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Focused On Jesus’ Word In Pergamos

Posted on March 12, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

Revelation 2:12-17 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

We continue to study the Revelation of Jesus Christ, so named by the Apostle in verse 1 of the Book:

Revelation 1:1 (KJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, 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:

As we continue to study through the Book of Revelation we now come to the Church of Pergamos. The name Pergamos means “a fortress, a place of refuge”. Pergamos was a besieged Church, the Church under attack by the world itself. When Jesus spoke to Ephesus He said:

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith HE that HOLDETH the seven stars in his right hand, who WALKETH in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

He says “I am the One Who HOLDS You and WALKS with You”. Jesus said in effect “I love YOU and am with YOU. Will you love ME?”

Then Jesus addresses Smyrna, the Suffering Church:

Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the FIRST AND THE LAST, WHICH WAS DEAD, AND IS ALIVE;

Jesus tells the suffering Church “Though I am your God I suffered too. But I also defeated suffering, and I am with you.” What an encouraging message to His people … oh how I love Jesus!

And NOW Jesus comes to the Church called “Fortress”, a Church built on the Rock that is Christ. What does Jesus say to this Church? He says:

Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith HE WHICH HATH THE SHARP SWORD WITH TWO EDGES;

Out Of Christ’s Mouth Is The Two Edged Sword

Jesus has a SHARP sword with TWO edges. We saw this picture first in Chapter 1:

Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and OUT OF HIS MOUTH WENT A SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

The weapon that Jesus holds is not in His HAND but from His MOUTH. His WORD smites the nations. When Jesus returns to rule this earth we are told later in this Book of Books:

Revelation 19:11-16 (KJV) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. [13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jesus will rule with the WORD of HIS MOUTH. Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God. His WORD is true. His WORD cuts to the soul. His WORD changes the heart of man. We are told in …

Hebrews 4:12 For the WORD OF GOD IS QUICK, AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO EDGED SWORD, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is Jesus Word that conquers the soul of man. His Word penetrates deep, going into the heart, changing the life. Christ conquers, not by physical killing – not now. His Way is Gracious, loving. His Word convicts. Throughout human history deluded men have dressed up in suits of armor and went out in ships with crosses painted on their sails to defeat the alleged enemy with the sword. Deluded people professing Christ have crusaded and cut their way through worlds, killing whole civilizations in the name of Christ. Yet this is not what Jesus was ever about. When Jesus told His disciples to go into the world it was not to cut and rend, to force people into the Kingdom of God. No! His way was:

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) … 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.

No metal human sword was ever put in the hand of the Church or the Christian. We were to wield His WORD. His WORD is a two-edged sword that cuts to the soul, CONVICTING of sin and CONVINCING of the need of salvation.

Jesus has the sword with two edges. If we have Him and love Him we have the sword He has. His message – the message by which the world is conquered – is

Matthew 4:17 …. REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:15 …. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, and believe the gospel.

REPENT because your way is wrong.

Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

We are all sinners. None are superior. All are in God’s eyes unworthy.

Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We deserve death, but Jesus offers life if we but receive Him as Lord and Savior.

Romans 5:8 … God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God loves us, so Jesus took the penalty of our sin on Himself. We didn’t deserve it but He did it.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Confess Him as Savior and Lord. Believe He rose from the grave and lives to lead you in love. You will be saved! That two edged Sword of the Word doesn’t shed blood, but it kills nonetheless. Those who hear and respond to the Gospel have their old self killed, and a new and loving self rises up in their place.

Pergamos Was A Great Fortress Of Christ’s Word

Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Even though under attack from the world Pergamos worked for the Lord. He said:

“I know thy works”

They worked though working was hard.

A person who professes Christ but does not serve Him may not be a Christian at all.
A person who professes Christ but does not serve Him may not be a Christian at all.
A person who professes Christ but does not serve Him may not be a Christian at all.

What did James the stepbrother of Christ say?

James 2:17-22 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

We “confess with our mouth the LORD Jesus Christ and are saved”. Our faith is in Christ, and so we serve Him and Him alone. I heard Dr. Adrian Rogers once talk about getting on a plane to go to a speaking engagement. Before the doors of the plane closed he heard the stewardess call his name over the intercom. “Dr. Rogers, will you please come forward”. Uncertain as to why he was being called, he got up and headed to the stewardess. When he got there she said, “Dr. Rogers, we’ve all made a mistake. You got on the wrong plane, and we just caught it. You need to get off and get on the right plane.” Adrian went on to say “I had absolute faith that I was on the right plane, but though I had faith – no matter how hard I believed that plane wouldn’t get me where I wanted to go. Faith alone will not get you to Heaven. Faith alone IN CHRIST alone WILL!”

The saved love to work for Jesus. Let me say that again: The SAVED love to work for JESUS! This was a working Church. Not only this, this was a CHURCH under ATTACK. We read:

Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat (or THRONE) is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Satan’s “SEAT” is actually the word THRONOS, which means “Throne”. The city where Pergamos – God’s Fortress Church was – was actually in a place where idolatry and sin were rampant. They were Stationed in Sodom and Gomorrah and Bivouacking in Babylon. They were in a place where Satan RULED … yet they continued to work for the Lord.

Jesus said to them “thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith”. They stood together as a Church under the Name of Christ. The Church was yielded to His authority, His Word, and following Him. This is what made the Church a fortress, a Pergamos. They understood that Jesus was Lord and “hast not denied MY Faith”.

Jesus Christ purchased our faith with His own Blood. He owns our faith. He owns the Church. The Church belongs to Him. He is the Overcomer, and His Church overcomes.

This Church stood strong “even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you”. I didn’t know who Antipas was until I studied this passage. Antipas was at one time the a faithful Pastor at Pergamos, a man ordained by the Apostle John. Some believe he was burned to death on a brazen bull shaped altar. I don’t know how he died, but Jesus did. Antipas died a martyr’s death, and stood, and so did the Church.

Pergamos was a wonderful Church …

But Pergamos Was Infiltrated By Money Loving Preachers

Revelation 2:14-15 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

When we read texts with strange names in it we are tempted to gloss them over. What is “Balaam” and “Balak” (here spelled with a “c”, but it should be a “k”) and the “Nicolaitans”? There are some important truths here we need to see.

“Balaam” and “Balak” Refer To A Sin That Happened In Numbers 22-24. This sin is mentioned not just here in the New Testament, but also in

Jude 10-11 … But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and RAN GREEDILY AFTER THE ERROR OF BALAAM FOR REWARD …

2 Peter 2:14-15 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following THE WAY OF BALAAM …. who LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS;

The “error and way of Balaam” has to do with monetary gain.

Balaam was a prophet who sold his prophecies, twisting the Word of God in order to get rich.

One day Balak the King of the Moabites contacted Balaam and asked him to pronounce a curse on Israel. He thought that if Balaam cursed Israel then God would turn His hand against Israel and destroy that nation. What is interesting about this is that the Moabites are actually cousins of Israel, being born of the Old Testament Lot whe he and his daughters escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Moab existed because God’s Word is faithful, and because Lot heard God’s Word and left Sodom before it was destroyed! Though man may mess up, when we obey God’s Word there is life! Good life! Abundant life! Eternal life!

Balak should have loved the Word of God … he was king of Moab because of it. Yet instead he hired Balaam to pronounce a curse on Israel. God does not want to curse His people. His Word does not exist to curse His people. Some of those television evangelists you swear by – wearing $1000 dollar suits – selling their wares and twisting God’s Word – they are like Balaam. When Balak approached Balaam the prophet should have said: “I will not twist God’s Word.

God cannot forget His Israel nor His Church. He will not curse His people Whom He gave His life for. Balaam sold his services to curse Israel … but God would not let him do so. God will not bless anything that twists His Word. By compromising with the unbelieving Balak, Balaam “taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel”.

The Church nor the Preacher is never to compromise the Word of God in order to profit. God’s people read, and hear, and guard God’s Word. For us His Word and His Way is what we follow. The Nicolaitans were also those who thought that “the Word of Man trumped the Word of God”. We will not be this way, but will follow His Way, declaring to our Lord and Savior …

Psalms 119:103-105 …. How sweet are thy Words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

What Keeps The Church A “Fortress” Is Fidelity To Christ’s Word, To The Holy Scripture. Jesus tells the Church of Pergamos:

Revelation 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

I want you to note what Jesus says very carefully. He says “I will come to THEE wuickly, and fight against THEM with the sword of My mouth”. He’s not going to fight His Church, but Jesus will purge His Church of those who have infiltrated it who do not follow His Way. It is HIS Way or the HIGHWAY. Jesus has decreed over and over again:

John 14:6 I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.

Many years ago in ancient China Mongolian Hoards often came across the border to ravage villages, steal property, rape women and enslave children. Finally the Emperor had enough. He ordered a wall built across China. The Great Wall of China was built 30 feet high, 18 feet thick, and over 1500 miles long. The Wall was too high to climb, too thick to break down, and too long to go around. But during the first hundred years of the Wall’s existence China was invaded three times. It wasn’t the Wall’s fault. No one climbed the Wall, nor broke it down, nor went around it. You know they got in? The enemy bribed a gate keeper and marched in through an open door.

Jesus ends with these words:

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

One of the great believers of our age now with the Lord is Billy Graham. He reached a point in his ministry where so many were telling him to turn against the Word of God, to declare it just another human book. Billy said:

“I surrendered my will to the living God revealed in the Scripture. I knelt before the opened Bible and said, ‘Lord, many things in this Book I do not understand, but Thou hast said the just shall live by faith. All I have, I have received by faith. Here and now by faith, I accept the Bible as Thy Word. I take it all. I take it without reservations. Where there are things I cannot understand, I will reserve judgment until I receive more light. If this pleases Thee, give me authority as I proclaim Thy Word, and through that authority convict me of sin and turn sinners to the Savior.”

God’s Word rules His Church. Not popular opinion, but God’s Word. Not man’s written bylaws. God’s Word. Those who obey and follow God’s Word have “hidden Manna” – the food of God that the world cannot know. Those who obey and follow God’s Word have “a white stone with a new name written on it”. There is new life in Jesus – a clean slate – a great destination.

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The Arm of the Lord

Posted on March 12, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

Isaiah 53:1-5 (KJV) Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? [2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] 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.

One of the most beautiful texts in the Old Testament is Isaiah 53. The chapter starts out with two questions:

Who has believed our report?

God is going to do something so incredible that the question is asked, “Who will believe this?”. God is going to reach out and do something never before seen, nor even conceived of.

To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

God is going to reach out and save those who believe on Him. God did a new thing when He saved Israel from Egypt. God’s arm …

“dried the sea, the waters of the deep,
making a way for the ransomed to pass over” (Isaiah 51:10)

The arm of the Lord that made us, that stretched forth the Heavens and laid the foundations of the earth (Isaiah 51:13) will do a new thing. The

“Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (Isaiah 52:10)

What shall the Lord do? What shall the Almighty God do that will astonish the world? In love God will enter His creation to save it from its sin. In love God will become Christ, the Messiah, the Redeemer of all who will receive Him.

