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Prayer Necessary Because Of The Battle (Part 2)

Posted on August 29, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

I was saved – wonderfully saved by faith in Christ is a little church called the Church of God when I was 17 years old. I am now approaching 61 years old – though I feel like I’m 80! Over the last 44 years of following my Master and Savior Jesus Christ – 25 of those years being blessed to be in the ministry – I have heard numerous sermons about the “Armor of God”. I have been in classrooms and Bible schools where teachers talked about putting on this armor so we could “go out and fight the devil”. Some of our songs even speak of us – like the Crusaders – going out to do battle.

Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.

Interestingly though, this passage in Ephesians does not speak of the Armor of God as an offensive weapon but a defensive weapon – which makes absolute sense!

Our Offensive Weapon Against The Devil Is
A Sure Salvation And A Daily Conversation

When you read the context carefully you see this truth. We are told to put on the WHOLE armor of God not so we can attack the devil, but so that we can STAND AGAINST the WILES of the DEVIL.

The Bible gives us a good illustration of this in the life of David. On the day that David fought Goliath the King of Israel – Saul – decided to help David out. The Bible says:

1 Samuel 17:38-39 … And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armor …

Now the King’s armor is the very finest of armor. Designed of fine chain mail and the best bronze and steel, it was not only very secure but it was very beautiful. David put on the armor – but David was a lot smaller than Saul. The Bible tells us that Saul was a head taller than anyone else in Israel (see 1 Samuel 9:2) – probably over 6 feet tall. How big was David? The Bible doesn’t say (see 1 Samuel 16:12), so David was probably of average height. Armor was designed to fit the wearer. When David tried on the armor he refused it, saying:

1 Samuel 17:39 … I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.

David had not proved or tested Saul’s armor – but he had proved or tested the armor of God. “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine!” (1 Samuel 17:37).

This is a great truth we need to understand. We battle a spiritual evil – the devil. Our battle is not with one another nor even with the lost of this world. It is with Satan – the enemy. You CANNOT battle a spiritual enemy with physical armor.

You need the Armor of God!

Our enemy is the DEVIL. The greatest thing the devil has done in the world today is to teach people that he does not exist, or else he is some harmless little red man with a pointy tail sitting on our shoulder. Some even believe that the devil is just an impersonal force – or a human characteristic. This is just not so.

The word for DEVIL is the Greek διάβολος diábolos, {pronounced dee-ab’-ol-os} which means “the slanderer or the accuser”. It is interesting that the completion of our salvation and the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God does not occur until the devil – who is a real person – is vanquished from Heaven:

Revelation 12:9-11 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

This passage in Revelation tells us much about the devil, that old dragon called satan. The devil constantly accuses us before the Throne of God. The devil has access to Heaven at this time. Just as he did in the life of Job the devil slithers into the throne room of God to accuse those who are the Children of God. Those who belong to God overcame the devil by

the BLOOD OF THE LAMB, and by
the WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY

This was what the shepherd David trusted in. Not physical armor, nor even in his sling and rock. He trusted (1) in God, and in (2) what God had done for him in his life. These are our OFFENSIVE weapons.

These two things are our offensive weapons against the devil. That which overcomes the devil is the Blood of the Lamb – our trust in God that Christ alone made payment for our sins. The other weapon we have against the devil is our KNOW SO salvation, our certainty that the Blood of Christ is applied to our lives. When you are certain of your salvation then You do not LOVE YOUR LIFE unto the death.

David was not worrying about death.
The God Who saved him from the lion and the bear would save him from Goliath!

The Christian with the know so salvation – a certain knowledge that Christ has saved him and is with him forever – that Christian does not fear death. For the Christian who is the Christian indeed death is a promotion. Why? Because Jesus has not only PROMISED this:

John 11:26 whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Believest thou this?

Well DO YOU? Do YOU believe His promise for yourself? Then this calm assurance that Christ’s Blood has saved you and guaranteed you life eternal is the greatest weapon you have against that devil. If you have received Christ as Lord and Savior then PRAYER is as natural to you as is breathing. Younger Christians – those very young in the faith – need to learn that their assurance of salvation and constant companionship of God in Christ is that which drives the devil away from us. This is the weapon that the devil cannot defeat.

Too many who profess themselves to be “Christian” have placed their faith not in the Lord Jesus Christ, but in the stuff that God has allowed them to have. The Book of Job was written to teach us that the greatest gift that God gives us is not our stuff nor our families nor even our lives. The greatest gift that God gives us is HIS PRESENCE. You only secure HIS PRESENCE by giving yourselves to Christ.

The Armor Of God Is Necessarily DEFENSIVE

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The Bible tells us to “take unto you the whole armour”. God offers salvation in Christ as a gift of God – no purchase necessary. As a Child of God the Lord also offers you the defensive armor of God. The Lord says to take unto you. It is offered to you, and must be received. As the defensive armor is presented, the Apostle speaks of the most sensitive areas first. He starts out with:

Ephesians 6:14 … Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth

Why did the Lord start out with the loins or the crotch area. It is no secret that a man can quickly be brought to his knees – no matter how powerful he is – by a quick blow to the groin area. One of the wiles of the devil is to take a God given, natural sexual appetite, and draw us to worship that feeling and sensation. It is no surprise that the devil’s grip on America has grown every year along with the almost rampant promiscuity as well as immodesty. The average American woman dresses to entice and to show off parts of her body. The Bible tells us in:

1 Timothy 2:8-10 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

God calls us to pray every where. But our prayers are to be God honoring, prayers of faith. God calls on women to not only pray, but also to adorn themselves in modest apparel. The devil can take the immodest dress of anyone and turn it into an opportunity to entrap our minds and hurt our walk with God. Again, if you look at any of the Biblical lists of sin you will inevitably find that the first and foremost sins of the flesh involve the loins

Galatians 5: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness…

Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

2 Peter 2:18 … For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

God calls us to Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. Not the truth of the world, but the truth of what God our Father has said. The Lord Jesus Christ came to save us FROM our sins, to bring us into the family of God, and to teach us that lust is not love, and self gratification is not the way of peace.

Ephesians 6:14 …. having on the BREAST PLATE of righteousness;

An enemy blow to the groin is dangerous and must be guarded against, but your chest area also needs protection. One of the wiles of the devil – the methods by which he attacks us – is to strike at our hearts. He does this by warping our sense of right and wrong. The Bible warns us:

1 Timothy 6:10-12 … the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

The child of God by faith in Christ is to follow after righteousness, to set our hearts on being like the One Who saved us. The Scripture says:

Ephesians 5:1-2 … Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us …

An unrighteous Christian is a traitor to Christ!

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Our protection against the devil is that we love God with all our hearts, and imitate Him in Christ Jesus!

Ephesians 6:15 And your FEET SHOD with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

We stand on our feet. We cannot stand against the devil if we are not standing in Christ’s Gospel. If we are standing in our own human goodness we will fail. When we fail, then the devil, that slanderer, will accuse us and discourage us. If we are standing in our ability to keep the Law of God then when we fail – and we will fail – then the devil will take this failure and cause us to lose all hope. But is our feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. The word translated preparation is the Greek ἑτοιμασία hetoimasía, {pronounced het-oy-mas-ee’-ah} which is found only here in the New Testament. The devil will do his best to trip you up. You are best prepared for his attacks when you are standing strong in the Gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:17 Above all, taking the shield of FAITH, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The Bible tells us that:

Hebrews 11:6 without FAITH it is impossible to please {God}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The shield of faith is what you keep in front of you as the enemy attacks. The stronger your faith in God, the greater this shield will be.

The Source Of The Armor Is The Word Of God

Ephesians 6:17-18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit

Salvation covers your head like a helmet. But suddenly after listing all the defensive weapons he now speaks of a defensive weapon – the Sword. The Roman warrior carried more than one sword, just like a soldier today carries a rifle and a pistol. The μάχαιρα máchaira, (pronounced makh’-ahee-rah) was a very short sword or knife that was used only when the enemy got in too close to use the long sword. It was a defensive weapon – much like a concealed carry pistol is a defensive weapon.

Please note that the sword is not called our sword. No, it is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This sword is empowered not by us, but by God the Holy Spirit. It is the Word of God that gives us the various pieces of armor. It is the Spirit of God Who explains the Word of God – the Scripture – to us. We ourselves do not protect ourselves, but God does. We ourselves do not fight the enemy – God does. This is why prayer is so very necessary.

Without prayer we will not be armored, for without prayer we will not read, understand,
and apply the Word of God to our lives.

Prayer is how we as God’s soldiers hear our Commander. It is through prayer and study of God’s Word that we become effective warriors in the battle against evil and darkness. May God lead you into a deeper walk with Him, and touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in Ephesians, prayer, Praying Like Jesus Series, Sermons Preached | Tagged armor of God, devil, prayer, prayer series, Prayer_Be_See, Satan | Leave a comment

Precious: A Homegoing Message For My Sister In Christ Ruby Aslinger

Posted on August 26, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

If I were to think of one word to describe Ruby Aslinger that word would be:

“Precious”

Ruby was precious to me. When I first met Ruby it was clear to me that she was having trouble hearing. She got close to me and spoke loudly. As I spoke to her it was clear she couldn’t hear me, so I leaned forward and she hugged me. After that time when we talked I would get very close to her, put my face against her, and speak slowly. When I prayed for her, that’s how I did it. I leaned in, rested my head on hers, and prayed. She could hear, and understand.

Ruby used to teach a Sunday School class back in the little cubbyhole we use as a store room now. It was Ruby, and Naomi Bailey, two elderly ladies. When Naomi moved away Ruby stopped teaching. During the Sunday School hour she would walk around the sanctuary and pick up trash from the pews and book racks. If she wasn’t doing that, she would sit in the Nursery with the babies. She told people the crying babies didn’t bother her because she couldn’t hear them. Ruby never sat in a Sunday School class because she just couldn’t hear. Her inability to hear eventually led to her not coming to Church anymore. She told me that she felt so self conscious and nervous.

But Ruby never stopped loving and serving the Lord. She knew God could hear her, and she could hear Him. I think that’s why God put this text on my heart today. It is Psalm 116. If you were to ask Ruby why she loved the Lord, I believe this is what she would have said:

Psalm 116:1-5 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

Ruby was like all of us. We have good days, and bad days. And we all desperately need the Lord. There was a time when the Word of Christ reached Ruby. She heard the Promise our Lord made. He said:

John 3:14-15 … as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Jesus Christ came to this earth from the splendor of Heaven. In His coming He had but one goal – to save and bring whosoever would believe on Him into God’s Kingdom. The Bible tells us that we are all – each and every one of us – are sinners in desperate need of the Savior. The Scripture states over and over again that:

Romans 3:9 … all are under sin ..

Romans 3:10 … there is none righteous, no, not one

Romans 3:12 … all are gone out of the way … there is none that doeth good

That is what we would call the bad news.

But the good news is that Jesus Christ came to be lifted up on the Cross of Calvary. Because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) God sent His Son into this broken world because He loves us all.

