Jerusalem. Her present precious perception and performance annoyed the other disciples. When you get close enough to Jesus to know him and what he is about, when you love much because you have been forgiven much, when you anoint him Messiah and know him as your Passover Lamb and your anointed King, when the odour of that ointment fills the house, some will have indignation and trouble you. Concerning this reenactment of the harlots worship, “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” You can reenact this same adoration perception and anointing worship. You might suffer indignation and trouble but if you have heard him say to you “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” you can let the odour of the ointment fill the house and not be troubled at all.

Msg #915 The 10^th of Abib

The Harmony of the Gospels and the events leading to the crucifixion of “The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” find a hinge pin in the 10^th day of the month of Abib. Exodus 12 established the selection and separation of the passover lamb which they took out from the sheep to “keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” As our Passover Lamb, Jesus was separated at his Sunday triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem, and was 'kept up' to be shown as the lamb without spot or blemish until the 14^th day. This triumphal entry is recorded in all 4 of the Gospels; in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19 and John12, but the apostle John spends an inordinate amount of ink covering these last 5 days of Jesus' ministry and spotlessness. Don't let traditions muddy up the clear testimony of the Apostles. Any Bible student who can read a calendar and harmonize these clear Scriptures about this most crucial sacrifice made on the 14^th day of the month, can know that he spent three days in death before his Sunday morning resurrection. On that Sunday two disciples talked to Jesus about his crucifixion and said “to day is the third day since these things were done.” (Luke 24) John clarifies that they hurried his body to the tomb before the 'high day' sabbath of Lev 23:6-7, not the Saturday sabbath that tradition misreads in their Catholic Latin bibles. A born again Christian needs to be a diligent student of the perfect sacrifice that fulfilled all Scripture and secured his eternal soul. “Study to shew thyself... a workman that needeth not be ashamed.”

Msg #916 The First Day of the Week

The Bible says “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” (John 20:1) Christians, who have had their life changed like Mary Magdalene did, have been revisiting this empty tomb every Sunday morning since. Don't break precedence. In us the power of God and the presence of eternal life are found in the resurrection celebrated each Sunday. Paul says “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: ... That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection.” (Phil 3) Oswald Chambers clarifies that eternal life is not a gift FROM God, it is the gift OF God; so too, power is not a gift FROM the Holy Ghost, it is the power OF the Holy Ghost. The eternal life is the life of God in you, the power is the Holy Spirit in you. Both are purchased in the resurrection of Christ. The appearances of the resurrected Christ are listed in 1Cor 15 and it is true that today there are many Christians running around who have not 'seen' the Christ. When you 'see' Christ you will “reckon ye, also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6) When you keep your focus on Him you will “yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” With His power “sin shall not have dominion over you” and the preacher will not have to twist your arm to get you to assemble together with other believes “very early in the morning the first day of the week.”

Msg #917 Believing the Word of God

The gospel of John in the Holy Bible is organized and equip with an exceptional prologue and epilogue making the Gospel of John the finest literary work ever banned from our 'public' school. The events covered by John after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and leading to that epilogue are precious and tremendously enlightening. They expose reactions of Peter and John, Mary Magdalene, 10 disciples, and finally “Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymas.” In this concluding account, Thomas seems to replace Peter's loud mouth and audacious manner as he says “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” But Jesus heard him as he brazenly expressed his unbelief. Jesus' hurt is real and his rebuke is harsh. We would not likely express such torrid unbelief in words, but Christ is as deeply hurt when we do not believe the record of the apostles. Scholarship says it is just a book by men about God, but God says that ALL Scripture is given by 'inspiration' of God. The Bible is aptly removed from our children's lives by their school and removed from our churches by ecumenical doubting scholars who think to change God's words and correct 'man's book.' But “Every promise of the Book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line.” Don't let the ACLU atheists steal, nor the ABS modernist version making scholars twist God's Words from your life. To get a copyright on a 'version' one must 'significantly deviate' from any previous translation, and they surely do! Fight 'truth decay' read His Holy Bible, un-copyright, to your children, and children's children today. Get a pre-copyright authorized King James Bible.

Msg #918 Man's Depravity

In the Bible's doctoral thesis on the righteousness of God and the salvation of man, we learn about the depravity of man unfolding in our nations leadership. The thesis, written as the Apostle Paul's epistle to the Romans, establishes as its first premise that every human has the knowledge of God's eternal power and Godhead manifest within them, has the invisible things of God clearly seen in creation, and is without excuse. This, in itself, defies Augustinian and Calvinist theology about the 'total depravity' of man, but verse 21 starts the 6 steps that mankind, in his rebellion against God, and in his own sinful nature, takes towards total depravity. It appears our own governor has arrived at that bottom rung, pandering to those who are given over to “vile affections” and “taking pleasure in them that do the same.” How can one of such superb intellect and education rally with homosexuals “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, ... who are given up unto vile affections, ... changing the natural use into that which is against nature, ... men with men working that which is unseemly?” It is only comprehended when you look at the six rungs in the ladder of depravity. “Because that, when they knew God, they 1) glorified him not as God, 2) neither were thankful; but 3) became vain in their imaginations, and 4) their foolish heart was darkened. 5) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And 6) changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” The thing about ladders is that they can take you up as well as down. So which rung are you on? And which direction are you moving? Be top rung with God.

Msg #919 Identified With Christ

To learn the doctrines of Luther check with a Lutheran, Calvin a Presbyterian, Henry VIII an Episcopalian, but if you would learn the doctrine of baptisms a Baptist is a ready source. Late in the 19^th century staunch believers set out 5 fundamentals of the Christian faith¹, but late in the 1^st century the apostles laid out the Christian's 7 “first principles of the oracles of God.” We should hold staunchly to the former but forever be students of the latter. The 4^th principle is “The doctrine of baptisms,” which I would not have you ignorant of. (Heb 6:2) There is no water in this world that can make you a Christian; no holy water which can wash away an original sin; and no sacrament of baptism found in the Holy Scriptures. Matthew 3 clarifies John the Baptist's 'baptism of repentance' which demands confession of sin and repentance, (not 'penance.') That is preparation for the kingdom of heaven. Mark 1 clarifies who it is that will “baptize you with the Holy Ghost,” and that baptism, as part of the new birth, makes you a quickened born again believer. In Luke 3 the baptism of Jesus is a baptism of the identification OF the Christ, in John 1 the identification OF the Christ, the Lamb of God, and in Acts 2 it is the identification WITH the Christ. When you, as a believer, are baptized by immersion, as Christ was, you picture the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and are now identified WITH Christ and “accepted in the beloved.” Not the picture of washing, as errantly taught by Protestants, but the picture of identification, as taught in Holy Scriptures. Not a port of entry to Christianity, but a public identification that you have indeed been 'born again.'

Msg #920 Being The Ideal Mom

The last recorded Proverb of Solomon contains 5 lessons that king Lemuel's mom taught him, illustrated with the famous description of the 'virtuous woman'. Famous, because this proverb of wisdom has been meticulously passed on for 3,000 years of our history, but to often today separated from the 5 important lessons to be taught by moms everywhere. Don't be a womanizer, nor drinker (or use any other mind altering drugs), speak up for those who can't, judge right, and marry right. When God created a cow, an ewe, or a doe he created an animal that could produce offspring, but when God created woman he specifically designed and built for man, and from man, both a wife and a mother of children. There are no design flaws in woman, but mans fall into sin marred moms from the ideal that God references in this proverb. When one gets the sin issue fixed, through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which “cleanseth us from all sin,” (1John1:7) and becomes a “new creature” with “old things ... passed away; ... and all things become new” (2Cor 5:17) it is important to revisit these lessons and ideals. They are each now possible. In God's design the woman is priceless and trusted, doing her husband good and not evil, is industrious at home, in farming and commercially, is strong and meticulous, up early and up late, she makes things rather than buying things, is compassionate, ready for anything a winter could bring, makes the finer things for her home, speaks only wisdom and kindness, and looks well to the ways of her household with no idleness. (Prov 31:11-31) Wow! Praise the Lord for moms, who by the power of Christ, can be what God would have moms to be. Happy Mothers Day.

Mothers Day Penny Pulpit Supplement

Sunday, mothers day, my older brother, Charles Owen Rice, went home to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Today we will bury his body in resurrection ground to await the return of the Christ. In the spring of 1958 a Baptist preacher of the gospel, Cecil Palm, striving to get a Baptist Church started in Gang Mills NY, knocked on the door of 40 Platt Street. Doris Romiano Rice answered the door and said “No thank you, I am Catholic,” but Levi Rice pulled himself out from under the car in the drive and said “I'd be interested in that.” In a garage, under the preaching of Cecil Palm, my mom and dad were marvelously born again to receive a new life in Christ that year, and their new life brought the Rices a whole new home. My older brother Chuck was saved and baptized in Ford's Pond the next year, and I, and my sister, Barb were saved the next, to be baptized in the spring when the ice was out of that same pond. Chuck's going home was unexpected in time, but not unexpected in eternity. The apostle said “ And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. “ If you have got life, marvel in it and tell someone else about it. If you do not have eternal life, trust in Christ today, it is just that easy.

Msg #921 Temptations

Immediately after his identification the Holy Spirit 'drove' the Lord Jesus Christ into the wilderness to face temptations. Since the foundation of the earth man had not done well with temptation. The 1^st Adam had fallen under the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1Joh 2:16). The Christ, God's 2^nd Adam (Rom5, 1Cor 15) would now face three temptations tugging at the same physical, spiritual and mental strains. James clarifies “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:13-15) and the Apostle Paul helps us understand that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Cor 10:13) The temptations of man that caused his fall and make up man made religions everywhere are 1) “Ye shall not surely die...” God lied to you, His Word is not accurate; 2) “Your eyes shall be opened, ... ye shall be as gods,... knowing good and evil; and 3) Disobedience is good for food, pleasant to the eyes, desired to make one wise,... follow in the steps of your wife and eat it. Satan's temptations are not new, are effectively used against man for these 6,000 years, and are defeated in the victory accomplished by God's 2^nd Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Msg #922 Calling him Lord

One gets a resourceful insight when they examine how Christ first acquired disciples. Andrew and John were first disciple's of John the Baptist and were sent by him to follow 'the Lamb of God!' They already had a noble inquiring start as disciples and John became the most beloved disciple of the Lord Jesus. Andrew 'heard Him speak' and followed Jesus, and soon became one of the ordained apostles. After 1 day with Jesus, 'he first findeth Simon Peter, his brother, and saith unto him “We have found the Messiah.” When Jesus would have departed for Galilee with these three, they went to find their boyhood friend, Philip, and Philip found Nathanael, an 'Israelite indeed.' These five already knew God's word to Moses, “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of they brethren, like unto me, unto him ye shall hearken; ... and it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” They knew God's word to the prophets “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, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” They knew their need of a savior, which being interpreted is 'Jesus'; they knew the promise of the coming anointed one of God, the Messiah which being interpreted is the 'Christ'; they swelled with desire to call him their Rabbi, master, and owner, which being interpreted is 'Lord.' These became chosen and precious disciples because they were first seeking and longing for the Lord Jesus Christ, by all three names. What is it that you are seeking for?

Msg #923 Manifest Christ

Jesus' first miracle is much noised about but little understood. It is the miracle most mentioned by those trying to excuse their booze dependence, but Jesus turned the water into 'NEW' wine not into booze, and he clearly stated “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise ... Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Jesus was not at the wedding in Cana to condone your alcohol consumption but to “manifest forth his glory!” At this very first gathering with his disciples, on 'the third day' after his baptism, Mary, his mother, who of all people knew him to be the Son of God, as she likely quoted Isaiah 41:17-18 in her head, said to Jesus “They have no wine.” Now for the disciples sakes, and the servants, Jesus, the source of living water, used 6 old Jewish ceremonial washing pots, not to deliver a pitcher of wine, but to deliver his first picture of his living water. Out of the old covenant there was to come the new, “and his disciples believed on him.” In the panoramic view given in the gospels, John is careful to detail in chronological insights that Matthew, Mark and Luke painted with broad brush strokes. This detail is not about wine, but revelation; not your weaknesses but his manifest glory. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Msg #924 Clean the Temple

Jesus' first entry into the temple for the passover feast resembles his first entry into his temple - a new believer. “In the Old Testament God builds His temple for His people, but in the new He builds His people for His temple.” “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own.” When one is first born again in Christ, Jesus comes in to find within his temple “those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.” Things done 'for religion', 'religiously', and for love of money will need to be scourged and driven out. Jesus wants His temple to be called a house of prayer. When Jesus tells one not to smoke this or drink that, not to watch that or listen to this, they often ask “With what authority can you purge this temple?” “Destroy this temple and in 3 days I will raise it up.” ... “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God's.” When you are part of the body of Christ he has the authority to purge His temple. If you won't be purged and be “a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” then perhaps your not His temple at all and have never been converted or born again. When converted you can sing with the saints “The things I used to do, I don't do them anymore, there's been a great change since I been born again.” The things I used to drink, ... The shows I used to watch, ... it is great when there's been a great change. Dangerous when there's not.

Msg #925 Jumping Jehoshaphat

Jumping Jehoshaphat is an expression that came from a kings leap into compromise. “And Jehu, ... the seer, ... said to the king Jehoshaphat, shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.” (2Chron 19:3) 'Christianity' has jumped into a great compromise with worldliness. Lucifer was the lead musician in heaven and the lead that led him into our Churches is usually a lead guitar. Churches have become entertainment centers for crowds and the purpose that drives them is not Godly. Christ responds even more harshly to us than he did to Jehoshaphat, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) An adulterer is one who has left their first love and gone after another. To the first Church addressed in the Revelation of Jesus Christ he says “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left they first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else ...” (Rev 2:4-5) In a day when 'Christianity' is laden with compromise we need to hold ever closer to our first love, and not grow weary in the well doing of our 'first works.' If compromise has already entangled us and we find ourselves the enemies of God, He calls us to repent, and, praise the Lord, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) Don't compromise, don't quit and don't can't. “He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1John 2:6)

Msg #926 A Christian Father

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” (Proverbs4:1) A father who models his behavior after the inerrant infallible Word of God will have five characteristics and a divine model for good success. As a born again Christian father he has made (or will make) a life long covenant relationship with his children's mother. That covenant, called marriage, provides an essential security to his children. He will love and cherish their mom more than self, as Christ loves his Church. That love provides an essential emotional security for his children. He works and provides the physical needs of the home. God commanded “that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2Thes3:10, Prov21:25) Thus he provides an essential physical security to his children. A Christian father “ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;” they are “the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own house well.” (1Tim 3:4,12) As a commander in the home he keeps a balance of 'nurture and admonition' that will not 'provoke his children to wrath' nor rebellion. (Eph 6:4) Enforced consistent boundaries on children's lives produces an essential security of character, and its lack produces frustrated, angry, rebellious children. Lastly, a Christian father is a teacher using lecture, illustration, object lesson and example to balance knowledge, wisdom and understanding in his children. Yeah, our Heavenly Father provides the example and eternal security saying “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” He loves us with an unconditional love, and provides for our every need, as He provides consistent commandments and boundaries for our lives. Our Heavenly Father is a teacher and has revealed himself in 66 books so that we can grow in knowledge of Him. Happy Fathers Day. Keep growing.

