“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Prov. 13:10)
I find great truth in that old adage that when we point a finger at another, three more are pointing back at us. I cannot recall how many times I noticed that those who contended with me, and especially when they accused me, were in fact, guilty of that which they condemned me for! We are so fickle. I have had people tell me that I think I am right and no one else is, but the fact is, they think they are right too, or there would be no disagreement! In the factory where I worked for thirty years, many men told me that “religion doesn’t belong here” when I would “preach” to them, but they seemed to think that drinking and foul language did belong there! Everyone had there own agenda, and when we accuse others of any wrong doing, it is a result of pride in us. “Only by pride…” and no other reason is given for contentions. This pride puffs us up so that we wish to become the dominant one in conversation and in testimony, although we ought to desire it to be that way, and sometimes it is cloaked with the guise of “truth”. Our pride declares that we are better than others, although our mouths say differently in a mock humility. Often we wish to exercise the privilege of condemning another, and yet secretly wish we had the nerve to do what they did! Our self righteousness is pride; our self confidence is pride; anything aimed at self is pride, and we are chock full of it. We are prideful in appearance (under the guise of “testimony” to justify it); we are proud of our homes, our lawns, our automobiles, etc. and we tend to look down, to some degree, at those who are not like us. We work out to keep our bodies in shape, (for the testimony of the Lord, of course) so that we will “look good”, and that is an ostentatious display of pride. If we will be honest, we care about our public appearance way too much to the extent that we prim and pamper ourselves before we even step out the door! Oh that we would see ourselves as the wretches we really are. Most of the time our accusations against others come right back home to us; we gossip about so and so being a gossip; we criticize so and so for something when we would do the same thing or worse under their circumstances. (See Mt. 7:1-5 and Rom. 2: 1-3) We even criticize those that are critical!
Defeatism Grieves God
Christian defeatism grieves God. We must refuse to stand as mere spectators while the godless dismantle our nation.
Believers through Christ are to be the overcomers, not the overcome.
Have we forgotten how those first century believers, working against even greater odds, “turned the world upside down”?
Have we become so mesmerized by the coming “tribulation” that we have forgotten Christ’s order to “occupy until I return”?
Once again Christians must become the nation’s salt, its preservative, and put the reins into the hands of righteous leaders.
No longer can be we mere “hearers” but through God “doers,” if the nation is to survive.
Let us pray that those of Christian character will lead and guide us in the ways of the Lord.
Have a great day,
Bro. Harry Shomaker
Let My People Go!
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. (Ex. 5:1)
This command still rings off the portals of time; Satan is commanded by God today, to let His people go. It seems that the devil has a death grip on mankind—one that can only be loosed by the Lord Himself, at Calvary. Though Jesus broke the “spell” that Satan has on men, many will not heed the call to go, and commune with the Lord, and sup with Him. Pharaoh did let God’s people go, after much persuading, and today we are free to worship Him according to His Word. There is, however, another application for us in this passage—Satan has the church bound up in his trap, and will not let her go.
Collectively, and individually, Satan has the church in his grip again. He has a foothold on us, and we are desperate to be free from his grasp; but there is no freedom from the bondage of sin, aside from the Lord Jesus Christ. Though the devil does not own the souls of men when they accept Christ as Savior, he still has a hold on our lives. Why? Because we are but flesh. Our flesh appeals to him, and he appeals to our flesh. The only solution is to mortify the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit of God; and we cannot do this until Christ gives the command “Let my people go!” He does give that command the instant we accept Him as our Savior, but then we, like many of the children of Israel, long for the memory of “Egypt” and return to our old sinful ways. Yes, the flesh can be our enemy; it seeks to return into bondage, and enjoy the leeks of Egypt once again. Oh that we might mortify the body, and feed from the well of Living waters, and eat from the Manna that came down from heaven, that Manna being the Lord Himself. He is the “Bread of life” to all who hunger and the Waters of life to all that thirst. We must eat from His harvest daily, and bask in the solitude of His grace; only then can we find peace and rest in the walk of life, and only then can we be set free in the flesh. Galations 5:16 says “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Friends, we owe it to our Lord to walk in the Spirit, after all, it was He that set us free in the first place, and we owe Him our lives.
This command still rings off the portals of time; Satan is commanded by God today, to let His people go. It seems that the devil has a death grip on mankind—one that can only be loosed by the Lord Himself, at Calvary. Though Jesus broke the “spell” that Satan has on men, many will not heed the call to go, and commune with the Lord, and sup with Him. Pharaoh did let God’s people go, after much persuading, and today we are free to worship Him according to His Word. There is, however, another application for us in this passage—Satan has the church bound up in his trap, and will not let her go.
Collectively, and individually, Satan has the church in his grip again. He has a foothold on us, and we are desperate to be free from his grasp; but there is no freedom from the bondage of sin, aside from the Lord Jesus Christ. Though the devil does not own the souls of men when they accept Christ as Savior, he still has a hold on our lives. Why? Because we are but flesh. Our flesh appeals to him, and he appeals to our flesh. The only solution is to mortify the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit of God; and we cannot do this until Christ gives the command “Let my people go!” He does give that command the instant we accept Him as our Savior, but then we, like many of the children of Israel, long for the memory of “Egypt” and return to our old sinful ways. Yes, the flesh can be our enemy; it seeks to return into bondage, and enjoy the leeks of Egypt once again. Oh that we might mortify the body, and feed from the well of Living waters, and eat from the Manna that came down from heaven, that Manna being the Lord Himself. He is the “Bread of life” to all who hunger and the Waters of life to all that thirst. We must eat from His harvest daily, and bask in the solitude of His grace; only then can we find peace and rest in the walk of life, and only then can we be set free in the flesh. Galations 5:16 says “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Friends, we owe it to our Lord to walk in the Spirit, after all, it was He that set us free in the first place, and we owe Him our lives.
Matthew 28
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” (v. 1)
There were several events that took place on the first day of the week, this is why we go to church on the first day instead of the seventh. The greatest event that took place on the first day of the week was here, the resurrection of Christ. All four of the Gospels record that it was on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, that Mary discovered that Jesus had risen. For this reason we refer to Sunday, the first day, as “The Lord’s Day.” In John 20:19 we see that later in the evening, of the first day of the week, Jesus appeared to the disciples; then in Acts 20:7, the apostles met together to “break bread”; and in 1 Cor. 16:2, we see that they collected the offerings for the poor on the first day of the week. The first day had taken pre-eminence over the seventh day, and it was ordained so by Christ Himself. These four evidences teach us that there has been a change, and that the “Lord’s Day” was now Sunday, the first day, instead of the Sabbath, or seventh day. Notice that Christ spent the Sabbath in the grave! He could have raised sooner, except that He had already prophesied that He would be in the grave for three days and nights, (Jonah 1:17 with Matthew 12:40). It all went according to plan. As Christ ushered in the “Age of the Gentiles” He also gave us our own day in which we were to worship Him, especially.
It seems that all the events included in this chapter took place on the first day, at least we are not told otherwise. If so, the “great Commission” was given also on the first day, and the apostles were sent out on this day. (vs. 18, 19). The first day then replaces the Sabbath day of the Jews, and becomes our “Sabbath”. Actually, Jesus is our Sabbath, since Sabbath means “rest”. Jesus said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We are to rest in Him. Though the old Sabbath has been done away, our new Sabbath is alive and well in Christ.
There were several events that took place on the first day of the week, this is why we go to church on the first day instead of the seventh. The greatest event that took place on the first day of the week was here, the resurrection of Christ. All four of the Gospels record that it was on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, that Mary discovered that Jesus had risen. For this reason we refer to Sunday, the first day, as “The Lord’s Day.” In John 20:19 we see that later in the evening, of the first day of the week, Jesus appeared to the disciples; then in Acts 20:7, the apostles met together to “break bread”; and in 1 Cor. 16:2, we see that they collected the offerings for the poor on the first day of the week. The first day had taken pre-eminence over the seventh day, and it was ordained so by Christ Himself. These four evidences teach us that there has been a change, and that the “Lord’s Day” was now Sunday, the first day, instead of the Sabbath, or seventh day. Notice that Christ spent the Sabbath in the grave! He could have raised sooner, except that He had already prophesied that He would be in the grave for three days and nights, (Jonah 1:17 with Matthew 12:40). It all went according to plan. As Christ ushered in the “Age of the Gentiles” He also gave us our own day in which we were to worship Him, especially.
It seems that all the events included in this chapter took place on the first day, at least we are not told otherwise. If so, the “great Commission” was given also on the first day, and the apostles were sent out on this day. (vs. 18, 19). The first day then replaces the Sabbath day of the Jews, and becomes our “Sabbath”. Actually, Jesus is our Sabbath, since Sabbath means “rest”. Jesus said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We are to rest in Him. Though the old Sabbath has been done away, our new Sabbath is alive and well in Christ.
The Church
The Church
The Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age which began with Christ and the Apostles, was empowered at Pentecost, and will be caught up to be with Christ at the Rapture (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2).
The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
The autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4).
The Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age which began with Christ and the Apostles, was empowered at Pentecost, and will be caught up to be with Christ at the Rapture (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2).
The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
The autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4).
Matthew 27
Jesus or Barabbas?
“Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?” (v.17)
Barabbas is a picture of Satan, a murderer from the beginning (Jn. 8:44). He was all that evil represents, but he too was the one the people chose over Christ. Jesus, the sinless one, was traded for Barabbas, the evil one; how often we make this trade in our own lives! We like to prefer the evil over the good. I would not say that he was evil incarnate, or the devil in the flesh, necessarily, but he was representative of mans choice for evil over good. He revealed, in this sense, the heart of man. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” and Genesis 6:5 tells us “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” So we see an accurate and vivid picture of the heart and nature of man. Men made the only choice they knew to make, and chose the sin, because they are by nature sinners. The question for each of us is, whom do we choose? Not who does your wicked neighbor choose, or who does your enemy choose, but who do you choose? Jesus or Barabbas, who will it be? We all will be faced with a choice just as these were, just as every man must, and many of us will make the wrong choice because we still have the wicked heart of unbelief.
Unbelief though, is not only for unbelievers! What do I mean? I mean that there are many born again Christians who walk each day, all day in doubt and unbelief. Their sins are gone, but their nature is still trying to dominate them, and they are under the influence of “self.” It is shameful the way we put on a facade of spirituality, when inside we are insecure and have no real confidence in our God. Yes, we choose the Barabbas spirit over the Lord’s Spirit, and unfortunately, it shows in our churches and in our lives. There is a weakness in the Christian realm today, though we try to hide it behind a veil of faith, (a thin veil at that) we do not walk in the assurance of God’s promises and His glorious provision. We still live according to our heart, and not according to the Word of God in faith. Yes, our heart has been changed, and our lives changed, but the shadow of unbelief haunts us daily, and we succumb to its wooing power. Let’s choose Christ once, and for all, and crucify Barabbas instead!
“Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?” (v.17)
Barabbas is a picture of Satan, a murderer from the beginning (Jn. 8:44). He was all that evil represents, but he too was the one the people chose over Christ. Jesus, the sinless one, was traded for Barabbas, the evil one; how often we make this trade in our own lives! We like to prefer the evil over the good. I would not say that he was evil incarnate, or the devil in the flesh, necessarily, but he was representative of mans choice for evil over good. He revealed, in this sense, the heart of man. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” and Genesis 6:5 tells us “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” So we see an accurate and vivid picture of the heart and nature of man. Men made the only choice they knew to make, and chose the sin, because they are by nature sinners. The question for each of us is, whom do we choose? Not who does your wicked neighbor choose, or who does your enemy choose, but who do you choose? Jesus or Barabbas, who will it be? We all will be faced with a choice just as these were, just as every man must, and many of us will make the wrong choice because we still have the wicked heart of unbelief.
