Sermons and Studies by Various

LOOK TO THE KING SOS 3:11

SONG OF SOLOMON 3:11

The Book of Solomon reveals the relationship between Jesus and His Bride. King Solomon is a type of Christ. A type is a symbol or shadow of something else, it represents someone or something.

It is a Spiritual book that will only be understood by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. – I Cor. 2:14
The natural mind will not receive the things of the Spirit of God.

Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon. I. BEHOLD THE KING A. King Solomon represents Jesus the KING OF KINGS.

  1. Solomon in all his glory is merely an earthly symbol of Jesus.

a. The great king. b. The great wisdom. c. The great wealth. d. The great splendor. The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s greatness, and responded the half has not been told.

  1. The bridegroom is a king. a. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. b. His bride will reverence His royalty. c. His bride will enjoy the privileges of royalty.

B. Behold – To fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care.

  1. Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus. a. Look to Jesus for every answer to every problem.

    Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; - Hebrews 12:2

    1. Don’t focus on man. 2)Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. – Rev. 1:8
    2. Jesus is the answer.

    b. Peter sank when he took his eyes off Jesus. – Mt.14:30 He saw the wind boisterous. c.Don’t fix your eyes on the problem.

Look with understanding.

Understand who Jesus is. Understand the power of the king. Understand the provision that has been made by Jesus.

  1. The price has been paid in full.
  2. The provision to be a partaker of His Nature. – II Peter 1:4.
  3. We must appropriate the provision that has been made. – I Timothy 6:12.
  1. Behold His Glory. II Cor. 3:18 a. Changed into the same image. – Rom. 8:29 b. It is a process. - From glory to glory. c. Changed by the Spirit of the Lord.

C. Realize His Royalty.

  1. We need a revelation of who He is. a. Revealed by the Holy Spirit. Matt. 16:16-17. b. Jesus is the King of Kings. c. He must be your Lord.

  2. We should be an ambassador of the King. a. Let all of our actions represent the king. b. Walk in the authority of the King. c. The Host of Heaven is fighting on our behalf.

  3. Every knee shall bow to the King. - Phil. 2:10-11 a. Every sickness must bow. b. Every demon must bow. c. The bride will bow of her own free will.

II. THE BLIND CAN NOT BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM. A. The Spiritually blind can not see who Jesus is.

  1. Blind in sin. a. Dead in sin. – Eph. 2:1. b. Sin will distort your ability to see clearly.

  2. The god of this world has caused blindness. II Cor. 4:4. a. People are blinded to truth by demon power. b. False doctrine spirits have people bound and blind.

  3. The focus of the sinner is self. a. Selfishness is sin. b. The sinner can not see beyond himself.

B. The Laodicean Church is blind.

  1. Jesus described this Church period as blind. – Rev. 3:14-17. a. Their focus is on wealth. b. They are unaware of their condition of blindness.

  2. The church today is lukewarm. a. They can not feel their need. b. They are satisfied in a backslidden condition. c. They have lost the power of God.

  3. The Church as a whole is asleep. a A sleeping person can not see. b. A sleeping person does not want the light of truth. c. A sleeping person does not want to be woken up.

III. THERE IS A REMEDY FOR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS A. Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve. –Rev. 3:18.

  1. The Holy Ghost will remove the scales of blindness.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. -John 16:13

a. The Holy Ghost will lead you into all truth. b. The Holy Ghost will show you things to come. c. The Holy Ghost will help you to understand truth. d. This is a work of God.

  1. There is an effort on the part of man. a. You must apply the eyesalve. b. You must apply the Word to your life. c. You must take hold of the promises of God.

  2. That you may see. a. That you might behold the bridegroom. b. That you can see God’s plan for this end-time hour. c. You can not posses what you do not see.

B. Add to your faith. – II Peter 1:5-9.

  1. These are a guard against Blindness. a. Virtue - moral excellence. b. Knowledge – An understanding of truth. c. Temperance – Self control.

d. Patience – To wait with gladness. e. Godliness – To be Holy as He is Holy. To be like God. f. Brotherly Kindness – To be kind to your brothers. g. Charity – The true Love of God. – Rom. 5:5.

2. That you may see far off.
a.	 Look ahead through the eye of faith.
b.	 Look with eternity in view.

II Cor. 4:18. c. Look beyond your current circumstances.

3.	If you add these qualities to your faith you will guard against blindness.
a. We must make the effort to put these into practice.
b.	God can help you to live right.
c.	The saint needs the Baptisim of the Holy Ghost.

C.

The Wanted Man MJD

As spiritual people must judge all things. Caution-- the measure we apply to others will be applied to us. Before we judge hear all the facts first. Our ministry must be intensely spiritual. --a mode of worship is the prime atmosphere for God to work. -- never let our demeanor in ministry appear overly relaxed or casual. PASSION. ..... Joh 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. ..... Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Must i always utilize an excited tone? No the tone must always be appropriate for the message. But in sincerity is never an appropriate tone to take.. Theatrics. The importance of the message ought to consume the Don't take just one persons side of the story. Proper speech explains. There are prior words to speak. Care must be taken not to offend the innocent. Conviction. But always speak the truth. Never lie. Tone of voice is so important. The importance of the message ought to consume the speaker if it is to convince the hearer. Be led by the spirit of God. Proper time to speak Eccl. 3:1-8 When to speak what. At the right time Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Jesus: the Messiah

What is meant by the term: incarnation?

The term refers to Christ becoming flesh.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. -John 1:14 Compare with John 1:1

I. THE MESSIAH WOULD COME ACCORDING TO PROPHESY.

A. The Old Testament is filled with prophesies telling of the coming of the Messiah.

In the very beginning God promised the seed of the woman would bruise the serpents head. – Gen.3:15

  1. It was always the plan of God for Christ to come to ransom fallen man. – Rev. 13:8

  2. The Old Testament points to Christ.

Christ is portrayed in type throughout the OT. Christ is seen in the Tabernacle and in the sacrifices.

B. Jesus fulfilled all of the Messianic prophecies.

JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE IN ALL OF HISTORY WHO HAS FULFILLED ALL OF THE MESSIANIC PROPHECIES!

  1. The prophecies are precise.

The prophecies are so exact the odds of one man fulfilling all of them are astronomical. He would have to come from the tribe of Judah, be a descendant of David, and be born in Bethlehem. Just these three prophecies alone narrow the fulfillment of who the Messiah would be.

  1. Jesus is the only one who could be the Messiah.

Daniel 7:25,26 The calculation of these dates pinpoint the birth of Jesus. The date of the book of Daniel can be historically documented. The prophecies all point to Jesus.

  1. Most of the Jews did not accept the Messiah. John 1:12

II. THE MESSIAH WOULD COME AS A MAN.

Why did Christ leave heaven to become a man?

A. All men are born in sin since Adam sinned in the Garden. Rom. 5:12-19

1.	The penalty of sin is death. – Romans 6:23

2.	Man was in need of a remedy.

B. Man was in need of REDEMPTION.

1.	Redemption means to buy back.

2.	Man could not redeem himself.

C. The law required a redeemer to be a kinsman.

1.	This refers to the closest male relative.

We use the term: next of kin.

2.	Boaz who was a type of Christ portrays the role of the kinsman redeemer.

3.	God does not go against His law.

4.	The Redeemer had to be a relative of man.

According to the law only a man could pay the price of redemption for the sins of humanity. Only a pure sinless man would be an acceptable sacrifice for sin. An angel could not have paid the price for our salvation. Christ had to come as a man to pay the price of Redemption.

III. THE MESSIAH HAS PAID THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION IN FULL.

A. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

1.	The price has been paid at the Cross.

2.	It is finished.

B. Man can be reconciled to God through Jesus.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. - Romans 5:10

1.	Sin separated man from God.

Sin broke the fellowship that man had with God. Adam was expelled from the Garden because of sin.

2.	Jesus restored man’s fellowship with God.

Men must receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus the Messiah. Romans 3:23

C. Jesus satisfied the law though His death on the cross.

1.	He is our sacrificial substitute for our sin.

Romans 3:25.

2.	Atonement is the satisfying of the law.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. -Romans 5:11

3.	Jesus the Messiah is the only way of Salvation.

John 14:6

Called Unto the Fellowship of His Son

Called unto the fellowship of His Son

I Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Fellowship koinōnia koy-nohn-ee'-ah partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or social intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: - (to) communicate, communion, (contri-), distribution, fellowship. I John 1 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Walk in darkness = Something sinful and unrighteous in our lifestyle or manner of living. There is an area of our life where we are not walking in the truth.

Walk in the light = A lifestyle or manner of living that is righteous and in harmony with the Truth of God’s Word. The evidence or proof that we have fellowship with God is to consistently live our lives in agreement with the Truth of God’s Word.

You are called unto the fellowship of Jesus Christ.

Fellowship = the sharing together or joint participation as common possessors of a thing

What is it that we will share together and be joint participators as common possessors of with the Father, the Son and with one other?

I Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

II Thessalonians 2 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Those who are born again and live a lifestyle or manner of living that is consistent with truth and righteousness, will be sharers together and joint participators as common possessors of the glory of God and the image of Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

II Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

How do we begin this fellowship? (Be born again) Recognize that your relationship with Him is broken and that there is no way you can reconcile yourself to Him. Believe on Jesus, that He is the Son of God and that His death on the cross was payment for your sin Make Him Lord of your life Repent = (Turn from self and sin and walk in the light – live a life consistent with the Truth and righteousness of God by His power and enablement and not our own ability)

How do we continue this relationship? Live a life of obedience to the will of God. It is a life of self-denial and sacrifice. We no longer govern our lives by our own will but by the will of God.

We are not our own. We are bought with a price.

I Corinthians 6 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

When we are saved and born again and become a “Christ follower”, we: Enter into covenant with Him Make Him Lord of our lives and surrender our rights

We now belong to Him, we are His possession. We are His love slave. We no longer have any rights of our own. We surrender our will for His, our way for His, our desires, ambitions, hopes, dreams, and goals for His.

That which is dearest to us in this life must be held on the open palm of our hand as it were for Him to take as He will. We must love Him and desire Him more than anything in this life.

The only things we can lay claim to in this life is Him as He is our Possession, our Inheritance and that which He has promised us as long as we continue to believe Him and remain faithful to the covenant.

If we love something else more than Him, do our own will instead of His, look back, desiring something from the old life, we break covenant with Him and are not worthy of Him.

We must not live this life for ourselves any longer, but for Him.

Colossians 3 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

II Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Mark 8 34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

“bear his cross” = die to sin and self

Die to sin. Carnality is sin The self-life is sin.

Conclusion: We are called unto the fellowship of His Son, to share in His glory and to bear His image.

Our responsibility is: Die to sin and the self-life Make Him truly Lord of our lives and do His will Don’t get preoccupied with things of this life, but let our heart seek after “things above”.

The Soul of the Church Jerome Wadsworth

Fellowship Service (May 29, 2020)

"The Soul of the Church" Bro. Jerome Wadsworth

Ps 42:2 my soul thirsteth for God A healthy body thirsts for water. God designed the body this way.

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

In Luke, we find the parable of the husbandmen beating servant after servant sent from the lord. He ultimately sends his son, assuming they would honor his son.

Hebrews 10:5 … a body … a sacrifice Vs 7 a natural function of the spiritual man is to thirst for spiritual life.

Ephesus' first love == spiritual thirst

Henry Gruver’s Testimony

Brother Henry Gruver’s Testimony from 1999

Given at the Deliverance Center in Portland, Maine

  1. Part 1 of 4: May 28, 1999 Friday Night

  1. Part 2 of 4: May 29, 1999 Saturday Night

  1. Part 3 of 4: May 30, 1999 Sunday Night

  1. Part 4 of 4: May 31, 1999 Monday Night

When the Honeymoon Is Over - Cecil Osborne

When the Honeymoon Is Over by Cecil Osborne excerpted from, The Art of Understanding Your Mate; Osbourne is West Coast Di rector, Yokefellows, Inc.

When you married, you probably brought to marriage certain preconceived ideas of how life was going to be — perhaps a kind of perpetual romance, a continuation of the honeymoon. Then came grim reality. It wasn’t the way you had dreamed it. He changed, didn’t he? And without realizing it, you weren’t always the same loving, patient, starry- eyed, adoring young woman he married. You both changed. Now let’s see how we can go about restoring some of the stardust.

  1. Learn the real meaning of love. You thought you were in love, and no doubt you were. Since then you may have wondered; maybe it was all a terrible mistake. Well, love isn’t what you thought it was when you were in your teens. It is much, much more, and far more com- plex. If you want to be loved, you must make yourself lovable — not for a day or a week, but on a permanent basis. This may involve a radical change of attitude on your part. You want your husband to change, of course; un- doubtedly there are many areas in which he needs to change. But you will never change him without a mature love. “Love never fails,” said the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians.

    Love is basically love of life, love of God, proper love of oneself, love of others, and the expressing of this love in manifold ways. Almost no one ever receives enough love. If you would be loved, learn to give mature love in a form your husband can accept.

    Love can be expressed through patience, tolerance for the failings of your husband, meeting his needs, and by avoiding criticism. Love does not demand, it gives. Your own need for love can make you unlovable if it is expressed in a demanding or martyred manner.

  2. Give up your dreams of a “perfect marriage” and work toward a “good marriage.” There are no perfect marriages for the simple reason that there are no perfect people. Teen- age expectations of an idealized marriage are unrealistic. There are some more or less ideal marriages, but they are generally the ones which have been worked out through the years.

    Marriage is the most difficult and complex of all human relationships, and it requires patience, skill, tact, and emotional and spiritual growth. You can “grow a good marriage” if you are willing to work at it.

  3. Discover your husband’s personal, unique needs and try to meet them. He is not precisely like any other person on earth. He, like you, is unique. He has needs and preferences, failures and weaknesses, virtues and strengths in a combination unlike anyone else.

    Abandon any preconceived ideas as to what men are like and discover what your man is like. You will be unable, at first, to meet all of his needs. No one person can meet all the needs of another individual. You need not become a doormat or a household slave. You can seek to meet his needs out of a strong love rather than out of weakness or a need to “buy” his love.

  4. Abandon all dependency upon your parents and all criticism of his relatives. “I always feel like an eight-year-old girl when I visit my mother,” complained one wife of thirty- eight. “She takes over my children, tells me how to treat my husband, and what I ought not to do. I love her, but she refuses to let me grow up. Even after I get back home my mother writes lengthy letters of advice. I wish she’d let me alone and permit me to make my own mistakes, and learn from them.”

    A basic rule in marriage is to never, never criticize the relatives of your marriage partner! It’s all right for him to express resentment of his parents, but your attitude should be one of tolerance.

  5. Give praise and appreciation instead of seeking it. One husband said, “My wife is always complaining because I don’t appreciate her efforts. She says I don’t comment on a new dress or tell her how nice she looks. When she spends a whole day cleaning up the house and has it looking just right, she feels put out because I don’t praise her for doing what, to me, is her normal everyday job. Good grief! When I bring home a paycheck, she doesn’t squeal with delight and praise me for being a loyal, hardworking, dependable husband. Why should I be expected to go into raptures over an omelet or a good meal or a new hairdo! Isn’t that her job, just as it is mine to knock myself out every day at the office?”

    Men are sometimes far less aware of their surroundings, what they are eating, or even of what their wives are wearing than a woman would be. They are less given to little expressions of approval.

    You, as a wife, cannot command your husband’s approval. You cannot make him more thoughtful by complaining. Such tactics may cause him to retreat or become hostile. Your task is to offer him the same sort of recognition and praise which you expect of him. Love and tact can win when petulant demands fail.

    Your husband will learn more by “osmosis” — through unconscious absorption of your attitudes — than if you make irritable demands upon him. It takes a wise and patient wife to make a good husband. They seldom come ready made.

  6. Surrender possessiveness and jealousy. These two traits are close relatives. Everyone has the capacity for jealousy, and some jealousy is normal. It is only when it becomes possessive and all-pervasive that it is destructive. Extreme possessiveness stems from insecurity.

    If we are to live creative, happy lives, we must seek out the origin of our insecurities and try to resolve them rather than justify them.

    Overpossessiveness will drive a man away or cause him to retreat into the cold, gray castle of his own loneliness or into the arms of another woman. If you are unduly possessive, you are basically very insecure. You probably can- not resolve this deep-seated condition all alone. You will need the help of a professional counselor, and it will take time.

  7. Greet your husband with affection instead of complaints or demands. You would appreciate some warmth and affection from your husband when he comes home. Your needs are valid. But if they are not being met, you can initiate response yourself. He too has needs. Perhaps he wonders why you don’t greet him at the door with a warm hug and a kiss. Instead, you may greet him with the news that Jimmy has been bad, the washer is out of order, and the garbage needs to be taken out. “Oh, yes, and there’s a notice from the bank that we’re overdrawn.” That does it!

    Delay the bad news until after dinner! Don’t hit him with it the minute he walks into the house. Greet him with some affection whether you feel like it or not. It pays big dividends. “Give and it shall be given unto you. . . .“ Give your husband appreciation and affection. “Kill him with kindness,” and see what happens. Your marriage will be better.

  8. Abandon all hope of changing your husband through criticism or attack. Almost everyone is familiar with the basic threefold axiom: We can change no other person by direct action; we can change only ourselves; and when we change, others tend to change in reaction to us. If you want a better marriage, you must abandon, once and for all, any hope of changing your husband by direct action. This applies not only to husbands, but to all other persons including children. Love changes people. Hostility breeds hostility, but love begets love.

  9. Outgrow the Princess Syndrome. Not every woman suffers from this, of course, but many do, just as many men grow up with the Prince Syndrome. In essence, the Princess Syndrome is the feeling that you are “special.” No one is special; unique, yes; special, no.

    A “princess” doesn’t give. She asks, demands, becomes petulant when she cannot have her way. She buys luxuries with money that should be saved for necessities. She delivers ultimatums, or if she is subtle she manipulates to achieve her ends. If you see any of these traits in yourself, however small, begin now to abandon them as a holdover from childhood.

  10. Pray for patience. The urge to be married, establish a home, and have children is so strong in most women that they are often blind to faults which are only dimly perceived before marriage. There is a partly unconscious belief in the minds of most women that “love will surmount all.” In most instances the right kind of love can solve any marital problems. The right kind of love involves patience. “Love is patient and kind,” we read in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 13:4). A mature love has this quality of patience. An immature love wants results right now. “Lord, give me patience, and give it to me right now,” is the unconscious prayer of such persons.

    “Love bears all things . . . hopes . . .“ (1 Corinthians 13:7). Give up the tendency to complain, criticize, and control. You cannot control another human being even if you are entirely right in what you desire. The more you criticize and condemn, the more likely you are to drive your husband farther from you. If he drinks or golfs or watches television to excess; if he seems to ignore you, forgets anniversaries, and is in other ways thoughtless or inconsiderate, your petulant demands or hurt expression will seldom bring the desired results. It takes a great deal of patience to put up with unacceptable conduct, but good marriages are built on a foundation of patience.

    It is one thing to feel chained to the dishpan, and another to feel that we have an important part in making a house a home. We can’t hoax ourselves into feeling jolly about dishwater, but when a morn- ing comes that we find ourselves singing over the sink and stacking the dishes with genuine indifference — or even with a kind of tenderness — then we know that we have stumbled upon the meaning of small tasks in the heavenly economy.

    — MARGUERITE HARMON BRO

7 Things for which We Can Praise God

TEXT: Nehemiah 9

PREACHER: Evang. Timothy Groves

DATE: July 12, 2015

SERVICE: 20150712

  1. vs.6 Precious creation
  2. vs. 7,8 Praise God for Salvation
  3. vs. 9 Prayers Answered
  4. vs. 10 Powerful Deliverance
  5. vs. 12 God's Providential Hand
  6. vs. 13 God's Proclaimed Word
  7. vs. 15 Plenteous Supply

Love Your Wives

by James Reynolds, Jr.

Love Your Wives

Do you love your wife?

What does it mean to love something or someone?

  1. KNOWLEDGE

  2. DECISION (based on the knowledge)

    Is she number one in your life?

    What exclusions do you make? (God? Self? Child? Job? Ministry? Country? Biblically, there can only be one exclusion—God! Ephesians 5:25,28,29,31,33a)

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave G3860 Himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

G3860. paradidomi, par-ad-id'-o-mee; from G3844 and G1325; to surrender, i.e. yield up, intrust, transmit:--betray, bring forth, cast, commit, deliver (up), give (over, up), hazard, put in prison, recommend.

**in·trust** (¹n-tr¾st“)_ v._ Variant of **entrust.**


 **en·trust** (µn-tr¾st“) also **in·trust** (¹n-)** --_ tr.v._ en·trust·ed**,** en·trust·ing**,** en·trusts**.** 1.** To give over (something) to another for care, protection, or performance:_ “He still has the aura of the priest to whom you would entrust your darkest secrets”_ (James Carroll).** 2.** To give as a trust to (someone):_ entrusted his aides with the task._ See Synonyms at ** commit.**


**com·mit** (k…-m¹t“)_ v.** com·mit·ted**_,** com·mit·ting**,** com·mits**._ --tr.** 1.**_ To do, perform, or perpetrate:_ commit a murder.** 2.**_ To put in trust or charge; entrust.** 3.** To place officially in confinement or custody, as in a mental health facility.** 4.** To consign for future use or reference or for preservation:_ commit the verse to memory.** 5.**_ To put into a place to be kept safe or to be disposed of.** 6.a.** To make known the views of (oneself) on an issue:_ I never commit myself on such issues._ **b.** To bind or obligate, as by a pledge:_ They were committed to follow orders.** 7.**_ To refer (a legislative bill, for example) to a committee._ --intr._ To pledge or obligate one's own self:_ felt that he was too young to commit fully to marriage._ [Middle English _committen_, from Latin _committere_ : _com-_, com- + _mittere_, to send.] **--com·mit“ta·ble_ adj._**


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**_SYNONYMS: commit, consign, entrust, confide, relegate._** These verbs mean to give over to another for a purpose such as care or safekeeping. _Commit_ has the widest application and means to deliver to another to deal with: _The general sent the troops committed to his charge into battle._ The word can also refer to giving over for preservation or confinement: _I committed the sonata to memory. The patient was committed to the hospital._ To _consign_ is to transfer to another's custody or charge: _The owner consigned the paintings to a dealer for sale. Entrust_ and _confide_ stress trust and confidence in another: _The task was too important to be entrusted to a child. She confided her plans to her family._ To _relegate_ is to assign to a specific and especially an inferior category or position: _Some scientists relegate parapsychology to the sphere of quackery._

G1625. ektrepho, ek-tref'-o; from G1537 and G5142; to rear up to maturity, i.e. (gen.) to cherish or train:--bring up, nourish.

G2282. thalpo, thal'-po; prob. akin to thallo (to warm); to brood, i.e. (fig.) to foster:--cherish.

Is your wife more important to you than your job?


Short of giving up your job/career, what evidence does she have of that fact?


What evidence demonstrates that she is number one in your heart?


What is her favorite color?  Food?  Place?


Have you made a clean break with all past relationships?


Have you ever said to your wife: “There is nothing you can do that will ever cause me to divorce you.”?  What would keep you from saying it?

Nobody but her knows what makes her feel loved. I would be remiss to try to give you a “tried and true” technique on how to love your wife. But she can tell you, if anyone can.

41 v=19 n=4 o=18 (Half is thru verbal communication.)

These are the things your wives have said that make them to know that you love them:

These are the things your wife has said that make her to know that you love her:

…NOT!

When he serves up the world on a platter for me**…NOT!**

When he lets me be his maid.

Each of them had the opportunity and I promised them that their statements would be completely confidential, but not a one of them even hinted to anything like these kinds of things.

NOTE: What she/they didn’t say was as informative as what they did say.

WHAT THEY REALLY SAID:

	He tells me he loves me.  (Ladies need to hear the words.) [Tells me with words that he wants, needs, desires, loves, and appreciates me.]

His commitment to our marriage vows and thus to me.


	Calls me his sweetheart.  (Just make sure your _pet_ name for your wife is NOT belittling, depreciating, or devaluing.  There is enough in her day that will attack who and what she is, you should not add to it.  You are her protector.) [Nicknames/pet names  (makes an atmosphere of love and security—like a special bond or place)]


	He shows me that he has my best interest at heart.


	If I am out late or driving in a storm, when I return he tells me he worried about me and he is glad that I am safe.


	He lets me know (tells me) if he were to do it all over again that he would choose me.


	When he brushes my hair.


	When he tells me to talk so he can listen to me.


	When I’m going on a trip, he always finds a way to slip a card into my things.


	…and sometimes a gift in my suitcase.  [Surprise treats that simply _prove_ “I was thinking of you.”]

He is considerate of me. [NOTE: NOT when he is, but he is!] e.g. he warms up the car for me even when he’s not going with me; he opens the door for me; he is very much a gentleman.

Tells me I am his best friend.

Takes my hand when walking.


	Writes letters to me, letting me know how he still feels after all these years.


	Picks up the house without me having to ask him for help.


	Gives me emotional attention, e.g. wanting to hear about my day; asking me if I’m OK if something sad has happened.


	He spends time with me in the evenings when at all possible.


	When he has told me that if I were on the other side of the world he would start walking and not stop until he found me.


	Buys me red roses for Valentine’s [Sweetheart’s] Day faithfully every year.


	Calls and talks to me in the middle of the day.  (not a scheduled time; out of the ordinary)


	He is very thoughtful to take me where I like to go.


	He says, “Don’t ever leave me.”


	Financial attention: not _sole_ provider, but _primary_ [responsible] provider, though maybe not making money, providing so I feel he is taking care of me.


	When he has the family (and not just when there are guests) wait for me to be seated to begin eating.  [LOTS OF CHIVALRY—LADIES STILL LIKE A MAN.]


	When I ask him to, he makes me laugh by telling jokes.  (I ask him to tell me jokes.)


		How many wives like to laugh with your husbands?


		How many of you like to have him make you laugh?


		How many of you laugh at him?


	When is generous toward me with his money.  He always makes sure that I have spending money.  [if you do not have it at least tell her would if you did and do it when you do.  PLAN]


	Tells me I look nice.  (verbal affirmation)  (Cannot complain about her physical features and then expect her to respond intimately to him.)


	No matter what I go through I can count on him to see me through.


	Physical compliments, not sexual.  Physical compliments that are.


	Whenever we go shopping, he drops me at the door of the store and then parks the car.


	When he takes the time and energy to discuss controversial issues with me.


	When he wants me next to him in a gathering i.e. been seen in public with me.  (Not necessarily physically together but wants me near.)  (“We are always together as a family.  We are only apart for work or when business keeps us away.”)


	When he tells me I am his sounding board and that he is not angry with me or at me (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.  Get her permission.)


	When I’m using public comfort facilities, he waits nearby for me.


	Looks at me and uses our secret wink.  (special signals/expressions)


	Puts me on his lap and hugs me tight.

Godly Correction

by Philip Carle

Godly Correction

 

The people of God are to take on the nature of Christ.

We see in scripture the nature of Christ likened to a lamb (in His gentleness and love) and also like a lion (in His wrath and judgment).

The gentleness of a dove or lamb must be established in us and made a part of us before we can manifest God’s wrath against sin.  If we try to exercise God’s wrath against sin without His gentleness, it will be ungoldly and a product of our carnality.  The fruit of this will be wounds, hurt and destruction of our brethren the Lord’s people.

 

The Lamb/Dove nature:

 

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 

I Peter

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

In Revelation, Christ is spoken of as “the Lamb”.

 

Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

________________

 

The Lion nature:

 

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

 

Isa_31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

 

Jeremiah 25

36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.

37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

 

Hosea 5:14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

 

Hosea 11:10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

 

Hosea 13

4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no savior beside me.

5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.

 

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

 

Revelation 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

 

Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

1/27/15

Until you are able to weep over the erring one” (your brethren with faults) and intercede for them with a truly broken heart, you cannot have a righteous anger toward their sin.  Rather your anger will be a work of the flesh (gal. 5), will defile you, will be a stumbling block to them and will displease the Lord.

 

Until you are able to love a brother or sister tenderly in spite of their faults, you are not able to correct them righteously.  Your correction will not be righteous or godly.  Also your correction will not help them, but will hinder them instead.

 

If you focus on the faults/sins of others without the love and gentleness of Christ in your heart and spirit, blindness will grow in your spirit until you could be more guilty than they and not even know it.  This could lead to greater sin like self-righteousness and despising others.

 

Romans 10:3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Philippians 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 

I Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.

 

If the faults and sins of others frustrate, irritate, aggravate you etc. (works of the flesh), you are at fault as well as they and are in no condition to help or correct them.  You must get your eyes off them and their fault/sin and start searching your own heart.  Judge yourself now by the word.  Study the word prayerfully.  Don’t shy away from it when it begins to expose darkness in you, but search for those areas diligently and when they are revealed by the light of the word, humble yourself before the Lord, confess your sin and ask His forgiveness (repent).  By faith, overcome it.

 

A carnal spirit is not righteous or godly and cannot do good.

How do we know if we are carnal?

 

I Corinthians 3

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Call to Separation

CALL TO SEPARATION B.H. Clendennon

Song of Solomon 4:2 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

LEBANON- Was the border mount between the enemy’s country and the Promised land. It was never conquered by Israel. It is that buffer zone of mountainous country between the world and the Promised Land. Symbolic of the separation between the world and the Believer. Between compromise and faithfulness to God.

History tells us that these mountains were infested with thieves and outlaws. Always there and ready to devour the wayfaring traveling. Lions, leopards, chasms, and outlaws.

Lions and leopards. The lion is a symbol is of the roaring enemy full of hatred and open anger against God. To devour whoever that is out there. Bitter and full of open hatred for God.

The Leopard is a symbol of an enemy that is subtle and swift against all mankind. In Revelation 13:2 the leopard is used as an emblem of the antichrist.

IN that border land is where the enemy is most successful in getting its pray. Sad thing 90% of the church resides in this territory. 90% of the church will make it to Heaven as of by fire. Lingering around where they got in at. He would not have us to tarry in this borderland experience.

Wives and Husbands

ABCDEFG
1
2
ADDRESSEEALTERNATIVE TITLESGOD'S REQUIREMENTS
3
WIVES"middle management,"
submit (to own husbands)
4
not the policy-maker,
be subject (as is fit in the Lord
5
follower, subordinate
be under authority of husband as is right
6
cheerfully obedience to authority
7
put your man first (Study him; be the expert on him.)
8
[CEV "this is her duty as a follower of the Lord"]
9
[TLB That is God's plan]
10
11
HUSBANDS
leaders, policy-maker,
love (have-, be loving)
12
father, CEO, director,be affectionate
13
president
DO NOT be bitter (with them or against them)
14
DO NOT be harsh "NEVER treat them harshly"
15
DO NOT be cross
16
DO NOT be surly
17
DO NOT abuse her

The Great Need of the Holy Ghost

author unknown

20130331P

The Great Need of the Holy Ghost

Introduction

God can speak to us through a lot of different things. He can speak to us through a donkey. God can even speak to us through a can of WD-40.

Things WD-40 Does:

Stops the Squeaks

Philippians 2:14 - Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Our spiritual altitude is directly linked to our attitude.

To complain is to remain&com; but to praise is to raise!

God loves us and isn't interested in raising spoiled brats. We need to start growing up from a baby&com; child into a mature son.

Helps Keep Clean and Protected

Protects against rust.

Loosens Rusted Parts

Our experience with God can get rusty when we lack a fresh dose of the Holy Ghost.

Our Devotion and prayer time can get rusty&com; religious&com; form. We need to pray in the SPIRIT. Get it saturated with Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 2:5 - Even when we were dead in sins&com; hath quickened us together with Christ&com; (by grace ye are saved;)

Frees Sticky Mechanisms

Many deny that healing is for today. Many are filled with 'religiousity'. "You started this thing in the spirit and now you move only in the flesh." Sticky mechanisms of rules&com; routines and form without power.