We are told in Romans 3:25 that the Father sent His Son into this world to pay for our sins, and to take the punishment that we deserved. If we believe on Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior – honoring Him – this faith brings us into union with God.

You may not understand this, but Jesus makes it very simple. He said:

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Take The Cup Of Salvation

Ruby believed in and received the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior. Though she had many afflictions and suffered as we all do in our imperfections and brokenness her life was the Lord’s. With the Psalmist she said:

Psalm 116:12-14 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

We are all imperfect, and God is perfect. But God offers us a cup of salvation in Christ. We embrace what He did, admit our sinfulness, and surrender ourselves to Him. We then serve Him not to be saved but BECAUSE we are saved. He promises never to leave us nor to forsake us.

I said at the beginning that Ruby was precious to me. But you need to know that Ruby was precious to the Lord as well. He says:

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

God does not see all deaths as Precious. When the unbeliever dies – the person who heard of Christ but who has spent their entire life ignoring His work on the Cross of Calvary then God says to me:

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have NO PLEASURE in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways …

God does not rejoice in the death of the wicked.

He does not rejoice in the deaths of those who have rejected Christ. But for those who have believed on Christ and received Him as Savior God says:

“Precious … that life is Precious.
That person is mine, a saint, my Child by faith.
My Son shed His blood for that person,
And now that precious soul enters into glory.”

When the Child of God by faith in Christ leaves this life their body sleeps, but their soul goes to be with the Lord. You do not cast what is precious out into the ground. You take that which is precious to yourself. You treasure it. When our sister in Christ’s body went to sleep her soul went to be with Him Who paid for it. The Apostle Paul, knowing that his death was imminent, said:

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

When Jesus said “Lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). When our sister Ruby closed her eyes in the sleep of death her body rested. But her soul went to be with Him Who paid for her with His own blood. You ask:

“Why Did Ruby Have To Die?
Why Do Any Of Us Have To Die?”

I cannot answer that, but the Lord can. He has told us:

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 … while we are at home in THIS BODY, we are absent from the Lord:

{while on earth, we are not in Heaven}

… we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY and to be PRESENT WITH THE LORD.

{when our souls leave this body, we go to Christ Jesus our Savior, if He is indeed our Savior}.

Death for the Christian is not a curse, but a blessing.

As we grow older and our brokenness becomes more pronounced, life gets harder. But our God never leaves us. On the day that Ruby passed from this life she was liberated from a broken body, and freed to be with her Lord in eternity.

A little girl was playing in the woods around her home when she happened upon a bird’s nest with four brightly colored eggs in it. She was amazed at this treasure, and afterward came back every day to see “her eggs”. One day she came to see her treasure, but found all of the eggs broken and empty, the shells scattered out on the ground. The little girl ran crying to her mother. “Mommy, I had some beautiful eggs in a nest, but now they are all broken. Nothing is left but broken shells.”. Her mamma told her as she took her baby in her arms, “Honey, those eggs are not destroyed. There were little birds in the eggs. Listen, hear them singing in the trees! They are alive still!”

We may not hear Ruby singing in the trees – but I pray God will give you spiritual eyes to see her singing in glory!

When our sister Ruby departed from this life the last thing she saw was your faces, and you her broken body. We are looking at death from this side.

From THIS SIDE, death looks like the end.

But from the other side, it is but the beginning.

Because Ruby received Christ as Lord and Savior she left this life to move into the arms of the Lord. Her mortality was swallowed up by eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:4). Death is not a cessation, but what the Apostle called “a departure”.

2 Timothy 4:6 For now I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

From THIS SIDE, death looks like a separation.

But from the other side, it is a reunion!

Our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

As Jesus said “Our God is NOT the God of the Dead, but the God of the LIVING!” (Mark 12:27)

Where Ruby is, you will one day be if Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. We have that promise from God.

From THIS SIDE, death looks like a LOSS.

But from the other side it is a gain.

When the believer departs this life we weep and mourn their passing. But we do not grieve as unbelievers grieve. Why? Because we know that Ruby left us to step into glory.

Revelation 21:3-5 … God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

When the believer leaves this life they enter a land of “no more, but much”. For Ruby there is no more”

death
sorrow
crying
pain
defeat

But there is God, Eternal God, with her forever.

This is where God would have you all be. Oh, that you would love God. Oh, that you would believe in Him, and receive Him as Lord and Savior. Oh, that you could say with Ruby:

Psalm 116:16-19 O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. 19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

The proof of eternal life is not that you live perfectly, but that you remember whose you are. You are bought with a price if you belong to Christ. You are bought with His Blood. You are precious, as Ruby is precious. And as one of His Children you shall see her again one glad day!

May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in Funeral, Sermons Preached | Tagged Funeral, Psalms, salvation | Leave a comment

An Intolerant Message (On Communion Sunday)

Posted on August 25, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

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

Revelation 1:5-7 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

In our America today it is terribly intolerant to believe that there is but one religion or but one way to God. People make statements along the line of:

“You say that ‘God is Love’. If God is ‘love’ then how can it be loving that God will cast people into hell if they don’t believe in Jesus? What about those who haver never heard of Jesus? How can that be loving?”

I have to admit that there are many things in life that I do not understand. There are many things in the Bible I don’t understand. But what baffles me is far different from what baffles you. Myself,

I just don’t understand why God saves any of us.

I really don’t understand why God loves any of us. Think about it for a moment. Put yourself in God’s place for just a moment.

God takes a broken and desolate place. “The earth was without form, and totally empty of anything” (Genesis 1:2). On this absolutely black canvas God begins to move. The first thing He does is get rid of the blackness (Genesis 1:3). He brings light into existence. He orders the light, designing the Sun and moon. He establishes a 24 hour cycle of day and night. God brings dry land out of the oceans. He places life on the earth: plant life, animal life, sea life. God establishes a perfect environment where clothing is optional. God makes this lovely planet self-reproducing, and makes life the order of the day. Once the planet is perfectly balanced God creates man and woman unique, separate from the animals. We are told in

Genesis 1 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

God gave humanity life, then gave humanity this planet. All we had to do was live in it, be content, and commune with God daily. What did we do?

We betrayed God.
We rejected God.
We tried to steal His job.
We wanted to be God.
We – even today – want to be God.

We rejected God. It is no surprise to me that over time God looked at our rejection and decided to
clear the canvas of earth.

He flooded the earth with water. That doesn’t surprise me. What surprises me is that God did not wipe all of humanity out. But He didn’t. God called a man to make a large boat called an Ark. God gave humanity 120 years to get on board that boat (Genesis 6:3), but at the end of that time only eight people got on the boat. God gives us plenty of time to get on board. God didn’t have Noah build two boats, or ten boats, or fifty boats. God had Noah build only ONE BOAT – but there was room for as many as would get on board to be saved.

I am amazed at the love of God

If I were God and had placed humanity on a perfect planet, and humanity continually rejected me as we have done God – Beloved, I would have destroyed humanity a long time ago. But God is love. God keeps on reaching out to us.

God made the planet. He made us. He put us on the planet. He put us in charge of the planet. But we decided we had all we needed. We had life, we had power, we had a planet, so we decided we didn’t need God. So we walk away from God. As we walk away our lives begin to fall in disarray. Why? Because God the Father does indeed know best.

So God raised up Prophets. He spoke to the Prophets and had them record messages – one after another – pleas from God that we return to Him. The Prophets were not well received. The Prophets and preachers of God were beaten, killed, ignored. Finally God said:

“I will send them My Son. They will reverence My Son.”

Jesus Christ – the Son of God – came to this earth. Born in a humble place – a manger – He grew up in a small town, waiting until the Father sent Him out. When Jesus left Nazareth He went to John the Baptist to be baptized. Here the Father said:

Matthew 3:17 … This is my beloved Son
in whom I am well pleased.

The Father did not mention others sons or other ways. He said This is my beloved Son. Not one of many, but This. Then Jesus takes three of His disciples out to a mountain range. Here on this mountain the Bible says that Elijah and Moses appear before a glowing Jesus. Overwhelmed by this sight Peter speaks up:

“Jesus, let us build THREE altars – one for You,
one for Elijah, and one for Moses!”

I can imagine Peter’s excitement. It would be like one of us meeting Billy Graham or C.H. Spurgeon face to face. But just as the last word Peter spoke hit the air the Father speaks:

Matthew 17:5 … This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye HIM.

Peter, Moses was a great man. Elijah was a great man. But now Jesus – He alone is special. This is my beloved Son. Not to take away from Moses, Elijah, or any of the prophets. But the Father said This. Not THEM, but This. So Who should we hear concerning salvation? Should we listen to them who profess to be prophets? Surely. Moses wrote great words. Elijah wrote great words. All of the prophets wrote great words. But here is the difference.

Moses wrote great words FROM GOD.
Elijah spoke great words FROM GOD.
The prophets spoke words FROM GOD.
But Jesus Christ IS GOD.
Jesus Christ IS THE SON OF GOD.
Jesus is the only Way to God.

Is This Message REALLY Intolerant?

The reality is that the statement “Jesus Christ is the only Way to God the Father” is not intolerant because it is the truth.

We do not call gravity intolerant because it pulls
all things to the center of the earth.
We do not call our lungs intolerant because
we breath only air and not water.
We do not call the various laws of physics intolerant.
These are facts.

It is a fact that the Father called Jesus His “only begotten Son”. God loves us. How do we know that He loves us? The Bible says:

1 John 4 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The message of Christ is that He is God’s only Begotten Son. God showed His love toward us by sending this Only Begotten Son into the world to bring us life. Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins. This is a technical judicial term which means that our sins separated us from God our Father. But Jesus Christ came to take our place of punishment. He paid our indebtedness to the Father. He paid for Adam’s sin, for Eve’s sin, and for every sin that we have ever committed. Jesus Himself said:

John 14 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.

The Father said that Christ Jesus is the Only Son He has. Jesus Christ Himself said that He is the Only Way to come to the Father. If what He said is not true, then Jesus is a liar. If what God the Father said is not true, then God the Father is a liar. But Beloved, God is not a liar. God is gracious, and kind. Though we betrayed God in the Garden, and betrayed God in Noah’s day, and even betray God today – yet God reaches out to us in love. He says to us:

“I have given you My Son. He paid for your sins. He died for your sins. He rose from the grave, making full payment for your sins. All others ways proposed by mankind as means to get to Me are wrong. I have told you TWICE in My Word:

Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Your way may seem to be right, but it isn’t. My Son Jesus told you Himself:

John 3 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Dr. R.C. Sproul put it this way:

“… supposed God was so patient, so kind, that He said I will cover this creature’s nakedness and I will provide a way of salvation for him and I will promise to deliver this ungrateful sinner from his desperate condition. I am going to send to this people that reject everything I do for them, I am going to send my only begotten Son. And I am going to take the sins of My people and transfer them to the back of my own Son who is perfectly righteous and perfectly innocent. And they kill the Son. And God said that’s ok, you killed Him. But if you will just put your trust in Him and honor Him, I will forgive you of every sin that you have ever committed again Me and again Him and I will give you eternal life where there will be no more death, no more tears, no more wickedness, no more pain, no more suffering, and you will live forever in unending bliss. But My only requirement is that you honor the One you has died in your place. Buddha didn’t die for you, Moses didn’t die for you, Mohammed didn’t die for you. And I require you that you honor and embrace my only Son. Would you dare to stand before God on the Day of Judgment and say, “God, You have not done enough.”