Msg #927 A Josiah Revival

The Bible says Josiah, the next to last king of Judah, saw great revival in his kingdom when he prioritized five things that one could easily pay heed to today. First he began to seek after the LORD God. (2Chron 34:3) There is not much seeking after the LORD God in our society today and Christians, who seek after a lot of things, do not much seek after Him. Josiah then purged his kingdom of idols and immorality and began to repair the house of God. When they did so, they found great riches in the house of God. We need such a purging and even a sorry Church in need of repair can show great value in edification and in preaching of God's Word if you would get there weekly. The Bible says “not forsake the assembling” with other believers. Being in a Bible believing Baptist Church can take your sorry focus off yourself and make you conscience of others. Josiah next valued the Word of God and kept its every precept. We sing 'Read your Bible, Pray every day, if you want to grow' yet many won't, and some say “I can't understand it!” You don't need another watered down version , you need to search for the LORD God, purge out your kingdom, and rebuild the house of God in your life. That is when Josiah valued the Bible, and understood it very well indeed. It says of the passover that he kept, “And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet' neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept.” (2Chron 35:18) When you do things in the right order you can take careful heed to the testimonies of the LORD God.

Msg #928 Eternal Question, Eternal Answer

The first dissertation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh profoundly deals with the most pertinent question of life “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer, given to Nicodemus in John 3 before he could even ask the question, is preceded by three illustrations and is then given in our favorite Scripture verse. All of John 3 is caught up in this dissertation and every human should have opportunity to comprehend this answer to their eternal need. Since believers are chosen to be the witness to 'every creature” with this message we should be students of this chapter. His first illustration shows that entering the kingdom of God and receiving eternal life is a 2^nd birth, a spiritual new birth. This is not to be confused with a natural flesh and water birth, as Nicodemus confused it, it is spiritual and cannot be seen. Note here that John 3:12 includes no baptism. Jesus is emphatic that being born again has nothing to do with any natural element, any will of the flesh or any will of man. (1:13) It is spiritual not physical. In Jesus' 2^nd illustration (vr12-13) a man has to ascend to heaven and the Christ, the Son of man, the Son of God is the only mediator that can do that. In his 3^rd illustration (vr14-15) that serpent of sin is cast in brass of judgment, lifted up and nailed to a cross. Looking at man's sin in the judgment of death constitutes a belief that Jesus took what we had coming, then we can simply 'look and live.' Often we think John 3 has only one verse to memorize when it contains Jesus' whole dissertation to answer the question “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Tell someone else.

Msg #929 Discern Spiritual Things

Jesus curtly rebukes Nicodemus for not understanding spiritual things. This rebuke and this gospel are to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Jesus' first dissertation on eternal life crescendos in John 3:16 with such power that many fail to read the rest of the chapter. In it we find that the rebuke fits you and I. The verses immediately after verse 16 contend that man is condemned without Christ and that he loves darkness rather than light for his deeds are evil. “After these things ... there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.” Nick could not separate a natural birth from a spiritual birth, and Pharisees could not separate baptism from purifying. Christianities ignorance with holy water, infant baptisms, and attempts to wash away sin with water of baptism still entangles lives today and we are deserving of Jesus' curt rebuke about not understanding spiritual things. “What can wash away my sin? ... What can make me whole again? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!” When asked if one is 'saved' many responses start with “Well I was baptized in this or that Church.” If baptism could wash away a single sin, Jesus had opportunity to say so in John 3. Instead, as he states it “He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. ... 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.” (John 3:31-36) It takes a new birth, not an old baptism.

Msg #930 A Higher Plane

When Jesus told his disciples “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and Judea, and in Samaria ... “ he traced out the path he made in John 3-4, and when “he must needs go through Samaria” in chapter 4, his gospel was as misunderstood as it was in chapter 3. Jesus keeps speaking of spiritual water that provides eternal life, and the woman at the well keeps grasping only physical water that could last her forever. In Jerusalem Nicodemus thought only of a physical rebirth, in Judea the Jews thought only of a physical purifying with water, and now in Samaria, as would be in “the uttermost part of the earth,” man entangles the physical 'doing of something' with the spiritual 'Christ did it all for us.' Even his disciples did not differentiate between the physical and spiritual when Jesus said “I have meat to eat that ye know not of,” or when Jesus saw behind them all of Sychar coming to hear him and said “Lift up your eyes; and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” The lost and the disciple alike spend their efforts on the physical plane and rarely make that transition to “higher ground.” “Lord lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on heavens table land, A higher plane than I have found; Lord plant my feet on higher ground.” In Sychar of Samaria many, and then many more, believed on him because they left the physical belief and attained the spiritual. Many will miss heaven by 18 inches, the distance from the head to the heart. And many disciples labor for Him in the physical without abiding in him in the spiritual. Trust is larger than believe. Abide is larger than serve.

Msg #931 Belief in the Christ

Before Jesus did his second miracle he rebukes mankind for their excessive dependence on signs and wonders. His five disciples, believing him the Messiah, had seen the water turned to wine after they believed. The Pharisees had questioned his authority when he purged the temple of money changers, but did not comprehend his answer. Nicodemus had heard his dissertation on eternal life that night; the purifying Jews heard it the next day. The Samaritan woman and all Sychar heard it at the well and now Jesus, approached by the nobleman says unto him “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” The 5 disciples had believed that he was the Messiah. Nic believed. Samaritans of Sychar believed. This statement was made just prior to the first believing Gentile's belief. This first healing miracle of Jesus the Christ was turned into a test of whether the nobleman would believe the word of the Lord. He did, and when he saw the hour his son began to amend he, and his house, believed on the Messiah, which being interpreted is the Christ. If your not saved, what would it take to cause you to believe? The nobleman ran to Jesus when he was sure he would loose his son. Jesus rebukes the need for signs but extends this man's faith until he believed His Word. When you believe the Word of the Lord you will believe in the Christ that God sent. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.... 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.” Believe today.

Msg #932 John 5s Gospel Witness

The first recorded public discourse of the gospel of Jesus Christ is recorded in John 5 and it is marvelous to review its authority and clarity. The Apostle John is careful to sequence the daily events in the life of Christ after his baptism. These include the initial gathering of some disciples, chap 1; his first miracle and cleansing of the temple, chap 2; his presentation of the gospel to Nicodemus, chap 3; and then his presenting of himself as the Messiah to believing Samaritans and a nobleman in chap 4. His disciples now go back to fishing and he into the wilderness for 40 days of fasting. Fifty days after the passover he goes to Jerusalem for Pentecost and there performs his 3^rd miracle at the pool of Bethesda. It is interesting that with the very first miracle the Jews find out about, and only the third he had done, the Jews wanted him dead; stoned for working on the Sabbath. The 3 points in Jesus' message start with “Verily, Verily,” and amply cover the 'what' 'why' and 'how' of His gospel. (vr. 19-27) You are commanded to believe it because of the powerful witness of John the Baptist, of Christ's works, of God the Father, and of the Scriptures. (vr. 28-47) They did eventually kill the Messiah, the only begotten Son of God and Son of man, but in so doing they fulfilled the very gospel message that he here presented. For almost 2,000 years now man in majority has been mucking with the simplicity of the gospel presented in those three points. It is replete throughout the Bible that “He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1John 5:12) Join a minority, get life.

Msg #933 Receiving Christ

When Jesus presented himself as the Messiah, which being interpreted is the Christ, his persecution by the Jewish religious crowd (John 5) and rejection by those of hometown Nazareth (Luke 4) was immediate. He had not yet shown himself with signs and wonders, these would start at Capernaum after he regathered his disciples. The Apostle John words it in his prologue “He came unto his own and his own received him not.” (John 1:11) “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, reaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” (Mark 1:14) It was then and is now a popular thing to reject the gospel of Jesus Christ. The religious crowd reject it by doctoring it up with unbelief, penance or sacraments, while the rest pursue materialism entrapments and expect that God will one day scale their good against their bad and let them in anyway. And many, especially in our Creator denying day, just pursue sex, drugs and rock-n-roll without giving a thought to eternity. There will always be a few, however, who know the truth. “Then said one unto him, Lord are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:23-24) If you are saved you need to show the gate to neighbor and kin. If your seeking to enter in, you likely know someone who is saved, and they would gladly show you this gospel gate. The Apostle John's prologue continues, “But as many as receive him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12) Be reconciled to God today.

Msg #934 There is a Hell

The Bible says that there is a heaven and there is a hell and that you will spend eternity in one place or the other depending on what you do with God's Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew Jesus tells the scribes and Pharisees who rejected him as the Messiah “How can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (23:33) In Mark, in verses completely removed from the modernist's bibles, Jesus describes hell as a place “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (9:44,46) In Luke Jesus tells us to “Fear him which ... hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” (12:5) In John Jesus describes hell as a place of condemnation where the “wrath of God abideth on him (that believeth not the Son).” (3:18,36) In Acts the only salvation from the horrid place of hell is to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and they house.” (16:31) And in Romans that salvation from hell is available to all, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (10:13) No description, however, that Jesus gave of hell is more powerful than his first hand description of “the rich man (who) also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments ... and he cried and said ... I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:22-24) Hell is a place of “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt 25:41) but people will end up there when they reject God the Creator's only Begotten Son. (John 3:16-18) Many will end up there for Jesus tells us “Nay: but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3,5) Be saved today.

Msg #935 Our Prayer Time

After a week or more of 'revival' services with his disciples street preaching and door to door witnessing that Bible says that “it came to pass, that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” The context is not that Jesus would teach them 'how' to pray, but that he would teach them 'to' pray. Four profound prayer lessons ensue in Luke 11. First, Jesus had a 'certain place' and constant dependence on prayer which here prompted the disciple's request. We should get that certain place and constant dependence. Next Jesus gave the disciples a rendition of his model prayer which he taught to the multitude during his sermon on the mount. Thirdly Jesus gave illustration of how a friend might meet your need, not because of friendship but because of 'importunity'. In Jesus' example importune prayer is not for selfishness, not “that ye may consume it upon your lusts,” (James 4:3) but for the serving of others. Importune prayer is not for circumstances that are of our own making, and importune prayer is for serving others with resources that we do not have in ourselves. We need prayers like that. Finally Jesus gives an example where a child asks his father for what is good thrice, and are assured that a father would never give what would do a child harm. The lesson here is not that God gives us what we want or will, but what we need in order to serve others. “How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” When we pray like Jesus prayed, He will give us “the Holy Spirit” that meets all our need.

Msg #936 Elect for Service

A little letter written to 'strangers scattered throughout' and called 1Peter, outlines that a functional Gentile Christian should 'know', 'grow', 'shew' and 'go'. Peter, the Jew, is writing from Babylon, the cradle of the Gentile world, and writing to Gentile believers because they are now part of the “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” Fourth century Rome used their Latin to say Peter wrote from Rome, and those followers of Augustine of Egypt thought people were elect to receive salvation and used their Latin to spread this error, even to reformers of the 1500s. Peter wrote from Babylon, he wrote to Gentiles that became elect by entering into the only Elect One, and he wrote so they would be obedient to their election. First to 'know' that they were redeemed by faith in the blood of Christ and nothing else. (1:18-21) Then to 'grow' through the word of God. (2:2) Modernist bibles using Egypt's Alexandrian derivations say this is growing 'into salvation.' But Peter is very clear; you cannot grow into salvation, you must be born into it, (1:23) just like Jesus said. (John 3:5) After you 'know' and 'grow' you “should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (2:9b) Here again Peter emphasizes that just as Israel was a chosen people, born again Gentiles are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” Nowhere in the Bible are people elect for salvation (Augustinian error) but believers are always elect for service. Once placed in the 'Elect One,' Jesus Christ, we are to 'go,' ... “to follow in His steps.” (2:21, Matt 28:19) Peter and God wanted you to know that, as believers, we have big, elect shoes to fill. Don't miss it.

Msg #937 Labor is not in vain

In Paul's first letter to the Church at Corinth he gives an encouragement that is often needed for Christians in our labors for the Lord when he writes “forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (2Corinthians 15:58) He wrote this to a church which was having trouble staying pure in a vile society, having trouble staying untangled from a corrupt government, and having just received 15 chapters of admonishment for being carnal. As Paul charges them to be steadfast, we also need to be steadfast in our gospel message, our stand on the truth of God's Holy Word, and our testimony of purity in a vile society. As he charges them to be unmovable, we also need to be unmovable, looking back and being sure we have not moved into compromise and looking ahead to ensure we are not moving that way. And we also need to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord”, recalling what work Christians were commissioned to do; “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt 28:19-20) Source waters of a mighty river have no idea the work and good that are done downstream. You have no idea the lives that are touched by your close walk with the Lord. Christians are told “He that believeth in me (Jesus), as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) Keep it flowing for “your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Msg #938 Be a Minister

In II Corinthians 4 a Christian finds Paul's instructions for being in the ministry nestled between two charges that every Christians is to be a minister of the new testament and one who reconciles men to God. “Our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament... seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.” (3:5b,6,12) “And all things are of God. who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (5:18,19b) As ministers of the gospel one needs to renounce “the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully.” While many have compromised the truth of the Word of God and made churches women run entertainment centers of rock and roll with modernist bibles, an 'able minister of the new testament' is to use the truth of the gospel message to reconcile others to God through Christ. Christians preaching this 'narrow gate and straight path' will be in the minority and find 'trouble', will be 'perplexed', be 'persecuted' and 'cast down'. But keep preaching God's simple plan of salvation to your neighbors and kin and you will not be 'distressed', in 'despair', 'forsaken', nor 'destroyed'. If your saved, you are called to tell others about the grace that saved you, and to be a witness of Christ. In the perplexing troubles where others cast down and persecute, continue to be His witness. God can save anybody, even pray for them which despitefully use you, and be a minister of reconciliation who shares the Word that is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. Don't faint now.

Msg #939 The Sound of the Trumpet

Leviticus 23 is a chapter on the Jewish feasts which God established so his people would never forget what he had done and always know what he was doing. It is marvelous to study in hindsight and prophetical foresight. The three feasts, passover, Pentecost and trumpets, mark out three major events in God's plan; the death and resurrection of His passover lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, the coming of His Spirit to empower his Church 50 days later, and the final chapter of this age when the trumpet will sound. The two portrayals already fulfilled are worth studying to know that the final chapter will be fulfilled just as he promised. The symbols in these feasts are significant illustrations for His passover and His Church. So too each symbol in the feast of trumpets is pertinent to his second coming. The feast of trumpets held in the 7^th month of the year, symbolizing the 7^th month of this world, when the prophet Joel says ”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;...Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.” (Joel 2:1, 3:13), foreshadows all the events of the end times, wherein Christians are looking for, yeah longing for, the sound of the trumpet. That trumpet, referenced for the rapture of the Church in Thessalonians and Revelation, is actually the sound of Christ's voice which also sounds 7 times in the 7 year tribulation to follow. We need to be ”rightly dividing the word of truth”, ... “and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Msg #940 Intimacy With God

God reveals intimate details of his plans and purposes in his Holy Scriptures. He says of Abraham, who was a “friend of God,” “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” (Gen18:17) Intimacy in friendship is measured in the sharing of expectations, hopes, plans and dreams. God does not hide these from a born again Christian, who by the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ dwelling in him is a friend of God. But his plans and purposes for this world need to be studied out. Even Daniel wrote “I Daniel understood by books the number of years, ... in the desolation of Jerusalem.” (Dan 9:2) When Christians 'hit the books' to understand the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Biblical Prophecy unfolds from all 66 corridors of his most precious Book. Early false teachings that God's promises to Israel are not to be taken literal close off many corridors and pollutes every denomination's eschatology. The cults, which arose opposing such false renderings, mapped out paths that depart even further from God's revealed truths. Every born again Christian should be a student of Biblical Prophecy, it is ennobling, and enables a intimacy with God who says “Shall I hide from my friend that thing which I do?” In pursuit of this study a Christian needs only two tools; an open mind that will believe all that the prophets wrote, and an open Bible, that contains all that the prophets wrote. Studying Biblical Prophecy is fraught with obstacles and false teachers who deny the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, or the literal 1000 year reign of Christ. Use the two tools and your earnest desire for an intimacy with God for He has revealed his whole plan in the pages of his 66 books.

