God Heard My Voice.

"And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice." Jonah 2:2

Two things every believer in Jesus Christ can always know, God hears our cries and God will never leave us or forsake us. We may sometimes think that God may not have heard us and even sometimes think that He has forsaken us but be assured He has done neither. Jonah brought on himself this punishment, if he had obeyed God the first time The Lord commanded he would have never have been in the whales belly. Sometimes God's children just fail to obey the Lord and His commandments and God has to get us in line with His thinking again. Sometimes we need a little chastening by the Lord, this is why Jonah wounded up in the fishes belly. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:" Hebrews 12:5 Believer don't be surprised that if you fail to follow Gods commands if you do not wind up in a fishes belly for three days and nights. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3:11 "My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:" A. W. Pink once wrote "But while the believer’s sins cannot be punished, while the Christian cannot be condemned (Rom. 8:3), yet he may be chastised." Therefore the believer does not need to be so surprised when God drops the hammer on them when they step out of line. When Jonah was let go out of the whales belly he knew what had to be done. "And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time...So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD..." Jonah 3:1,3 If God has to hit us in the head with a ball bat then He will. God knows everything and He knows what it takes to get our attention just as He got Jonahs attention. But even though Jonah had not done what God said the first time he did do it, and believe me if God wants you as a believer to do something you will do it. Gods ordained will is always done. God chastened Jonah for the same reason He chastens us; He loves us. Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." While the chastening of the Lord can be hard on us, it is only out of love that He does it. If Jonah had went unto Nineveh when the Lord commanded he would not have had to have been chastened by the Lord. Therefore as believers in Christ and church members let us all remember if God wants something He will get it and if He wants you to do something He is not going to find another to do it, He will make you willing in the due time. As believers let us examine ourselves to see if God is chastening us for something that we have not done. And may I also add this, that if you are not in step with Gods commands then that may be the very reason that your world seems to falling down around you. We are God's children and He loves us and therefore it is incumbent upon us to do and walk as He commands. If you are not in church then you are most certainly not doing as the Lord commanded. Joshua told us "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 While salvation is not a choice in life sometimes God allows us enough rope to hang ourselves and then chastens us for hanging ourselves. This is what God showed in Jonah but God also showed His will was completed. When the Y in the road comes it is better to choose to serve the Lord rather than serving the will of the flesh. Sometimes there is a war within us and always trust; God will always win, no matter how much chastening He does. It is always better to be looking to serve the Lord.

Profane and Vain Babblings.

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:16

The words “profane” and “vain babblings” means - heathenish, and empty sounding, that is, fruitless discussion – This would include most of what is taught from the pulpit in most assemblies today. The truth of the matter is that only in a Sovereign Grace Baptist Church can one hear truth from the scriptures. The reason is that once Gods sovereignty has been removed then there is nothing else to preach. All other preaching becomes “profane and vain babblings” in which God tells us to shun. The word “shun” means basically simply to stay away from it; and the reason God told us this is, it is worthless. Not everything taught in these places of worship is of God neither is it glorifying to God. God does not use it nor does it produce any good results. God said their words were empty sounding, that is, fruitless discussion, not fruitless in the world but fruitless to God. Many people have a zeal for God and actually dedicate their life to the lies and vain babblings but to no profit to God. “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” Romans 10:2 People look at the great worship centers and all the people that attend and think they must be of God but that in not so, size never measures Gods workings, truth does. God never said look for the preacher that has the largest congregations but rather the preacher that speaks the truth. Preachers are measured only by the TRUTH they teach. “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” 1 Timothy 5:17 that would be the doctrine of the word which is the truth of God. There is not another measuring stick in which to measure them except by truth. God also told the churches that these men were so worthy that they were worthy of double honor that is two times what you think they are worth. He also gave the churches two commands concerning His pastors “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Timothy 5:18 churches are not to muzzle their pastors that they cannot speak the truth or starve them to weakness or death. What do you as a church member want for your church; profane and vain babblings which you can find in any assembly that refuses to teach truth or truth? Do you want a pastor which babbles and builds great assemblies on lies or a pastor that preaches truth. Support your pastor; he is all you have and he is sent from God with His blessed truth. Pastors of truth are hard to find therefore we all need to support those that we have. I hate to say this and sound shoddy but if you have a pastor that teaches truth let him preach and keep him fed. Think sometime what would it be if God were to move your pastor and leave you without. We praise God for the truth of His blessed word but not just anyone can preach it and so many who try fail. Preaching is a calling and those who are not called will fail, either their ministry will fail or truth will fail and they will become preachers of profane and vain babblings.

I Am The Sovereign God!