Would you look into the face of God and say
“One way of salvation is not enough?”

God gave us everything He could in His Son Jesus Christ. Everything. Jesus put everything on the table for us, to save us. Everything. The Bible asks “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3)? We cannot escape.

I am a sinner. You are a sinner. Buddha was a sinner. Mohammed was a sinner. Joseph Smith was a sinner. Every human being born on the face of this earth was, is, and will always be sinners. But there was One born from eternity into this earth. This One was pre-existent with God the Father. This One – the Ancient of Days – was willing to be begotten or born into humanity. The Bible testifies that this One, this Jesus Christ, “was in all points tempted as we ourselves are, but was WITHOUT SIN” (Hebrews 4:15). The Bible says that:

Hebrews 9:28 Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Do you know Him? Have you believed on Jesus Christ? Do you honor Him as Lord of your life? If so, praise God, enjoy this Table with us.

The Lord’s Table Is For Remembering Jesus

As we come to the Lord’s Table today this is a time when we remember what Jesus Christ did for us. We celebrate Him. The Scripture says:

Revelation 1:5-7 … Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

This Table is for those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
It is for those who are loved by Him and who love Him.
It is for those who have been washed from our sins in His own Blood.
It is for those who, because of His great sacrifice,

have been ADOPTED as sons of God and
inducted into the Royal Family of God.

Our Jesus is coming again. We who believe in Him will REJOICE at His coming, but the one who has not believed on Him will WAIL at His coming. Oh Jesus, precious Jesus, come quickly. We prepare our hearts as we go to His Table. May God the Holy Spirit draw you to His side!

Posted in Johanan Sermons, Sermons Preached | Tagged Communion, God's Love, Jesus Christ, salvation | Leave a comment

Prayer Necessary Because Of The Mystery

Posted on August 22, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Ephesians 6:18-20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

It is very easy when preaching, teaching, or reading scripture to take it out of context. I am constantly learning and growing as I study God’s Word, and finding ways that I myself took things out of context. This is a human condition we are all subject to do, probably inherited from our forefather Adam when he did not stop Eve from taking that which was forbidden. He knew what God said, but perhaps thought that the restriction against eating the forbidden only applied to himself. When Eve ate with no ill effects he followed suit – and humanity was plunged into sin.

We must stay in context. There is no error in the Scripture unless we introduce it via our sinful minds.
We must also be empowered by God The Spirit.

The text today on prayer is first of all a command from the Apostle to the believers at Ephesus – and by extension for all of us. Paul wanted to be able to share the Gospel even though he was bound and headed toward Rome to be judged. In his affliction he wanted the Christians at Ephesus to pray not that he be released, but that he be enabled to preach the Gospel.

Pray that his attitude does not change.
A bad attitude is like a flat tire.
You go nowhere until it’s changed.
Bound to guards, unjustly accused of treason,
It would be so easy for the devil to get in Paul’s heart.

The Apostle at this moment saw his binding
not as binding or restriction.
He was on the front lines doing battle with the devil.
But He did not battle alone.
The Apostle saw his limitations and his place as an opportunity from God for God to share the Gospel with as many lost Gentiles as possible. Toward that end Paul asked that the Church pray for him that his attitude and giftedness not be hindered by his suffering. The Apostle saw himself in a battle not for his life, but for the eternal lives of those around him. The Apostle asked the Church to pray for three things:

that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel

Paul asked that the Church pray that his heart remain receptive to the Word of God. No God called preacher or teacher brings a message of their own invention. God must speak to the heart of the ambassador in bonds: that therein [he] may speak boldly. There is a temptation to every speaker of the Word to soften the message lest the audience be offended. Yet the Scripture reminds us that the Gospel message and this Bible is offensive. It is a message the world considers foolish:

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

People believe themselves to be inherently good. This is a lie that the devil sold the world. As God created the world He saw that it was good. When God created Adam and Eve in His image to walk with Him we read:

Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

It was the devil who slithered into the Garden of Perfection and suggested that something was NOT very good. This is what the devil does. He hears what God says then chooses to speak the exact opposite of what God has said. It is God Who designed the family. It is God Who placed Adam as the Head of the Family, and Eve as his helped. It is God Who designed Adam to be genetically male and Eve to be genetically female. But the devil will always suggest another way. The culture around Paul is cruel and polytheistic – believing in many gods and goddesses. So he asked Ephesus to pray for him, so that utterance may be given unto me, that he might know what to say to share the Gospel to those around him who were blinded to it.

The Apostle also asked that …

… utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel

There is a temptation to any speaker of God’s Word to make the message less offensive, to dumb it down. One passage that should be on all of our hearts is found in an earlier text in Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:11-15 And {God} gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

God established the speaking gifts not to tickle the ears, but to build up the Body of Christ the Church. We are to speak the truth in love – but nonetheless the darkness does not understand the light.

The speaking gifts are to unify Christ’s Church, to make us one in our faith and devotion to God, and to make us more like Christ. Too many Churches are bounced around and minimized by the world, having little if any effect, because the doctrines of the Church have been merged with the teachings and philosophies of the world. The speaker gifted of God must be able to be speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

The Apostle knew how weak the flesh was, and knew that he himself could fall victim to the delusions of the devil. So he asked the Church to pray for him that he could be speaking the truth in love. Jesus spoke the truth in love.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at a well so long, long ago He spoke the truth in love. When He met the woman (the account is in John chapter 4) Jesus said – I’m sure with a smile on His face:

“Give Me some water to drink.”

“Why are You, a Jew, talking to a Samaritan like me?”

“If you knew Who I was you would have asked Me for LIVING water.”

“But you have no way of drawing water, much less LIVING water.”

“Whoever drinks of THIS well water will be thirsty again. Whoever drinks of the LIVING water I give them will never thirst, but will become wells of everlasting life!”

… and here is where many speakers slip. We forget to tell the ones we speak to that they must REPENT of their way and turn to Christ. The woman said:

“Give me this water that will quench my thirst forever!”

“Go and call YOUR HUSBAND, and come back.”

“I have no husband.”

“You’re right. You have had FIVE husbands and the one you’re with now is NOT YOUR HUSBAND.”

This may be politically incorrect but why did God mention her husband? Because she was in sin. She needed to repent, and THEN come to Jesus, trusting Him for the Living Water.

Beloved, God will save no one IN their sins. We must first REPENT – which is to recognize our way is NOT RIGHT – then RUN TO JESUS –
this is the Way of peace and salvation.

The devil led world tells us to keep our mouths shut, to go along to get along. God would have us to speak with boldness but with love. People must know that their way is destructive, but that God’s Way is where life is.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

The devil and the world want to delude as many as possible into taking the way of death. The Apostle knew this, so asked that the Church pray for him that he would be bold to share that Gospel, that glorious Gospel of salvation.

that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the MYSTERY of the gospel

The Gospel is a “mystery”. When we think of a “mystery” we think of what we call a “who done it?”, a novel where someone is killed and throughout the book the main characters study and deduce until they can figure out who the killer is. That is what we call a “mystery”.

In the Gospel “mystery” we know who the killer(s) are. We are. We killed Jesus. Our sins killed Jesus. God the Father killed Jesus. Why was Jesus killed? Because all are sinners, and God is pure and righteous. Jesus Christ willingly came to this earth because of our sins. We are told in:

Hebrews 10:1-3 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Sin in our lives kept us separate from God. We could not be in a state where we could commune with God daily in prayer because of our violation of God’s Law. We are all sinners. So here’s the first mystery:

1 God Came Into The World To Save Us From Sin

Hebrews 10:5-9 Wherefore when {Jesus} cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Here is a great mystery, that God the Son would willingly come into this world to make payment for our sins. God gave us the Law in the Old Covenant – the First Covenant. But we continued to break the Law. If we had not broken the Law then we would have made but one sacrifice on the brazen altar. But we had to sacrifice year after year because we kept on sinning. It is NOT POSSIBLE that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. But Jesus can. Jesus can. He is God in the flesh, as John told us.

John 1:1-2, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. … 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us …

2 God Died For The World To Save Us From Sin

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

This is the mystery of the Cross. Many have died in human history, but ONLY JESUS died specifically to satisfy the justice of God. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said:

John 1:29 … Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

And the Apostle said in Romans 4:24-25 … we believe on {God} that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

No one is able to fully understand this. One tiny little sin can keep a person from Heaven. It doesn’t matter how small we perceive it, just a tiny bit will send the soul to hell. But God sent His Son to die for us. Jesus was delivered for our offenses, offenses against God the Father and against Heaven. Jesus paid for our sins with His death. But here’s something we often forget: Jesus was raised again for our justification. Had He remained dead He would have paid for our sins, but we would not be justified or made fully righteous in the eyes of God. Why? The Scripture says:

Romans 8:27, 33-34 {God} maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God…. 33-34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior His Blood not only covers your sins, but He continually maketh intercession for us at the right hand of God the Father. Praise God, the Christian faith is God made and God secured. This is a mystery that the world does not understand and, I suppose, many of us do not fully understand. But it is nonetheless true no matter what we feel. When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior the Holy Spirit indwells you and Jesus represents you. That is just fantastic!

3 God Died For All And Rose Again To Rule His Kingdom

When Jesus walked this earth He spoke in parables because, He told His followers:

Mark 4:11 … Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior you become members of the Kingdom of God. We are His Children and His subjects. The Apostle said:

Philippians 3:17-21 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our CONVERSATION (literally CITIZENSHIP) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Those who walk contrary to the ways of righteousness and light are called enemies of the cross of Christ. They do not live as citizens of God’s Kingdom. Citizens of God’s Kingdom walk in the Spirit of God. We walk looking upward, for Jesus is watching us, and Jesus is coming again. We do not serve the lusts of the flesh – Jesus saved us from our sin so that we can serve our Living God.

Jesus did not save us so that we can freely SIN,
But so that we can freely SERVE our Lord.
Our CITIZENSHIP is in Heaven,
Though we dwell on the earth.
And one day soon we shall see Him face to face.
What a glorious day that will be!

We who belong to Jesus want as many as possible to come into this wonderful, mysterious Kingdom of God. This is why Paul asked the Church to pray for Him. Let us pray for one another. Let us pray that as a Church people will see Christ in us. Let us pray that we will walk as proper citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom. This is why the Apostle said:

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We are to pray for one another that Christ’s Kingdom be advanced. We wrestle not against flesh and bone, but against the forces of evil. Let us pray for one another that we will be creatures of God’s Light.

May Christ be lifted up, and the Father be glorified by this message. Amen!