Msg #941 Israel's Redeeming

The sixty six chapters of Isaiah parallel the sixty six books of the Bible so meticulously that comparing the last of each is very insightful. It can lead one to a profound understanding of the big picture of all upcoming Biblical Prophecy the same way one puts together a jigsaw puzzle's frame. Isaiah 66 begins by describing God's majesty and Israel as an infinitesimal people who “delighteth in their abominations.” But it decrees that God will redeem His chosen nation Israel and restore them, and their city of Jerusalem, to be the rulers of the world, with Jesus the Christ setting upon the throne of David. Therein is the theme of His last book. In the big picture every nation will be pitted against this tiny, seemingly insignificant, historically hated group of people called the Jews. Even our own present administration stooped to calling them a nation of 'occupiers' of Palestine (that is not even a nation!), and now tries to force Israel to abandon their own properly possessed promised land on the west bank of Jordan. It is diabolical. But in His 66^th chapter God promised that those Gentiles that “Hear the word of God and tremble at His word,” will be sustained and satisfied with her consolations, and upcoming glory. While all others hate and plot for her destruction, born again Christians are marked by a love and reverence for the Jew and a desire for the peace of Israel in this troubled, hateful world. A world that is drawing towards those judgments outlined in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. We are yet longing for the coming of that Judge, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Occupy until he comes. 1Thes 4 comes before His wrath is poured out to redeem His nation Israel.

Msg #942 Visions of the Future

Daniel chapter 2 and 7, 8 and 9, contain a unique progressive revelation of Jehovah God's involvement in world empires and new world orders. The visions and dreams of images and beasts, heads and horns move emphasis from Daniels present distress to our own future demise and planet moving judgments. These are more fully descried in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Liberals calling themselves 'progressives' and trying to save the trees, decrease carbon emissions and become vegetarians do not have a clue aout the Jew that they love to hate, nor the pending world judgment coming into the Middle East. Christians need to know what their Father is doing, and parallel the images and beasts, heads and horns into our current events. Of them, Jesus Christ tells us “whoso readeth, let him understand,” (Matt 24) and Paul echoes “Know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... Ye are all the children of light ... Therefore let us not sleep ... but let us watch and be sober.” (1Thes 5) There have already risen leaders whose “power shall be mighty, but not by his own power, and he shall destroy (Israel) wonderfully, and shall prosper and practice ... and through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many” (Daniel 8) As we deal with yet another one of these , “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14) Remember our commission is still to :Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.: Don't be side tracked.

Msg #943 Armageddon

The Holy Bible clearly documents three world wars yet to unfold on the nations of this world and the second and most renown is called in the Hebrew tongue “Armageddon.” (Rev 16) It is no surprise to the Christian that all three wars center around a Mt. Zion, in the Israeli city of Jerusalem. All three involve Jehovah God defending and redeeming His chosen people Israel. The first (Ezekl 38) prepares the way for the world dictator on a white horse. (Rev 6) Jesus described him as “The abomination of desolation.” (Matt 24) The rebel filled nations of this world hate the Biblical prophecy which declares that Israel, and their throne of David, shall soon be the theocratic ruler of the whole world. Their messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is to step from the clouds onto the Mount of Olives which divides into a great valley (Zech 14, Rev 14) wherein all the nations of the earth are gathered together (Zeph 3) to annihilate God's nation of Israel. (Isa 26:20-21, Rev 12:17) Any newspaper today gives full credence to such an unbelievable scenario which causes true Christian's mistrust of governments and complete trust in Holy Scripture. Our vocal prayer is “Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” and His reply is “Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev 22) The Apostle Paul, while preaching all this to the Church at Corinth, answers his own question “Why do we therefore labor?” thus: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,” ... “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men,” ... “For the love of Christ constraineth us,” ... “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.” (2Cor 5) Tell someone about your reconciliation to God today.

Msg #944 My Rights

The Bible says “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ... Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:12,18-19) That sin nature that Adam brought into the world by disobedience, and passed on to all man is nothing more that “MY claim to MY right to MY self.” And the cure to that disposition of sin came when one man, Jesus Christ the righteous, relinquished all claim to any right to himself and died on the cross of Calvary for our sin. How unfortunate, how disheartening, how insulting when a Christian, redeemed by the blood of that perfect sacrifice, set free from the penalty and power of sin, once again makes claim to their right to their selves and ignores their new Lord and Saviour completely. Lord may I die to self today and relinquish all claim to my rights to myself and walk in your presence without sin. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6)

Msg #945 God's Chosen

When one reads the 212 verses of the Old Testament which reveal Jehovah God's intention to gather and restore Israel to their promised land and rule the world through them with his only begotten Son sitting on the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem on Mt. Zion, one can see the vanity of Christendom when they think this book is about them. For a very short period in the His-Story of the world Gentiles have full access to the Kingdom of God and may be 'grafted in' to His purposes of restoring His chosen people Israel. Commissioned only to preach the gospel to every creature, the 'Church' has vainly swollen its head and ego to where 'they' actually hated and persecuted God's chosen people. 'They' say “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Rev 3:17) It is not our task to bring peace on earth (Micah 4:3), nor make the lion lie down with the lamb. (Isa 65:25) It is but to”be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) As believers we need to revisit our role as 'such a worm as I' and 'only a sinner saved by grace'. Christ says to 'Christendom' “ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Read through the 212 verses (/last_oct ) and then realize anew the scope of “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We need to be about our Fathers business.

Msg #946 Be a Priest Today

God chose Israel for some very hollowed purposes and the Apostle Paul eloquently explains that we Gentiles have been temporarily graffed into those purposes and ought to make full use of our time and purpose here. (Rom 11) In these last of the last days evangelical Christianity is turning its back on this dispensational understanding that was never grasped by Catholicism nor her Protestant children. God told Israel “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” (Exod 19) If you are a born again believer you have been chosen and graffed into this purpose of God to be a royal preisthood. First Peter 2:9 says “But 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 marvellous light:” As much as nations were to look to Israel and see Jehovah God's law and written Word, individuals are to look to you and see Jehovah God's mercy, grace and Living Word. A priest is not a black robed, backward collared guy doling out portions of penance, except in catholic and some protestant circles. A priest is to be a visible, Bible toting, Christ loving, mediator preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. A priest is a guardian of the Holy Word of God, a visible portrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a holy sanctified minister of reconciliation. Be a priest today.

Msg #947 A Christian Nations Thanksgiving

The Bible says that Jesus did not do many works in Nazareth because of their unbelief. (Matt 13:58) Since the 60s the secular humanists in charge of our 'public' schools and its curriculum have taught unbelief to three generations of voting America. The Bible says “Then began (Jesus) to upbraid the cities wherein most of his might works were done because they repented not.” (Matt 11:20) They saw Jesus give sight to the blind, heal the sick and raise the dead. They had certain proof of who He was, but they would not repent. Our children are meticulously taught to secularize the miracle of the Mayflower, the revival in our Revolution and the wonder of a Washington. God has already blessed America which will not repent. “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” (Matt 11:23) Capernaum became an abandoned shell of a city when its economy collapsed. The Godless course of our nation is not set in its voting booths but in its grade schools. “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matt 13:15) Our plight is not new but Christians should take courage for “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” (vr 16) Of leaders Christ said “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind,” but of children “Suffer the little children to come unto me.” Happy Thanksgiving?

Msg #948 Sacrifice of Praise

God wrote Hebrews so born again Hebrews would know they are no longer Hebrews. Now they have a more perfect sacrifice, a more perfect priest, a more perfect covenant and the perfect Saviour. Hebrews is not a complex book but it does leave the 7 foundations of our faith, listed in chapter 6, and presses on to the more meatier concepts of Christianity. In so doing it concludes with sacrifices that you and I are called to make. “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.” (13:15) David, the practical example of a believers walk, said “I cannot offer a sacrifice which cost me nothing.” We should recognize a cost in every sacrifice. There is a praise of thanksgiving that bubbles from our lips when we perceive a blessing or answered prayer from God. Praise the Lord. We should never be selfish little ingrates. But a sacrifice of praise, is when the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name, cost us something. More aptly it is a praise and thanksgiving for a calamity or disaster, a cancer of other incurable, a loss or a life. Thanks in these circumstances is a sacrifice. Other sacrifices mentioned in the next verse pale in the emphasis on this sacrifice of praise. It is to be continual and have a sacrificial cost. The song recalls “If He should take all that I have, God has been so good to me.” Street preachers Woosley and Pickett were burned at the stake for preaching Tyndale's 1526 Bible. After kissing wives and children goodbye their dying lips sang hymns of praise to their redeemer. Let us not forget. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually.

Msg #949 Rare Good Soil

In upstate New York acres of once active farm land now lies fallow with golden rod and thorn brush. The stone fences lining these fields give testimony to the great efforts that great grandparents put into clearing the land and preparing the soil of these hills for the precious seeds they planted. The fall plowing of the richer soil is now past and our December attention turns to the Christmas season. Jesus said some precious seed about His miraculous birth would fall on wayside soil. (Matt 13:19) There people understood it not and the tinsel and Santa Clause sweep the seed away. Some seed of the Messiah's birth is received joyfully in stony soil. (vr 20) But their shallow souls have no root and anon they depart from their faith. Some receive the seed that 'God was made flesh and dwelt among us' in thorny ground. (vr 22) There the colored lights and deceitfulness of riches choke the word and they become unfruitful. But he that heareth the word and understandeth it is like that rich plowed ground that bears much fruit. We have become mechanized and lazy in our soil preparation these days and much of our state lies fallow and thorn ridden, bearing no fruit. The fruitless failures mentioned here by Christ involve failed understanding, shallow minds and diverted attentions. We don't see fruit from the land like our great grandparents. Nor do we labor with difficult soils. May God touch the fallow minds and cause them to understand, give them depth, and capture their attention so seeds of truth will bear fruit. They will stand beside Christians celebrating Christ's birth this year. Will you plant the seed of Christ's glorious gospel in their ear? May your joy of Christmas be real and bear much fruit this year.

Msg #950 Christmas Introduction

At first the 17 verses beginning the Gospel According to Matthew seem to be a strange introduction to a book which is an introduction to the New Testament. The 17 actually trace the overriding theme of the whole Old Testament; i.e. there is a chosen seed line which will usher in the 'seed of woman' which will bruise the head of “that old Serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan.” (Gen 3:15, Rev 20:2) Unbelieving critics of the Bible call Matthew a synopsis and suppose there is a synoptic problem with the Gospels, but those believing in God's verbal plenary inspiration know this as the perfect introduction for God's perfect chosen seed. Ecumenicals removed the very word 'seed' from their modernist bibles, although it occurs over 200 times in the original Hebrew. Those who are careful about verbal inspiration, and those who can read Hebrew, can trace this promised 'seed' even if the NIV user cannot. God introduces the Christmas story, i.e. His Son's birth, with 4 groupings of 14 generations of the legally chosen seed that ushers in the Messiah, Joseph being only the legal father. Thus He introduces the Gospel According to Matthew, and the whole New Testament. It is also interesting to note that God concludes the Christmas story with 17 verses tracing 1/2 the chromosomes of His chosen seed in Luke 3:22-28. This record of the 'seed of woman' is recorded all the way back to the first Adam. This year get yourself an accurate Bible that properly translates the Hebrew word for 'seed'; like the KJB, never mind the unbelievers with synoptic problems and read the miraculous 17 verse introduction and the physical 17 verse DNA trace conclusion of the birth of God's only begotten Son, the Messiah, the Christ. Merry Christmas.

Msg #951 Thats The Gospel Truth

The Gospel According to Luke explicitly lays out all the preparations for the birth of the Messiah and King, Jesus the Son of God. By his own testimony Dr. Luke, the beloved physician of the Apostle Paul, (Col 4:14) was not an eyewitness or an apostle, but he heard from each and understood all these things from the beginning. (Luke 1:2) A very literate physician writing to a Greek friend is God's perfect choice in presenting the humanness of God's only begotten Son, and so Luke presents that perspective. Therein the miraculous birth of John the Baptist precedes the more miraculous birth of the Son of God. Therein the Archangel 'Gabriel', twice named and sent to man in Daniel, is twice named and sent to man in Luke. Therein the virgin birth is explicitly declared and Isaiah 7:14 is justified as properly translated despite the scoffing ecumenical modernist translators with contradictory 'dynamic equivalence'. In the Gospel According to Luke the world events that move Jesus' birth to Bethlehem, the local events that move it to a barn with a manger, and the regional events that put spring time shepherds in the field with their lambing flocks, are all nestled in the doctor's perfect Greek. In Luke's writing to a Greek Gentile the Jewish law for circumcision, the purification of Mary (pronoun 'her', not pronoun 'their' as the modernist 'scholars' mistranslated) and the lawful sacrifice for a first born son all find clear expression. So does the actual DNA lineage of the Son of God which came through King David's son Nathan, not King Davids son King Solomon. For a believer Luke presents awe inspiring details; but for an unbeliever, fodder for their scoffing. This year wish both a very Merry Christmas and aptly celebrate the birth of your Messiah.

Msg #952 A Spirit for the New Decade

The heart of the Christmas story is actually the cardinal principle of all Christianity and it was heralded by the angels to the shepherds two thousand years ago. The heart of Christmas is not “giving gifts,” not “helping others” nor “love your brother,” it is, as announced, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” This Saviour, Christ and Lord is indeed the core of Christianity. Its cardinal principle is not “do unto others,” nor “love your enemy” nor “give and it shall be given unto you,” it is that Jesus, born of a virgin, in the city of Bethlehem, was the Christ, the begotten son of God called for in Psalms 2; the child that is to be called “the Everlasting Father” of Isaiah chapter 9; and the virgin born seed of woman promised in Genesis 3 and Isaiah 7. Christianity differs from every other religion in that it is a relationship with this promised Messiah (Hebrew), the Christ (Greek), the Holy Anointed God-Man (English) This relationship with God through His Messiah can indeed cause one to “do unto others;” can indeed cause one to “love your enemies;” and can indeed cause one to “give selflessly unto others.” The world and the Devil want to pressure these characteristics as the “Spirit of Christmas” and remove the Christ altogether. But when you receive this promised Messiah into your heart as your Saviour and Lord you get the true “Spirit of Christmas” that lasts all year round. Start the next decade with the Christ of Christmas who said “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.” Happy New Year.