God Reveals His Arm In Christ’s Birth

No one can explain the mystery of the Red Sea Crossing, how God parted the waters so that Israel could go through and yet drowned the armies of Egypt. People try to explain it away. Egg head theologians tried years ago to explain and rationalize the Red Sea crossing. I know one scholar suggested that the Red Sea was shallow and naturally dried up at the time when Israel went to cross it, so there was no miracle there. That same scholar could not explain how God destroyed all the army of Egypt – a mighty army – in just inches of water (see Exodus 14:28). Archaeologists of Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry discovered the remains of a large Egyptian Army from the 14^th Century BC at the bottom of the Gulf of Suez, in the Red Sea. The bones of the large army were discovered 1.5 kilometers off shore, stuck in a vast amount of clay and rock, and there was no evidence of boats or ships in the area. No one can explain this naturally.

But God is able. God is able to suspend the laws of physics. God is able to part water, to do the impossible. God does the impossible because for Him, nothing is impossible. When God reveals His arm He does the impossible because HE IS GOD.

Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:

When God reveals His arm in Christ He does something as miraculous as the parting of the Red Sea. Jesus comes into the world

“as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground”

What is “a ROOT out of DRY GROUND”. If you take a root out of dry ground it will have no life in it. It will be dead. It is not possible for a root to bring forth fruit from dry ground. Roots need water. They need the nourishment of soil. The root out of dry ground speaks of the uniqueness of Christ’s birth. God foretold the birth of Christ in …

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The sign of the Christ was that He would have a miraculous and mysterious birth. The parting of the Red Sea for Israel was a mysterious and unique event in history, never before nor after duplicated. The birth of Christ is equally unique. God would cause a new thing, a unique birth.

A virgin shall conceive.

This is unique in human history. No virgin has ever conceived prior to Christ’s birth, and no virgin can conceive now. Conception requires both egg and seed, and when egg and seed meet there is no virgin. Some people say:

“I can believe in Christ, but I sure can’t believe in this virgin birth stuff”

Beloved, the virgin birth is central to the Christian faith. God said:

“I Myself will give YOU a SIGN”
“A virgin SHALL CONCEIVE”
“And bear a SON”
“And you shall call Him Immanuel – which means God with us”

When Christ enters the world He enters through a virgin. We are told:

1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

God became flesh through a unique delivery system, a method that cannot – even with all our scientific and medical knowhow – be duplicated. If you take the virgin birth away you destroy the authority of Christ. Without the virgin birth – what the Angel told Mary:

Luke 1:35 (KJV) ….. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Why did Christ have to be born of a virgin?
Because all others born are infected with the sin of Adam.

The Bible tells us that …

Romans 5:12 (KJV) 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:

We are all sinners not because we sin, but because it is IN OUR NATURE to sin. We are born infected with sin. We sin whether there is Law to break, or whether there is NO LAW to break. The Apostle points this out in ..

Romans 5:14 (KJV) … death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned {in the same way that Adam did – my words}

We are born sinners. A child newly born looks innocent, but as the child grows it becomes clear that it has an old sin nature. The Psalmist said:

Psalms 51:5 (KJV) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalms 58:3 (KJV) The wicked are {strangers to God} from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

If Jesus were born as you and I were born, then He would be a SINNER just as we are sinners. Yet this is not so. Christ was virgin born. God was His Father, not Adam. He was – as the Bible says:

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) … was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ came “in the LIKENESS of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3-4). He looked like us humans. His flesh was like our flesh. He felt pain and hunger – but NEVER knew sin. Adam was not His father. God was His Father. If Jesus were a sinner just like us – if His birth was just like our birth – we would yet be dead in our sins. As a sinner Christ could not pay the penalty for our sin. But the Scripture declares:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) For {the Father} hath made {Christ} to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The salvation of the sinner can only be found in the substitutionary sacrifice of the Savior. He suffered in our place – the innocent for the guilty – so that we could be saved. This is why His Blood is called “Precious”.

1 Peter 1:18-20 (KJV)18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain {way of life} received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

God’s arm reached out to save us, and He did so by sending His Son. To save man Christ had to be man, human like us. But to save man He did not need to be a sinner as we are. A sinner cannot save a sinner. Only a savior can Save a Sinner. Christ is that Savior. He is God’s outstretched arm to save us.

But there is one other thing we need to think of in the Virgin Birth. In order for life to come to the virgin she had to humble herself and submit. When the Angel told Mary she was to have a child her response was:

Luke 1:34 (KJV) … How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Mary was a virgin in a day when to be unmarried and NOT a virgin was shameful. In America today sexual sin has so perverted our public morality that we think nothing of loss of virginity. But in Mary’s day it was shameful to be pregnant outside of marriage. As Mary asked this simple question I can imagine the state of her heart. What will others think? What will JOSEPH think? What will my mother and father think? And the neighbors … what of them? The virgin birth is a beautiful illustration of salvation itself.

God speaks.
We choose to move.
God acts.
Life comes forth.

If Israel had heard the Word of the Lord and not moved, they would have died under the Army of Egypt’s onslaught. If Moses had heard the Word of the Lord and not lifted up the rod he carried over the Red Sea it would have never parted. Mary had a choice. God told her what He was going to do. She could accept it, or reject it. If she accepted it then she would have life where previously there was no life. So it is with salvation. As Adrian Rogers once said:

“Just as that Baby was formed in Mary, Christ is formed in us, and there is a new birth. Something supernatural takes place in us. Thank God for the virgin birth. Jesus Christ came to earth that we might go to Heaven. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin that I might be born again.”

God Reveals His Arm In Christ’s Life

Isaiah 53:2-3 (KJV) … he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

We have all seen the familiar pictures of Jesus. I have several hanging on the walls of my office. Jesus in a robe standing in a garden was given to me by my mother before she died. There are two other pictures drawn of Jesus by my oldest son Michael, one of Christ in Gethsemane and another of Christ on the Cross. They are the familiar picture we’ve all seen. Would it surprise you to know that NO ONE TODAY KNOWS WHAT JESUS LOOKS LIKE. There was never a picture drawn of Christ in the early Church. God forbade that His people worship idols in the Ten Commandments:

Exodus 20:4 (KJV) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image …

The first “images” of Christ were made between 240-256 AD, 200 years after Christ ascended into Heaven. When Christ came to this earth He was not movie star beautiful. Isaiah said:

“He hath no form nor comeliness”

Jesus was not stately nor majestic in appearance. The Lamb of God did not come to us with the beauty of Hollywood. He looked rather ordinary. Why? Because He came to give Himself not just for the beautiful people, but for the rest of us. Have you ever been watching television or a commercial on television and asked yourself:

“Why aren’t there any PLAIN people like me in this show?”

Have you ever noticed that? I have. Jesus didn’t come for the popular crowd. He came for EVERYman and EVERYwoman. He is “The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world”. We are told:

“when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him”

When the devil seeks to entrap, he does it with beauty and power. He sends the BEAUTIFUL prostitute and the magazine filled with GORGEOUS women. He makes the alcohol or drug experience feel GOOD. The leading men of Hollywood are BUFFED and BEAUTIFUL.

But God does not want to entrap us. He sent Christ to save us. Jesus was not a show off. He came presenting Himself as the ONLY WAY TO GOD. When the devil tempted Jesus:

Matthew 4:5-7 (KJV) Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Jesus was not into publicity stunts. He did not want to attract people through the miraculous. Several times He healed people and said “Do not tell anyone that I did this”. Jesus didn’t want a group of followers chasing Him for the wrong motives. Christ came to bring us to God, into union with the Heavenly Family. When the Pharisees said “Give us a sign and we’ll believe You” Jesus told them:

Matthew 12:39-40 (KJV) …. An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: 40 For as Jonah 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.

Jesus Christ came to call us to follow Him to the Father. He did not come to woo us through His beauty, for beauty is temporal and fleeting.
He calls us to salvation BY HIS WORD and BY HIS WORK.

God Reveals His Arm In Christ’s Death

Isaiah 53:3-4 (KJV) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

The world did not receive Christ. Isaiah says of Jesus:

He IS despised and rejected of men
He WAS despised and we esteemed Him not

The Jesus of Scripture was despised when He came to this earth. Born of a virgin, God walked among us like a common person. He was the King of Kings and yet kings hated Him then and hate Him now. He was without sin, and yet He was condemned as a sinner. Though He never did evil …

Isaiah 53:12 (KJV) … He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

He was crucified between two criminals. And as He died on that Cross of Calvary He prayed for His torturers,

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)

Why did Jesus go through the terror of not only the Cross, but empty Himself to walk among us (Philippians 2:7)? He put aside all glory to do something very specific. We are told:

Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) 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.

Only through His suffering – the Sinless for the Sinful – are we saved. Our transgressions are covered by His Blood. We have peace with God because our punishment was placed on Him at Calvary. With HIS STRIPES we are HEALED. Oh, I could preach another hour! But I will not. I know some of you care little for what was said today, but I pray the Holy Spirit break your hearts before the words fade from this room. There is no life outside of Christ. But in Christ is ETERNAL LIFE, both now and forever more. What are we told?

Isaiah 53:6 (KJV) 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.

Do you see Him? Him Who said:

Isaiah 50:6 (KJV) I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Jesus Christ did that for you and I. He set His face like flint (Isaiah 50:7; Luke 9:51) and went to the Cross voluntarily for you and I. He was so beaten that the Scripture says:

Isaiah 52:14 (KJV) As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Jesus Christ died for us. Have you received Him? Have you believed on Him? The arm of the Lord reaches out to you today in Christ. Will you come, receiving Him, and so join the Children of God?

May God speak to your hearts this very day.

Posted in Isaiah, Sermons Preached | Tagged salvation | Leave a comment

Genuine Faith Gives

Posted on March 10, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (KJV) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; [2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. [3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; [4] Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. [5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. [6] Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. [7] Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. [8] I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. [9] For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

1 Timothy 1:9-11 (KJV) Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, [10] For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; [11] According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Sunday night we talked about Smyrna the Suffering Church, and how Jesus commended that Church for working for Him though the world stood against it. Tonight the Lord through the Apostle Paul speaks of another group of Churches that were poverty stricken. These were the Churches of Macedonia. Macedonia was a very rich land, very prosperous. The IVP New Testament Commentary states:

“{Bible Scholar and Historian} Edwin A. Judge (1982) describes Macedonia as a splendid tract of land, centered on the plains of the gulf of Thessalonica. It was a prosperous area. Running up the great river valleys into the Balkan Mountains, it was famous for its timber and precious metals.”

Paul planted the Churches at Macedonia (Phillippi, Thessalonica, and Berea) during his second missionary journey.

In the middle of this very prosperous land the Gospel was spread – and it took hold like wildfire. But the devil does not like the Gospel, nor does He care for authentic Christianity.

Religion would have been welcome in Macedonia, but not Christ like love.