Posted in prayer, Sermons Preached | Tagged prayer, prayer series | Leave a comment

The Other Side

Posted on August 19, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Jon Flobrant on Unsplash

Humans Make Things So Complicated

As humans we make things exceptionally difficult on ourselves. We really do. A man and woman get into a sexual relationship outside of the will of God. As is expected, such a relationship gets difficult. When you ask them about it, their reply is:

“It’s Complicated”

No, it’s not complicated. We make it complicated. We don’t listen to God or His Word and try to do it ourselves in our own ways and find complications. This has never changed. As Daniel that wonderful and righteous Prophet of God rightly said:

“O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee,
but unto us CONFUSION OF FACES” (Daniel 9:7)

When we depart from God and His Word – living as He tells us to live – we get confusion of face. Iniquity – disobedience to God – brings confusion of face (Ezra 9:7). Oh that we would remember:

“God is not the Author of confusion,
But of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33)”

I was standing in a hospital hallway the other day, waiting to visit and pray with a sick person. As I stood there I decided to read my Bible. I still carry a leather bound Bible with me when I visit people. Some carry them on their electronic devices – I just prefer the old bound Bible. Not judging you, by the way: I love technology! But nothing beats the feel of the old leather Treasure. As I was reading in Joshua I came across a phrase I honest can’t say ever really struck me before. I suspect it’s because – as I said – we all make things too complicated. The phrase was this.

Turn with me in your Bibles to Joshua chapter 24. I want to show you what I saw.

Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

Joshua 24:3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Now unless you’re blind, deaf, or just pure dumb you saw the phrase, the other side of the flood. As soon as I read that I said to the Lord “I see a sermon in this”
and He told me “tell them”.

So I’m going to tell you. You can make this complicated or you can just let God speak to you. The phrase the other side of the flood is not Joshua’s invention. Joshua is at the end of his career of service as a Judge in Israel. He has honorably served the Lord, and is preparing to retire. He wants Israel to hear a final word from God.

Joshua 24:1-2 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said unto all the people, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL …

This is God’s Word. Not Joshua’s word. God’s word.

Obeying God’s Word Brings Blessing

The people came together in one accord at Shechem.
Why Shechem?
How did they get to Shechem?

It was at Shechem that God called out Abram who would become Abraham. God spoke to him and said “Follow Me, and I will bless.” Now that’s not complicated. Hear God, follow God. Because of that promise Abraham built the first altar to God in Shechem (Genesis 12:7). When Jacob, Abraham’s grandson repented and began to follow God he buried his idols at Shechem. Jacob built an altar to God our Father at Shechem (Genesis 33:18-20) and built another altar at Bethel (Genesis 35:1-4) when God had him go there. When Joshua first led Israel into the Promised Land it was at Shechem that this generation repented and pledged to follow God’s call (Joshua 8:30-35) following Achan’s sin (Joshua 7). Following their pledge they built another altar at Shechem. From that point on Joshua and Israel had NOTHING but triumph. Following God and simply obeying Him brought blessing beyond measure.

Now the Promised Land has been taken, and Israel is triumphant. Why? Because they followed God. So as they all stand at Shechem they presented themselves before God. Oh Beloved, do you not know the words of our Lord?

Matthew 12:25 … Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand .. (see also Luke 11:17)

God calls His people to unity with HIM and with ONE ANOTHER. We who are His are to follow HIM TOGETHER. As they stand before God, the Lord Himself speaks through Joshua’s mouth:

Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL …

This is not Joshua’s opinion. This is God’s word coming through his humble servant. Hear God’s word!

Joshua 24:2 … Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

Your forefathers on the other side of the flood served other gods. Let’s look at that phrase “other side of the flood” in the Hebrew. Many versions translate this text as “the other side of the RIVER” – perhaps the version you are reading does that. The Hebrew עֵבֶר ʻêber, (pronounced ay’-ber) נָהָר nâhâr, (pronounced naw-hawr’) can indeed be translated “the other side of the river” but can also be translated “flood or floods” (see the New American Standard translation of nâhâr in Psalm 93:3) or “rushing streams” (see the New American Standard translation in Isaiah 59:19) or “seas” (see the New American Standard translation in Jonah 2:3). In reality the word nâhâr can be used for any large body of water. In our Joshua text today the word is used as a reference to the Jordan River which was flooded when Israel passed over it. Yet they by faith they heeded God’s Word. In union with God and with one another the Bible tells us that:

Joshua 3:15-16 … as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon a heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

As soon as God’s people did what God told them to do, the floods were held back, and God’s people went through the midst of the waters as if on dry land. This was not the first time God did this. The first generation of Israel left left Egypt because they obeyed the Lord. After they left Egypt it wasn’t long before Pharaoh and all the godless pagans chased the Lord’s people. As Israel followed the Lord the Lord led them to the edge of another Flood, the Red Sea. God’s people began to revolt as they saw the Egyptian Army marching toward them. They began to grumble, to backbite, to fragment. “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. (Exodus 14:11-12)”. Artist Keith Green wrote a song before he went to be with the Lord called “So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt”. The lyrics are amusing.

So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it’s warm and secure.
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure.
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it’s getting so hard
Are you sorry you’re out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard?
Well there’s nothing do but travel,
And we sure travel a lot!
‘Cause it’s hard to keep your feet from moving,
When the sand gets so hot!
And in the morning it’s manna hotcakes,
We snack on manna all day.
And we sure had a winner last night for dinner,
Flaming manna souffle!

What happened at the flood that was the Red Sea? You know the story. Moses told Israel:

Exodus 14:13-14 … Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

When Moses said STAND STILL he didn’t mean they shouldn’t move their feet. They would have to move their feet. But God wanted them to be still, look up, and trust Him. God was going to do a miracle. But God wouldn’t do the miracle if they wouldn’t hush up and quit blaming God. God also wouldn’t do the miracle if they wouldn’t do what God said.

Beloved, we must do what God says if we
expect to receive the blessing.
God will get us through the flood,
through the impossible rivers and seas.
But we must hear Him and do as He says!
It makes no human sense that Moses’ staff will part tons of water.
It makes no human sense that a Box which is the Ark
will hold back a raging river.
It makes no human sense that believing on and obeying
Jesus will bring blessing and eternal life.
It makes no human sense that this Book of Books is God breathed.
It makes no human sense – but it is true nonetheless!

I could talk about Noah and the Ark of Genesis 6 – and the REALLY big Flood that sin brought on the world – but I won’t. I will say this. When you follow God you will find blessing in your life. When you just plain obey the Lord’s Word you will be blessed. But when you follow idols – which includes yourself – then you bring a curse on your life. Want to be blessed? Follow Jesus! Follow this precious Word! Love one another. Love God. Now that’s not hard, is it?

To Believe Is To Put Away The Other gods

Joshua 24:3 I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

God took Abraham. How did God take Abraham? He told Abraham what to do, and Abraham did it. God doesn’t pick us up by the nape of our necks and drag us where He wants us to be. He speaks to us. He directs us. He tells us. How did Abraham get children. Did Abraham sit in the recliner day after day and bemoan the fact that he had no kids? Or did he do something about it? Beloved, the only miraculous conception in the Bible is the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was to Mary that God said “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” (Luke 1:35). Jesus was born supernaturally. Isaac was born the old fashioned way. If you don’t know what that is, go home and ask your mommy! God said that He multiplied Abraham’s seed, and gave him Isaac. An impotent man was made potent. God changed him – and Abraham obeyed God and had a child.

God moves us when we hear Him and do as He says. He blessed Abraham, and He will bless you.

When we were on the other side of the flood we served the gods. We served the Roman god Bacchus, the god of sex and alcohol. We served the Greek god Narcissus, the god of self worship. We served the Egyptian god Isis, the goddess of health and medicine. We served mother earth as a goddess. We served many other gods and goddesses. But like Abraham we put away the other gods and goddesses and love only the One True God.

Joshua 24:14 … Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

You are not as you were before. When in Egypt you served other gods. When you were wandering you served other gods. When you were with your forefather Terah you served other gods. You have seen that believing in the Lord brings blessing.

I am not my own. I am bought with a price. God has shed His Blood for me on Calvary. God called me from the fishing nets. He said “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”. Believing is not a one time thing, but a daily obedience. Let me say that again:

Believing is not a one time occurrence.
It is a daily faithfulness to God.

What does God call you to do? Fear the Lord. Show Him the respect due His status. Yes, the Bible says that there is no fear in love, but you take this out of context. I do not fear hell, for Jesus Christ gave Himself for me. Because of this I have boldness in the day of judgment (1 John 4:17). I do not fear judgment. Because Jesus gave Himself for me, I do not fear death, for God dwelleth in me, and I in Him (1 John 4:12). He has given us of His Spirit (1 John 4:13), and death but a pin prick for I am immortal because my God is immortal. No, I do not fear anything on this earth. But the Son of God should Fear the Lord. We should Fear hurting Him. We should Fear disappointing Him. We should Fear to walk in a way that He does not walk. My power is in Him. Has not Christ said:

John 15:5 … without me ye can do nothing.

You took the Promised Land walking with and in God. Will you now keep that which you have without Him? Absolutely not! Let us who are His Fear the Lord. As Moses said,

Exodus 33:15 … If thy presence go not with me …
carry us not up hence.

If God is not in it, if Christ is not glorified by it, I DO NOT WANT IT! And neither should you, dear Christian.

What does God call you to do? Serve Him in sincerity and in truth. The Christianity brayed about today from mulish pulpits and musical nonsenses makes out that God serves us. God is a massive Waiter Who watches our every move, daring not to upset us lest we in rage without our affection. May I tell you that this is satanic nonsense. The Christianity that does not teach service to God and service to others is not Christianity at all, but an ancient evil that was first suggested by a serpent in the Garden of Eden. God does not exist to serve you, but you Him. We are to Serve Him not to be saved, but BECAUSE we are saved. What did Jesus teach us?

Luke 22:26-27 … But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Our Master served. Our Savior served. Our Jesus commands that we serve. Not sit. Serve. Serve. Bend your knees, bend your back, and serve. That selfish thing which has become the Church in America and the American Christian is not even close to the Church that Christ died for. Jesus showed you how to serve. Look at the nails in His hands and feet. Listen to the crowd mock Him. Do you not know that at any time Jesus could have called out to the Father, and He would have at once sent to rescue Him twelve legions of Angels (Matthew 26:53)? But He did not. He gave everything in service to save us.

And yet most of us cannot sit still for 30 minutes to hear from His Word once a week.
Oh Beloved, let it not be so!

The selfish Christian is the unspiritual Christian. As Jesus served, let us serve. Serve not because you MUST. Serve Him in sincerity and in truth. This is the way to blessing. Works will not save you – you cannot work your way to Heaven. But if you are saved by faith in Christ then you will not be the way you were. You will gladly serve Him.

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

When you serve Him with gladness, when you serve Him in sincerity and in truth, then your heart will overflow with gladness. You will experience His presence. You see, the reason that God is speaking to Joshua and through Joshua is because Joshua served the Lord in sincerity and in truth.