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run&com; and not be weary; and they shall walk&com; and not faint.

Drives out Moisture

Moisture is an enemy to most things mechanical. Drives out the enemy!

Un-Surrendered Will

Un-Crucified Flesh

Un-Renewed Mind

Our Big Mouth

Conclusion

There is trouble ahead. If we are going to make it&com; then we are going to need to know the power of God. We need the anointing. We are nothing as a church without the anointing of God.

Christ didn't build His church on the multitudes that followed him for the miracles&com; but a few that were willing to wait in an upper room until they were endued with power from on high.

The only thing that will drive back the darkness is the power of God.

The most horrible punishment is coming to the church--God taking his Spirit out of a church -- Ichabod. The church can make it through a tornado&com; without electricity&com; without padded pews&com; but we cannot make it without the Holy Ghost.

Many Pentecostal churches are losing the anointing and continue on without it!

Thomas Aquinas was being given a tour of the Vatican. The guide brought him to the treasure and relic room where all the riches of the Roman Catholic church was on display. The guide turned to Thomas and said&com; "You will note that the church no longer has to say 'silver and gold have I none.'"

Prisoners in sin need more than a pep talk. They need the freedom of the Holy Ghost.

Roll Away the Stone

by Matthew Baker

20130421P

"Roll Away the Stone"

Text: John 11:

Teach Us! Lord. When facing the trial, stop a second and get past the natural reasoning to seek an escape and pray that God would be glorified.

There must be a progression in our life

Why would Jesus wait?

Let us seek on every decision to be led of God. We have got to learn to be led of the Spirit.

Get up and begin to learn to walk like like a little child does. So that we may be a people that can administer life in a moment of need.

Drums of Desire and The Message in the Mantle

Who know not God at all Who know God but are not comitted to God Who Love God and Point things out that we need to let God touch and take out of our lives.

Leviticus is a tedious book. The major theme of Leviticus is ATONEMENT and HOLINESS. Holiness in three ways:

  1. Sacrificial Ceremony
  2. Obedient Living
  3. Issues of Conduct and Daily Living

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Keeping yourself pure and separate and in the midst of these lessons we find the warning concerning Molech. Molech is not God.

Date: 20130527P Preacher: Israel Ochoa Text: 2 Kings 2:14-15 Title: The Message that is in the Mantle

2Ki 2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

The mantle and the man are never separated.

I. The Making of the Man

Do Not become Confused in any of the Stages. Elisha did not become a prophet until he received the mantle.

  1. THE PREPARATION - He had the Touch but did not have the Mantle - Don't Mistake the Touch of the Mantle for the Anointing of the Mantle
  2. THE TASK of a Servant - How quickly we lend our hands to servanthood - Preaching is a small part of the ministry. - If the touch is real, you will be up to the task.
  3. THE TEST - When Elijah fasted, prayed, was persecuted, Elisha fasted, prayed, was persecuted

II. The Counting of the Cost

-Cuts the ties with HIs family -You do not get to dictate where the touch takes you. -Gilgal is the place of first anointings

III. The Mark of the Miraculous

Not enough to be a made Man, but must have the anointing of the Holy Ghost

A Carefree Joy

My own lethargy, lukewarmness and lack of fervency is something I find myself carrying as a care, a burden.

Seeing the developing of evil in the world, I feel the need to draw near to the Lord, to be led by the Spirit, be empowered by Him as a place of safety from what is to come. As I reach for these things, I am hindered by my own lack of fervency and fire. Also how can I lay hold of the great promises and the inheritance that God has made available to me, that I have come to value so much, in this condition? These things have been a great concern and I have been burdened by them, but a few days ago, the Lord impressed on me that if I will cast all my cares on Him and trust in Him with all my heart, not leaning on my own understanding, that He will be my helper and enabler and with such a Helper, I am freed from every burden, care, worry, fear to live in the joy of the Lord. It is not God’s will that His people bear these cares and concerns, but that they trust Him completely with all of them and live in the joy of the Lord and that His peace should rule our spirits. This is living by faith and in this condition, I can overcome the worry, concern, fear, lukewarmness, lethargy etc.

Peace and joy are marks of faith and fruits of the Spirit.

Those who live by faith in Him with a revelation of what Christ did for them on the cross can walk in this life of joy and peace. We will not struggle in our own effort and live under guilt and shame.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

We rejoice because the Lord has adorned us with His salvation and His righteousness.

Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

{the former rain moderately: or, a teacher of righteousness} {moderately: Heb. according to righteousness}

We are glad and rejoice because the Lord has given us His Spirit in measure and has promised to give Him to us in His fullness enabling us to overcome the sin nature and be perfected.

Habakkuk 3

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:


18 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Yet I will rejoice in the LORD</span>, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">I will joy in the God of my salvation</span>.


19 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The LORD God is my strength</span>, and <span style="text-decoration:underline;">he will make my feet like hinds' feet</span>, and <span style="text-decoration:underline;">he will make me to walk upon mine high places</span>.

We can be free of burdens and care even in hard, trying times because we can trust in the Lord with all our heart, not leaning on our own understanding and cast our burdens on Him. He is our burden bearer. He bears our burdens and cares and gives us power to overcome every obstacle and hindrance so that regardless of circumstances around us or even our own weakness, faults, lack etc, we rejoice in Him with “joy unspeakable and full of glory”. Only the humble who trust the Lord and believe Him know this joy.

God is going to see if you will trust Him.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

I Peter 5

5 ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.


6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:


7 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Casting all your care upon him</span>; for he careth for you.

I WILL GIVE YOU REST
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

God has promised His people a glorious rest, a rest that includes peace and security for the soul. The Lord offered this wonderful rest to the children of Israel, which meant a life full of joy and victory, without fear, guilt or condemnation. Up to the time of Christ, no generation of believers ever walked fully in this blessed promise. Why was this? The Bible makes very clear that it was because of their unbelief. “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:19).

Because of their unbelief, God's people—during the period of the kings and prophets through David’s generation—went through life full of misery, doubt, fear and restlessness. In every generation the rest was promised but it was refused—never appropriated, never understood.

That is why, when we read Hebrews 4, we find this glorious life of faith still unclaimed: “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (verse 9). Yet we also read: "Since therefore it remains that some must enter it . . ." (verse 6). The Bible admonishes present-day believers with a warning: "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering into His rest, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have come short of it" (verse 1).

Thousands upon thousands of believers claim to be filled with the Spirit of God, yet few have entered into this promised rest. Many are tossed about by winds and waves of doctrines, restless and guilt-ridden, with no security in Christ. Jesus said, “I will give you rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (see Matthew 11:28-30).

My prayer is that today you will enter into the rest God has for you. Reach up by faith and receive because it is His free gift!

LEARN OF ME
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me” (Matthew 11:28-29, KJV). Christ tells us very plainly: "Do not attempt to take on a walk with Me until you are at rest in your soul!"

If you do not have this wonderful confidence in what the Word of God says Jesus did for you, His yoke will not be easy or light. On the contrary, you will spend your time striving in the flesh to please God. You will go from hot to cold, living with unnecessary guilt and shame.

I believe the key to this verse lies in the words “learn of me.” Jesus is speaking here of the discipline of learning who He is and what He accomplished on the cross. He is saying, "You must have a knowledge of what I have done for you. Then, once your soul is at rest, you can take on My yoke. So, learn of Me!"

We do not want this kind of discipline. We want to take the easy way! We are like schoolchildren on the playground at recess who do not want to go back into the classroom.

Perhaps today you say, "I'm reading my Bible now and praying a little each day. I'm trying hard to do better!" This is all good, but I assure you that these things will not keep you through the coming storm. It is not enough to try hard, to make promises to God, to strive to be better. Nor is it enough to say, "I'm more diligent than before." No, it is all about going after a revelation of what Jesus did for you at the cross!

Something should cry out in all of us: "Jesus, Your Word says I can live in total rest, peace and security. I don't have to strive in my flesh or be tossed about by guilt or fear. You have set before me the promise of a life at rest, but I don't have that rest. Oh, Lord, I want Your rest with everything that's in me. Teach me by Your Spirit—I want to learn of You." \

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Returning and rest; returning to God and resting in his promises.

They who, in times of trouble and danger, honor God with the full confidence of their souls, shall receive from him inward peace and comfort, and also outward deliverance, so far as their highest welfare requires it. FBN

Only depend on him.

Psalm 51

7 ¶ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Ps 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Ps 118:15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Ps 119:111 ¶ Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Ro 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psalm 46 (To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth)

1 ¶ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 


2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 


3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.    (A place of perfect trust in the Lord)


4 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God</span>, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.


5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Psalms 100 (A Psalm of praise)

1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

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

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 


4 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise</span>: <span style="text-decoration:underline;">be thankful unto him</span>, and <span style="text-decoration:underline;">bless his name</span>.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

I Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

I Peter 4

12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:


13 But <span style="text-decoration:underline;">rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings</span>; that, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy</span>.


14 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye</span>; <span style="text-decoration:underline;">for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you</span>: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

The Song of the Redeemed

DATE: 20110119

PREACHER: L.K. Powers

TITLE: The Song of the Redeemed
TEXT: Exodus 15:1,2

 

Ex 15:1-2—Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The first song on record is a song of salvation!

Our Song should have its chief and only place in the service of God. Should always b connected to the salvation of the soul.

Our song should be about the deliverance he gaves.

“They have talent, but they don’t have a song”—Howard Goodman

130,000 Gospel songs are written each year. But never enough volume or genuine value enough to displace “Amazing Grace” “Power in the Blood” etc.

 

“THEN SANG MOSES”

The cause was behind him… then he had something to sing and rejoice about.

 

  1. It was a Song of Deliverance

 

It was all about the blood.  It was redemption that put the song in his heart.

 

Re 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

Our song is a victory over the world, sin, flesh, death, grave!

 

 1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ex 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

He led them out and brought them through.

 

  1. It was a Song of Praise

 

“I will sing unto the LORD”He deserves praise and he shall have it! Beause I am going to give it to Him!

Let God do the drowning, and you do the marching. We try to hard to figure out our victory instead of simply obeying and believing God.

 

  1. It was a Song of Testimony

 

The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

 

  1. It was a Song on the Other Side of the Sea

 

The destruction and enemy army did not dampen the salvation and joy of the saved.

 

The Song of Moses and the Song of the lamb blending together

 

Revelation 15:3,4—And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

 

Will not slacken, but will gain momentum.

 

CONCLUSION

 

 All singing must be praise of salvation

He Has Walked in My Shoes

Tent Revival Crusades – Falmouth, Maine

Evang. Matthew Baker

Friday, August 27, 2010

TITLE: (He has Walked) In My Shoes

TEXT: Psalm 142:1-4; John 1:4-5

Ps 142:1 ¶ <<Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.>> _I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. 2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. 4 ¶ I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. _

John 4:1-5 --When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.4 ¶ And he must needs go through Samaria. 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Gal 5:14_ –For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself._

The Lord Calls and Recalls

Rev. Clayton Alward

November 6, 2005

Sunday Evening

Title: The Lord Calls and Recalls

Text: Matthew 4:18-25

“I guess they were makeshift Christians, but I didn’t know what shift they were on.”

“Jesus is real to me, I never will doubt Him or journey without Him for He is so real to me.”

“A man had broken into a home to rob it. He came into the master bedroom and threatened to shoot the man and him in the bed. What is your name? He asked the wife. She said, “Elizabeth.” This is your lucky day my mother’s name is Elizabeth. What is your name? He asked the husband. “Henry, but they call me Elizabeth.”

Faith in God will bring action.

“I don’t have to worry about busting my shirt sleeves when I double up.”

Exodus 2: God spared him a man.

“I’d rather wear out than rust out.”

“Evangelism is the hit and run ministry.”

Exodus 3 Moses got the shock of his life.

The gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.

Hard times work the vessel. Not much improvements are made in good times.

If you are going to be anything, be the real thing.

“

There are no Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals in Heaven. So get beyond your title and get an experience with Jesus.”

2005 Fall DBI Convention

Date: 050930

Text: John 6:44

Title: Drawn By God’s Love

Preacher: Jimmy John Millikin

Notes: God like a big magnet is drawing and dealing. He begins before you get saved.

 

Date: 051001A

Text: Jeremiah 1:8

Title: Fear to Fear

Preacher: Lloyd Kieth Powers

Notes:

 

Date: 051001P

Text: No Preaching (recorded exhorting and music though)

Title:

Preacher:

Notes:.

 

Date: 051002SS

Text: Ephesians 1:7

Title: Wisdom

Preacher: Stephen Gordon Reynolds, Senior

Notes: Wisdom is acting, speaking, and in every aspect responding as Christ would respond. Every difficult situation should be a stepping stone for us and never a stumbling block.

 

Date: 051002A

Text: Joshua 5:

Title: Real Food (Living in Total Victory; Out But Not Really In.)

Preacher:

Notes: Persistence to find their place in God where their life is secure in God is what the inconsistent need.  There is a difference between touching and Possessing.  People have touched the presence of God, but have not yet possessed the power and life of God.  Mannah is a substitute food. There is a difference between mannah and corn. We are shallow and dieing in the wilderness. We need to dwell in Canaan land and possess the fullness of God and live in His favor. We are caught up in the temporary touch.  Live in the land that reproduces its own supply. ….IN THE LAND. Joshua 5:10

 

Date:

Text: Galatians 5:16-

Title: Why Do You Struggle? (Spiritual Advantage)

Preacher: Milikin

Notes:. Feed the spirit and starve the flesh. “Cut off his water.” He will die hard, but he will die. The flesh is no match for the cross.

 

Date:

Text:

Title:

Preacher:

Notes:.

 

Date:

Text: John 16:31-33

Title: You are not Alone

Preacher: Millikin

Notes:. In this life, there is nothing worse than being alone. Jesus bore our loneliness. No one loves people like Jesus did. To do much for God, than you must do much with God. Matt. 4=when the devil gets you alone and in that lonely place and alienated away from the ones that love us than he has power over us. He thought he could do that with Jesus. You fight the hardest battles all alone.

 

Resurrection Power

We need to seek the Lord fervently with a pure heart. We don't need "fun and games."

Luke 15:24--Rejoicing takes place in Heaven when one sinner comes to the Lord.

I was lost in the world without hope, but Jesus Christ in His goodness drew me and saved me.

v.17 People are hungry tonight. There is a spiritual famine today of the hearing of the Word of God Amos 8:11.

We must not only hear the Word, but we must be a doer of the Word as well. Those that hear the Word ONLY decieve their ownselves.

It is easy to waste your life living in sin. Sin is destructive and does nothing but destroy your life. Romans 6:23 Do we truly desire that life? For us to experience that life we must first experience death. Mark 8:34--We must deny ourself.

I was bound in my sin, and I could not deliver myself. GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME! Romans 2:4. I wallowed in the mire just like the prodigal.

There are conseguences to sin. This man found himself in the pig pen and hungry.

It was in that condition, he sensed his need. Do we sense our need? More of Jesus is what we need! My heart cry is to "Walk Hand in Hand with Jesus". My life I desire to be a testimony that Jesus is a risen Saviour and has the power to save from sin. Philippians 3:10 Know Him and to know His Life in US. Col. 2:13 Repentance is what is missing in our generation. This simplicity of the Gospel is what we need to be preached and not the watered down form we do hear.

There are people in the church that are lost! People have never experienced the Life of Jesus. John 10:10; Ephesians 5:14 Christ is the Giver of life and light. AWAKE. People in the church are asleep, lukewarm, not walking in the power of God. It is going to take the power of God in our lives for us to make it.

v.18 In the mire the prodigal son began to get homesick. He has made up his mind. He finally got sick of being empty. We need to get home and STAY in Father's house.

In the pig pen, he was slipping and sliding. He could not get his feet under him.

JESUS IS THE ANSWER! It is the Believer that lives in the Resurrected Life and Power of God that can shine as a light to the lost who cannot find their way. We must spread the message that Jesus has the power to reach down intot he muck and mire and set the captives free. His power is greater than any power. Psalm 40:2 There are a lot of lost prodigals out there and we must go where they are with the message of life--Gal. 6:1.

When there is genuine salvation there will be a CHANGE.

Not all prodigals make it back to Father's house. May be in the church, but still wallowing in the pig pen. 2 Peter 2:21,22

God is able to KEEP you!

v. 18 "I WILL ARISE" Knowing the Resurrecting power of Christ to lift us out of our deadness and sin. Some are fearful of going back to thier sin, of falling. There ought to be a fear in our hearts for not all the prodigals make it back home. He has the power to keep you FROM falling. Jude 24; 2 Cor. 1:9. No man can come unless the Father draws them--John 6:44.

Romans 8:11 That Ressurection power will help us walk in victory.

Col. 2:12 Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to walk in Power and victory. Some are struggling with things--YOU CAN ARISE AND WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.

John 11:25 He can give us the life. Our faith must be in Him.

1 Cor. 15:22 I was dead, but now I live! I was blind but now I see.

There are some here who are in church tonight, but still are not in Father's house. THE WORLD HAS NOTHING TO OFFER.

The devil torments people with the fear of falling, but GOD HAS THE POWER TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING TO ESTABLISH YOU IN YOUR GOINGS. If He has called you, He will enable you. Keep your eyes on the author an finisher of our faith. Heb. 12:2

We can walk in that newness of life and it will be a testimony to others. They will see it and know there has been a change. Share your testimony! Let them know you have the VICTORY over the devil.

GOD HAS THE POWER TO KEEP US.

The Law of Recognition, Part 2

(The Law of Recognition, Part II)

Text: Acts 7:8

 

A sign in Westminister Abbey commemorating John & Charles Wesley:

“God buries the workers, but carries on the work.”

 

We must deal with the business at hand and be seriously concerned with the ‘mean-time’.

 

End-time Christians are more concerned with deciphering the fourth toe on the left foot of some beast in Revelation, yet, never use their own feet to witness to a neighbor.”--Vance Havner

 

The power of God is not to make you feel good, or feel an emotional move, but this power is that we become witnesses unto God!

 

Never lose the vision.

 

Dick Vernel (sports commentator) 1970’s --”You cannot fire a cannon from a canoe.” The recoil would be too powerful and would sink the canoe. The church is in the soul-saving, delivering, power of God business and not the ‘cap-gun’, pea-shooting kind. I’m not a canoe trying to shoot a cannon; I am a child of God!”

 

You can make it. There is not a demon in hell that can stop an ordained child of God. All we need is God! if we take hold of God, It will work in this hour!

 

May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh, left from New York flying to Paris. 33 hours long flight. Lindberg felt a presence come in and help him stay awake. A presence to guide him when his windows iced up and his instruments failed. he referred to this flight as the “flight WE made” and not the flight “I made.” We won’t make it on our own ability, but we will by God! Thank you Lord for holding my hand.

 

How many times has deliverance come, at the moment before surrender? “Deliverance on the Way to Surrender.” (A sermon preached once.) It happened to the four lepers that said “Why sit here until we die?” Their plan was to surrender to the Syrians, but God worked a deliverance instead.

 

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1973 visited the US told of his 8 years of despair in a Soviet Union. He chose suicide by attempting to escape. A fellow prisoner drew a cross on the ground. He received this as a message from God not to take his own life. When he returned to camp, he was told he was to be released. DON’T EVER STOP BELIEVING. IT WILL WORK.

Sgt. Alvin York, from Tennessee, a deeply religious man and unwilling to go to war until his pastor convinced him to. He alone killed 20  germans and convinced a german major to surrender with 132 man. They asked him how he did it. He replied, “I surrounded them.”

 

Get concerned about your life, RIGHT NOW. Where are you at in the Kingdom of God right now? Are you on your way to HELL or HEAVEN?

 

Acceptance does not mean APPROVAL. (I let my children eat at my table, but I don’t approve of what they do.) When Mary Magdalene came in, Jesus did not approve of all she was, but He accepted her. If we can build a warm, friendly fellowship where our acceptance does NOT mean approval, than we can create an atmosphere where lives can be transformed.

 

The majority of people do not choose a church because of theology, but because of the people. Even pentecostal preachers have been reduced to ‘motivators.’ People are not worried about theology, or being right and holy, but just ACCEPTANCE meaning APPROVAL.

 

What difference does it make if you drink it out of crystal or a brown paper bag, whether you get it from a doctor or someone on the street?

 

Where are we at now? Sin carries people LOW. We cannot kick the sinner to the door, but must offer them CHRIST!

The Law of Recognition, Part 1

Some things are so spiritually important we cannot just let them bypass us.

_Luke 23:42-43--42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. _

one denies him and one is redeemed

A lot of people are captive to darkness because they have failed to recognize their opportunities! Failed to see, today could be their day!

“These things are merely awaiting your recognition.”

→ I didn’t understand at that time.

You cannot let hardships stop you, you must recognize God! Remember me this day!

The law of recognition activates the laws of promotion and preservation.

⇒ When David recognized the anointing in King Saul’s life, the anointing came to David!

There is a fine line between the false anointing of today and the real anointing. Not everything that shouts is inspired by God.

Luke 19:41-42 41_ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. _

What would have happened if they had recognized who the Son of God was? Just recognized what God was trying to do?

“Lord, Help ME recognize YOU!”

Message Given at Landmark Convention Ministers Breakfast 2011

The Holy Ghost

Minister’s Breakfast, Saturday, April 16, 2011

For surely I have ordained this hour and opened this door opened. Yea I would say unto thee hast thou not heard the cry of the lost? Would you say that your preaching must be unto those who can give into your hand? Yea, I say I have called thee unto nations that are broken and down and destitute because of sin. Yea, I have called you to suffer and endure hardness as a good soldier. Surely I wouldst say unto thee this day, ‘Shake off the bondage of thy comfort.’ Hear the call that I give unto thee. There are souls this day that are dying. I say unto you, you can make a difference if you will have hearkened unto the call. Say not there is tomorrow for the night is coming when no man can work. Oh, Let not the cry come from your lips, ‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended and they are not saved.’ I say unto you this day, hearken unto the call of the Lord your God. Surely I will anoint you. Surely I will make a way when there seems to be no way. Yea, I say unto you, ‘I own the cattle on a thousand hills. It is nothing for me, I am God.’ But yea this day I need a sacrifice. Yea this day, give unto me your loaves and fishes and I thy Lord will multiply them and you shall know that it is God that hath done this thing. The door is open. Go this day. Go and I the Lord thy God will go with you.

Rules for Giving

PREPARED BY: James Reynolds, Jr.

Galatians 6:6, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate [G2841] unto him that teacheth in all good things.”

G2841. koinoneo, koy-no-neh'-o; from G2844; to share with others (obj. or subj.):--communicate, distribute, be partaker.

G2844. koinonos, koy-no-nos'; from G2839; a sharer, i.e. associate:--companion, X fellowship, partaker, partner.

G2839. koinos, koy-nos'; prob. from G4862; common, i.e. (lit.) shared by all or several, or (cer.) profane:--common, defiled, unclean, unholy.

G4862. sun, soon; a prim. prep. denoting union; with or together (but much closer than G3326 or G3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition etc.:--beside, with. In comp, it has similar applications, includ. completeness.

G3326. meta, met-ah'; a prim. prep. (often used adv.); prop. denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (gen. association, or acc. succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 or G1537 and G1519 or G4314; less intimate than G1722, and less close than G4862):--after (-ward),X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-) on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-) to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.

G3844. para, par-ah'; a prim. prep.; prop. near, i.e. (with gen.) from beside (lit. or fig.), (with dat.) at (or in) the vicinity of (obj. or subj.), (with acc.) to the proximity with (local [espec. beyond or opposed to] or causal [on account of]):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give [such things as they], + that [she] had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side . . . by, in the sight of, than, [there-] fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.

com·mu·ni·cate (k…-my›“n¹-k³t”)_

v.** com·mu·ni·cat·ed**,** com·mu·ni·cat·ing**,** com·mu·ni·cates**. --tr.** 1.a._ To convey information about; make known; impart:_ communicated the new data to our office._ b. To reveal clearly; manifest:_ “Music . . . can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable”_ (Leonard Bernstein). 2.** To spread (a disease, for example) to others; transmit:_ a carrier who communicated typhus. --intr.** 1._ To have an interchange, as of ideas. 2.** To express oneself in such a way that one is readily and clearly understood:_ “That ability to communicate was strange in a man given to long, awkward silences”_ (Anthony Lewis).** 3.** To receive Communion.** 4.** To be connected, one with another:_ apartments that communicate._ [Latin comm¿nic³re, comm¿nic³t-, from comm¿nis, common. See mei-1 below.] --com·mu“ni·ca”tor_ n._

-General scriptures concerning BENEFICENCE

De 15:7-18; Le 25:35-43; Ps 41:1; 112:9; Pr 3:27,28; 11:25; 22:9; 25:21,22; 28:27; Isa 58:6,7,10,11; Eze 18:5,7-9; Mt 5:42; 19:21; 25:35-45; Mr 9:41; 10:21; Lu 3:11; 11:41; Ac 6:1-4; 11:29,30; Ro 15:25-27; 1Co 13:3; 16:1-3; 2Co 8:1-15,24; 9:1-15; Ga 2:10; Php 4:10-18; 1Ti 5:8,16; 6:18; Heb 6:10; 13:16; Jas 2:15,16; 1Jo 3:17

-General scriptures concerning LIBERALITY

Ex 13:2,12; 22:29,30; 23:15; 25:1-8; 34:20; 35:4-29; 36:3-6; 38:8; Le 19:5; 22:29; Nu 35:8; De 12:11,12,17-19; 14:27-29; 15:7-18; 16:10,17; 18:1-8; 24:19-22; 2Sa 24:24; 1Ch 22:19; 28:10,20; 29:5; 2Ch 15:7,18; Ezr 1:2-4; Ps 41:1-3; 76:11; 112:5,9; 132:1-5; Pr 3:9,10; 11:24,25; 13:7; 14:21; 19:6,17; 21:26; 22:9; 28:27; 31:20; Ec 11:1,2; Isa 32:8; 60:7,9,17; Hag 1:8; 2:18,19; Mal 3:10-12; Mt 5:42; 6:1-4; 19:21,22; 25:34-40; Lu 3:10,11; 6:38; 11:41; 12:33,34; 16:9; Ac 10:4; 20:35; Ro 12:8,13; 15:27; 1Co 13:3; 16:1-3; 2Co 8:7-9,11-15,24; 9:6-13; Eph 4:28; 1Ti 5:16; 6:17-19; Phm 1:14; Heb 6:10; 13:16; 1Jo 3:17,18

-RULES FOR GIVING

Mt 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Ro 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

2Co 8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

2Co 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

2Co 8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

2Co 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

-COMMANDMENTS AND PRACTICES CONCERNING ALMS

Le 25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.

De 14:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:

De 14:29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

De 15:7-11 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Mt 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Mt 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Mt 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Lu 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

Lu 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Ro 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

2Co 9:5-7 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he **purposeth **in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a **cheerful **giver.

Ga 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

1Jo 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Luke 6:38

"give"-Most are takers. Cf., The Principles of Sowing & Reaping. Work hard in school and it will reflect in your pay check later.

God is Able

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

  1. God is Able to Work for Us
  1. God is Able to Amaze Us
  1. God is Able to Use Us

Our Singular Source of Help

Psalm 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

As believers, the carnal man can give us no help at all and even the godly man has no help of his own but can only help by directing us towards heaven, so our only source of true help is from God Himself, in Whom there is an abundance of power and ability for us in every situation no matter how big or small the problem may be.

  1. The carnal man can give us no help at all
  1. The regenerated man can only give us help the points toward heaven
  1. God can gives us help in every situation

Living Under Law or Grace

Time is going fast and we need to grow in grace, purity, holiness, knowledge of God and the power of his Spirit. Some are growing lukewarm.

Satan is messing not with just eschatology and end-time prophecy, but with God’s salvation. He does not want any to be saved in the end.

2 Peter 1:9-10—9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Joe 2:28 ¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

I am interested in the deep things of God.

The devil would keep the church powerless. There is a spirit in the land today of the Laodicean church. None identify themselves, “I’m a member of the Laodicean chuch.”

Romans 6:14—For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What is the litmus test for determining whether we are under the law or under grace? IF SIN DOES OR DOES NOT HAVE DOMIONION OVER A PERSON.

The Law is powerless to save.

Romans 7—Paul speaks of the struggle between the Spirit and the flesh. Paul as a Jew was trying to keep the law. Paul did find the answer!

Romans 7:24—O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 8:1-4—There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

FALSE DOCTRINE: “Sin has no ill effect, I am under grace.” This modern church wants us to settle for the philosophy that the OT law could lift men and woman (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Mary) to a higher standard than Christ can under Grace.

Isaiah's Vision MJD

**Report from Moshi, Tanzania, Africa **

A Testimony about his missions trip and the state of things concerning the Deliverance Bible Institute of Tanzania.

There is a great need for the Gospel in Tanzania, Africa. Tanzania is a ‘dark’ country.

We need people that will respond to the Word of God and will go and work. Things considered a luxury in most countries are considered ‘necessities’ by most Americans!

TITLE: “ISAIAH’S VISION” TEXT: Isaiah 6:1-8

Isaiah 6:1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 ¶ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah had a vision and it changed his life! We need a vision like Isaiah.

  1. We Need to See God High and Lifted Up

It is too easy to get drowned in the formality of church. We need to see Christ, every day!

We need a heart that longs for God.

S.O.S. 4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

We must magnify God ABOVE our problems and not the other way around. Concentrate on who God is instead of the formalities of religions.

Samson’s mistake was he became too confident in what he could do and forgot the power of God. His strength came from God and was dependent on God’s grace and favor.

  1. Isaiah Saw His Own Need
  2. Isaih Saw the Need of the Lost

CONCLUSION - Lord, Here am I, Send Me!

The Leader's Daily Dozen

[for Swahili translation =>]

  1. PLACE A HIGH VALUE ON PEOPLE

Most leaders focus on two things: the vision and the bottom line. The vision is what usually excites us most, and taking care of the bottom line keeps us in business. But between the vision and the bottom line are all the people in your organization.

We cannot have a church without other people.

Give respect and thanks to your helpers.

  1. COMMIT RESOURCES TO DEVELOP PEOPLE

Many people do not do anything because they don't know what to do.

Give them the information that they need to work.

  1. PLACE A HIGH VALUE ON LEADERSHIP

  2. LOOK FOR POTENTIAL LEADERS

Not everyone is a leader. Look among the people of your congregation for leadership qualities.

  1. KNOW AND RESPECT YOUR PEOPLE

Form good relationships with your workers.

Do things with them outside of work. Invite them to your home for a meal.

  1. PROVIDE YOUR PEOPLE WITH LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES

One of the places where many leaders miss developmental opportunities comes in what we delegate. Our natural tendency is to give others tasks to perform rather than leadership functions to fulfill. We need to make a shift. If we don’t delegate leadership— with authority as well as accountability—our people will never gain the experience they need to lead well.

If you have children, you will one day have to let them leave home and start their own lives. You cannot always tell them what to do. The same is true with leadership. If you give someone responsibility, then you have to let them make decisions. Some of their decisions will not be what you would have done, but you need to let them make their own mistakes.

  1. REWARD LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

Many people do not try to do new things because they are afraid that they will be corrected.

If someone tries something new, encourage them and thank them for having vision.

  1. PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS, SHARE IDEAS, AND TAKE RISKS

You should have good communication with your workers.

Don't make people feel stupid when they ask a question.

Be willing to listen to their ideas.

  1. GROW WITH YOUR PEOPLE

  2. DRAW PEOPLE WITH HIGH POTENTIAL INTO YOUR INNER CIRCLE

Of the 12 disciples, Jesus chose Peter, James, and John to be special leaders.

We need to find people with ability and put them in a place to lead.

They need to be people you can trust. You will tell these people more information than you tell others.