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Revelation 21:6

Here we see our Lord Jesus Christ describe Himself as the only Sovereign God. Alpha means first and by this He means there is none before Him. No parents to teach Him to walk, no siblings to teach Him the way of life and how to deal with life, no teachers or counselors to teach and educate Him, no none before Him because He is the sovereign God. He needs no one or anything to make Him increase in any area because He is already and has eternally been the Omni God. The word “omni” truly only belongs to God because He truly is the only “omni” anything. Omni come from Latin and means “all” and besides Him there is no other “all” anything. Let’s read Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." He (Jesus Christ) is “…the beginning and the end…” and “…the first and the last…” He is the sovereign God. Man and their religion has seek to just about eliminate Jesus Christ from having power over salvation and power over the churches, and that is an awesomely sad mistake. Without Jesus Christ there is no salvation or churches. So when one attempts to eliminate Him from saving sinners and from building churches then there is no salvation and no churches, and that is just what those people have is nothing. Jesus said do I not have the power over the vessel to do as I please? Romans 9:21 “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” is not He the creator of all things and has the right to as He is pleased with His own creation. Wasn’t it He that gave man dominion over the earth? Wasn’t it He that gave Satan the power to tempt Eve and bring sin into the world? Wasn’t it He that chose to send His beloved Son into the world to save a remnant of them? Wasn’t it Him that created hell and the torture of it to punish the lost. People come up with these false doctrine about mans will and the freeness of it, but God says He is the Saviour of mankind. God has the right to do as He pleases and man says there is so much He cannot do. The truth is God does as He pleases with whom He please. If God elects to save one sinner (a vessel fit for honor) doesn’t He also have the right to have non-elect (vessels fit to dishonor)? Romans 9:22 “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:” Salvation is no more mans decision than their birth was. You can no more control your rebirth than you did your natural birth. Jesus Christ is the First and the Last and all things will be what He makes them and there is no choice on mans part to be made. Some say “God can’t change mans will” but man somehow can, well that is totally wrong because only God can change a mans will. Man is a liar, that love sin more than God, and he will never on his own ever turn to Christ for salvation nor seek to please the True Sovereign God. How about the truth, God gives you the will to seek Christ. Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." We choose nothing, God chooses for us and this is why Paul said "But by the grace of God I am what I am..." 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul knew about the Sovereign Grace of God because it was Jesus Christ who changed his wicked heart and it is Jesus Christ who has changed your wicked heart. Jesus Christ is the First and the Last and while the religious world seeks to demonize His blessed truths and sovereignty He will be the one standing in the end restoring truth and judging the lies and liars to eternal damnation. Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving...all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Jesus Christ was the first and He will most certainly be the last to stand along with His truth.

What is hell like?

"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (23.) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." Luke 16:22 -23

Abraham's bosom is (I believe) a section of hell where God had set aside from the punishment side with maybe a separation gulf or something keeping the ones in hell from coming over. I believe this is where Jesus went when He died, and He ministered to the saints in Abraham's bosom. However we want our focus on the rich man and hell. Notice “he lift up his eyes” meaning I think when he arrived after passing from this life to the next, in other words he saw hell for the first time. When it says the rich man was being in torments it means he was in torture. It may be politically incorrect to mention the word “torture” but not with God because He doesn’t care what the liberals have to say about anything. God does as He pleases and no one has a right to question Him. When the rich man opened his eyes in hell he was in pure torture and knew where he was. It was so horrible there that he wanted his brothers warned not to come there but only God could change their hearts. Lost people don’t understand anything about hell or the torture that is there. One day when it is to late they will all find out just how horrible of a place it truly is. God said the road to hell is wide and the reason for this is because there will be so many there. Psalms 9:17 "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Don’t over define the word “wicked” it means the morally wrong of those that have broken God’s law. But God also said many nations will also be there and that is because so many nations disobey God and forget who God is. I pray to God that understanding about Jesus Christ would come to the lost but that is only something God can do. We preach the gospel and preach it like there is not tomorrow but it will affect none except those that God allows it too. Hell is filling fuller and fuller with each passing day and nothing can be done because none will believe on Jesus Christ as their Saviour. God said in 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." That those that believe not will not be condemned but are already. This is an urgent cry that if you have not trusted the blood of Jesus to cleanse all your sins then please do or you to will be in eternal damnation because you are already condemned. The cry of the rich man has been spoken once again but few will ever hear and the rest will join him in eternal torment. I have so much to thank God for but none more for than the salvation God has given to me. I will never feel the pains of the eternal lake of fire and brimstone but will rather enjoy the blessedness of eternity with Jesus Christ. I will end with this question and answer. Acts 16:30 - 31 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31.) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

The Earth And Heavens Shall Be Burned Up.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10

While the politicians in the world want to talk about global warming I would like to talk about the real reason the world will one day get so warm that it will burn up. It may be getting warmer but it is not because of global warming but it is getting closer to the coming of Jesus Christ and that great day of God’s judgment on this earth. God has promised that Jesus will return, there will then be seven years of tribulation, then there will be a thousand year reign by Jesus Christ as King over this earth and then God will destroy this earth and everything on it. It will be “melted” , that is dissolved, or totally destroyed. Nothing will survive because everything on this earth is tainted by mans sin. Everything man has built in the last six thousand or so years will absolutely be melted with heat. 2 Peter 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” It is also concluded that this total destruction will include something more than the earth it will also include the “heavens” that is the heavens below heaven itself. Man has also polluted it with their sinful presence. Everything and everywhere man has been must be and will be totally destroyed with fire from heaven. Peter went on to say in verse 12 “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” that we were “Looking for” it and that we are “hasting unto the coming of the day of God” that is believers are ready and in a hurry for it to happen. Why wouldn’t we be? All the elect of God will be saved “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Verse 9 therefore why would we believers desire a delay? God told us not to attach ourselves to this world or the things of it. This is why it will be destroyed. This is why we cannot take it with us, it is sinful and must be destroyed. 1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Those that do not love this world or the things of it are “hasting unto the coming of the day of God” because we will all rejoice to see God destroy it all. We as believers in Christ Jesus and children of God will love this day. We will not be weeping for the lost not even our loved ones because God will wipe away all tears and cause us all to rejoice in His glorious judgment on sin. Amen! And I shout and pray always “…Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