Make Up Your Mind Who You Believe

Choose. Quit sitting on the fence and choose. If you are not going to serve the Lord Jesus then quit pretending. An unbeliever pretending to be a believer is just a fool. If you don’t believe in Him, then obey the god you believe in. But Beloved, I’ve made up my mind. You can call me homophobic, a hater, a misogynist, a b——, or anything else you want to call me. As God is my Witness I hate no one. I wish you all would come to this side of the flood. I really do. I wish you would trust Jesus, step out on faith, and let Him guide your life. I wish you would stop writing your own story and let the Lord Jesus Christ become the Author and Finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). I pray that for you. But if you won’t, then be honest with yourselves. Be honest, and serve that false god. But I stand with Joshua. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Amen!

Posted in Joshua, Sermons Preached | Tagged salvation, serving God, serving Him | Leave a comment

When Thou Art Converted

Posted on August 18, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Zugr on Unsplash

The past two weeks in the Christian news world two men astounded myself and others with their testimonies. The first man was a pastor and an author of a best selling book called “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”. The man renounced his Christian faith, walked away from his wife, and joined a Gay Pride Parade in Vancouver. Another man – a highly successful worship music writer renounced his faith in Christ. Many Churches sang his worship songs, songs like All I Need Is You:

One more day and it’s not the same
Your Spirit calls my heart to sing
Drawn to the voice of my Saviour once again
Where would my soul be without Your Son
Gave His life to save the earth
Rest in the thought that You’re watching over me
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord

What beautiful words! This poor man upon renouncing his faith in Christ wrote:

“How many preachers fall? Many. No one talks about it. How many miracles happen. Not many. No one talks about it. Why is the Bible full of contradictions? No one talks about it. How can God be love yet send four billion people to a place, all ‘coz they don’t believe? No one talks about it.”

Salvation Comes By Doing The Father’s Will

I didn’t bring this up today to judge these men. There have always been people who have come into contact with the Church who outwardly looked Christian. Jesus forewarned us:

Matthew 7:21-23 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

From what Jesus said it is possible to do as I’m doing here today – to stand in this wonderful place and preach His Gospel – and yet still be lost. It is possible to be a great missionary who – confronting devil possessed people – can cast out devils – and yet still be lost. You could run an orphanage, or go on mission with our Director of Missions, and minister to those in need – and still be lost. You can pastor a mega-church or a mini-church, or lead the worship services, or serve in the choir, and still be lost.

Jesus said the only ones who go to Heaven is he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. What did Jesus mean by the will of my Father? That is very important. Jesus said:

Matthew 12:50 … whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

What is this will of my Father Jesus spoke of ?

What is it that God the Father would have us all do? Jesus was quite plain on this point. Someone asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?”. Jesus replied:

John 6:29 This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE ON HIM whom he hath sent.

The work of God is to believe on Jesus. It is so important to believe on Jesus. To believe Him as He is presented in the Scriptures. To believe Him as the Word of God. To believe that He is the Only Way to Heaven. As that poor deluded man said:

How can God be love yet send four billion people to a place,
all ‘coz they don’t believe?

God IS love. He loved you so much, and loved me so much, that He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for our sins, to pay a payment we cannot pay. If four billion people go to hell it will not be because God wished them there. It will be because they would not do the ONE WORK that God requires – to believe on the Son.

When We Believe SOMEONE Happens

When we believe on the Son of God something happens. Let me change the way I said that. When we believe on the Son of God SOMEONE happens. Jesus told us in another place:

John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

When you believe on Christ SOMEONE happens.
The Holy Spirit COMES to you.
The Holy Spirit CONVERTS you.
The Holy Spirit CHANGES you.
You are NOT THE SAME when you believe on Christ.
The BLOOD OF CHRIST brings forgiveness.
The SPIRIT OF GOD brings change.
You are changed from DARKNESS to LIGHT.
You are changed from SON OF ADAM to a SON OF GOD.
You are changed from FAMILY OF MAN to FAMILY OF CHRIST.
You are changed from perpetual SINNER to eternal SAINT.
You are changed from HELL bound to HEAVEN bound.
You are changed from workmanship of SATAN to craftsmanship of GOD.

I believe that the reason so many people who were apparently and visibly Christian come back and later change their testimonies is because they have not truly believed on Jesus Christ.

We see an example of this in our message today in Luke chapter 22. Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 22. Matthew, Mark, LUKE. The third Book in this Book of Books, this Master Text, this uncorrupted and incorruptible Word of God that abideth forever and ever. What is happening in Luke 22?

Luke 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

It is the Passover, the Jewish Feast that commemorated Israel’s salvation from Egypt. It is a time when lambs without spot or blemish are killed, and their blood poured out to cover the sins of God’s people. The Passover is a time of SANCTIFICATION, a time of SEPARATION, a time DEDICATION to God. But what are the leading Preachers and Teachers doing in this most Holy of times? We are told:

Luke 22:2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill {Jesus}; for they feared the people.

While we gather around and sing “Oh, how I love Jesus, because He first loved me” the religious crowd gathers and sings “Oh, how we hate Jesus!”. So you have this crowd of outwardly religious preachers, teachers, and worship leaders who plot and plan. What else do you have?

For over three years twelve men have followed Christ. Outwardly they look good. They sat in His classes,
and ate at His table.

But something is wrong with all of these men. They followed Jesus OUTWARDLY, but God the Holy Spirit had not yet been given, for Christ was not yet glorified. The Spirit did not come to indwell these men. Jesus has not yet been crucified for our sins. He has not died on Calvary. The Spirit came temporarily on these men, but did not come to abide as Jesus said. Outwardly they looked good. Inwardly they were not changed.

Luke 22:3-6 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Judas followed Jesus.

Judas was there when Jesus healed.
Judas was there when Jesus fed five thousand.

Judas carried baskets of food out and ministered with the other eleven on that wonderful day. Judas was an Apostle. It was Jesus’ intention to bless Judas Iscariot along with the other eleven. Jesus would later tell Judas and the others:

Luke 22:28-30 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the TWELVE tribes of Israel.

Twelve Apostle – Twelve Thrones – Twelve Tribes in Israel. These men followed Jesus. Judas followed Jesus. But note the phrase Then entered Satan into Judas. Judas was not indwelt by the Spirit of God, but with the Angel of Evil. Satan took hold of him. He was FILLED with the devil.

Jesus Modeled Absolute Surrender To God

Jesus has these men set up a table where He can celebrate the final Passover meal with these twelve.

Luke 22:15 With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you BEFORE I SUFFER:

Jesus knew He was gong to suffer Calvary, but wanted to have one final meal with His men. As He ate the meal with the men He showed them how much He loved us all. He was going to suffer a terrible death, a horrible thing for the Son of God. The Bible says:

Luke 22:19 {Jesus} took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Jesus speaks of His absolute surrender.
His Body is going to be broken.
He shall suffer.
This do in remembrance of Me.
Remember what I did for you.
The agony, the pain – for YOU!

Is not God love? Is He not love? We are nothing, and Christ is everything. Yet Everything gave everything for this nothing.

Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament IN MY BLOOD, which is shed FOR YOU.

Jesus would shed His Blood for you, for each person at this Table, for each person in this room. But as the Scripture says:

2 Timothy 2:19 … The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The Lord knows. I do not know, but the Lord knows. Jesus knows that Judas Iscariot has betrayed Him. He said

Luke 22:20 … BEHOLD, the hand of him that betrayeth Me is with Me on the table.

Jesus knows them that are His. He knows them. Judas is going to betray Christ. Jesus said:

Luke 22:22 … truly the Son of man goeth, as IT WAS DETERMINED: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

God knew Judas would betray Jesus. But woe unto Judas! But Judas is not the only person who is going to betray Jesus. Jesus has just finished showing the disciples absolute surrender – His absolute surrender. Jesus wants us to live lives of absolute surrender to God just as He did. But here’s something shocking.

Luke 22:24 … there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

For over three years Jesus has taught these disciples humility. For over three years He has told them, over and over again,

Matthew 11:29 … learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart …

Luke 14:11 … whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted …

Jesus taught His disciples – these twelve men – humility and surrender to God. Jesus taught us to “be clothed with humility, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5-7, my paraphrase). Jesus told us and them:

Matthew 16:24-25 … If any man will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

The way of Christ is absolute surrender. Jesus is going to absolutely surrender Himself to Calvary. He’s just explained His broken body and shed Blood. In the midst of all this:

here the twelve sit ARGUING “Who will be the GREATEST”!

Why? Why is this? Because though these men followed Jesus, and though these men heard His teaching, none of these men were yet indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

How do I know this? Because of something Jesus told Peter, something I have read numerous times but it has never pierced the fog of my mind until this sermon.

Jesus chastises the disciples once more for their pride. He says:

Luke 22:25-26 … The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Jesus called these men – and us – to be like Himself. If you’re going to be like Jesus you need to humble yourselves. Pride cannot take you very far. As Jesus says these words and watches them bounce off of these men, He focuses on Peter. Who was Peter? Peter was a disciple open to the Lord. The day that Jesus called Peter He said:

John 1:42 … Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas {or “Peter”}, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Jesus gave Simon the name Cephas or Peter, which means Stone. But now Jesus calls him not Peter, but Simon:

Luke 22:31-33 And the Lord said, SIMON, SIMON, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and WHEN THOU ART CONVERTED, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready …

I have read this passage so many times but have never absorbed those four words:

WHEN THOU ART CONVERTED

Satan is going to sift Simon. Not Peter the Rock, but Simon. Simon means “he who hears” but Cephas means “a solid rock”. Simon is not yet really Peter. Why? Because he has not been CONVERTED (ἐπιστρέφω epistréphō, pronounced ep-ee-stref’-o) or changed, turned around. The devil was going to get hold of Simon, but God would turn him around. While Simon was trying to do things in his own power he would deny the Lord. Oh, Simon was sincere. He said:

Lord, I am ready to go with thee,
both into prison, and to death. (vs 33)

I have no doubt of his sincerity. I do not doubt the sincerity of the pastor and author who once claimed to be a Christian but now renounces his faith. I do not doubt the sincerity of the musician who wrote such stirring worship music who once claimed to be a Christian but now renounces his faith. I believe these men, and others of whom I know, were very sincere and very genuine. They were outwardly such paragons of faith.

But did they know Jesus?
Had God the Holy Spirit come to them?
Were they surrendered to Christ?
If you are surrendered to Christ you are Peter.
If you are puffed up by self you are Simon.

Who Are You Following?

You can have the best of intentions, but unless you have believed on Him Whom the Father hath sent there is no genuine salvation. Salvation is not found in how you are dressed. Salvation is not found in the songs you produce or sing. Salvation is not found in being a good preacher or a good orator. Where is salvation found?

Only in Jesus. Only in receiving Him as Lord and Savior. Only in the heart and mind submitted to Him. When you submit to Him – something only you can do – He sends the Spirit of God to you. When you bend the knee to Calvary, knowing yourself worthy only of damnation but for Christ, then the Son rises in your life. The Son becomes your Lord, and your Lord enters your life. He changes you, and begins to make you into that creature that God wants you to be.