Religion has always been acceptable, and with it humanism, evolutionism, liberalism, and every ism that accompanies it. The Law of God was given by God to shine out in the darkness, to convict the world of evil, and the need for a Savior. The Gospel is God’s solution to the Law and our inability to keep it, the eternal life preserver, thrown to the convicted and drowning sinner. Man has a choice when the Law of God speaks. He can REPENT, turn, and receive the GRACE of God that bestows salvation on whosoever will. Or he can REFUSE the Word and continue in his sin.

The Law was not given to the righteous.
Christ was given to the righteous.
The Law was given to the sinner.
Christ is given to the Convicted Sinner.

When the Gospel was preached in Macedonia and the Law was presented to the unrighteous many were convicted and many embraced the Gospel. But not all were saved. Those who came to Christ not only had to give up their sins but, in many cases, were terribly persecuted. We read:

2 Corinthians 8:1-2 (KJV) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; [2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

Where Grace Is, The Heart Is Changed

God bestowed GRACE on the Churches of Macedonia. TEN TIMES the word CHARIS or “Grace” is used in reference to Macedonia. The sinner hears the Law, and repents, coming to Christ. Then God bestows Grace on that sinner making a Child of God. Yet in Grace and Light the believer walks in Christ, but walks at odds with the world and the worldly. The believers in Macedonia were before salvation RICH in the things of this world, but now persecuted are …

“in a great trial of affliction”

Though tested and tried, though brought to “deep poverty” these believers still experienced JOY and RICHES OF LIBERALITY. Though made poor by their giving, the Apostle says:

2 Corinthians 8:3-4 (KJV) For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; [4] Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

They gave BEYOND THEMSELVES. Though they lacked they literally FORCED Paul and the other local Churches to receive gifts to “minister to the saints”. They had little, but out of their little they gave to others. The Apostle says:

2 Corinthians 8:5 (KJV) And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

The Macedonian believers “gave themselves to the Lord” and then “gave themselves to US” or the other Churches. Their love was not in word only, but was sacrificial.

The Apostle was encouraging the Corinthians to giving. Where did he turn to encourage them? Did he – led by the Spirit – turn to the Old Testament Law? The Apostle loved to quote Old Testament text. Did he refer to Abraham who tithed a portion of all his goods to the King of Salem Melchizedek

Genesis 14:20 … and Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of all …

or did he refer to that famous passage in Malachi:

Malachi 3:8-10 {NKJV} …Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

There are many places in the Law that refer to the Tithe, yet the Law is not for a righteous person. We who are saved by Grace do not give because a Law says we give.

We give because we love the Lord.
We give because we love our Father.
We give because Christ gave to us.
We give because we are loved of the Eternal.
We give because we are Children of God.

When Paul wants to teach the Corinthian believers – saved by the Grace of Christ – he refers to their fellow believers in Macedonia. He says “Look at these brothers and sisters. They were rich before they knew Christ. They were privileged. They had everything. Yet they lost it all when they came to Christ. Having lost it all, what did they do? Did they draw up into a ball, a fetal position, and withdraw from the world? Did they fall to pieces? NO! They gave MORE than they ever gave before.” The Apostle said:

2 Corinthians 8:6-7 (KJV) Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. [7] Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

Paul said “We sent Titus to preach to you that YOU WOULD HAVE THIS SAME TYPE OF GRACE. You Corinthian believers abound in:

faith
utterance {sharing the Gospel}
knowledge {of God’s Word}
diligence {to obey His will}

BUT – Paul said – I WANT YOU TO ABOUND IN THE ATTITUDE OF THE MACEDONIANS ALSO. He commended the Corinthians believers on what they were doing, but wanted them to be like the Macedonians in giving. The Apostle says:

2 Corinthians 8:8 (KJV) I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness {diligence} of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

The Apostle says “This is not a commandment. This is not a point of God’s Law. But I ask you to give this way to PROVE the SINCERITY of YOUR LOVE.” Do you love God? If you do, then give as others who love God give. Do not be like the Pharisee who only gave to be seen of men. Jesus spoke to them one time saying:

Luke 11:42 (NKJV) But woe to you Pharisees! For you TITHE mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. THESE YOU OUGHT TO HAVE DONE, without leaving the others undone.

Jesus tells the Pharisees “You tithe – and this you should do. But you should also do JUSTICE (obey God’s others Laws) and do THE LOVE OF GOD.” We prove our love for God when we do the things He wants us to do. But if we only do the parts of the Law we like and ignore the other parts that are harder, are we indeed the Children of God. Children obey the Father’s will. We prove our love when we love others and love God. When we love God we do what He says, NOT because it is written in a Law on paper made from dead trees bound between the skins of dead animals. We do what God says because we love God.

As Paul references Macedonia and the Macedonian Christians to the Corinthians, there is an even deeper message here. Corinth was located in GREECE, and GREECE was a long time rival of Macedonia. Those two countries were usually at odds with one another. As Paul references Macedonia commending them for their love of God and love of the brethren the hidden message is this:

These people who used to be your ENEMIES
And now your EXAMPLES.
Will you give as they gave,
And love as they loved?

These Macedonians gave EVERYTHING to the cause of Christ. Impoverished for their faith, they gave out of their poverty. Though they only had pennies in their banks, they gave what they had our of love for God. They were a beautiful example of love for all to see. They gave BEYOND their means, and because they gave BEYOND their means God blessed them. God has promised to His Children:

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The lost person gives out of what they are able. The Child of God – trusting Christ – gives out of FAITH in God. The lost person says “I’ll give AFTER I pay off my bills”. The saved person says “I’ll give as God has directed my heart”. The lost person says “The Law says give 10%, so I’ll give 10%”. The saved person says “I will give what God tells me to give regardless as to percentage”.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

The Apostle referred to the Macedonians and how they gave as Children of God. Now He refers to Jesus Christ. Not the Law, but to Jesus.

Jesus was rich.

Jesus was rich IN POSITION. He was ETERNAL GOD.

John 1:1, 14 (RSV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

God became flesh and dwelt amongst us. As God He was Spirit. As God He was above pain, above suffering, above temptation, above need. There was nothing that Christ could not do. When tempted of satan in the wilderness that old devil said:

“If you are the Son of God,
Command these stones be made bread!”

Jesus could turn stones into bread. He could have fed Himself. He turned two little fish and five tiny biscuits into a feast for over 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21). But He was not going to give heed to satan’s word. He was not going to let the devil have his way. Tempted, Jesus rejected the word of satan and held up the Word of God. Though hungry He said:

Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!

Jesus Was Rich In Company

Jesus was daily in the Presence of the Father and the Spirit. Jesus said:

John 10:30 … I and the Father are ONE.

His mind was not fallen as our mind is fallen. In eternity He did not have to confront sin. He was not surrounded by evil, but by Angels, and by worship. Jesus was immortal God in the presence of immortal God, part of the mystery we call the Trinity. He had a throne. The Father said to Him:

“Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever” (Hebrews 1:8)

And the Scripture declares “In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Jesus Christ was God. Yet God – all immortal – lowered Himself to mortality. He went from the glory of Heaven to this fallen earth for us.

In Heaven He was exalted as God.
On earth He was devalued as “The man from Nazareth”.
In Heaven He was the Eternal Son of YAHWEH.
On earth He was mocked as YOSEPH’S son.
In Heaven He was the Son of the Eternal Creator.
On earth He was the son of a lowly carpenter.
In Heaven He was waited on by the Angels.
On earth He washed the feet of fallen men.
In Heaven His Word was heeded by all.
On earth His Word was mocked by the religious.
In Heaven He could not die,
But on the earth He had to die!

Very little is written of His childhood. His own stepbrothers did not believe in Him until after He rose from the grave. His own mother thought at one time that He had lost His senses. When Christ emerged from obscurity, He was frequently attacked, mocked, ridiculed, and humiliated.

Hebrews 4:15 (KJV) For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ suffered as we suffer – yet never sinned. And when the time came He was crucified between two thieves, mocked as a criminal, and all of our sins were poured out on Him and judged. The Bible says:

Romans 5:8 (NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus was rich, but became poor for our sakes. He gave EVERYTHING for us. Shall we withhold anything from Him? If we are born again by faith in Him then our answer must be no. We must give because Christ gave. We must lower ourselves because Christ lowered Himself.

God’s people are saved by God’s Son.
God’s Son impoverished Himself for us.
We are to be sons of God!

As you have been loved, so should you love. As Jesus gave, so are we called to give. This is proof of our love, proof that He has loved us. Jesus said:

John 13:35 (KJV) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Love is more than a word. Love gives. Love gives sacrificially. Love gives as Christ gave. May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in 2 Corinthians, Sermons Preached | Tagged giving, God's Love, love God | Leave a comment

The Father’s Photo Album

Posted on March 5, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

Isaiah 49:1-6 (KJV) Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. [2] And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; [3] And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. [4] Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. [5] And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. [6] And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

When each of our children were born Sherry and I took pictures of them that we placed in our family album. You can go through the numerous photo albums that we have and see our babies, our toddlers, our children, our adolescents, our young adults. We took pictures of them in parks, on trips, sitting with their grandparents and great grandparents, on vacations, and even when my oldest son was married with his new bride. Times have changed. We used to take pictures on Kodak Film in Kodak cameras. Today there is no Kodak. I still have negatives of all our old pictures. Not sure how I’d develop them … everything is digital now. But even though the medium changed, we still take pictures. We take them so we can look back and remember. That’s because we are parents who love our children.

God the Father loves His Son. When God takes a picture, He doesn’t use Kodak or digital cameras, and certainly doesn’t use film. God shows us pictures through His Word, painting us word pictures, describing His Family. In Isaiah 49 today we have one of God’s photo albums. We have pictures that He has given us of His Son Jesus Christ.

We take pictures to look back and remember.
The Father takes pictures to look forward and proclaim.
Isaiah 49 is a Prophetic Picture Album of Jesus Christ.

In our picture albums we had no voice. Our parents took pictures of us – sometimes embarrassing (like when we are in the tub) – sometimes celebrating (like birthday parties). In Isaiah 49 our Lord Jesus speaks. The Word Who was WITH God and the Word Who WAS God speaks.

John 1:1-3 (NKJV) … the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Our Jesus Is Unique Among Men

What does Jesus say?
First He proclaims His uniqueness to the whole world.

Isaiah 49:1 (KJV) LISTEN, O ISLES, UNTO ME; AND HEARKEN, YE PEOPLE, FROM FAR; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

Jesus Christ is the uniquely called Son of God. He is unlike any other. He was not named by Mary His earth nor by Joseph His stepfather. The LORD, the Great I AM called Jesus from the womb. Before He was even concieved the Virgin Mary was told:

Luke 1:31-33 (KJV) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] 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: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Once concieved and yet still in His mother, unborn but Eternally Immortal, the Angel told Joseph:

Matthew 1:20-21 (KJV) … fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. [21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

He and He alone shall save His people from their sins. There is no other Savior. There is no other solution to our sin problem but Christ. As He cries out from this Prophetic Photo He and He alone shall save His people from their sins. There is no other Savior. There is no other Way unto Heaven but reliance on Him.

J.D. Greear related how he tried to witness to a young lady on a plane one day. When he told her that faith in Christ is the only way to be saved she said “Surely you are not saying that your way is the only way to God”. When he pointed out that Jesus said this in Scripture:

John 14:6 (KJV) … I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.