Pray For Your Pastor!

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

This is a wonderful scripture to remind us all to pray for our Pastor’s and other church leaders. Pastors hate to think of themselves as rulers but they are. The words “rule over you” means to lead and that is exactly what a Pastor does. A good Pastor should be willing to give his life for the Lords church. God has many names for a Pastor in the scriptures but two really stand out and explains their stand in the Lords churches, they are “under-Sheppard’s” and “overseers”. The under-Sheppard is one who serves under the Chief Sheppard and an overseer is who over sees the flock that belongs to the Chief Sheppard. Either way you look at it, this the job carries a glorious but great responsibility. The word “remember” means - to exercise memory, that is, recollect – because they have such a great responsibility and they are also a key target for Satan. How many times a week do you “remember” your Pastor and the other members who labor among you? I know this Pastor ask that you remember me daily in prayer in fact you cannot pray too much for your Pastor. The work of a Pastor is very blessed and very wonderful but it is also a burdensome work, that’s right I said work. 1 Timothy 3:1 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” Most church members never think how much work their Pastor does in a week, and how much attention a church requires. They truly do need a lot of prayer and a lot of your thought. This is why God told us all to remember them. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - 13 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; (13.) And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." Most Pastors are much to humble to require much or even to ask for much, but they all would like to be remembered and remembered often. So pray for your Pastor and not just once or twice a week but often and as often as God brings him to your memory. Dear Pastors I stand in salute of you and pray for you all that God will bless you and the ministry that He has entrusted to your care, God bless you all!

Love Not This World Or The Things In It!

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John 2:15 – 16

If our love is for God then it cannot be for this world. There are certain things in life that that will harm our relationship with God and loving this world or the things of it is at enmity with God. Let us not forget that this world and the system of it is controlled by Satan the great liar and deceiver. He took it in the garden of Eden with the assistance of Adam and Eve. The Lord has declared over and over that it will only wax worse and worse. Until the Battle of Armageddon when the Lord Jesus Christ shall defeat and take control back will it only then get better. Then He shall rule it with the rod of iron and force the evil people of this world to do good. For one thousand years people of this earth will be forced (against their will) to do good. People that are not saved hate God and are at enmity with Him, they will never surrender to His blessed will unless made too. Everything in this world is evil, and anti God. Even the religions of this world who claim to love and serve God are against Him. The only people who love and serve God are His blessed churches of truth and Christians. People we all need to understand that we either serve God or we serve this world and if we serve this world we can never serve God because one will cause you to hate the other. We (as Christians) are weak to this old fleshly nature and it is a fight not to be attracted to the things of this world but we must work at it. Temptations on every corner, on the job, at the store, everywhere we go in this world are temptations. We must all fight back the lust of the old man and live with the new nature. Paul warns us in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The word “conformed” means - to fashion alike – Christians are different and to surrender to the things of this world is to conform to it. The styles of the world, all the tattoos, low rider pants, and etc. Just because a religious institution allows it does not mean God allows it. Our Christian children need the most prayer of all. Our schools are infested with ungodliness, educators are by vas majority liberal and lost and very worldly. They are haters of God and the things pertaining to God and consider Christian children as brain washed zombies of their hate monger parents. We need to pray for them because it is hard to be different and to be made fun of all the time by children taught by influence and by nature to be God haters. Children, you as Christians are to refrain from the love of the things of this world and are required to follow the Lord at all cost. I know it is hard being different but your difference is both a witness about God and a glory to God. Let us all remember as Christians we are closest to God when we are walking with Him. Don’t love the thing of this world because they are anti God and I know as Christians whether children or adults we never want to be anti God. Please pray for one another that we all stand and walk with God and not with this world.

Could Baptism Be A Part Of Salvation?

Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

I find it interesting that some people will easily fall into any of Satan’s traps of deception. The truth in the scriptures are fully clear and easy to see, however one who does not trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour is destined for the eternal lake of fire. People will use any scripture out of context to prove their heresy, however the bottom line is to believe Satan’s lie is to find oneself in the eternal lake of fire. God has made it unmistakably clear that salvation is in Christ and Christ only. Baptism was never a saving tool nor is works a saving tool. Salvation is in Christ Jesus and none other and to add anything to salvation outside of Christ makes Him, His death – burial – and resurrection, and His precious blood irrelevant. God makes it clear that the blood of Jesus washes away our sins and not just some of them but all of them. Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Now if baptismal waters or tap water in a tub is as significant as the blood of Jesus Christ then that does not say much about the blood of Jesus. 1 John 1:7 “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.” Now I ask; would you rather the blood of Jesus Christ wash your sins or tap water? I know it appears that baptism is part of salvation as some see it but it must be a mistake on their part, because Jesus Christ is a Saviour all by Himself. There is not one place in the entire scripture that declares one will go to hell for not being baptized but there are countless scriptures that declare that one will go to hell without faith in Christ. One cannot have full faith in Christ if they believe that baptism is a must for salvation. John 3:15 “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” How can this scripture be true if baptism or works is necessary for salvation. Is Christ not enough to save the sinner? If He is not then why believe in Him at all, or could it be that those that do not trust Him really don’t trust Him at all. Is one that works for salvation sin free? If so then what made him sin free? I see a lot of people that believe in works for salvation and their sins are as great as mine or greater, they are not sinless after repentance. God said; “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10 is this only before repentance? Does it all change since repentance? Do we have different rules once repentance comes? God said; “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.” Romans 6:10 Christ died once and lives eternally so if we died with Him then why is it we have to die again. Are you saved everyday because you sin everyday, what are you going to do with those sins? In fact to be truthful we cannot draw one breath of air without sin. The truth is all that believe in works of any sort have in their hearts made the blood of Christ Jesus irrelevant. Folks, the scriptures are clear and could not be mistaken that that salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ and none other. To believe in anything else is to believe in make-believe. There are a lot of scriptures that are easily taken out of context but salvation is as clear as it can be and Jesus and Him alone is the Saviour of mankind. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39 While you think you have eternal life the scriptures have declared that salvation is in Christ and Him alone. Baptism is good, works are great but neither one will save a sinner or even cleanse on single sin. Don’t be blinded by Satan’s lies and trust anything but the blood of Jesus because nothing can cleanse a sin or save a sinner out side of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Following The Word!

“But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:28

When we hear the word of God do we actually follow it? One of the most blessed things one can do in life is to follow God’s word, not in only hearing it but also reacting to it. Sometime it seems we all fail to follow God’s Holy Script. He wrote the scriptures for a reason and that reason was that we follow what He said. Even Jesus Christ His own beloved Son in the likeness of sinful flesh was perfect in every way because He followed Gods word. John 6:38 “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” But somehow we in the flesh seem to want to follow our old sinful hearts over God’s word. When we follow God’s word it is called showing our faith by our works. James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” Every believer should have the greatest desire to follow God Holy Word but we are bad about letting this old man get in the way. Ephesians 4:22 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” and that includes tradition; tradition is the worst thing one can obey, it will always cloud you thinking on God’s word. We need to put away thinking of old and continually renew our learning in God’s Holy Script. God wrote the scriptures to the saved and not to the lost. 2 Peter 2:12 “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;” However we as believers in Christ have a glorious opportunity to understand and the ability to walk in the ways of God and we all fail in so many ways. We all hate to admit it but we truly do. Jesus prayed in the garden just before He was arrested and crucified that God the Father would make us holy; through His word. John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The word “sanctify” means – to be made holy - the writer to the Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 13:12 very clearly that we are eternally sanctified by the blood of Jesus “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” However sanctifying our lives here on this earth is a continuing thing. It is wonderful that we are saved and cleaned eternally by His blood, but what about the life we live today, are we living holy, are we living by God’s Holy Word? Are we continually searching the scripture to make sure what we believe and do coincide with God’s word. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Everyday of our life and every thought or deed or teaching we may have. The Lord reminds us to examine ourselves to make sure we are in sink with Gods word. 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” and then we ought to ask the Lord to examine us to see if any correction is needed. Psalms 26:2 “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” Folks the only true blessings are those from God and we are blessed so much more if we follow God’s Holy Word in every area of our life. What blessings have we if we gain the whole world and lose eternal rewards? Let us all examine ourselves and see if any correction is needed and if it is, then correct it and God will bless you for your labor.

One Of The Hardest Things For A Christian To Do!

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (44.) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45.) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:43 – 45