Simon, when thou art converted, when your direction is changed;
When the “I” no longer rules, but you bow in wonder and admiration
Not to yourself, but to Jesus. Then the Spirit comes. Then the life changes.

Art thou converted? Or are you following yourself?

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me Jesus take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender
Make me Saviour wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine!

I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all.

Posted in Luke, Sermons Preached | Tagged believing, conversion, Luke, salvation | Leave a comment

Absolute Surrender

Posted on August 15, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Scooter The Guard Dog 2.png I walked outside to go to the Church house and my wife was on our back porch in her morning prayers. She quietly said:

“Look at the squirrel on the bird feeder.”

I stopped and looked. I tried to get a picture of it – it was so comical. When I tried to take the picture our dog Scooter ran out into the yard to protect us from that ferocious squirrel. Of course the squirrel got away. Thanks Scooter! It may be hard for you to see it but the bird feeder is to the left of Scooter, top left hand corner of the picture. I circled it so you could see it better (I hope). The squirrel was hanging upside down by it’s back paws from the top of the feeder. He had already fallen off the feeder once that we know of as he tried to get to the bird food. You might think “Well the poor thing is hungry”. That wasn’t the problem. If you look to the right of Scooter the Guard Dog (thank the Lord for him) there is another ground feeder I made especially for squirrels and ground hogs. That feeder was filled to the overflowing with good dried corn – something that squirrels love. Why was the squirrel hanging precariously upside down trying to steal bird food? Greed. Just like humans have greed, animals have greed.

Just this week I heard about the apparent suicide of multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein. The man had been blessed beyond measure with the wealth of this world, but that wasn’t enough. He used his power and money to molest and harm some 36 young girls, several as young as 14 years old. He was arrested and convicted to 18 months in a private minimum security prison. After 3 ½ months of incarceration he was allowed “work release” up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. Arrested a second time for sexual trafficking of minors he apparently took his own life. The Justice department is outraged. The Corrections Department is outraged. Everybody is outraged that this man got away without being punished. But Beloved, he has not escaped justice. He is in the hands of our Sovereign and Almighty God. The God Who made him will now judge him. Epstein got away with nothing, for God has said:

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

God Will Judge

We serve a God Who will judge every soul. Every soul will stand before Him one day and give an account. The Bible says:

Romans 14:12 … every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.

None are exempt. All will give an account. The Christ Follower will give an account of how he or she served the Lord in this life. We then will gain or lose future eternal reward according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). The Christ follower’s works will be judged, but not their souls – for Christ Himself has saved our souls.

We are bought with a price so that we are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s (1 Corinthians 3:23). We are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23) dear Christian – the precious Blood of Christ. Our works will be judged, but our souls are under the Blood of Christ.

But of the unbeliever, they too shall be judged. They will be judged for their rejection of Christ. Their works will be judged, but their works will be inadequate to save them. They have not called upon the Name of Christ, so they are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. What saith the Scripture:

Revelation 21:27 … And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Just as Sherry feeds the squirrels, God feeds us all. God blesses us all. What will we do with that blessing? We can follow the path of sin and at the end of that rainbow find not a pot of gold but a heap of misery. Or we can surrender to God – Absolutely Surrender to God. This is what David speaks of in Psalm 139.

Psalm 139:1-5 … O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

God Is Watching

We hide nothing from God. God watches over us all. God provides great things for us. Yet we often like that little squirrel choose the things that end up cursing us. King David recognized that the LORD is always there.

I often wonder how much differently would business meetings be held if everyone understood that God is here?

I often wonder if we would watch horrid shows like “Game of Thrones” or some show that glorifies sexual perversion if we understood that God is there?

I often wonder if we would gossip on the phone, or malign someone else, or be hateful or racist if we understood that God is there?

King David recognized that there was nothing he could hide from God. That poor Epstein fellow killed himself to escape justice. Adolf Hitler killed himself to escape Nuremberg. Beloved, there is no escape from God. God is there. God is watching. And God will judge.

Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

David said in essence – “I myself have trouble grasping this concept”. David knew it was true because God told him. But he could not fully grasp it. I don’t think any of us fully grasp this. God is there with you, dear Christ follower. Do you not know that …

1 Corinthians 3:16 … ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If you are saved by faith in Christ – an action that the Holy Spirit of God does to you (see Titus 3:5-6) – then upon your salvation the Holy Spirit moves into your body. He is there. He is there whether you feel Him or not. He is there whether you sense Him or not. He is watching you, protecting you, guiding you. You may go through valleys but God is there. You may forget Him at times, but God is there. The Valley of the Shadow of death may come, but as Scripture says:

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for THOU ART WITH ME; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Whether in bad times (thy rod) or in good times (thy staff) our comfort is that THOU, O LORD, ART WITH ME. There is no escape from God for the evil doer, and no escape from God for those who are His Children through Christ. God is with us. God watches both Heaven and Hell:

Psalm 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

God was there watching you when you were born. In fact, God made you. The Bible says:

Psalm 139:13-17 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

God made you, and God made me. He made you the way you are. He did not make you to sin nor to ignore Him, but gave you your abilities and talents to glorify Him, to praise Him. When God thinks of you He wants only the best for you. This is why the Psalmist sang How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them. God wants to bless your lives. But there is no blessing in ignoring God, and no blessing in committing sin. Oh Beloved, reject sin! Turn from sin and turn to God. Sin brings destruction.

Psalm 139:19-20 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

We who love the Lord and have been saved by the Lord’s Blood do not lay down with the wicked. The enemies of God take His Name in vain. They march, taking pride in their sinfulness. God will judge them. He will judge the sinner. We who are His need to remember that there was a time when we walked in darkness – but Christ has changed us. The Holy Spirit has ..

Colossians 1:1 … delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Because of Jesus’ Blood we are freed from sin. Before we were saved we were:

Ephesians 5:8 … darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

We, like King David, despise evil. We know that we are to:

Ephesians 5:11 … have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

We belong to Jesus. Let us live to tell others of Jesus. Let us love the sinner, but despise the sin. Let us tell them to repent and turn to Him Who loved them, and gave Himself for them. And let us not be self righteous. The world is self righteously in an uproar over Epstein’s tragic death. Let us not be self righteous, but mourn. For he is judged. God has judged him. And God will judge all of us. Let us not be judging others – we are not qualified. But let us, like David, practice absolute surrender. Let us go to Him Who loves us and ask Him to speak to us as David did.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Posted in Psalms, Sermons Preached | Tagged Holiness, Psalms, surrender, Trusting God | Leave a comment

Being Good Soldiers

Posted on August 14, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Daniele Fantin on Unsplash

2 Timothy 2:1-3 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

When a Christian is first “born again” into God’s Kingdom he or she is a “babe in Christ”. But we are not to stay as babes in Christ. God expects us to grow in faith, to “grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever” (2 Peter 3:18). Just as a young baby grows into a toddler, then a child, a youth, then an adult, every believer is expected to grow spiritually strong and robust. It is abnormal to remain a baby Christian. It can happen, and does happen. The Apostle Paul chastised the Corinthian Church, saying:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

The marks of the baby Christian are three-fold:

envying
strife
divisions

Many Churches follow the pattern of Corinth, struggling to be effective for the Lord because they are fragmented – children fighting in a sandbox over the toy truck. But as the Apostle said in Hebrews 6:9,

“beloved, we are persuaded better things of you,
and things that accompany salvation”

God wants us to grow to be “good soldiers of Jesus Christ”. Not just “soldiers” but “good soldiers”. The Apostle Paul often used the image of the soldier to describe the Christian purpose in life. In Ephesians a very familiar passage tells us:

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is the soldier who puts on armor, the soldier who fights an enemy. The Church of Christ is in a battle against a powerful and evil force. The force that we fight is not flesh and blood, though often this force inhabits humanity. This force is angelic, devilish, fallen, and will do everything it can to destroy our cause. We are called of God to be not just soldier, but good soldiers of Jesus Christ!

The Good Soldier Endures Hardness

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Hardness and discomfort is expected by the soldier. No soldier expects every day to be comfortable and easy. We are in a battle with a superior enemy, Satan and this present world. If we are at one with the world then we are no threat to Satan. But if we stand in Christ, if we are:

2 Timothy 2:1 … strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Then we are an enemy of the devil and of darkness. When our Lord Jesus came to this world He was constantly attacked, constantly hounded, constantly libeled. Who attacked Jesus first? Was it not the devil, the General of Evil? The devil came tempting our Lord to compromise with darkness:

Matthew 4:3 … if Thou be the Son of God, command these stones be made bread ..

The devil’s intention was to get Jesus to compromise with him. If Jesus operated according to the direction of the devil then that devil would own Him. But Jesus refused, saying:

Matthew 4:4 … Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

What has GOD said? Jesus lived His life following the Word of God. He listened to God. He acted according to God’s Word and his order. When the devil tempted Jesus, encouraging Him to follow the devil’s command rather than the Father’s order, Jesus replied:

Matthew 4:7 … Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

The soldier follows the order of his Leader. Jesus maintained His focus on what God had sent Him to do. If the devil can get you to compromise the Word of God, get you to water down what He has commanded, then it will not be long until you defect to the devil’s side. Christians, you will be tried in this world. You will be tested. You will suffer hardship.

Remember Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:8 … Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

How did Jesus die? Did He die in a comfortable bed, just drifting away in His sleep? Did He die of a sudden heart attack? I have heard of preachers who died in the pulpit of sudden heart attacks. What a glorious death that would be! Did Jesus die in such a way? Did Jesus die with His friends and family around Him, laid to rest in a beautiful coffin, with dignitaries attending His funeral? No!

The day Jesus died He was unlawfully tried. The day Jesus died the Bible says:

Matthew 26:59-60 … Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses …

Jesus Christ did no wrong, yet was persecuted by the forces of darkness. The early Church was persecuted for the cause of Christ. The Apostle himself was persecuted, attacked by forces of darkness:

2 Timothy 2:9-10 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Jesus endured persecution for our sakes, so that we might be saved. Paul endured trials and tribulation for the elect’s sake, for the sake of those who had not yet heard the Gospel. If you are doing the work of Christ you will suffer hardship, you will be persecuted. Jesus told us:

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Not too long ago I was talking with my son Michael’s pastor, Brother David Rogers of Crosspointe Church in Valdosta, Georgia. As we were discussing our experiences as Pastors Brother Rogers shared how he had been betrayed in the past by those he thought were supporters and good friends. As he shared this the Spirit spoke this word to my heart, and I shared it with Bro Rogers – so I want to share it with you. “For every Pastor and every person that Christ calls there is a Judas Iscariot. Jesus Himself was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, a friend that He loved. The Psalmist prophesied of this in Psalm 41:9 – ‘Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against Me.’ Jesus applied this prophecy to Judas in John 13:18. Jesus had His Judas – and we will have ours if we are His followers. Take care that you yourselves do not become Judas Iscariots!”