Msg #1001 For the Decade

As we close the first decade of the 21^st century we should be reminded of God's warning in Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” This decade started with some trusting in failed computers, barrels of rice, Y2K bugs and hanging chads. God said only trust His Son. On 9/11 the Arab god of Islam came to our shores; your crazy to trust in him. You can't trust the CIA with WMD information nor in an un-preemptive military invasion. Hamas foiled the 'in voting machines we trust' logo but America still trusts them to convert Iraq. We rallied with “God Bless America” but God already said “Blessed are all they that put their trust in His only begotten Son.” Don't trust your job or IRA, your Fannie Mae or GM bail out. Copenhagen scientists say “The Sky Is Falling!” and we ended the decade with our trust in a liberal progressive 'messiah' who taught us to pronounce 'trillion'. He took the Nobel Peace Prize to war and told us to trust our economy, and now our health care!, to his trillion dollar printing machine. All the while Jehovah God who founded and grounded this country says “Trust only in My only begotten Son.” This “Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” (Ps 9:10) Trust only in Him in the upcoming decade, and have a Happy New Year.

Msg #1002 Called And Without Excuse

The Bible says “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke12:48) and “Moreover it is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1Cor4:2) Israel was a chosen nation and a well beloved people of God, called to provide the Messiah to the world, (Genesis12:1-3) called to provide the oracles of God to the world, (Romans3:1-2) and called to teach the world that “The LORD our God (plural) is one LORD (singular).” (Deut6:1-4) The 69 books of the Christian's Old Testament reveal the major successes and failures of that calling and commission. Isaiah 5:1-7 is a prophets song about God's frustration with his well beloved people. Born again Christians are now the well beloved called ones; called to proclaim the Messiah to the world, (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15) called to proclaim the oracles of God to the world, (Acts 1:8) and called to teach the world “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” (John 3:16, 20:21) That song of frustration lists the things that God did for Israel, His called and commissioned people. But for us he has done so much more: He has converted, justified, quickened, indwelt and baptized us into the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. When much is given, much is required. This year I make my prayer “Lord, I pray you will not recite a song of frustration about my calling.” If you are born again your are now called and commissioned “That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-48) “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” (1Peter 1:10)

Msg #1003 Faithful Stewards

Luke 12 records a lecture of Jesus exhorting us to keep our focus on His heavenly things and He will then take care of all the physical things Half way through the lecture Peter raises his hand and says “Excuse me Lord, is this lecture for us disciples or should we just teach it to everyone else?” It is so easy for us to take the teachings of our Lord and apply them to what someone else should be doing in their life that God records Peter's response “What? Are you talking to me?” It is our nature to put all our focus on the physical circumstances that surround us and be blind to the fact that God wants some great thing done in this situation. We are impervious to the idea that He wants it done through me and not through someone else. Jesus did not cuff Peter up side the head but says “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, who his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Luke12:42) Clarifying Peter's question Jesus says “I am actually talking to my good and faithful stewards.” If you are a born again believer you are to be a steward of all the affairs of His kingdom in your neighborhood. Do not pass it off to someone else and do not put your focus on what you will eat, where you will serve and what you will wear. God wants some great things done and he leaves you in charge of doing them. Get into your neighborhood and be about your Fathers business. It is an awesome task to be a steward in God's kingdom.

Msg #1004 Stewards of The Mind

Three times Jesus emphasized the first and greatest of all commandments to be “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” The latter of these can be subjected to an objective measurement; i.e. how much time, in a 24 hour day, is your mind focused on things of God. Man strives to keep God's 10 commandments but in reality the first commandment, with this type of measure, finds us very lacking in the use of our mind. God wants our mind meditate in his law day and night; to teach His words diligently when we sit in our house, when we walk in the way, when we lay down and when we raise up. God wants our talks to Him to be prayer without ceasing. He ponders “the imaginations of the thoughts” and He wants to find our minds stayed on Him.” Let's say that you read your Bible through every year at 3 chapters per day, (30 min) pray before 3 meals a day (6 min), meditate on him during your vascular exercises, (20 min) and talk about him to somebody you meet. (4 min) You just had your mind stayed on him for 6.25% or your coherent day. That leaves your mind someplace else for 93.75% of your day. The average American spends 50% of their coherent day watching television, 8 hours per day! The average Christian needs to work on Jesus' first and greatest commandment and then “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2) We could all better love the Lord our God with all our mind.

Msg #1005 All Thy Strength

Sampson thought his real strength came from his hair, when in reality it came from his God. (Judges 16:17) The first commandment stated succinctly says “I am the LORD thy God, ... Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exod 20) but Jesus' expanded form of the first commandment is “Hear, O Israel: The lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:29) Sampson's greatest asset was all his strength but he did not use it to love the Lord his God. What is your strength, and how can you love the Lord your God with it? Consider that our strength is what causes you to stand when others are falling, what causes you to hold on and trust, when others are letting go and giving up, and what causes you to endure and remain. Is it strength of character, personality, or intestinal fortitude that is endowed on a select few? For a Christian the answer is certain, “The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26) “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.” (Psalm 140:7) When you, as a Christian, love the Lord your God with all your strength, it is good to know that the Lord your God is your strength. No matter what trials we go through, when God is the strength of our life, we can stand, we can hold on, and we can endure.

Msg #1006 Will God Bless America?

In Jeremiah chapter 17 God sends his prophet to the gates of Jerusalem to offer the people of Judah one last ditch offer to avoid their annihilation. Judah had already watched her sister, Israel, turn to idolatry, worship the creature more than the Creator, and suffer annihilation under Assyrian invasion. Babylonians had now pilfered the streets of Jerusalem and ransacked the conquered Promised Land. They were without excuse for understanding that Jehovah God would destroy his people when they turn their back on their God. God's ultimatum involved only one law; keep it and live, disregard Him and perish. Wow. The one law portrayed Jehovah God as their Creator, who made the universe in 6 days and rested on the seventh. The one law would involve only 1/7^th of their lives and a trivial physical change in how they were to do things. 'If you will at least obey this one law concerning my Sabbath rest, I will leave you in the land and the city shall remain forever.' Verse 21 recites their unbelievable response: “But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.” What God did to His chosen nations, first Israel, then Judah, stands as a stark reality to what happens to a people who deny the authority of their Creator. All my life America's schooling has taught that I have no Creator, but two rocks rubbing together in a primeval sea created a life form that 'evolved' into a tree and a chimp. And the latter then changed into human beings. 'Acknowledge Me as your 6 day Creator and you will stay in the land and be blessed.' Again, Wow. God will bless America,... when she turns her stiff neck back to her Creator.

Msg #1007 TIC-TAC-TOE Relationships

Your relationship with your Lord and Saviour and your relationship with your sweetheart should be like a tic-tac-toe board with nine 'X's and no 'O's. In the first column you should have a spiritual, emotional and physical LOVE like Christ does expressed in Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16 and SoS 1. Write those 3 references in those 3 squares. In the second column your spouse, and your Saviour should find an overwhelming SIGNIFICANCE in all of your life, even as you are SO significant to God. Your spiritual, emotional and physical significance to Him are expressed in Eph 5:22-33, John 15:15, and Acts 1:8. Fill that column with these references. In the last column your spouse should find a perfect SECURITY in your love, even as we find a perfect security in His love for us. His perfect security is expressed spiritually, emotionally and physically in John 3:36, Heb 13:5 and Luke 12:24. People are body, soul and spirit and our relationships are complicated. You cannot separate our physical, mental/emotional and spirituality as the secularists try to do. But in order to love with all our heart, soul and mind our relationships need to have an absoluteness in security, a genuineness in significance, and a purity in love. Look up each of these 9 references and know that God's wooing to us is with this 9 dimensional perfect love. Now put an 'X' in each square where your relationship with your spouse is properly developing. It is an excellent report card for scoring our relationships with both our Lord and with our sweetheart. May your true love find a spiritual, emotional and physical ... love, significance and security in every area of your relationship. Happy Valentines Day.

Msg #1008 An Ideal Wife

The Bible teaches more by narration than by lecture, and the narrations we find about relationships in the home leave no room for our making up our own little systems and rules. First Samuel chapter 25 portrays an ideal wife, and all of us could learn something from the behavior of Abigail, “a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” Her perceptive insight while ministering to the home of Nabal, a churlish, evil jerk, is of the highest caliber. Her haste and genius to intervene and prevent David's vindictive sin was as equally serving to him as it was the welfare of her own household. Her submissive articulate address and offering to David equally rebuked and honored him. A woman able to effectively communicate with men that are temporarily bent toward error, as David was, or permanently twisted in life, as Nabal was, is a very precious thing. Her honesty with her husband and submission to his authority in their dysfunctional home is exemplary. Overshadowing all these commendable traits is Abigail's superb knowledge of God and His intentions for David even throughout this situation. Abigail knew the heart and mind of God for her life, her home, and even for David, the man after God's own heart. When God destroyed Abigail's incorrigible husband, Nabal, David quickly married this gem of good understanding. Unfortunately it was not his first or last marriage, and the ongoing narrative from David's life teaches us that the way you lean is the way your children will fall. Recall that his son Solomon took 1,000 wives. Abigail was indeed a gem. All of us could glean some attributes from Abigail that would keep our homes from leaning away from God's clear plan.

Msg #1009 Rearing God's Way

It is not just my interpretation when your Bible says “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6) Fathers provoke children to wrath by not loving them right. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son, but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Prov13:24) Fathers provoke to wrath by giving little Johnny mommy's progressive 'time out' instead of the whippings that put character into his grandpa. God clearly tells fathers to spank them with a rod. “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” (Prov19:18) The world's effeminate little 'time outs' have children stewing in rebellion, stewing in bitterness, plotting new disobedience, and deep seating anger issues. It is not a 'syndrome' needing 'riddlin.' Fathers provoke children to wrath by not chastening them 'betimes.' That means spank them early in life, early in disobedience (no counting), and early in rebellion. “The rod and reproof giveth wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Prov29:15) “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.” (Prov23:13) Only half our homes even have fathers in attendance. One dare not guess how few fathers are obedient to teach God's Word “diligently unto thy children, ... when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deut 6) to raise their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6) God says to fathers “Correct they son and he shall give thee rest; yea he shall give delight unto thy soul.” Failure here provokes the deep seated anger issues prevalent in our society.

Msg #1010 Got Charity?

We love him because he first loved us, but His love easily contains the 13 perfect qualities of charity, while ours often struggles to attain to them. God starts 1 Corinthians 13 by exposing the loveless orator, the incompassionate Bible scholar and even the charity worker lacking charity, and ends with charity exalted as His greatest virtue. Having all 13 qualities of charity sandwiched between make an important report card for all our relationships in life. Does your love contain these qualities of selflessness that clash with our own nature's selfishness. Charity suffereth long, and is kind. The word 'charity' is more selfless and focusing on others than the word 'love' used in the modernist's bibles. Jesus said “Suffer the little children.” The word 'suffer' does not mean pain, but implies allowance, in the since that God is 'long-suffering' towards us. Sometimes we grit our teeth and give a loved one allowance but not with kindness. Striving for these 13 qualities in our marriage, home, and parenting promises great blessing. Charity is not puffed up, seeketh not her own and is unprovokable. It rejoiceth in truth, not in iniquity. Charity 'beareth all', 'believeth all', 'hopeth all' and 'endureth all' things. Seeking these qualities of charity in our lives, our church, and our workplace will add a quality to our lives which enriches every aspect of our existence, and those around us. Getting these selfless qualities of pure charity into our relationships will require something within us which is far greater than a strong will power. The Lord Jesus Christ indwells the born again Christian and allows them to exhibit this kind of love that Christ has, all 13 qualities, showing up in all circumstances. Godly charity never faileth. How is yours doing?.

Msg #1011 Pillar and Ground of Truth

The called out body of believers assembled and united together in a local church has always been a minority amongst the big denominations but it has always been the pillar and ground of truth described by Paul writing to Timothy. A pillar is stable, unshakable and not blown to and fro with every wind of doctrine,... or every ecumenical modernist bible version. Christ's church needs to be a pillar for verbal, plenary, inspiration of Scripture. Bible Societies turn a profit by making over 60 thousand major deviations to get their copyrights approved. Their's is not a pillar of truth. The truth of salvation says there is only one way into the kingdom of God; not by works, nor sacraments, nor by baptisms, nor confirmation classes. The truth is salvation is by grace through faith, and that faith is not of yourself, it is a gift of God. If you were not “converted” and “born again” no matter how much 'church' you do, Jesus will one day say, “depart from me I never knew you.” Paul told Galacia, 'if they preach another gospel let them be accursed'. A church should also be an unshakable pillar for the fundamentals of the faith. Denominations so readily drift from the faith that last century five fundamentals of the faith were documented as pillars of Christianity. Is yours a fundamentalist church? Twenty centuries ago God set out seven first principles of the faith and listed them in Hebrews 6. If your church is not a pillar of truth on the five fundamentals, and on those seven doctrines, you should get into a Bible Believing, Bible Preaching Church of the Living God. It will likely have 'Independent Fundamental Baptist' on their sign; you see, Baptist's are not a denomination, nor are they Protestants.

Msg #1012 Back to Basics

The propensity for any growing body is that it becomes more diverse and more dilute but Christ put safeguards in His Church so that it should not. Any Church that goes back to the fundamentals of its founder would do well. Even Protestant Churches would be better off standing where their founders stood, but to go all the way back to the true Church founder one would need take a path through the 5 fundamentals of fundamentalism and the 8 distinctives of Baptists. Fundamentals of 1) the trinity, 2) the authority and accuracy of Scriptures, 3) five doctrines of Christ, 4) personal new birth conversion for salvation and 5) the reality of Christ's second coming, heaven and eternal hell, are doctrines nailed to the church door at the turn of the last century because of cultists like Charles Taze Russel (JW), Joseph Smith (LDS), Ellen White (SDA), and Mary Baker Glover Eddy (CS). Today even non-cult, pretend Christian Churches need to re-affirm the Christian Fundamentals. The 'B' for the B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S distinctives, that I was taught in Sunday School in the 1960s, stands for Bible. Baptist's have always held to the verbal, plenary inspiration of an inerrant, infallible and holy preserved Bible. Today that would entail no trust in some ecumenical counsel translating a new modern one that spells out what they think God meant to say within the confines of their copyright restrictions. As people of the Book, which determines all their faith and practice, Baptists use an old one that was translated by those who dogmatically held to the second fundamental and the 'B' in the Baptist distinctives, and we believe all true Christians should. Modernists despise our old book and would take it from thee. Thou shalt not trust them.

Msg #1013 Chosen For You

On the tenth day of the old Hebrew month Abib the lamb for the passover sacrifice was selected and separated from the rest of the flock. (Ex12:3) The 14^th day of that 1^st month in their new year was Passover and towards the close of that day they would slay the passover lamb. The feast of unleavened bread started at sunset and was a sabbath day even if it was on Friday, (Lev23:6-7) The Hebrew passover day lands on various week days over the years but the Christian Easter Sunday is carefully arranged in the year to be the Sunday nearest the Passover where the Christ was crucified. Consequently the Sunday before easter is the Sunday nearest the 10^th of Abib, wherein the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world was selected, and separated from the rest of the flock on what is called Palm Sunday. “Hosanna to the Son of David, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” they cried, not realizing that in 4 days the nails would be driven into the hands and feet of their Messiah, the perfect passover lamb. God the Father oversaw the selection of the perfect lamb and His 4 day examination in the temple before the cruel hands of man put him to death. God alone knew what was really happening as Christ was escorted into Jerusalem riding on the colt, the foal of an ass. Come Palm Sunday this week it is sad that so few Christians study the Hebrew calendar enough to Know what happened that day. The Lord Jesus Christ, the passover sacrifice who's blood must be applied to the door posts of our heart, was selected on the 10^th and slain on the 14^th. He was chosen to take your place.