When we think of things that are hard for Christians, this must be one of the hardest duties of a Christian. Men are not naturally lovers or forgivers but as Christians we must all be. We are to be more like the one who gave His life and shed His blood for a people that were naturally at enmity with the Lord. People talk about being lovers of God all their life but that is impossible unless God told a lie. Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…” the word “enmity” means – hostility or in opposition and the definition even goes as far to call it hatred – and all of us were “carnal” before we were spiritual. Somehow some Christians believe they were exempt from this before they were saved, but we were not. And the reason they hate God is who He is, they disagree with Him in doctrine. This is why God said “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Romans 3:11 the reason they will not seek Him is because they do not understand Him. It is for this reason the natural man will hate God; even some that are “church members” (so to speak). Man is by nature haters of other men, it is just our nature. Therefore once a sinner is saved we come to realize over time that we are different; we become more like God taking on a few of His attributes like holiness, kindness, joy and yes love, these are called the “fruits of the Spirit” which are gifts we did not have before salvation which includes the ability to love. While hate will never totally leave a believer until we are with the Lord, every Christian should fight this old nature sore. I am also like any of you and have the same old nature and sometimes, if not most of the time I also find myself fighting the same fights with the old nature. I must remember that when Jesus found me I was not looking for Him, I was not seeking Him, and I was at enmity with the Lord. But the grace of God, the blood of Jesus, and the working of the Holy Spirit changed all of that but in this flesh it is still a fight to follow my Lord. When someone hurts us it is human nature to fight back but wouldn’t it be better and more profitable to pray for them instead? I would have certainly not have loved it if the Lord hated me because I was at enmity with Him, but He did not, by grace He loved me and sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to die for my sins, what a wonderful God we have. The Lord told us in Proverbs 25:21 - 22 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: (22.) For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. If the Lord will reward us for being kind to those that hate us then what is our reward if we fail to follow the Lords command? I know it is hard to love them that hate us but beloved it is a must; the Lord did not ask He commanded. I believe we all can use a good dose of kindness but those that are without Christ in their hearts can use it more than I can, be kind to them even it they hate and despise you. This is hard; but it is the command of God. Romans 12:14 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” Even if they are Christians themselves.

God Knows All!

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15:18

This is a bottom-line fact that many people forget and that is God is Omniscient which is defined as all-knowledge. There is nothing He does not know and nothing He has not ordained to happen. If God is God then He is everything or He is not God. God knew the fall of man would happen and He knew every detail of it, He could have prevented it had He chosen but rather He chose not too. God knows the history of the world and every detail of it; in fact He controlled it, even the ultimate sacrifice of so many believers. God know every detail of everything that happens today and nothing happens without it obeying His blessed will. And nothing will happen that God has not already marked out to come to pass. The problem for a lot of people is not God it is man, they simply do not know God as well as they need too. In fact God is to wonderful for our feeble minds to comprehend, so much so that we can only understand as much as God reveals to us through manifestation. People in general know nothing about God because God has not revealed Himself to them; they simply think they know Him. God to them is what they have made Him out to be but that is not the true God. Wisdom of God does not come natural and can not. Man does not even have the ability to know his own frame much less God. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” So while people think they know who God is, how could they. People can’t even understand that God is sovereign or what His sovereignty is. God needs nothing or no one; He has total ability to all He wills, alone and sovereign. God told Moses in Exodus 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” When God called Himself “I Am” He means that He is everything and totally sovereign. The words express absolute, and therefore unchanging and eternal Being, As one writer put it. God said in John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Signifying His eternal existence. We see Him in the fiery furnace in Daniel 3:25 “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” There is never a tomorrow with God the words “I Am” signifies He never has another second before or after the present. God has never not known His works or His will. People signify that God is not in control or that He has not the power to control something but He is just the opposite of that, nothing happens outside of His will. The problem is us and our ability to understand God, although He understands everything about us. Matthew 6:8 “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” How could this be possible except God knows everything God does not wait for tomorrow because He is already in tomorrow. Some will say that God looked into the future but how can He look into a future where He already is. This is how He already knows what we have need of before we ask. This is the sovereign God that so few know, who knows the end from the beginning.

The Church’s That God Built.

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” 1 Corinthians 12:18

I know that this article will not set well with some who read it; however it is absolutely truth and cannot be denied. There is no doubt in the scriptures that this scripture is talking about the local New Testament Church. We see in out text scripture that “…God set the members, every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him…” not as it pleased the pastor or other membership but as it pleased God. We must always have an understanding when studding the Holy Script that God is in control, God is accomplishing His blessed will, and that God knows best and has the power to control every detail of everything. Here we see that it was God who assembled the church together and with the membership pleasing to Him. I saw one commentary that said this refers to the human body but I believe a man that was as blessed by God with the knowledge he had that he should have known better. In our fleshly minds some folks just cannot accept the very fact that God does everything according to His blessed ordained will. He saves the sinner and He builds the churches. In Jeremiah 23:3 – 4 we read this "And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. (4.) And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD." Notice how the scriptures conclude that God did everything not man. Man wants to take the credit for Gods work but if one is true to the scriptures then we must all admit that God builds the churches. Jesus started the first church when He called out a remnant of people that followed Him as He called. Notice in Matthew 4:18 - 20 "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. (19.) And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (20.) And they straightway left their nets, and followed him." The word “straightway” means – immediately – that is because they had been called of God and they obeyed. But who were these two men? They were Apostles, the first members of the Lord church. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles...” 1 Corinthians 12:28 Once the Lord Jesus came to the end of His calling out the remnant then they went up into the mountain and held the first church service every member being chosen and called out by Jesus Christ. This church settled in Jerusalem until scattered by Saul of Tarsus (Paul) where many other church started as a result. Each church is an independent, sovereign, body of called out members. Anyone who has spent any time studding the history of the church will see this fact. Any serious person who studies the Holy Script knows nothing was started in Acts chapter two. But people continue to believe that there is some universal church out there that has no resemblance to the church that Jesus started and God built. People simply want to take the glory away from God with this universal, man made salvation and churches. I declare that it is nothing but pride in man heart, how could they get glory for something God did, if God saves sinners and God builds the churches then what glory is man to get? NONE! I can take absolutely no credit for anything in this church, all credit belongs to God. Now some men (in fact most men) will say that God done it but in the same breath brag on themselves. We know that the membership was God selected, we also know the pastor was God selected, and so were the missionaries. Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” This is not only to this one church but every church. While men want to take credit for saving souls and building churches they would be better to study God word and see for themselves that God has never put this work into the hands of man and He never will. GOD BUILDS THE CHURCHES!