  1. COMMIT YOURSELF TO DEVELOPING A LEADERSHIP TEAM

  2. UNLEASH YOUR LEADERS TO LEAD

DAZENI YA KILA SIKU YA KIONGOZI (SWA)

[ENGLISH =>]

  1. WEKA THAMANI YA KIWANGO CHA JUU KWA WATU

Viongozi wengi husisitiza juu ya vitu viwili: maono na sehemu ya ndani. Maono kwa kawaida ndio kile kinachotuchochea mara nyingi, na kuujali msitari wa ndani hutuweka katika jitihada dhidi ya vikwazo. Lakini katikati ya maono na msitari wa ndani ndio watu wote walioko katika kusanyiko lako wako pale.

Hatuwezi kuwa na kanisa bila watu wengine.

Toa heshima na shukurani kwa wasaidizi wako.

  1. FANYA MASHAURI KUENDELEZA WATU

Watu wengi hawafanyi chochote kwasababu hawajui cha kufanya.

Wape habari kwamba wanatakuwa kufanya kazi.

  1. WEKA DHAMANI YA JUU KWA UONGOZI

  2. TAFUTA VIONGOZI WENYE KUJALI WAJIBU

Sio kila mtu ni kiongozi.Tafuta miongoni mwa watu wa kusanyiko lako wenye sifa za uongozi.

  1. WAJUE NA UWAHESHIMU WATU WAKO.

Mfumo wa mahusiano mema na watenda kazi wako.

Fanya vitu pamoja nao inje ya kazi. Waalike kwenye chakula nyumbani mwako.

  1. ANDAA WATU WAKO KUWA NA UZOEFU WA UONGOZI

Moja ya sehemu ambazo viongozi wengi hukosa furusa za maendeleo ambayo huja katika kile tunacho wakilisha. Mwelekeo wetu wa asili ni kuwapa wengine kazi za kufanya zaidi kuliko shughuli za uongozi za kutimiza. Tunahitaji kufanya zamu. Kama hatuta wakilisha uongozi— pamoja na mamlaka kama ilivyo manufaa ya kufikiria-watu wetu hawatapata uozefu, Wanahitaji kuongoza vizuri.

Kama una watoto,kutakuwa na siku utawaacha waondoke nyumbani na kuanzisha makwao.Huwezi kila siku kuwaambia kitu cha kufanya.Ni kile kile sawa na uongozi.Kama unampa mtu jukumu,lazima utamwacha afanye maamzi.Baadhi ya maamzi yao hayatakuwa sawa na yale ambayo wewe ungefanya,bali unahitaji kuwaacha wafanya makosa yao wenyewe.

  1. ZAWADI YA UONGOZI WENYE ARI

Watu wengi hawajaribu kufanya mambo mapya kwa sababu wanaogopa kwamba watakuja kusahihishwa.

Kama mtu fulani anajaribu kufanya kitu kipya mtie moyo na kumshukuru kwa ajili ya kuwa na maono.

  1. ANDAA MAZINGIRA SALAMA MAHALI AMBAPO WATU WATAULIZA MASWALI,SHIRIKISHA MAWAZO, ONDOA MASHAKA

Unapaswa kuwa na mawasiliano mema na watenda kazi wako.

Usifanye watu kujisikia wapumbavu wanapouuliza maswali.

Uwe na hiari ya kusikiliza mawazo yao.

  1. TEKELEZA MAMBO PAMOJA NA WATU WAKO

  2. VUTA WATU KUJA KWENYE MAJUKUMU MENGI YA JUU KWENYE MDUARA WAKO WA NDANI

Miongoni mwa wanafunzi 12,Yesu alimchagua Petro,Yakobo,na Yohana kuwa viongozi maalumu.

Tunahitaji kupata watu wenye uwezo na kuwa weka mahali pa kuongoza.

Wanahitaji kuwa watu unaoweza kuwatumainia.Utawaambia hawa watu mambo mengi kuliko wengine ambao unaweza kuwaambia.

  1. JIKABIDHI MWEYEWE KATIKA KUENDELEZA TIMU YA UONGOZI

  2. FUNGULIA MNYORORO WA VIONGOZI WAKO KUONGOZA

Closer to Jesus

MORE OF HIM - MORE IN 2004

JAMES 4:7 “Draw nigh unto me and I will draw nigh unto you”

A Promise of the Lord A Spiritual Law of God He never moves – He is unchangeable If we feel further away from the Lord – guess who moved?

Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High SHALL ABIDE under the shadow of the Almighty”

Isiah 55:1-9 Call upon the Lord Seek Him Come to Him A Call to You

John placed his head on the Breast of Christ – he came closer to Jesus Peter, James, and John were closer to Jesus because they chose to The woman that touched His Garment fought the crowd to touch Christ

Revelation 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door and knock….if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in , and sup with him, and he with me”

A call to the Laodecean Church This is our church age This is His call to us today More of Him

Hell

THE FINAL ENEMEY IS DEFEATED 1

DEATH IS FEARED EVEN BY BELIEVERS IT IS AN UNKNOWN JESUS DEFEATED DEATH AND HELL AT THE CROSS HE CONQUERED DEATH WE NEED NOT BE AFRAID

2

1 Cor. 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

3

THANTOS : Death, to be dead

GRAVE: Hades , the place of the unseen, the place of departed souls, the grave, hell

4

SHEOL: HEBREW – Used in the O.T. The place where the spirits of men go at the time of physical death. Literally means place of the dead 5

Translated hell, the grave, the pit Appears 65 times in the O.T. 31 times translated grave 31 times translated hell 3 times translated the pit 6

Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Sheol - grave

7

Psalm 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Hell - sheol

8

Peter quotes Psalm 16:10 in his sermon recorded in Acts 2: 27-31

Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

9

HADES: GREEK – Used in the N.T. The Greek equivalent to sheol The unseen The place of departed souls Grave, hell 10

Abraham’s Bosom Luke 16:22-26 A great gulf fixed between two sides One side was Paradise One side was Hades The rich man went to Hades The begger went to Abrham’s bosom

11

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Paradise: paradeisos an Eden (place of future happiness, “paradise”) :- paradise. Believed to be Abraham’s bosom

12

2 Cor. 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

13

Ephes. 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

14

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

15

CHRIST WENT DOWN INTO PARADISE AND LED THEM TO HEAVEN Christ went to the bosom of Abraham and took the souls with Him to heaven I Peter 4:6 He preached to the dead in Hades For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

16

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

17

Proverbs 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Rev. 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

18

Rev. 20:13-14 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

19

King's Highway

Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Isaiah 35:9
No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

  A HIGHWAY

A PROVIDED WAY A PLANNED WAY A PERFECT WAY This is a spiritual highway The Way of Holiness Not the LOW WAY – THE HIGH WAY A Straight Way  

  A HIGHWAY

A Straight Way “Straight is the Gate and Narrow the Way” Not your way – HIS WAY The RIGHT WAY – Not the WRONG WAY The Only Way  

DETOURS ABOUND TEMPTATION TERRACE SELF STREET PRIDE PARKWAY REBELIOUS ROAD POSESSION PLACE BACKBITERS BOULAVARD COMPROMISE ALLEY

DETOURS ABOUND LAODECEAN LANE EASY STREET SHORT CUT WAY LIBERAL LANE SIN STREET DISCONTENTED DRIVE

IT IS A HOLY WAY

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

A HOLY WAY HOLINESS: “hagiasmo “ Purification, Sanctification, Holiness 1 Thes. 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. We are called to be HOLY HE is HOLY HE will have a HOLY people

1 Thes. 3:13 To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in Holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.  

But I’m NOT HOLY MAN HAS NO HOLINESS WITHOUT CHRIST JESUS GAVE US HIS HOLINESS HE DOES THE WORK IT IS A PROVISION – LIKE THE HIGHWAY HE MAKES US HOLY

WHO IS THIS HIGHWAY FOR? FOR THE WAYFARING MEN AND WOMEN NOT FOR THE UNCLEAN NOT FOR FOOLS NOT FOR THE LION OR RAVENOUS BEAST FOR THE REDEEMED FOR THE RANSOMED

FOR THE SAINTS OF GOD HE KEEPS US ON THE WAY WE CAN GET OFF THE HIGHWAY IF WE CHOOSE

A PROVIDED WAY A PLANNED WAY A PERFECT WAY

“WE NEED TO APPROPRIATE THE PROVISION” JUDGES 5:6 “ In the days of Shamgar.. THE HIGHWAYS WERE UNOCCUPIED… and the people traveled by the byways…

APPROPRIATE THE HIGHWAY WAS THERE IT WAS NOT USED NOT APPLIED NOT APPROPRIATED AN UNUSED PROVISION

APPROPRIATE JUDGES 3:6 SHAMGAR WALKED THE HIGHWAY HE WAS NOT AFRAID HE USED THE PROVISION HE HAD VICTORY

THE WAY IS MARKED

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.   ORDERED: To set up, to confirm, appoint, render, to fix, to prepare, To make provision, to ordain

THE WAY IS MARKED Proverbs 22:8 “ Remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set Psalms 23:3 “HE leadeth me in the “Paths of Righteousness”

HEROES OF THE HIGHWAY

 

MANY GREAT MEN AND WOMEN HAVE WALKED THIS HIGHWAY BEFORE US WHAT GOD DID FOR THEM HE WILL DO FOR US THE PATRIACHS THE PROPHETS THE APOSTLES WE SERVE THE SAME GOD WE WALK THE SAME PATH  

THERE ARE HILLS AND VALLEYS ON THE WAY

FOLLOW THE MAP OF THE WORD

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: HE LEADETH ME in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Jeremiah 31:21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

Isaiah 11:16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

  STAY ON THE WAY

 WALK ON THE END OF THE ROAD IS NEAR YOU CAN MAKE IT HIS GRACE WILL PULL YOU THROUGH JESUS IS WALKING BESIDE YOU HE WILL CARRY YOU IN THE HARD PLACE

The Tabernacle

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

     THE TABERNACLE

A TYPE OF CHRIST AND HIS MINISTRY JESUS CHRIST – OUR HIGH PRIEST OUR SAVIOR

     THE OUTER COURT

THE GATE THE ENTRANCE ON THE EAST SIDE THE BRAZEN ALTAR THE LAVER

     THE HOLY PLACE

THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

     THE HOLY OF HOLIES

BEHIND THE VEIL THE ARK OF THE COVENANT THE PRESENCE OF GOD THE GLORY OF THE LORD THE MERCY SEAT

     THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

A POT OF MANNA THE TABLES OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AARON’S ROD THE BUDDED

THE BRAZEN ALTAR

THE BRAZEN ALTAR BRASS – TYPE OF JUDGEMENT THIS IS WHERE SIN IS DEALT WITH A TYPE OF THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST THE CROSS

THE LAVER

THE LAVER THIS IS A TYPE OF CLEANSING SANCTIFICATION Ephes. 5:26 That HE might Sanctify and Cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, SALVATION

TABLE OF SHEWBREAD

TABLE OF SHEWBREAD A TYPE OF THE WORD DAILY PROVISION DAILY FOOD FOR THE SOUL FOR THE PRIESTS TO EAT SHITTIM WOOD OVERLAID WITH GOLD

THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK

GOLDEN CANDLESTICK A TYPE OF THE LIGHT JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WE ARE HIS LIGHT ON EARTH PURE GOLD – A BEATEN WORK A TYPE OF THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST

ALSO CALLED THE GOLDEN ALTAR

ALTAR OF INCENSE A TYPE OF PRAISE AND PRAYER SHITTIM WOOD OVERLAID WITH GOLD THIS WAS PLACED BEFORE THE VEIL THE INCENSE WAS NEVER TO GO OUT

BEFORE THE VEIL THE ALTAR OF INCESENCE DAILY, CONTINUAL BEFORE THE LORD THIS IS OUR ACCESS TO THE HOLY OF HOLIES

BEHIND THE VEIL THE VEIL WAS BEFORE THE HOLY OF HOLIES A SEPARATION POINT GOD’S PRESENCE WAS BEHIND THE VEIL THE HIGH PRIEST WENT ONCE A YEAR BEHIND THE VEIL

Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

ACCESS TO THE LORD THE VEIL WAS RENT AT CHRIST’S DEATH JESUS HAS PROVIDED US ACCESS TO THE THRONE JEUSUS IS OUR HIGH PRIEST WE CAN ENTER HIS PRECENSE FREELY

The Full Inheritance for the Sons of God

THE FULL INHERITANCE FOR THE SONS OF GOD

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1Pe 1:3)

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1Pe 1:4)

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1Pe 1:5)

There is a reserved inheritance To be experienced in this life For those who are kept by the power of God We need God’s keeping power in this world of sin Through faith – faith is for this life

THIS IS A WORK OF GOD But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (Joh 1:12) A divine work of God Sons – HUIOS – A full mature son The inheritance is only given to the sons Faith is essential – even to them that believe

To be revealed in the last time Not for previous generations Reserved means to hold in store We are living in the last days The Church was birthed in power – Acts 2 God will manifest His power in these last days

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luk 21:28)

This is an end-time passage And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? (Luk 21:7) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Mat 24:3)

These are parallel texts What things that begin to come to pass will signify the coming redemption? The end-time signs described in these passages Draweth nigh or near – this means it has not come as of yet

REDEMPTION This is the fullest meaning of the word A total buying back, a complete state of release This is an end-time release The inheritance to be revealed in the last time

ADOPTION Huiothesia – the placing of a son This word has nothing to do with adopting a baby By definition only the Huios – the mature sons are placed Not for the child

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; (Gal 4:1) But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. (Gal 4:2) The Father places the sons into their inheritance A supernatural work of God Power to become the sons of God

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Rom 8:19) To manifest – to show forth or reveal Inheritance to be revealed in the last time

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Rom 8:20) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Rom 8:21)

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Rom 8:22)

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Rom 8:23)

The adoption which is the redemption of our body Waiting for the adoption This tells us if they were waiting for it then they had not yet received it Remember Adoption is the placing of the Sons

Those that had the firstfruits of the Spirit were still waiting This is the same word for redemption used in Luke 21 Apolutrosis – A complete state of release Waiting until an appointed time To be revealed in the last time

Groaning and travailing in pain The pain of a woman in childbirth Produced through prayer The Spirit intercedes through us with groanings which can not be uttered

ADOPTION REDEMPTION SONSHIP INHERITANCE

The Sin and Danger of Carnality (handout)

The Sin & Danger of Carnality

Introduction

 

Our old nature:

 

Everytime we yield to carnality:

 

The spirit we bear will either be the Spirit of God or a spirit of this world.

 

We are commanded not to give any place to the old nature at any time or for any reason. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

 

Those who yield to the old nature:

1.  Are in disobedience to the command of God Ephesians 4:27

2.  Are no longer walking by faith Romans 14:23 / James 3:15  (faith is obedience to the revealed will of God)

3.  Grieve the Spirit of God Ephesians 4:30

4.  Make themselves vulnerable to the spirit of this world and the power of the enemy Eph 4:27 / II Tim 2:26 / I Peter 5:8

5.  Become a hindrance and a stumbling block to others by bearing a spirit of this world that will fight against them

 

The spirit we bear is everything.  Prov 6:16-19 / Jer 4:4, 14 / Matt 16:19-20

  1. Children of light yielding to darkness

A child of God can take on a spirit of this world

 

  1. Sin’s Strongholds

Sins yielded to can become strongholds. One of the hardest strongholds to conquer is the one that involves an appetite of the flesh.  Develop a fear and hatred for that sin knowing that it will cost you your soul if it is not overcome. Watch and pray.  Study and obey.  Guard your eyes and mind with utmost diligence.

 

Here are 6 serious and deadly symptoms of sin in the heart.

 

1.  Sin that has become a habitual practice.

2.  Justifying self as good state all the while allowing sin

3.  When sin often succeeds in obtaining the consent of the will.

4.  When sin is fought only because of the consequences of that sin.

5.  When trouble over a sin is a punishment from God.

6.  When your sin has withstood some of God’s dealings against it.

 

Unmortified sin:

  1. Unmortified sin will rob us of peace and strength
  2.  Grieves the Spirit of God

3.  Wounds afresh the Lord Jesus Christ

4.  It will take away our usefulness in this generation.  We will be barren.

  1. The captive believer and our attitude toward him

 

(Amplified Bible) II Timothy 2:24-26—24 And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. 25 He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],

 

(I Peter 5:8) The Lord has put a hedge about His people, but satan is looking for those who through sin and carnality leave a door open.

 

Carnality-sin will produce death &

will not inherit the kingdom of God

 

If we are operating in the flesh and especially if we are carrying an ungodly spirit, we will be defiled and everything we say and do will be defiled. 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12; Romans 1:32; Galatians 5:19-24; Galatians 6:7,8

 

Your relationship with God is only as good as your worst relationship with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. — Steve Rhodes

 

If we continue to give place to him by yielding to carnality, his power and influence will eventually produce spiritual blindness and deception. II Thess 2:10-12; Romans 6:6; Hebrews 12:14-15

  1. A day of judgment
  1. What is the Answer / Remedy?
  1. Repent

 

  1. Put off the old man
  1. Put on the new man

 

  1. Develop a Godly fear and hatred for sin/carnality

(Proverbs 28:14; Jude 1:23)  As long as we maintain any respect or affection for carnality / sin, there will be no deliverance or overcoming.

  1. Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:25; Romans 8:13; I Peter 1:22

 

  1. Love and obey the Word of God

 

The Sin and Danger of Carnality

I.  The Sin & Danger of Carnality

 

Our old nature:

 

Everytime we yield to carnality:

 

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

 

Every time we yield to carnality, we open ourselves up to and come under the influence of the spirit of this world and the powers of darkness.  Every time, while in this condition, we bring others under our influence; whether it be by word or action or simply by exposing them to the spirit we bear; we “offend” them (we hinder them, give them opportunity to sin and expose them to spiritual attack).

 

It is always our old nature and self that gets irritable, resentful, bitter, critical, worried, discontented complain, discouraged, hard, unyielding in its attitudes toward others, shy, self-conscious, reserved.  None of these things are of faith.

 

The spirit we bear will either be the Spirit of God or a spirit of this world.

 

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:26-27

(Don’t make any room for him to work in your life.)

 

In Galatians 5, we are given a lengthy list of the works of the flesh, but here in our text, Ephesians 4:26, one is given — anger.  Our anger is ungodly, worldly and sinful if it is produced by our human nature that has been defiled by sin.  Our human nature is not of faith and so it is impossible for our natural man to produce righteousness or anything acceptable to God.  That is why it must be put to death.  Our anger can only be righteous when it is produced by the Spirit of God.  It will only be produced by Him if we refuse to yield to the old nature and allow the Spirit of God to rule and control our lives.  If we have a righteous anger that is inspired by the Spirit of God, do not let it remain long or it will become ungodly.  We must become spiritual – ruled and governed by the Spirit of God.

 

We are commanded not to give any place to the old nature at any time or for any reason.

 

Those who yield to the old nature:

1.  Are in disobedience to the command of God Ephesians 4:27

2.  Are no longer walking by faith Romans 14:23 / James 3:15  (faith is obedience to the revealed will of God)

3.  Grieve the Spirit of God Ephesians 4:30

4.  Make themselves vulnerable to the spirit of this world and the power of the enemy Eph 4:27 / II Tim 2:26 / I Peter 5:8

5.  Become a hindrance and a stumbling block to others by bearing a spirit of this world that will fight against them

 

If there is something in your life that you know did not come from God, if you do not deal with it as you should, if you make an allowance for it in any measure, you open a door giving the devil access to your life.  If it continues long enough, spiritual blindness and deception will work its way into your spirit and understanding and you won’t even know it.  You will think that you are right, that your understanding is good and that you are doing the will of God and pleasing Him when in reality you are grieving Him, sinning against Him and playing into the hands of the devil.  You will become blind to the truth and that to your destruction for “sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. James 1:15

 

My words, actions and motives may be right and good, but if I allow a wrong spirit to influence me, that spirit will work to my destruction and to the destruction of those around me.

 

The spirit we bear is everything.  With a right spirit, our works and words will be righteous and please God.

If we bear a wrong spirit, all the good that we do and say will be defiled, unclean and unacceptable to God.  Prov 6:16-19 / Jer 4:4, 14 / Matt 16:19-20

 

Children of light yielding to darkness

A child of God can take on a spirit of this world

A true Christian can give place to a spirit that is not of God,

that is of this world and of the kingdom of darkness.

That spirit can manifest its power and influence in that Christian’s spirit and emotions.

 

Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

(He knows which spirit we are yielding to.)

 

Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

 

Numbers 14

23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

 

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 

James 3

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

 

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

 

If the Spirit of God rules your spirit, everything you do will come under His influence and the result will be righteousness and the work of the kingdom of God will be advanced.

If carnality and demon spirits are ruling your spirit (if you yield to carnality, know that demons will get involved sooner or later), then everything you do will come under the influence of the powers of darkness and the result will be unrighteous, wicked, evil and the kingdom of darkness will be advanced.

 

If carnality is ruling our spirit, it will hurt and wound people and drive them away from God.

If the Spirit of God and the grace of God is ruling our spirit, the Spirit of God in us will draw people to God.

 

Could it be that God’s own people, the children of light, align themselves with darkness and work to advance the cause of the enemy of mankind?

 

This is a terrible sin among God’s people.  Many are very guilty in the eyes of God and yet seem to be ignorant of their offence.  This is especially so among those who do not diligently study and apply the word of God.  They do not seek for and welcome the correction of the Word of God by the Spirit of God and so become vulnerable to deception, spiritual blindness and even possession.  The Lord said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6.

 

At no time or for any reason are we justified before God in yielding to our old nature.

 

It is impossible to exercise faith while yielding to carnality.  That which is not of faith is sin and makes us liable to the judgment of God (Rom 14:23).  We live by faith, but we die without it Heb 10:38.  While in this condition, it is impossible to please God, impossible to do righteousness and we make ourselves vulnerable to the enemy.  The only way out of this condition is to repent, yield to the Spirit of God and resist the devil.

 

As long as self is in control, God can do little with us.  

 

Beware of being defiled, deceived and overcome by a spirit of this world

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

 

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

 

Beware lest the Lord find some unseen spot on our “wedding garment” and we be rejected of Him.  Search yourself, judge yourself now while you have opportunity to repent and make things right.  He said that His bride has “made herself ready” (Rev 19:7) and that He is coming back for a Church that is “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Eph 5:27).  He also said, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (II Peter 3:14).

 

Hate any and every manifestation of the old nature and seek to be a “man of the Spirit” and a man of the Word, a man who is ruled and governed by the Spirit of God and the Word of God.  That is our only safety.

 

The flesh is the only road the devil has to your soul and if you allow him to mess with your flesh, he’ll kick a door open for possession and bondage. — Brother Powers

 

If we allow the flesh to manifest in our words, actions and thoughts; darkness & deception will begin to work its way into our lives and we won’t even know it (the inherent nature of blindness & deception is that we cannot see or know what is happening.)  Have you ever found yourself saying, “Why didn’t I see that?  How could I have been so blind?”.  Blindness, deception and darkness had crept into your understanding without you knowing it, but God had allowed you to discover it.

 

Carnality is sin.  Sin is the way of darkness, deception and eventually spiritual death.

 

Have you ever had times when you thought, how could I have been so blind?  Why didn’t I see that?  Only sin darkens the understanding.  When you become aware of something you had been blind to, something that you should have been able to see with the light God has given you, know that God, in His mercy, has given you a gleam of light that you may be able to see and know that somehow, somewhere, you have made an allowance for sin, the enemy has gained access to your life and blindness and deception has been creeping in, darkening your understanding without you being aware of it.  You have already begun to fall.  Diligently seek for “light” (understanding, truth) and when it is given, obey it.  Sin is spiritual darkness.  Disobedience brings darkness, and spiritual darkness blinds the understanding.  It’s a critical condition that is wrong, in trouble spiritually and not know it.

 

There are those we know who seem to have gone off “the deep end”, that have veered radically off the straight and narrow and have gone far out into the broad way of destruction.  There seems to be great blindness and deception in their understanding.  Somewhere, somehow, they not only opened a door by yielding to their old nature (sin), but they left it open by failing to repent.  The devil was able to get in and take them captive, bringing them into bondage.

 

Sin’s Strongholds

Sins yielded to can become strongholds.

 

One of the hardest strongholds to conquer is the one that involves an appetite of the flesh and so is able to enlist your desires, affections and will.  In order to overcome, one must sever these ties.

 

Develop a fear and hatred for that sin knowing that it will cost you your soul if it is not overcome.

Watch and pray.  Study and obey.  Guard your eyes and mind with utmost diligence.

 

Those who can sin without conviction are in danger of being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin to the point that their conscience is seared.  It may not be some “great sin” but merely an attitude that is not Christ-like.  If it is not Christ-like and godly, it is worldly & ungodly.  To have little concern over sin is a serious offence against the grace and mercy of God.  Many say they know God but in many ways are conformed to this world.

 

There will be no deliverance from a specific sin in one area if your heart is not to obey the Lord in every area.  You may seek God with fasting and prayer day and night, but deliverance will not come if there is neglect in other areas such as your time of prayer and study of the word, constant communion with God etc.  Be sure you are doing what you know to do.

 

Here are 6 serious and deadly symptoms of sin in the heart.  For these the ordinary means of mortification will not work.  An extraordinary means is required.

 

1.  It has been established over a long period of time and has become a habitual practice.  Its defiling influence has worked on your heart and affections for a long time.  It has become so familiar that it does not seem like a strange thing and no longer disturbs you.

 

2.  When the heart seeks to think of itself as in a good state all the while allowing some sin or lust without striving to mortify it.  To think on good qualities to quiet the conscience when we are being convicted of sin is a deceitful devise of the heart that is in love with sin.

 

3.  When sin often succeeds in obtaining the consent of the will.  Though we may not do the outward act, yet if we embrace the desire for it, the temptation has succeeded.  The will finds delight in or affection for a sin.  He chooses ways that lead in the direction of that sin.  If sin frequently succeeds in this way, he is in a very dangerous condition.

 

4.  When a man fights against a sin only because of the consequences or penalty of that sin.  This is evidence that this sin has a great grip on his will and his heart is full of wickedness.  They do not hate the sin, they fear being put to shame before men or they fear the judgment of God.  These cannot say that they love God.  If a person is under the power of sin to the extent that the only opposition to it is the law, hell and judgment and cannot fight against it with the weapons provided by the gospel, then sin has control over his will and affections and has prevailed and conquered.

 

5.  When it is probable that trouble over a sin is a punishment from God.

 

6.  When your sin has already withstood some of God’s dealings against it.  He may have brought affliction or removed His presence from their life and yet the sin remains.

 

Suppressing conviction and not exercising faith to lay hold of the grace of God in order to overcome this is deadly.

Do not lessen or down play the seriousness and guilt of a sin.

Harbored sin will take away the understanding.  It will bring in blindness and deception.

Our sin is much greater if we continue in sin in the light of God’s grace and truth.

The sins of the believer is greater than that of the sinner because of the grace and provision and light they have been given.

Every sin hardens the heart.  If it is allowed to continue long enough, it will take a heart that is tender toward God and harden it so that it is unmoved even under the anointed preaching of the word of God, in the presence of God and under His conviction.

Unmortified sin will rob us of peace and strength.

When sin has been allowed to continue long enough and that sin has done its work; you will not be able to pray, the word of God will not speak to you and you will not sense the Spirit of God dealing with you anymore.

 

Unmortified sin:

1.  Grieves the Spirit of God

2.  Wounds afresh the Lord Jesus Christ

3.  It will take away our usefulness in this generation.  We will be barren.  He will not walk in the beauty and glory of God.

 

The captive believer and our attitude toward him

 

In a cabin on the African plains.  Late at night hear the padding of large feet outside.  Hear the snuffing and scratching at the door that makes it tremble on its hinges.  You know that there is a lion out there looking for opportunity.  Though time goes by and you haven’t heard or seen anything for a while, what are the chances that I would open the door to look out, let alone leave the door open in order to let a cool breeze into that stuffy cabin.  Zero. Not only would I make sure the door was latched, I would lock that door.  Not only would I lock that door, I would bar it.  I would slide the refrigerator up against it.  I would do all in my power to see that that lion did not gain access to that cabin.  If I should become careless and leave that door ajar, even a little bit, sooner or later the lion will discover his opportunity.  He would come in and I would be taken out of that “ark of safety” and carried away into the night.  I was in control and had power to prevent this, but now, because I allowed it, because I left the “door” open, I made allowance for sin and carnality in some measure, I am a captive, completely in his power with no ability to deliver myself.  My only hope, at this point, is that Another, who has the power to deliver, will have mercy on me in spite of my sin, disobedience and divided heart and will deliver me and heal me of my wounds.  At that point, God’s mercy will decide my fate.  God’s people can and should intercede to Him who has the power to deliver on their behalf.  Scriptures show us what our conduct needs to be toward such:

 

II Timothy 2

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Amplified

24 And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.

25 He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],

 

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 

The Lord has put a hedge about His people that the devil cannot cross, but he is looking for those who through sin and carnality leave a door open to him giving him access to attack you, deceive you and ultimately to destroy you.  The only way you can prevent him from doing this is to “give no place” to him, do not yield to sin and carnality.  Obey the command of God to not yield to sin and the flesh but instead obey the command of God to “walk in the Spirit”.  To walk in the Spirit is the only way to keep yourselves in the path of life and light and to keep yourself from the paths of the destroyer.  

If we would remain on the path of life and reach that land for which we are bound, we must give utmost diligence to see that we give no place to sin and carnality and that we give no place to the devil in so doing.

If there is something in your life that you know isn’t of God, that God didn’t give to you, get rid of it.

 

Give the Spirit of God full control of your life, let Him rule your spirit.  If you do give place to the old nature, immediately repent.

 

Carnality-sin will produce death &

will not inherit the kingdom of God

 

Some professing believers often talk about how bad their temper used to be and/or how violent they used to be. They are not that way now because the word of God forbids it, but in their heart, they are in love with their sin and have not repented.

 

If we are operating in the flesh and especially if we are carrying an ungodly spirit, we will be defiled and everything we say and do will be defiled.

 

II Thessalonians 2

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 

Galatians 5

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness every impure word, thought or deed, lasciviousness that which leads to or goes along with uncleanness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance dispute, argue, wrangling, emulations jealousy, wrath, strife conflict, contention, friction, seditions division, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

Galatians 6

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption destruction, ruin; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 

It’s not ok to resent someone for something they said or did, to look down on them, to argue or dispute with them, to let your wrath rise up, to be involved with strife, conflict, contention or friction with a brother or sister or to allow anything to come between you and them.  If something comes between you and them, then something has come between you and God and God says, they that do such things “shall not inherit the kingdom of God”.

 

Your relationship with God is only as good as your worst relationship with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. — Steve Rhodes

 

We have given place to the devil.  This is a spiritually dangerous place to be in.  We must repent and refuse to give place to our old nature at any time or for any reason.  When we are first saved, we must immediately fight against the old nature within, overcome it and by the grace of God, give it no place or part.  God is gracious and has protected us, but if the years go by and we are still being ruled and governed by our old nature, our disobedience to the word of God will “open a door” to the enemy allowing him to bring in spiritual blindness and deception.  The longer we persist in this, the more power and influence the enemy will have against us until he may eventually be able to take full possession.  The divine command is, “Give no place to the devil”.

 

If the years go by and we we are not overcoming and not allowing the Spirit of God to rule our spirit, we are “on the fence” with one foot on the way of life and one foot in the world.  If we don’t get our foot out of the world and crucify our flesh as the word of God commands, then we will lose our footing on the path of life and the end will be destruction.

 

When we are first saved, the Lord gives us great grace and keeping power as we strive to overcome carnality and to give no place to the devil, but if the years go by and we don’t fight against carnality like we should and allow it to remain in any area, we make ourselves more and more vulnerable to the power and influence of the enemy.  If we continue to give place to him by yielding to carnality, his power and influence will eventually produce spiritual blindness and deception.  There will be areas where we will think we are doing the work of God and pleasing Him when in reality we will be promoting the cause of the devil, grieving the Spirit of God and sinning against Him.  If we give place to the devil too much for too long, we could become not only oppressed, but possessed by him and the Lord would turn us over to strong delusion because we did not love the truth, because we did not diligently hear and obey it II Thess 2:10-12.