Unbelief though, is not only for unbelievers! What do I mean? I mean that there are many born again Christians who walk each day, all day in doubt and unbelief. Their sins are gone, but their nature is still trying to dominate them, and they are under the influence of “self.” It is shameful the way we put on a facade of spirituality, when inside we are insecure and have no real confidence in our God. Yes, we choose the Barabbas spirit over the Lord’s Spirit, and unfortunately, it shows in our churches and in our lives. There is a weakness in the Christian realm today, though we try to hide it behind a veil of faith, (a thin veil at that) we do not walk in the assurance of God’s promises and His glorious provision. We still live according to our heart, and not according to the Word of God in faith. Yes, our heart has been changed, and our lives changed, but the shadow of unbelief haunts us daily, and we succumb to its wooing power. Let’s choose Christ once, and for all, and crucify Barabbas instead!
Just a sinner
They announced earlier today that Michael Jackson died of a heart attack. He was only 50 years old too! Now I don't follow Michael, and could not tell you even the name of one of his "songs", but I had heard enough of the scandals that he got himself into. My first thought was "God finally got tired of his wickedness", but do you know what the Lord put into my mind? He's just a sinner' he was doing what sinners do; he wasn't much different than any of us, except for the grace of God. But for the grace of God, I might have been there with him! A gruesome thought, but true. He lived for "self"; he lived for the flesh, and that is what I would have done if the Lord had not saved me. You see, we are all but flesh; rotten, evil, sinful selfish flesh (sorry if I'm too "preachy" but I must speak the words that God has laid on my heart). God loved Michael. Sometimes it amazes me that God could love someone so obviously wicked, but then He loves me too! Little old me, a nobody from a big city, and just a sinner from the start. I have prayed that God would be merciful to Michael, even as I hope for mercy for me, you see, His mercy is everlasting; it "endureth forever"; it may not be too late for a little mercy for him, or for me! when a certain amount of time passes, and the news quits buzzing about Michael's life, and history swallows up his memory, Gods mercy to sinners will still be here, it will be "new every morning" and given out of a heart of love for "just a sinner" like him...like me.
Matthew 26 "Forsaken"
“He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” (v. 42)
Many have taught that Jesus was a bit anxious about dying on the cross, as if death was His focus here. I see the real anxiety as that of sin being placed on Him for the first time in His life. Jesus was not accustomed to sin. Furthermore, He knew the Scriptures, and He knew that God would have to forsake Him because of the sin of the world being laid on Him, and that had never happened before either. Think how scary that must have been, to think that, for the first time in His life, God would turn away from Him, and actually leave Him for a time. One that is totally led by the Spirit and filled with the power of God would also find it a scary thing to go a day without Him and His presence. What else could bring such agony to our Lord? It was the anticipation of sin, and judgment, and not the death that He was anxious about.
We all know the story here, Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane praying, and three times He goes to the Father over this matter of sin. He too needed the grace to see Him through! Sin is so terrible that Christ asked the Father if there was any other way to redeem man, that He would deliver Him from this sin, but He knew there was not. The voice of anxiety speaks with great intensity of spirit. Jesus was “sorrowful, even unto death,” (v. 38), as if He would die from sorrow. Though Christ saw the urgency of the matter, the disciples did not. Mans view of sin is much like theirs, an indifference as far as the ferocity of it, and it seems that sleep was more important to them. Three times Jesus came and found the disciples asleep, and three times He sought the Father about the matter of sin and the judgment of being forsaken by Him. The frustration He must have felt, as well as the expectation of the burden of sin must have weighed heavily upon our Lord, and He sweat, “as it were, great drops of blood” as He prayed.
The disciples had failed in praying, that they “enter not into temptation” (v.41), even though Jesus had only prayed for an hour. He knew that the flesh was weak, even though the “spirit is willing.” How often we do this. Our intentions are good, and we begin to pray, at night, just as we retire for the night, then we fall asleep on Jesus! A busy day for the Lord will make a tired body, but if we have the right attitude of the urgency of sin, and the need of mankind, we should be so caught up in our prayer that we cannot sleep. The key is intensity. Jesus’ prayer was so intense that He could not sleep, it was the furthest thing from His mind, and He sweat as He prayed, “as it were, great drops of blood” (Lk. 22:44)
Many have taught that Jesus was a bit anxious about dying on the cross, as if death was His focus here. I see the real anxiety as that of sin being placed on Him for the first time in His life. Jesus was not accustomed to sin. Furthermore, He knew the Scriptures, and He knew that God would have to forsake Him because of the sin of the world being laid on Him, and that had never happened before either. Think how scary that must have been, to think that, for the first time in His life, God would turn away from Him, and actually leave Him for a time. One that is totally led by the Spirit and filled with the power of God would also find it a scary thing to go a day without Him and His presence. What else could bring such agony to our Lord? It was the anticipation of sin, and judgment, and not the death that He was anxious about.
We all know the story here, Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane praying, and three times He goes to the Father over this matter of sin. He too needed the grace to see Him through! Sin is so terrible that Christ asked the Father if there was any other way to redeem man, that He would deliver Him from this sin, but He knew there was not. The voice of anxiety speaks with great intensity of spirit. Jesus was “sorrowful, even unto death,” (v. 38), as if He would die from sorrow. Though Christ saw the urgency of the matter, the disciples did not. Mans view of sin is much like theirs, an indifference as far as the ferocity of it, and it seems that sleep was more important to them. Three times Jesus came and found the disciples asleep, and three times He sought the Father about the matter of sin and the judgment of being forsaken by Him. The frustration He must have felt, as well as the expectation of the burden of sin must have weighed heavily upon our Lord, and He sweat, “as it were, great drops of blood” as He prayed.
The disciples had failed in praying, that they “enter not into temptation” (v.41), even though Jesus had only prayed for an hour. He knew that the flesh was weak, even though the “spirit is willing.” How often we do this. Our intentions are good, and we begin to pray, at night, just as we retire for the night, then we fall asleep on Jesus! A busy day for the Lord will make a tired body, but if we have the right attitude of the urgency of sin, and the need of mankind, we should be so caught up in our prayer that we cannot sleep. The key is intensity. Jesus’ prayer was so intense that He could not sleep, it was the furthest thing from His mind, and He sweat as He prayed, “as it were, great drops of blood” (Lk. 22:44)
A Must See Video For The One Who Loves America
If we all would sound a voice of unity that bellowed the content of this video I believe God would honor and bless the outcry.
You will enjoy this video about Thomas Paine...Very Stirring
Matthew 25
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” (vs. 35,36)
Here we see the six basic needs of man. These are hunger, thirst, companionship, clothing, health and freedom, and they are all met in Christ. The point here though is that when we help our brothers and sisters in Christ we do it also unto Him, even the “least of these”. (vs. 40 and 45). Jesus is teaching us to be hospitable. As we are somewhat blessed by God Himself, we are able to pass along these blessings unto others, and be assured that they will be restored unto us again, and so the cycle goes. It is easy for us to understand the hunger and thirst, but we seem to fall short of these commitments after that, at least I do. When was the last time we took in a stranger that needed a place to lay his head? Or even a missionary that comes to a strange town and has no friends or relatives there? I must confess, I never have. I have visited the sick many times, and even in the jails, but never have I done all of these things that the Lord is rebuking the nations that are gathered before Him for not doing, even as He commends the righteous nations for doing them.
Notice with me though, that these very things are what we have received of the Lord! He provides our food, as that spiritual Bread which cometh down from Heaven. These are all provided for us spiritually, as well as physically. He gives us the Water of Life for all who are thirsty, and desire a drink of the Living waters; He adopted us into His family, and took us in as wayward children and homeless waifs; He clothes us with robes of righteousness obtained for us at Calvary; He visits us often with the blessed Holy Spirit, and remains a Comfort to us always; and He sets us free from the bondage of sin, and gives us a great liberty in Jesus. Oh rejoice, what a blessed, loving God we serve. He has nourished our bodies with meat, and fed our souls with a different meat, until we have no need of anything, and can say along with the psalmist, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”.
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” (vs. 35,36)
Here we see the six basic needs of man. These are hunger, thirst, companionship, clothing, health and freedom, and they are all met in Christ. The point here though is that when we help our brothers and sisters in Christ we do it also unto Him, even the “least of these”. (vs. 40 and 45). Jesus is teaching us to be hospitable. As we are somewhat blessed by God Himself, we are able to pass along these blessings unto others, and be assured that they will be restored unto us again, and so the cycle goes. It is easy for us to understand the hunger and thirst, but we seem to fall short of these commitments after that, at least I do. When was the last time we took in a stranger that needed a place to lay his head? Or even a missionary that comes to a strange town and has no friends or relatives there? I must confess, I never have. I have visited the sick many times, and even in the jails, but never have I done all of these things that the Lord is rebuking the nations that are gathered before Him for not doing, even as He commends the righteous nations for doing them.
Notice with me though, that these very things are what we have received of the Lord! He provides our food, as that spiritual Bread which cometh down from Heaven. These are all provided for us spiritually, as well as physically. He gives us the Water of Life for all who are thirsty, and desire a drink of the Living waters; He adopted us into His family, and took us in as wayward children and homeless waifs; He clothes us with robes of righteousness obtained for us at Calvary; He visits us often with the blessed Holy Spirit, and remains a Comfort to us always; and He sets us free from the bondage of sin, and gives us a great liberty in Jesus. Oh rejoice, what a blessed, loving God we serve. He has nourished our bodies with meat, and fed our souls with a different meat, until we have no need of anything, and can say along with the psalmist, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”.
There Are No Unwanted Children In God’s Sight
How many times have we heard disbelief and dismay of relatives and friends when it is discovered that a new life is on the way? And worse still, how many people have (hopefully only for a moment), thought or worse still, actually voiced that they may very well terminate it? It’s a fact that quite a large percentage of babies weren’t actually planned, but that is only in our thinking. There are no accidents or unwanted children in God’s sight.
Do you know that God blesses us with conception and withholds conception as a punishment?
Gen 49:25 [Even] by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
That is not to say that women trying to conceive are being punished, of course. But in scripture, God encourages us to be fruitful vines and says we will be saved in childbearing.
Exd 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Lev 26:9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you Psa 128:3 Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
And again when the house of Abimelech had Sarah, Abraham’s wife in his harem posing as Abraham’s sister, God closed all the wombs in the palace. That was how Abimelech knew something was amiss in his house! Why? Because the blessing of conception was withheld!
Gen 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She [is] my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. Gen 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou [art but] a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she [is] a man's wife. Gen 20:4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Gen 20:8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Gen 20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. Gen 20:10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? Gen 20:14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave [them] unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. Gen 20:15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land [is] before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. Gen 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare [children]. Gen 20:18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
God has formed us in the secret place and knits our bodies together.
Isa 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; He saw our form before we had one- He knows us before we are born! Gen 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations [are] in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and [the one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Gen 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, [there were] twins in her womb. Jer 1:5 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.
We are all unique- even identical twins are not identical in every sense. Each person conceived is special in the LORD’S sight! How it must grieve Him when we express shock and dismay at His wonderful gift of conception!
The godly woman will understand that she is being blessed when she discovers a new life is coming- she will welcome children as a gift from the LORD.
Psa 127:3 Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward. And again we see a blessing! Gen 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.
But the ungodly often will react quite differently, spurning the blessing and often taking means to reject it! My heart grieves for those blessings disposed of heartlessly when many a woman desperate for a child would be more than willing to bring it up.
God has a purpose and plan for our lives- even known before we are born. To reject the great gift of conception is to reject one of the greatest gifts and blessings that God can bestow on us. For although a child may not fit in with our plans, God can undertake to provide both materially and emotionally for that child. There are absolutely no accidents, no mistakes in timing, no inconveniences in God’s plan!