She replied “That has to be the most arrogant, closed minded thing I’ve ever heard someone say. I can’t believe anybody today would be so bigoted as to think that there is only one way to God. What kind of God is that? That’s not a God I want to know.”

As the plane began to descend Pastor Greear said “I’m sure glad the pilot of this airplane doesn’t look at the airport the way you look at truth. … Say he announces, ‘You know, I’m sick of this arrogant little “control tower” always saying I’ve got to land this 737 on a narrow little strip of cement they call a “runway”. That’s their way, not mine. I am an open minded pilot, so today I’m going to land on the interstate. Or try to balance this aircraft nose first on the tip of the Bank of America building downtown.’ Personally I’m glad that our pilot chooses to enter the airport along that narrow little way the control tower lays out for him”. (from “You Don’t Get To Choose Your Own Personal Jesus, pp 9-10)

Christ is “the Word made flesh Who dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Jesus Christ was the One of Whom it was prophesied He would be “born of a Virgin”

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 (NKJV) Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Jesus warned us that “false christs and false prophets shall arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive” (Matthew 24:24). We are not to believe this, nor to even consider it. Though all the world be against us, there is but ONE Savior, ONE Christ, ONE Jesus Who came to save the world. All others who came before Christ were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them (John 10:8). Christ came to save His people.

Isaiah 49:2 (KJV) And He (the LORD) hath made MY MOUTH LIKE A SHARP SWORD; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

Jersus came to clearly speak the Word and Will of the Father. He was protected by the Father as He spoke. If you have been here on Sunday nights as we have studied the Book of Revelation we saw Jesus described as the One Who…

Revelation 1:16 (NKJV) … had in His right hand seven stars, OUT OF HIS MOUTH WENT A SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

Revelation 19:15 (NKJV) Now OUT OF HIS MOUTH GOES A SHARP SWORD, that with it He should strike the nations….

When Christ came His Word would cut the the very soul of those who heard Him (see Hebrews 4:12). The religious but lost Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes, as well as the Priest of the Temple, were so incensed by His Words that they plotted to kill Him (see Matthew 26:4). But Jesus spoke the truth of the Father in love.

Though the word often cut, Jesus like a surgeon cut in order in order to heal.
Until the heart looks upward, broken and repenting,
There is no salvation.

Jesus Is The Israel Of God – The Savior

Isaiah 49:3 (KJV) And (the LORD) said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

This verse confuses many people, because here the Messiah is called “Israel”. Why does the Father call Him Israel? First because “Israel” as a name means “The Prince of God”. Jesus came to do His Father’s will, to serve Him by revealing the Father in His life. When God named a nation “Israel” that people was supposed to be obedient and loving, revealing God the Father in their daily lives. Israel the nation never came close to this mark. Israel was supposed to shine as a light to the world, telling others of the Coming Christ. But Israel refused to believe. The Bible says of Jesus:

John 1:11 (NKJV) {Jesus} came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

God sent His Son – The Prince With God – to save Israel first. Jesus was born a Jew because God is faithful to His Promises. He promised Abraham that:

Genesus 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

It was God’s intention to “bless all the families of the earth” through Abraham. But first God would “make of Abraham a great nation”. This was Israel the nation, a nation that should have loved God but did not.

No nation that hates God and His Word can ever truly be great.
No nation that hates God and His Word can ever truly be great.
No nation that hates God and His Word can ever truly be great.

For God to make His promise true to Abraham He had to save Israel the nation. So He sent Christ to Israel FIRST. When Jesus called His disciples He told them:

Matthew 10:5-7 (NKJV) … Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

The modern liberal mind would read this and think Jesus to be racist or Samaritanphobic. They would be wrong. When a Samaritan woman came to Jesus pleading that He heal her daughter He said:

Matthew 15:24 (NKJV) … I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

He was not being racist, but He was doing the Father’s will. Jesus came to the Jew first. He was sent as Israel to redeem Israel. We read this earlier …

Isaiah 49:5-6 (KJV) And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, TO BRING JACOB AGAIN TO HIM, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. [6] And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be MY SERVANT TO RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB, AND TO RESTORE THE PRESERVED OF ISRAEL: ….

Christ came first for the Jews. He came as a Jew to save the Jew, to save Israel, to redeem Abraham’s nation. He was not racist, nor gentilephobic. Jesus was given an orderly mission, to come and present Himself as the Servant of YAHWEH, the MESSIAH that Israel so desperately needed. As the Apostle Paul said:

Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, FOR THE JEW FIRST and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Though Jesus would tell the Samaritan woman:

Matthew 15:26 (NKJV) … “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

When she persisted in faith, saying “But Lord, even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the children’s table” our Lord commended her faith and healed her child. Christ was not racist. He came for Israel first. But when Israel – through the Scribes, Pharisees, and Priests rejected Christ He told His disciples

Later on in His ministry Jesus would tell His disciples to go to the Gentiles. In His Great Commission to the Church Jesus specifically commanded that the whole world hear of His Gospel. He said:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

and before Jesus ascended into glory He said:

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE END OF THE EARTH.”

Racism is of the devil, not of God. God sent His Son into ALL the world to save ALL who will believe in Him. We even see this in Isaiah. The Father says to the Son:

Isaiah 49:6 (KJV) And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I WILL ALSO GIVE THEE FOR A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT THOU MAYEST BE MY SALVATION UNTO THE END OF THE EARTH.

Jesus was to “raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore Israel”. But the Father said that Jesus was also “to be a light to the Gentiles, to be God’s salvation to the end of the earth”. Jesus came for the Jew first. When Israel rejected Christ, the Apostle Paul says the the Gentiles …

Romans 11:19-24 (NKJV) You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

God always intended on saving the world through Christ His blessed Son, but He sent Jesus to Israel first. Once He presented Himself to Israel, Jesus went on to present Himself to the Gentiles as the Savior of the world.

John 4:42 (NKJV) … “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

1 John 4:14 (NKJV) … we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

How Then Does Christ Save Us?

Isaiah 49:8 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give Thee for a Covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

How did Christ save whosoever will? How is salvation possible through Him and only Him? He Himself became the Covenant of the people. How did Jesus become the Covenant of the people? We read:

Isaiah 49:16 (KJV) Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

we start with the word BEHOLD! The word BEHOLD is a word of wonder, of admiration, of excitement. Found in 1275 verses in the Bible BEHOLD was used by God when He presented Paradise to Adam and Eve:

Genesis 1:29 (KJV) And God said, BEHOLD, I have given you…

Behold Him. Behold the Jesus, mocked and beaten,

John 19:5 (KJV) … WEARING THE CROWN OF THORNS, AND THE PURPLE ROBE. And Pilate saith unto them, BEHOLD THE MAN!

Behold Him! Behold Him Who said “I have graven thee on the palms of my hands”. Jesus said:

John 10:17-18 (NKJV) …. I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I LAY IT DOWN OF MYSELF. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Jesus says “I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands”. He was not murdered, but sacrificed. He was laid upon the altar of the Cross so that – dying and bleeding – He could pay for your sins and mine.

Jesus died for SINNERS.

Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.

Jesus died for SINNERS.

Mark 2:17 (KJV) … They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus died for SINNERS.

God manifested Himself in the flesh for all people, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). He chose the nails. He chose to die. He died to pay my way into glory. Jesus says:

I have engraved YOU.

There will come a day when you will stand before God. Perhaps the Lord will ask,

Why do you deserve to enter My Heaven, My Paradise?
Adam enter My Paradise because He was born it it.
Why should YOU deserve My Paradise?

What will you say? What work will you rely on to enter Heaven. I am told that a few weeks ago someone left the service complaining because the preacher went 15 minutes over time. Will grudgingly given attendance at a worship service get you into Heaven? Will the little bill you put in the offering plate get you entrance into Heaven? Will your twice a year visits to the Church at Easter and Christmas get you into Heaven.

Why do YOU deserve to enter MY Heaven, My Paradise?

On the day that I am asked this question I will not note the number of sermons I preached, nor my tithe, nor my attendance, nor my work in nursing homes and hospitals. When I stand before God and hear this question asked I will look for my Jesus, and find Him faithful. He will speak for me. He will point to the nail scars in His hands and say “Father, here is David. These wounds are David. They are His sins. My Blood covers them. I paid the penalty. He is engraved in My hands!”

Praise God for this unspeakable Gift of salvation. Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I hope you love Jesus. If you are engraved on His hands, if He was pierced for You, He says:

Isaiah 49:16 (KJV) Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; THY WALLS ARE CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME.

Jesus cares for His own. He protects His own. He is able to protect me now, and throughout eternity … blessed be the Name of Jesus!

May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in Isaiah, salvation, Sermons Preached, sin, singing | Tagged Calvary, crucified, Jesus Christ, salvation | Leave a comment

Walking Without Fear In Smyrna

Posted on March 5, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

Revelation 2:8-11 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

We have been studying through the Book of Revelation, so named in the first verse of the first chapter:

John was given this Revelation of Christ while suffering for the faith on the Isle of Patmos. The Christian is well acquainted with suffering. The Christian and the Church that suffers for the Name of Jesus will be persecuted by the world. Tonight we look at a Church called Smyrna, the Suffering Church.

Of the seven Churches that the Lord Jesus Christ addresses in the Book of Revelation, two Churches – Smyrna and Philadelphia – are not rebuked.
Only four verses of Scripture were written to Smyrna, and every bit of it is encouraging.

If you examine the name “Smyrna” you’ll see three letters “MYR” in the middle. The city of Smyrna was famous for producing Myrrh. Myrrh was one of the three gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – that were brought to the baby Jesus by the wise men from the east (Matthew 2:11). Myrrh comes from a shrub like tree that produces a bitter gum. It is made by stripping the leaves from this tree and then pressing or crushing them until the gum came out. Though the gum was bitter, it was very fragrant, and was used in the practice of embalming. When a loved one died the Jews would mix myrrh and aloe, and then use this paste to wrap the body to prepare it for burial. When Jesus died the Bible tells us that:

John 19:39-40 (NKJV) And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

Myrrh became associated with suffering and death. Our Lord was aware of Myrrh, and He was aware of Smyrna. As Jesus speaks to His suffering Church He tells them:

Revelation 2:8 …. These things saith THE FIRST AND THE LAST …

Jesus is “The First and the Last”. This is an Old Testament name that God applied to Himself. He said:

Isaiah 44:6 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isaiah 48:12 (NKJV) … I am He. I am the first, I am also the Last …

Jesus Christ is God. He is the One of Whom the Father says:

Hebrews 1:8-9 (NKJV) Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

Jesus is God, God in the flesh, God manifest. And yet even God suffers. He says:

Revelation 2:8 … These things saith the first and the last, WHICH WAS DEAD, AND IS ALIVE;

Jesus was dead. He suffered on Calvary. He suffered the whip. He was beaten and bruised for the faith of God. He died …. but He now lives forever. Jesus is not a perpetual Victim, but the eternal Victor. He was killed. He was wrapped in Myrrh and Aloe. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. But Jesus rose again on the third day, and is alive forever more.