 

Romans 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

 

Hebrews 12

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

 

A day of judgment

There is a day of reckoning coming for each of us when we will stand before the throne of God and give an account of everything we have done and every word we have said.  Every hidden thought, purpose and motive will be revealed.  Only that which is covered by the blood of Jesus will not be mentioned.  If there are areas of darkness and sin found in us, we will have no opportunity to repent then.  We are told in the word of God to judge ourselves now that we be not judged on that day.  (I Cor 11:31)

 

Revelation 20

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

I Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

 

Carnality is robbing the Church of power and anointing.  A believer who allows their old nature to rule their spirit will not be a person of the power and presence of God.  It may be seen at times like Sampson, but not on a consistent basis.  God even used a Balaam for a time.  We must never let up our diligence of mortifying the flesh.  It never lets up.  If we stop destroying it, it will be destroying us.  Sin is always active in our old nature so we must always be mortifying.  If we let up, we are in trouble.  Sin is deceitful.  It makes the old nature feel good while it hardens the heart and blinds the understanding to our ruin.  When we let up toward sin, we do not see that our heart is drifting away from God.  The greatest men and women of God are in danger of falling from grace if they neglect to mortify sin.  When we neglect to mortify sin, the grace of God withers while sin gains ground in our lives.

 

  Carnality always fights against holiness and righteousness even when it appears to be fighting against wrong and standing for what is right.  Carnality cannot do the work of God, it cannot produce righteousness and it cannot please God any more than sin can because it is sin and because it is not of faith.  It has no redeeming value.  It must be mortified.

 

The presence of God, the anointing of the Holy Ghost, the power of God will not increase in our lives or even remain upon us if we continue to make allowances for our old nature.  We have been commanded to put it to death, to remove it from our lives.  To not do this is disobedience and rebellion (the carnal mind is enmity against God . . . it is not subject to the law of God - Rom 8:7).  God will not overlook it indefinitely.

 

What is the Answer / Remedy?

 

Repent

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

 

II Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

 

God’s people must repent and turn from their “wicked ways” II Chron. 7:14 or there will be no revival, no moving of the Spirit of God in our lives.  The Spirit of God has been grieved.  The Lord’s people have yielded themselves to the spirit of this world.  Their commitment to God has become divided and their stand for righteousness compromised.  They have been unfaithful to Him Js 4:4.

 

Put off the old man

The new man is not to be a covering for the old man.  We have been commanded by God to “Put off the old man with his deeds”.

 

Every deed produced by the “old man” (flesh / carnality) is a work of darkness (sin & iniquity).

 

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

 

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

 

The command of scripture:

Strip yourselves of your old nature.

Put on the new nature that is created in God’s image and that bears His righteousness and holiness.

 

Romans 13

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

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

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

Colossians 3

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice spite, hatred, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

 

 

Put on the new man

Colossians 3

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

 

Isaiah 26

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

 

Ephesians 4

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

Develop a Godly fear and hatred for sin/carnality

Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

 

Jude 1:23 . . . hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

 

As long as we maintain any respect or affection for carnality / sin, there will be no deliverance or overcoming.

 

Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

 

I Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

 

Love and obey the Word of God

 

Watch out for and flee from that which has caused you to fall and made you vulnerable in the past.

 

Rise up mightily against the first sign of sin.

 

We should maintain a conscious awareness of the vileness of our old nature.

 

When God deals with you about sin, be careful that you do not speak peace to yourself before God does.  Listen closely to what He says to your soul and obey it.

 

Don’t speak peace to yourself until you have seen your sin with the greatest hatred and horror.

 

There must be repentance before there is peace, quiet and rest.

 

Be so accustomed to communion with Christ that you instantly know His voice.

 

The blood and grace of Christ are sufficient to give you victory.

 

Expect victory.  Exercise faith.

 

Diligently watch for any word or direction the Lord would give you and obey it.

 

Hebrews 3

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

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

 

Psalm 18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

 

 

 

Philippians 4

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

Moderation = mildness, patience, yieldingness, gentleness, unwillingness to litigate or contend; meekness under provocation, readiness to forgive injuries, equity in the management of business, honesty in judging of the characters and actions of others, sweetness of disposition, and the complete government of the passions.”

 

Rejoice in the Lord, in the excellence of His character and nature, in His perfections, in His salvation and goodness toward us.

 “to yield,” “reasonableness of dealing”, that considerateness for others

 

James 3

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Amplified

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle).  [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

 

Ephesians 5

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

 

1 THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].

2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

 

We take on His character and nature by studying and obeying His Word and by spending time in His presence.  Have those times each day where you give Him your undivided attention, but throughout the remainder of the day, let your heart reach out to Him and love Him.

 

Don’t live this life for self, but live it for Jesus.

If we live it for self, it will result in eternal loss, but if we live it for Him, we will please Him and do His will.

 

Psalm 139

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

Summary

Carnality is of the spirit of this world and in subjection to the devil.  Carnality is sin.  It is a stain on our wedding garment.  It defiles our soul rendering us unclean and guilty before God.  We must repent of it and overcome it.  There is a day of reckoning coming where every individual will stand before Christ to give an account of everything that they have done, every word they have spoken together with every hidden motive, thought and purpose.  Every thought, motive, word and deed that is not covered by the blood, though hidden from the eyes of man, will be revealed before all the inhabitants of heaven and earth and He who is perfect in justice and judgment will judge them.  Then we will have no opportunity to repent, to change our ways or to ask for forgiveness.  That opportunity is granted to us now.  Diligently respond to the Lord’s conviction and dealings now with a tender heart so that those things will not be brought up on that day.

 

I Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Luke 12

1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

 

Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

 

________________________________

 

I Corinthians 11

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 

Amplified

31 For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment].

32 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world.

 

We call His judgment that He gives us now, conviction and chastening.  His chastening is often through circumstances, giving us opportunity to deny our old nature and respond to them correctly.  Every little thing in us matters.  We must respond to His conviction with a tender heart of repentance and respond to people and circumstances with a meek and quiet spirit.  Everything in us that we do not deal with properly in this life will be dealt with in the life to come.

 

Don’t yield to the old nature.  If you do – repent immediately!  To continue on without repenting is dangerous.  It will cost you your soul!

 

If I fail to reach that heavenly land for which I am bound, it will be because I yielded to my old nature and in so doing, gave place to the devil.  God has put a “hedge” about us that the devil cannot cross unless I give place to him.  If the devil is able to destroy me, it won’t be because he is so powerful, it will be because I yielded to my defiled and corrupt nature and in so doing, opened a door in that hedge giving the devil access to my life.

 

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. — Matthew 5:8

 

 “keep thyself pure.” — I Timothy 5:22

 

 

 

I Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

railer = one who uses abusive language

 

to rail on others = to reproach or censure in (scornful, contemptuous, reproachful, critical or belittling) terms.

 

Exodus 22:28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

 

revile = bring into contempt, despise, set light by, defame, rail on, reproach, upbraid, cast in the teeth,

curse = to detest utterly, to abhor, to abominate, to denounce evil against, to imprecate evil on,

 

Would we love God if He treated us the way we treat Him?

Husbands, would you love God if He treated you the way you treat your wives?

 

For have we not walked into the house of God, taken the arm of the one who is now our wife and solemnly vowed to God at His altar that we would love and cherish her until death?  How is it that we, without so much as a thought, speak to and act towards that one in a way that is anything but respectful and courteous?  Is it well that we treat perfect strangers with more courtesy and respect than we do our own family?  We who are to protect and defend our wives become the ones that hurt and oppress them.  Did not God say that he would plead the cause of the oppressed?  How is it then that we are not afraid to wound them and make their lives bitter whom God has placed under our care that we may see to their welfare and cause them to flourish?  In so doing do we not constantly break our vows and perjure ourselves in the very ears of God?  Beware believer.  Examine every part of your life.

Many of God’s people have areas in their lives that they do not think about in which they sin gravely against the Lord and don’t realize it.  They wonder why there is no presence and power of God in their lives.  We do not want to stand before the Lord on that final day and find that there yet remained some such thing in our lives.  Then there will be no opportunity to change.  Search those things out now with utmost diligence.  Seek God.  Ask Him to show us those areas that need to change.

 

Sabbath Refutations (Hohmann)

Sabbath Refutations

By Wm. Hohmann

wmhohmann@peoplepc.com

Sabbatarians have produced a plethora of explanations and rationales in an attempt to convince people they are required to observe the sabbath. What is lacking in all these rationales is a definitive statement in Scripture stating that Christians are to keep the sabbath. There is no “thus saith the Lord” in this regard. According to the Sabbatarian position, we are supposed to just assume God requires this of Christians; that God was therefore careless in spelling this out for Christians, despite the examples in Scripture where God is always quite specific and careful as to what he wanted various people to do at various times.

The one question I have posed to Sabbatarians that they all refuse to answer is this: How can a person be required to keep the conditions of a covenant they were never a party to? It's like insisting my neighbor make payments to my finance company for the car I covenanted with them for. Yet this is indeed the result of the Sabbatarian logic. Christians were not commanded to keep the sabbath; Israelites were.

Seeing as the answer destroys their position in regards to the codified law, they seek elsewhere for an explanation to justify their belief. It is nothing more than an exercise where a belief goes looking for Scriptural support.

One must also stop and ask themselves how false beliefs are perpetrated and propagated. Seeing as there is never a “thus saith the Lord” for such teachings, one must resort to assumptions, rationalizations, and inferences. If one examines the explanations used to justify sabbath keeping, it is all too apparent these methods are being employed. The crux of the matter boils down to this in the end: Does one need to keep the sabbath in order to be saved, or maintain their salvation status with God? Many a Sabbatarian will state that it is by grace apart from law they are saved, but turn around and claim one puts their salvation at risk should they sin habitually, and they define one of these sins as not keeping the sabbath. So they do indeed claim one has to keep the sabbath in order to be saved, disguising this belief in semantics.

With that said, following are the arguments put forth by Sabbatarians in an attempt to have people conclude they are required to keep and observe the sabbath.

One last observation. Sabbatarians, in putting forth their “proofs” Christians are required to keep the sabbath, insist their critics address each and every rationalization they put forth, and even then, they will not admit they are wrong. As long as they can come up with just one more rationalization, the game continues. But when it comes to their refutation of your evidence to the contrary, they feel no obligation to examine all your refutations and evidence to the contrary. All they feel they must do is repudiate just one issue, and they have repudiated all. And it doesn't matter whether they are right or wrong. All they need do is convince themselves, regardless of the evidence. One can't help but see the parallel between the religious leaders of Jesus' time and their devotion to the law and the sabbath, and the conditions extant today among Sabbatarians.

Claim: The Sabbath was instituted at creation, therefore, all mankind is required to observe the sabbath.

This claim is put forth for one reason only; the sabbath command is located within the confines of the old covenant made between God and Israel only, when they left Egypt and arrived at Sinai and the giving of the law. Seeing as only Israel was commanded to keep the sabbath, this construct is absolutely necessary, or realistically, all arguments for keeping the sabbath fail. Seeing then that this belief is so pivotal, Sabbatarians blind themselves to the actual statements regarding the seventh day at creation located in Genesis.

What does the Genesis account reveal?

Gen 2:2 - 3 (NIV) 2By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

It was God who rested upon completion of that creation. He blessed and sanctified that seventh day wherein he rested. The narrative does not say God sanctified and blessed every seventh day, nor does the narrative say God invoked this rest for Adam and Eve. They did not work; God worked. Adam and Eve were created the day before. To claim they were to rest from their labors the day after they were created, and had not worked to begin with does not enter the mind of the Sabbatarian. This belief is not subjected to any critical thinking or proper Biblical scholarship. What it says is not near as important as what they think it says, where they read into the text what is not there. It should also be noted that this day shows having no end to it. God is still “resting” from that work, and the author of Hebrews mentions that it is this rest of God's that Christians can enter into while it is still called, “To day” and it is a rest entered into through faith. Israel, who had the weekly sabbath, did not enter into God's rest due to their faithlessness. Therefore, to equate the rest of God on that seventh day with the recurring seventh day sabbath is unscriptural. See Heb 4. Sabbatarians are quick to point out the wording of the command found in Exodus: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. –Exodus 20:8-11 A reference is made to God's rest at the end of the creation week, and the Israelites are commanded to keep each sabbath holy by not performing any work on that day. In this respect, the sabbath is a memorial. To the sabbatarian, it is a memorial of the day. To God, it is a memorial of His creation, and a reminder to the Israelites it was He who created all things; it points to Him as the Creator God. This sabbath-rest requirement is reiterated in Deuteronomy 5, where the reference is made to their being freed from the slavery of Egypt. We should not examine one narrative at the expense of the other. Their remembering the day was to be in relation to the God who created all things and rested on that original seventh day, and the God who freed them from the slavery of Egypt. Israel soon forgot their God, but by the time Jesus walked the earth, they had remembered the sabbath to the exclusion of their God. The sabbath itself became their entire focus even as it does with Sabbatarians. Their rationale is that, seeing as the original seventh day is referenced, it is assumed this sabbath rest had existed from creation. There are a number of problems with this drawn out conclusion. First, there is no internal evidence of anyone prior to Israel at Sinai keeping the sabbath. Second, if all mankind had been commanded to keep the sabbath, the statement in this law including strangers (non Israelites) who are within their gates as those required to rest shows that those who were not within their gates were exempt. If the sabbath command had been in force from creation, required of all mankind, that requirement would make no sense whatsoever. Some may conclude through reaching logic, that the stranger within the gates would otherwise work on the sabbath, and if Gentiles were not supposed to keep the sabbath, then even these would not have been required to comply with the sabbath, but the context does not support this fanciful conclusion. One's animals were not to work either. Did their animals derive some spiritual benefit by not working on the sabbath? This prohibition was to insure that the Israelites were not working by proxy through the foreigners who dwelt among them, or their animals. The weekly sabbath was therefore a type of the rest God enjoys; a shadow of God's rest. Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 bear this out. Israel entered into the weekly sabbath, but could not enter into God's rest; the rest Christians enter into through faith; the faith Israel was lacking. Claim: The Ten Commandments are Moral Law, and apply to all The cute twist here is that the people who are insisting the ten commandments be kept, especially the sabbath, are in turn the ones who are defining this law as moral law. First off, the Bible makes no distinctions between laws which are moral, and which are ceremonial, sacrificial, civil, etc. We may well perceive various laws falling into specific categories, but the categories themselves are not their own criteria. Whether we perceive a law to be moral or ceremonial, it is still a part of the law that even James declares if one violated even one point of that law, they were guilty of all, regardless of categories. Secondly, how would we truly define a moral law? Would it not be a point of law where to violate it were immoral? Would there ever be a justification for transgressing such a law? We would agree that murder is immoral, thus the prohibition against murder is a morally based law. There could never be justification for committing murder, which is an act born of hatred. There could never be justification for committing adultery. But can this claim be true of the sabbath commandment? No, for there are numerous exceptions extant in Scripture regarding the sabbath. If a person violated the sabbath in order to do good, there is no harmed party, but rather the exact opposite. The law is “fulfilled” as opposed to merely being kept. In moral law, there is always a harmed party. By claiming the ten commandments therefore are moral law, the sabbath command sneaks in under the radar. Claims: The Ten Commandments are a Separate Covenant The Sabbath is a Separate Covenant This rationale is so lacking in believability, it shouldn't need to be refuted. It should be self-evidently false if one but has a rudimentary understanding of Scripture. The ten commandments are the core of the old covenant. The entirety of the old covenant was written by Moses in what was called, “the book of the law.” It was the book of the law that was sprinkled with blood, as well as the people, in the codification and institution (ratification) of the old covenant. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. — Hebrews 9:18-20 Whenever Jesus Christ refers to the law, he includes the ten commandments along with all the rest of the commands given in the old testament books of the law. Examples of this are given later in this article. Suffice it to say for now that this construct is necessary in the Sabbatarian theology, seeing as it can easily be demonstrated that some points of law obviously are not required of Christians, and some points of law are impossible to comply with. Claim: The Sabbath was to be a perpetual, never ending covenant Support for this claim is thus: Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. — Exodus 31:16 There are two problems with this conclusion for keeping the sabbath for ever.

