Tag Archives: God Is Faithful

Bewitched Believers

Galatians 3:1-5 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

One of the social media sites I sometimes visit is called Linkedin. Recently I was intrigued by an article entitled “What Is The Worst Thing That Can Happen On A Sunday Morning?” from Church Growth Magazine. I rarely read these articles, because much of what people are doing to grow the “Church” is man-made, not Bible inspired. The article started out good:

“In the push to execute Sunday morning services, it is easy to forget the basics: churches grow when people receive Christ, and people receive Christ when they’re invited to receive Christ. Read the story of a church that has mastered the basics.”

So I thought, “Okay! I believe that. Salvation comes by RECEIVING Christ as He is. Let me see what this Church is doing.”

The article went on to say that this Church was growing so fast, they couldn’t keep up with all the new people coming in. The writer said:… Continue reading

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The Best Way, God’s Way

This is the first time that Solomon addresses alcohol in the Book of Proverbs. Here he personifies alcohol. The “wine” (Hebrew yayin) that is referenced here is naturally fermented juice of crushed grapes. The “strong drink” (Hebrew šēḵār) is fortified or distilled wine made from grapes, figs, dates, or grains. The difference between the two was that

Wine or Yayin is naturally formed. Strong Drink or šēḵār is engineered by man to increase the alcoholic content per volume.

It was naturally formed wine that our Lord Jesus made at the Wedding Feast in Cana. Wine diluted with water was often used in Jewish celebrations. The Bible tells us that:

John 2:3 (ESV) When the wine {oinos} ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine {oinos}.”

Jesus had the servants of the feast take six stone jars there for the rites of Jewish purification, each able to hold around 30 gallons of water. Jesus told the servants, “fill the jars with water”, and the servants filled the jars to the brim. Jesus told them to draw out the beverage, and take it to the “master of the feast”. This man declared:

John 2:10 (ESV) Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.

Jesus made “GOOD WINE”, naturally fermented, something only God can do. That which our Lord Jesus provided was not for drunkenness, but for celebration of Biblical marriage. The Psalmist praised the Lord, saying:… Continue reading

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God Never Gives Up

Romans 15:4-7 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

How Do We Define “God”? How Do We Define “Fool”?

Everyone knows that there is a God Who made all things. That’s an absolute truth. Oh, there are people who say “We’re atheists. We’re agnostics. We’re scientists. We believe that all things just evolved out of nothing. We believe in the survival of the fittest. There is no God. There is only “mother nature”, a mother who came about by accident.” If that were true, the name “God” or “Jesus Christ” wouldn’t be in your language whatsoever. “OMG”. Everybody knows there is a God Who is above us.

Defining the word “fool” is easy. The Bible says that the definition of a FOOL is:

Psalm 14:1 (KJV) The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The FOOL says there is no God. The reason they say this is that, IF there is a God (and there is), THEN the stupid things they do, they will be held… Continue reading

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Frustration Or Fulfillment

The absolute number one worse sin in the Bible is the sin of idolatry. Idolatry is when a person worships or seeks to please any God but the God of the Bible. It was idolatry that got mankind thrown out of Paradise. The devil told Adam:

Genesis 3:4-5 (AP) {if you eat the forbidden} you will not die {implying God is a liar}. God knows when you eat of it you will be like Him, gods who determine good and evil …

Idolatry starts in the heart, when the created tries to take the place of the Creator.

Idolatry led to the first murder. Cain killed his brother, rather than worship God and kill a lamb (Genesis 4:4-8). Idolatry led to the Noahic Flood. “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Idolatry led to the Tower of Babel. The people refused the command of God to multiply and fill the earth, saying …

Genesis 11:4 (NKJV) Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.

We don’t want to glorify God. “Let us make a name for OURSELVES. Let’s glorify US. Let’s build a building that will get us closer to God, maybe we can be gods.”

While Moses was receiving the Law of God from the finger of God, Israel in the valley was busy creating golden calves, gods to follow. Idolatry is in our DNA.