The Working Christian Suffers

Revelation 2:9 ^(KJV) I know thy WORKS, and TRIBULATION, and POVERTY, (but thou art rich) ….

The Church that does nothing will not suffer.
The Church that compromises with the darkness will not suffer.
The Church that exalts itself and not God will not suffer.
But the Church that works for Christ will suffer.
The Church that acts as the hands and feet of Jesus will suffer.

If Jesus had entered this world and never did anything contrary to the world, then you would never have heard of Jesus. Jesus was not mediocre. He did not blend. He came to “work the works of God” (John 6:28). Jesus came to “be about My Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). Jesus worked so hard for the Father that He said “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Christ was persecuted because He stood for the Father.
The Church that stands for the Son will be persecuted.

Jesus said in John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. (19) If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

The Church that lives on GIMME will never suffer or be tried. But the Church that lives for Jesus will be tried. Jesus said

I know your WORKS …
and your TRIBULATION …
and your POVERTY…

To stand for Christ costs us something, and it should cost us something. Are we willing to stand for Him though it lead to TRIBULATION? Are we willing to stand for Him though it lead to POVERTY? Will we follow His Word regardless as to whether it is fashionable, even if they call us …

Bigots
Haters
Whateverphobes

Will we stay the course with Christ while the false churches prosper? Jesus told Smyrna:

Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which SAY THEY ARE JEWS, AND ARE NOT, but ARE THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.

There were people in “Synagogues” or local Church buildings that said “We are Jews. We are Christians”. They had Christian names posted on their signs and doors. They had creeds and covenants hanging up in frames behind wooden, quite Christian looking pulpits. But God was not in them. They were of the Church of Satan. Where is the Church of Satan today? There was a formally constituted “Church of Satan” founded by Anton Szandor LaVey on April 30^th 1966. Chelsea Clinton tweeted to the Church of Satan wishing them a Happy New Year this very year. But the Church of Satan that is dangerous is not LaVey’s Church, but the Church that professes Christ but is not possessed of Christ. They “say they are Jews – God’s people – but ARE NOT”. Christ is not honored in their midst. God’s Word is not elevated in their practice. They do not love Jesus, but love the trappings of godless religion. These false churches destroy the witness of God throughout the nation.

The Church at Smyrna SHINED for Jesus. They were not ashamed of Him or His Word.
They stood up for Him, believing His Gospel and His Spirit.

Jesus told the saints at Smyrna …

Revelation 2:9 ^(KJV)I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty,
(BUT THOU ART RICH) …

Smyrna was rich because these believers had their treasure in Heaven. They loved one another and loved the Lord Jesus. The other pretend Christians who said they were of the Jews were in reality like Judas Iscariot. They were of the synagogue of Satan, advancing not the Kingdom of God but helping the devil.

The Shining Church Will Suffer

As our Lord spoke to the Church of Smyrna He didn’t tell them “I know you’ve suffered. Don’t worry – it’s going to get better”. That’s the kind of preaching that everyone loves to hear. You’ve suffered, but it’s almost over. You’re suffering. Here’s how to get out of it. This is the preaching you’ll hear in many pulpits today. Notice what Jesus said:

Revelation 2:10 … FEAR NONE of those things which thou SHALT suffer …

Trials are coming for every Church in America that is doing the will of Christ. True Christians are fair game in our society. Years ago I said:

“I believe the day is coming when same sex marriage is not only legalized,
but forced upon us.”

I said this just four years ago. Today it is legalized, and people are being forced to cater to those who believe in same sex marriage. I believe there will come a day when Churches and Pastors will bew forced to acknowledge what the Scripture says is wrong.It’s coming.

I believe there will come a time when the Gospel is outlawed as hate speech. We will not be able to preach …

Acts 4:12 (NKJV) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

or … John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus was quite specific that faith in His finished work is the only Way to the Father. The early Christians were accused of being Atheists by the worshippers of the Roman gods and goddesses. The world will attack the claims of Christ. What does Jesus tell Smyrna?

Revelation 2:10 ….. behold, the devil shall cast some of you into PRISON, that ye may be tried; and ye SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION TEN DAYS

Note two things in this text. You shall have tribulation. It is coming. It is certain. The darkness hates the light, and will fight the light. BUT … TEN DAYS tells us that GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

When God created our world and our solar system in Genesis 1 the phrase “God said” occurs TEN times. Creation did not come out of nothing, but from our God. Our God is in charge. He is in control.

Psalms 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Ten plagues were placed on Egypt.
Ten commandments given to the Children of God.
God is in control!

Psalms 46:1-3 ^(KJV)God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Grow in your knowledge of God. Know that He is with you. Love Him. Focus on Him, not on the threat that is to come.

Back in the days of the Old West the townspeople were warned that there was going to be an Indian attack, so the people left their homes and moved inside of the walls of the nearby Fort. Once everyone was safely inside the Commander of the Fort called for his Indian tracker. He asked the man, “Can you find out how badly the Fort is going to be attacked?” The tracker said nothing, but knelt down and put his ear to the ground. The tracker, a native American with broken English, said “Bad attack coming. Four chiefs. Four tribes. Many horses. Many guns. Many people. Very bad!” The Commander looked at the tracker and said, “Good grief, you can tell all that just by putting your ear to the ground?” The tracker said, “No! Just looked under gate!”

Jesus told us that we would be persecuted. He told us in the Gospels, and tells us tonight. Yet in the persecution Christ will be with us. Let us look to Him and love Him, remembering that we are His Ambassadors. He has promised to us …

Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

When tried …. keep your eyes on the Lord!

Dr Charles Stanley spoke of the time early in his ministry when he was surrounded by the bulls of Bashan in his Church. People were attacking him daily. One little old lady in his Church asked for him to come and see her, but he kept putting it off. He figured it was just one more attack. Finally, after many calls, he went to her house. When he got to her house she led him into the living room and pointed to a picture of Daniel in the Lion’s Den that hung on her wall. She asked, “Young man, what do you see?” Charles said “Well, I see Daniel and the lions”. She said “No, no. Look closely. What do you see?” Not knowing what she was looking for and weary from attacks Charles said “I’m sorry. My mind is just not focusing today. What do you want me to see?” She said, “Brother Stanley, look closely at Daniel. What is he looking at?” Charles said “It hit me like a ton of bricks. Daniel was not looking at the lions, but he was looking upward through an opening into Heaven!”

Jesus told His poor, beleagued little Church:

Revelation 2:10-11 ^(KJV) …. be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Jesus said, “He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death”. The false believer of the Church of Satan will not stand for Christ, and therefore will never enter Heaven. Hell is where Satan and his followers will go, a place called the “second death”, that terrible Lake of Fire. Those who have not accepted Christ as Savior end up in this place of terrible torment. The Bible says:

Revelation 20:14-15 ^(KJV) …. the lake of fire. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If Christ is yours and you are Christ’s then your name is written in the Book of Life.
If Christ is yours and you are Christ’s then His Spirit indwells you.
If Christ is yours and you are Christ’s then you know you are His Child.

If Christ is yours and you are Christ’s then you will not collapse when tried.

Bless God for the trials that wake us up. When Jacob wrestled with God he was made lame – and discovered he needed to be saved. When Job was tried though he suffered greatly he said, “I know my Redeemer liveth!” (Job 19:25).

2 Timothy 3:12 ^(KJV)Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Are you His? I pray that you can answer yes with both lips and heart this very day!

Posted in Revelation, Sermons Preached | Tagged fear, Revelation, Trusting God | 1 Comment

Why Not Admit The Error?

Posted on March 3, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

I got angry today.

No, I didn’t lose my temper. I didn’t curse. I was not unreasonable. But I got angry. Why? Let me tell you.

Last year I got my oil changed by the people at Hyundai of Columbia (1370 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN 38401). They did an EXCELLENT job. I was in and out in less that 15 minutes. They were professional, and though busy, took the time to do the job right. Since it was time to go get my oil changed again I decided to go back to where I was treated right. So I headed to Hyundai. 15 minutes is no big deal.

I get to the service department, drive in, and ask how much an oil change is. “It’s $29.95”. Sounded great. So I said “I’ve been here before, I should be in the system”. The Service Manager said “We switched our computers over, so you need to fill out this sheet”. I did. No problem. Took about 5 minutes. “Please step inside and have a refreshment. I’ll call you when we’re done”. So I do.

As there are no other cars in the oil change bay I figured I’d be out quickly. I checked in at 11:55 am. Around 12:30 pm the service manager comes in the waiting room. “We do a 25 point inspection on all vehicles, and you need new plugs and plug wires. We can get them from O’Reillys Auto for”… and he quotes a figure. I tell him no, I just need the oil change right now. “We’ll be done shortly”. So I wait. At 12:40 he comes back in. “You’re finished. Let’s step outside.”

I get the bill. It isn’t $29.95, but over $40.00. He said “Whoever changed your oil last time stripped out the oil plug, so we had to charge you for it.” I initially paid him cash, but when he went inside I thought “Wait a minute. Hyundai changed my oil last time.” When he came out I reminded him Hyundai changed my oil last time, so if the plug was stripped they stripped it. I still had the receipt. His reply was “Oh, o.k. I didn’t go over there and see what the technician did, but I’ll refund you the $7.55.” He goes back inside, gets my refund, then comes back out. I’ve been here almost an hour.

Taking my change I get in my van and head toward our Church. But as I’m driving I look at the Hyundai sticker they always post in the window on the driver’s side. They put 5w30 oil in my car. I get to the Church parking lot, pop the hood, and there it is on the valve cover in bright yellow letters. Can you see it? I can. My van runs on 5w20 weight oil. You might think “No big deal” but it is a big deal. Though the wrong weight oil will not immediately damage an engine, it reduces the life of the engine. The ONE thing I went to Hyundai for was an oil change, not for a 25 point inspection. So then I look at my bill. It states on it:

“The customer requests a 25 point inspection.”

No, I did not. So I head back toward Hyundai and the service manager lets me in again. I tell him “I did not ask for a 25 point inspection, nor did I want you to mess with my spark plugs and wires. I did ask you to change the oil, and you did that wrong.” I show him the oil cap. He then proceeds to tell me that all cars automatically get a 25 point inspection whether I request it or not, and then he looks at the technician and with a straight face asks…

“What grade of oil did you put in? It was 5w20 wasn’t it?

The young man said “Yes, that is just a typo. We REALLY put 5w20 in.” I asked “How do I know that. It’s on the receipt, and on the window sticker. Let me speak to a manager.” After a few minutes a manager named “John” came out and I explained the whole thing to him. He turned, looked at the service manager, and said “Change the oil”. Then he walks away.

I watched from the lobby as they changed the oil, hopefully putting the right weight in the engine. I came away from the whole incident angry still. Why? Because NO ONE ADMITTED FAULT. No one APOLOGIZED for my unnecessary wait time. Even John the Manager just said “Change the oil” then walked away, almost disinterested in the whole process. Does this post have a reason other than venting? Yes, it does.