I have seen women who vowed to reject the gift of conception by terminating it, bond so intensely with the child when it is in their arms, that they give praise to God for the “inconvenience” and bless Him for their child. I also have known countless couples reject their gift of conception by submitting to sterilisation- only to regret it at a later date. Often a reversal does not repair that which was “fixed” when it was not broken. They pay a high price often, for trying to play a role of life-giver or rejecter- a role that is God’s alone!
How precious indeed is the gift of a child, and indeed the gift of conception. May we never take this gift lightly, or reject it or be dismayed! God’s plans and thoughts are so much higher than ours!
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
For God, there are no unwanted children. If only all people would understand that!
© Glenys Robyn Hicks of Morning Cuppas With Glenys
Wiggle Room?
As I sat on the beach looking at the ocean, I noticed how there were only a few yards difference between high tide and low tide. The ocean is so big, so mighty, yet it stops at the exact place God commanded it. I thought of a sermon I heard about how God told the sea it's boundries and told it to go no further, and the sea said "yes Lord". God placed all the planets and gave them their exact rotation, and the planets said, "yes Lord". God gave people commands and people said "NO!".
I went back to how little "wiggle" room this large body of water has - stopping yards from the same place at both tides. In our Christian walk, our wiggle room on the narrow path, like the ocean, isn't much. We have to abide in Christ to bear much fruit for the Lord.
The wisest man on earth penned this:
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. (Song of Solomon 2:15)
In our walk we need to be aware of the foxes that spoil the fruit.
Notice they are "little foxes" - it doesn't have to be a quote, "big sin" to spoil your fruit. Any sin, any disobedience, any area of our lives unyeilded to the Lord can spoil our fruit.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Only in Christ can we bring forth fruit that is pleasing.
Song of Solomon 7:12 says, "Let us get up early to the vineyards; ...."
Get up early to spend time with the Lord. In that time, let HIM tend to the branches - watering, feeding and pruning. HE will catch and prune away the foxes that spoil our fruit for Him. He will make our paths straight - we just need to be obedient. :)
Amen!
Matthew 24
Tribulations
“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” (v. 22)
Thank God that those days shall be shortened. Our text verse tells us that if God did not choose to shorten those days, no flesh could be saved. What tribulation this must be! It is worse than anything we could ever imagine. The really wonderful thing is that God loves His people enough to preserve us, and to spare us from this awesome destruction. Yes, we Christians are God’s elect. He chose us too “before the foundations of the world” when He chose Christ. You see, we are elected through Him at Calvary. This is how election works: God, in His foreknowledge sent Christ to the cross, and He also knew who would accept Christ and who would not. He knew the exact number of people who would be saved, and, though He did not “choose” them to Heaven or hell, He also knew who would not accept Christ as Savior. Those who trusted Him as Savior were crucified with Him, (Gal. 2:20), as if they were already there with Him. We were, in fact, already in Him in the eyes of God, since there is not past or future with Him. In foreknowledge, all is present before God, and it is just as sure as if it had already taken place. We are in Christ, and He in us, by the grace of God. Again I say, thank God that he chose us, and that those days of tribulation are shortened for our sakes. Verse 24 tells us that the deception and influence of the ungodly one would be so overwhelming that it would otherwise deceive even us, the elect of God. It also tells us that it is not possible to deceive the elect. What a blessed thought.
God is watching over His own, and He will not allow us to fall into destructive deception. We are preserved in Him, and cannot be deceived by the anti-Christ; God will not allow it. Once we are saved, we are also kept by God so that we can never be lost again. Our God takes special care of His elect. We know our Lord, and He knows us, and we will not accept an imposter, it is, in fact, impossible that we should. Thank God that He has always delivered His own from tribulations, and will continue to so, forever.
“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” (v. 22)
Thank God that those days shall be shortened. Our text verse tells us that if God did not choose to shorten those days, no flesh could be saved. What tribulation this must be! It is worse than anything we could ever imagine. The really wonderful thing is that God loves His people enough to preserve us, and to spare us from this awesome destruction. Yes, we Christians are God’s elect. He chose us too “before the foundations of the world” when He chose Christ. You see, we are elected through Him at Calvary. This is how election works: God, in His foreknowledge sent Christ to the cross, and He also knew who would accept Christ and who would not. He knew the exact number of people who would be saved, and, though He did not “choose” them to Heaven or hell, He also knew who would not accept Christ as Savior. Those who trusted Him as Savior were crucified with Him, (Gal. 2:20), as if they were already there with Him. We were, in fact, already in Him in the eyes of God, since there is not past or future with Him. In foreknowledge, all is present before God, and it is just as sure as if it had already taken place. We are in Christ, and He in us, by the grace of God. Again I say, thank God that he chose us, and that those days of tribulation are shortened for our sakes. Verse 24 tells us that the deception and influence of the ungodly one would be so overwhelming that it would otherwise deceive even us, the elect of God. It also tells us that it is not possible to deceive the elect. What a blessed thought.
God is watching over His own, and He will not allow us to fall into destructive deception. We are preserved in Him, and cannot be deceived by the anti-Christ; God will not allow it. Once we are saved, we are also kept by God so that we can never be lost again. Our God takes special care of His elect. We know our Lord, and He knows us, and we will not accept an imposter, it is, in fact, impossible that we should. Thank God that He has always delivered His own from tribulations, and will continue to so, forever.
The Way of Salvation
The Way of Salvation
The clear message of salvation is “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Salvation is "by grace" plus nothing minus nothing. Men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19)
All the redeemed, once saved are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. Eternal life is the present possession of every believer (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5; Jude 1, 2).
Matthew 23
Seven Woes
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” (v. 13)
In this chapter we have what is commonly called “The Seven Woes”, and this is the first. Actually there are eight, but seven of them are pronounced directly against the scribes and Pharisees, and seven times Jesus refers to them as “hypocrites.” Here we see some of the strongest preaching in the entire Gospels, and it is against the religious as well as the scholarly. Much of the rebuke is for their bad testimony and their attitude among men, but also and definitely for outright unbelief, which proved to be the crux of their problem. In verse 13 we see an indictment against their teachings; in 14, Jesus rebukes their hypocrisy toward outward show; in v. 15, they do proselyte, but their discipling is way off course; and in verse 16, they are referred to as “blind guides” which gain the confidence of men, and then lead them astray. This is the only “woe” that Jesus does not aim at them specifically by their titles, and the only one in which He does not call them hypocrites openly. Jesus attacks their oaths, and the hypocrisy of them in this verse.
Then, in v. 23 they are rebuked for putting the law above man in value and worth; and in v. 25 He shows them that the inside is what needs cleaning, and not merely the outside; then He tops it off with v.27, and shows them that they are dead inside, and need to be quickened; and Jesus wraps things up in v. 29 where He points out that they are sinners, just as their forefathers were, driving the point home for their need of salvation. What an amazing sermon! Jesus goes further and calls them snakes, and asks the final question in v. 33; then He proceeds to answer His question, showing them that their escape from hell had been provided, and rejected already in the prophets. The message ends with a heartfelt plea, a “wrenching of Spirit” for Christ, as He cries for His people in v. 37.
The call could be compared to the call of Moses, “Let my people go” as the devil tightens his grip on the necks of God’s people. Satan uses people, sometimes religious people, to accomplish his evil deeds. Let’s learn from these Pharisee’s and be sure that we do not hinder any from entering the Kingdom of God, and be careful not to weigh them down with such heavy burdens that their joy in the Lord becomes a sorrow, and their hope, despair.
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” (v. 13)
In this chapter we have what is commonly called “The Seven Woes”, and this is the first. Actually there are eight, but seven of them are pronounced directly against the scribes and Pharisees, and seven times Jesus refers to them as “hypocrites.” Here we see some of the strongest preaching in the entire Gospels, and it is against the religious as well as the scholarly. Much of the rebuke is for their bad testimony and their attitude among men, but also and definitely for outright unbelief, which proved to be the crux of their problem. In verse 13 we see an indictment against their teachings; in 14, Jesus rebukes their hypocrisy toward outward show; in v. 15, they do proselyte, but their discipling is way off course; and in verse 16, they are referred to as “blind guides” which gain the confidence of men, and then lead them astray. This is the only “woe” that Jesus does not aim at them specifically by their titles, and the only one in which He does not call them hypocrites openly. Jesus attacks their oaths, and the hypocrisy of them in this verse.
Then, in v. 23 they are rebuked for putting the law above man in value and worth; and in v. 25 He shows them that the inside is what needs cleaning, and not merely the outside; then He tops it off with v.27, and shows them that they are dead inside, and need to be quickened; and Jesus wraps things up in v. 29 where He points out that they are sinners, just as their forefathers were, driving the point home for their need of salvation. What an amazing sermon! Jesus goes further and calls them snakes, and asks the final question in v. 33; then He proceeds to answer His question, showing them that their escape from hell had been provided, and rejected already in the prophets. The message ends with a heartfelt plea, a “wrenching of Spirit” for Christ, as He cries for His people in v. 37.
The call could be compared to the call of Moses, “Let my people go” as the devil tightens his grip on the necks of God’s people. Satan uses people, sometimes religious people, to accomplish his evil deeds. Let’s learn from these Pharisee’s and be sure that we do not hinder any from entering the Kingdom of God, and be careful not to weigh them down with such heavy burdens that their joy in the Lord becomes a sorrow, and their hope, despair.
Matthew 22 The “Royal Commandments”
“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (v.40)
Two commandments which immediately precede this verse, contain the “heart” of the entire law of God. Which two commandments?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (vs.37-39)
Here are the Ten Commandments “in a nutshell.” If we love the Lord with everything we have, every ounce of love that is within us, then we will have no trouble with the first four commandments. If we love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we will have no problem with the last six either. I have often taught that the commandments are divided this way, four pertain to our God-man relationship, and the last six with our man-to-man relationships here on earth. This, by the way, is called the “Royal Commandment” by some. (Schofield). Can you see how that “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”?
Notice that the Lord created man as a three part being, and that He demands love of all three parts of us in this verse. Our heart, soul, and mind ought to be His entirely, and without question; but some may wonder “What about the body?” Well, that is the sinful part of us, and we can never love the Lord with the flesh in the way that He wants us to love Him. Flesh cannot attain to such great heights. We can, however, love Him with the rest of us, our total self, in reality, because this flesh will be cast aside one glorious day, and all that will remain is that which possesses the flesh. Even so, if our mind is totally given to the Lord, as well as our heart, we will have little, if any, problem with the flesh. Our heart will lead us in the right paths; our minds will help us to see His will; and our souls will bask in the glory of eternal life, and the forgiveness of sin. In these we need to love Him.
Two commandments which immediately precede this verse, contain the “heart” of the entire law of God. Which two commandments?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (vs.37-39)
Here are the Ten Commandments “in a nutshell.” If we love the Lord with everything we have, every ounce of love that is within us, then we will have no trouble with the first four commandments. If we love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we will have no problem with the last six either. I have often taught that the commandments are divided this way, four pertain to our God-man relationship, and the last six with our man-to-man relationships here on earth. This, by the way, is called the “Royal Commandment” by some. (Schofield). Can you see how that “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”?
Notice that the Lord created man as a three part being, and that He demands love of all three parts of us in this verse. Our heart, soul, and mind ought to be His entirely, and without question; but some may wonder “What about the body?” Well, that is the sinful part of us, and we can never love the Lord with the flesh in the way that He wants us to love Him. Flesh cannot attain to such great heights. We can, however, love Him with the rest of us, our total self, in reality, because this flesh will be cast aside one glorious day, and all that will remain is that which possesses the flesh. Even so, if our mind is totally given to the Lord, as well as our heart, we will have little, if any, problem with the flesh. Our heart will lead us in the right paths; our minds will help us to see His will; and our souls will bask in the glory of eternal life, and the forgiveness of sin. In these we need to love Him.