  1. This is still in regards to the covenant being between God and Israel. No other parties could come into the covenant with its conditions unless they underwent circumcision and became as one born in the land. Gentile Christians were not required to undergo circumcision, nor were they required to keep the law. This was established at the council at Jerusalem as related in Acts chapter 15.
  2. This perpetuity was in relation to Israel's generations. Normally, a covenant ends upon the death of either party to a covenant. Paul uses the marriage covenant to explain this in Romans chapter 7. As such, the covenant would have ended upon the death of the last person who was present at the ratification of that covenant. This clause extended the covenant out to the children of Israel that were yet to be born, where the act of circumcision brought the males under the covenant; under the law. (Females, being part of the household of a father or husband were under the law from that perspective) To place this in proper perspective, circumcision was to be a perpetual covenant also: He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. — Genesis 17:13 Are Christians considered the children of Abraham? Yes. Are Christians required to undergo circumcision? No. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. — Galatians 3:7 Claim: The Ten Commandments were written by the very finger of God in stone, which demonstrated their permanence. First off, if being written in stone was for the purpose of demonstrating their permanence, then where are the stone tablets today? What do we have today? That which was written down by the hand of Moses on parchment, velum, etc. (i.e. surfaces we would consider to hardly be permanent). And even though the Ten were at first written down by God's own hand, what then of the rest of the law that was dictated to Moses by God, from His own mouth? Is what God spoke somehow of less importance than what He wrote? And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. —Exodus 25:22 Claim: James taught the law in James chapter 2. To break one point of the law is to be guilty of all of it. Notice the reference to the law was in regards to the whole law: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. — James 2:10 What is the whole law? Exactly what it says; the entire law, with all 613 points or requirements. This included circumcision to sacrifices. So if James was teaching the law as claimed, then he was teaching all Christians were guilty of the law, and under a death penalty. But the context does not support the belief James was teaching the law. James was using the law as an example as to how the law of Liberty worked in the life of a Christian when it came to love and showing partiality. If one demonstrated partiality even once in regards to one person, law was violated, and the Christian was guilty of transgressing the law of Liberty. You cannot show love to some, and not others. A Christian is to demonstrate love for even an enemy. That Sabbatarians believe James was validating the law demonstrates the blindness they have, seeing they overlook the context so readily here in this example. Claim: Christianity reinstates the other 9 commandments so why is the sabbath the exception? Christianity does not reinstate the other 9 commandments. The other 9 may well be referenced as teaching aids; examples. This does not validate them as being binding on Christians. For instance, there is no need to tell a Christian who has God's Spirit in them to avoid worshiping idols. Christians know who their God is, and are not about to abandon God who now dwells in them in favor of a false god. Naaman the Syrian is an interesting example in this regard. He came to understand that there is no god in all the earth besides the God of Israel. But he was concerned regarding his going into a pagan temple and bowing before an idol in the company of his king. To not do so would have been an affront to his king, so he brings this up to Elisha who tells him to go in peace. Naaman knew it was a false god he would be bowing to, and there was no danger of him believing otherwise. The commandment, addressed to Israel was in place because they very easily would have abandoned God in favor of false gods and idols, and often did. Let us remember the example of Naaman is one of faith; something the Israelites were always lacking. But the Sabbatarian insists that to claim the ten are not binding on Christians is to claim that a Christian could commit murder with impunity, seeing as there is no law against it. This is an attempt to prove something through an accusation, and totally overlooks the Spirit of the law regarding love. Do Christians go about committing murder because they believe they are not held to the law that prohibits murder? Seeing therefore that these same 9 commandments can be shown to be obsolete in like regard when it comes to Christians, how can the sabbath, using the Sabbatarian's own logic, be the exception? Claim: The sabbath was instituted at creation. The seven day cycle of the week evidences the fact there was a day of rest God entered into. God blessed and sanctified the sabbath at that time. The rationale sounds convincing. But let's remember all false doctrines are going to sound convincing. This is but a twist on the earlier rationale regarding the sabbath commandment being instituted at creation. Again, the importance of establishing the sabbath commandment as being from the beginning is of paramount importance. God indeed entered into rest on the seventh day of creation. It should further be noted that it was THAT particular seventh day that was blessed and sanctified. There is no internal evidence to suggest God blessed and sanctified EVERY seventh day, or that Adam and Eve entered into this rest or were even commanded to do so. Again, nothing in the narrative indicates God rested the next seventh day, or any seventh day thereafter. On the contrary, God had and does work on the sabbath, as witnessed by the manna Israel gathered on the sixth day that did not spoil on the seventh. God worked on the sabbath, preventing the manna from spoiling. Also we have the statement of Jesus regarding the Father working on the sabbath, as well as Jesus! (John 5:17) It is an interesting aside to note that hard-core Sabbatarians refuse to see the truth of this. They are completely convinced in their own minds that God indeed set apart every seventh day at that time. This is how desperate Sabbatarians are to hold to their belief, despite all the evidence to the contrary. The sabbath is what makes them unique and sets them apart from what they believe to be false Christianity. Take away the sabbath, and they no longer have this distinction. They become indistinguishable from other Christians of whom they deny their Christianity. There must therefore be a distinguishing characteristic, and the sabbath serves this purpose perfectly, in their minds. What they don't want to think about is that there are many Sabbatarian churches with vastly differing theologies. So which one then becomes the “true” church and the “true” faith? It should be noted that the seventh day of creation shows having no end. The authors of Psalms and Hebrews reflect on this, indicating that God is still in that day of rest. Claim: The Sabbath was made for man When Jesus said ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’ (Mark 2:27), did he actually mean ‘The Sabbath was made for the Jew’? If that isn’t what he meant, then, what sort of excuse must antinomianists resort to when they present their flawed thinking about the purely Sinaitic nature of the Sabbath? The usual claim of many antinomianists such as yourself is that the Sabbath was freshly invented in Sinai. If that had been the case, the prior existence of the week would go biblically unexplained. On the other hand, if the Sabbath had been an Edenic ordinance, as Gen. 2:2 intimates, and as other Jewish literature consistently shows, then the existence of pre-Mosaic weeks is easily explained. The flawed thinking here is in the assumptions being made regarding the sabbath. Exodus 20 indeed cites the rest of God He entered into when His work was finished as a type of this sabbath they were being given. It does not say, and neither does it follow, that God rested every seventh day, or that he enjoined this rest on Adam and Eve. It was God's work, and not Adam and Eve's work. Israel is given the sabbath as a day of rest from their work, as well as being a reminder of the God who not only created all things, but also the God who freed them from the slavery of Egypt, giving them rest from that slave labor-work. They in turn soon forgot the very God the sabbath was to remind them of, and by the time we get to the life of Jesus, they were totally focused on the day to the exclusion of God. The day became an end in itself, hence Jesus' statement about the sabbath being made for man, and not the other way around. But to take this statement and apply it to all mankind is eisegetical in nature. This interpretation has no Biblical support, as we find no commandment anywhere in Scripture where God commanded all mankind to keep the day. To the contrary, the evidence is Israel only being required to keep the day, through a covenant, and as a sign of that covenant relationship between God and Israel. If the sabbath were indeed required of all mankind, then the sabbath could not possibly be this sign between the two parties of that covenant! As far as the understanding of the weekly cycle being seven days and being dependent upon understanding the sabbath command, that is quite a stretch of logic also. Our “understanding” of the seven day week is adequately explained there in Genesis. We don't need to be a party to a sabbath day rest to know and understand this. Whether we have a 7 day week with no commanded rest on the seventh day or with a commanded rest, the cycle remains unaffected either way. Sabbatarian groups that insist Christians should also keep all of the Holy Days in Scripture make a similar claim regarding the plan of God down through time, and that one can only understand God's plan by keeping those Holy Days. Gentile converts to Christianity managed just fine without having to understand the weekly cycle in regards to the sabbath any more than they needed to understand the plan of God. All they needed to understand and believe was the gospel. The subject in context concerns how the religious leaders had, through their rigid interpretation of Scripture, made points of law such as the sabbath a burden upon the people beyond the scope of the intent of the law. In the case of the sabbath commandment, “man” as a result ended up serving the sabbath instead of the intent of the sabbath serving the “man.” The “man” in this context was the man to whom it was given, for the sabbath was not given to all mankind. The eisegetical conclusion that the sabbath therefore was given to, and required of all mankind, finds no supporting evidence in Scripture. For this conclusion to be even remotely true, there would need to be a command found in Scripture to support the claim. Such Scriptural support is blatantly missing. To repeat for clarity, if the sabbath were made for all mankind, there would have been a command for all mankind to keep it. We would not have to resort to speculation and assumption and rationalization in order to determine this. Regardless, the die-hard Sabbatarian rejects this explanation in favor of a conclusion that is so obviously eisegetically derived. “Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!” Ministries that support the notion Jesus is claiming the sabbath was made for all mankind do so by claiming the sabbath was instituted at creation, using one lie to support another. If Jesus were indeed making such a claim, this would have been pleasing news to the Pharisees he was dealing with. Rather, he was narrowing the scope of the sabbath, whereas they had expanded it, and he had every right to narrow its application, seeing as he declared himself lord of the sabbath. What needs to be understood regarding the context is that they and the people were serving the law instead of the law being of service to them. As such, this was a form of idolatry. You are the servant of the one you serve, and they had made themselves servants of the law to such an extent that they chose the law over Christ when it came to the man healed of blindness from birth, seeing as Jesus performed this miracle on a sabbath. One last observation. To the Sabbatarian, those who don't believe in keeping the sabbath, or any of the law in the letter are labeled, “antinomian.” The Spirit of the law, apparently, is viewed as being no law at all. Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Probably no other passage of Scripture has been subjected to more “interpretation” than this one in order to get it to say what it does not say. The interpretations run the gamut from claiming this is referring to Christians who keep and observe these things, and that they are not to let those who do not observe them judge them who do, to claiming this is talking about the sacrifices associated with these days (what with the reference to meat and drink “offerings”) as well as insisting this only applies to “ceremonial” laws, as though Scripture and the old covenant made such distinctions. Yet even Dr. Bacchiocchi, the famed SDA scholar now admits this is referring to the weekly sabbath command. As usual, these creative interpretations ignore the context. Verse ten mentions that the Christian is complete in Christ. To insist therefore a Christian must keep these things referred to as “shadows” is to claim the Christian is not complete in Christ; that these things, such as the sabbath, must be added to the Christian equation. We must also look at what a shadow is, and understand this in the context. Meats, drinks, holydays, new moons, and sabbaths are shadows. The “body” is of Christ, or as some translations put it, the body is Christ. A shadow is a (dark) “reflection” of something that has substance. A shadow is without substance. These things therefore are representations of Christ that have no substance; no “body.” That which has substance that these things represented is Christ. He is the one who has substance. He is what was to come, and he did indeed come. Many Sabbatarians at this point resort to claiming these “are shadows of what is yet to come” in an effort to justify the continued observance of these shadows, claiming we are required to do so until what is yet to come has indeed come; Jesus Christ, the second time! The Sabbatarian is not concerned that this interpretation conflicts with other teachings they hold dear, for the cognitive dissonance associated with all these things is of no concern to them. It is whatever is at hand at the moment that is of concern, and the use of whatever rationalization is available to make the point at the moment. But think about it for a moment. What do these Sabbatarians teach when Christ returns? Do they teach that these things indeed then pass away when the real substance, Jesus Christ walks the earth once again? Not on your life. They teach the sabbath will be kept during the Millennial rule of Christ when he returns. One last claim we will examine regarding this passage, and that is the claim that it is the sacrifices associated with these “holy days” of which the sabbath is so listed in Leviticus 23 that are shadows, and not the days themselves. But these days did foreshadow Christ! Christ is our Passover, and no longer the day or the sacrifice. The feast associated with Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread take on a Spiritual understanding in relation to Christ where one now “eats” of the bread of sincerity and truth, and no longer the physical bread. Christ is our Passover, and no longer the lamb. Christ is the Lamb of God; the substance, and not the lamb that represented Him at Passover. In John chapter six Jesus goes so far as to claim that one must eat his flesh and drink his blood for eternal life! Can we see the Passover parallel? Trumpets now herald the soon coming return of Christ. The feast of Tabernacles is no longer us dwelling in a temporary dwelling, but rather now dwelling with Christ Himself in His rest. Prophesies, sacrifices, days, etc. all point to Christ. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. — John 5:39 Claim: Matthew 5:17-19 shows the law continues in force, even down to jots and tittles, therefore the sabbath commandment remains. If this interpretation were true, one wonders how Paul could write about Christians being sons of promise as opposed to the children of Hagar who are in the bondage of the old covenant in Galatians chapter 4. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 5:17-19 There are several issues that need to be examined regarding this passage of scripture.
  3. How we are to understand “fulfil” and “fulfilled” in verses 17 and 18.
  4. What “these” commandments are.
  5. The implications of what happens when heaven and earth pass.
  6. What Jesus meant by “till all be fulfilled” and not necessarily what Sabbatarians believe it means.
  7. What is meant by “law” in context. Is it the legalities of the law, or more, such as the rest of the old testament, including prophesies. Fulfil: Gr. Pleroo To make replete, i.e. (Lit.) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (fig.) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: — accomplish, x after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply. (fr. Strongs Concordance) Other passages using Pleroo Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. [satisfy, execute] Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [satisfy, furnish, supply] Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [satisfy, execute, fully preach, supply] Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. [accomplish; fully preach] 2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: [supply] As one can see, the contextual use of the word does not support the “fill to the full” interpretation put forth by those who claim it is the law being filled up to the full, instead of the fulfillment of prophesies, uttered by the prophets found in the law and the prophets and in the writings, such as Psalms. To conclude it is the law itself being “filled to the full” contradicts other claims regarding the law being “perfect” and “eternal” as well as ignoring the contrast statement in regards to “destroy” and also refutes the context concerning the usage of the wording used in the past tense in verse 18 (till all be fulfilled) as though this doesn’t mean all events that were yet to occur. Destroy: fr. Strongs # 2647 kataluo: to loosen down (disintegrate), i.e. (by impl.) to demolish (lit. or fig.); spec. [comp. 2646 dissolution] to halt for the night: - destroy, dissolve, be guest, lodge, come to naught, overthrow, throw down. Are laws enunciated, codified, listed, given, in the prophets? No. Therefore you cannot potentially do away with law where there is no law. Are there prophesies in what is commonly termed, “the law”? Yes. Is “law” ever used in context to mean more than the legalities of the law, such as the entirety of the old testament? Yes. Those who hold to the first position insist that, seeing as the prophets are not mentioned again in verse 18, he is not talking about what might be in the prophets (prophesies); the context of verse 17 is to be ignored. No explanation is ever given for ignoring the context. The conclusion is purely eisogetical; not only through ignoring the immediate context, but all other sources commonly used in exegetical practice. They also quote in support of this view Isaiah 42:21: The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. No doubt Jesus magnified the law, putting forth the intent of the law and the Spirit of the law, but then, when was the law dishonorable? Prior to this magnification. And could this magnification of the law be a case of bringing out the spirit of the law, where the letter is no longer applicable? In other words, the intent, and not the action that follows intent is what is important when being judged by God. It is also of interest to note the context of Isaiah 42 in that the people are described as being blind and deaf to what God declares. Luke 16:16-17 also appears to support the view of filling the law to the full: The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Like anything else, the context needs to be carefully examined. Can the legality of the law “fail”? That is to say, does it have the potential to fail? Also, do prophesies have the potential to fail, prophesies found in the law? Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. — 1 Corinthians 13:8 Paul is making a contrast statement. He is declaring charity (love) can never fail. These other things that are perceived as not being able to fail or vanish away would go before love could fail or vanish away. It is his way of saying love and these things will endure, especially love. Or does the reader claim now that prophesies will fail, people will stop talking, and knowledge can vanish? If however we attempt to claim that this is speaking of the legalities of the law, some problems arise. If it is only discussing the legalities of the law, then the first part of the sentence would mean that since John, the law is no longer extant. Just like elsewhere, the law can mean much more than the legalities of the law; it can be referring to the entirety of the old testament. Seeing as the passage in Matthew 5:17-19 starts off citing the law and the prophets, that is what is being discussed in context; not the legalities of the law. To claim this validates the Sabbatarian's position on Mt. 5:17-19 is the same as saying A proves B and B proves A. It does not stand to critical thinking. What happens then when heaven and earth pass away? The law passes away? This goes contrary to the theology of those that uphold the law in this context, for the law is seen as “eternal” and therefore could not pass away. But if one insists on the interpretation that it is the legalities of the law itself that is being discussed in this passage, there is no other conclusion. When heaven and earth pass away, replaced by the new heavens and earth, the law lapses. To use the argument of those that hold to the letter of the law for Christians, it would be alright then to murder; it would be alright to covet what others have or their positions in the kingdom of God. People could worship false gods, and on and on. It is impossible to conclude that this “fulfilled” has to do with filling the law to the full. It would be like saying, “As soon as the law is filled to the full, it ends; it goes the way of the Dodo. When it is filled up, it gets emptied out. It is “destroyed”. Jesus and Law We also must determine whether the ten commandments are what Jesus refers to when he says “the law” or much more. In other words, when Jesus uses the term “law”, what is the context we find Jesus using law? By examining those scriptures in the gospels, we should be able to determine what Jesus means by the context where he addresses “the law.” Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. — Matthew 22:35-40 In this example, Jesus affirms these commandments are in the law. Seeing as these two are the greatest, any other commandments must be viewed as lesser in importance. Also, these commandments are outside the 10, so we could conclude here that when Jesus refers to “the law”, he includes commandments outside the 10. But let us not be hasty. Let us examine more examples. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. — Matthew 23:23 From here, we have a reinforcement that commandments in “the law” include those outside the ten commandments, and includes the command to tithe and includes judgment, mercy, and faith as being commands in “the law.” If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? — John 7:23 In this passage, Jesus brings out that he claims circumcision is in the law; it is a commandment in the law. What then can we conclude regarding the passage in question if the passage is referring to the legalities of the law instead of prophesies in the law and prophets? We would be forced to conclude that the entirety of the law remains inviolate, including such things as circumcision, sacrifices — all 613 points of law found in the old covenant. To Jesus Christ, the law is a unified whole, and cannot be chopped up into artificial categories of moral, ceremonial, sacrificial, etc. which divisions are man-made and designed to get around the fact all the legalities of the law stand or fall together, for even as James points out: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. — James 2:10 I must also point out that here in James chapter two, he is not validating law-keeping for Christians, but rather is using the O.T. law as an example to show how the law of Liberty; the Law of Christ applies in regard to love and partiality. If you fail to have love for even one person, you are guilty of trespassing this law of love. And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. — Matthew 19:16-19 In this example, where this man asks of Jesus what he must do for eternal life, Jesus tells him he must keep the commandments. When asked which, Jesus lists several of the ten commandments, and includes “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This last command is not a part of the ten commandments, but it is part of what Jesus called the greatest commandments. We can conclude that when Jesus refers to “the law” he is referencing much more than the ten commandments, which commandments included circumcision, tithing and stoning one found guilty of adultery. In the N.T. scriptures, written by the apostles and Luke, the law is treated in this fashion also; the ten commandments, the greatest laws of love; all the ordinances, sacrifices— everything commanded in the law from circumcision to sacrifices. Paul even includes in his dealings with the law, not muzzling the ox that treads out the grain, applying it to those who preach the gospel, claiming it isn’t about oxen (the letter of the law) but rather to them. We must also examine how Jesus used the terminology concerning “the law and the prophets” and any variation on this theme. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. — Luke 24:44 This passage tends to lend weight to the claim that it is the prophesies concerning Jesus that are to be fulfilled prophetically, and not a case of filling the law to the full, seeing as Jesus references this in the context of “these are the words which I spake to you” and the narrative in Matthew 5 -7 are those things he spoke to them, his disciples. It must also be noted that Jesus declares, “that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Notice he says “all things”. The argument put forth by those who insist on the law being what is fulfilled claim that Jesus did not fulfill “all things” prophetically, therefore they reject the interpretation of “fulfilled” being prophesies. But here we have Jesus saying all things were to be fulfilled by him prophetically, found in the law and prophets and psalms. So Jesus’ understanding of “all things” differs from the “all things” determined by the pro-law crowd. If therefore Jesus declares he fulfilled “all things” and others claim he did not, who are we to believe? Jesus. He fulfilled “all things” regarding the opening of salvation to mankind. The reconciliation of mankind with God is the main theme of all Scripture. Jesus accomplished what he came to do. The way to salvation is now open to those who believe; have faith in Him. Not faith in Him and faith in the law. The law was what people were kept under until this redemptive work was done. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. — Galatians 3:23-25 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. —Romans 10:4 I myself used to use the argument that one did not abandon that which he learned from the schoolmaster. But this is not talking about a teacher. This is talking about a paidagogos; one who accompanies the child around, including when the child goes to teachers, and was permitted to even punish the child should he misbehave. When the child came of age (in this analogy, becomes a Christian) the paidagogos is dismissed. His services are no longer required. The person is now mature — in Christ. The Holy Spirit becomes the person’s guide now. Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. — Luke 18:31 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. — John 19:28 When we come back to the concept of Jesus upholding the legalities of the law down to jots and tittles, we must look at this: They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. — John 8:4-7 Jesus does not dispute that stoning is in the law. But which is more important to him? Stoning the woman in accordance with the command in the law, or extending mercy, which Jesus said was also of the law? In any event, the law is quite specific in this case. The law required those who are caught in adultery to be stoned to death, and for good reason. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. — Leviticus 20:10 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. — Deuteronomy 22:22 To neglect this commandment was to invite further disaster on Israel. The command was absolute; it was something that was to be done and not neglected. The law did not allow for mercy in this instance. Mercy would result in others being emboldened to commit the same sin or worse, thereby causing Israel to slide even further into sin. Those that hold to the law (in the letter) overlook this example. What needs to be pointed out is that Jesus did not come at that time to condemn, but to save. If Jesus had come to uphold the legalities of the law, then Jesus would have done so, and condemned to death the very ones he was trying to save. Ultimately, who wants to see mankind condemned? The devil. Those that hold to the letter of the law unwittingly are siding with condemnation and the devil, and not Christ. Now let’s re-examine Matthew 5: 17-18 in this light: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. As we have examined so far, Jesus did come to fulfil the law and the prophets prophetically concerning Him in regards to the work begun at the creation of man concerning man. There are yet some other things to be fulfilled prophetically escatalogically, culminating with the new heaven and earth. This does not conflict with the passage above, but actually agrees with it when one sees that two events are discussed above, and not one. Those things in the law and the prophets will all come to pass; nothing shall be left undone. When all is done, all is fulfilled. When Jesus states in verse 17 that he came to fulfil, he does not declare in that sentence and context that he came the first time to fulfil everything that culminates in the heaven and earth passing, but rather to fulfill everything he came to fulfill at that time. In due time, all will be fulfilled; then passes earth and heaven, instead of when He came the first time. He makes the distinction in the two verses, and legalists today blur the distinction. This may still be confusing, so I will paraphrase the passage: Do not think I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I didn't come to destroy them, but to fulfill them [those things in the law and prophets]. - [Next thought] - For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass, [nothing] not one jot or tittle shall in any wise pass from the law [be left undone] till all is fulfilled. The Sabbatarian is so fixed on reading this passage through legalistic eyes that it is nearly impossible to see the flow here as it exists. “I am not come to destroy [undo, overthrow] the law OR THE PROPHETS, but to fulfill [them accordingly]. LIKEWISE, EVERYTHING in the law, down to the most minute detail, will be accomplished as foretold before the end of this world (age). No doubt, even after this much effort, many Sabbatarians will still refuse to see this passage in this light. I suppose what this really means is that they do not believe God will accomplish all things according to his plan – He's too busy trying to fill up to the full a law right up to the end of the world. Mt. 5:19 and “these” commandments. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. One would assume that, if Jesus were referring to the ten commandments, or any commandments in the law, he would have said “the” commandments. Here, he speaks of “these” commandments, but did not specifically address any particular commandments leading up to this point. However, he does address specific commandments from this point. He addresses his commandments to his followers, and in doing so, actually alters commandments found in the law way beyond jots and tittles. The law allowed a man to divorce his wife for a variety of petty reasons. All one had to do was give the wife a bill of divorce. Jesus declares that this is wrong; it was not so in the beginning, and that anyone who marries a divorced woman under these circumstances, other than cases of sexual immorality, commits adultery. (See Mt. 19) If this was all about the law not being altered down to jots and tittles, Jesus just contradicted himself on a grand scale. The law talks about performing one’s oaths to God, yet Jesus commands people not to swear at all. The law commanded a tooth for a tooth; stripe for stripe, etc. but Jesus declares to behave in just the opposite manner. The main point that comes out in context here is found in Mt. 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. The righteousness the scribes and Pharisees had was the righteousness found in the law. It comes out in the rest of Scripture following the gospels that a Christian’s righteousness is not found in the law, but in Christ Himself. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. — Galatians 2:21 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: — Philippians 3:9 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. — Romans 9:30-32 “These” commandments are the commandments Jesus talks about from that point forward: He is not talking about “the law and the prophets” as previously addressed in verses 17 and 18. If however we take this understanding of Matthew 5:19 to be the commandments found in the law, we are also forced to agree that if one does not practice circumcision, and does not teach circumcision, whether it is the least commandment or not, that one will be in the kingdom of God, but in a diminished status. One needs to ask the Sabbatarain legalist how one can be lawless in the first place yet still end up in the kingdom of God, seeing as there are Scriptures that say such people will not be in the kingdom of God. This also brings about an interesting conclusion. The apostle Paul did not teach circumcision. In fact, he taught the very opposite. He taught Gentiles not to be circumcised, and that if they did, they had fallen from grace. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. — Galatians 5:2-4 Paul, who took the gospel to the then known world, did not teach circumcision, and even commanded against it, contrary to the law. He was stoned; shipwrecked, beaten, and finally killed because of the faith he preached. But he will be among the least in the kingdom of God if we accept the view that Jesus in verse 19 was talking about the commandments in the law. Likewise those that today teach tithing, do so by altering the law way beyond jots and tittles. In the law, tithes were assessed on the increase of produce and livestock, some of which was given to the *Levites. Now, the teachers of the law insist tithes be assessed on wages, contrary to the law, and that the tithes be paid to them; also contrary to the law. This law that is claimed not to be altered even down to the stroke of a letter of the law, has been corrupted so that a man should tithe on his wages, and not as the law commands. The law commands tithes of the increase of one’s produce and livestock, and that it not be paid to a minister of Jesus Christ, but to the Levites. These who teach tithing have altered much more than jots and tittles, and taught men to do so likewise. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. — Luke 16:16-17 Either you see that Matthew 5:17-19 is talking about prophesies and that they were fulfilled without fail, or you stand condemned by your own beliefs.
  1. The literal rendering of the Greek does not support the conclusion the fault rested solely with the people. The literal Greek says, “For finding fault, He says to them...”
  2. The counter-example regarding the first covenant being faultless: In Matthew 19:7-8: They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. The old covenant allowed an easy divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. This concession of the law demonstrates it was not a perfect law or covenant. Those who hold to the old covenant being perfect, eternal, etc. fail to subject their claims to critical analysis in this regard. The Sermon on the Mount evidence also brings this out where Jesus points out where the law; the first covenant was lacking. The pattern is one of Jesus declaring, “the law said thus, but I say unto you this”. In the attempt to claim the fault lay with the people, the Sabbatarian overlooks the previous verse: For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.— Hebrews 8:7 To sum up this proof then: The Sabbath, along with the rest of the law is not applicable to Christians because Christians were never a party to that covenant; neither do they become Israelites in order to become Christians. Christians are bound directly to Christ, and not to Christ via the law and the Sabbath. — (Romans 7:4) When one claims Christians are to keep the Sabbath, they unwittingly declare God to be a liar, seeing as they claim Christians are a party to the covenant command when they are not. Some will claim it is the law that defines sin for Christians, citing I John 3:4, however this will be addressed in the “Refutation of Sabbath Proofs” section. Proof #2: The Sabbath command can only work from one geographical location. There are locations on the earth, such as the polar regions, where there is no consistent setting and rising of the sun approximately every 24 hours. In these areas, it is impossible to have the Sabbath be applicable, unless one insists people “rest” for several months while not working. Another problem arises when you try to determine when the Sabbath day begins and ends based upon one’s location in relation to Israel. If one travels east from Israel to the United States, then one would be keeping the Sabbath on what is Friday. If one travels west from Israel to the United States, then they would be keeping the Sabbath on Saturday. Different Sabbatarian groups have addressed the issue by making their own determinations of when to keep the Sabbath, despite the biblical instructions regarding sunsets being the determining factor. Some even go so far as to insist the Sabbath is to be kept when the Sabbath is occurring in Israel, despite one’s location. This then becomes a case of keeping the Sabbath through consensus and not by command. I would point out here that there is convincing evidence that days did not originally begin at sunset, but that this was a later construct of post-exilic Rabbis. Regardless, the “day” still shifts to a day earlier for one traveling east instead of west from Israel when traveling to the new world. The problem becomes even more severe if one circumnavigates the earth more than one time in any one direction. Travel around the earth twice, ending up back in Israel, one would be keeping the Sabbath two days off from when everyone else is keeping the Sabbath. This particular problem is rarely addressed by Sabbatarian groups, mainly because they do not wish to cover a problem that has the potential of people examining their beliefs in a critical manner. Their power and control is based upon people’s blind faith in their leadership. To cover a subject in a manner that requires people to think in order to understand is counter-productive. Proof #3: Christians are not bound to the letter of the law, but to the spirit only. Christians are “dead” to the law. Most all Sabbatarian groups understand they are not bound to the letter of the law when it comes to circumcision and sacrifices. In a manner never explained though, this concept is not carried over to the Sabbath command, even though the evidence to the contrary is extant. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. — Romans 7:6 Sabbatarians create all kinds of constructs in order to circumvent plain statements in scripture such as this. A common practice is to insert the word “only” between “not” and “in” so as to make it read: But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not only in the oldness of the letter. The justification for doing this is through the use of circular reasoning: They believe first and foremost that the Sabbath IS required of Christians, therefore the scriptures are interpreted to comply with this presumption. Therefore this passage requires “modification” seeing as the translation is “misleading” due to how languages change over time, the “true” meaning having been lost or misconstrued. But there is no such loss over time or through translation, and the context only supports the rendering as it stands. The apostle Paul begins in chapter 7 with an analogy in order to understand how and why the law (which includes the Sabbath command) does not apply to Christians. The analogy is the law or covenant of marriage. As long as two married people are alive, they are bound in marriage. As soon as one dies, neither is held as under the marriage covenant. The survivor is free to remarry, for example. Paul then explains where he is going with this; Christians are no longer bound to the law because they “died” to the law. They, if they were Jews (or Israelites for that matter) are no longer answerable to the first covenant seeing as they had died. One who has died cannot be held to a previous contract or covenant. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. — Romans 7:4 What the Sabbatarian cannot understand here in Romans chapter 7 is that a Christian becomes “dead” to the law in order to now be “bound” or married to Christ, in order to bring forth fruit unto God. When one is bound to the law, the fruit produced is a fruit that results in death. By insisting on adherence to the law, even the Sabbath, is to claim Christians are married to both the law and to Christ— an impossibility. One can only be bound to one or the other; not both. This would be a case of spiritual adultery and spiritual idolatry. A Christian can only be bound to one: Christ. If one claiming to be Christian believes they are bound to the law, they make the de-facto declaration that they have to keep the law (and the Sabbath) for the sake of their salvation, which is in contrast to the declaration of Jesus and the apostles that it is through faith in Him and only Him we have our salvation. A Christian’s salvation is not dependent on both Jesus and the law— spiritual idolatry. The law cannot save anyone. The law could only condemn. Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. — Romans 4:15 Proof #4: Requiring Christians to keep the Sabbath is to subordinate faith with the physical. Faith becomes negated. Faith is rejected in favor of the letter of the law, which Paul declares, “The law is not of faith...” — Galatians 3:12 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. —Galatians 5:4 The Sabbatarian rejects this concept, claiming that he does not keep the Sabbath for the sake of justification. He will claim that he is saved because of grace and not the law concerning the Sabbath. But the Sabbatarian is just arguing semantics. He believes he must keep the Sabbath in order to maintain his justification. If one believes they must keep the law to not sin, then it is a prima-facia admission regarding justification through law. No one will be justified through the law: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. — Acts 13:39 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. — Romans 3:20 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. — Romans 3:28 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. — Galatians 2:16 These last three scriptures make an important point, easily overlooked: it is the “deeds” or “works” of the law wherein lies the problem. The Sabbatarian attempts to blur the deeds of the law with the entirety of the law in order to make a case for those who do not believe they have to keep the Sabbath as advocating lawlessness or anarchy. The deeds/works of the law are those points of the law that require action on the part of the one under the law: Sabbath keeping, circumcision, sacrifices, for example. Other points of the law require no action, such as “you shall not murder”. No action is required in order to comply. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. — Galatians 3:11 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. — Galatians 3:24-25 Living by faith is to live in the belief of Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The law requires no faith to comply with it. Complying with a law does not prove one to be a good person. It only demonstrates the person has not broken the law. It imparts no righteousness or justification at all. For example: If the speed limit law is 55 and you never go over 55, the state isn’t going to congratulate you and present you with some reward at the end of your life for never exceeding the speed limit. You did that which was required of you. Those that think keeping a “work” of the law such as the Sabbath believe there is some reward for doing this, when in actuality they set themselves up for condemnation should they ever transgress it, seeing as they have decided to live by the law and not according to faith in and of Christ. To sum this up. If one has faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, but another comes along and declares they must keep the law in order to be saved; or “maintain” their salvation, this makes the declaration that faith is insufficient in and of itself. God’s Spirit within a man is an insufficient guide; faith is not enough. Faith becomes subordinated to something physical, in this case the Sabbath. Proof #5: The Proof of the Gospel. The statements in the scriptures regarding salvation being solely dependent upon faith in and the faith of Jesus. No statements exist that make the declaration of the works of the law affecting one’s salvation, such as adherence to the Sabbath command. To insist people keep the sabbath is to preach a false gospel, and falsify the true Gospel. There exists comprehensive evidence to support this claim. Psalms 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalms 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. Psalms 78:22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins... Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Ephesians 1:10-14: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; The Sabbatarian, as a matter of habit, would conclude here that to obey Him is to keep the commandments. Yet Jesus’ commands to His apostles and those who became Christians does not support this assumption. Jesus’ commands were not the law; were not the ten commandments. It is an assumption without supporting evidence. 1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. By what method could the devil take this word out of someone’s heart? By convincing the hearer it is not true. How can the devil convince one the gospel is not true? By convincing the one that other things are necessary and required for salvation. All the devil need do is divide the one’s attention between belief and something else, such as the law or the Sabbath, and the devil has succeeded. Divide and conquer is a great truism. Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 11:14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. This is from the narrative concerning the conversion of Cornelius and his household. The words they heard led to their salvation, along with the earnest which was receiving the Holy Spirit. They were told that it is Jesus Christ in whom we have our salvation to those who believe (have faith) in Him. Cornelius’ was given God’s Spirit without the requirement of the law; any of it. Sabbatarians assume he did keep the law and the Sabbath (seeing as they believe this first and foremost, therefore everything must comply with their pre-conceived assumptions) but it is utterly impossible. Cornelius was a high ranking official in the Roman army. He would have been “on call” 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day, every year. Later, Peter and Paul explain to the rest of the church the receipt of the Holy Spirit by Gentiles who were not and did not keep the law. If they were keeping the law already, as Sabbatarians insist, then the debates that followed would not have occurred. Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Did Luke accidently omit law keeping or Sabbath keeping? No. Luke was writing those things that were of importance to the early church. He was not being careless. Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. If ever there was a subject with sufficient scriptural support, this is it; that it is belief only in Jesus as the Savior that results in one’s salvation. Why then do so many believe there is more to it than belief/faith? It’s too easy for them. It defies their sense of “logic” in that they cannot perceive how one can attain salvation without adherence to the law. They conclude, erroneously, that Christians “can’t be trusted to behave on their own” therefore they need the law to guide their lives, and not faith in Jesus Christ to guide their lives. Their ego’s demand there be action on their part so that they can boast to themselves and others that it was by their good “works” or behavior that led to their salvation, and not only faith in Jesus Christ. Sabbatarians brag in the Sabbath. “We keep God’s Sabbath and you do not. We are God’s chosen people and you are not. You are false Christians. Your faith in God’s Christ Jesus is nothing because you don’t keep the Sabbath.” It not only is a point of bragging, but a condemnation to others, claiming one’s faith in Jesus as Savior is not valid because they do not keep the Sabbath, or other points of law. Faith is subordinated to law keeping. Can the spiritual truly be subordinated to the physical? Absolutely not. The physical can only be subordinated to the spiritual. Concerning this brag or boast in the Sabbath: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Romans 3:27 There is no boasting in the law, such as the Sabbath, because one’s righteousness and salvation are not dependent upon the law. It is dependent upon faith and faith only. The law, and the Sabbath, have no bearing because it is not relevant to faith in Christ. The whole point of Acts 15 was whether Gentiles had to be circumcised AND keep the law of Moses, which includes the Sabbath command. It was adequately concluded they did not need to do these things; they were sanctified by faith. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. — Acts 15:7-10 The Sabbatarian insists on putting Sinai before the exodus from Egypt. Israel received their “salvation” by being removed from Egypt. The law came later. The common denominator is faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. In no scripture do we find a formula that it is faith AND the keeping of the Sabbath or any of the law that results in salvation. To the contrary, the examples in Acts 11 regarding the conversion of Cornelius and his household and Acts 15 demonstrate their receiving of God’s Spirit was without the requirement to keep any of the law, let alone the Sabbath. Those who insisted on Gentiles keeping the law were viewed by the apostles in Acts 15 of subverting the souls of those Gentiles for making their claim. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: — Acts 15:24 The practice of insisting the law affects one’s salvation is to add law keeping to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a deception, to add to the Gospel. Yet many have done just this, beginning with the apostolic era. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galatians — 3:1-3 The law dealt with “the flesh”. The Spirit deals with the spiritual. The truth has to do with faith only. To add the law is to not obey the truth; it demonstrates a lack of faith which is no faith at all. Some Sabbatarians go so far as to redefine faith as being impossible without keeping the law; that faith without this “obedience” is not faith; that faith leads to obedience. Yet the passages of scripture just cited show that faith is belief from the heart; not faith based in action. Proof #6: The other party to the first covenant, the LORD (who later became Jesus) died, thus ending that covenant. Sabbatarians have always been quick to point out that it was Jesus Christ who was the God of the Old Testament, using this as an argument (proof) for Christians keeping the law and Sabbath: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. — 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 What this understanding does though is force another conclusion. Jesus died on the cross, therefore, as in any contract or covenant between two parties, the death of either party ends a covenant, such as the marriage covenant example brought out by the apostle Paul in Romans chapter 7. So even though there may well be Israelites alive throughout the world, it is irrelevant regarding this covenant. The one party of the covenant, now known as Jesus the Christ, who was the God of Israel, died. It is interesting to note that in the prophets of Israel, God was depicted as a husband to Israel: For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. — Isaiah 54:5 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD. — Jeremiah 3:20 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: — Jeremiah 31:32 The Sabbatarian claims Christians are bound to the law and the Sabbath. To word it another way, the Sabbatarian believes Christians are bound to the conditions of a “marriage covenant” where the mate has died. In the narrative where some religious leaders (who did not believe in the resurrection) ask Jesus a question about a woman who marries several brothers who each died in turn, then inquire as to which one she is married to in the resurrection; Jesus declares first that they erred, not knowing the scriptures, and that, after the resurrection, one was still no longer bound to a prior mate, but rather in that spiritual realm, there is no such thing as marriage in that regard.

In the same manner, the Sabbatarian does not know the scriptures either, for they believe Christians are bound to the “old” husband Israel was bound to; the husband who died. God would now be viewed as being adulterous otherwise, as his bride is now the church, and not Israel. Proof #7: New Testament Evidence. There is no command within the confines of the New Testament enjoining the Sabbath on Christians. Sabbatarians present what is called an “argument through silence”: The belief that, seeing as there was a debate over circumcision, there would have been a debate just as evident over the Sabbath if the Sabbath were brought into question. First of all, this line of rationale lacks rationale. Proof through silence is no proof at all. On the contrary, the New Testament scriptures do address the issue of the Sabbath, and the way the issue of the Sabbath is discussed does not sit favorably with the Sabbatarian. This condition then of believing there is a proof or evidence through silence is not surprising when you consider that spiritual blindness and deafness is a trademark of those who cannot accept the truth of a matter. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. — Colossians 2:16-17 Even Sabbatarians have admitted that the sabbath days mentioned here refer to the weekly sabbath, seeing as the pattern here is similar to other usages in this regard: holyday(s) which are annual, new moons, which refer to monthly, and sabbath days referring to weekly. These things listed above are regarded as shadows, and even the Sabbatarian understands Christians are not required to participate in shadows of the reality which is Jesus Christ. The loophole they believe they have found here is in the phrase, “a shadow of things to come.” In believing the sabbath day to be a shadow “of things to come” the argument is made that the sabbath is not yet a shadow that has seen its fulfillment in Christ. This idea ignores the whole concept of what the sabbath was. It was designed to not only look back as a memorial of creation and the liberation of Israel out of bondage, but to also look forward, not only to Christ, but the rest found in Him and the eventual liberation of all mankind. Some of this is yet to come. Christ’s sacrifice, of which the Old Testament sacrifices were a shadow of, extends out to all of mankind, past, present, and future. If we accept the argument put forth above regarding the sabbath, then we would have to be forced to accept the same argument relating to sacrifices. One needs to understand what a shadow is. It is a reflection without substance. It is dimensionally lacking. It is an “image” of something else which does have substance and is real; solid; of substance. A shadow has no substance. What then has substance, seeing as the Sabbath is but a shadow? Jesus Christ. So there is an option here; choose the shadow lacking reality and substance, or choose Christ who has substance and is the reality. But all too many think they can choose both. But to choose the shadow is to choose a crutch whereas to walk in the spirit through faith is to truly walk. Another thing here that the Sabbatarian cannot accept is actually quite obvious, if one is but willing to entertain the possibility. If the Sabbath and other points of the law were not enjoined on Gentile Christians, and the conference in Acts 15 only supports this, then you can imagine that then, even as today, there would be those that would insist Gentile Christians should keep the sabbath and other points of law, such as food and drink regulations, tithing, etc. The whole purpose of the counsel of Acts 15 was whether Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, wherein lies the sabbath command. The conclusion of the counsel was no, they did not. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: — Acts 15:24 The self-imposed blindness of the Sabbatarian sees only the circumcision argument here, and not the rest of the law, especially the sabbath command. It was self appointed Jews that went around behind Paul’s back, telling Gentile converts they had to keep the law, hence what Paul wrote to the Galatians, calling them foolish. They were sanctified through their faith; they received the Spirit of God because of their faith, law keeping had nothing to do with it. There was nothing to be gained by keeping the law. On the contrary, they put their faith in jeopardy because of it. Another relevant scripture regarding the sabbath is found in Hebrews 3 and 4, where two sabbaths are discussed; the weekly, physical sabbath, which sabbath Israel partook of, and the spiritual sabbath that they could not enter because of their unbelief. This is the sabbath Christians enter into. This is the sabbath that they could not enter into because of their lack of faith; the faith Christians are to have that is not reliant on the law. Christ is our sabbath, and as such, we would no longer find it necessary to partake of the shadow when we have the reality, Jesus Christ. One day above another: One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. —Romans14:5-6 The Sabbatarian would have us believe Paul is not referring to Sabbaths. In other words, Paul wasn’t smart enough to realize that people might construe he WAS talking about Sabbaths and holy days. Critical thinking would have us ask not only would Paul have overlooked this, which is highly unlikely, but that this does indeed support the evidence that Christians were not required to observe Sabbaths. To conclude otherwise is to conclude Paul did make a mistake here. If the Sabbath were indeed required, then we would have expected Paul to have addressed this so that people would not misconstrue the Sabbath issue. But it is not addressed, and Paul does talk about those who esteem a day, so besides the Sabbath, what day would Christians possibly be esteeming above the rest? Proof # 8: The Sabbath was a sign between God and Israel. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: — Exodus 31:17 It was a sign to set them apart from the rest of the nations; all other people. If all people are to keep the Sabbath, then it could not possibly be a sign between God and Israel. When reading the scriptures, one needs to keep in mind that the covenants relate to Israel, and that Gentiles in the N.T. era are seen as having been grafted in during this era of Grace and Faith. Gentiles are pictured as being called now; this time of the Gentiles, in order to make Israel jealous. Their circumcision is not a physical one, but a spiritual one; a circumcision not made with hands. The physical was a type of the spiritual, just as the Sabbath is a type of the spiritual. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. — Romans 10:19-21 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. — Romans 11:11 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. — Romans 9:30-33 The Gentiles, who did not have the law, achieved what the Jews could not do with the law; righteousness without law; righteousness based on faith; not law. Righteousness based upon that “stumblingblock” Jesus Christ, who said salvation was found in Him, and not the law. The Jews couldn’t comprehend salvation and righteousness apart from the law. The same holds true for many today.

The Bible and Public Schools (Patsy Spence)

To What Extent And In What Ways Can The Bible Be Taught In the Public Schools of America Without Infringing On the Separation of Church And State?

Patsy A. Spence

 

East Carolina University – Greenville, NC

 

June 12, 2002

 

 

To What Extent And In What Ways Can The Bible Be Taught In the Public Schools of America Without Infringing On the Separation of Church And State?

 

  1. Introduction

The purpose for writing this article entitled “To What Extent and In What Ways Can the Bible Be Taught In the Public Schools of America Without Infringing on the Separation of Church and State,” is to up-date the general public on what is and is not okay in the instruction of Bible in the public schools of America at the present time. It is a topic that many people are interested in all across the United States and around the world.   This interest crosses cultural, socio-economic and age gaps as well as religious and secular arenas. It shrouds both political and religious interests and concerns.  Since the Supreme Court decisions of 1962 and 1963 involving the cases of Engel v. Vitale and Abington School District v. Schemp, the court decisions ruled that prayer and Bible readings were unconstitutional, the majority of the American public has been hoodwinked to believe that nothing should be said or done in regard to God and the Bible in the public schools of America.  Since the sixties there have been many questions about the legality of studying the Bible and its contents in the public schools of America.  In fact a number of the Justices of the Supreme Court had some very positive things to state concerning the use of the Bible as a teaching tool in the public schools of America. It is interesting to note that one of the main texts used in the earlier public schools of America was the Bible. It was used as a primary reader for learning to read as well as to spell. Its contents were respected and used to teach what was considered morally and ethically sound in society.  Recently, a variety of court decisions have been made in several states that support the idea of the teaching of the Bible as a both an elective literature and history in the high school settings of America. This paper will discuss recent court decisions as well as ways that the Bible can be taught in the public schools of America today without infringing on the separation of church and state.      