Msg #1014 Easter

You can not come to Easter Sunday without passing by the cross of Calvary which 3 days earlier held the Lord and Creator of this world, the Passover Lamb. And you cannot approach Easter with proper awe until you have approached that cross with fear, tear, and trembling. “Jesus keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary's mountain.” Partaking of Calvary's healing stream changes your approach to the empty tomb. The born again Christian takes his love for that Old Rugged Cross through the 3 days and 3 nights that his Lord and Christ lay in the tomb. He sees in this resurrection celebration, that he is also “a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are new.” (1Cor 5:17) The convert to Christ laid all his burden of sin at the foot of that blood stained cross and grasps the Bible verse: “Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” (1Cor 15:51) The believer who has been quickened by the Lord Jesus Christ has a new life born into them, even as Christ is the “first fruit” of our resurrection. Easter is situated on our calendar 3 days after the passover which marks Messiah's crucifixion. The Sunday resurrection of Christ occurred on “the marrow after sabbath.” For the first fruits offering, observed in this Hebrew month, the priest “Shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the marrow after the sabbath.” (Lev23:11) This week is precious to a Bible believing Christian who understands the Hebrew feasts which amply portray Messiah's perfect sacrifice, because every calendar date and week day is brought to bear on their Saviour's perfect sacrifice. Truly ... “It is finished.”

Msg #1015 Resurrection

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the rich verification of John 5:21 “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the son quickeneth whom he will.” Such truth imposes the worship of Jesus as Lord. His certified victory over death itself asserts his arguments: “I am the Son of God, vr25, and I am the Son of man, vr27; I am the Bread of Life, 6:35; I am the Door, 10:9; I am the Good Shepherd, 10:11; I am the True Vine, 15:1. A Christian will not just venerate his resurrected Christ, he will worship Him as one with the Father. “For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the son to have life in himself.” (vr26) The resurrected Christ made our pursuit for everlasting life reality: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (5:24) The Christian worships the Son and is quickened by faith in Him. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the son of God hath not life.” (1Jn5:12) Jesus “will quicken who he will,” and “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (3:16) A born again Christian is quickened by Christ and wants every one to be. Thus Jesus commissioned us: “as my Father sent me, even so send I you (20:21) “and ye shall be wittinesses” (Acts1:8) “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel ...” (Mark16:15). “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations. (Luke24:47) Be quickened by Him. Tell someone else about it.

Msg #1016 Born Again Saved

When examining the clear distinctives of B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S the inner 'S' stands for 'Saved.' Jesus clarified it for Nicodemus that “Except a man be born again, (i.e. born a second time) he cannot see the kingdom of God ... he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Jesus is emphatic that this second birth has nothing to do with water; holy water, baptismal water, sprinkled water, or other water! It is a spiritual birth, “even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” This is a Baptist distinctive, not a Baptist exclusive, i.e. you can be saved and not a Baptist; you cannot be a Baptist and not be saved. Even as there are pretend Christians, there are pretend Baptists, and mislabeled Baptists. Salvation is still their marked distinctive. Since the time that Jesus taught it there have been those, called by many a name, who held that salvation is by grace through faith. In the 1500s the label shifted from Anabaptist, Donatist, Arnoldist or Montanists to the long standing label 'Baptists' but the distinctive that a soul must, in a moment, be 1) converted, 2) Quickened by God, 3) Indwelt by His Spirit, 4) Baptized into Christ, and 5) Justified by God for ever, has been a Baptist distinctive and a relatively foreign doctrine to every 'Christian Denomination' that fell out of Romanism. That all 5 of these things are an instantaneous act of God is the miracle of new birth that saves us from eternal wrath and secures us in eternal life. Been Saved? The Bible is clear: “Except ye be converted, ... ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.”

Msg #1017 Baptist Autonomy

Eight of the Bibles 27 New Testament books are addressed to individual, independent, self governing, local, Bible believing, immersion baptizing Churches because that is what Christ intended his Churches be. The 'A' in the 8 B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S distinctives stands for 'Autonomy.' Baptist are not a denomination, are not Protestants, and have operated individual, independent, self governing, local, Bible believing, immersion baptizing Churches since the 1st century. A denomination, on the other hand, is a group of separated congregations united under a single administrative and legal hierarchy. Baptist Churches have always been autonomous (i.e. self governing, self determining) congregationalists. In the 4th century the first denomination issued an order that all infants be baptized and the autonomous New Testament Churches that refused their edict were often labelled ana-baptist and were always visited by the Roman Emperor's sword. After more than a thousand years of this, in 1517, Martin Luther finally protested against the Roman 'Catholic' denomination and up popped 300 Protestant denominations, all fighting about who the real church is. Not they have concluded that the real church is 'invisible!' It isn't. It is an independent, autonomous,local called out body of believers meeting somewhere in your town. It will not be perfect, but it will be autonomous. Which denomination is right? None. Christ's design for his saints is the individual, independent, self governing, local, Bible believing, immersion baptizing Church, with no modernist Bible in the pew and a man of God preaching from the pulpit. Some call it old fashioned. God calls it His old paths. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jer 6:16)

Baptist Autonomy Response to Msg 1017

Msg #1018 A Royal Priesthood

The 'P' in the 8 B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S distinctives stands for our priesthood. In 382 AD Jerome mistranslated the Greek word 'presbyter', (in English 'elder') throughout the Latin Vulgate as 'priest'. It was a dis-honest mistake and priest-craft was imported into the apostate Roman church, grew with the Roman sword and today people unwittingly trust their children to a man dressed in a black robe and promising to be celibate. That is not Christian, nor is priest-craft. In the Bible every born again, blood washed, Christ quickened believer is a holy priest. All should stay well away from the black dressed incense waving pretenders, to often predators. As a New Testament priest every born again believer should know the Scripture inside and out, frontward and backward, as the Old Testament priesthood was required. They were the teachers of the Words of God, so should we be. They organized, kept in order, and maintained the place of worship and we should do no less. They were to abstain from strong drink, keep themselves pure, separated from the world, and holy to the Lord. Peter writes to us “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” They interceded for others, ministered to people, cared for the needy, taught in the synagogues. In the New Testament Church that Jesus built every believer is to be a priest and none called clergy. “But 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 marvellous light:” (1Pet 2:9-10) Don't participate in priest-craft, it is Roman and pagan, be a Bible believer and the royal priesthood that Christ has called them to be.

Msg #1019 On Mothers Day

A Merriam-Webster word of the day this week was 'Matrix', Latin 'mater', meaning mother. Originally and specifically it meant 'uterus' and thus came to mean the situation or set of conditions in which something develops or forms. God specifically designed the female body, soul, spirit, mind, and emotion for this task of mothering. Despite modernist progressive rhetoric there is no duty in life that can be as fulfilling for a woman. A mother's task is daunting, we enter this world as such selfish little ingrates, and mom sets about living and teaching us selflessness. God designed them so well that they still tell their grown sons “Tuck in your shirt and sit up straight dear.” Man made in the image of God but desiring disobedient independence from Him, fell into a rebellious, selfish, depraved independence. All of man is now tainted by sin, and appointed to death. But mothers, being created as they were, meet the situations and set the conditions whereby we can develop and form in an environment where we learn to wash behind our ears, and sit up straight. And so we honor our mothers. Not with all the honor that is their due, but with a day, a flower, and a fine meal. God has no other creation so equip to teach us to to love and to be loved, to trust and to be trusted, to lean and to be leaned upon, to live and to let live. When you honor your mom this Sunday, let her know that the flower is just a token for the honor that is due her. And know too that as quickly as that flower wilts and vanishes from this world, so to do our moms. Happy Mothers Day.

Msg #1020 A Mom's Seven Teachings

Since my days as a youth pastor mothers day highlights an outline in Proverbs chapter 31 showing the seven things Lemuel's mother taught him. Verse one opens with her teaching the 'thus saith the LORD' of the Holy Scriptures. Prophecy is not about telling the future, it is about telling the message of the Lord. Verse two deals with Lemuel's identity; I am your mother, I brought you into this world, I have taken the “until death do us part” vows that provide the stable home where you belong. How unfortunate that our society no longer emphasizes the latter of these, but the Christian home sure needs to. Mom's third instruction to her son is to not be a 'womanizer.' Solomon's downfall was his womanizing. (1Kings 11:1-6) Verse 4 says “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine.” Mom follows this one up with 7 reasons why one drinks booze and why total abstinence is the only answer for a king. If you're a born again Christian, who is appointed as a “king and priest”, as in Rev1:6, and are promised that you will never perish, as in John3:16, God's instruction is total abstinence from booze. If you are ready to perish, then drink up, and forget your misery, forget your poverty. If you are no king, then booze it up, kill those brain cells, forget His law, and pervert your judgment. “It is not for kings.” Verse 8 and 9 instruct Lemuel to “Open thy mouth.” Be one who intercedes for others and “judges righteously” while others mock saying “Judge not lest ye be judged.” Open your mouth! Lastly, the chapter closes with a mom's instruction to a son to 'marry well!' What an awesome close to Solomon's book of wisdom.

Alcohol Abstinence Response to Msg #1020

Will you please send Bible references regarding total abstinence of alcohol. Thank you, Mr. Clement

Thanks for asking. For a believer struggling with alcohol dependence I start with Prov. 20:1 coupled with John 8:34-36. I have them write these verses in a notebook, by hand, daily or regularly, and also carry them with them hand written on a 3x5 card for a week. Every time they see a beer truck, beer add, bar or tavern I suggest that they get out the card and read aloud God's word. I then have them write Proverbs 23:29-35 on half their page and a short commentary on each verse on the other half. (One once said they could deal with verse 31 by drinking with their eyes closed, I responded that many 'Christians' do just that.) Lastly I similarly use the verses I mentioned below from Proverbs 31 (vr 4-7) with the same reasoning Lemuel's mom used, and then deal with them concerning the question, "Has Christ made you a king and priest?" (Rev 1:1-8, 1Pet 2:9-10) I am not a methodist but I used this method effectively for my years as a youth pastor and found it as applicable for adults in my pastorate. A vice that has been acquired over years does not dissipate in hours. My military career has well aquainted me with vice as sin. That alcohol is a vice should be understood apriori.

Ref Msg #1020 Excerpt cf. Prov 31 Verse 4 says “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine.” Mom follows this one up with 7 reasons why one drinks booze and why total abstinence is the only answer for a king. If you're a born again Christian, who is appointed as a “king and priest”, as in Rev1:6, and are promised that you will never perish, as in John3:16, God's instruction is total abstinence from booze. If you are ready to perish, then drink up, and forget your misery, forget your poverty. If you are no king, then booze it up, kill those brain cells, forget His law, and pervert your judgment. “It is not for kings.”

Msg #1021 Whosoever Will May Come

The ' I ' in the eight BAPTIST distinctives stands for 'Individual Soul Liberty.' The Church that Jesus built always recognized faith in Christ available to 'whosoever will.' While catholics compelled their 'christianity' on the masses with a magistrate's Roman sword, and Protestants restricted it to ones perceived as 'the elect' to receive it, Jesus Christ said “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, Mt10:32Lu12:8” or “whosoever shall not be offended in me Mt11:6Lu7:23” or “whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, Mt12:50Mr3:35” or “whosoever will save his life, Mt16:25” or “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself, Mt18:4” or “Whosoever will come after me, Mr8:34” or “whosoever shall receive me, Mr9:37Lu9:48” or “Whosoever cometh to me, Lu6:47” or “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, Joh4:14” or “whosoever liveth and believeth in me Joh11:26” or “through his name whosoever believeth in him Ac10:43Joh3:15” or “whosoever believeth on him Ro9:33” or “ whosoever believeth on me Joh12:46” or “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom10:13” or “whosoever believeth in him Joh3:16.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ro10:13.” “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart ..., thou shalt be saved.” Rom10:9 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Ro10:11 ...... Salvation cannot be compelled with a law, a sword, or infant baptism, nor can it be restricted to a few 'elect', it is freely available to “whosoever will may come.” In any of these 'whosoever' offers you can substitute your name, your child's name or your grandchild's name. Individual soul liberty is an important distinctive which makes the offer of Christ frely available to the whole world; but still an offer.

Msg #1022 Pastors Are 1^st Husbands, not 1^st Ladies

The two 'T's in the 8 BAPTISTS distinctives stand for 'Two' ordinances and 'Two' offices. The local, Bible believing, believer baptizing Church that Jesus built has a 'Bishop-Pastor-Elder' and 'Deacons-Ministers-Elders' which the Holy Bible clearly dictates in the Epistles to Timothy, written “that thou mayest know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God.” The Pastor (shepherd) is an Elder (mature) and the Bishop (overseer) of the flock, the local Church. The Deacons are Elders who minister among the flock. The Holy Bible unapologetically requires the Bishop-Pastor, who oversees the flock, and the ministers, ordained as deacons, to be “the husband of one wife, ... one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?)” The rebellion against God's rules that is so rampant in society today, is just as rampant in the churches who are rebelling against this Scripture. When God, spelling out rules so that we may know how to behave ourselves in His Church, says “I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” it's not just a suggestion. It's NOT made by a god who was ignorant of how much mankind would evolve to levels above these rules. Rebellion is ugly no matter how society tries to civilize it. God says thou shalt not kill, sinful mankind says 'unless the child is inconvenient', God says a man and woman rearing obedient children, rebellious mankind says 'two men can do it', God says a bishop must be the husband of one wife, and usurp authority in His Church ... What does your Pastor say?

Msg #1023 Reflection on Soldiers

While we honor our soldiers who are driven by extraordinary levels of loyalty, honor, and duty, it behooves Christians to recall the Bible's charge to young Timothy to “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2Tim 2) The loyalty that we respect in our soldiers sinks its roots ever deeper into their soul as they train and are built into a unit with a unity. Christians are told “Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” The honor that binds the heart of our soldiers to the duty that may well take their life is captured in their code: “I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. I will never surrender of my own free will.” We justly honor and respect our soldiers and memorialize their fallen comrades, who gave their life four our freedoms. And as we do, Christians should reflect on their extraordinary loyalty to “Duty, Honor, and Country” and then reflect the same as Christ's good soldiers. For “No man that warreth entangleth himself the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” As a soldier who spoke the six articles of the “Armed Forces Code of Conduct” for 23 years I will honor our soldiers. I am serving now in a greater army with a greater King, and you and I need to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Loyal to death, driven by Duty, Honor, and Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Be a soldier. If you are not a born again Christian you should join His army, it has eternal benefits.

Msg #1024 Two Ordinances of Christ

The two 'T's in the 8 BAPTISTS distinctives stand for two offices, and two ordinances. The simplest clearest teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ are that baptism and communion are ordinances i.e. commanded physical observances which symbolically portray spiritual realities, and NOT sacraments, i.e. religiously practiced physical activities that invoke a mystical, magical spiritual endowment of grace on the participants. There are no sacraments in the Holy Bible. In the 5^th century when Jerome translated the Latin Vulgate with the bad theology of Saint Augustine of Hippo, he errantly inserted this Latin 'magic' or 'sacrament' into God's Holy Word on 8 occasions, Eph 1:9, 3:3, 9, 5:32, Col 1:27, 1Tim 3:16, Rev 1:20, and 17:7. The proper translation was, and still is, 'mystery' as used in the real Bible. Jerome and Augustine inserted 'do penance' for “repent”; 'priest' for “ordained elder” and 'magic sacrament' for God's revealed “mysteries.” Care should be taken in who translates a Bible, their bad doctrine is always inserted. Thus for 1700 years now 'Christianity' has been saddled with the horrid misnomer that a 'Holy Water' baptism, and a 'Holy Eucharist' can magically wash sin away or magically unite us to Christ. The Bible has always expounded the two ordinances as physical pictures with no magic, and no mysticism. Protestants carried these horrid translation errors into their doctrines and practices, but Baptists, so named for their refusal to compromise on the exactness of what the Holy Bible says about them, have been true to the exact wording of Scripture for these 2000 years. Many are now trusting the new international and new American ecumenical translation societies that are again changing the Words of God. Sacraments are part of a man made religion, never occurring in an accurate rendition of God's carefully preserved, inerrant, verbally inspired Scripture.