THROWING DOWN THE ALTARS OF BAAL
Judges 6
In Judges 6 and verses 25-33, we see the story of Gideon, and his zeal in casting down the altars of Baal. A close reading of this passage reveals many interesting things that we could use in our daily walk with our Lord.
First, we see the command to “throw down the altars of Baal” given to Gideon by God Himself. We look at this, and isolate it to a particular time, and a particular people, but, my friends, I see many altars of Baal in our lives today! They too need to be “cast down” and destroyed, lest we forfeit the blessings of God in our lives. What are these ungodly altars? They are whatever takes the place of Christ in our lives!
Let me ask you, where do you find comfort from the hustle and bustle of daily life? In the woods? Up north on the lake? Or maybe just relaxing in your favorite vacation spot. I say to you, beware, God wants to be your comfort! In what do you trust? Money? Weapons? Welfare? God wants us to trust in Him for all our needs, and whatever we “replace” Him with in our lives, becomes an idol! Do you worry about where your next meal is coming from? Why take ye thought for it? Did not God promise to meet that specific need in the Bible? What about protection? Do you sleep with a gun under your pillow at night? If so, shame on you! Where is God in your thoughts? God wants to be your “everything” in your life.
I say to you dear friend, when we strive to “get” what God has already given, we create idols in our lives. When we ignore His promises and scheme and plot, and connive to get things, we become the fulfiller of our own promises! We put ourselves in his place! We too need to cast down some altars of Baal.
We, as Gideon did, must use discretion. He went by night, so as not to create a “scene” openly. Yes, he probably was afraid, but he went. Are you that quick to throw down some altars when it is not popular to do so? And they may be altars that were owned, or created, by family members! I wonder what we would have done? Fear, in itself, is not evil, but fear that causes us to disobey our God, is very evil. Gideon opposed his own dad, but he did what was right to do.
Then, note too, that Gideon not only threw down the altar of Baal, but built an altar to God in its place! Whenever we destroy an “altar” in our lives, we need to immediately replace it with another, a good one. If we leave an “empty spot” in our lives, Satan will be sure to fill it with his trash. He lurks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He has a garbage truck, and is looking for a place to dump it! Will he find it in you, my friend? I hope not.
In Judges 6 and verses 25-33, we see the story of Gideon, and his zeal in casting down the altars of Baal. A close reading of this passage reveals many interesting things that we could use in our daily walk with our Lord.
First, we see the command to “throw down the altars of Baal” given to Gideon by God Himself. We look at this, and isolate it to a particular time, and a particular people, but, my friends, I see many altars of Baal in our lives today! They too need to be “cast down” and destroyed, lest we forfeit the blessings of God in our lives. What are these ungodly altars? They are whatever takes the place of Christ in our lives!
Let me ask you, where do you find comfort from the hustle and bustle of daily life? In the woods? Up north on the lake? Or maybe just relaxing in your favorite vacation spot. I say to you, beware, God wants to be your comfort! In what do you trust? Money? Weapons? Welfare? God wants us to trust in Him for all our needs, and whatever we “replace” Him with in our lives, becomes an idol! Do you worry about where your next meal is coming from? Why take ye thought for it? Did not God promise to meet that specific need in the Bible? What about protection? Do you sleep with a gun under your pillow at night? If so, shame on you! Where is God in your thoughts? God wants to be your “everything” in your life.
I say to you dear friend, when we strive to “get” what God has already given, we create idols in our lives. When we ignore His promises and scheme and plot, and connive to get things, we become the fulfiller of our own promises! We put ourselves in his place! We too need to cast down some altars of Baal.
We, as Gideon did, must use discretion. He went by night, so as not to create a “scene” openly. Yes, he probably was afraid, but he went. Are you that quick to throw down some altars when it is not popular to do so? And they may be altars that were owned, or created, by family members! I wonder what we would have done? Fear, in itself, is not evil, but fear that causes us to disobey our God, is very evil. Gideon opposed his own dad, but he did what was right to do.
Then, note too, that Gideon not only threw down the altar of Baal, but built an altar to God in its place! Whenever we destroy an “altar” in our lives, we need to immediately replace it with another, a good one. If we leave an “empty spot” in our lives, Satan will be sure to fill it with his trash. He lurks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He has a garbage truck, and is looking for a place to dump it! Will he find it in you, my friend? I hope not.
Matthew 21
21 Perverting the sacrifice
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (vs. 12,13)
For years I stumbled over the meaning of this passage, supposing only that Jesus was teaching them respect for the House of God, and of the fact that we do not make it a place of merchandise, but then, what would the reference to thieves mean? These were (supposedly) legitimate businessmen, simply plying their trade in the wrong place. That, no doubt, is something for us to learn and practice, but I believe there is something more to this passage than what meets the eye. I believe that the Lord has shown me something here that I have never seen in commentaries, or heard from a pulpit, but it affects the very core of the sacrifice.
You see, one needs to understand first how important the sacrifice was to the Jew. It was everything Christ is to us! It was precious, and Holy, and the total consummation of all that is good and right. It was a sacred thing, and not to be tampered with, nor made light of, nor was it to be blemished by dishonesty or deceit, especially for personal gain. Secondly, a sacrifice is not a sacrifice unless there is some loss or suffering involved. Remember the “widows’ mite” in the temple? She gave from her poverty, while other gave of their wealth. She would miss her contribution much more than the others would miss theirs. That is sacrifice.
Now that we understand somewhat the importance of the sacrifice, let me explain what I believe was going on here. The sacrifice was to be a lamb without blemish, of the first year, etc., but some could not afford a lamb, so the poor mans sacrifice was turtle doves or pigeons (Lk. 2:24). These men in the temple were selling the poor mans sacrifice, to those who could afford better. They made available the least, when God asked for the best. This was a direct blow against the sacrifice, and the God of the sacrifice, and it went on inside the temple as well. The people, though they might afford better, were tempted to “side-step” the law, and do just enough to get by in offering the poor mans sacrifice. It is symbolic of soothing our own consciences with our service, and not giving our all.
Jesus gave His all for us, so it is not unreasonable that He exact the same from us. Men often try to do just enough to be “legal”, to say “I have done my duty and made my offering,” but he likes to do it his way, the convenient way, and not God’s way. I believe that is the message for us here.
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (vs. 12,13)
For years I stumbled over the meaning of this passage, supposing only that Jesus was teaching them respect for the House of God, and of the fact that we do not make it a place of merchandise, but then, what would the reference to thieves mean? These were (supposedly) legitimate businessmen, simply plying their trade in the wrong place. That, no doubt, is something for us to learn and practice, but I believe there is something more to this passage than what meets the eye. I believe that the Lord has shown me something here that I have never seen in commentaries, or heard from a pulpit, but it affects the very core of the sacrifice.
You see, one needs to understand first how important the sacrifice was to the Jew. It was everything Christ is to us! It was precious, and Holy, and the total consummation of all that is good and right. It was a sacred thing, and not to be tampered with, nor made light of, nor was it to be blemished by dishonesty or deceit, especially for personal gain. Secondly, a sacrifice is not a sacrifice unless there is some loss or suffering involved. Remember the “widows’ mite” in the temple? She gave from her poverty, while other gave of their wealth. She would miss her contribution much more than the others would miss theirs. That is sacrifice.
Now that we understand somewhat the importance of the sacrifice, let me explain what I believe was going on here. The sacrifice was to be a lamb without blemish, of the first year, etc., but some could not afford a lamb, so the poor mans sacrifice was turtle doves or pigeons (Lk. 2:24). These men in the temple were selling the poor mans sacrifice, to those who could afford better. They made available the least, when God asked for the best. This was a direct blow against the sacrifice, and the God of the sacrifice, and it went on inside the temple as well. The people, though they might afford better, were tempted to “side-step” the law, and do just enough to get by in offering the poor mans sacrifice. It is symbolic of soothing our own consciences with our service, and not giving our all.
Jesus gave His all for us, so it is not unreasonable that He exact the same from us. Men often try to do just enough to be “legal”, to say “I have done my duty and made my offering,” but he likes to do it his way, the convenient way, and not God’s way. I believe that is the message for us here.
How's Your Interior Decorating?
June 19, 2009
Good morning,
Warren W. Wiersbe relates that one day he was scanning the shelves in a bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he discovered a volume out of place. It was in the “Religion” section, but the title of the book was The Art of Interior Decorating. He started to remove the book, but then it dawned on him that the volume was just where it belonged. For, after all, isn’t that what the Christian faith is all about—interior decorating?
“I can’t think of a better description of the Christian life than ‘interior decorating.’ ” he commented. “You see, the Bible emphasizes the fact that each of us has an ‘inner man’—the real person down inside. The body may change and decay and even die, but the ‘real you’ down inside will live forever.”
Lord bless,
Bro. Harry Shomaker
Nobody's Child
We live in a world of rapidly declining morals where society in general accepts single motherhood and not marrying, encourages sexual looseness for both genders, and little personal responsibility. With dating the norm and women and men being perpetually engaged to marry, but never actually marrying, we see a rapid turnover of relationships that go belly-up. After all, with no personal responsibility or integrity, it is easy to just cast your current partner aside as you pursue another relationship.
This really is not good. It is not good for the young men and women playing musical beds with each other and it is not good on the innocent results of these relationships: the children. There is now a generation of children who truly have no idea who their father is. They have no one to take on the role of a father but they have been ‘blessed’ with many uncles coming and going in their lives. There is never anything permanent in their lives and no sense of belonging.
From an early age these children often have their fathers leave the relationship with their mother, or else mother leaves father and the family is left in poverty. The new partner often does not want the children of a previous relationship around. In an effort to devote themselves to a new partner, it is not uncommon to see their child being given a hard time and pushed from pillar to post. They then effectively become Nobody’s Child.
With Nobody’s Child being moved from one relationship to another and passed from one set of family to another, there is a real possibility of a feeling of distrust in people and an inability to bond with anyone. With many new step-siblings and new step-parents, there is fostered a need to either excel at being a good child in order to win the affections of their parents, or there comes a deep depression and a sense of worthlessness and despair. Nobody’s Child simply gives up.
Once he or she has given up, the door to becoming a street kid is opened. Seeking love, Nobody’s Child often resorts to joining in with gangs of older children and is controlled by peer pressure. We then have the undesirable result of Nobody’s Child getting into trouble with drugs, alcohol, and the law. Often they become sexually precocious, and form lover’s trysts in a desperate attempt to belong and find a sense of self-worth.
The same society that encouraged the life-style that gave birth to Nobody’s Children offers no real hope to them and the cycle of Nobody’s Children is perpetuated as they hold their first-born child.
We can help Nobody’s Children by giving them affection and understanding. We can offer to take them to Sunday School and perhaps witness to their parents. Only Jesus can give these hurting and needy children the self-worth they need and we can give them affirmation of it in our daily dealings with them.
It would do us well too, to realise that the parents of Nobody’s Children are in desperate need of Jesus too and in all likelihood aren’t to blame for their reckless life-style and lacking parenting skills, for most of them know no better: for they too were Nobody’s Child. “The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom”. Proverbs 10:21
© Glenys Robyn Hicks of Morning Cuppas With Glenys
Matthew 20
First and last
“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” (v. 16)
Isn’t it amazing how backwards our way of thinking is compared to our Lord’s? We strive to be first; we seek the best, and all the time it is the last place that we need, and the leftovers instead of the “cream.” It is mind-boggling to think of the strife, and contentions that we cause because we want to be “top dog” or “king of the hill” when, if we will quietly and patiently serve God, He will exalt us in due time. This is the second time the Lord teaches us this principle, as if He wished to emphasize it in a big way. The last verse in chapter 19 also says that the last shall be first, and the first, last. (19:30). Oh how our own pride seeks to debase us as we hope to exalt ourselves!