Businesses stay in business when they take care of the customer. If Hyundai would do what they did the first time I went to them they wouldn’t need to manufacture jobs by doing unnecessary 25 point inspections. A business that does not do what it says it will do …. and they PROMISED in writing …

Oil changes done fast! Get in. Get out. Get back to your life.

An hour and 20 minutes is not fast. I could have done it myself in that amount of time. If a business does not satisfy its customers it goes out of business. There is a BoJangles restaurant in town barely staying in business because they make customers wait an inordinate amount of time. There is a Churches Chicken place that sells overcooked chicken. But not far away from both businesses there is a Hardees that is swamped with business. Why? The people are friendly, fast, and the food tasty. People go to businesses to be served. When the service is off – and everyone has off days – APOLOGIZE. An apology would have doused the flame of my anger. We all err. But do NOT try and hide the mistake, or try and manufacture an excuse. Just say I’M SORRY, admit the error, and move on. I had an oil change done at Walmart one time when they forgot to put the oil cap on the valve cover. They apologized and steam cleaned the oil off of my engine. It’s fine. We all err.

There is one other lesson in this post. When we fail in life – no matter who we are – we should apologize to the one we failed. This is adult behavior. As adolescents we blamed our brother, our sister, or the monster under the bed. Adults admit their mistakes. I have been called on mistakes many times and I have apologized many times, sometimes from the pulpit in front of the whole Church. I am not diminished by apologizing. After all, we are all sinners that Christ gave His life for. When we fail others, ourselves, or God, we should apologize for the wrong. This is called REPENT. To turn, to apologize, to do the right thing. If we don’t people will not trust us. I may never go back to Hyundai because – quite frankly – if you can’t tell the right weight of oil on a clearly labelled engine like mine, are you reliable? And if you don’t care enough about the customer to apologize, do you REALLY care about my engine?

I don’t know.

I just don’t know.

Posted in General | Tagged businesses, customer service, honesty, responsibility | 1 Comment

Sorrow and Sorrow by C.H. Spurgeon

Posted on February 27, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

read by David Buffaloe

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Loving Jesus In Ephesus

Posted on February 26, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

(Revelation 2:1-7) 1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Audio of Sermon:

The Book of Revelation is …

Revelation 1:1 (KJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ…

Though there are a series of visions found throughout the Book every vision reveals truth about Jesus Christ, As we come to chapter 2 of the Book we see seven different types of Churches. Some of these Churches are rebuked by Jesus, and others praised. There is one thing that is overwhelmingly true for every type of Church.

Jesus Loves His Church

He wants only the best for every Church. Of the seven Churches addressed few are without flaw – yet His love and concern is equal for each Church. Jesus addresses the Church at Ephesus first, saying:

(Revelation 2:1) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Jesus is intensely in love with His Church. The Church belongs to Jesus. The leadership of the Church belongs to Jesus. Jesus is the Builder of the Church. The Bible says:

Psalm 127:1 (ESV) Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

The Lord builds His Church. The Lord builds His Church on the knowledge that He and He ALONE is the Christ. When Jesus walked this earth He was always building, always teaching, always preparing His Church to stand following His ascension to glory. One day Jesus asked His disciples:

(Matthew 16:13) …. Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

The world varies in its opinion of Christ. In that day some said that Jesus was John the Baptist. Others Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Today people think Jesus is a great Teacher, a mortal man just as important as Buddha or Ghandi. The world sees a little Jesus. But then our Lord asked the key question:

(Matthew 16:15) But whom say YE that I am?

YOU are the Church I am building. YOU are the people I am walking with. YOU are the ones that I am going to die for. Who do YOU think I am? Without hesitation Peter spoke and said the finest thing he had ever said:

(Matthew 16:16) Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Peter said a lot of things in Christ’s ministry, many times wrong. But this time he got it right! Jesus told Peter:

(Matthew 16:18) 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.

If Christ knows YOU as His Child, then YOU know Christ as the Rock.
There is no other Christ, no other Messiah.
The Church is built on this unique foundational truth.
The Church not built on Christ as Messiah – Savior – Lord is no Church at all.
Christ is the Builder of His Church.

Jesus loves His Church. Jesus builds His Church. The Church belongs to Jesus. Christ purchased the Church with His shed Blood. The Apostle said to the leaders of Ephesus:

(Acts 20:28) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to FEED the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The Church is a collection of BLOOD BOUGHT BELIEVERS. Jesus did not spill His Blood – He SHED His Blood, purposely, for you and I. He invested Himself in the Church, intimately Himself. The Church is founded on the suffering Savior, on the cries of Calvary, on the beaten and bloodied Savior, on the Crucified Innocent.

1 Peter 1:18-20 (KJV) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Because Christ shed His Blood for the members of the Church, and because the members of the Church have “called upon the Name of the Lord and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10), we are precious to Him.

Psalms 72:14 (KJV) He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

Is it any wonder that Jesus is in the midst of His Church? Jesus speaks to His Church and His Christian. Jesus said in John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”. Jesus was speaking to John. Jesus speaks to His Children. This is not psychosis, but Christ personally talking to those who talk to Him.

Jesus came to John on Patmos, and Jesus will come to you!

Jesus spoke to John. If John were psychotic, then the whole of Scripture is psychotic. The Word of God in Scripture was spoken to Prophets and Apostles so that they could WRITE the Word for us.

(Revelation 2:1) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;

The Bible was not written by God to the lost of this world.
God gives a Gospel to the Lost, but His Spirit & Word to His people.

Yes, there is the promise of salvation in Christ given in this Grand Old Book. But the Bible is the Word of God to the people of God, the Church. When the early Church formed what did they do? We are told that the members of the newly formed Church …

Acts 2:42 (NKJV) ….continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The Church understood the Book was written to them. The Apostles wrote “doctrine” and shared the Word of God. They “fellowshipped”, loving one another because they were loved of Christ. They “broke bread”, enjoying the Lord’s Table together, reminding one another how much Jesus loved them all. And they “prayed” not out of habit, but to make spiritual contact with one another and with the Lord Who was with them. Christ was in the midst of the Church He loved and loves still. The Bible says:

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

They fellowshipped daily, not incidentally, not once a week or once a month or only on Easter and Christmas. The members of the Church loved Christ and loved one another because they were members of Christ.

(Revelation 2:1) … These things SAITH he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand …

The leadership of the Church – called “stars” by Jesus – knew that they were in Jesus’ nail scarred hands. Too many pastors today are shining for the world to see. Jesus expects His “stars” to shine for Him, to share Him, to declare His love to the Church. To speak of the Jesus ….

(Revelation 2:1) … who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Jesus SAITH.
Jesus WALKETH.
He is in the MIDST of His Churches, ALL of His Churches.

He does not RECLINE in our midst. He WALKS. He is active, and actively watching His Church. Jesus through His Word is continually refining His Church. The Scripture declares

(Ephesians 5:25-27) … Christ … LOVED THE CHURCH, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Christ loves His Church. He wants it to be “glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing”. He wants His Church to be holy and without blemish. He loves us so much He died for us, and Jesus wants His Church to be built up, to grow, to reach. To not be a tiny light but a tremendous light. So He addresses His Church through sermons, through the Word of God.

Jesus Christ Watches What His Church Does

The Lord begins by commending the Church at Ephesus. He says:

(Revelation 2:2) I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

There are THREE THINGS Jesus commends the Church at Ephesus for:

Works
Labor
Patience

You might ask “aren’t WORKS and LABOR the same thing?”. Not in the original Greek language. The word translated “works” is the Greek ERGON which refers to labor, effort expended, toil. We are saved by faith in Christ, but once saved we are to work for Him. Jesus did not call us to salvation to just sit on our hands. We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ. When the disciples saw Jesus following the resurrection – when He appeared to the ones He gave Himself for – He first showed them His nail scarred hands and His side. Then Jesus told them:

John 20:21 (KJV) Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

As Jesus was sent to do the Father’s business, His Church is sent to do the Father’s business. What did Christ do? He reached out to the suffering. He comforted, loved, and lifted. Jesus rebuked sin and preached the Gospel. As the Father sent Me, even so I send you (or ya’ll, if you want to be Southern). The Church was sent to do for Christ as Christ did for the Father. The Church was sent to LABOR in the fields of the Gospel. Every member was and is sent to share Christ to others. Jesus told the Pharisees:

John 5:17 (KJV) … My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

The Triune God works to save mankind. The Church that is Christ’s has members that work for Him, sharing His love to a lost and dying world. Jesus saw the WORKS of Ephesus, and sees our WORK (or lack thereof) and notes it.

Jesus also saw the LABOR of Ephesus. This is the Greek KOPOS which means “anguish or suffering in labor”. When a woman goes through “labor” she suffers. KOPOS is suffering in labor. Ephesus like most of Christ’s Churches suffered for the sake of the Gospel. There is no suffering in compromise with worldliness. The Apostle said:

James 4:4 (KJV) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

The world will constantly try and modify the Church to suit its own lusts. It did so with human sexuality, and did so with the sacrament of marriage. The Bible says:

John 3:19 (KJV) … light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Where there is light, there will always be darkness. Jesus did not hate the darkness, but shined against the darkness with His sacrificial love. We are not to hate the darkness nor to befriend the darkness, but are to “walk in the light as Christ is in the !!br0ken!!

1 John 1:7 (KJV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

John 8:12 (KJV) 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.

The darkness hates the light, so we who live for Jesus will suffer. Jesus said we would suffer. He said “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you” (John 15:18, 24). Even though persecuted, the Church at Ephesus kept on living as Christians should live. They kept laboring for Him, doing what they had been taught.

Furthermore, the Church at Ephesus was a PATIENT Church.
Jesus told them “I know thy patience”.

I have known many young men who approached me to sponsor them in the ministry. I have sponsored many, but few have stayed. Why? Because they entered thinking it would be a cake walk. It is not. To work for Christ requires patience. We are to be patient as God is patient, to keep on going, keep on because He said so. The Bible promises:

(Galatians 6:9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

(2 Thessalonians 3:13) 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

The Church at Ephesus kept working, even though it was painful and, at times, seemed as if there was no hope. The Lord said of His Church that “you cannot bear those that do evil”. In so many Churches the devil hides in the crowd, whispering and backbiting, sneaking evil. The Church of Ephesus could not and would not bear evil.

thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

The Church was attacked by false teachers and false apostles but continued on. Ephesus rejected all truths that were not Bible truths. The Lord commended them, saying

(Revelation 2:3) And hast BORNE, and hast PATIENCE, and for my name’s sake hast LABORED, and hast NOT FAINTED.

They did not quit.
They honored Jesus’ and His name.
They persisted in faith in Christ!

Work Without Love Is Good But Not Great

Ephesus seems to be a fantastic Church. What could be wrong at Ephesus? They worked for Jesus. They labored though persecuted. They stood true to the Light of Christ. Like an elite military unit they honored the Kingdom of God. But they fell short in one area.

(Revelation 2:4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love.