Original Autographa Response to Msg #1024

Hello: I cannot help but respond to your Msg #1024 and what appears to be your comparison of the Latin Vulgate with the NIV and NASB. Perhaps you did not intend to imply that these modern translations have followed the Latin Vulgate, but my reading of your article led me to believe that both the NIV and the NASB use these "catholic" words in their translations. Such is not the case. Your wording would lead a person that is uninformed of the texts of these translations to think that, like the LV, the NIV and NASB have changed the Word of God. Disagree with the modernity of the translations. Disagree with the choice of Hebrew and Greek MSS used in their translations. Believe that the KJV is without error--if you can truly believe that a translation by fallible men can be without error (that assertion sounds more Catholic than Baptist). But do not insinuate that a modern translation--because it is modern--is of necessity a corrupt translation. There has only ever been one perfect manuscript and that would be the original autographa, which no person has. What we have today, and even the translators of the KJV 1611 would agree, is a good translation of a good copy of a word perfect original. That which makes a translation good is if it is accurately translated from both the Hebrew and Greek MSS that the translators have before them and from which they work to produce an accurate translation of the Bible into modern or contemporary language.

I thank you for the feedback and I agree with you on the Latin Vulgate issue. I did not mean to imply that the Latin Vulgate was slipped into the modernist ecumenical international bibles, only that the bad doctrine of the modernist ecumenicals was slipped into their bibles. I stand corrected.

I am interested in additional clarification from you, if you may find the time, on the other issue you herein address. Modernists have long denied the verbal, plenary, inerrant, infallible, inspiration of God's Word, and lead into that denial with the very arguments that you herein present. There is no, and there never has been a set of 'original autographs', therefore, in extending that flawed logic, there is no, and never has been, and never will be, a verbally inspired Holy Bible. In reading your argument for there being no such thing as an inerrant Bible, I am curious where you might draw your lines to take some position on the verbal, plenary, inerrant, infallible, inspiration of God's Word. Each of these adjectives has been intertwined in Bible doctrine since Adam; is it your intent to just rip out inerrancy and keep the others intact? Or to fray the whole doctrine of Bible inspiration? To me that is the crux of the dilemma. I stand by my assertion that the KJV translators had a firm handle on the verbal, plenary, inerrant, infallible, inspiration of God's Word and there are no modern translation teams, ergo no modern bible translations, which hold to that doctrine. You?

I am still exploring and documenting this later thesis and would honestly appreciate hearing your convictions.

Msg #1025 The Hebrew's Book

The Holy Bible wherein God our Creator reveals Himself to mankind was provided to us in its entirety by the Hebrews. In the genealogy of Mary, the mother of Jesus, recorded in Genesis by Moses, the prophet, in Chronicles by Ezra, the ready scribe, and in Luke 3 by Dr. Luke, preaching companion of the Apostle Paul, there is a decedent called Heber, and his descendants were were called Hebrews. God spoke to one of those Hebrews and called him to leave his family and passover to a land which God would shew him. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The name 'Hebrew' now came to mean 'one which passes over' and 'sojourner in a land', and Abraham's obedience to God caused that he was a blessing to ALL people. Over the next 2,000 years 40 holy men of God, Hebrews, recorded 66 inerrant, infallible books “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Abraham's grandson Jacob, had his name changed to Israel and his 12 sons formed the 12 tribes of Israel. The only tribe to remain intact was the tribe of Judah and so the Hebrews are today dwelling in their promised land of Israel and are called Jews, but Christianity still owes everything to this chosen nation of God who gave us the 39 books of the Old Testament which, told of the coming Messiah, the Christ child born in Bethlehem in Israel, and who gave us the 27 books of the New Testament written “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church, of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth.” Guard your copy from the ecumenical modernists who think they can modernize and fix His Holy Bible.

Msg #1026 Depend on a Father

When a father named Jairus brought the deadly plight of his only daughter before the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus was thronged by others who prevented him from doing what Jairus wanted; his only daughter, of 12 years, died before Jesus could get away from the crowds. There is no 'one thing' in life which moves a man from his rebellious independence and selfish nature more than looking into the eyes of his offspring and seeing their complete dependence on him. There is no 'one thing' that causes man to recognize our complete dependence on our heavenly father and see his great love for us, than rearing a child who strives to walk in our foot steps. The Bible says “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” One learns to rely and trust his Heavenly Father like he did his earthly father. When Jairus heard the most horrid news that ever fell on a fathers ears, it is no small thing that Jesus was there and he heard it too. Jesus said “Fear not believe only, and she shall be made whole.” The precious and deeply touching verses which close Luke chapter 8 demonstrate that Jesus is not raising the dead as a crowd convincing show, he is doing it because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Fathers take a note, 'God wants you trusting and dependent on Him like that little one did on you. Our society is in rebellion to that truth, but the stable home founded on God's commandment will prevail in the long run and it alone can bring peace to a fathers child.

Msg #1027 Belief Then Baptism

The acts of the Apostles should be principle study material for a Christian and the Apostle Paul's preaching companion, Dr. Luke, has infallibly documented these acts in his book by that title. Three epochs are presented: the gospel received by Hebrews, the gospel received by Gentiles, and the growth of the gospel in the churches, particularly at Ephesus. These epochs are separated by 9 years, documented in 9 chapters, and the last one holds our attention with the greatest application to today. In Acts chapter 19 Paul comes to Ephesus and finds disciples knowing only the baptism of John and not knowing the indwelling of Christ. Theirs was a baptism of recognition not of reception, one of preparation, not presentation. The one identified who Christ was, the other identifies one with Christ. At the muddy Jordan River John's Baptism identified that Jesus was the Messiah indeed. At the muddy Ford's Pond in Gang Mills NY I was identified with Him because I had personally received Him as my Lord and Saviour and Christ. Apollos and these 12 disciples, baptized with a baptism of repentance for preparing the way for the Messiah, believed everything that was to believe about the Christ, but had not personally received him and confessed him as their Lord and Saviour. When they did there was a great change in their life and in their eternal destiny. They could now be baptized with a believers baptism, which pictures immersion into and identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. It has been likened to missing heaven by 18 inches, the distance between you head and your heart. SO which baptism have you received? Don't miss heaven by 18 inches. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:10)

Msg #1028 Independence and Separation

The 'S' in the 8 BAPTISTS distinctives stands for the 'Separation of Church and State.' That this is a Baptist hallmark is heralded at the Leland – Madison Memorial Park historical marker which reads “1754-1841 Elder John Leland, courageous leader of the Baptist doctrine, Ardent advocate of the principles of democracy, vindicator of separation of Church and State. Near this spot in 1788 John Leland and James Madison, the Father of the American Constitution, held a significant interview which resulted in the adoption of the constitution by Virginia. Then Madison, a member of Congress from Orange presented the first amendment to the constitution guaranteeing religious liberty, free speech, and a free press. This satisfied Leland and his Baptist followers. Presented by Eugene Bucklin Bowen, President Berkshire County Massachusetts Chapter Sons of the American Revolution.” Our current president, desiring that this not be a Christian country, should visit this marker 4 mi. from Orange Va. on Highway 20. He should also rehearse “A History of First Baptist Church, of the City of New York,” a document that states “While in camp Newburgh, General Washington requested Pastor Gano to baptize him according to the Scriptures. He did so Immersing him in believers baptism, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.” You see, Washington's boyhood home became the first place in Virginia where Baptist ministers were imprisoned over matters of conscience. In 1776 General Washington requested authorities of his denomination to discontinue customary prayers for the success of England; they would not; he refused to kneel in the Church or receive their communion. General Washington made John Gano, Pastor of First Baptist Church of NYC, his personal Army Chaplain, and received his instruction about religious liberty. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. The LORD has blessed America.

Msg #1029 The Words of the Kingdom

In the 19^th year of the New Covenant, recorded in the 19^th chapter of Acts, Paul takes two years to start a local Church in Ephesus. With 12 very learned new converts he spends “3 months disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God ” in the synagogue and local school house. The synagogues congregated on the Sabbath and Paul disputed with them when and where they met, but Christians have always congregated and worshiped on the first day of the week, the day their Christ rose from the dead, and not on the Sabbath day, the last day of the week. The 'things' that Paul disputed and persuaded was 'the Word of the Lord Jesus' about the kingdom; namely a) Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God, John 3, b) Except your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and pharisees you cannot enter the kingdom, Matt 5, c) Like the most vile of humanity, “I tell you Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” Luke 13, d) Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple, Luke 15, and e) Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven,” Matt 18. After only 3 months in Ephesus, and 184 years of independence in America, they kicked the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ out of their school system. Precious few Ephesians grasped the “things concerning the kingdom of God,” but as believers, they formed the little local Church in Ephesus which Jesus addressed in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Praise God if you are one of those precious few in America, and you are still congregating with other believers on the Lord's Day.

Msg #1030 Signs, Wonders, and False Teachers

Signs and wonders with angelic and demonic activity always mark the transition periods of God's dispensations but none more than His ushering in the new covenant that placed us in this dispensation of grace. The formation of the little church in Ephesus, documented in Acts 19, is so marked by these because it is a first in the formation of the Gentile churches. Only in Acts 2, 10 and 19 did believers speak with tongues and these are transitions where the gospel first came to the Jews, the Gentiles, and these disciples at Ephesus. “And God wrought special miracles by the hand of Paul” ... in Ephesus diseases and evil spirits departed. Vagabond tele-evangelists, like the seven sons of Sceva, like to cash in and attract crowds with tongues, signs, wonders, handkerchiefs and exorcisms, but these false teachers were quickly exposed in Ephesus, ... almost comically. (vr. 13-16) Modernists want to rip Mark 16 out of the Bible because it was ripped out of the Egyptian version they adore, but it says “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (vr 17-18) In the transition into this age of grace these signs did follow them that believed. The New Testament record is emphatic, but the vagabonds and 'seven sons of one Sceva' who today try to replicate these 'signs and wonders' need to be reprimanded and identified as the false teachers that Christ continually warns us about. Today the signs and wonders that prove Christ are printed in a book. Wonder at it, not the tele-evangelists.

Bible Question on Penny Pulpit Content

Pastor Rice-
On a totally non related scripture can you share some insights of the meaning of Matt 16:19
“19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven”
Is this church authority, is this for Peter only, is this for all the disciples, is this for you and me or is this about our responsibility to share the gospel- loosing those that accept and binding those who reject Christ?
I am uncertain of what Christ is saying---
Thank you for your time
Yours in Christ
Charlie C.

Concerning verse 19, the whole context of this Scripture is just as intriguing and analysis of it will reveal that you analyzed it well in your last statement that this is “about our responsibility to share the gospel- loosing those that accept and binding those who reject Christ?”

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Notice here the 'little stone' is Peter, and the 'big rock' upon which Christ will build his Church is the truth under consideration that “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Clarifying that upsets Roman Catholicism because they engulf the fiction that Peter was their first Pope fulfilling the building of a Roman Imperial Church upon his shoulders. They also misinterpret the 'key' reference thinking on the physical plane that it opens their locked doors at the Vatican.

If the rock, in proper interpretation is the foundational truth upon which his Church was to be built, i.e. that He was Messiah, the Christ, what, in reality, and in good hermeneutics, would be the keys (plural) that open the door, as it were, for entry into his Church? I like to consider them as four keys on a ring which will gain you entry into the kingdom of heaven. Key 1: Except ye be born again ye cannot see the kingdom of God, Key 2: Except ye be converted ye cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven, Key 3: Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish, and Key 4: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”

Did Jesus give this ring of keys to Peter so that he could loose 'whatsoever' on earth? He surely did. Gave the set to James and John as well. I got me a set back in 1960 when Christ quickened me. You got a set when you got saved, and we should be using them to loose souls around us. In fact, it is a little strange that while teaching and pretending that they got the only set, the Roman Catholic Church did not even get a viable set of these 4 keys.

Msg #1031 A Riot for Proselytizing

In Ephesus riot broke out when Paul determined to take the gospel which changed so many Ephesians and preach it all over Asia. If other cities saw the change that Ephesus saw the idol making sliver smiths would be out of work. If the change in these believers spread to all Asia the temple of Diana would become a ghost town. People would change all their worship to the Lord Jesus. The change in converts was so genuine that “old things were passed away, behold all things were become new.” The change was universal, showing up in both Jews and Gentiles, and it was not duplicated in the fakes mimicking signs and wonders or belief. The changed-ones told everyone and the word of the Lord Jesus was known to all, both Jew and Gentile. They burned up their old ways and fear fell on them all as the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. The Bible says “Mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.” The changed Ephesian believers were now determined to take the gospel message that changed them to all of Asia. The unbelievers “had no small stir about that way” and they stirred up a riot against these evangelizing proselytizing believers of Ephesus. The changed-ones so enjoyed their new found faith in their Lord that they were going out of their way to let everybody know about him. Would God a riot would break out because of our proselytizing. America has been engulfed with a pluralism contending that you have your beliefs and I have mine, just leave it that way. That is not acceptable to a born again believer who knows Jesus' word that “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me” ... Proselytize.

Msg #1032 Politics as Usual

In Acts 19 the Bible says a riot broke out because of righteousness and there are lessons to learn in the reactions to the worlds riot. The life changing gospel of Jesus Christ being preached throughout Asia is what initiated the riot. The unsaved were incensed and full of wrath, verse 28, they were full of confusion and yet they were all of 'one accord', verse 29. The righteousness of Christ often left the world's religiousness in such a state. It still does today. In verse 31 the chief of Asia resolved to stop the preaching of Paul as their 'political solution'. They played the discrimination and 'race card' in verse 34. The town clerk took steps to appease the false religion which caused the uproar; even to exaggerate and lie about their greatness and pretend they were something they were not in verse 35-36. Today our politicians try to appease the Muslims and pretend that Islam is a peace loving religion. While Fundamental Islam actually strives for the overthrow of our government, our leaders try to appease them and pretend the freedom honoring fundamentals of Christianity were not our founding principles. Finally the political solution to the proselytizing and preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ would pursue a legal solution and let the courts and law suites handle the problem, verses 37-40. They likely formed an Ephesus civil liberties union (ECLU) and enacted hate speech legislation to stop the proselytizing and the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is a Christian to do? Well in Acts 20 they went about preaching the gospel of their Lord all through Asia, even when that intent is what started the riot in Ephesus. Awesome, isn't it. We should do no less.

Msg #1033 Doth Not Wisdom Cry?