In our text verse though (and I hope you have read the entire chapter) The Lord adds another special thought, “for many be called, but few chosen.” Look with me at the implications of this verse: There is a step higher than a “calling.” It is very hard to define the call of God in Scripture, and many times, in our lives, but even more important than the calling is the choosing of God. The called are a special lot, but the chosen even more so. There are multitudes from which God had chosen His “peculiar” people, and out of the multitudes came the “elect”; then from the elect, God called some, (many); and from that group, the few, the “chosen.” Do you see the pattern here? I know I covered this in a previous devotion, but I find that doctrines repeat themselves all the way through the Bible, and after all, repetition is the best teacher, according to Dr. Hyles.
Now, how do we reconcile the two thoughts here? Simply by seeking to serve the Lord, wholeheartedly, and not the “office” or the “calling”; God will choose those He will have to serve Him, but He has given us a few guidelines to help us walk among the chosen. Just concentrate on getting close to Him and let Him do the “choosing.” Just humbly seek Him, and watch Him exalt you, and give you first place among men and women.
“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” (v. 16)
Isn’t it amazing how backwards our way of thinking is compared to our Lord’s? We strive to be first; we seek the best, and all the time it is the last place that we need, and the leftovers instead of the “cream.” It is mind-boggling to think of the strife, and contentions that we cause because we want to be “top dog” or “king of the hill” when, if we will quietly and patiently serve God, He will exalt us in due time. This is the second time the Lord teaches us this principle, as if He wished to emphasize it in a big way. The last verse in chapter 19 also says that the last shall be first, and the first, last. (19:30). Oh how our own pride seeks to debase us as we hope to exalt ourselves!
In our text verse though (and I hope you have read the entire chapter) The Lord adds another special thought, “for many be called, but few chosen.” Look with me at the implications of this verse: There is a step higher than a “calling.” It is very hard to define the call of God in Scripture, and many times, in our lives, but even more important than the calling is the choosing of God. The called are a special lot, but the chosen even more so. There are multitudes from which God had chosen His “peculiar” people, and out of the multitudes came the “elect”; then from the elect, God called some, (many); and from that group, the few, the “chosen.” Do you see the pattern here? I know I covered this in a previous devotion, but I find that doctrines repeat themselves all the way through the Bible, and after all, repetition is the best teacher, according to Dr. Hyles.
Now, how do we reconcile the two thoughts here? Simply by seeking to serve the Lord, wholeheartedly, and not the “office” or the “calling”; God will choose those He will have to serve Him, but He has given us a few guidelines to help us walk among the chosen. Just concentrate on getting close to Him and let Him do the “choosing.” Just humbly seek Him, and watch Him exalt you, and give you first place among men and women.
Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right
I read that late term abortion provider, Dr George Tiller was gunned down and shot dead as he served as an usher in his home church in Wicheta.
Now as most of you who know me already know, I am a pro-life Christian and a self-confessed baby-holic. I love everything to do with pregnancy, childbirth and babies. I have a lot of time for children and teens...I get on well with most adults and I look after and love my aged mother. I abhor the thought of euthanasia. I tell you this, because I love life! "Make your point!" you say?
The point I am making is that I am extremely pro-life and anti-abortion. However, that does not mean that I wish to kill those who promote and perform abortions...it is not the way of our Saviour! I understand the emotion that abortion creates: I have been touched by it in my own family....and I can never agree that killing an innocent unborn child is a good thing....let's be plain about it: it is murder! But that doesn't give us the right to commit the same act and thus have blood on *our* hands.
This event bothers me too because it is going to have some bad repercussions on other pro-life supporters and anti-abortion protesters who use peaceful means to get their point across. We are going to be pictured as dangerous radicals when nothing could be further from the truth. It just goes to show that abortion spreads death and trouble where ever it is practised. But loathe it as we do, we can never right a wrong by taking a life- for we all know that two wrongs don't make a right....
Let's remember that there is one Judge Who will judge Dr George Tiller...and be glad we don't have the blood of innocents on our hands when we stand before Him.
Maranatha, Lord Jesus!
© Glenys Robyn Hicks of Morning Cuppas With Glenys
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19
Now as most of you who know me already know, I am a pro-life Christian and a self-confessed baby-holic. I love everything to do with pregnancy, childbirth and babies. I have a lot of time for children and teens...I get on well with most adults and I look after and love my aged mother. I abhor the thought of euthanasia. I tell you this, because I love life! "Make your point!" you say?
The point I am making is that I am extremely pro-life and anti-abortion. However, that does not mean that I wish to kill those who promote and perform abortions...it is not the way of our Saviour! I understand the emotion that abortion creates: I have been touched by it in my own family....and I can never agree that killing an innocent unborn child is a good thing....let's be plain about it: it is murder! But that doesn't give us the right to commit the same act and thus have blood on *our* hands.
This event bothers me too because it is going to have some bad repercussions on other pro-life supporters and anti-abortion protesters who use peaceful means to get their point across. We are going to be pictured as dangerous radicals when nothing could be further from the truth. It just goes to show that abortion spreads death and trouble where ever it is practised. But loathe it as we do, we can never right a wrong by taking a life- for we all know that two wrongs don't make a right....
Let's remember that there is one Judge Who will judge Dr George Tiller...and be glad we don't have the blood of innocents on our hands when we stand before Him.
Maranatha, Lord Jesus!
© Glenys Robyn Hicks of Morning Cuppas With Glenys
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19
TASTE THE SWEET GOODNESS OF SALVATION
Jesus Is Sweet
As I was looking at this orange, it reminded me of a sermon my dear husband preached about salvation. He said if I were eating this orange, and you did not taste of it, you would have no idea how juicy and sweet it tasted. Salvation is sweet; but if you've never tasted it for yourself, you have no idea just how sweet it can be.
II Corinthians 6:2, "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
Proverbs 27:1, "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
This is the scripture he used in the message, and it just all came alive. He preaches dynamically and uses many things in every day life to get a point of Biblical teachings across. Just as Jesus gave all the parables, he uses these illustrations to point sinners to Christ. So many in the pews of our churches are lost and undone without Christ, They come in sit, hear the word and go out the same way they entered, without ever accepting Jesus Christ as their very own personal Saviour, It is heart breaking. We must reach them -- this is the great commission, go, go quickly! Compel them!
Luke 14:23, "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."
As you know, the lost world is not beating the doors down to get into the church where they can hear the gospel; so as the saved and called accordingly to His purpose, we need to be willing to go out and bring them in. Yes we need to be a willing vesses for the use of the Holy Spirit that can reach the people whom we come in contact with, let us go in the name of Jesus, for his glory, filled with his Spirit, and willing to do the work he has called us to do. I pray you have a blessed weekend, and that your cup is filled, and running over into all the lanes and streets of your city. Be willing, be like Isaiah, Here I am lord send me.
Matthew 19
God’s Omnipotence
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (v. 26)
There are several good teachings in this chapter, and to choose which one to write about is definitely a hard thing, but one cannot go wrong in uplifting the Lord when it comes to His attributes. Previous to this, Jesus tells us that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” No wonder the disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?”, the question that prompted our text verse from Jesus. God is able to do the impossible, with Him, a camel could go through the eye of a needle, and come out looking better than he did when He went in! Our God is a God of miracles. We often hear of His wondrous works, but do we really hear them? Do we really believe them, and think of how awesome our God really is? His works testify of His greatness. By the way, that is the way it ought to be with us, our works ought to be seen of men, and glorify the Father in Heaven, and testify of His greatness.
It is hard to imagine that God can do anything He wishes, but therein lies the basis for our faith. I was raised on shows like “Superman” and still cannot fathom the wonders of God, Who is much more than a super man. He is the all-powerful One, the “Almighty”. He is much more than a “super man.” When we realize the omnipotence of God, our faith is well on its way to fruition, and we can see our prayers answered. If we “stick with” God, all things will be possible to us too, by His grace, but He is not a God of foolish entertainment; He does not do things to amuse us or others, but is a God of purpose. If there is a reason or a need for it, God will accomplish it through us. This is where many go awry, in thinking that God does His wonders to show off, or to amuse man, and we treat Him as a plaything that is in our control or under our command. If you truly need a miracle, leave that decision up to Him, He knows what we need even before we ask. Often we look to Him for a miracle so that we will profit from it in some way, and perhaps rob Heaven of another blessing. God can do anything, but He must choose what He will do, and not leave that decision up to us. Let’s quit trying to “steer” him from the direction He chooses to go, and rest in the comfort that He is in control.
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (v. 26)
There are several good teachings in this chapter, and to choose which one to write about is definitely a hard thing, but one cannot go wrong in uplifting the Lord when it comes to His attributes. Previous to this, Jesus tells us that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” No wonder the disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?”, the question that prompted our text verse from Jesus. God is able to do the impossible, with Him, a camel could go through the eye of a needle, and come out looking better than he did when He went in! Our God is a God of miracles. We often hear of His wondrous works, but do we really hear them? Do we really believe them, and think of how awesome our God really is? His works testify of His greatness. By the way, that is the way it ought to be with us, our works ought to be seen of men, and glorify the Father in Heaven, and testify of His greatness.
It is hard to imagine that God can do anything He wishes, but therein lies the basis for our faith. I was raised on shows like “Superman” and still cannot fathom the wonders of God, Who is much more than a super man. He is the all-powerful One, the “Almighty”. He is much more than a “super man.” When we realize the omnipotence of God, our faith is well on its way to fruition, and we can see our prayers answered. If we “stick with” God, all things will be possible to us too, by His grace, but He is not a God of foolish entertainment; He does not do things to amuse us or others, but is a God of purpose. If there is a reason or a need for it, God will accomplish it through us. This is where many go awry, in thinking that God does His wonders to show off, or to amuse man, and we treat Him as a plaything that is in our control or under our command. If you truly need a miracle, leave that decision up to Him, He knows what we need even before we ask. Often we look to Him for a miracle so that we will profit from it in some way, and perhaps rob Heaven of another blessing. God can do anything, but He must choose what He will do, and not leave that decision up to us. Let’s quit trying to “steer” him from the direction He chooses to go, and rest in the comfort that He is in control.
We ARE a Christian Nation, One Nation Under God
This is a long blogpost so I put the link to the blog below....
The time to stop ‘beating around the bush’ is now! The time to stand for truth is now! The time to take it upon ourselves to study and learn the truth is now! Now, is the accepted time! We need to gather, resource and network; Now!
http://frankbutkind.blogspot.com/2009/06/we-are-christian-nation-one-nation.html
Forgiveness
Forgiveness?
“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” (v. 7)
Much of this chapter is devoted to forgiveness, especially forgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ. As in any family, offenses will come, but our responsibility begins when they do come our way. It is my responsibility to forgive my brother, no matter what the fault. Too often we criticize the one who is offended, and misapply Psalms 119:165, condemning the offendee rather than the offender. Our text condemns the offender, and warns us to be careful how we treat other Christians. As we do unto them, we do unto Christ, because He is in them too. Consider Acts 9 where Saul is asked “…Why persecutest thou Me”, Saul was persecuting the church, and Christ took it personally!