The soldier expects offenses, expects battle. Jesus told us:

Luke 17:1 … It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

The Gospel that does not offend is not the Gospel. The Gospel offends. The Gospel will be attacked, and us with it.

We will be misunderstood, mislabeled, and mistreated. The soldier of Christ must expect offenses … and follow the path of Christ. The Scripture tells us to be:

Hebrews 12:2-3 … Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

The Good Soldier Lives For God Not For Self

2 Timothy 2:4-5 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

One of my favorite characters in the Scripture is a soldier who was murdered for his faith. His name was Uriah. You may not have heard of Uriah, but his name means “The Flame Of The Lord”. This unknown man was dedicated to God and to the King who ultimately murdered him. King David committed adultery and took Uriah’s wife Bathsheba to himself. When she became pregnant David concocted an elaborate scheme to make Uriah think that he was the father of that child. David summoned Uriah from war and told him to go to your wife and make yourself comfortable (2 Samuel 11:8). Rather than go home the Bible says:

2 Samuel 11:9 … Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

When King David found out that his little trick didn’t work he asked Uriah “why didn’t you go home as I ordered?” (2 Samuel 11:10). Uriah replied:

2 Samuel 11:11 … The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

A lesser man would have used the King’s order as an excuse to do the dishonorable thing. Uriah wouldn’t do it. Uriah lived for the Lord, and so should we! To be a good soldier you cannot entangleth yourself with the affairs of this life. The good soldier lives his life to please the One who called him.

You have been called into salvation by Jesus Christ, and you are to live your life so as to please Jesus Christ.

The Apostle said in 1 Thessalonians 2:4 … as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

The day that Christ saved us by His Gospel He entrusted this same Gospel to us. We who are His are to live so as to share His Gospel. We are to not live to be pleasing men, but God. It pleases God when we share His Gospel of salvation. We are to serve the One Who saved us. We are to please the One Who saved us. The Apostle said:

2 Corinthians 5:9 Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

When Vice President Mike Pence’s wife Karen went back to work as an art teacher at Immanuel Christian School, both he and his wife were viciously attacked. Why? Because the secular media said that this was evidence that the Pences hated those who identify as LGBT. Did the Pences back down? No. When asked how he dealt with the forces of darkness that malign and attack he said,

“Number one – spend more time on your knees {in prayer} than on the internet. As a Christian believer, we’re charged to pray for our loved ones, but also pray for our enemies. You have lots of opportunities in politics to do that,” he said, receiving chuckles from the crowd. “Forgiveness is a great gift.”

The darkness will threaten, but we are to keep our eyes and mind on our God. As we strive for the Lord, we are commanded to strive lawfully. The good soldier obeys the lawful command given him by His Commander. We are to know what God has said, and to live our lives DOING what God in Christ has told us to do. We are to study our orders:

2 Timothy 2:14-15 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Christian soldier is to know what the Bible says, and to obey it – to do it. To merely hear the Word of God and not do it is useless. We are a doing people. We are not to consider the foolishness and the theories of this world, but are to heed our God’s Word. We are not to get into foolish debates with empty headed but blind worldlings. God knows what is best.

2 Timothy 2:16-19 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

There may be spies or saboteurs of the faith. In Paul’s day he cited Hymenaeus and Philetus who, though they acted as if they were believers, by their very words they were unbelievers. They were messengers of Satan who were sent to destroy the Church by infiltration, overthrowing the faith of many. Hymenaeus and Philetus were probably teaching the same false doctrine that the Sadducees were teaching, that there was no resurrection, and that this life is all the life there is. Their false teachings spread throughout the early Church and had to be fought by the Apostle. In one case he wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

We know that the Sadducees are wrong, and that there is a life beyond this life. We know this because Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Jesus WAS SEEN. Over and over again, Jesus WAS SEEN. The Sadducees and the other false teachers – agents of the devil – come in to destroy the faith of Christ and the population of His Church. Many times in my lifetime I have heard of some Christian artist, musician, or writer who suddenly recants the faith and rejects Christ. Let them. Their failure does not effect me, nor should it effect you. The Lord knows them that are His, and them that are His have an OVERCOMING faith.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We reject the words of the devil and the world, and believe in the Word of the Lord. What our Commander has said is true. We will focus on His Word and not on the darkness!

The Good Soldier Lives Honorably With Others

2 Timothy 2:19-22 let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

When Christ came into this world it was with the intent to:

Matthew 1:21 … save His people from their sins ..

1 John 3:8 … for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus did not come and give His life on Calvary so that we can be greater SINNERS, but that we might be SAINTS, set apart for the glory of God. The good soldier knows that to revel in sin is to stand in opposition to the purpose of God. We are to purge ourselves of sin. We are to live so as to honor and glorify our Savior and Lord. We are commanded of Christ to Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace.

We are to LOVE as Christ loved, not LUST.
We are to pursue righteousness and holiness.
When we sin, we are to confess sins in Christ’s Name.
We are to live lives of holiness and repentance, believing in Christ.
We are to maintain PEACE with God and with others.
We are at war with evil, but at peace with our Lord.

The good soldier does not war alone, but battles with other like minded soldiers. We are told to be …

2 Timothy 2:22 … with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Lifeway Research recently discovered that 65% of Church goers say they can walk with God without other believers. I knew that there are many Christians who believe that they can live the Christian life apart from the Church. I didn’t know the number was that high. May I say, they are mistaken. God calls the good soldier to be connected with other good soldiers. In the early Church we read:

Acts 2:44-47 … all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The Church must not be divided into cliques and small special interest groups. We who are saved by the grace of Christ are called to be in one accord, loving God and loving one another. We stand together against a common enemy of darkness. What does the Lord command?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

God calls His people to lift one another up and support one another. This is what makes a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved, let us be good soldiers. Let us live for Him Who gave Himself for us – TOGETHER.

May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in 2 Timothy, Sermons Preached | Tagged obey, obey God, Resolution | Comments Off

I Will Be Their God

Posted on August 11, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Davide Cantelli on Unsplash

“I Will Be Their God”

One of my favorite movies is an old movie that had Bruce Willis in it when he had hair. It is the 1998 movie “Armageddon”. In that movie a giant asteroid the size of Texas was going to hit the earth. The U.S. government asks Bruce Willis and his drilling team to go into space to destroy the asteroid before it hit the earth. Of course, they do it – and save the world. 1998 must have been the year for asteroid hits the earth movies, because another move called “Deep Impact” came out that year. In that movie a big part of the asteroid was destroyed, though not all of it. The spaceship that destroyed the biggest part of the asteroid was called the Messiah. Once more, science and we as humans (guided by our government) saved ourselves!

Though these movies are fantasy they should cause us to think. What is protecting us from the asteroids of space? Though it didn’t make any news channel that I watch, on July 25^th of this year (2019) a 100-meter wide piece of rock passed within 73,000 kilometers of Earth. No one saw it until it was on top of us. You might think “so what”, but to put it in perspective our moon is over 5 times that distance from the earth. To be within 73,000 kilometers and not hit the earth is an act of God’s grace. There is no telling how much damage that could have done had it hit us … and most of us, NASA included, didn’t have a clue until it was on top of us!

What protects us from destruction every single day of our lives? Not NASA, not science, not the government. No, but GOD. The Prophet Isaiah asks a series of questions of every person in this room and on this planet. He asks:

Isaiah 40:21-23 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is {God} that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: 23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

It is God that created all things, and it is God Who sustains all things. He controls all things around this planet and all things around our lives. It is this God – the God Who has made and established the innumerable stars, and knows each one of them by name for He has named them (Psalm 147:4) – this immense Creator God Who wants to know you and for you to know Him. That brings us to our Scripture for today, which is:

“I Will Be Their God”

If you’ll notice I didn’t give you a Scriptural reference. Why? Because this Scripture – this promise from God – is found eight times in the Scripture.

“I Will Be Their God” Is His Promise

To whom was the promise “I will be their God” first given? It was first given to a broken man named Abram. God appeared to Abram when he was 99 years old, and in a helpless and hopeless situation. Abram had a wife he loved but he had no children to carry on his name. God had promised Abram children many years before but still he was childless. God appeared to Abram. The Bible says:

Genesis 17:3-8 … Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I WILL BE THEIR GOD.

God took the broken Abram and turned him into Abraham. What did Abram have to give God to get this wonderful promise? The Apostle tells us:

Romans 4:3 … Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Abram did not go to Abraham because he was worthy, because he cleaned himself up, or because he made himself better. God told Abram “I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee”. Abram heard what God said and believed God. Because Abram believed God’s promise God changed him into Abraham, the father of many nations. Abram realized he was broken, and gave his heart to God, and God gave Himself to Abraham and his children. The Apostle said that Abraham …

Romans 4:19-25 … being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 {Abraham} staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

If God is your God you trust His promise. Abraham didn’t consider his broken body, but considered the God Who is able! Because Abraham believed God was true Abraham was blessed.

“I Will Be Their God” Means A Rebirth

Abram believed God, and God changed him into Abraham. God changes those who trust in Him. we read:

Jeremiah 24:6-7 6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I WILL BE THEIR GOD: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

The Christian is a person who was dead in trespasses and in sin (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13) but who, because of God’s intervention, now are ALIVE unto God. GOD MADE YOU ALIVE WITH CHRIST (Colossians 2:13). You are not bound to sin nor to this sinful world, but your allegiance is with God the Son. You are of His family …

1 Peter 1:23 … being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

You are changed into Christ’s image by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). God changes you, making you a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). God changes you from the inside out. The Bible says:

Galatians 3:6-9, 13-14 Even as Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. … 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

And again …

Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When you answer the call of Christ and believe on Him God works in you. Oh Beloved, when you receive Christ you receive the very hand of God. Has He not promised:

Jeremiah 32:38-40 … And they shall be my people, and I WILL BE THEIR GOD: 39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

I hear so often of mega-Church pastors and mega-famous music artists who once professed Christ but now have rejected Him. Beloved, those who are genuinely saved do not come one day and depart the next. Has not God said in:

1 John 2:19 … They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

The Child of Christ will no more recant their Savior than I would recant my skin! If you are genuinely saved God has said “they shall not depart from me”. I believe God is able. Praise Him! Praise

Jude 24 … Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy …

“I Will Be Their God” Means A God Directed Life

We are told in Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 11:19-20 … I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I WILL BE THEIR GOD.

Ezekiel 37:23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I WILL BE THEIR GOD.

To the world sin is IN, and a thing to make you GRIN.But to the believer sin is the offense that crucified our Savior. We do not make light of sin. Oh, see Him hanging on that tree. See His Blood running down. See His bones peeking through the lace curtain of His torn flesh. You say you are a Christian and sin is acceptable? You lie! You are not one of His, not one of our brethren. Jesus told us:

John 8:34 … Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

If you serve sin, you are the servant of sin. This is what Jesus was telling us.

What or Who you serve tell you what
or Who your God is.