Even among God’s people. There are people today who take the Law of God (which is good, for the Bible says “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12)) and have turned it into an idol. The concept of Pharisaism has crept into many Churches today, the idea that “since I keep the Law, then I’m going to go to Heaven when I die”. Beloved, that’s a lie. Keeping the Law doesn’t save you. Continue reading

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How To Be Blessed

How can you be blessed of God? You must first of all submit your flesh to God. This is hard for many people. I had a lady who once came to this Church tell me, “I have so many questions. How can I learn to be a strong Christian?” I told her that …

You must consistently submit yourself to God. Come to Church regularly. HEAR the preaching of the Word. Not just HEAR it, but RECEIVE it, believe it, take it to heart. Make it your own.

Sadly, she never did this. Her visits to the Church were sporadic at best, here a little, gone a lot. In time she became one of the faceless shadows on the fringe of Christianity. Continue reading

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Even Christ Pleased Not Himself

Romans 15:1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.

Last week we heard about the battle that was going on in the Church at Rome. Both Gentiles and Jews – each with distinctive different cultures – were coming into the Church. And their cultures were clashing. Paul told the Church:

Romans 14:19-21 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Word Study: Paul ordered the Church to follow the Spirit of God, to stop letting cultural differences dismantle the Body of Christ. God calls us together to “EDIFY” other members in the Church. The word “EDIFY” is the Greek oikodomē (pro. oy-kod-om-ay’) which means “to build up, to promote another’s growth in Christian wisdom, to add to spiritually”. The same word is used again in our focal text:… Continue reading

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Battle For The Gospel

Galatians 2:1-2 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Opening: A young preacher asked an older preacher “What can I expect in serving the Lord?”. The older preacher said, “Well, it’s a walk in the park.” The younger preacher said, “GREAT! I thought it would be difficult”. The older gentleman said, “You didn’t let me finish. It’s a walk in the JURASSIC Park!”

It is a joy to serve the Lord, and I am so honored that the Lord called me to this life of ministry. But if you stand uncompromising for the Lord, you will quickly find out that we are at war. The Apostle reminded us that:

Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the RULERS, against the AUTHORITIES, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Those who live for Jesus are battling against impossible odds. If we were merely wrestling against flesh and blood we could go to the gym, bulk up, buy weapons, and defeat the foe. But our battle is not against flesh and blood. We are warring against a spiritual foe who has been tempting and deceiving humans for thousands of years. He has seen all the tricks, tried various methods, and he and his fallen friends (the demons) are given names like: Continue reading

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Living For Jesus

Proverbs 19:11 The DISCRETION {śēḵel} of a man deferreth his anger;

Word Study: The word translated “DISCRETION” is the Hebrew śēḵel, which means “good sense, prudence, cunning”. When angered, you are given a choice. Act on the anger, and return retribution in kind, or let it go and control your temper. People make bad decisions when they act in anger. A wise man “DEFERS his anger”, refusing to act on it at that moment. Being angry is like drinking too much alcohol! The Apostle wrote:

Ephesians 4:26-27 (LSB) BE ANGRY, AND [yet] DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, [27] and do not give the devil an opportunity.

Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

We are most like Christ when we “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39; Luke 6:29). It glorifies God when we imitate Christ in forgiveness. Hanging from the Cross of Calvary, mocked and spat on, naked and bleeding, Jesus… Continue reading

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No Other Gospel

Galatians 1:6-9 (KJV) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Who Calls Us Into Grace Through The Gospel?

It is so very important that we understand what “The Gospel” is. Even so called “Bible Scholars” have trouble understanding the Gospel. What if you have a poor view of the Gospel? Paul writes:

Galatians 1:6 (KJV) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel

Now, Who calls you into the Grace of Christ? Is it the Preacher? No, the Preacher shares the Gospel, but the Bible says that before Christ that we are all DEAD in TRESPASSES and SINS. Paul told the Church at Ephesus: Continue reading

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Follow God, Follow Good

Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is PERVERSE {ʿiqqēš, crooked, false, perverted} in his lips, and is a FOOL.

Let Our Tongues Be Controlled By God’s Word

Our Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees:

Matthew 15:11 (KJV) Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

The Pharisees had twisted and perverted the Word of God, “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”. They did this to receive riches – not monetary riches but the praise of man. When Jesus made this statement the disciples told Jesus, “When You said that, You offended the Pharisees” (Matthew 15:12). Jesus told them:

Matthew 15:13-14 (KJV) … Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. [14] Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.

They were seeking the praise of man, not the praise and glory of God. Jesus said “these people are blind. They are NOT planted by My Father. They are not saved.” Just as Jesus told Nicodemus:

John 3:3 … Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God. Continue reading

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