“Doth not Wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” is the redundant question which Solomon uses to start the crowning crescendo of his Wisdom Literature. Proverbs Chapter 8 follows seven chapters of superb introductory work, and when the wisest man in the world, God said so, writes an introduction for personified Wisdom it is well worth our time to meditate there. This chapter covers Wisdom's cry, Wisdom's character, her value and her roots. When discerning wisdom, understanding, and knowledge this one chapter of God's Holy Word is unprecedented. When discerning its unprecedented lack in our society today this chapter is insightful. When discerning a systematic theology that would cause us to know Jehovah God the chapter is invaluable. Only a small remnant are listening for wisdom's cry. The blight of wisdom in our society multiplied when we kicked Solomon's Wisdom Literature out of our schools. Today precious few people will “study to shew themselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” ... in order to “know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,” and in order to grow in the knowledge of God. Wisdom is still crying out from the Proverbs of Solomon. Be one of the precious few that will shut off the entertainments of life and read 31 Proverbs this month. God can use His Word to change your life. His promise still stands “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” In life, may you have His good success.

Msg #1034 Christ Our Creator

When personified Wisdom documents her roots in Proverbs chapter 8, it is in perfect harmony with both Genesis1 and John1. As such it shows the shrill disharmony of theistic evolution, the 'gap theory', and atheistic evolution, none of which ring with gospel truth. “The LORD possessed me in the beginning, or ever the earth was.” The Bible says “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth” and inquiring minds ask “What was there before that?” The God, who reveals himself, answers in both Proverbs 8 and John 1. The Bible believer accepts without question that God created the universe in 6 days and rested on the 7^th . “The heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is,” (Acts4:24) was created in the 6 days wherein we still frame our 7 day week. No fictitious geological column, no fictitious gaptist calamity of havoc and destruction, nor fictitious spontaneous generation of species can move upon God's teaching about his 6 day creation. Proverbs 8 finds God wisdom “Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.” Infidels speak of alien life forms or lizards evolving into eagles and dogs into horses, but a Christian should not let such balderdash be taught to his children or entangled in the truth of God's Holy Word. “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:” (Exod20:11) John 1 presents the eternal truth that Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man, as the third part of the triune Godhead, was that same creator for “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3) We worship Christ our Creator.

Msg #1035 The Good Samaritan

Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan recorded in the Gospel according to Luke aptly answers the self justifying lawyer's two questions, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” and , striving to justify himself, “Who is my neighbor?” Clearly the “certain man” going down from Jerusalem into Jericho portrays the plight of fallen man which has departed from the presence of God and is headed for the stronghold of sin. Like him, mankind fell among thieves, was robbed of his glory, wounded and left half dead. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” The certain priest who saw him and passed by on the other side is representative of the Aaronic priesthood that sees man's plight but did not remedy it. The Levite that 'came and looked on him' represents the sages, the rabbis and clergy that are supposed to minister to man's need. He too passed by on the other side. Only one overwhelmed with mercy, one who is “despised and rejected of men”, like a Samaritan was to that lawyer, only the one who would completely give of himself could remedy the dire plight of mankind and “the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” As you walk through your day the 'certain man' who fell among thieves, lost his glory and is left half dead may be in a suit or in a gutter. Don't pass by on the other side, be a Good Samaritan and point him to the one who gave 'his all' that we might go free and be healed. You might be despised and rejected, but Christ is The Good Samaritan, you should be a good samaritan. Today, don't just pass by, share Jesus Christ with that 'certain man'

Msg #1036 Is God Done With Americans?

It is coming on 400 years that the Holy Bible has been translated in inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired English. It is coming on 50 years that the Holy Bible, with its account that the Lord Jesus Christ is the God and Creator of all, has been banned from our public school children, who are now taught that they are here by random chance for no particular purpose. The feminized church ignores God's commands, to where there are more women in the pulpits of Yates County than there are 'Men of God' preaching his truth. God said of his own people “This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD.” (Isa 30:9) And to the land that had been so blessed as ours it is recorded “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were don in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sack cloth and ashes.” But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.” (Matt 11) We are asking that our loved ones and neighbors be saved and turned from their paths of sin and destruction but “He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt 13:58) America “the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you,... But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.” (Luke 10) God is longsuffering,... “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: “

Msg #1037 Kiss the Son, Lest He be Angry

There is no chapter more graphic nor vivid in portraying a nations sin than Ezekiel 16, and although God aimed at Judah, He sure hits America squarely in her heart. God said previously “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?” (14:3) “They shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;” (vr10) “When the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it.” (vr13) ... “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the LORD GOD.” (vr14) With the assurance of God's pending judgment against a nation that turned from their founder thus established, God pens chapter 16. Therein the graphic description of Judah's harlotry would cause any modest human to blush, and cause one who knows America's history and current plight to weep. America, haunted in its feminized modernist churches, steeped in its cause of sodomy, leisure in its slaying of innocents for convenience, and schooled in banning Jesus Christ the Creator from its children, is ripe for revival or ripe for judgment. We have few Noahs, Daniels, or Jobs preaching righteousness in her streets, and “Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.” America, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and ye perish from the way.” (Psalm2)

Msg #1038 Use Your Brain Or Die

Matthew 25:14-30 is not a lesson about using your talents for the Lord, but of using the resources he provides you in order to bring gain to your Creator and owner. In Christ's parable of the Kingdom of God resources are given to the Lord's servants according to their ability, and the focus is on the one who receives only one. The servants are left without supervision, as stewards, with a knowledge that their lord would return and they would be accountable for that resource. The one resource we have all received is a rational working mind and in this parable failure to invest it resulted in outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth. That is very serious. “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.” (John6) “For God … gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John3) Sinking that one precious resource in the world, and burying it in the dirt rather than using it to trust in the only Begotten Son is the only thing that could bring you into eternal outer darkness. For the servant with one talent the parable did not have to end the way it did. He could have used his one resource and ended with the same praise “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” You have a mind which can understand what God requires of you. The Lord will return soon. You will be held responsible for what you did with your resourceful brain, Don't bury it in the world. ”Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.”

Msg #1039 The Walking Dead Made Alive

Jesus' healing of leprosy parallels most closely his healing of my sin. The leper that came to Jesus in Matthew chapter 8 left his leper colony where he had to cry 'Unclean, Unclean', to anyone who would fain to come near or touch him. His leprosy was a disease of death where his flesh was dying in place as he lived. As the flesh of his fingers and toes died the numbness and lost circulation caused his daily activity to wear away bone and only nubs would remain. Lying causes honesty to die in place and some have lied so much that only useless nubs of dishonesty remain. Disobedience causes integrity to die in place and in some nothing but ugly nubs of rebellion mark their life. Selfishness causes kindness to die in place and some are such selfish ogres that a vile scarred face of decaying grimace stares at you. Such a scarred dying leper came to Jesus, worshiped him, believed in him, and said “Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” In theology man cannot come to Jesus unless he is chosen and elect, but in the Bible 'whosoever will may come.' The theologian says you cannot come to Jesus because you are already dead and cannot be drawn, but in the Bible Jesus said “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John12) So the leperous man heard of his fame and came to Jesus. “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” No more leper colony; no more living death n his flesh, only a new walk in newness of life. He can heal your sin, and make you new too.

Msg #1040 Untold Millions

Having just returned from 2 weeks abroad in South America I am touched by Jesus' reactions when, in his 3 ½ year public ministry, he saw the multitudes. Out on a mountain side in Matthew 5, “And seeing the multitudes,... he opened his mouth, and taught them.” He commissioned you and I, as born again believers, to “teach all nations,” yet we so often remain silent in the multitudes, expecting, perhaps, that they might come to church if they want to hear the gospel. “When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.” (Matt 8) ... and Jesus “healed all that were sick.” (vr 16) Each physical healing that Jesus did was a picture, yea a portrayal, of the spiritual healings and forgiveness of sin which he is still doing today. He will not touch blinded eyes and make them see, raise the paralytic and heal the leper, but he still touches blinded eyes and causes them to see, lifts those paralyzed in sin and causes them to walk in newness of life, and touches dead and decaying flesh and makes it new. You might let others know the spiritual healings in your life, because “When they multitude saw it they marveled, and glorified God.” (9:8) You might let someone know about your new life in Christ and still see today “the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.” (9:33) When Christ is in you and living unrepressed it can still happen that “When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (9:36) “Untold millions are still untold; Untold millions are outside the fold; Who will tell them of Jesus' love, and the bountiful blessings from heaven above?” Will you?

Msg #1041 The Rapture of the Church

The Bible says “Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” ... “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Protestant theologians, with their aged errant covenant and replacement theology, tell us the word 'rapture' is not in the Bible and the dispensational doctrine that contends for it is 'the new kid on the block'. But Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Clearly there is coming a trump of God when born again believers will be 'caught away', i.e. raptured out. The unsaved will be left behind to face a tribulation and the 7 vials of God's wrath. God always has a remnant who plainly believe His Word and there is one that is looking for the rapture of the Church. Jesus said we should work for the night is coming. What will you be doing when that trumpet sounds? Where will you be when the saints are raptured home? Don't be left behind. Don't be idol in His Kingdom. “When the son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” ... Will he find yours?

Msg #1042 The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a most marvelous culmination of the whole revelation of God. Those who suppose that the Holy Bible is allegorical or a man made book cannot comprehend its completeness. Those who reject the literalness of Genesis and its revelation of a six day creation of the whole universe, will never comprehend the complete literalness of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Those who do not worship the Lord Jesus Christ because they reject his deity and his place in the trinity of the Godhead, will never comprehend the reality of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. But those Bible believing, born-again, quickened Christians who believe every jot and tittle of the Holy Bible find this book to be indeed The Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is a book of sevens. Seven being the number of completeness. The Apostle John was commanded herein: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” There are seven divine attributes of Jesus Christ given in 'the things which thou hast seen.' There are seven messages to seven Churches in 'the things which are.' And there are seven years of tribulation which include seven seals of preparation, seven trumpets of warning and seven vials of the wrath of God, in 'the things which shall be hereafter.” Revealed therein are seven dooms, including the doom of the unbeliever and liar. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Therein is the last invitation as well. “And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Msg #1043 The Literalness of the Tribulation Period

As the Revelation of Jesus Christ divides exactly in half at 12:8 the 7 year period of tribulation divides exactly in half at 12:8. “And the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not: neither was their place found anymore in heaven.” The exact placement of this event in Scripture and in time is no coincidence. In Matthew 24 Jesus said of Daniels vision of the 70^th week, that 7 year period just prior to His coming, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time” That “Abomination of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet” is given power to continue 42 months (Rev13:5) or 3 ½ years. In Daniel 9 he breaks the covenant with Israel “in the midst of the week,” 3 ½ years. In Daniel 7 and 12 he “shall wear out the saints ... until a time (1 year) and times (2 years) and the dividing of time;” 3 ½ years. In Revelation 12:6 Israel is to be protected for 1,260 days; 3 ½ years. In verse 14 “she is nourished for a time (1 year) and times (2 years) and half a time,” which is 3 ½ years. In 11:3 God's two witnesses are given power to “prophesy 1,260 days; 3 ½ years of the 7 year tribulation period. The Protestant theologians keep trying to reform their old Catholic, Covenant Theology and steal promises given to Israel with Reformed Replacement Theology, but there is no reason to abandon a literal rendering of any of God's holy Word, especially the 7 year tribulation or its 3 ½ year midpoint, where Satan is overcome and cast down to earth persecuting Israel. When it is literal read it as literal. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Msg #1044 The Literalness of the Kingdom

A born again Christian should not confuse the kingdom of God that he was born into by a second birth, with the thousand year kingdom age where his Christ will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords from the throne of David. The Jews, looking for the kingdom of God were told “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke17) Jesus makes the distinction between the Kingdom of God you receive within you, and the coming day of the Lord when the Son of Man will sit on the Throne of David and rule every nation. For a believer the blessed hope is not that he might be saved in the end, but that he will see his blessed Redeemer come and fulfill the promises that he made. These promises are actual not figurative; real not allegorical; to us in the New Covenant and to God's chosen people, Israel in the Old Covenant. The literalness of the Kingdom of God in us and the Kingdom of Christ soon coming can not be allegorized away. They are realities of Christianity and realities of His revelation. God says “My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me.” Shame on 'Christendom' for allegorizing away God's promises, and believing the textual critics who rip verses out of this precious old book. In this, its 400^th year, you should unite with the tiny remnant that hold on to every jot and tittle of this old King James Bible.

Msg #1045 Who Should You Trust

The disciples expected that Jesus would set up his kingdom and rule over Israel form the Throne of David. The Apostles wrote that the Lord would return and with power and glory set up the promised Kingdom. The prophets declare that the Christ (Hebrew = Messiah) will reign over every nation of the world and bring a peace on the earth where the lion shall lie down with lambs. The Revelation of Jesus Christ lays out how all these things shall come to pass. It tells about a prepared city that is fore square and 1,323 miles wide and high, which is physically impossible, with streets of pure gold. Jesus asked “When I, the Son of Man, return will I find faith on the earth?” Where is your faith? Who are you going to trust? The modernist scholars are meticulously ripping verse after verse out of the Bible saying they must have been added by 'church fathers.' The modernist preachers have tossed aside all the Church rules given to Timothy and Titus so their women can be their pastors and bishops. Even the fundamentalists have latched on to the modernists' bibles and their compromised methods. The Bible is clear that before Christ returns his Church will be lukewarm and this world will be a regular Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible is clear that he has a prepared place for a prepared people. Who are you going to trust? You should get yourself into a Church that has a MAN of God preaching from a Holy Bible that still contains 1John 5:7 and all the other verses that are ripped out of the NIV, NASB, NEV etc. There are not many KJV Bible believing, Bible preaching Churches left, but pray a little and God will get you into one. God will bless.

1 John 5:7 Response to Msg #1045

Thank you for your FACTS input on 1 John 5:7. Isn't it amazing how people can walk away from FACTS in two very different directions. I have heard most of that rhetoric in the articles you sent, but it is nice to have it all in one place for my studies in the area. Enclosed is my cut on the FACTS. Although it is only in draft you will quickly get the idea that I am not going to trust Westcott and Hort, nor Nestle and Aland, to determine which verses should and should not be in my Holy Bible. That, not Ruckman, nor some Adventist, is what makes me KJV only. I got a brain, can do research, and will not ever trust W&H and their following. That does not make me the wicked KJVOism cult you have fabricated as your enemy. The bottom line source of this contention really is "Who are you going to trust?" The Bible Critic, or the Infallible Bible. You the former, I the latter.
Pastor Ed Rice
PS OK- 'Messiah' is Aramaic and not Hebrew, just like 'Bible' is Latin and not English. You may be technically and linguistically correct but I can rouse several thousand Messianic Jews who will quickly correct you; Messiah is Hebrew.
ATTACHED defense_1john57beta.pdf .. Excerpts below

It is proven by scholars and accepted by liberals and cultists, modernists and evangelicals that I John 5:7 is not supposed to be in my Bible. Should I take my pen knife and cut it out? Would I? Would you?