God Will Never Forsake His Elect.

“For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.” Psalms 37:28

If you are a child of God, then you are indeed most blessed. Blessed because you belong to the most High and Powerful God, you are Gods property. You have been elected, and bought with the price of all prices, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are not only elected but also preserved, preserved in every detail of your life until the predetermined date of your demise. If you are a servant of the Lord in one of His churches you are preserved by God and no one can change what God has set forth for you to do. As I look back over my life I can see several times when I should have expired but I did not, coincidence, I think not, lucky, there is no such thing, no none of these things, it was God determined hand. God had predetermined my life before this world had ever come into existence. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15:18 there is no chance, no luck, nothing just happens, no nothing because God has chosen every detail of everything that happens. We know that the powers that be are ordained by God. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13:1 this is why we are to be subject to them. God is in control, and no one, no other power that be can change what God has ordained. This is why Christians do not need to fret about the world and its system. I will not fight abortion because if God wanted it stopped He would stop it; this is just like gay marriage if it is to be then no one can stop it. God will allow these things and then judge those that support them. It seems like the world system just keeps having victory after victory but in the long run they will lose. This is why God told us to depart from it all and not to have part in it. “Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.” Psalms 37:27 Christians are not allowed to do as they please, we have no right to support the evil of the world system as though it is good. As Christians we must put our standards higher than that and lead good Christian lives. I see some that call themselves Christians today and wonder what fruits show them to be Gods. To us who are God’s elect, we are His and everything that happens, happens only by His blessed will. I know sometimes life and events in life happens that make us wonder, but believe God when He says “forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever” therefore we are to carry on as though we are right and the world is wrong. While it seems like the world system wins every battle but let us remember those that died horrible deaths for the Lord, His churches, and the truth of His word. Where these bad luck? Was God not watching? And if God was not watching or if God could not do anything about it then how is it He can say “his saints; they are preserved”. God gave the life of his own Son in order that we might be saved, and He gave the lives of millions in this world for many other reasons. But as for me and you, we are also “preserved” of God and nothing will ever happen that God has not ordained. Therefore it is my duty to God to sanctify myself for the Lord Who had sanctified me before the foundation of the world. The world will pay account to Jesus Christ for their sins even if they continue to have victories in this world. The final victory is ours (the children of God) no matter what happens in this life. Even if we suffer jail or even death victory is ours and no one can change that. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58.) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 – 58 be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord because no matter if the entire world hates you, God will eternally love and keep you. Thank you Lord for your grace, mercy, love, and preservation of me, AMEN.

Abortion; What Does God Say Of It?

“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.” Genesis 4:1

This week in Texas the legislature has passed a bill that puts greater limits on abortion and the Texas Governor has promise to quickly sign it into law. I still believe in the bible, not the new modern bibles that have been watered down but the old one, the King James Bible. I still believe in what God teaches and God teaches that abortion is murder. God has not changed His thinking on this subject and any woman who has an abortion is in violation of Gods law, no matter what the world thinks of it. Any Christian who supports the murder of the unborn child is also in violation of Gods law and God will deal with them accordingly. God never approved of man to kill the unborn and never will. I don’t fight abortion or anything else because I believe in a Sovereign God who always has His blessed will accomplished and He doesn’t need me fighting to change what sinful man is determined to do, however when people like those in Texas fights the good fight and get a victory then I praise God and those that worked to get it accomplished. People that do these sinful deeds will face the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment for them. I am always amazed at how unreasonable and filthy people can be in the attempt to have the right to murder the unborn child. As I read about the actions of the abortionist rights people in the media’s reporting and the things they will do to keep this right I have to wonder who these ungodly people in our society are. Does anyone care what God thinks? Does anyone care about human life? It seems that people care more about disobeying God than to obey Him, but that is human nature isn’t it. People want to compare abortion to capitol punishment, but there is no comparison. God said of murderers “And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life," Exodus 21:23 and Jesus said “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Matthew 26:52 so to compare abortion or the murder of the unborn to one who has destroyed another life is unfair and unscriptural. However God did say about abortion in Exodus 21:22 "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished…” Children or as some call them fetuses (fetus sounds better than child in the abortion clinic I guess) are Gods gift to mankind, they are to be protected as much as any other human. In our text scripture notice two words “conceived” and “bare” the word “conceived” means - to be (or become) pregnant – and the word “bare” means – to be delivered – and when the child was born Adam said “I have gotten a man from the LORD.” That is because all children are a gift from God and should be protected from the abortionist. Also we look at Luke 1:41 “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:” when the Lord calls it a baby and not a fetus. Abortion is not an unforgivable sin but it is a sin and sin is a violation of Gods laws. God forgives sin and if a woman has had an abortion then God will certainly forgive her through the blood of Christ, but Christians should not be a part of mans sins. It is a disgrace to see people who care more about animals than they do about the children in the womb. These same people will fight to save a tree and fight to kill the unborn. We in America do these things, and have this sort of logic and wonder why disasters hit America. We ask God for blessings and than ask abortionist to kill the unborn child. So to the State of Texas and others who have bravely stood against the heathen; I would like to say thank you for saving the unborn children from the murders who want to kill them for a little money and self glory.