In America today we are told we are to be tolerant of all things. But is this true? The promise God gave to Abraham and their seed (which is we who have believed in Him) is “I will be their God”. If God will be our God then we are to like what He like, and dislike what He dislikes. You are not saved by works no more than Abram became Abraham by his works – buit once saved you become a person who belongs to God. You are to serve God and not sin.

So what of the hot button topics of today? Is is all right to be in homosexual relationships. Is it all right to copulate with the opposite sex without regard to marriage or commitment? What does God say?

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 … Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Those who unrighteous or not right with God shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. They shall not go into Heaven. Who are these that are “unrighteous” or “not right”? The Apostle lists them:

fornicators – those in heterosexual sin
idolators – those who reject God for other gods
adulterers – those who sin against a married partner
effeminate – those who abuse children
abusers of themselves with mankind – those who are homosexual
thieves
covetous – greedy people
drunkards
revilers – those who mock God’s way
extortioners – those who swindle others

None of these people have any part in God’s Kingdom. But the Apostle goes on to say:

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Oh Praise God! Has not the Lord promised:

Romans 6:14 … Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under Grace.

And again,

John 8:12 … I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

And again,

John 8:36 … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

You may have been born broken – we all are – but God has the power to set your life aright. Our Lord Jesus came into this world to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

John 8:42-44 … Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

If sin is in your life – believe in God!
If your life is out of control – receive Christ as Lord and Savior!
The God Who loves you want to be with you.
God will be your God.
God has promised this in Christ.

“I Will Be Their God” Means Unending Life

God promises to walk WITH and IN those who are His. He said:

2 Corinthians 6:16 … ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I WILL BE THEIR GOD, and they shall be my people.

The Sadducees did not believe in eternal life. They believed that once you were dead, you were dead. After death – NOTHING. They approached Jesus one day and He told them:

Matthew 22:31-32 … as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Our God is the Great I AM. He lives with His people NOW, and will live with His people FOREVER.

What makes Heaven a Heaven
is NOT THE ABSENCE of something.

When people think of Heaven we all follow the same pattern of thought.

If we suffer an ailment we think

“Praise God, I’ll have NO CANCER in Heaven”.

If we are hungry and poor we think

“Praise God, I’ll NOT BE HUNGRY in Heaven”.

If we lose a loved one we think

“Praise God, my HEART WILL NOT BE BROKEN in Heaven”.

We think of Heaven in terms of ABSENCE. And it is true that Heaven will be absent many things. There will be no,

Graves
Hospitals
Tears
Suffering
Pain
Darkness
Evil people

But what makes Heaven a Heaven?

Revelation 21:3 … Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

“I will be their God”. That’s what makes Heaven a Heaven, and that’s what brings Heaven to earth. Is He your God? If not, He can be. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent of being your own God, and turn your life over to Him. Ask God to come to you and save you. He will. He will. May God touch your hearts with His Word!

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All Human Life Is Precious

Posted on August 8, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

image from USplash.com Brian Mann

Life is precious to God. Let me be clearer … HUMAN life is precious to God. The Evolutionist or Atheist believes that humanity is but an accident of the animal kingdom, and that humanity is another type of “animal” which they call a “Primate”. Since humanity is but an accident of nature the phrase “Survival Of The Fittest” originated from Darwinian Evolutionary theories as a way of describing how natural selection works. The weaker animal is killed by the stronger animal as the stronger animal – in Darwin’s Theory Humanity – progressed up the evolutionary ladder. Humanity is called “Primate” because we are at the top of the evolutionary ladder. According to evolutionists we evolved from lower animal life to eventually be lemurs, monkeys, then apes, and then developed into what we now call “Humans”.

If humankind is just another “animal” and this is what you believe it will influence what you think about life. For instance, on Wednesday, January 30^th of 2019 Virginia Governor Ralph Northam responded to a question about a bill being debated in the Virginia Legislature. Northam plainly stated that he was in favor of letting infants left to die after they were born if the mother decides she doesn’t want the baby. If all humans are no more than animals and this is the belief that is in your heart, then to kill an infant or abort a baby at any stage of development – even following birth – makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is the outrage that the same people have when a misguided animal (if humans are animals) kills and wounds other animals in El Paso, Texas or in Dayton, Ohio. When people murder people is it not “survival of the fittest”? Certainly I don’t believe this, and absolutely I grieve whenever some evil person does this terrible thing. From Columbine to today’s horrors the reason that anyone would kill anyone willingly is incomprehensible to me. But my mindset is different that the godless. I believe that …

God teaches that life is a gift from Him,
and that ALL LIFE MATTERS.

Let’s read responsively the following Scriptures:

Jeremiah 1:4-5 … the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Genesis 9:5-6 … surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Life is so precious to God that to redeem it so that we could live forever He gave the life of His Son. What a testament to life! Human life is extremely precious to God.

But Then We Come To The Book Of Joshua

I’ve been preaching through the Book of Joshua the last few months – and we’ve still got a piece to go. Tonight we’re in Joshua chapter 20. If you would, turn there while I talk.

I am told that the Book of Joshua is the most
violent book of Scripture in all the Bible.

If you have been reading the Book you might have the impression that God places no value on life. I can understand why you would believe this. God told Israel to take no prisoners, to practice wholesale genocide as they enter Canaan. Throughout the Book we have read passages like:

Joshua 6:21 And {Israel} utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

I have to admit that passages like this make me wince. Some Christians scholars have suggested that Joshua and Israel misunderstood God when they went into the Promised Land. The suggestion has been made that the massive killings recorded in Joshua were a human error, much like the so called Crusades against the Muslim nations (circa 1095-1492 AD). But Apologist Christopher Wright wrote in his book The God I Don’t Understand (pages 82-83):

“If the conquest of Canaan had actually been such a massive and mistaken misinterpretation of God’s will, we should surely read some corrective word later in the Scriptures – if not within the Old Testament itself . . . then at least in the New. But we find none. There is no hint anywhere in the Bible that the Israelites took the land of Canaan on the basis of a mistaken belief in God’s will. On the contrary, the refusal of the Exodus generation to go ahead and {enter the land – see Numbers 14} … are condemned as disobedience to God’s will (see Psalms 106:24-35)”

We know that our God loves human life. He loves life so much that when humanity draws so far away from Him that – eventually – God will purge that nation. You might say “I don’t believe that”, to which I would reply:

Have you ever heard of the Noahic Flood?
Have you ever heard of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Have you ever heard of the destruction of Tyre?

What caused God to directly or indirectly destroy a world, or destroy nations? It was sin and a low view of human life. Here’s our first take away from the Book of Joshua:

It is a fact that Canaanite society – much like American society today – supported ritualized human sacrifice. The Canaanites worshiped a god they called Moloch (a.k.a. Milcom, Molech, or Malcam). The Encyclopedia Britannica states:

“Moloch, also spelled Molech, a Canaanite deity associated in biblical sources with the practice of child sacrifice.”

The Canaanites were not believers in the God of Scripture, but believed in many gods and goddesses and worshiped their gods by practicing child sacrifice. God tried to reach these people when father Abraham traveled to Canaan (Genesis 11:27-12:9) over 400 years before Joshua – led by God – invaded Canaan. The Canaanites were given ample time to repent of their evil and cease the killing of children. Did Canaan repent? No! Children were not only sacrificed, but children who escaped being sacrificed were taught that life itself had little meaning.

If God ordered the destruction of Canaan’s inhabitants because they were killing innocent children then what hope do we as America have in our future?

Sam Storms the Pastor at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, OK said:

“The problem isn’t that God is evil. The problem is that we are. It isn’t that God has mistreated us, but that we have mistreated him. This text {in Joshua} and others like it bother us for one fundamental reason: we have virtually no grasp on the holiness of God or the sinfulness of humanity. We have little sense of the transcendent beauty, moral purity, and infinite righteousness of the Creator. And we have little sense of the depth and extent and ugliness of our own depravity. We think God exists for our welfare, to help us feel good about ourselves.”

What did God specifically destroy first Egypt then Canaan for? We are told in:

Leviticus 18:2-3 … I am the Lord your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

What were Egypt’s and Canaan’s doings?
Incest – Leviticus 18:6-18
Child Sacrifice – Leviticus 18:21
Homosexuality – Leviticus 18:22
Bestiality – Leviticus 18:23

God told Israel “The reason I cursed EGYPT and am casting out the CANAANITES is because they do these evil things (Leviticus 18:24-29).

Humans are distinctly different from animals. Both humans as well as animals may be carbon based, but humans are distinctively created by a loving God. The Bible declares:

Genesis 1:27 … God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Humanity is uniquely made. In the Scripture there is absolutely NO PENALTY for killing animals. Yet to kill a human was a special sort of evil. To intentionally murder someone is to murder the image of God.

When Noah got off the Ark God told him – and us – that:

Genesis 9:3 … Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you …

Humanity could eat ANYTHING. Every moving thing that liveth was food for humanity. But what of HUMAN life? God said:

Genesis 9:5-6 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Humans are NOT animals. We are made in the image of God. The Sixth Commandment is:

Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt NOT KILL

Our Lord Jesus clarifies this command as:

Matthew 19:18 … Jesus said, thou shalt do no MURDER …

God said in Exodus 21:12-14 … He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. 13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. 14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

How precious is human life?
God said “You take a life, you forfeit yours.”
But what of the accidental death?

This is why God gave us Joshua 20. Life is precious. Every human life matters. Whether the child is disabled or a genius, every child from it’s heartbeat is precious. Every person is a person created in God’s image. But there are times when accidental death occurs. In such instances God told His Israel:

Joshua 20:1-3 The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: 3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

The person who willingly and deliberately murders another was to be quickly put to death (see Numbers 35:16-18). Was the deliberate murderer ransomed? No! “He must surely be put to death” (Numbers 35:31). If someone was guilty of killing another person God did not want indiscriminate killing. So He established the six cities of refuge.

If you accidentally killed someone you ran to one of these cities. The Blood Avenger – usually the closest relative to the one slain – would try and take your life. The accidental killer ran to the city of refuge to escape vengeance, but also was to be tried for his or her action.

Joshua 20:4 … when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

The accidental killer pled his case before the elders of the city. If the elders or leaders of the city of refuge believed the killer to be innocent of murder then the accidental killer was given refuge in that city until he could be properly tried. He or she was to stay in the city of refuge until the current High Priest died, or until he was tried.

Joshua 20:5 … he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

No one got a free pass to murder. Every life taken was examined carefully. The slayer found guilty by a jury of his peers was killed – his life forfeited – for the heinous crime of murder.

Joshua 20:6 And {the slayer} shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

God demanded that not only the Israelite, but ANYONE dwelling in the Promised Land be judged if they took a life.

Joshua 20:9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

Do we need greater “gun control”? Beloved, I believe our greatest need in America is to return to the God of the Scripture. I believe that we need to quit expecting government to take the place of God, and we need to heed what He says. If the murderer forfeited his life as the Lord commands I suspect there would be a whole lot less killing in America. But as long as we devalue life through abortion and television fantasy we can, I’m afraid to say, expect more of the same. Gun control will not stop it. We need to aim at the heart. We need heart control.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.