Jesus loves His Church, but they had fallen out of love with Him. They were doing the right things, but out of habit. It’s an easy mistake to make. We go through the motions of the calendar year. At a certain time we will have a Blood Drive and a Sunday for the Cure. We have a Memorial Day celebration, Veteran’s day, special days. We come for Christmas and Easter services. We do Vacation Bible School, Children and Youth Ministry – but it becomes routine. We have and do programs, but are we doing them because we love Jesus.

The Lord got on me about this. I was going through my weekly routine: three sermons to prepare, people in hospital and nursing home to visit. I was making a list, doing each thing, checking it off as I went. Then the Lord spoke to my heart:

Why are you doing this?
Are you doing this because you love Me?
Or is it just thing that must be done?

When Jesus was asked the question “What is the greatest commandment of all?” Jesus told the asker:

Matthew 22:37-40 ^(KJV) …. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

When we sing the final hymn tonight, will we be singing TO Jesus or ABOUT Jesus? One way is appropriate. The other is not. Jesus told Ephesus – this hard working, faithful bunch of believers:

Revelation 2:5 REMEMBER therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will REMOVE thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Jesus told His Church to remember, repent, and return (do the first works) to loving Him, or else He would remove their candlestick out of his place.

Jesus said of the Pharisee:

Matthew 15:8-9 ^(KJV)This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me…

It is those who love Jesus that end up in the Paradise of God. God calls His Church to love Him.

(Revelation 2:7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

A heart not in love with the Lord cannot please the Lord, no matter how hard it works! It is possible to work really hard for God, yet never be saved. That is the tragedy that the Spirit warns against. He who overcomes …. Who is born in love of the Overcomer Christ – that person has promise of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God.

The question before us all is, Do we love the Lord?

May God touch our hearts with His Word.

Posted in Revelation, Sermons Preached | Tagged Church, Ephesus, loving Jesus, works | Leave a comment

The Furnace Of Affliction

Posted on February 26, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

Audio of Sermon:

This past Wednesday, February 21 2018 the Evangelist Billy Graham went to be with the Lord. He lived 99 years on this earth. He now lives eternally with Jesus in glory, the place where all of God’s Children will one day be. Before Billy left this earth his eyesight and hearing began to fail him. He was wheelchair bound and had respiratory problems. Like most Christians Billy was tried, but kept his faith in the Lord Who saved him and loved him. Billy said:

“Nowhere does the Bible teach that Christians are to be exempt from the tribulations and natural disasters that come upon the world. It does teach that the Christian can face tribulation, crisis, calamity and personal suffering with a supernatural power that is not available to the person outside of Christ. Christians can rejoice in tribulation because they have eternity’s values in view. When the pressures are on, they look beyond their present predicament to the glories of heaven. The thought of the future life with its prerogatives and joys helps to make the trials of the present seem light and transient. “The early Christians were able to experience joy in their hearts in the midst of trials, troubles and depression. They counted suffering for Christ not as a burden or misfortune but as a great honor, as evidence that Christ counted them worthy to witness for Him through suffering. They never forgot what Christ Himself had gone through for their salvation, and to suffer for His name’s sake was regarded as a gift rather than a cross. … Christ told His disciples that they were not to count it a stroke of affliction when they were reviled and persecuted. Rather, they were to count it as a favor and a blessing. They were to ‘rejoice, and be exceeding glad’ (Matthew 5:12). Just as Jesus had overcome the world, so they through His grace and strength would overcome the world. Thus they were to be of good cheer.” (Billy Graham, Joy In Tribulation)

I Have Chosen Thee In The Furnace Of Affliction

Following the terrorist attacks of September 1, 2001 Billy Graham spoke to our nation. He said:

“I’ve been asked hundreds of times in my life why God allows tragedy and suffering. I have to confess that I really do not know the answer totally, even to my own satisfaction. I have to accept by faith that God is sovereign, and that He is a God of love and mercy and compassion in the midst of suffering”.

When trials come the most asked question is “Where is God in the midst of this?” We wonder if there is a reason for the trial. Yes, dear ones, there is a reason. We may not understand – like why Billy Graham suffered from Parkinson’s Disease – exactly why trials come. We’ll understand these questions better when we enter eternity with our Jesus. It’s like that old song:

Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long
While there are others living about us
Never molested though in the wrong
Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine
We’ll understand it all by and by.

The Bible addresses trials and why there are trials. But Jesus speaks to His people today offering us a wonderful truth. Read with me our focal text:

Isaiah 48:10 (KJV) Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

The Lord Jesus speaks to us through His Israel. He tells us that afflictions have purpose, and gives us who are His two reasons for afflictions (though I am sure these two are not exhaustive).

It is through affliction that Christ chooses us.
It is through affliction that Christ refines us.

The Lord says:

I Have Chosen Thee In The Furnace Of Affliction

Jesus Christ calls His people to salvation through trials and tribulations. Why are trials necessary to draw us to the Living God manifest in the flesh? Because we are born with sin hardened hearts. From the cradle we cry and demand “Look at me. Give to me. Care for me.” The child does not request the bottle, but demands it. The sin nature is fully developed in a child who cannot even crawl. You do not think so? Then think on this. The first words that every new parent teaches their baby is

Da – Da (Daddy)
Ma – Ma (Mommy)

and … wait for it … NO!

You do not have to teach a child “Yes”, for children are born with a “Yes”. Give me that. No! YES! I want it right now. The parent that does not teach NO and does not reinforce NO with suitable discipline will raise a child to be a monster. Children must be taught NO. And NO is often reinforced by discipline.

Children do not have to be taught to lie. Who got in the cookie jar? Not me!

Who broke the lamp? Must have been someone else.

Who put the Playboy under your mattress? It must have come with the bed.

Who stole all my money? A thief broke in the house!

We are born rebelling against authority.
We are born into this world rebelling against parents.
We are born wanting our own way.
It is through affliction we learn obedience.

It is in our first nature to be like Adam who, when he was caught in sin, hid it and then blamed someone else. Our fallen natures are ruled by sin.

Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for our sins so He can save us from our sins.

Romans 6:6 New King James Version (NKJV) … knowing this, that our old man was crucified with {Jesus}, that the body of sin MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH, THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES OF SIN.

Our Lord is Sovereign. He is able to do anything. The Lord Jesus called out to His Old Testament people, saying:

Isaiah 48:12 (KJV) Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

How do we know this is Jesus? Because God tells Jacob and Israel “I am the first, I also am the last”. This is a title that can only be applied to God. In the Book of Revelation Jesus Christ tells the Apostle John (who is also being afflicted):

Revelation 1:11 (NKJV) …. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last …

The Lord identified Himself as “the First and the Last”, but also declared “I am He”. NINE times throughout Isaiah the Lord identifies Himself as “I am He”:

Isaiah 41:4 (NKJV) … I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I AM HE.

Isaiah 43:13 (NKJV) … before the day was, I AM HE; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?”

The First and the Last, the I AM HE Who is Jesus Christ said in the New Testament:

Mark 13:6 (NKJV) … many will come in My Name saying I AM HE and will deceive many …

John 8:24 (NKJV) … you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM HE you will die in your sins.

Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. He said:

Isaiah 48:13 (KJV) Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

There is nothing that Jesus cannot do. He Who laid the foundation of the earth and Whose right hand spanned the Heavens can remove any trial any time. But Christ will force no one to salvation. Thus He allows the furnace of affliction that, in the trials, we might turn to Christ.

I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction

God promised of His servant Abraham that from him would come a mighty nation, and from that nation all the nations of the world would be blessed. God would become manifest in the flesh through Israel. But God chose Israel in the furnace of affliction.

Affliction Draws Us To Christ

Not every person who is afflicted turns to God, but affliction draws our attention godward. God’s people are born of affliction. The very first murder the occurred in human history was when Cain slew Abel. Brother kills brother, yet both men were not children of God. God said to Cain:

Genesis 4:10-11 (NKJV) …. The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the earth

The one unharmed was Cain, the child of the flesh. But there is God’s child whose blood is crying out to the Father from the ground. When the young Joseph bragged to his brothers about the coat his father gave him – a coat of many colors – his brothers cast him into a pit then sold him into slavery. Thirteen years a slave Joseph looked to Jesus. Then the Lord spoke to him, and raise him up to plant Israel in Egypt so they could grow into a mighty nation.

Israel in Egypt grows into a mighty nation, and eventually come under the taskmaster’s whip as slaves. God’s chosen are in the fires of the furnace. Did God save Israel immediately? No.

Exodus 2:23-24 … Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.

Why doesn’t God immediately respond when we are tried? Billy Graham said “We need God’s help – and yet in our pride we refuse to turn to Him, and we try to improve our lives without Him.”

We groan under the burden, yet refuse to turn to God in Christ. We think we can make it better by our own efforts. We try this, then try that. God says:

Isaiah 48:11 … For Mine Own sake, even for Mine Own sake, will I do it: for how should My Name be polluted? And I will not give My glory to another

God will save, Christ will save, His Spirit will empower us but only when we come to God with empty hands. The furnace of affliction burns up anything that we can count on. It takes away everything so that we can come to Christ in faith. Then He and only He will bless us. Who were those that Jesus healed? Was it those who were able? No. But Jesus came to heal the broken, the sick, the crippled, the blind, those afflicted by death, those at the end of their ropes.

God blesses us when He allows trials to crush us so that we will look up. The Bible says:

Isaiah 48:22 (KJV) There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

The wicked have a temporary pleasure. They are much like the young man that Christ spoke of in Luke 15:11-32. This young man went to his father and demanded his earthly inheritance. The father complied, and the young man went off to “waste his possessions with prodigal living” (Luke 15:13). When he ran out of money and was starving he found himself a job feeding pigs, one of the worst jobs I can imagine. The Bible says that:

Luke 15:16 (NKJV) And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

Where was God while this young man ruined his life? God was where God always was. God allowed him to run rampant. God allowed him to ruin his life. God allowed the young man to run to the furnace of affliction, willfully doing the wrong thing. The Christ Who loved this young man said:

Isaiah 48:18 (NKJV) Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

But in our arrogance and self righteousness we, like this prodigal and wayward boy, will not heed God. God allows the furnace of affliction until one day …

Luke 15:17-19 (NKJV) … How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.

It is in the furnace of affliction that we arise from our own foolish selves and go to our Father. We look for and find Jesus Christ in that moment.
We look from ME and turn to THEE!

Ezekiel 33:11 (NKJV) … ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!