Chosen!

Ephesians 1:3 - 4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4.) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"

Oh! What a true blessing it is to be a child of the living God. What a blessing it is to have been so loved of God that He sent His only beloved Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to die for my sins. What a blessing it is to be chosen of God to be His very own child. There are so many things that I and those like me have to truly thank God for that we will never complete that task. I stand this day in a world of hatred and sinfulness thanking God that I am different. Paul said that God hath blessed us; and indeed my dear brother in Christ was so right. Blessed because before the foundation of the world God hath chosen me and millions of others like me to be His children. “…According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…” before the world was ever created God elected a remnant or the worlds population to be set aside (sanctified) for His own glory and purpose. We may not be loved of the world but we are loved of God and Jesus the Christ and that counts more than the entire love of the world. Famous people here are loved of the world, but it is only a short time and then that love fades away; but the love of God is an eternal love one that will never ever fade a way. People want to mock the doctrine of the election of God as something evil or problematic but to me it is the greatest blessing that God gave to mankind. They say this election is talking about Israel and not Gentiles, well if this is true then only the Israelites will be saved; only they will enjoy the benefits of salvation in eternity. But I differ with that thinking because I know it is talking about the different nations of the world because God said so in 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." Not that He loved everyone in the world because He did not, but that He loved different nations of people in the world. Peter promised “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” Acts 10:34 and Peter went on to say in verse 35 “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Therefore it is impossible that God has only elected the Israelites. I think maybe instead of looking to condemn the doctrine of election I would be more interested in finding out if I am one of God chosen because if you are not you will one day find yourself in the lake of eternal fire and brimstone. The only way to know for sure is what is in your heart, if Jesus is there then you are one of Gods chosen, and if He is not it is time to seek Him because He promised He would be found by those who seek Him. Acts 17:27 “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:”

The world shall wax worse and worse!

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13

God was bold when He said through the apostle Paul "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing..." Romans 7:18 because man thinks he is good and wonderful and smart, however in man is no good thing outside of Jesus Christ. Men simply are waxing worse and worse everyday. Those that hope the world will get better can stop hoping. God never intended this world to get better because He has predetermined for it to get worse. Christians and Religionist have for years attempted to bring about a better, godlier world to live in, however God never told us to change the world but simply to occupy in it. Luke 19:13 "...Occupy till I come." Which means to do business with; but God never told us to convert the world. There is no doubt that the return of Jesus is coming soon. All signs are pointing in that direction. This world we live in, this nation that we are members of, is acting more and more like Satan than God everyday. I was thinking last week after some of the Supreme Courts decisions of how ungodly they were, how they spit in Gods face again and again. I know they believe they are the Supreme authority but they are not, God is. I have watched over the past 30 years or so America fall more and more into the pits of sin and then rejoice in it. I have seen America become more and more haters of God and Gods children. God said in 2 Timothy 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." That we would suffer great persecution for Christ. Folks we are beginning to see greater and greater persecution. This reminds me of the two witnesses in the tribulation period; when they are finally killed the world treats the occasion like Christmas. Revelation 11:10 “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.” This shows the amount of hatred the world has for God. We are seeing the front part of that hatred today. I believe if the Lord allows us to live on this earth long enough that it will become illegal to worship God or to own a bible. We live in a time of demonization (that is when something or someone is turned into a demon or make demonlike.) which goes back to the early 1990’s when one political party demonized the other party. They also demonized people that opposed them. It is still alive and well today except most of the news media also helps in it. This is what they are doing to Christians and churches today, they are demonizing what they believe and teach as though it is wrong, dirty, or embarrassing to be a Christian that disagrees with them. This is (I believe) how they will outlaw Christianity in America through demonization of it. The hatred just keeps growing. We as Christians need to be in much prayer for one another and the Lord’s churches. God is going to greatly punish this world for her sins and that punishment is called the tribulation period and eternal hell.

The Father’s Love.