 

  1. Significance of the Research

The significance of the research is far reaching. It helps to link the culture of much of our western literature with a plume line that has been a basis from which it has drawn a rich supply of its originality. Many old adages such as “Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel,” and “Am I my brother’s keeper?” and “Be a good Samaritan,” originate from the Bible. Without some knowledge of the Bible, many students are going to be left in the dark with a missing link that bridges the gap to such significant studies as John Milton’s Paradise Lost as well as Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Even as current as December 24, 2001, U.S. News & World Report news magazine featured an article that focused on Biblical events such as Moses and the release of the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage and Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. A person would have to have some understanding of Biblical knowledge to read the article from an intellectual standpoint. In order to know some of the correct answers on college entrance exams and graduate tests such as the SAT and MAT, a student must have some understanding of Bible either as a literature or history. It’s shameful that we expect such understanding from students and we do not provide for them opportunities to learn the material in their educational pursuits as they go through the stairway of learning from pre-school to twelfth grade in the public school setting.  Many students in today’s society are un-churched and although this may be a matter of choice by parents for their offspring, education in the western world has a rich heritage that has been gleaned from the Bible and has it roots in much of American history and literature. We must recall to remembrance that many of the great universities such as Harvard and Yale got their start as Christian Universities and their main text was the Bible. According to the web site, Schools in America, 187 of the first colleges in America were Christian as well as Bible teaching institutions. In its early days Harvard University required a strong knowledge of the Bible before students were accepted. The Puritans started it. Other universities that got their start from Christian origins were Yale, 1701, Princeton, 1746, Dartmouth, 1754 and William and Mary. Many benevolent institutions of our day such as The Salvation Army, The Red Cross and Samaritan’s purse have all gotten their start from people who believed in the contents of Bible. So, we have a rich religious heritage in America that has become politically shrouded by the bureaucracy of Supreme Court rulings that have been incorrectly interpreted by the public. In the process of this litigation the public schools of America have provided this country’s educational system with a missing link that must be recovered.  It is the hope of the author of this research that the missing link can once again be taught and found in the public schools of America!

 

  1. Context of the Study

This study takes place in the spring of 2002 at North Johnston High School in Johnston County Public School District and is located in rural eastern North Carolina. It is one of three known public school districts in North Carolina to offer Bible as an elective. The other two districts are Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Lenoir counties. The Johnston County School Board approved the teaching of the Bible in Johnston County in the spring of 1995.  Initially, approved to be taught as an elective history course and is presently offered as a history or literature course in its 2002/2003 high school course descriptions brochure.  As a literature it is taught for its literary value and as a history it is taught for its historical impact on history, law, the American community life, and culture.

North Johnston is comprised of several ethnic groups of students including, Caucasians, African Americans, and Hispanics with the majority of approximately 70% being Caucasian. The schools population comprises approximately 630 students. It has been recognized as an “Exemplary School” for the past four years and possibly a “School of Distinction” for the past year.

The students involved in the study have taken Bible as an elective English

course that will be a partial fulfillment of the need of five English classes needed for graduation. The semester included three sections of Bible As A Literature being taught in ninety-minute segments three times per day that calculates into total of fifteen sections of ninety-minute classes per week.  It should be noted that there are other elective English courses available such as Journalism, Yearbook and Essentials In English that can be taken instead of the elective Bible course. There were approximately eighty students taking the course for the Spring 2002 semester. It was a very popular course and at the beginning of the semester there were only two dropping the course and seven students adding the course to their schedules early in the semester.

  1. Site and Sample Selections

Clark (1997) says, “When we are members of a learning community, we are free to express ourselves in whatever modes we choose, knowing that the community is enriched by our presence.” Clark also questions how a century ago men on the western frontier carried dog-eared Bibles and other classics, taught themselves to read and became contributing members of society as teachers, ministers, lawyers and politicians and yet today with our sophisticated schools, kids are being robbed of their birthright to learn. Is it because American schools have been robbed of true wisdom and understanding of how to exist harmoniously in a world of diversity? The subject matter seems to suggest that this is the case. With this rationale stated – the relevance of the Bible being taught to the students in the public schools of America is presented.  

The controversy of whether to teach the Bible and have prayer in the

                  public schools of America is certainly not a current issue by any stretch of

                 the imagination. There have been those in various arenas of both the

     religious and secular world that have questioned its legality and vehemently

   sought for its removal since the mid to late 1800s. However, the Supreme Court         

 

decisions that stand out most in the public’s mind of today are the decisions made in 1962 and 1963 that banned prayer and Bible reading in the public schools of America.

In 1962, in the case of Engel v. Vitale, the New York School Board of Education had adopted what was known as the Regents’ prayer. It was a twenty-two-word prayer that stated the following words:

“Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country.”

 

Ten parents objected to it being read over the school’s public address system and took the matter all the way to the United States Supreme Court.  At the conclusion of the case, Justice Black wrote the decision that held to the idea that the Regents’ prayer was unconstitutional because it went against the establishment clause of promoting one religion over another and therefore was considered an infringement against religious freedom.

The very next year another case came before the Supreme Court Justices in 1963 in the case of Abington School District v. Schempp. This time a Pennsylvania statute that required that the school day begin with ten verses of scripture being read from the Bible on the school’s intercom system. This was also voted unconstitutional by the High Court because it precluded that the reading was of a devotional nature and not for any literary or historical purpose in its requirement. However, the Supreme Court further stated  in the Abington vs. Schempp that:

“It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as a part of a secular (public school) program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.”

 

In yet another case known as the Nyquist Case, the Supreme Court outlines clearly that the First Amendment does not forbid all mention of religion in public schools but rather the advancement or inhibition of religion that is prohibited.

It is also interesting to note that the Supreme Court also states in regard to the Schemmp case “one’s education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization.” According to Simonds (1996) when looked at from this standpoint it must be stated that from a historical context, religion and the Bible are inseparable from the history of man and government.

The Florey decision stated that it “would literally be impossible to develop a public-school curriculum that did not in some way affect the religious or non-religious sensibilities of some of the students and their parents.” Simonds (1996).

A study of religion and the Bible are valuable components of the study of our history and the development of civilization offer much toward attaining a world-class education. Sigmonds (1996).

 It appears that most school systems along with superintendents and principals and teachers got on the same bandwagon after the 1962 and 1963 rulings on prayer and Bible reading in the schools of America. Often times when something was mentioned concerning God, the Bible and prayer, educators have turned a deaf ear to legitimate and timely questions that young minds have concerning their American roots and cultural heritage.

   Clark (1997) states “If everything is connected to everything else, then each individual makes a difference because everything one does affects everything else.”   The fact that there have been so many contributions made to our society through the Bible cannot be denied. But, to deny the students in the public schools of America this opportunity to learn about these important contributions is to close a door of complete understanding to their minds as they seek to identify their roles in our society. This door must be opened and walked through if we are to produce a literate society of thinkers that will carry us through the coming years.  Clark  (1997) says that the events of the world never occur in a vacuum but in a cultural context consisting of a complex network of social, economic, political, and ecological influences and relationships. Students need encouragement from their teachers to think and ask questions as it relates to their world and the larger world in which they live.  Hollins (1996) suggests that knowledge about culture should include the history, beliefs, customs, traditions, values, and accomplishments of a particular group and how others have benefited from those experiences. What better way to connect the present with the past than to share the great historical values from than the Bible as it relates to our present time frame? According to Erik Erickson people go through a time of identity vs. role crises at the fifth stage of personal and social development occurs at age 12 to 18 years of age. They form relationships with peer groups and models of leadership. They are trying to decide to be or not to be oneself as well as wanting to share oneself. How important it is for this age to have some understanding as to the framework of how he emerges from the past to the present. In this framework teachers should experience the “teachable moment” more often so that the students’ interest can be captivated for an “a ha” event.  This will lead them into thinking about subjects connectively.  This will also give the student a sense of ownership and responsibility in a relevant world instead of being a passive member of the world’s ranks. The student will then become an active experimenting member making discoveries of value to share with others. Students must be prepared to think and become equipped to face the challenges of a new day on the horizon. As educators, we cannot afford to not tell them the whole story as it relates to mankind and the Bible and allow them to decide for themselves the course that they will take on the stage of life. As educators, we have a responsibility to help students find their places in the world in which they live. It‘s like unto a quote from Shakespeare who said, “All the world ‘s a stage and all men and women are merely players.” So the world is a stage and the actors come and go, but they study and learn and leave behind their ideologies and offspring that will once again repeat the cycle of life and death to those who live in generations to come. So, the teacher and the students take on the roll as actors and actresses on the stage of life.  The students and the teacher can become an integral part of laying the foundation for students to understand the heritage and culture of the country and world in which they reside. It is only as teachers help student to take a true and complete glimpse of the past that we can prepare them to walk confidently into the future of many unknowns. However, it has been stated that if we would learn from the past, we would not make so many mistakes in the present.  Just as we can learn from the classic writers of the past such as John Donne and his famous quote that states, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent a part of the main.” We can also share with students beautiful and important literary and historical values from the Bible that will help students find the missing link of learning that will connect the past to the present and lead to a future that has more clarity and meaning. In this context, the world is a stage that has a bridge connected to the past; the actors are in place to become recipients or contributors to the world of the future and wonders that are relevant to everyday life. No child need be left behind as an island, alone and forgotten. Because each child deserves a chance to know and learn about the wonders and the marvels that are taught from the Bible and what better way to convey its contents than through the public schools of America. Each student will be able to play a vital part in the drama of real life as he is completely connected to his past by learning what the Bible has to teach from a historical viewpoint.

Technologically we are now only one click away from any part of the world by the Internet. Students in North Carolina can easily connect to other places on the globe such as China, Australia, Venezuela, Russia, France, England or next door with just one click of the computer mouse. Wow, mouse! A mouse is something people used to run out of their homes with a scream and now they hold it in the palm of their hand! Talking about diversity and differences, but this is a new concept that our forefathers never even thought about. So the world has truly become smaller because of computers and students need to know how to use this educational tool to a worthy advantage. Going back to Donne’s concept of no man being an island, educators can no longer be islands separated from the rest of the world, but must launch out into the depth of new knowledge and concepts that are constantly changing in a diverse world.  Just as Alfred Wagener suggested the concept of Pangaea, the earth being one whole landmass that eventually drifted into the continents as seen on maps today, educators must recognize that technologically the world is being pulled together by this force called the Internet. So, at this juncture we are no longer drifting apart in a world of diversity but being pulled together by this force that we called, “the Internet.”  This tool should be shared to the advantage of learning worthwhile educational concepts with our fellowman and gaining new thoughts worthy of learning from our brothers and sisters in far off lands who have been brought near through technology. What does this all mean? It means we are our brother’s keeper and although other peoples and lands may differ from us, we have a moral responsibility to reach out and share with other people. Suppose for example that certain scientific inventions that were made in China such as the printing press, etc. had never been shared with Europe… Would Germany’s Gutenberg have developed the printing press in Europe in 1456?  What of the first book printed off that press, the Bible? Most students don’t know that the Bible has been the number one best seller since it first came off the Gutenberg press. Every year it continues to be the most bought and desired book around the world. What if Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone had never been shared with the world or Thomas Edison’s light bulb?  Where would man be today without these inventions? Certainly not connected with the world with today’s technological advances. But this idea of diversity goes much deeper than this. In the writing Of the most Excellent Men, Montaigne likened the world to a noble farce, wherein, republics, and emperors have for so many ages played their parts, and to which the whole vast universe serves for a theatre. Thomas Heywood, in Apology for Actors, 1612 said that “The world’s a theatre, the earth a stage, which God and Nature do with actors fill.” But, the world is more than just a ridiculous joke filled with actors, it’s a real place with real people, many hurting and lonely and God has truly placed mankind on earth not just to serve himself but others. He has placed curiosity and a thirst for discovery and learning within the heart of man. It’s okay to want to try to satisfy that thirst for knowledge but, when educators and students try to fill this void inside without acknowledging God and His purpose in their lives they will always come up empty. Karl Marx, the writer of the Communist Manifesto, has influenced so many people in the modern world, with communistic ideas about making everyone equal. If all inhabitants of the world were truly equal and there was no diversity in which to deal with, then there would be no males or females or black, white, yellow or red races, everyone would be like robots with no personality or emotions. There would be no cultural shocks from one culture to another for it would all be one culture. The world would be just one huge “Duh”! The reality is that God made the world and the inhabitants therein and not one human being is like another. Each person has his own set of personal fingerprints and that fact cannot be changed. We are different! Diversity, differences… Humans are alike, but different and humankind is in the world and must learn to deal with one another and respect one another from the viewpoint of cultures, race, religion and educational status, but not to the point that truth and reason are sacrificed. It has been said that reason can go so far, but faith has no limits. Perhaps in the midst of so-called educators whitewashing the minds of students with reason, faith has been thrown out much like someone throwing out the baby rather than the bath water.  Maybe that’s the problem in education. So called professionals try to reason everything out and many times forget that humans have a spiritual side that if neglected can cause such awful tragedies as the holocaust of World War II in which one man by the name of Adolph Hitler became responsible for the annihilation of six million people because they were different, they were Jews.   Jesus Christ was a Jew, but oh how many lives He has touched and continues to touch in a positive way for the healing of mankind’s broken and lonely heart. When man runs from His touch, he ends up doing stupid things like Hitler whose life ended in the tragedy of suicide. In the book, Marx & Satan, Richard Wurmbrand discusses the sad account of the life of Karl Marx who at one time was brought up in a Christian home, and for some reason turned on his religious heritage. He tells of a man that had great promise for the world and mankind and yet those closest to him died empty and unfulfilling lives. Was Marx unwilling to accept diversity in the world? Why did he become a drunk? Why did his wife leave him time and time again and then return to a man that didn’t even care enough for his own wife to attend her funeral?  When one looks at the tragedy that has followed the leaders of Communistic countries such as the former Soviet Union, Romania, North Korea and China under the leaderships of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Nicolae Ceausescu, Kim Il-Sung and Mao Tse-Tung and the massacres of the innocent masses who died under their rule one cannot help but question the authenticity of such men and the parts they have acted out on the stage of life in the world. The sad thing is that when these men died, they left behind their ideologies that continue to oppress the world. Can today’s educators and students find meaning and purpose amid such a world of diversity? Many times to find answers we must look back into the past and what better way to do this than to look into the pages of the Bible. What better way to find meaning and purpose in life than to look at the patriarchs of the Old Testament such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob later renamed Israel and then his sons who each had to make concessions with the brother Joseph whom they sold into slavery. Its by looking at the lives of such men in the New Testament such as Paul, Peter, John and Jesus Christ that we can realize that if the search is made deep enough and honest enough, meaning and purpose can be found in life. For each one is a real actor or actress on the stage of life and must not be afraid to ask questions and seek answers. Educators must not turn a deaf ear to students who ask questions concerning God and creation. Governments near or far must not suppress teachers from giving true and straightforward answers to honest and noble questions.  There is a proverb that says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10. When people fail to realize this, the ship that carries them starts drifting off into foggy waters without a captain. The science of meteorology might suggest that there is an iceberg near that’s causing the fog. But, the mind has set sail on its own and will not be directed by a higher intelligence that sees the uncharted waters ahead. Time and time again man makes shipwreck on the icebergs of foolish ideologies and sadly few learn from the tragic mistakes of being adrift without a compass or guide.  

Life can be compared to a jigsaw puzzle with many pieces that must be fitted together to make it an entire picture. The pieces involve much diversity of color, shape and size. As individuals go through the process from infant to what some have deemed as the golden years of life there are many diverse circumstances and changes chaos that take place. Some things are wonderful and others not so wonderful. But they all come together to make one whole picture.  Through this process, man tries to fit pieces where they shouldn’t be. So the problems mount from diversity to chaos. But, alas, its too late to turn back the hands of the clock, the life has been lived…the poetry from John Donne begins to ring louder and clearer, “Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” The puzzle of life is no longer a heap of scattered pieces, for they are now joined to make a picture of beauty or tragedy.  What if the story of “Romeo and Juliet” had ended with the words, “and they married and lived happily ever after?” The diversity of irony and tragedy in the story would have ended quite differently. But, the writer, William Shakespeare, saw it from his viewpoint and so it was penned. Does that mean that it had to end this way, “no.” So, why teach Bible in the public schools of America? To make Bible taught from a literary and historical viewpoint relevant to students and help them realize that while they are going through the educational process that life has meaning and purpose and that they don’t have to deny God and pretend He’s not there just because they happen to be a student in the public schools of America and are somehow denied this constitutional right. They don’t have to remain behind a closed door that says, “Do not enter,” because the educational system of this country says you can’t discover what the Bible says and find out that there is a God out there that really cares about the existence of every man, woman, boy and girl.  There was a very wise man by the name of Solomon who once said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 & 14.

  1. Researcher’s Role in Management

The researcher’s role in this study has been a participant-observer.

                  She has implemented various strategies of teaching Bible as an elective  

                  literature course in a public school setting. Some of the strategies used have    

      included warm-ups activities, lecture, cooperative learning groups,

      independent studies, reading circles, poetry projects, research, technology,

     writing and art, student information analysis sheets were

                  conducted as well as parent surveys. Pre and post Bible knowledge tests were

given to assess student knowledge of the Bible early and later in the process of      

the semester course.

  1. Data Sources
    1. Student pre and post Bible knowledge tests

(The same test is used early in January and late May to test the knowledge of students in Bible knowledge)

 

      1. Student background information sheets

 

      1. Parent surveys

(Teacher made questionnaire for parents to respond to their thoughts on the teaching of Bible in the public schools of America)

        

      1. Selected student work samples

 

      1. Pictures of various student activities

 

      1. Assignments and grade sheets

 

      1. Student opinion essay questions

 

      1. Evidence incorporation of Bible across the curriculum

  1. Cross Walk

Questions&

Strategies

Tests

Pre& Post

Cooperative

Learning &

“Hands- On”

Activities

Progress

Reports

&

Grades

Student

Projects

Parent

Survey

How do the surveys sum up the results?

 

X

 

        X

 

X

 

X

 

X

To what extent and in what ways can the Bible be taught?  

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

X

 

How do students respond to Bible being taught as an elective course?

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

To what extent does Bible being taught add to the overall curriculum of a school?

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

 

  1. Managing and Recording Data

Data was collected by means of pre and post student tests, grade spreadsheets, teacher observations and parent surveys. Other data collected has been in the form of student work samples such as children’s books, poetry projects, outlines, activity sheets and traditional tests. Additionally, photography of students actively engaged in the learning of Bible in a variety of ways that encompasses across the curriculum learning activities have been taken for viewing.  Student opinion essay questions have been helpful in determining what students are thinking concerning the teaching of Bible as an elective literature course.

  1. Data Analysis Strategies

There are a variety of strategies to analyze in the culmination of this research project. First of all, there was the gathering of pre and post Bible knowledge tests for gathering information on what was known before and after taking the course.

Secondly, a review of information gathered from parent surveys that reveal the positions of parents on the teaching of the Bible in the public schools of America as well as in the local school system.

Thirdly, to look at strategies used in teaching the course that implemented across the curriculum teaching of Bible as an elective course.

Finally, observations of the instructor of student participation in classroom activities and taking into account the total school program in this observation.  

  1. Timeline
January 2002
    1. Pre Bible Tests
    2. Student information sheets
    3. Parent letters from the teacher
    4. Daily Warm-up activities
    5. Traditional Tests
    6. Student opinion essay questions for extra credit
    7. Cooperative Projects
    8. Individual Projects
    9. Alternative Assignments
    10. Discussions
    11. Videos
    12. Reading Circles
    13. Writing Activities
    14. Art Activities

 

February 2002

    1.  Daily Warm-up activities
    2.  Traditional Tests
    3.  Student opinion essay questions for extra credit
    4.  Alternative Assignments
    5.  Cooperative Projects
    6.  Individual Projects
    7.  Discussions
    8.  Group and individual reading assignments
    9.  Videos
    10.  Research and Technology incorporated

 

March 2002
  1. Daily Warm-up activities
  2. Traditional Tests
  3. Student opinion essay questions for extra credit

b.    Cooperative Projects

    1.  Individual Projects
    2.  Reading activities
    3.  Writing and art activities
    4.  Discussions
    5.  Videos

 

April 2002

    1.  Daily Warm-up activity
    2.  Traditional Tests
    3.  Student opinion essay questions for extra credit
    4.  Cooperative Projects
    5.  Individual Projects
    6.  Poetry Projects
    7.  Discussions
    8.  Videos

 

May 2002

    1.  Daily Warm-up activity
    2.  Post Bible knowledge Tests
    3.  Cooperative Projects
    4.  Individual Projects
    5.  Discussions
    6.  Parent Surveys
    7.  Bible Exam
    8.  Student response to the teaching of Bible in the public schools of America

 in the form of an essay extra credit question on the exam

 

  1. Findings

There were a variety of strategies analyzed in the culmination of this research project.

First of all, there were pre and post Bible knowledge tests that showed significant gains in learning from 4% to 55% increase on various questions asked. For instance, initially 96% knew how many books were in the Bible and after the course 100% knew that there are sixty-six books in the Bible. Only 25% knew that Acts is the book that describes the beginning of the church and on the post test 75% correctly answered this question.

Secondly, the parent surveys reveal that 96% of the 24 parents polled approved of the teaching of the Bible in the public schools of America and want it to continue in the local school system.

Thirdly, it is a course that was successfully implemented across the curriculum as indicated by the spreadsheet of student assignments. A variety of student work samples have been gathered for examination as evidence. A multiplicity of photographs were taken showing the students engaged in a variety of activities that included cooperative learning groups, writing, reading, oral presentations, and art, technology, discussions and student opinion essay questions.

Finally, observations by the instructor of student participation in classroom activities and examination of student responses to essay opinion questions indicated that the vast majority of the students enjoyed the course and were pleased that they were given the opportunity to study the Bible in a public school setting.

 

  1. Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bible can be taught in a variety of ways in the public schools of America without infringing on the separation of church and state. The vast majority of parents and students surveyed and tested were overwhelmingly in support of a Bible course being taught in the public schools of America and especially in the local school system. Parents made some positive comments on the surveys sent home. For instance, David’s mother commented, “David has really enjoyed this class.” Joey’s mom said, “I have seen a more positive attitude since Joey started this class and more desire to learn about the Bible. He even tries to apply things to his daily life.” The latter comment was truly a positive response for authenticating and applying learning in real life.

Dr. Mark L’Esperance, professor of education at East Carolina University suggests that one of the best ways to promote student learning is to develop a parent-action plan for the local school. If parents are supportive of the Bible being taught in the local public school system, then this is one of the most important proponents in having the Bible taught as a literature and history course.  This plan is important to the local school setting because it will directly involve parents in the education of their children.  Parent involvement in student education will serve as a catalyst to reinforce in the home what is being taught in the school.    

 The judicial court systems decisions in the 1960’s caused a missing link to occur in the educational systems of this country. Later rulings are beginning to swing back to the right in our judicial court decisions that are certainly a move in the right direction. We need this missing link of Bible teaching restored to the public schools of America so that the youth can pull together in their own minds how the past and present are related to the laws and customs of our great country called the “Land of the Free and the Brave.” Without this missing link we chart a course of learning into unknown murky waters of the future that cannot be linked to the present without a bridge of knowledge from the past.  Public schools in America must bridge the gap of learning by providing this missing link of who we are and where we have emerged. This can be done legally according to recent Supreme Court rulings as long as the state and local boards of education approve of it being taught as an elective in history and/or literature. The course must be taught to students that have parent approval and want to take it as an elective course in history or literature.

In essence, Bible can be taught as both literature and history courses in America without infringing on the separation of church and state. It can be taught in a variety of ways that will enhance the total school program.

Haynes & Thomas, (1998) make mention in their book, Finding Common Ground, that the Bible can be taught for its literary and historical values, but must not be taught from a devotional standpoint. Several states are mentioned which have school districts that have in place guidelines on teaching about the Bible for its literary and historical value, but not for indoctrination and conversion purposes. Among these listed with their guidelines were, Wicomico County Board of Education in Salisbury Maryland, Ramona Unified School District, Ramona, California, Des Moines Public School, Des Moines Iowa, and St. Louis Park Public Schools, Minneapolis Minnesota.

  As a literature, the Bible can be taught for its literary meaning and value. It can explore the various styles of writing, including the symbolic prose and poetry of the Old Testament and simple narrative of the New Testament. There can be an in-depth study of authors, characters, vocabulary, plot and literary techniques involved in the composition of the Bible. Students can research and discuss various ideas in both written and verbal forms. It can examine the basic content of the importance of the Bible as literature and the impact of the Bible on other works of literature.

 As a history, the Bible is can be studied in an effort to linking the present with the past beginning with a study of ancient Judaism through the development of the Christian church. Students can examine the history of Christianity in the United States and the impact its role has played in our culture. It can be taught as a survey course of both the Old and New Testaments. The basic content of the Bible course can demonstrate the importance of the Bible as an historical document that shows the impact of the Bible on history, law, American community life, and culture.

 This knowledge in effect can help students emerge as intellectual beings who will be better equipped to face the future as they gain a clearer understanding of the past through a study of Bible!                                                         References

Bible. King James Version.

Clark, Jr., E.T.  (1997).  Designing and implementing an integrated curriculum.  VT: Holistic Education Press.

 

Erickson, E. (1980). Erickson’s stages of personal and social development [Handout].

Haynes, C.C. & Oliver, T. (1998). Finding common ground: A first amendment guide to religion and public education. TN: The First Amendment Center.

 

Hollins, E.R. (1996). Culture in school learning, revealing the deep meaning.  NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.

 

Sheler, J.L. (2001). The fight for history.  U.S.news & world report,131, 38-46.

 

(1986).  The Rebirth of america.  Pa: The Arthur S. Demoss Foundation.

 

(2001).  Schools in america.  [On-line] Available: http://members/met/judith/america.html

 

Simonds, R.L. (1996). Teaching the bible in public schools? El Cajon, Ca: Institute for Creation Research. [On-line] Available http://icr.org/pubs/imp/imp-279.htm

 

Wurmbrand, R. (1990). Marx and satan.  IL: Crossway Books.

www.askjeeves.com

www.google.com

www.yahoo.com

   

 

 

 

Addendum Added on June 18 & 29, 2002 & Oct. 14, 2002

 

I think it is interesting to note that the three places that were so severely affected by the 9/ll/01 tragedies are also where approximately 40 years ago prayer and Bible reading were extracted from our public schools as a matter of devotion and reverence to Almighty God!

  Please note that the Supreme Court of the land made prayer unconstitutional from a case out of New York City Schools in 1962. In 1963 Bible reading was banned from a devotional standpoint from the public schools by a Supreme Court ruling that was in Pennsylvania.  Please note that the rulings took place at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.  (Is there a judgment correlation with 9-11-02?)

 

BBN Radio News reported on 92.5 FM the week of June 24, 2002 that 33 states are now teaching Bible as an elective high school history or literature class. Dade County, Florida was facing a lawsuit by the ACLU (The American Civil Liberties Union) because of the teaching. Be in prayer for this matter.

 

Also, this week an Atheist in California opposed his second grade daughter reciting  the pledge of allegiance because it says, “One nation under God.” A San Francisco federal appeals court agreed and now we are faced with the possibility of the pledge of allegiance to our great country being stripped from all schools and public functions. Why do we keep accepting things of this nature? We must pray and ask God to hold back this tide of evil that seeks a world without God.

 

Also, I heard recently on a BBN Radio – (92.5 FM) “Take A Moment” that there is another faction working to have our date recognition changed from B.C. (Before Christ) to C.E. ( Current Era) and A.D. ( Anno Domini – Latin for “In the Year of Our LORD”) to B.C.E. ( Before Current Era)…. Where will it stop? When this nation is turned into hell? We must be reminded of the scripture in Psalms 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

 

The Friday, Oct. 11, 2002 edition of the News and Observer records on page 4-E that students are flocking to religion courses since 9-11. It seems there has been an increased awareness of religious matters and many universities are experiencing the growth of 20 % or more of interest in classes pertaining to religion. Many are looking for answers to the puzzling questions that have arisen since 9-11. May God give godly men and women to stand in the gap and lift up the blood-stained banner of Jesus Christ! God Bless!

For a Free Copy of this Publication

Please Contact

Patsy A. Spence

11126 Simms Rd.

Bailey, NC  27807

E-mail: www.patsyforchina@hotmail.com

I am available for speaking services on this topic and mission topics.

God Bless You!

“Pray for me to be used of God.”

 

 

Preachers

id:1 type:PERSON name:John Bunyan date_born:1628 date_died:1688

id:1 type:SERMON preacher_id: 1 links: https://youtu.be/RvNIM30R7yU, https://www.biblebb.com/files/bunyan/prayspiritandun.htm

PASTOR Benjamin Coleman OF Brattle Street Church of Boston

The Relationships

Origins Puritans

Baptists, Anabaptisms, Waldensians,

Reformers persecuted "baptized believers"

What is Truth and Truth in the Inward Parts - Jerome Wadsworth

[EDITOR's note : In this series of lessons, Bro. Jerome Wadsworth teaches on the theme of Truth: 1) What is Truth? and 2) Truth in the Inward Parts over the course of 8 Sunday morning Adult Bible Classes from April 5, 2015 to May 24, 2015. Unfortunately, some of the recordings do skip and jump at times. Although jarring, the majority of the thoughts are complete and very listenable.]

text: John 18:37,38 and Psalm 51:6

John 18:37,38 — Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Psalm 51:6 — Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

"What is Truth?" is the most contentious question. Not wanting God's yoke around their neck, many may resist the idea of an absolute truth, but there are absolute truths for everyone.

The answer to "What is Truth?" is preserved for those to whom God would reveal it. In this search of truth, there is more going on than "gathering facts on a subject".

Direct Download Audio Links

  1. https://ia804601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/20150405SS.mp3
  2. https://ia804601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/20150412SS.mp3
  3. https://ia804601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/20150419SS.mp3
  4. https://ia804601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/20150426SS.mp3
  5. https://ia804601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/20150503SS.mp3
  6. https://ia804601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/20150510SS.mp3
  7. https://ia804601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/20150517SS.mp3
  8. https://ia804601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/20150524SS.mp3

Part 1, April 5, 2015

[Beginning, I. What is Truth?]

I. What is Truth?

Could it be possible that Pilate was afraid of the answer?

We are accountable to truth once we know what it is and that can be a fearful thing.

Matthew 27:11 — And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

Mark 15:2 — And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

Luke 23:3 — And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

Was Pilate to the point of almost being persuaded?

John 18:34 — Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

More than atomic bombs, the rejection and neglect of truth will do more damage. Our response to truth can determine either destruction or preservation.

John 19:8 — When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid*;

Pilate asked the best question he could ask, but did not wait for the answer. Maybe it was going to cost him way to much and he did not want to feel the guilt in his conscience.

[25:35] Truth can hurt and truth convicts.

[26:20] The whole world is either still looking for this answer or like Pilate still trying to avoid it.

Truth can be a trembling thing.

[26:33] I'm going to give you an example about truth being scarey sometimes. Picture this: a wife or a husband afraid of finding out why the husband or wife has been coming home from work so late, so many nights. Well, they ask why and get an answe,r but inside they feel like that is not the truth. But inside they are scared to know the truth. "Why is my husband coming home so late every night?" And with trembling hands ... (Perhaps. I'm just illustrating.) ... at night when her husband is sleeping the wife might find his phone, and with trembling hands the wife might open up his emails or texts afraid of what she might find to be true.

[27:55] Think about a father or a mother, suspecting that their son or their daughter is doing things they shouldn't do, involved in things that they shouldn't be involved in. There are signs of it and their attitude has gone down hill and there are all the indications, but they are in self-denial. They want to tell themselves things that puts their worry and their mind to rest, "She's a good girl" or "He's a good boy". But then one night (or day) a police officer comes and knocks on the door and the mother or father is so afraid of what they are going to hear. The very truth that they have been avoiding now they have to hear. "Your son or daughter has been arrested ma'am", "Has been selling drugs", "Has been killed in a car accident", "Has been drinking and driving". Truth can be a trembling thing! Truth can be a terrible thing, a fearful thing.