This area of service is one of the hardest in the Christian life. We love to hate. We like to hold grudges and let the offense grow from a bump in the road, to a mountain looming up before us, and reaching into the clouds. This stems from pride on our part, and from a lack of careful compassion on the part of others. It depends on whether we are the offender, or the one offended. Proverbs 13:10 tells us that, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Look at the first part of this verse; ONLY by pride, that is the only way contentions come. All arguments, disagreements, conflicts, etc., come through pride. It takes two parties to disagree. We cannot blame contentions in the church on the one party, and ignore the other, nor can we avoid being condemned by pride when we find ourselves fitting into this area. We need to practice forgiveness, it works wonders in our hearts, and usually reconciles with the others involved in a dispute. Whether the forgiveness (and apology if necessary) is received well or not, we must do what is right to do. We need not ask the much used question, “What would Jesus do?” because He is telling us what He would do right here in these verses, we simply need to decide if WE are going to do what Jesus would do. Hate holds a grudge, while love forgives, which will it be for you?
“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” (v. 7)
Much of this chapter is devoted to forgiveness, especially forgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ. As in any family, offenses will come, but our responsibility begins when they do come our way. It is my responsibility to forgive my brother, no matter what the fault. Too often we criticize the one who is offended, and misapply Psalms 119:165, condemning the offendee rather than the offender. Our text condemns the offender, and warns us to be careful how we treat other Christians. As we do unto them, we do unto Christ, because He is in them too. Consider Acts 9 where Saul is asked “…Why persecutest thou Me”, Saul was persecuting the church, and Christ took it personally!
This area of service is one of the hardest in the Christian life. We love to hate. We like to hold grudges and let the offense grow from a bump in the road, to a mountain looming up before us, and reaching into the clouds. This stems from pride on our part, and from a lack of careful compassion on the part of others. It depends on whether we are the offender, or the one offended. Proverbs 13:10 tells us that, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Look at the first part of this verse; ONLY by pride, that is the only way contentions come. All arguments, disagreements, conflicts, etc., come through pride. It takes two parties to disagree. We cannot blame contentions in the church on the one party, and ignore the other, nor can we avoid being condemned by pride when we find ourselves fitting into this area. We need to practice forgiveness, it works wonders in our hearts, and usually reconciles with the others involved in a dispute. Whether the forgiveness (and apology if necessary) is received well or not, we must do what is right to do. We need not ask the much used question, “What would Jesus do?” because He is telling us what He would do right here in these verses, we simply need to decide if WE are going to do what Jesus would do. Hate holds a grudge, while love forgives, which will it be for you?
What Confounded Them?
Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Just a quick thought on this some-what controversial portion of Scripture. What was it that confounded the group of people here for the feast of Pentecost? It wasn't some new, unknown language that was being spoken, but it was the fact that they could understand what was being said in their own language. No matter where they came from (2:7-11) each person heard them in their own language. The miracle was not in the speaking, but in the hearing!
Just a quick thought on this some-what controversial portion of Scripture. What was it that confounded the group of people here for the feast of Pentecost? It wasn't some new, unknown language that was being spoken, but it was the fact that they could understand what was being said in their own language. No matter where they came from (2:7-11) each person heard them in their own language. The miracle was not in the speaking, but in the hearing!
How you can know your walk is pleasing to the Lord
How can we be sure our walk is pleasing to our Lord? Praise God, He does not change and He has given us a clear and succinct word in both the Old and New Testaments.
Ps 15:1-5 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a
reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
2Pe 1:5-8 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [love]. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
How wonderful! Psalm 15 gives us a picture of 2 Peter put into action!
If we do these things, we will never be moved and we will know that our walk is fruitful. Amen. :)
Matthew 17
The Miracle Fish
“Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (v. 27)
There are so many good things in each of these chapters that it is hard sometimes to choose which passage to comment on. Such is the case in this chapter.
In this chapter we see some very interesting facts. Here the tax collectors approached Peter and asked if Jesus was going to pay taxes like everyone else had to do, and Peter, probably without thinking it through, answered “yes”. He committed Jesus to a worldly custom. In this verse, Jesus does what He doesn’t really need to do, “Lest we should offend them”, He did it for expedience’s sake. This same thought will, no doubt, be seen again in 1 Corinthians 6. Jesus honored the law. Expedience is defined as:
“Fitness or suitableness to effect some good end or the purpose intended; propriety under the particular circumstances of a case. The practicability of a measure is often obvious, when the expedience of it is questionable.”
Jesus is teaching that there are times when we must do things strictly for the sake of others, lest we offend them. The same thought is seen in Rom. 14:13-15. (Read that chapter too). There are many things that are ok for us to do that we can refrain from for the sake of weaker Christians; on the other hand, there are things that we should do, for the sake of the same, lest we become offensive, and cause them to stumble in their Christian walk. One must use discretion in such cases. (See 1 Cor. 8) Jesus performed a miracle to keep from offending the tax collectors! Their attitude was very important to Him. Note though that he also taught Peter to render unto others their due; Peter was required to pay taxes, and Jesus paid the price for both of them! I believe that we should meet certain obligations as long as we do not offend God’s Law or our fellow man.
“Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (v. 27)
There are so many good things in each of these chapters that it is hard sometimes to choose which passage to comment on. Such is the case in this chapter.
In this chapter we see some very interesting facts. Here the tax collectors approached Peter and asked if Jesus was going to pay taxes like everyone else had to do, and Peter, probably without thinking it through, answered “yes”. He committed Jesus to a worldly custom. In this verse, Jesus does what He doesn’t really need to do, “Lest we should offend them”, He did it for expedience’s sake. This same thought will, no doubt, be seen again in 1 Corinthians 6. Jesus honored the law. Expedience is defined as:
“Fitness or suitableness to effect some good end or the purpose intended; propriety under the particular circumstances of a case. The practicability of a measure is often obvious, when the expedience of it is questionable.”
Jesus is teaching that there are times when we must do things strictly for the sake of others, lest we offend them. The same thought is seen in Rom. 14:13-15. (Read that chapter too). There are many things that are ok for us to do that we can refrain from for the sake of weaker Christians; on the other hand, there are things that we should do, for the sake of the same, lest we become offensive, and cause them to stumble in their Christian walk. One must use discretion in such cases. (See 1 Cor. 8) Jesus performed a miracle to keep from offending the tax collectors! Their attitude was very important to Him. Note though that he also taught Peter to render unto others their due; Peter was required to pay taxes, and Jesus paid the price for both of them! I believe that we should meet certain obligations as long as we do not offend God’s Law or our fellow man.
Maybe It’s Not Your Prayer
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, there was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing. Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island... In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?" "My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything." "You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."
"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?" "He prayed that all your prayers be answered."
For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.
"What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself"
Lord bless,
Bro. Harry Shomaker
Matthew 16
According to His works
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (v. 27)
We see in this verse, a very important doctrine, that is, the eminent return of Christ. He will be back, folks. We do not know when, but be assured, He will be back to separate the sheep from the goats, and take those who are truly His home with Him for evermore. He will come, as our verse says, “in the glory of His Father” and with the Holy angels, perhaps riding on a cloud, as many say. (compare Isa. 19:1 with Lk. 21:27). No matter the manner of His coming, He will come again to judge the “quick and the dead.” He will judge every man according to his works, but do we think this to mean His works, the Lord’s works, the Perfection of Holiness, or mans works, which amount to nothing at all? There are two views taken here, and frankly we are only being taught the one in the church today.
Let me explain the point made here: all judgment is given unto the Son, because in the eyes of the Father, our sins are gone! God cannot so much as look on sin anyway, so He cannot rightly judge it in the form of the Father; but, in the form of the Son, born of woman (and not of man) He could not only look upon sin, but dwell among it with the sinner! He already knew the remedy for sin, and that was provided in the Son too, but Jesus knows our sin, and sees our faults. Therefore, we will stand before Him who can see what needs to be judged, and discern between the correct motives as well as the action of sin. We hear that the Word of God will judge us as to how we “measure up” but we think that Jesus will judge us only according to actions that result from sin in the final day. I believe that both of these views could be true, as is often the case with scripture. There is almost always a spiritual application as well as a literal when it comes to the teachings of Christ. We will be, first and foremost, judged by His works, His righteousness, and then, perhaps for our works. Our works are nothing though, and His are everything. Our works are all evil, and His all pure and Holy, but He already judged our sin at Calvary! Granted, there are deeds that we do that are not conducive to good Christianity, not at all, but these trespass sins will affect our reward, and not our position in Christ.
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (v. 27)
We see in this verse, a very important doctrine, that is, the eminent return of Christ. He will be back, folks. We do not know when, but be assured, He will be back to separate the sheep from the goats, and take those who are truly His home with Him for evermore. He will come, as our verse says, “in the glory of His Father” and with the Holy angels, perhaps riding on a cloud, as many say. (compare Isa. 19:1 with Lk. 21:27). No matter the manner of His coming, He will come again to judge the “quick and the dead.” He will judge every man according to his works, but do we think this to mean His works, the Lord’s works, the Perfection of Holiness, or mans works, which amount to nothing at all? There are two views taken here, and frankly we are only being taught the one in the church today.
Let me explain the point made here: all judgment is given unto the Son, because in the eyes of the Father, our sins are gone! God cannot so much as look on sin anyway, so He cannot rightly judge it in the form of the Father; but, in the form of the Son, born of woman (and not of man) He could not only look upon sin, but dwell among it with the sinner! He already knew the remedy for sin, and that was provided in the Son too, but Jesus knows our sin, and sees our faults. Therefore, we will stand before Him who can see what needs to be judged, and discern between the correct motives as well as the action of sin. We hear that the Word of God will judge us as to how we “measure up” but we think that Jesus will judge us only according to actions that result from sin in the final day. I believe that both of these views could be true, as is often the case with scripture. There is almost always a spiritual application as well as a literal when it comes to the teachings of Christ. We will be, first and foremost, judged by His works, His righteousness, and then, perhaps for our works. Our works are nothing though, and His are everything. Our works are all evil, and His all pure and Holy, but He already judged our sin at Calvary! Granted, there are deeds that we do that are not conducive to good Christianity, not at all, but these trespass sins will affect our reward, and not our position in Christ.
Search Deep, Search Beyond Your Unbelief
I know it is very difficult to believe what is going on in our Republic and Democracy. This country remains the greatest in the world; She is fractured, though.
A burdensome concern of mine is the fact that so many do not seem to care. Now, the many that I refer to are those that hold to the truths of traditions and conservative values that made our Land great. These are the friends and acquaintances in my circle that seems to show no reaction or response to issues that I suggest are harming our country and personal freedoms. Why is this happening? Is it fear, complacency, laziness, selfishness? I wish that I knew!
We need the support of friends, family, and others in our circle of influence to be an available support during these troubled times. There is, indeed, power in numbers. You know, there is a wake-up call that is inviting us to study and learn who we are as a country and where we came from. This wake-up call is at our doorsteps. Our children, who have been divorced from the great history of our country by the public schools must be introduced to the living truths that founded our country.
Am I an alarmist? You betcha.....The alarm must be sounded and beaconed to all who will hear with their ears and hearts.
I ask you, will you strive to make a difference? Please, love your country once again!
The following list reviews hundreds of instances in which the United States has utilized military forces abroad in situations of military conflict or potential conflict to protect US citizens or promote US interests.
INSTANCES OF USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ABROAD, 1798-2004
A burdensome concern of mine is the fact that so many do not seem to care. Now, the many that I refer to are those that hold to the truths of traditions and conservative values that made our Land great. These are the friends and acquaintances in my circle that seems to show no reaction or response to issues that I suggest are harming our country and personal freedoms. Why is this happening? Is it fear, complacency, laziness, selfishness? I wish that I knew!
We need the support of friends, family, and others in our circle of influence to be an available support during these troubled times. There is, indeed, power in numbers. You know, there is a wake-up call that is inviting us to study and learn who we are as a country and where we came from. This wake-up call is at our doorsteps. Our children, who have been divorced from the great history of our country by the public schools must be introduced to the living truths that founded our country.