That young man, hungry, starving turned from his wicked ways. He ran home and there found the Father waiting to receive Him in love. Jesus calls all who will to come to Him. Our Lord cries out to those in the furnace of affliction:

Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

In ease we often ignore the Lord Jesus, but in suffering we are drawn to Him. Draw to Him, Beloved, and be His Chosen Child. The Lord also said:

I Have Refined Thee, But Not With Silver

God does not make us like Christ by giving us money and our heart’s desires. No. He refines us not with silver or gold, but in the furnace of affliction. When God made His Covenant Promise to Abraham, the Father of our Faith, what did God do? God had Abraham make a sacrifice, then cut the sacrifice in two (Genesis 15:10). When a Covenant was made in ancient times both parties of the Covenant passed between the pieces. Abraham arranged the pieces, but never passed between them. Jesus Christ Himself passed between the pieces of the Covenant. We read:

Genesis 15:17-18 … when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram

When Christ walked between the sacrifice of the Covenant He appeared as “a smoking oven” (a furnace hot and burning) and a burning torch (a light). Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the Light that God sent into the world:

John 8:12 (NKJV) … Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

His Word is the lamp unto my feet, and the light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). Jesus presented Himself to Abraham as a lit torch, the flashlight or lamp of that day. But Jesus presented Himself also as a smoking oven. Jesus Christ is not only the Savior of His people, He is the Redeemer of His people:

Isaiah 48:17 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, thy REDEEMER, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which TEACHETH THEE TO PROFIT, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

It is a fact of nature that all precious things must be refined and tried. A found diamond may be worth a million dollars, but it is worth many times more when tried by the diamond cutter. Every blow and every facet formed multiplies its value. Gold too must be tried. In its found state it looks like trash. But placed in the furnace and heated in the crucible the gold separates from the dross. Silver too must be refined. All things of great value must be refined to bring out the best in them.

Jesus Christ saves whosoever will by the great cost of Calvary. He shed his Blood on Calvary to save us and to bring us to God. He hung on that Cross, Precious Beloved of God. He suffered, oh how He suffered, so that we might be justified by His Blood. Our sins separated us from God. The Scripture says:

1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Jesus Christ was sent by the Father and the Spirit to do what no man could do. He came to this earth to endure the furnace of affliction for us. As Jesus addressed us throughout the 48^th chapter of Isaiah He said:

Isaiah 48:16 (KJV) Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

The Eternal Christ, the Son of God, became flesh and died for our sins on Calvary. Dying for us, this makes us the most PRECIOUS thing on planet earth. You, dear Christian, are precious because the Blood of Christ was shed for you. And He who died for you refines you through the furnace of affliction. This is why the Apostle says:

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

It is through the furnace of affliction that God the Son makes us sons of God. It is through the furnace of affliction that the dross is burned off, and we become more like Christ. Or as Job – a man well accustomed to suffering said:

Job 23:10 (NKJV) But {God} knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

The furnace purifies us. The furnace molds us. If we are Christ’s the furnace does not destroy us, but if we are but dross we will burn up in that affliction. Our faith is proved by the furnace. And if our eyes are on Christ, then Christ’s eyes will be on us no matter what.

One of my favorite stories in Scripture is one I love to tell over and over. It is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, three young Christians imprisoned by an evil king. The king one day decided to create a god, and demand that everyone worship that god. There was only one problem. When he called for all to worship his god, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to do so. The king had them seized and brought before a tribunal. “Have I got this right? You refuse to worship my golden god? Do you want me to throw you in the fiery furnace?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego did not hesitate to answer.

Daniel 3:17-18 (NKJV) … our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.

The king was infuriated. “Throw them in the fiery furnace!” And they threw the three young men into the furnace. As King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the flames and listened, hoping to hear the dying screams of those brave believers, he saw something that astonished him.

Daniel 3:24 (NKJV) … he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

The king said (Daniel 3:25) “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Where is Christ when the trials come? Where is He when we are in the furnace of affliction. He is right there beside us. He is with us in the darknesses of life. Lie down in Christ’s arms. Rest in Him. Trust Him. Call on Him. For the unbeliever God promises:

Isaiah 47:14 (KJV) Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: …

but to His Child by faith in Christ He says “I will deliver. I will bless. You are my precious!” May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Posted in Isaiah, Sermons Preached | Tagged affliction, Jesus Christ, living for Jesus, trials | 1 Comment

The Purpose Of Promise

Posted on February 22, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Audio of Sermon:

Last week the Apostle told us not to receive the Grace of God in vain or to no purpose, and we discussed what that meant. Grace is given by God to us to bring us into His Family, to empower us to live our lives daily in Christ. Grace saves us, and keeps on saving us. Tonight the Apostle applies the promises of God to our lives.

Promises, Promises

God makes promises to His Children, promises that we are to secure for ourselves, to apply to our lives, and to grow to be more like Christ. God makes TWO PROMISES to the lost. His Grace promise is that

Romans 10:9-13 (NKJV) … if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

None are excluded from the whosoever will of the Gospel call. Praise Him, Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world …

1 John 2:2 (NKJV) … And He Himself is the propitiation (the atonement or covering) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

The Blood of Christ is sufficient to save whosoever will believe on Him. That is a promise from God. But God also promises that the one who rejects the Son and refuses to believe on Him is in a state of condemnation. God promises eternal judgment against the one who rejects the Christ as Lord and Savior.

1 John 5:10-12 (NKJV) He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

John 3:36 (NKJV) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Two promises to the unbeliever – but MANY promises to the believer. The Apostle says:

2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved

We who are God’s children by faith in Christ are dearly beloved. Christ is God’s Beloved …

Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV) {God the Father} made us accepted in the Beloved

Christ is “The Beloved Son, in Whom the Father is well pleased” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22). He is the Eternal Beloved, forever loved of the Trinity. Because He is Beloved when we receive Him we become Beloved. He is the Natural and Supernatural Son of God, but we become adopted sons of God because of Christ (Ephesians 1:5). Because of Christ we are

chosen of God
Holy
Without blame before Him
In love (Ephesians 1:4)

Because we are beloved of God the Father has given us precious promises. These promises are not offered to the lost world, but to those who are IN CHRIST:

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) For all the promises of God IN HIM are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

God has made precious promises to we who are His Beloved Church, His Beloved Children, His Beloved Christians.

Promises Serve A Purpose

2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

You will never find a promise of God that does not have a purpose to it. Every promise of God has purpose. Every promise of God calls us into PARTNERSHIP with God. When we are saved the Holy Spirit comes to INDWELL us and GUIDE us into ALL TRUTH. Jesus told His disciples:

John 16:5-14 New King James Version (NKJV) But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

Christianity is a PARTNERSHIP with God. When you receive the promise of salvation by believing and receiving Christ as He is, then God’s Holy Spirit comes to live in the framework of your life. He INDWELLS you, so much so that the Scripture declares:

Romans 8:9 (NKJV) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

God lives in the lives of His people. The Christian is indwelt by God. The Spirit indwells us to speak of Christ, to guide us into Christ’s truth. We are in partnership with God. Certainly we are minority shareholders in this partnership, but are nonetheless called to work with God if we want to be blessed.

When God saved Israel from Egypt His message to them was the same message He gives to us. “Come and follow Me to blessing”. If the Israelite followed the way of Egypt and refused to kill the lamb without spot or blemish, when the LORD came whoever was in that uncovered home died just as surely as the Egyptian died (see Exodus 12:13, 23). If the Israelite refused to follow God as a Pillar of Fire by night and a Pillar of Cloud by day (Exodus 13:22; 14:19) then they would not be under God’s protection. If the Israelite refused to cross the parted Red Sea when God said to do so then they would have drowned just as surely as the Egyptian Army drowned (see Exodus 14). God calls a person and a people into partnership with Him.

When God promised Abraham a son He did not say “lounge here where you are and I’ll drop the promise on you like fairy dust”. What did say to Abraham? Follow Me.

Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)

“… Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

For the promise to be fulfilled Abraham had to leave what he knew and go where God told him to go. God had to become the most important Person in his life, greater than father, mother, or brother. Abraham did not receive the promise immediately, but was driven to a greater partnership with God trusting Him no matter what might come.

Hebrews 6:13-15 (NKJV) For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

The belief came first. Not just a belief of the MOUTH, but a belief of the WHOLE MAN. Abraham believed God, the Scripture says …

James 2:22-23 (NKJV) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

God partners with His people. Salvation is a free gift of God. Come to Him believing and you shall be saved. But saved, you are called to follow Him.

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)
The Spirit and the Bride say “Come” (Revelation 22:17)
Not “Stay where you are” but “COME”.
Follow Christ.
Follow God.
Heed the Spirit.

There is nothing in this life more important than following the Lord. Jesus told an individual …

Luke 9:59-62 (NKJV) … “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” 61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

If you will not partner with Christ you are not fit for the Kingdom of God. The person who must be begged to partner with Christ is a person who perhaps is not saved. If Christ is last and least in our lives, our lives are not where they need to be. We are called to partner with Christ, to follow Him, to heed His Spirit, to feed ourselves on His Word, to communicate with Him in prayer. This is not a chore for the believer, but a blessing.

The Promises Of God Draw Us To Christ

2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Since we have the promises of God and are beloved of God:

let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit

The word translated “filthiness” is the Greek μολυσμός molysmós, (pronounced mol-oos-mos) which literally means that which stains or defiles. What are the things that defile? Jesus said:

Matthew 15:10-20 New King James Version (NKJV) {Jesus} had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” 15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

What defiles a person is a heart that is fleshly, focused on satisfying self. Jesus said that out of the heart proceeds:

evil thoughts
murders
adulteries
fornications
thefts
false witnesses
blasphemies

If you’ll notice all of these things are PLURAL. Sin draws to sin. If we belong to God we are not to wallow nor focus on sin. God does not save a person to keep on sinning. God saves a person to remove us from satan’s kingdom and transfer us into the Kingdom of God. Being saved, being the beloved of God, we are to cast off the old works of darkness. Not in our power, but in the power of Christ. The Apostle says in another place:

Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV) 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

We no longer walk in darkness. If we have received the promise of salvation, and if we are blessed by the promises of God in Christ, then we are to live accordingly. We put off the old man, the old way of being. We put on the new man, the Christ image, and love as He loved, walk as He walked. We walk in the Spirit of Christ,

cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit

What the flesh does impacts the soul. If we are filthy of soul, we will do filthiness of the flesh. If we do filthiness of the flesh, we damage our souls. Christ did not save us so we could be IN the world. Christ saved us so that we can be like our Father and our Savior.

IN CHRIST we are raised up to sit with Him in Heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV) {God} raised us up together, and made us sit together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

BY CHRIST everything I need will be supplied.

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) … my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

THROUGH CHRIST the peace of God guards and protects my heart and mind.

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) … the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

IN CHRIST I shall never see death nor defeat.

1 Corinthians 15:22 (NKJV) … in Adam all die,
even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The words “perfecting holiness” means to take upon ourselves the Word of Christ. As He is, we strive to be. As the Father is holy, we are holy. As the Son is holy, we are holy. We strive toward this mark in the power of God’s Spirit and God’s Word. What He has forbidden we put off. What Christ has modeled we put on. We do this not to be saved, but because we are saved. We do this because we love Him and want to be like Him. We are not driven by feelings nor foolishness, but by the fear (respectful awe) we have of our God. Jesus said:

John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus came to give us life. It is life to live like Jesus. “I have told you these things so that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE LIFE” (John 16:33). There is no life apart from Christ. There is no life in chasing after the things of the flesh. So many refuse to come to Jesus and follow Him for life (John 5:40). It is not life to come to Christ halfway. Follow Him. If you are God’s Beloved, cleanse yourself from the filthiness of this world (Galatians 5:19-21). Let Christ rule in your lives.

May God touch us all with His Word!