[29:10] What is the answer? And that's why whenever I have read this in times past, I wanted to sit in my chair and think about it until the answer comes. Such a powerful and eternal question. Everything should have just suspended in that moment, everything should have just stopped until the answer was given. But Pilate just quickly got up and went out. Pilate more than likely if he had waited for the answer, it could have cost him his job and position. He could have lost his reputation, position and money. That is the way it is today, truth has cost.

When we say I love truth, we must be saying "I love The Truth. I love Him."

They will always beat up on the messenger.

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

2 Timothy 4:3 — For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Pilate asked the question, "What is truth?" but did not wait for the answer.

Part 2, April 12, 2015

[Continuing, I. What is Truth?]

It seems like more and more are coming to the conclusion that there is no absolute truth, because they do not want God's yoke around their neck.

When he asked, "What is truth?", Pilate was not just asking a question but he was asking the One Who is the answer.

Pilate is not a kind or generous man. Pilate was not naive or given to first impressions, but yet when he got up and went out without having the question answered he spoke the strangest words spoken by a Roman governor. "I find in him no fault at all.":

John 18:38 — Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

John 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

John 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

In our court houses, the defendant stands before the verdict is read. The truth can set a person free or send them to prison or even to be executed. While you stand there, if you are guilty and you know you are guilty, you know if the truth comes out then you will pay for the crime.

God's system is different than this system. God's system is with "Mercy and Truth", the Gospel. In God's system, a person can ask for forgiveness and if that person expresses Godly sorrow with repentance then that person can go free. Unlike the man standing in a court of our land, if he is guilty, who will be put away.

Proverbs 16:6 — By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

If you don't put God in the equation, then truth is subjective and elusive. If you have no point of reference, you cannot define truth. Without God, you cannot define truth.

Have you ever known a time when freedom came cheap?

Meditate on the Word of God and not just read it.

Truth is threatening to the world and contrary to the world's system.

A Bible school in our state was facing the possibility of having to close down unless they increased attendance. They decided to change some long standing restrictions and standards and this opened them up as an option for some of the major Pentecostal denominations for sending their young people. They recently received a $1 million donation and seemingly this was the blessing of God on them.

[24:00] In business if you change your product to match the interest and appetite of your customers it will sell, but the product you offer will no longer be the same, it will be a different product.

The modern church movement says in action and some even plainly that:

Truth is hazy, uncertain, perhaps unknoweable. The message should be kept pliable, ambiguous, vague and general.

And this philosophy has attracted people who are in tune with the culture and in love with the spirit of the age.

2 Timothy 4:3 — For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Having itching ears, they only want to hear it a certain way. These teachers change the message to attract people who instead of embracing the attitude of a pilgrim and stranger to this world are in love with the spirit of this world.

In his book titled A Generous Orthodoxy MacLaren likens the conventional notion of orthodoxy to a claim that we “have the truth captured, stuffed, and mounted on the wall.” In a similar way he disparages systematic theology as an unconscious attempt to “have final orthodoxy nailed down, freeze-dried, and shrinkwrapped forever.” This kind of thinking is a very popular and postmodern approach to certainty and truth.

If truth changed with cultures, then it would be true that truth is not absolute.

Truth is as unchanging and uncompromising as God.

1 Timothy 3:15 — But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The example of the Bible school is not given as a judgement on that particular school, but is an attempt at not being vague or merely abstract in my teaching. In considering their situation, one might ask me a question like:

"Well, Brother Jery, would you rather see the school closed?" (Which would be a logical consequence of the school not making the changes it did.)

At the time, it may have seemed like a waste for Moses to be herding sheep while his countrymen were still in the bondages of Egypt. It may have made better "sense" for him to remain in Egypt in Pharoah's house. Was Moses in the right place in the wilderness? He was raised in Pharoah's home and educated. According to the facts, it would make sense Moses could do the most good if he remained in Pharoah's house. The human mind can only look at the facts, but truth is not "fact gathering".

It is only because we are looking back on this situation with the perfect vision of hindsight that we know Moses did not miss God in leaving Pharoah's house. Moses did well in leaving. Truth is not mere fact gathering, but it is eternal and uncompromisingly the will and design of God.

"You don't just get out of the will of God and step right back into it." — Brother Gogan

[33:00] God's judgement most of the time is not immediate. From the time Joshua led God's people until the time they were taken captive to Babylon was 845 years. It was 115 years after the Assyrians came and spoiled the Northern Kingdom and took Judah's sister Israel in captivity. Wake Up, Judah! Judah had all kinds of prophets warning them about God's judgment and using Israel as an example of what was going to happen to them if they did get right with God.

What are we to do when we have big decisions to make? Like Moses. We need to ask God to lead us and guide us into the way of truth because the facts might lead us and guide us away from God's will and plan.

2 Chronicles 24:20 — And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

They stoned this Zechariah.

Deuteronomy 32:29 — O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

Deuteronomy 32:36 — For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

Deuteronomy 32:7 — Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

The preaching and teaching that we hear must be relavent to us. Just down the road from this Bible school in our example is a local church. This church which is a large church, was full on a Sunday Night service, having a "70's Appreciation Night". Members dressed like rock groups from the 70's and hippie costumes and they performed on the platform. They sang rock songs from the 70's including songs from Ozzy Osbourne (who Bit the Head Off a Live Bat during a concert years ago).

We know there are other spirits at work in churches across our land.

Pilates question grips me, "What is Truth?" Most are confused still today on the answer and it seems the battle for truth is being lost. But the battle is an age old battle and it is truly between God and darkness. Guess who will win that battle? God!

Part 3, April 19, 2015

[Concluding, I. What is Truth? and then beginning II. Truth in the Inward Parts]

Review

  1. Truth is very contentious. The unanswered question in John 18, seems suspended in time and the answer reserved for whomever God chooses to reveal it to.
  2. Truth is Absolute. There is more going on in the asking of this question than just gathering facts about a certain subject. Facts about a crime can be known and can be discovered, but 77% of Americans have trouble believing there is truth in an absolute way. This is the problem with our society. People are concluding that there cannot be any such thing as absolute truth. Without the reference point of God, then truth at best can only be something elusive or subjective.
  3. Truth is a trembling reality. Pilate asked a question and never waited for the answer. We suspect that he did not want to know the answer. He actively avoided the answer.
  4. Truth is powerful. Truth can either condemn or set a man free. Truth has more power than all the military might of this world. All the military might of the world cannot bring about the freedom and peace that truth can.
  1. Truth is contrary to the spirit of the world.
  1. Truth is more than the sum of right answers. We are not saved by having truth, we are saved by becoming true.

Matthew 23:3 — All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

[29:00] Where did the culture at the founding of America come from? Even the unsaved had a reference of God. We were a Christian nation.

  1. Jesus is the center of Truth

Romans 8:1,4 — There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 10:4 — For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

  1. Truth should not be divorced from the Spirit of Truth

The world has been cut off from the Spirit of truth and they are choking on their lies. People holding the truth but they are not true will be destroyed by the lies. Truths are important, but they are as dead as the law written on stone without the Spirit of Truth in us to animate them.

There has to be a unity of the written word and living word in a life or truth is cold and dead. Truth is dead without God. It is easy to repeat something somebody else said but difficult to convey the same meaning.

  1. Truth is a moral issue.

Romans 1:28 — And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

  1. Truth is more than words but not without words.

Hebrews 4:12 —For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

II. Truth in the Inward Parts

[42:00]

Psalm 51:6 — Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

When Nathan confronted David with his sin, David knew he was standing before God and not just the prophet.

Psalm 51:4 — Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

David makes his confession knowing he did NOT have truth in his inward parts. David was crushed. Think about who David was, how God used David and what He has done and now is confronted by the truth.

When things are not dealt with God's way, there is a heavy price to pay.

Nathan was a man of God, but before you approach a king with such an accusation you better be sure you heard right! ( :) "hire a private investigator")

Read Psalm 51:1-19.

David prayed, don't let this thing that I have done bring reproach to you and do damage to your people.

In Psalm 51, we find David confronted by the truth and his response. David knew the Scriptures about adultery, lieing, murder, etc. Nathan did not come with a sermon about the truth, David already knew that. Nathan came with a message from the truth. That kind of truth will convict/condemn and set men free. Nathan came with a message and David is now crying for "truth in the inward parts."

Part 4, April 26, 2015

[Continuing, II. Truth in the Inward Parts]

The world is cut off from Truth and choking on their own lies.

UPC preacher, Rev. Lee Stoneking, gave testimony before UN of his dieing of a heart attack on Nov 12, 2003 and God healing him.

...He removed the APOE geno genetic maker for heart disease from every cell in your body ... When God healed you and raised you up, he totally and miraculously healed you. ... The answer to violence in our day is Jesus.

Acts 2:38 — Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

On the video of Rev. Stoneking's U.N. speech, those present despite giving him a hand clap seem generally disinterested or even upset.

Romans 1:28 — And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Marriage was not institued by Congress, but God. Same-sex marriage is an example of a practice for which you cannot use God as a reference point. There is not truth in it. You have to redefine marriage itself to make it something shared by the same gender as God defined and instituted as between one man and one woman.

[13:20] If marriage is redefined, Without God as the reference point of truth, Who is to say that:

[16:30] Who is sleeping? America is making a deal with Iran that chants, death to America. God allows blindness to bring about judgment. One day people will wak up and say, "Why didn't we see what was happening?" Sin has a blinding effect wherever you find it. So the love of the truth is the only guard against deception. Truth should not traded at any cost.

Romans 1:18 — For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

God's Will is that His People have the Truth in the Inward Parts

[21:43] Not just a knowledge of the truth, right facts, but truth in the inward parts.

This experience can be evasiv, but only that person who is honest and hungry before God can have the blindness lifted to see if in reality they have truth in the inward parts.

David has been confronted by the truth and he is crying out for truth in the inward parts. David knew what was right and that is why he became so angery when Nathan told his story. At that point, David did not see himself, he was blind at that point.

[25:10] Truth is more than facts, words (though with words), but truth is God Himself (John 16:13) and God does a work in men described as revival.

Acts 5:5 — And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

It use to be that people were either in or out. — Joe

Part 5, May 3, 2015

[Continuing, II. Truth in the Inward Parts]

As an example of the same things (attitude, etc.) that is going on in the church, read from article, "Transgender People Find Hope".

The opposite of having Truth in the Inward Parts, is merely having facts.

The "third way", mixture, in the church is just as off as the transgender, "third way", in the culture at large.

Part 6, May 10, 2015

[Continuing, II. Truth in the Inward Parts]

Part 7, May 17, 2015

[Continuing, II. Truth in the Inward Parts]

It is so important that we are sure that the truth is in us.

Part 8, May 24, 2015

[Concluding, II. Truth in the Inward Parts]

All truth and right doctrine come from God and point back to God. Without the reference point of God, "truth" is subjective. All truth is to bring us into a deeper walk and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Truth is not to be worshipped, but it is to draw us to the One Who is to be worshipped.

Holiness by William Myette

Adult Sunday SchoolApril 25, 2010

Holiness

Psalm 29:2—Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

INTRODUCTION

  1. Israel’s Ideal of Holiness “The City of Jerusalem”

To every devout Israelite, Jerusalem was “the perfection of beauty”, the “joy of the whole earth”. Why? Because the temple of the Lord was there.

Psalms 48:2—Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

With its glorious ritual, white robed priests, choral psalms, the blaring of trumpets, harps, cymbals, Jerusalem seemed to be the highest “ideal” of worship and the very visible “beauty of holiness.”

  1.  The Beauty of Holiness “Higher & Spiritual Meaning”

The Hebrew meaning of “The beauty” of Holiness is this: A splendor or majestic beauty.

Therefore, a higher and more spiritual meaning is to be recognized, knowing that all the glory of temple worship is but a faint shadow. To perceive “the beauty of Holiness” one must know what holiness really means. God’s Word gives us a three-fold answer:

  1. From the lowest to the loftiest views: Consecrated to God

  2. From the ritual to the spiritual: Likeness to God

  3. From the spiritual to the Divine: Partakers of the Divine Nature

  1. Consecration of Holiness “Consecrated to God”

  1. It is the Presence of God that Makes us Holy.

Ex. 3:1-5, vs. 5—And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Ex. 40:34–Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

  1. Our Best is not to be Spared.

In the times of the tabernacle, no pains were spared to impress the idea that nothing was too pure, or too good to give to God! All the sacrifices were offered without blemish; vessels were to be of precious materials, and crafted from perfect workmanship. The bread, unleavened, the altar, built of whole stones, and the priests, were to be free from all bodily defect. Even the garments of the worshippers were to be washed cleaned.

  1. Our Best by itself is not Sufficient.

Yet, upon all these things was sprinkled the blood of atonement. Why show us these things Lord? Even our own holiness is stained with sin in God’s all searching eye and in need of the cleansing and consecrating work of the Blood of Christ.

Heb. 9:14—…blood of Christ… purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb. 9:21—Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

(Hebrews 9:23; 10:19; I John 1:7-9)  

  1. Likeness of Holiness “Likeness to God”

  1. Likeness to God is the Reality of Holiness.

All the sacrificial “types” and garbs were the form of outward holiness designed to lead us to the actuality of walking in a likeness to our God. The Word of God shows to us that before a single rite was enacted, or the consecrating of Aaron, His people were told to be a “kingdom of priests, a Holy nation”

Ex. 19:6—And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak…

Even in this present time, there are some who proclaim to the multitudes eluding to their own understanding, that the Old Testament writings on Holiness were not “moral” or “spiritual”, but ritualistic and external.

 Psalm 29:2 establishes that “bent” of thinking as erroneous. It is carnal thinking and dullness of spiritual hearing  that makes someone unable to discern  that all the “outward” compliances of ceremony is to inspire, and to draw all men to the reality that God is to be revered. His Holiness is to draw all men unto Himself. Truly, that is the beauty of Holiness.

  1. Likeness to God is Commanded.

 Again and again, like the trumpet’s sound, or the anointed preaching of the Word, the sound of this great command is given:

I Peter 1:16—…Be ye holy; for I am holy. (I Pt. 1:15; Lev. 20:7)

  1. Likeness to God is the Standard of Holiness.

  1. PERSONAL PURITY

1 John 3:3—And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

  1.  RIGHTEOUSNESS

Matt. 5:6—Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Luke 1:75—In holiness and righteousness before him, all...our life.

  1. GOODNESS.

Gal. 5:22—But the fruit of the Spirit is…goodness, faith,

To be truly Holy, we must be like God. (Isa. 6:1-5)

The highest idea of Holiness is this:

  1. Partaking of Holiness “Partakers of His Nature”

  1. A Lofty Ideal

No thought can soar above this incredible opportunity and truth! Divine Holiness is perfect moral and spiritual excellence.

1 John 1:5—This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

  1. An Inward & Spiritual Ideal

The beauty of holiness must be spiritual and inward.

  1. A Manifested Ideal

Can we understand, that beauty is something we can behold, not only with eyesight, but with our spirits! Hallelujah! Not a beauty we speak about, or by clothing, but a beauty that clothes our souls to the exalting of a Holy God.

The life of every Christian should be beautiful.

Matt. 5:16—Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

  1. A Revealed Ideal

This Beauty is seen by those whose eyes have been opened.

John 1:14—And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

CONCLUSION

  1. If our hearts are consecrated, the life that flows from it will be beautiful.

  1. All the outward beauty of God’s works is surely a parable of beauty of character and soul.

  2. The perfect “beauty of holiness” is seen in the Lord Jesus.

At once, both the revelation and the reflection of God’s character in human form or nature is “Emmanuel”, which being interpreted God with us.

Walking with God by William Myette

Adult Sunday SchoolNovember 28, 2010

WALKING WITH GOD

TEXT: Genesis 5:18-24

18)  And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:19)  And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 20)  And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 21)  And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22)  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23)  And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24)  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

  1.  SETH, JARED, ENOCH

These three men are included in a bloodline that was Godly.

It can be concluded that this particular “bloodline” was of a Godly sort.

Also, distinctive to the Old Testament, a person's name was given as a type, or for particular circumstance(s). It was also to signify or depict that person's character. This was designed by the Spirit of God, to teach us, and to both edify and warn us of the “times” we are in, or for a “prophetic” time to come.

 JARED BEGATS ENOCH (Genesis 5:19)

Jared: signifies; A descent, to descend, to go downwards.

Enoch; Initiated, to narrow, to discipline.

Enoch must have been a God fearing man, and he was, for the Word of God tells us.

(Jud 1:14)  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

This man seeing the condition of mankind, would have been in communion with God the more so when he saw the state of even those who were of a God fearing sort, to have begun to compromise themselves against God.

Look at is father. Jared, (to descend, to go downwards.) Now, Enoch. (initiated, to narrow, to discipline)

 In comes Methuselah. (He dies, there is a dart, a sending forth of a deluge, a flood)

 (Gen 5:22)  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

  1. “WALKING  WITH GOD”

Enoch  was a Godly man. Yet only after Methuselah’s birth does the Word say he walked with God.

God had warned him with the birth of his son, that a deluge of judgment was on its way. The earth was to be flooded.

Obviously this revelation stirred Enoch, perhaps it frightened him. It had compelled him, or caused him to consecrate his walk unto the Lord with a greater discipline.

Before his son's birth, it can probably be stated that he walked “before” the Lord. The Spirit of God instead of saying Enoch lived, he says Enoch walked with God.

While many live unto themselves, and unto the world, and it's ways, Enoch lived unto God.

The phrase “walked with God” only applies to Enoch and Noah. This describes the closest communion with God a man can obtain. It is walking as it were by His side. It is distinguished from “walking after God”

(Deu 13:4)  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

It is worthy to understand that both phrases, walking before God, and walking after God, do implicate a life of reverence, moral, and blameless under the Law of God.

Enoch walked in the name and fear of the Lord, according to all of God's will.

Enoch walked by faith in the promises of God. With the prophetic view of the Messiah, the promised seed, this man had a close intimate communion with God.

(Heb 11:5)  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

 Enoch the seventh from Adam through Seth, Godliness was attained to its highest level. Enoch walked into the astonishing height of perfection.

How great and mighty is the grace of God to those who set themselves to walk with God. The soul and the body purified to the pleasing of the Lord.

Enoch walked in perfect holiness, and spiritual excellence in a time when there were few helps, and no written revelations.

Enoch did not visit death!

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

  1. OUR METHUSELAH

(Ecc 1:9)  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

 Enoch was startled or awakened to a walk “with” God, by the birth of the revelation of pending judbgment. What about we His people?

What will our Methuselah be?

One could say a world war could propel us into “walking with God” or, home grown terrorism, killing multitudes. All possible, and rather probable. What will shake us? What will stir us into “walking with God”, in excellent Holiness?

(Rev 3:15-16)  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

This may be our Methuselah.

When God tells His church (generally), that out of all the seven churches, we the Laodiceans, are the only church age that He does not declare any qualities He is pleased with.

Is the church travailing in birth and waiting to be delivered? (Gen. 12:2).

We need a Methuselah. God is so merciful and gracious, ever loving. Our God even tells us that we can buy gold tried in the fire, and we are the only church age that can sit with Him in His throne!

CONCLUSION

Methuselah consecrated Enoch. It was personal. Repentance, the Word, and Faith is to be our Methuselah. It is personal.

A Peculiar Feature of Prayer by William Myette

Adult Sunday SchoolDecember 5, 2010

A PECULIAR FEATURE OF PRAYER

(NUMBERS 21:1-8)

In the Old testament we can read of the confidence of backslidden men, that God would answer the prayers of praying men that particular day. These men of sin knew certain men were “men of prayer” who believed God.These men also knew that they were favored by God, and who prayed to God.

Something to consider: Some of those backslidden men still recognized the value of prayer as God's agency, or way of, saving men. They pleaded to the men who prayed to intercede with the Lord for them.They knew God answered a righteous man's prayers.

AN OLD TESTAMENT PARADOX

(SEEMINGLY ABSURD, YET TRUE IN FACT)

While people departed from God, going into grievous sin, they did not become “atheists” or unbelievers, to the reality and existence of a prayer answering Savior or God.

Some even had a fast belief in the power of prayer to obtain pardon and forgiveness from sin.

Some even dared to hold on to believing for a deliverance from the wrath of an All Mighty God!

There are a number of scriptural incidences that stand out in the Old Testament on the peculiar feature(s) of prayer.

(Num 21:5-8) Moses prayed for the people. God answered his prayer.

A TENDENCY OF SOME SINNERS

This tendency is to involuntarily turn to praying men for help and refuge when trouble was upon them. The stammering request for prayers for deliverance was and still is today, “PRAY FOR ME, PLEASE”

THE READINESS OF PRAYING MEN

It is worthy to note, rather, it is meaningful when a remorseful sinner, under the burden and pressure of sin, and a profound sense of their guilt, come to an altar and say,

“Pastor, pray for me, please pray for me!' I know you are a praying man. I know your a man of God. You've always helped me.

God's church need to understand the full impact and appreciate the significance of prayer.

It is going to happen again: The multitudes who have left serving God.

The scores of people who have harbored bitterness, and unforgiveness against a man of God or God's church.

They are not going to forget there are true God fearing leaders who do have influence with God in prayer.

It is going to happen again: They are not going to forget that true men of God, through prayer, can avert or “turn” destruction and see deliverance given to them.

Consider King Jeroboam: He was the first King of the ten tribes when the kingdom was divided.

This king became “Infamous” for his departure from God.

It is often referred to in later history of Israel as “The sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat

who made Israel to sin”..... (2 Kings 10:29)

Yet this man, despite his great wickedness, he recognized the powerful effectiveness of prayer. He knew God acted as a result of a Holy praying man.

(1Ki 13:1) And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

Jeroboam presumes to serve the altar as a high priest.

A man of God cries against the altar:

(1Ki 13:3) And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

Now we read of Jeroboam's reaction to the man of God. He saw it as an open rebuke for him because it was unlawful to Levitical law to assume the office of God's priest. He says from the altar, “lay hold on him”

Immediately God smote the king with leprosy, so he could not pull his hand back again.

Jeroboam cries out to the man of God....

(1Ki 13:6) And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.

Praying men were always in the spirit of prayer, and always ready to seek the Lord for His reply.

THE INFLUENCE OF PRAYING MEN.

(2Ki 5:1-3) 3) And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

“Would to God!” Is that not the very same cry today? “would to God” I could get free from this bondage”or, “I can't take the pressure of living like this anymore!” “Lord, I need to be healed!”

(2Ki 5:8) And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 9) So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10) And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

May we understand that still today that those who are without the Lord, can still believe that prayer brings results.

Prayer, more than ever, must take it's prominent place in the hearts of believers.

Born again children of God, must “prize” prayer so they may carry a reputation, and one that travels, as praying men.

Truly, prayer had a very preeminent place in Old Testament history, when not only men of God were noted for getting answers to prayer, but even unfaithful, sinful men testified to the virtues of prayer.

(Luk 21:36) Watch ye therefore, and pray always…

Luk 18:1 …men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

The Woman of Canaan by Christine A Gibson

The Woman of Canaan

By Christine A. Gibson

(A transcription of her sermon preached May 9, 1954)

I am going to speak tonight concerning a mother's prayer, and it is the prayer of faith. It's a very familiar Scripture, you've heard it before, but I can't get anything else so I'm going to obey the Lord. I'll read the first verse, and the last verse in this lesson, and you'll find the lesson in the 15th chapter of Matthew, the Gospel according to Matthew, and the 22nd verse, and the last verse of the particular lesson, the 28th verse. The 22nd verse:

"And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him [cried out to Jesus, of course], saying: Have mercy on me, Oh Lord, thou son of David, my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil."

The last verse (I'm skipping the rest, although we're going to take in the whole lesson),

"Then Jesus answered, and said unto her: Oh woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

I'm not going to relate the incident (a number of you have heard me give this message, and you've heard the incident connected with the message that gave me this message; I don't believe its necessary to even tell that incident), but I am going to give you the three outstanding characteristics of this last verse, when Jesus really did commend this woman, and commended her for her great faith. She came with a prayer. It ended up with a commendation from the Lord as a woman of great faith, and faith that gave her just what she went for. I don't think there's anyone of us in here, but what would be greatly delighted if we could have Christ look down upon us, men or women in here, and commend us for great faith.

He was never able to commend many; there are only two characters in this Bible that Christ ever commended for great faith; one is this woman who came pleading for her afflicted daughter, and the other is the man who came pleading for a servant of his, and the strange part of it; both of these were outsiders, and were not Israelites; they had no legal claim on God, and these are the only two, the man that came for his servant; when he commended him, Christ said these words: “I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.” The place where I ought to find great faith, I haven't found it. He found it in two outsiders. The man coming, pleading for a sick servant, and the woman pleading for an afflicted daughter.

There is a place where Christ, speaking to His Disciples in the 18th chapter of Luke ends up His lesson with these words, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the Earth?” Is He going to find faith among the people that should have it, or is He going to find such a casting away of confidence, because of the serious times, that He's not going to find faith on the Earth?... that He be very sad, if Christ returned and didn't find the real thing on the Earth; a faith that will give us just what we need? Church of God, I do pray God stirs up on these lines of faith.

We're told: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” We're told that if we come to God, we must come believing that God is, and we must come believing that He's a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The Bible is filled with this Word of Faith. Sometimes its a rebuke, where Christ had to rebuke disciples and say: “Oh ye of little faith. Why did you doubt?” Israel... God was so displeased with them. They could not enter into Canaan land because of their unbelief (and spoken of as a place of rest), they couldn't enter in, because of unbelief.

God help us as the People of God in these days, that we'll come up to God's approval, and God's requirement concerning the faith that will get things from God Almighty. Now, in dealing with this woman (and this is Mother's Day, and I've taken a mother, this afternoon I spoke of the travailing prayer for motherhood, and I gave Hannah praying for Samuel, and we spoke of spiritual motherhood, travailing in prayer that souls should come into the Church), tonight I want to bring before us this mother pleading for her daughter. And finally, finally we see it in those wonderful words from the lips of Jesus Christ: “Woman, great is your faith. You can have anything you want.”

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the Lord say to us tonight, men or women here:.“You have faith,a great faith. You can have anything that you want.” Wouldn't that be wonderful? Anything that you want; but my friends, great faith isn't born overnight. Now I'm not sure, as I read this lesson that that woman even knew that she had great faith. I believe that the only way that she knew that her faith was great, was as Christ pulled it out of her, you might say, in the tests that He put her through, and finally brought forth what He commended as great faith.

Now there are three things connected with this commendation of great faith that I wish to call your attention to in this lesson. First, I want to call your attention to the word: patience, patience. I said great faith was not born overnight. Do you know why many of us have not been commended by God for great faith? We haven't waited long enough. We've been too impatient. Now let me give you the lesson as I bring out this first point, then we'll go to the other two.

It says, after this woman came pleading for her daughter, who was grievously vexed with a demon, the next verse says: “But He answered her not a word.” Now Christ was never un-gracious. Christ was always kind, and tender, and gracious to penitent souls. This woman had a desperate need, probably an only child, and it seemed as if she came really believing that Christ would answer her plea and that through this Jesus, her daughter would be delivered. She came pleading for mercy. She called Him a son of David, and she plead for His mercy, and you would think, of course, that He would immediately respond, and answer, but I tell you, Christ saw in that woman what probably no human being could have seen. Christ saw a latent faith, a faith that must be developed, and so He made up His mind that He was going to bring that out. And you know there are certain things in us, we don't know what we're capable of.

We don't know, when we approach God, what He sees in us. I'm glad we're dealing with God, and not men, aren't you? I'm glad that the Word of God says that God seeth not as man seeth. Men, human beings, look at the outward appearance, but God looks at people's hearts. That's why we should be very slow to pass our opinions. We should be very very slow in passing our final judgment on anybody, because we don't know, we don't know what God is working out, but we are so prone to pass our opinions and judge people from the externals, and God never does. How many mistakes are made today because people don't know. They don't know, they see some things on the outside. They don't know what God is dealing with, and because we are so impatient with ourselves, and with others, that's why, many times, we make very little progress in our Christian development, and we make very little progress in our life of faith.

The Lord help us. I trust we'll get some lessons here tonight. I haven't been able to get anything else, and that's why I am bringing you this little lesson, concerning this mother, pleading for an afflicted child, and finally receiving the commendation of Jesus Christ that has remained all these years, whenever you read the Bible, there is a woman of great faith.

The silence of the Lord: “But He answered her not a word.” Not a word! Paid no attention to her. How it tries us... and then, not only did the Lord not answer a word, but the lesson tells us that the disciples, mistaking, misunderstanding this silence of the Lord... oh these wonderful disciples. Do you know many a person has cast away his or her faith because of disciples? If you're going to trust God to develop great faith in you, you'll have to get rid opinions of disciples. You'll have to overcome people's opinions! And that's what some folks can't overcome. These disciples, mind you, misunderstanding the attitude of the Lord, they didn't know what Jesus was working out. They didn't know what Christ saw in that woman! And so they looked at Him, they saw He was paying no attention to her. She's a crying, pleading, praying mother for her daughter. Christ answering her not a word. Looking on the outside as though He was perfectly [unaudible], and these Disciples, not knowing what the Lord saw in the woman, didn't know what He was working out; they had come along, and this is what they said: “Aw, send her away, for she crieth after us.” In other words, she's just a pest! She's pestering you, Lord. Send her away! You don't want to notice her.

And then, of course, we understand that the woman is a Gentile. She doesn't belong to the House of Israel. She's a Greek. And if she was at all super sensitive, this story would not be written, but she had something in her that made her stay under a tremendous, crucial test. She had a great faith. It wasn't fully developed. It was there, and it held her. It was an hour of test, but listen, the Word of God says: “The trying of your faith (the trying, the test, the testings of your faith. Why does God allow His People to be so tremendously tried under such peculiar circumstances and conditions? Why?) The trying of your faith worketh patience (worketh patience).” Listen to the Word of God as the Apostle, James, gives it to us. “But let (L-E-T. Oh, it's a little word, but it means so much!), but LET, LET PATIENCE have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

My friends, I want to thank God in my own life that He held me steady in that work of faith we're carrying on in East Providence. For we have had ample opportunity to get discouraged in the past. We've had ample opportunity to throw up our hands and wonder if God had gone out of the business, but I'm glad God can hold you steady in the time of a test, and after all, God is dealing with patience. Do you know we are very impatient creatures? We are so impatient with ourselves. We are impatient with God, and we are tremendously impatient with one another. Impatient! Can't wait, can't wait, for God's time to develop things! That's why we get in trouble. That's why we get in trouble. I am telling you, that is one lesson God has THUNDERED INTO MY SOUL! Let patience, LET, LET, LET patience have its perfect work. LET patience have its perfect work!

So many things are spoiled in the Word of God because people haven't got patience to wait for God. The Bible says they that wait for Him shall not be put to shame. Folks who wait. “Who is he that's in darkness?” says the Prophet Isaiah. And have no expression, and have no light? What should he do? Let him trust in the Lord, and stay, or wait upon His God. If you don't, you can go and kindle your own fire. So many of God's People, they come right up to a test... if God doesn't answer that prayer right away; if it looks as if God is silent; looks as if the Heaven is brass; hands thrown up: “I'm through.” Again, and again, and again: “I'm through.” Run away, because the battle is hot. Lose the very thing God was planning and God was working out. And, oh, this is for tonight. But I haven't been able to get away from this little story. And I said to the Lord, I said: “Lord, I've spoken from this before, but I'm going to obey you tonight. Make it sure to me that you want me to speak of this mother, and her pleading her prayer for her daughter.” And when Sister Brewer started to sing that song, and I said, “All right, that's enough for me.” Glory to God!

Patience, the trying of your faith is working patience, and God says in His Word: “Let patience have its perfect work.” Why, that woman could have been offended. Think of Disciples misunderstanding the silence of the Lord or send the woman away, she's a pest. I know you don't want to bother with her. That wasn't the case at all. Christ did want to bother with her! But He knew just how to draw out and bring out that which was latent in that woman.