Am I an alarmist? You betcha.....The alarm must be sounded and beaconed to all who will hear with their ears and hearts.
I ask you, will you strive to make a difference? Please, love your country once again!
The following list reviews hundreds of instances in which the United States has utilized military forces abroad in situations of military conflict or potential conflict to protect US citizens or promote US interests.
INSTANCES OF USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ABROAD, 1798-2004
Matthew 15
Doctrines of Men
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (v. 9)
Man seems to be so prone to accept false teachings. The Bible warns us of this many times, but still we will not search the scriptures to see whether those things we are taught are really true. Even the best of men can pass on something they had heard, and it sounded right, but may not have been exactly what the Bible says. We still accept the doctrines of men. There are many verses in the New Testament alone that warn us of this error. We must be careful lest we worship the Lord in vain. This may be referred to in the parable of the Wheat and Tares from chapter 13.
The “Commandments of men” often resemble the Commandments of God. It is sometimes hard for us to discern between the two on our own without help from the Word of God. Sham worship is “vain” and means nothing to God. That is what we have when we teach, and seek after, and even live, the commandments of men. So, what are the “commandments of men”? Simply those schemes that man conjures up out of his own mind, as seen in the vain philosophies of men. (Col. 2:8) Or mans false ideas about sciences, (1 Tim 6:20), these things ruin and destroy all that is godly, and good.
If our worship is vain, then our faith is also vain, for worship is the strength of faith. If our faith is vain, we are “of all men most miserable,” and know it not. We hide behind a façade, and robotically go through the motions of Christianity with an empty heart. The commandments of men crumble under the test of afflictions and persecution, and as a bucket with holes in it, they are useless, because they hold neither sand nor water. When we find ourselves living on a lackadaisical plain, this is time to beware, we may be adapting to the commandments of men and applying them to our lives instead of the right and the true. Indifference to the great things of God is a sure sign that the state we are in is not where our God would have us to be, it usually results from following the commandments of men, and not those of God.
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (v. 9)
Man seems to be so prone to accept false teachings. The Bible warns us of this many times, but still we will not search the scriptures to see whether those things we are taught are really true. Even the best of men can pass on something they had heard, and it sounded right, but may not have been exactly what the Bible says. We still accept the doctrines of men. There are many verses in the New Testament alone that warn us of this error. We must be careful lest we worship the Lord in vain. This may be referred to in the parable of the Wheat and Tares from chapter 13.
The “Commandments of men” often resemble the Commandments of God. It is sometimes hard for us to discern between the two on our own without help from the Word of God. Sham worship is “vain” and means nothing to God. That is what we have when we teach, and seek after, and even live, the commandments of men. So, what are the “commandments of men”? Simply those schemes that man conjures up out of his own mind, as seen in the vain philosophies of men. (Col. 2:8) Or mans false ideas about sciences, (1 Tim 6:20), these things ruin and destroy all that is godly, and good.
If our worship is vain, then our faith is also vain, for worship is the strength of faith. If our faith is vain, we are “of all men most miserable,” and know it not. We hide behind a façade, and robotically go through the motions of Christianity with an empty heart. The commandments of men crumble under the test of afflictions and persecution, and as a bucket with holes in it, they are useless, because they hold neither sand nor water. When we find ourselves living on a lackadaisical plain, this is time to beware, we may be adapting to the commandments of men and applying them to our lives instead of the right and the true. Indifference to the great things of God is a sure sign that the state we are in is not where our God would have us to be, it usually results from following the commandments of men, and not those of God.
Matthew 14 Having Compassion
Compassion
“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” (v. 14)
Jesus is the Lord of compassion. Do you want to be like Christ? Then learn compassion. This one thing is greatly lacking in the world and in the church today, and is essential to the longevity of them both. Jesus showed His compassion, over and over again, and we see it in the same chapter several times. Too many times our “compassion” is for self or family only, and fails to reach the multitudes. I would rather have a compassionate friend than a faithful friend. Compassion will go much further, and accomplish much more than loyalty, and, in my book, is worth so much more.
Probably the greatest example of the compassion of Christ is seen in this same chapter in response to Peters’ plea “Lord save me”, and His immediate response to it. (vs. 30,31). This is the cry of the child of conviction, “Lord save me” and Jesus responds immediately, and we receive eternal life. What compassion! The feeding of the multitude of people that precedes this does not compare to it in value. His compassion healed their sick, and raised their dead, but they became sick again, and died again. His greatest act of compassion was to give, freely, to man, His Life, the God-life, eternal life. All this, just for the asking of it. Amazing grace!
Compassion is deliberate, we need to work at it. It can be developed by exercise. To learn it we must begin by practicing it, then continue therein. It can become a habit. Compassion is a part of love, as charity is, and may be the true essence of love. You see, even charity is born out of compassion. 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us the character of true charity, and yet it is not equal to compassion. Yes, compassion separates the “men from the boys,” the true from the false. Compassion wins the lost, and weeps for the tragedies of men. Compassion takes the Gospel to the poor; it binds up the broken hearted, and frees the prisoner of sin (Isa. 61:1; and Lk 4:18)
“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” (v. 14)
Jesus is the Lord of compassion. Do you want to be like Christ? Then learn compassion. This one thing is greatly lacking in the world and in the church today, and is essential to the longevity of them both. Jesus showed His compassion, over and over again, and we see it in the same chapter several times. Too many times our “compassion” is for self or family only, and fails to reach the multitudes. I would rather have a compassionate friend than a faithful friend. Compassion will go much further, and accomplish much more than loyalty, and, in my book, is worth so much more.
Probably the greatest example of the compassion of Christ is seen in this same chapter in response to Peters’ plea “Lord save me”, and His immediate response to it. (vs. 30,31). This is the cry of the child of conviction, “Lord save me” and Jesus responds immediately, and we receive eternal life. What compassion! The feeding of the multitude of people that precedes this does not compare to it in value. His compassion healed their sick, and raised their dead, but they became sick again, and died again. His greatest act of compassion was to give, freely, to man, His Life, the God-life, eternal life. All this, just for the asking of it. Amazing grace!
Compassion is deliberate, we need to work at it. It can be developed by exercise. To learn it we must begin by practicing it, then continue therein. It can become a habit. Compassion is a part of love, as charity is, and may be the true essence of love. You see, even charity is born out of compassion. 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us the character of true charity, and yet it is not equal to compassion. Yes, compassion separates the “men from the boys,” the true from the false. Compassion wins the lost, and weeps for the tragedies of men. Compassion takes the Gospel to the poor; it binds up the broken hearted, and frees the prisoner of sin (Isa. 61:1; and Lk 4:18)
Quote of the Day 6/14
“ ‘Faith’ Him when you can’t Feel Him!” ~ Evangelist Lester Roloff
Have you ever spoken the words, “Dear Jesus, I thank you for…”, and you didn’t feel a thing? Have you ever intently read the Bible and thought, “It’s just not touching me today…” You sit in church and hear what you know was a great sermon, but you felt no movement of the Holy Spirit. The congregation stands up to sing… “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How Great Thou art, How Great Thou art…”, but you stoop thinking, “Why don’t I feel anything?” If this is you, you are not alone! Everyone has these “dry spells.” If you haven’t, great! But, most likely…no, definitely, you will! If you are in this state, this post is especially for you. If you’re not at this point, take this as a future reference.
Why? Why do we feel this way sometimes? Why can’t we be excited all the time? Why do we feel like God is so far away sometimes? I believe it depends on the person, but most likely it is one of these scenarios:
1. God is testing you.
I have a sermon that I preach entitled, “The Sin of Sensitive Seeking.” I talk about the story where David is bringing the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, and in the process, his loyal servant Uzzah dies. Uzzah died trying to stop the ark from falling because the oxen stumbled. God was “displeased” with Uzzah and killed him. David got angry and dropped the ark off at Obed-edom’s house and left it there. He went back to Jerusalem angry at God. David, in that instance, was a “sensitive seeker.” Something happened that he didn’t like and he quit trying to fellowship with God! God was testing David to see what it would take to stop him from bringing the ark back to Jerusalem. It didn’t take much for David to quit.
What about you? Is you “not feeling” it enough to get you to quit praying? If so, you are being a sensitive seeker! Is the fact that you haven’t gotten much out of your Bible enough to stop you from reading it? God is testing you to see what if you’ll hold up when everything isn’t “peachy.” Let’s make sure we’re not sensitive seekers who don’t do as they’re commanded, just because we don’t feel it.
2. God is pruning you.
Maybe you are a productive Christian and all of a sudden, you feel “out of contact” with God. He seems a million miles away. Maybe God is pruning you in order to make you more successful for Him! It is easy to serve God and be productive when we “feel” it, but the man or woman who can continue in those things even when they don’t feel it will be used of God more. God cannot use a person who stops seeking Him because of their feelings. If I am the type of person who won’t read or pray when I don’t “feel” it, God can never use me in a great way. But, if I am doing as I’m supposed to, and God takes away that “feeling”…I have a choice to make. Do I continue to serve Him as I always have, or do I slack off? If I slack off, God knows He cannot use me for something greater than I’m already doing. But, if I persevere, I have been successfully pruned by God and will bring forth more fruit. Do you want to be GREATLY used of God? Then labor through the tough times! Don’t slack off! Why? Because those who do cannot be used to the same capacity of those who persevere.
John 15:2 - “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
3. God is preparing you.
“Preparing me for what?”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 - “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”
God is testing you, pruning you, and preparing you. He is preparing you to help others who will one day be in the same scenario as you! If I am a drunkard, and God gives me freedom from drunkenness, He can then use me to help others in their quest for freedom! Just the same, if you are going through a “dry spell” spiritually, and you persevere, God can use you to assist others Christians who have become “numb” as you once were!!! Isn’t that encouraging! This goes for anything that you’re going through! Why has God allowed you to lose your feeling spiritually? To test you, prune you, and prepare you to help others with the same. BUT, you can never help someone with their problem, if you didn’t conquer yours!!! If you never learn how to continue of through this time, how could God use you to help others who had the same dilemma? If when the feeling slipped, you decided to slack off, how can God use you to tell others to keep going? In short, he can’t! So persevere Christian! If not for yourself, do it for those who come behind you!
What do we do about it? What do we do when the “unction” is gone? What do we do when the “want to” is gone? What do we do when we don’t “feel” it like we used to? Faith. Faith. Faith. Faith! Have faith! When you don’t FEEL God is there, that is the best time to show God your FAITH!!! Just because I don’t feel His presence, doesn’t mean He has gone away! God has not gone on vacation! God is not on the phone! God is not too busy to talk to you! He is the same He has ever been! “I am the Lord God, I change not.” He is in the same place He has always been, so show Him that even though you don’t feel Him there, you have faith that He is there!!! What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 - “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Did you see it? The evidence of things not SEEN!!! Or HEARD!!! Or FELT!!!!! This verse is saying that it’s not about what we see or feel, it’s about what’s true!!! And it’s true that there is a God in Heaven Who is just as real today as He was 4000 years ago!!! He is the same God He was when you felt Him! It’s not about “Do I feel Him today?”, but “I have a GOD who loves me today!!!” That is the definition of faith!
We all struggle with this sometimes. Maybe God is testing us, pruning us, or preparing us. Either way, He’s still there! Let’s not be “sensitive seekers!" Instead, let’s gain that “bulldog” mentality that says, “God, whether I “feel” it or not, by your grace, I will serve you with my life!” Let’s just have faith.
Matthew 13
Matthew 13 The kingdom of Heaven
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like…” (v. 47)
Seven times in this chapter we see parables describing the “Kingdom of Heaven” First we must recognize that Heaven, then, is a kingdom, a real place. A kingdom must have a King, and subjects that serve Him, as we indeed do have in Heaven. This is not some fictitious place made up by men to appease their fears and soothe their conscience, for mans conscience condemns him more than it soothes him, but it is a real place and a promised dwelling place of the faithful.