This verse is a litmus test to tell if a Bible version has been tampered with by the modern hyper-deletion Bible critic. They are modern and modernists because they have only recently secured the lucrative copyrights for translating bibles that do not follow the traditional texts, and they cannot secure such a copyright if they do follow the traditional text. They are hyper-deletionists because they have also ripped out many more Scripture verses. Indeed they claim that unidentified 'church fathers' or sloppy scribes added verses to the Bible and thereby they must rip out Matt 17:21, 18:11; 23:14; Mark 7:16; 9:44, and 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; and of course 1John 5:7; they also rip out most of Matt 5:44 and Luke 9:56 and in Col 1:14 cut out the phrase "Through His Blood". Their trend to rip out verses because they were not in the Alexandrian manuscripts tampered with by the philosopher Origen Adamantius of Alexandria Egypt (185—254 AD) makes the term hyper-deletionists applicable. They are Bible critics because they defy the infallible, inerrant, plenary, verbal inspiration of Scripture so aptly defined and defended by Gaussen's tremendous work “Theopneustia”of 1840 which documented such inspiration and they instead follow along after Brook Foss Westcott (1825-1903) and Fenton John Anthony Hort (1828-1892) and their hay day of Bible criticism, and hyper-deletionism. ....

The 'heavenly witness' of 1 John 5:7 is documented as authentic in these manuscripts: 221v.r., 2318, 61, 088v.r., 429v.r., 629, 636v.r., 918, l^AD, vg^cl, vg^mss , it^l, it^q, arm^mss, Cyprian, PS-Cyprian, Priscillian, Speculum, Varimadum, Ps-Vigilus, Fulgentius (As taken directly from NestleAland's “Greek New Testament” Fourth Revised Edition)

Given that 1 John 5:7 is included in all these works, the supposition that some 'Church Father' added it is completely unfounded; the identity, time zone, and existence of such a 'Church Father' is impossible; and the overwhelming conclusion is that the 'heavenly Witness' dripped from the pen of the Apostle John and is indeed part of the infallible, inerrant, plenary, verbally inspired Holy Scriptures. Any Bible Believer understanding Rev 22 will be remorse to rip it out based on the inane suspicions of Westcott and Hort and their copyright seeking followers. (Excerpts from “In Defense of 1John 5:7” by Pastor Ed Rice )

Mr. Kutilek responded to this by calling me deceived and fallacious and then sending one of his self acclaimed 'fully documented, scholarly articles' entitled “The KJV IS a Copyrighted Translation” wherein he further called those who would only use a KJV Bible “irrelevant, unsound, or simply ignorant and foolish.” I responded in kind, saying no less than :

“ You pretend that that KJV only people are all idiots and refuse to acknowledge, even brazenly conceal, that 60,000 deviations were required for the ASV to get a copyright, another 60,000 for the NIV, and another 60,000 for the NASV, and on and on and on. You are quite the PR man for modernist Bibles but you cloud over all the truth with smoke and mirrors. The copyright issue has nothing to do with whether the KJV was once upon a time copyright and everything to do with the 60,000 significant deviations required for a NEW copyright. You are either an idiot in missing this fact, or a snake oil salesman selling modernist bibles with MAJOR deviations from God's Word, ... at least 60,000 per copyright! So which is it? Either is equally fallacious.”

It seems the ugly fights in the servants quarters will never end. Some tend to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” while others “are certain men crept in unawares.” (Jude) Be the former, expose the latter.

Msg #1046 Joseph's Illustration

Consider that God worked out an exemplary illustration of what His only begotten Son would do as the Messiah and caused the sons of Israel to meticulously copy the details for 48 generations. Now consider that God caused that detail to survive the onslaught of another 1,700 years, get printed, and set on shelf in almost every home in America. That miraculous truth is only dampened by how few people have read the story of Joseph and connected it to what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in his sojourn here. It was revealed to Joseph that he would be exalted and revered above all the sons of Israel, yea, even above Israel himself. (Gen37) Joseph's brothers did not believe his revelation and hated him for it. Also Joseph revealed to his father, and theirs, their evil deeds and jealous hearts. They hated him the more. Israel, the father, exalted Joseph, favored him, and gave him a coat of many colors. The sons of Israel, Joseph's step brothers, hated him even more and determined to slay him and throw him in a pit. The Bible says of Jesus, the step brother to humanity, that he came unto his own, and his own received him not. Jesus was the light of the world and that light shined in the heart of every human (John1) but man loved darkness rather than light for their deeds are evil. (John3) God the Father exalted Him and gave revelation that he would be lifted up and all the nations would bow before him. The sons of Israel wanted rid of Joseph and his dreams and they gave him over to the Ishmeelites to be carried out of their lives. They hated God's only begotten Son and gave him over to the Romans to be crucified.

Msg #1047 Joseph's Innocence

The perfect innocence of Christ, and mans depraved condemnation of perfect innocence is graphically portrayed in the life of Joseph. In the account there is no flaw or mar in Joseph's character but the son's of Israel, Josephs brothers, deliver him to supposed certain death. His life and character was a perpetual blessing to Israel but envy and jealousy overrode all reason. In fact Chapter 38 was inserted in the middle of the story giving a contrast of how tarnished his brother Judah was. Joseph, though perfect, was betrayed, and delivered for execution. So to was the Christ. In Egypt, a depiction of the Gentile world, Joseph, although God blessed and perfectly righteous, was again wrongfully accused and thrown into prison for 3 years. The Bible says that Christ, the only begotten son of God, the God-man, perfect in righteousness, was hated wrongfully, accused, crucified and delivered to the tomb for 3 days. There is more significance in the death of Christ than in his life. He was the spotless, sinless, perfect lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. His body went to the grave and his soul went to hell. Joseph little understood why all these evil things were happening to him, but through his life God was marvelously documenting what His only begotten Son would do. Joseph did not languish in prison for those 3 years, God was with him and still caused whatever he did to prosper. He came out of that prison to become the savior of the world, food wise. There is no better Old Testament illustration of what the Hebrew Servant (Isaiah52-53) the Christ of God was to accomplish. He did indeed accomplish it on that old rugged cross. He did indeed become the Saviour of the world.

Msg #1048 Joseph's Dreams

In Joseph's story God moved in the affairs and circumstances of people, families, nations, and kingdoms to unfold a narrative in history which revealed, portrayed, and highlighted the coming of his only begotten son. The dreams which foretold the future of Pharaoh's cup-bearer and baker, and then the dreams of Pharaoh which foretold the upcoming 7 years of plenty and famine were not lessons in dreamology, nor were they indications of how God reveals things to man. They were minuscule pawns in the arrangement of circumstances so Joseph could end up portrayed as the savior of the world and foreshadow of Christ. In ignorance we think that if God used dreams for Joseph perhaps he will for me; if God chose Abraham perhaps he chose me, if God chose a wife for Isaac perhaps for us; if God chose a vocation for David perhaps he does for everyone; if God chose Jeremiah from the womb, he did me too. No. Every dream, choosing, miracle, and circumstance, yeah EVERY one, has one supreme purpose of revealing, portraying or delivering the Messiah as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world and the soon coming King of kings. It is all a Revelation of Jesus Christ! There are an abundance of good, moral, practical lessons raveled in the revelation but lets keep the main thing the main thing. God does not use dreams & visions nor signs and wonders to reveal His Son today; he uses your mouth. Jesus said “You are my witnesses.” All the chosen seedline has been chosen; all the revealing insights are documented, the prophets chosen from the womb have preached, the 'touch not the Lord's anointed' kings have sat on the throne, and the fulfiller of it all has come. Just preach Jesus.

Re: Msg #1048 Joseph's Dreams

I enjoy your emails and read them all. Thank you. However, I do have to disagree with you that God does not reveal Himself any more. I am not Pentecostal or a big believer in signs and wonders. And I don't sit around waiting for the next sign or wonder to happen! And, I would even go so far as to say the signs and wonders movement has been far overblown and perhaps even done damage to some Christians. But.. I do believe God's word is infallible and I believe God is all powerful. And therefore, if He wants to reveal Himself, He will. Whether you believe He will or not. I limited God to what I wanted Him to be for 50 years and I won't ever do that again. And I think you are limiting God by saying all His revelations have ended. Furthermore, if He wanted to tell us they are ended He would have said so. The Bible does not tell us God stopped revealing Himself. He said He would not flood the earth again. He limited Himself in that way. But He did not say He was limiting Himself in revelations.

I realize I am a new Christian and learning. And I also realize I am jumping into a long standing debate, but it seems pretty simple to me. I think you are preaching something that is great for keeping the masses from going down a slippery slope--but I also think you are on the edge of blasphemy and without scriptural support. I believe Scripture and Scripture alone. If I am off base, teach me.

Thanks for reading, thanks for writing. I will have to agree with all your comments except of course the part where I am approaching blasphemy. My pointed stab was thrust at those who override the revelation of God in Scripture because they have their own idea, their own dream, their own vision and their own signs and wonders. What I meant to say was that God is done revealing himself, not that God is done revealing himself. Maybe better, God has as completely revealed himself in Scripture as he ever will reveal himself, but God still reveals himself. It was perceptive of you to see the slippery slope that concerns me, and awkward of me to address it in only 300 words. Praise the Lord, in His grace, we are singing from the same sheet of music. Keep on for Him.

Msg #1049 Joseph Restores Israel

The most marvelous and moving account in the life of Joseph is the restoration of his brothers and salvation of Israel. It is the animate illustration of the upcoming restoration and salvation of Israel at Christ's return. One of the ugliest errors of Catholic doctrine is found in the anti-semitic philosophy of replacement theology. Origin and other philosophers of Alexandria erased all the promises given to God's chosen nation and allegorically applied them to 'The Church.' St. Augustine carried this anti-semitic philosophy, and other error, onto Rome and even the Protestants retained it in todays Reformed Theology. Setting aside the errant mystical and allegorical renderings used in Catholicism reveals the literal rendering of God's Holy Word. Joseph's dealings with the sons of Israel, dealings which bring about their marvelous restoration, is a depiction of Zech12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” As Joseph restored Israel under his dominion, so Christ will yet restore Israel under his. God's promise to the 12 tribes of Israel, NOT his Church, but to His Chosen, is “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: ... And David my servant shall be king over them; ... And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant.” Dispatch Restoration Theology, stop the allegorizing, believe the Authorized, not Alexandrian, book.

Msg #1050 A Child is Born

One of the most revealing prophecies of the Christ's first advent is found in Isaiah9. “For unto us a child is born...” but this chapter begins with a very interesting word that makes us ask who is the 'us' in verse6? Chapter8 opens with Isaiah commanded to write in a great roll with a man's pen that the 10 northern tribes then called the nation of Israel, would be defeated, spoiled and destroyed by the Assyrians. It was written that no army, no league, no negotiation, and no circumstance would save them from the annihilation. Indeed “They shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.” (8:22) Chapter 9's first word is 'Nevertheless' and the ray of hope initiated in that word is “The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light' they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shine.” Who is this light? This Saviour? This Messiah? Who is it that breaks the yoke of their burden and the rod of his oppressor? (vr4) It is the same one that had promise to bruise the head of the Serpent in Eden. “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.” Praise the Lord this promise is not just to the nation of Israel that was in such dark straits, for all of mankind lives in the shadow of death and was in those dire straits. God said He laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Celebrate His birth anew and enlightened this year. Merry Christmas.

Msg #1051 He Shall Be Called 'JESUS'

Dr. Luke, “having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first,” gives details of Mary's encounter with Gabriel that connect her virgin born child with the promised child of Isaiah chapter 7 and 9. Gabriel herein declares 7 truths about the promised messiah, first off that is it to be a son. That needs mentioning in our twisted society where the feminists have made it politically improper to state the Bible truth that woman was made subservient to man, and in the Creator's proper order, dictated in His Holy Word, women are not to be leaders in the home, in the Church, or in the government. Sorry Hillary, Nancy and Sarah, that is clear to a Bible believer and emphatic in Scripture. Secondly this son would be named 'Jesus', “for he shall save his people from their sins.” In the Bible there is a lot in a name, especially His name. “He shall be great,” is at the least an understatement, and that he shall be called “the Son of the Highest” aligns him with what He is called in Isa 9:6 “Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Fifth, “the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.” The lineage from Abraham to David to Joseph is given in Matthew's Gospel. The DNA trace of Mary all the way back to the first son of God, Adam is given after God says “Thou art my beloved Son” in Luke chapter 3. The Messiah being of the lineage of David, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is of careful importance in God's Holy Word. Gabriel next declares of Christ, “he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Msg #1052 The Name of JESUS

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” (Heb1) The Psalmist already told us that the people, rulers and kings “take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. ... Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” In this Psalm the Messiah, tells us “ the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” In one tremendous Psalm penned 1,000 years before the Christ's birth in Bethlehem God announces the coming of His only begotten son, his anointed, the one who will set on the throne of David. But what was his name? When he wrestled with Him “Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?...” When hearing from Him “Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name?... And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” The New Testament says “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” (Php2:9) That exalted name is first given in Scriptures in Matthew and it says “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” At His name every knee shall bow. Exalt His name this year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Msg #1053 You Have Great Promise

For an individual the promise found in the only begotten Son of God wrapped in swaddling cloth and laid in the manger of a barn in Bethlehem is greater than peace on Earth or joy to the world. The Son of God, the Saviour of men, who came to seek and to save that which was lost, can save an individual from the penalty of their sin. He took your penalty of eternal death and offers you eternal life in exchange.. The only begotten Messiah, the Christ, also offers you life more abundant and free as he opens prison doors and breaks the chains of the bondage to sin. Sin has no more dominion over the saved born again Christian. The coming King, born in the city of David, and destined to sit on the throne of David, will soon return as the King of kings, and Lord of lords, to save us from the very presence of sin. But the great promise of every “whosoever will” that would come to Jesus is even greater than being saved from the penalty, power and presence of sin. It is the promise of being reconciled to God, our Creator; indwelt and sealed by His Holy Spirit, and given the peace that passes all understanding by the one whose name is “Prince of Peace.” The song writer expressed it well “there is not peace on Earth, I said, for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace of Earth, good will to men.” But every individual, when they come to Christ has great promise in life. Of a life snuffed out by violence I heard it said “She had such talent, personality, and purpose, indeed her life had such promise!” Every life in Christ has such promise. Yeah indeed every one.

Msg #1101 Trust The Word Of God

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.

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.

Personal Testimony of Pastor Edward Rice. I was saved in 1960 at the age of eight. My father and mother were saved and founding members of Fellowship Baptist Church in Gang Mills New York. In 1958 my dad, Levi O. Rice, an agnostic, was invited by Cecil Palm to be a founding member of that church; both of my parents were born-again-saved two weeks later. My mother, Doris was converted form Roman Catholicism, and became a Christian. She stopped her Roman penance and practiced Bible repentance, stopped praying to Mary and called upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save her. She was thus converted from Roman Catholicism to the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone needs converted from something. Mom and Dad were now born again, and two years later I was saved in revival services with Evangelist Dale and Opel Linbaugh. Opel cut the flannel graph burden of sin off little Christian's back in her Pilgrim's Progress presentation, and I was born-again-saved before it hit the basement floor. In 1995 I retired from the USAF as a systems engineer and became an ordained Baptist Preacher of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 18:3).

Pastor Rice is a USAF retired systems engineer turned Baptist Preacher who brings a fresh practical and Biblical look at what the Bible says. Weekly messages preached at Good Samaritan Baptist Church are condensed into devotional essays and sent out as weekly Penny Pulpit Columns for local publications. This collection of messages was preached over 7 years, from 2005 to 2011. They contain the wisdom of God in 364 essays over multiple topics. Pastor Rice has been at Good Samaritan Baptist Church, Dresden NY, since September of 1997. Previous, while serving in the USAF, he has been a youth pastor, Jr. Church director, Sunday School teacher, music director, bus captain and father of 3 boys. His practical teaching of God's Word is captured each year in 52 weekly Penny Pulpit publications.