If you're in here tonight, maybe you're tested so bad. Maybe you've been praying about a certain thing. It hasn't come to pass. You've gone and given up, gone and given up. I told a story, my students have heard it, different one's have heard it, it's mine, I tell it, of the way God tested me, when He gave me that Scripture about Zion, “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole Earth,” and called the work Zion; I'm telling you, when I got that Scripture, there wasn't one thing that I could say: “Well, that's beautiful.” Not a thing in sight. Thick thick heavy grass, that you had to plod through on the grounds. A house that hadn't seen paint for years, and an old tumbled down barn. That's all we had, and God said: “Beautiful.” People thought I was crazy, but God said it! And I walked around that house, and I walked in the grounds, and I looked at all that grass, and I looked at that old tumbled-down barn, and I looked at that house that hadn't seen paint for years, and I said: “This is all beautiful; beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.” Called it: beautiful, beautiful; and I'd hear the people, and they let me hear them, too, just like the Disciples that called that woman a pest, they let me hear them: “Is she crazy? Where does she see any beauty? What is she calling beautiful? There's nothing beautiful.” Of course there wasn't, but I wasn't looking at the natural.

DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD HAS A FAITH FOR US THAT CALLS THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE? Because you believe God. Abraham believed God, and called himself “Father of many nations,” when the thing looked impossible. His wife was elderly. He was elderly. She was barren. Nature said: “Can't be done.” There was nothing in the natural to help Abraham, but God said: “I have made you a father of many nations.” GOD SAID IT! That was enough. “I have made you a father of many nations.” And Abraham considered not his own body or the deadness of his wife's womb. He didn't look at the natural. You know what's the trouble with us? We live to natural, we look to natural things, our eyes are on natural things, that's why God can't work. That's why God CAN'T WORK! Conditions, circumstances, on our way... God is looking, my friends, for a People that will dare to believe God. When GOD SAYS a thing is so, you come up and say it's so, because God says its so. Not because conditions and circumstances say its so; God said its so! Patience, patience: “let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” That's why God tries our faith, because He wants a People with a perfected patience!

We pray for folks, and if we don't get the answer right away, give it up, fade away, give it up, get discouraged, no good, and then we have no answer to give the people, and they say: “I thought you said God told you so and so.” “And yes, maybe I made a mistake. He did say it, but is hasn't come to pass.” Oh my God have mercy on us. WE'RE TYING THE HANDS OF GOD because of our lack of patience, because of our unbelief. God stir us up here tonight.

"SIRS,” SAID PAUL, when the storm was raging on the boat, “SIRS, I BELIEVE GOD! It shall be even as it was told me.” “But, Paul, what's the matter with you, the whole ship's going to pieces... “Sirs, that angel said: 'not a life would be lost!'” “But look, look at the circumstances, look at the conditions.” “I have nothing to do with that; the angel of God stood by me this night, and said, “Paul, all the people in this boat are going to land safely... Sirs, I believe God. It shall be even as it was told me... But don't try to get out of the boat. Stay; let the boat go down. Don't you run. (Bless God forever). Don't try to get out, let it go down; you believe God!” Every one of those people landed safely. Some on boards, some on broken pieces, but they all got to shore, bless God.

I am telling you, my friends, God is looking for a people that will dare to believe their God. When God speaks, they'll dare to believe it. God said it. I believe it. Patience...patience. There is one thing that is in a great faith, a great faith can have a tremendous test on the lines of patience and hold steady. The Disciples coming and saying: “Send the woman away, she's bothering you; she's a pest.” And I don't believe they said it quietly. I believe they said it loud enough so she could hear it, because they wanted her to hear it. But, listen to the next (Oh, I think this is wonderful), instead of getting offended, instead of getting discouraged, instead of listening to the words of those Disciples, the next verse tells us: “Jesus answered and said (after the Disciples said that), 'I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel.'” It seems as if He agreed with the Disciples. “I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. She doesn't belong to the House of Israel. I'm not sent to her; she doesn't belong to the House of Israel.” The next verse: “Then, THEN, THEN (after those words were said), came she and worshiped Him, saying: “Lord, help me.”

Did you ever hear of anything like it? Yes. It's some of the ingredient that's contained in great faith. I tell you, you can't daunt great faith. What God's looking for: A people that'll have great faith. NO WONDER SHE WAS COMMENDED IN THE END FOR GREAT FAITH! After the Disciples said what they did, then Jesus turned around and said what He did, the woman came and fell down and worshiped Him... worshiped Him, saying: “Lord, help me.” Never daunted, never moved!

What's the second characteristic of a great faith? Devotion. You know, its a sad thing today that folks are devotional, so long as they're getting all they need and all they want. You'll find if God answers prayer for a certain people; they'll come into a meeting, they'll clap their hands, and they'll laugh and they'll have the greatest time, and they'll praise the Lord. Well anybody can do that. If I'm getting answers to my prayer all the time, and I have everything I need, and everybody speaking well of me, and I'm having everybody doing exactly what I think they should do... why, it don't take much faith to come in and have a jump and have a dance, and have a great old time. OF COURSE NOT! But let me tell you, it's a horse of another color; it's a different affair when you've been crying, and pleading, and praying, and God isn't answering your prayer, and disciples are saying unkind things, and every circumstance and every condition against you... and then come right in and worship; come right in and worship; come in and praise and worship.

The other day I was going through a test. Somebody came in my front room, they heard me singing. They said, “My, she must be happy.” Now I don't sing particularly when I'm happy; I sing a lot of times when I'm not happy (Sister Gibson laughs). I sing to wipe away the blues. I have to exercise my faith... and sing to drive away some of the thoughts that might come. I don't always sing because I'm happy, no, I sing because I know that when you begin to praise and sing, and have a time with the Lord, it'll lift you above natural things.

She came and worshiped (listen folks), that's what God's looking for: Devotion... Devotion. I said to a sister sitting beside me one time in a meeting, I said: “Why don't you praise the Lord?” [She said:] “I don't put on anything.” I said: “Well, you can put this on.” She said: “What do you mean?” “Well, [I] said the Bible calls it a garment of praise.” What do you do with a garment? You put it on, don't you? Don't you wear a garment? I said, “The Bible says: A Garment of Praise; why can't you put that on?” “Well, I only praise when I feel happy!” Poor Jesus, He wouldn't get much praise, if that's the only time you're going to praise.

Do you realize this? This woman hadn't been entreated; the Lord hadn't answered her; never a word. Do you realize what the Disciples said in her hearing? And do you realize what Jesus answered, that He was only sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel? All right now. It was time for that woman to go home, but instead of that, she drew near and worshiped Him... began to worship, saying: “Lord, help me.” Isn't it beautiful?

Let me give you another character, and the devil is in it. The devil thought he'd do so much to Job that Job would never have any confidence or faith in God. He accused Job to God. He had God remove that hedge so he could get at Job. What a thing (it's all right for us to read the Book of Job, that first and second chapter), but I want to tell you: Put you, and put me, and put any of us in the place of Job; it would be a different story. OVER NIGHT he lost everything he had, and he was a wealthy man, he was a wealthy man. He lost, not only all the material things, the wealth; he lost his family; he lost his children. His sons and his daughters were all killed. All right. Messenger after messenger came to Job and told him of the calamities that came, and you know, this is the thing that came on him when he was really serving God. The man couldn't find out what he had done. He had offered sacrifices for his sons, lest they might fail and do something when they got together. He was offering burnt offerings for them.

Job was never in a better place with God than when all that calamity came on him. You can't always say that calamity comes on people because they've done wrong. You know a lot of people are saying that. The moment anything happens: “Huh, I know why it happened!” “I tell you, if she was right with God, this thing never would have happened!” “If HE was right with God...” Who ever told you that? Job was in the best place. You know why I know Job was in a good place? Because God commanded it. God said to the devil: “Have you considered my servant, Job? A man that eschewed evil and fears Me, have you considered... you've been walking. Where have you come from, devil? Where have you come from, Satan?” “Walking to and fro throughout the whole Earth.” “Did you see My servant, Job?... My servant, Job: A man that fears Me, and shuns evil. Did you consider him?” “That's the very man I considered and I've come to bring something against him.” “You did?” “Yes.”

He says: “You think he's fearing you for nothing? Do you think all that devotion and affection that he's showing, do you think it's for naught? Do you think he really loves you for yourself? All the nice things you've given him... you haven't allowed me to touch Job for years. He has good health. He has a lovely family of boys and girls. Everything is beautiful. Why, he's the wealthiest man in the town. He's the wealthiest man in this country. Why wouldn't he serve you? Anybody could serve you when everything has been given to them.” “Oh, is that the way you look at it, Satan.” “Yes.” “What do you want me to do?” “Give me a chance at him. I'll prove to you...I'LL PROVE WHAT KIND OF A MAN YOU PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN. GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY AT THIS MAN. LET ME STRIP HIM, REMOVE THE HEDGE!” “All right,” He said, “Go to it. Only don't touch his life. Go to it.”

Now, Job didn't know that. Job wasn't taken into confidence and knew that all this thing had come on him by the devil. He was practically ignorant of the whole thing. But the test, he stood the BARE TEST... PROVED the devotion of the man. After the last messenger came and told him that his children were all gone; houses gone, oxen, cattle; everything gone. It says: “Job arose, and shaved, fell down, and worshiped God, and said, 'The LORD giveth, and the LORD taketh away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Isn't that a record? Isn't that a WONDERFUL THING? And then, here comes the test, when those wonderful friends of his (Oh, these wonderful friends that we have), now they're coming to visit him, and everyone of them have something to say concerning Job's life. You know, our friends know more about us than God does. I know they do. [Sister Gibson laughs] Our friends know more about us than God Almighty does. Sure, they think they do. They can solve your problems for you. They can tell how bad you are. They can tell that you're a hypocrite. They can tell all kinds of things. Our friends are no where around, and then calamity comes, and they're always “Johnny on the spot.” They help you out. Of course. Amen. They know all about it. They can solve the whole thing. You don't know what's happened, but they know it all. They know it all. That's Job's case. They can always tell by what's happening, and why it happened, and they know the whole affair. But, when all this happened, in the darkest hour; poor, perplexed, beaten, stripped Job says: “He looks like a murderer, but though He slay me, I'll trust Him.”

When the devil couldn't get at Job, he used his wife. Sure he did. He used his wife. Surely if you have somebody you love, and they're very near to you; if the devil can't get to you personally, he'll use somebody that's near to help him out; if that person is fool enough to lend an ear. That's the truth. The wife said: “Job, are you still going to hold fast your integrity. Is this the kind of God you're serving? What kind of a God is this? You mean to tell me you're going to be devoted to a God that's taken away our children, taken away your home, your land, all your property, all your riches, and now look, here you are. You're no good to me, nor anybody else.” For someone said he had smallpox probably; boils from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. One boil is bad enough, but he had them all over. And there he is. The wife says: “Job, why don't you curse God and die? I have no use for you. You'd better die. Why in the world don't you curse God and die?” He says: “You talk like a foolish woman. Haven't we received good from the hand of the Lord all these years? Shouldn't we take some evil too?”

Do you know that the thing that held Job steady? He saw God in everything. Of course we know the Devil did it, but the Devil couldn't do it, only as God permitted. You know, the Devil can only go as far as God will let him. That's one consolation for us. Satan has to have the permission of God, before he can touch any of us, and if God permits him, then God is going to work out some glorious thing. We've seen the end of Job. We've seen God turn the tide. We have seen God working out His plan in giving Job more in the end than he had in the beginning. What an example! What a lesson for us in the Book of Job to trust and not be afraid! In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. DEVOTION! DEVOTION!

Oh, my friends, do you know that God Almighty was on trial? No, we always look at the Book of Job; Job was on trial, of course, but did you know that God Almighty was on trial? I'm telling you. Do you know God is so closely connected with His servants that when anything happens to us, God is on trial, too? Especially if God boasts about anybody. God had boasted about Job. God had said it to Satan: “Have you considered him.” He had told Satan what he thought of Job, and Satan had made up his mind that he would prove to God that Job wasn't what God thought he was. So, you see, God was on trial. If Job had had faith, and had cursed God, and had turned against God, then the Devil could go and taunt God, and say: “That's the man you trusted. You thought you knew him, but you didn't.” But, thank God, we have the story of Job. It's a marvelous story, and we have the end. The LORD is pitiful. We have the patience of Job. You know, Job stands, an outstanding character for patience: The patience of Job. He was tremendously tried on his patience. Going backward, going forward, going to the right, going to the... He couldn't find God. HE COULDN'T FIND GOD!!! If that isn't a trial of faith then I don't know. WHEN YOU CAN'T FIND GOD, but God was developing patience. God was letting patience have its perfect work, and isn't Job a blessing to us today? That Book has comforted many a soul. That Book has sustained many a person, because Job went through; and we see the end of the Lord, and we see what God did, we see how the tide was turned. What a wonderful blessing.

Oh, my friends, God is looking for men and women that He can trust; put you through tremendous testings. Devotion. If you have great faith, you can praise God when there's nothing to praise for. That's what God loves, when there's nothing to praise for, start praising God. When the cupboard is bare, when your money is gone, when the thing looks as dark as midnight; start praising God.

I had the Lord upbraid me once, when I was trusting for a certain thing on a financial line, and it wasn't coming in, and it looked critical, and I went back to God. He'd given me a promise and I had stood on it, but I went back and I said: “Oh, my God, the thing looks worse. Won't you give me another promise. “Lord, let me get a promise” was the very same in the French translation. “Throw all your anxiety upon the Lord, for He, Himself, cares for you.” He had given me the first promise: “Cast your care upon Me. I care for you.” And then I went back, “Oh, God,” I said, “but it doesn't come, and I've cast my care; and then the Lord gave me that second promise: “Throw all of your anxiety upon your God, for He, Himself, cares for you.” Oh, I was so ashamed. I said: “God, have mercy on me, I'm getting so anxious. Please forgive me. The Lord says: “Can you go in the meeting and have a good time, and leave that matter with Me.” I did. I went in that meeting and I had a wonderful time. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME THAT NIGHT! The thing hadn't changed, but before the next day, the answer had come. I had to praise. I had to take God at His Word. The thing looked as DARK AS MIDNIGHT, but when I had praised, and when I began to thank God, God worked. All that night, all that night. When those Israelites were trembling, a Red Sea in front, and Pharaoh and his hosts behind, ALL THAT NIGHT, God was working. You ever went through a dark night? You ever been through a dark night, sister or brother? “All that night,” our God is working. Amen. Amen. Don't throw away your confidence. Don't throw away your devotion. God's trying you so He can commend you for great faith.

Last, but not least, this little story. I think its a wonderful story and I think its a wonderful story for a “Mothers Day.” Praise God forever! Let me read on. After that woman was devoted enough to come and worship the Lord, now wouldn't you think that when she fell down and worshiped him, and said: “Lord help me,” wouldn't you think that He would've helped her right away? No, the test was not completed. Yet one more characteristic of great faith that Jesus had to test her on, and tested her on her humility. You know why we fail God we're not humble. This humble pie we don't want. We're too proud. (Sister Gibson chuckles) Do you remember the words of Jesus in the day of the Disciples. He said, “Learn of Me, learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, you shall find rest for your soul.” We're not humble. We don't like to be humiliated. [There's] something in human nature that hates to eat humble pie, hates to be humiliated.

That was her last test before the commendation, listen to it: “Then came she and worshiped Him saying, 'Lord help me.'” Now listen to His answer: “But He answered and said, 'it is not meet (it is not right, it is not worthy, it is not legal) to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs.'” Wooh, isn't that awful. Call me a dog, call me a dog. Now dogs in the Scripture are spoken of as unclean animals. Never mind how much you pet them up, the Bible says they are unclean. Yes it does! [It] calls them unclean animals: “...that without are dogs,” and it calls them unclean. Oh yes, and He called her a dog, a Gentile dog, and Commentators tell us that maybe Christ had every reason to call her an unclean person, because the country, the place she came from, was a very immoral place. And some Commentators said, the very daughter was filled with the devil, that she was pleading for, was the child of a life of the unclean. [It] might be true, but you know, I don't care where we come from, what our sins are, we don't want to be humiliated before people. It's something in our nature, and this seemed a terrible thing, but Christ knew that He could put that woman to the limit and that she wouldn't fail. “It isn't right, woman, it isn't legal, it isn't lawful for Me to take children's bread and throw it to dogs. That's what your asking for. Healing is children's bread, and that's what your coming for. I can't give it to an unclean person! I can't throw it to a dog!” Wasn't that awful? My, if she was like some folks I know: “You'll never call me a dog again, you'll never see me again, [if you] call me a dog.” Oh, we get so provoked, you know folks do get mad with God. Yes they do. They can't stand the testings. They can't stand God's methods, can't stand God's ways of dealing... get very provoked with God. Oh yes, but not this story, not this story. Listen to her words, that proves to me that she had humility. She was humble enough to accept it.

Listen to her answer. Oh, how wonderful: “But she answered and said, 'Truth Lord,' and she said, 'Truth Lord. You haven't lied. I am a dog. Yes, dogs shouldn't sit at the Master's table. Dogs shouldn't have children's food. Truth Lord, but Lord, yet the dogs... (and they tell us in the Greek, this second dog is spoken of as a little puppy, so that we might say, “yet the little puppies eat of the crumbs which fall from their Master's table), Truth Lord. I do not ask for children's bread. I'll take the place of a little puppy. I'll crawl under the table, and like a little puppy, I will open my mouth, and you can throw the crumbs, the leavings as it were, the LEAVINGS from the table. After the children have eaten, give me a crumb, and a crumb will do the work from your hands... take the place of a little puppy. Ill be a dog Lord, I'll be a dog, you have spoken the truth, but I'll get under the table. I'll take a dogs place.” But let me tell you, she didn't get a dog's place, SHE GOT CHILDRENS BREAD! SHE DIDN'T GET A DOG'S PLACE! She got the most wonderful commendation from the Lord! That was as FAR AS HE COULD TEST HER! He tested her on her patience; she came out. He tested her on her devotion; she came out on top. He tested her on her humility; she didn't fail. The supreme test was the test of humility. Dear God, this is wonderful... couldn't go any further, couldn't go any further, and then Jesus said, answered and said unto her: “O woman, great is thy faith; you have great faith; you didn't fail on your first test, on your patience. I tested you severely on the lines of patience; you were alright. I tested you on your devotion, you were alright. Now, I have tested you on your humility; you're alright. Woman, you've got a great faith. Only a great faith could have stood such a severe test. Be it unto thee, even as thou wilt.” “And her daughter was made whole that very hour.” She got exactly what she went for.

My friends, this is a wonderful little story. It's left on record, I believe, in the Bible for our benefit. I believe Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever is waiting to commend His People concerning their faith, if He can find a people, who will let Him develop that faith until He can bring them to a great faith. You know its going to take a great faith to accomplish things in the day in which we live. Are we willing for the test? Are you willing, am I willing to enter into the school of faith? Its a school; its a school. Are we willing to enter into a school of faith, [and] let God put us through some tremendous testings, to develop a faith that He can commend? He is looking for a people of faith. The cry of our Christ was: “When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith (at all) on the Earth? Is He going to find people that are really trusting Him? You know we are living in an awful day. People are throwing away their faith again and again. It's quite rare to find people that have strong faith in God in these days. It's rare. It's RARE. You can't find them on any line, whether its for the spiritual or the physical or the material. They cant wait God's time. They can't trust God. They've got to find a way of escape. They can't wait for God. People are failing God on every line today... failing, failing, failing. What's their trouble? Lack of faith; lack of faith. We get so scared when something happens, if God doesn't come along right away. Lord help us. I believe God is speaking to all our hearts. We're afraid; we're scared to launch out, cut away shore lines and launch out into a life of believing trust; trust God; trust God; wait for God; let Him put us through; let Him, and yet not throw away our confidence. The Bible says that if we don't throw away our confidence, there is going to be a great recompense of reward. Pay day is coming. God will always honor faith. God will always honor faith. I have seen Him honor faith in our work, but I know we are in very perilous days, I know that, and I know that things are going to get harder, and harder, and more severe on us; and people are going to fail God in this line of faith. I know that, but yet I believe God is looking for men and women that He can commend. If He could commend that man that came about his servant, that centurian, surely He can commend some man that's trusted Him. If He can commend this Gentile woman that came for her daughter, surely He can commend anyone that would dare to trust Him.

Now, that's the lesson that God laid on my heart for this night, and I know that no lesson is in vain. I couldn't get anything else tonight. I said, “God, what do you want for these people tonight? What do you want me to give?” And that's all the lesson that I could get from God to bring you tonight. Are we going to let God commend us? Are we willing to let God put us through the test, the test of patience, and devotion, and humility? I'm telling you, He's looking for folks that will let Him. If we let God have His way in our lives in the coming days, I am sure the very same commendation that He gave that woman, He'll give to us. “O woman” or “O man, great is thy faith, be unto thee even as thou wilt.”

Shall we bow our hearts before God. Oh God, I don't know many of these folks in here tonight, but Lord thou knowest the people. I know that we are in the last of the last days. I know we are in perilous times, and I know Lord, I know that your people are being tremendously pressed; tremendously tried. Lord, I pray that this lesson may sink deep into all of our hearts. God help me. God help my brothers and my sisters in this testing day; this hour of darkness, just prior to Thy coming again. Oh God, take us through at any cost. Speak to hearts here tonight. There might be somebody that's being weighed in the balances and found wanting. Lord speak to them. Oh God, if there are those in here tonight who are at the crossroads of [their] Christian experience; they are almost ready to throw away their confidence and give up everything. Lord, I pray that You hold them steady tonight. Help somebody to come back to You if there is a backslider here, Oh my God, if there is anybody in here that needs help, Dear Jesus, will You help them? If somebody has lost patience, Oh my God, help them, bring them back into the life of patience to wait for Thee. If somebody has given up their devotion; they're not praising You anymore, Oh my Lord, bring back the praises in their lives; and if there is somebody letting pride swallow them up, and they are not as humble as they should [be], Oh God, let this lesson speak to them, and let humility be a virtue that will crown us this very night... (inaudible). We want to hear Thy sweet commendation. We want to hear those words: “Great is thy faith, you can have what you want.” Oh Lord, let not these inspired words return void tonight, but let this message accomplish that whereunto Thou art pleased to send it, and let us have some results. We'll give You the praise; we'll give You the honor; we'll give You the glory; in Jesus' name. Amen.

Prepared As A Bride Adorned by Sarah Foulkes Moore

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" (Revelation 19:6, 7).

Veiled like Eastern women and hidden among all nations is the Bride of Christ. In Scripture, the Bride is veiled in lovely types and shadows. The first is that of Eve, made from the being of Adam himself. So also is the mystical Bride of Christ, "...members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Ephesians 5:30).

And as Eve was taken out of Adam's body while he slept, so today, while the Church slumbers, the Bride of Christ is being taken out of His body, which is the Church. In the Book of Esther is found the perfect portrait of the Bride who has made herself ready.

The Book of Esther is concerned almost entirely with a royal court and court life, but is a veiled type of the heavenly. It depicts in minutest detail the presentation of Esther, the royal bride to Ahasuerus, the mighty sovereign, who ruled from India to Ethiopia.

Esther Chosen

The powerful Ahasuerus, King of Persia, made a royal feast to which he invited all the nobles of the land. His queen was the lovely Vashti. At the end of them, feast the King desired to display her beauty before the hosts of his realm. But Vashti refused to come at the King's command. Then her estate was set aside and her crown was given to another, the chosen and chaste Esther.

Vashti is a type of the Church. What happened to Vashti is happening to the Church today. Ahasuerus is a type of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who prepared the gospel feast and invited His whole realm to His banqueting table. Now at the end of the gospel feast, the Lord has sent a summons to the Church to present herself before Him, for judgment must first begin at the House of God. But like Vashti, she is busy with her own feast, programs, forms and ceremonies, and is deaf to the royal summons.

To Him That Overcometh

The Lord's final message to the seven Churches, seven times repeated in Revelation Two and Three is: "To Him That Overcometh!" But the Church as a whole has refused to overcome the world, self, and the devil. The Church we see today has not divorced herself from these rival suitors. Flirting with the world and toying with the devil's enticements, she is not as a chaste virgin wedded to Christ through time and eternity. Hence, her royal estate as the Bride of Christ is taken from her and given to those who will overcome as individuals. And it is they who inherit the promises given to Overcomers and will sit with Christ as His Bride on His throne and rule with Him.... (Revelation 3:21).

In the purposes of God, the Church of Christ is intended to be glorious and triumphant. Priceless honors and mighty thrones are promised as rewards to overcoming. But to all this, the nominal Church has turned a deaf ear. The visible Church today is suffering overwhelming defeat. But Scripture throughout reveals the Crucified, Risen, Ascended, and Coming Again Lord Jesus presenting to Himself a Bride "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners" (Song of Solomon 6:10). When Vashti failed, Esther took her place. But while Esther was brought to the palace and chosen to rule and reign with the King, she was not presented to him at once. Esther is a true type of the Bride who is not ready without preparation to be presented to the Lord Jesus at His Coming.

The days of our preparation are the days of our overcoming self and sin. The days of our preparation begin not when we are saved but when we hear His summons to overcome, and count the cost. The King's chamberlain provided Esther with all she needed to make her preparation. And as Esther is a type of the queenly Bride of the Heavenly King, the chamberlain is a type of the Spirit, ministering to the Bride's overcoming necessities. It is the Spirit's ministry, working through the grace of our Lord and Saviour, to conform a believer's life and heart to the will of God. It is the work of the Spirit to bring us out of the old creation and into the new. The spirit works as we yield to His workings, and all He asks is our cooperation.

(Read Genesis 24.)

The Bitter And The Sweet

The Book of Esther unveils not only the Bride's need of preparation, but also the process that accompanies it. Twelve months were required. Nothing could be glossed over. No detail could be slurred. There were six full months of bitter with oil of myrrh and six months of sweet odors. Myrrh typifies the fellowship of the Bride in the sufferings of the Bridegroom. All suffering is not for Christ's sake. Much of our suffering is the result of the flesh lusting against the Spirit. It is the carnality in us that is at enmity with God. But there is a real suffering for Christ's sake that identifies us with Christ in His death and resurrection. Christ died of a broken heart. His Bride also will have a broken heart.

She finds herself subject to mortifying trials, placed in peculiar environments, misunderstood, scorned, and slandered. Nevertheless, like Esther, she will be placed by the King in "the best place in the house of the women". And despite all reason and all seeming, the Lord has each of us now in the best place to perfect that which concerns us in dying out to self and the world and living in full obedience and entire consecration to His blessed, holy will.

In His sight, the place of heartbreaks, scalding tears, mysterious tribulations, is the best place we can be to obtain the breaking and humbling needed to bring us to entire self-renunciation and full abandonment to God. Salvation comes by faith. But the fullness of the Holy Ghost life comes to us by tribulation alone. The Bride is going through her tribulation now. But after the bitter, the sweet! As she, by His grace, yields to this deeper death to self, she comes into a place of prayer and communion with her Crucified Bridegroom that is continuous. The Bride enters into spiritual comprehension of the love of Christ that passeth all understanding, so that at last she can say, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" (Song of Solomon 6:3).

Seven Maids

"Other things" apart from the bitter and sweet were given Esther for her purification. These unmentioned things, we may assume, are our own distinctive needs of overcoming. Some of us need checks of the Spirit to discipline us; some need urgings and prompting of the Spirit to embolden; others have a special need of spiritual wisdom, or the need of the understanding counsel and uplift of a spiritual friend. Everything in its time and order is provided for by the Lord, and He stops short of nothing until we are wholly subdued in His hand and conformed perfectly to His will. The King's provision for Esther called for seven maids to care for her. It was the skilled labor of these maids that finally accomplished Esther's preparation for her royal presentation to the King. So we must submit ourselves to the spiritual processes of crucifixion as the work of these seven maids continues, in preparing us to be presented in the courts of Heaven "...prepared, as a Bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2).

These seven maids are in the employ of the Lord. They may be in the disguise of difficulties in the home, office, or shop. Or as a neighbor, or a church-worker, or as a loved one, but they are in the employ of God to work in us that submission and tenderness that is just like the lovely Jesus. The days of preparation finally ended and Esther was called into the presence of the King. So complete had been the work of the "bitter" and the "sweet" and "other things" that when she stood before Ahasuerus, she appeared unto all that looked upon her as "glorious ... without spot".

We Must Prepare

What does it mean to be "accounted worthy" to stand before the Son of Man? It means the perfection of spiritual character attained in an overcoming life. It means devotion like that of Paul to the Lord Jesus. It means a moment-by-moment walk like that of Enoch who is God's model for us.

In this hour, portent with signs of His imminent returning, by our attitude, by our actions, or reactions, by our obedience or disobedience to the plain commands of the Lord, we are now either preparing ourselves like Esther to sit with the King on His Throne, or like Vashti, by our very neglect and failure to make ourselves ready, we are in danger of having our spiritual estate taken from us. Decisions and choices are being made now in our relation to Christ as the Bridegroom of our soul, which are determining our position, our reward, or our loss throughout eternity. The Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son purchases us a place in the Kingdom, but the rewards given and the crowns worn in the Kingdom are only for those who overcome and who go all the way with Him. Beloved, read Christ's message to His Overcomers in Revelation 2 and 3!

"And take need to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man" (Luke 21:34-36).

To Judge or Not to Judge

Written by Daniel David Reynolds, November 11, 1991 for his Epistles I class at Deliverance Bible Institute.

We should vaue human judgment, not overvalue it!!!

Judge = to separate, selecct, choose, determine, to pronounce judgment.

We must remember:

  1. Our powers are limited
  2. Our information often very defective
  3. Our minds very subject to bias.

Our potential to be deceived shold lead us:

  1. To take heed how we pronounce final judgments.

Finality of judgment may be profitably avoided, particularly when our judgment affects:

a) The providence and dealings of God

b) The character and motives of our fellows

  1. Not to be disturbed if harshly judged by our fellows

Rightly estimated, human judgment is a very small thing when compared to the word of God.

No man can work entirely with reference to his own labors and his own opinion of them. We all need to live under the sense that others are taking some notice of what we do.

Human and divine judgment, shold have an effect upon the Christian's life. (We love, and are examples.) We all form ideas and opinions about the works of those around us and are influenced by them, but remember final judgment awaits. We cannot see life in its true proportians when we look at it from a point of view so near. NO man's work can be fairly judged until it is completed. To Judge now, is to judge before the time.

Word Study of "Judge" in 1 Corinthians

I Corinthians 4:3 Paul is not overly concerned with their opinions about his faithfulness as a servant, seeing that he does not even trust his own judgment on this point. Judge = Ask, question

1 Corinthians 5:12 It isn't our job to judge outsiders, but it certainly is our job to judge and eal strongly wiht those who are members of the church and who are knowingly sinning in these manners. Judge = punish

1 Corinthians 6:2 We need not worry about things pertaining to this life. We are going to judge the world, angels. Let the lowest in the church judge the smallest matters. Judge = judgment seat (church = to sit in ...); Judge = separate throughly, withdraw

1 Corinthians 10:15 You who are intelligent, lok now and see for yourselves, whether what I am about to say is true. (Judge what I say) Not why I am saying it. Judge = decide

1 Corinthians 11:13 What do you think? Whad does the example of nature tell you. Judge = decide, to think

1 Corinthians 11:31 Our judgment from the Lord, is to avoid condemnation. Judge = separate throughly, withdraw

1 Corinthians 14:25 Judge what is being said. Judge = separate throughly, withdraw

(STRONG = "Strong's Hebrew and Greek Concordance of the Bible")

(STRONG#) 350 scrutinize, investigate, interrogate, determine, ask, question, discern, search, examine

(STRONG#) 2919 decide, condemen, punish, avenge, conclude, sentence, to think

(STRONG#) 1252 separate throughly, withdraw from, hesitate, doubt, be partial

(STRONG#) 2922 to sit in judgment seat