It is not coincidence that the Lord chose to teach seven different parables on the subject of this Holy Heavenly Kingdom either. Seven is said to be God’s number of perfection or completion, a divine number, definitely, and seen throughout the scriptures many times. We get a complete picture from these parables of what Heaven is like. It will be, and is now, a wonderful place. The Lord gives us a look at His Kingdom from seven different angles, you might say. This kingdom is:
1. Made up of people from every walk of life; people of every class, and sort. It is made up the faithful of this world, out of the multitudes; a place of fruitfulness. (The Sower, vs. 1-23). These are the soul winners.
2. It is a place of final judgment and discernment. (The wheat and tares, vs. 24-30) It is also a place of growth and comfort; (mustard seed, vs. 31,32), a rest.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven is like Leaven, which is progressive, and expands itself. It is a needed commodity in the making of good bread, and useful for rising up of the spirit. (v. 33) This speaks of increase; prosperity
4. It is hidden from the casual seeker, but very precious. (v. 44) It is worth sacrificing this worlds goods to obtain it. (Hidden treasure)
5. It is better than great gems, and worth everything we could ever hope to have. It is a Pearl of pearls. (vs. 45, 46)
6. It is there for everyone, there is no favoritism or bias. It is the final place of the righteous, a place of separation from the world. (vs. 47-50) The dragnet.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like…” (v. 47)
Seven times in this chapter we see parables describing the “Kingdom of Heaven” First we must recognize that Heaven, then, is a kingdom, a real place. A kingdom must have a King, and subjects that serve Him, as we indeed do have in Heaven. This is not some fictitious place made up by men to appease their fears and soothe their conscience, for mans conscience condemns him more than it soothes him, but it is a real place and a promised dwelling place of the faithful.
It is not coincidence that the Lord chose to teach seven different parables on the subject of this Holy Heavenly Kingdom either. Seven is said to be God’s number of perfection or completion, a divine number, definitely, and seen throughout the scriptures many times. We get a complete picture from these parables of what Heaven is like. It will be, and is now, a wonderful place. The Lord gives us a look at His Kingdom from seven different angles, you might say. This kingdom is:
1. Made up of people from every walk of life; people of every class, and sort. It is made up the faithful of this world, out of the multitudes; a place of fruitfulness. (The Sower, vs. 1-23). These are the soul winners.
2. It is a place of final judgment and discernment. (The wheat and tares, vs. 24-30) It is also a place of growth and comfort; (mustard seed, vs. 31,32), a rest.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven is like Leaven, which is progressive, and expands itself. It is a needed commodity in the making of good bread, and useful for rising up of the spirit. (v. 33) This speaks of increase; prosperity
4. It is hidden from the casual seeker, but very precious. (v. 44) It is worth sacrificing this worlds goods to obtain it. (Hidden treasure)
5. It is better than great gems, and worth everything we could ever hope to have. It is a Pearl of pearls. (vs. 45, 46)
6. It is there for everyone, there is no favoritism or bias. It is the final place of the righteous, a place of separation from the world. (vs. 47-50) The dragnet.
Are You Refusing Your Inheritance?
(used with permission)
While a student at Yale University, Eugene F. Suter, Jr.’s father died, leaving him an estate of $400,000. When Eugene refused the inheritance, the trustees of the estate insisted he take it, and even took him to court to force him to accept the money. In an unprecedented case held in New York City, Judge William T. Collins reluctantly ruled that the young man had a legal right to reject the $400,000. The order legally cut off the 22-year-old student from all future interest in the family fortune, leaving him without an income. There are a lot of people in this world who are refusing a far greater inheritance than Suter did. God has offered us the opportunity to be joint-heirs with Christ and heirs of eternal life, and so many are refusing to profess belief in Christ and to be born again. Like Suter, they will be cut off from all future benefits from their Father’s estate.
Will your inheritance go unclaimed?
Lord bless,
Bro. Harry Shomaker
Mattew 12
Unity
“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:” (v. 25)
Division always leads to desolation, whether in a kingdom, a city, or a church. Many churches are destroyed, not from outside attacks of Satan, but from the inside attacks of her people. Once divided though, the church is vulnerable to attack from outside forces, as is true with a city or state or government. This is true in a family setting too, as we have seen in our country today. If Satan can destroy the family, he can destroy the church from within, and he is doing a fairly good job of destroying families today. We know that the church, as a whole, will prevail even against the “gates of hell”, but each local, individual church will have its troubles if the people are not “in one accord.” We need to be sure that we, each one of us, do our part to preserve the unity of the church, and all head in the same direction. It is our duty to do so.
The Pharisee’s committed blaspheme in accusing Christ of casting out devils by the power of Satan, and ignoring the obvious work of God. They had to know that no man could do these things, except God is with Him, as they said in another place, but they had too much pride to give Him the glory, and maybe lose some of it themselves. Their pride led to a greater sin, the sin of blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, (v. 31), which will not be forgiven them. These “religious” men were not true believers, and had carried their unbelief to the point of scorning the things of God. That is what blaspheme is, scorning the Holy Spirit of God.
The name Beelzebub, sometimes rendered Baalzebub, means “lord of the flies” and fits Satan pretty well, but can you imagine others giving this title to our Savior? Some say “lord of the dung heap” or manure pile, which sums Satan up pretty good too. Either way, it is a title of reproach for a being of great reproach. The point though is that we cannot fight on two fronts and expect to win the battle. Armies have been divided for strategic purposes, but they were still in the same battle, against the same enemy. We, as Christian soldiers, can wield the sword from all directions, but must be careful to aim it at the Adversary, and not each other. Swinging a sword in wide sweeps is not wise when your brother is close at hand.
“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:” (v. 25)
Division always leads to desolation, whether in a kingdom, a city, or a church. Many churches are destroyed, not from outside attacks of Satan, but from the inside attacks of her people. Once divided though, the church is vulnerable to attack from outside forces, as is true with a city or state or government. This is true in a family setting too, as we have seen in our country today. If Satan can destroy the family, he can destroy the church from within, and he is doing a fairly good job of destroying families today. We know that the church, as a whole, will prevail even against the “gates of hell”, but each local, individual church will have its troubles if the people are not “in one accord.” We need to be sure that we, each one of us, do our part to preserve the unity of the church, and all head in the same direction. It is our duty to do so.
The Pharisee’s committed blaspheme in accusing Christ of casting out devils by the power of Satan, and ignoring the obvious work of God. They had to know that no man could do these things, except God is with Him, as they said in another place, but they had too much pride to give Him the glory, and maybe lose some of it themselves. Their pride led to a greater sin, the sin of blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, (v. 31), which will not be forgiven them. These “religious” men were not true believers, and had carried their unbelief to the point of scorning the things of God. That is what blaspheme is, scorning the Holy Spirit of God.
The name Beelzebub, sometimes rendered Baalzebub, means “lord of the flies” and fits Satan pretty well, but can you imagine others giving this title to our Savior? Some say “lord of the dung heap” or manure pile, which sums Satan up pretty good too. Either way, it is a title of reproach for a being of great reproach. The point though is that we cannot fight on two fronts and expect to win the battle. Armies have been divided for strategic purposes, but they were still in the same battle, against the same enemy. We, as Christian soldiers, can wield the sword from all directions, but must be careful to aim it at the Adversary, and not each other. Swinging a sword in wide sweeps is not wise when your brother is close at hand.
AM I THY PURSE?
A favorite poem from high school, which kinda got modified over the years into this (I will also post a link to the actual poem). was originally written by Edward Taylor. The posted devotion on Matthew 10 got me thinking of this poem again, and it's powerful message:
"Am I thy purse, Lord,
"Am I thy purse, Lord,
or gold for Thy wealth?
Men count me so,
Men count me so,
but count me o'er Thyself;
Lest gold-washed face,
and brass in heart I be.
Am I new minted
by Thy stamp indeed?
My eyes are dim,
But doest Thou see
Thine image and Thy inscription
Matthew 11--Offenses Must Come
“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (v. 6)
Jesus is the Law personified, I think we will all agree to that. He is the “fulfilling” of the law of God, completely and totally. This being so, let us look at another popular verse about “offenses,” which is Psalms 119:165: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Both these verse say the same thing. Nothing in the Word of God, the subject of Psa. 119, (Jesus) will offend us, if we love Him. Jesus knows the heart of man, and He knows and understands peer pressure, you see, He felt the same things we do, but was without sin. The Christian who is truly “in touch” with the Lord will never be offended by, or in, Christ. We can stand for Him in this old world today, even if it doesn’t seem possible at times.
I used to work in the factory at General Motors, and I carried my Bible to work with me every day. Now, I parked at one end, and because of job transferring, I worked at the other end of the plant, and I had to carry my Bible all the way through the plant to get to my job, for a very long time. There were hecklers, yes, but I learned to rejoice in their heckling and claim 1 Peter 4:14, which became a great comfort to me. There was a time, though, at first, that the heckling affected me, and I found myself sort of “hiding” my Bible by putting my hand behind my leg, hoping that certain people would not see it. I did it without thinking actually, but the Lord convicted me with this verse, as well as others. I began to wonder if I was not ashamed of Him, in front of certain people! It takes a conscious effort to do right, and I had to deal with that then and there. After that time, I tried not to flaunt my Bible, (that too was a temptation) but I never hid it again, and God blessed me greatly for it. I have never been “offended” in Jesus again since then. In fact, as I stated, I learned to rejoice because I had learned that, at times like this, “the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:14), and I knew that The Lord was with me in a special way. What a comfort that was; what an encouragement. Oh that we might welcome the trials and tribulations that come our way because of our stand for Christ. What other time does the Bible tell us that these things “rest upon” us? Nowhere else are we told this, but here, when the trials come. Praise God for His blessings, and the wonderful workings of His grace.
Jesus is the Law personified, I think we will all agree to that. He is the “fulfilling” of the law of God, completely and totally. This being so, let us look at another popular verse about “offenses,” which is Psalms 119:165: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Both these verse say the same thing. Nothing in the Word of God, the subject of Psa. 119, (Jesus) will offend us, if we love Him. Jesus knows the heart of man, and He knows and understands peer pressure, you see, He felt the same things we do, but was without sin. The Christian who is truly “in touch” with the Lord will never be offended by, or in, Christ. We can stand for Him in this old world today, even if it doesn’t seem possible at times.
I used to work in the factory at General Motors, and I carried my Bible to work with me every day. Now, I parked at one end, and because of job transferring, I worked at the other end of the plant, and I had to carry my Bible all the way through the plant to get to my job, for a very long time. There were hecklers, yes, but I learned to rejoice in their heckling and claim 1 Peter 4:14, which became a great comfort to me. There was a time, though, at first, that the heckling affected me, and I found myself sort of “hiding” my Bible by putting my hand behind my leg, hoping that certain people would not see it. I did it without thinking actually, but the Lord convicted me with this verse, as well as others. I began to wonder if I was not ashamed of Him, in front of certain people! It takes a conscious effort to do right, and I had to deal with that then and there. After that time, I tried not to flaunt my Bible, (that too was a temptation) but I never hid it again, and God blessed me greatly for it. I have never been “offended” in Jesus again since then. In fact, as I stated, I learned to rejoice because I had learned that, at times like this, “the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:14), and I knew that The Lord was with me in a special way. What a comfort that was; what an encouragement. Oh that we might welcome the trials and tribulations that come our way because of our stand for Christ. What other time does the Bible tell us that these things “rest upon” us? Nowhere else are we told this, but here, when the trials come. Praise God for His blessings, and the wonderful workings of His grace.
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