1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

Oh! What love, the Father hath bestowed on us. What a marvelously thought in three blessed words, love, Father, and bestowed. I think the thought of these three words I could write volumes of books. This is why, John started this verse with the word “behold” which means - to see or to know – that is to see the marvelous and wonderful love of God, a love that only God has. It took a special, one of a kind love for God to love sinners like us. Lets test our love in the flesh; God said “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44 are we capable in the flesh, without the blessings of God to do this? No! We are not. We may act as though we do but we do not. In this flesh we cannot even love God much less each other, or our enemies. I know what people believe, they believe they love God but I must ask how a lost person can ever love God. If they say that they do then they call God a liar. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11.) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Romans 3:10 – 11 Paul also told us in Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” In fact the only way one can even love God is that the enmity against God be slain. Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Abolishing the enmity and making peace with God only comes as a result of Gods grace or Gods glorious gift of salvation to us. I know there are some who believe they are saved because they chose Christ, they chose to turn over a new leaf, but I am here to say that is impossible. If those people are right then the three words spoken of here are worthless. If you are the potter of your own salvation (that is the maker of it) then God has done nothing. But please pay close attention to what God has just said thorough John, “…what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” The love that the Father has bestowed on us is the ability to call Him Father. The love is the love He bestowed on us, that is the love He has given to us, not to all mankind but to those He chose to give it too. That love gives us the ability to call Him Father. Jesus Christ is that love; his birth, his death, His resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His seat next to God is all that love. This is love that God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to surrender His life for our sins. This love gift is what gives us the ability to call him Father. Thirdly, “…that we should be called the sons of God…” We have no right as enemies of God in the flesh to call Him Father. We are blessed with this by the same love that delivered Jesus Christ to the cross. Oh! How blessed we are if we are saved from eternal damnation and truly able to call Him Father.

This is why the world hates us and hates God. The fact that God is sovereign and saves sinners of His own choosing, and not by our choosing, the fact that He is the potter and we are simply the clay. The fact that they cannot love a God that hates things that are politically incorrect in this world. They hate the fact that God is not irrelevant and insignificant as they want Him to be. They hate the fact that they may not be included in the election of God and they might reside in hell for all eternity no matter what they do. God has bestowed his love on a remnant of people and the only way to know if you are included is to believe that Jesus Christ is your Saviour. Thank you Father for your blessed love!

Praise God!

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. (35.) And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise." 1 Chronicles 16:34 -35

As children of the most high God we are indeed more blessed that any other of God’s creation. God chose out of the kindness and mercy of His own heart to save a remnant of His earthly creation and then He chose to call them not only blessed but also His own sons. God could have elected angels or others of his creation but He did not, He chose me and all others that are called believers in Jesus Christ. God has walked us through life and taken care of our ever need, led us to the well of living water, and caused us to drink even when we did not want too. Oh, we will not understand until we are with the most high just how blessed we truly are.

The writer (under the inspiration of the highest God) has told us to praise God, not only for the kindness He has shown us in salvation, but also for what He is going to do for us tomorrow and every day for all eternity. God has promised to deliver us from those that despise and hate us for being His. God does so many things for us we can never in this life ever count our blessings! God sent His own Son in the man Christ Jesus, one that never knew sin, one that could never ever sin, in the likeness of sinful flesh to give His precious life and to take my sins to the cross with Him. To shed His blood to bring me into the state of being white as snow. How precious has our God been to us!

Praise God! This is the conclusion of God word to us, praise Him, and His blessed loving name above all other names. Oh how we sometimes if not most times fail in our praise to God. We can praise man over and over again but the God of grace, love, and mercy we often cannot find time to praise. We cannot find time for church and the worship of God and His beloved Son Jesus Christ. Worship of God is found in the Lords churches, and it is here where we are closest to God. I know that many will disagree and most certainly those that fail to attend church will disagree, but there is no other place where true worship is found. Jesus told the woman at the well "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." John 4:20 Why the mountain and Jerusalem? It is because the mountain top is here Jesus assembled the first church in Mathew 5 and Jerusalem is where the first church settled. What Jesus was saying is that it is in the churches where true worship is found. It is there where true praise is found. While many try to explain to me just how God can be praised and worshiped any where or any time (and this is so true), worship is most honorable in the Lords churches. People that God has so graciously given salvation refuse to worship in the proper place of praise on earth, the Lord church. They are disappointed, their feeling were hurt, they work, they only have one day off a week, they may not be happy with the strictness of the church, whatever the reason for not attending church it is a most wrong excuse. God is to be praised, and people that fail to worship in a proper church service is not praising God to the fullest. Jesus created the church as an institution of praise to God. It is not a place for man to get praise but God. I will leave you with this thought; Philippians 3:2 - 3 "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. (3.) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise.

"For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." 1 Peter 3:17

We see in today’s preaching so much deception, preachers preaching about only good and never any bad or suffering. How many times do preachers refuse to preach about trials in our lives, or if they do then we must have done something bad to bring them about. They preach that God wants nothing bad in your life, He wants no harm to come to you, He wants only for you to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. “That only if God had His way all would be paradise in this old world in fact it would be heaven on earth.” “If only God could…” Folks this is all hog wash! The scriptures promises us "...being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" Ephesians 1:11 even the predestination of saving sinners. God’s will is always accomplished all the way down to Jesus Christ dying for our sins. Folk any time a preacher says that God can’t accomplish His will; they are most certainly misguided. We need to always remember whether good or bad and even in the worst of times the will of God is always accomplished. There is nothing beyond God and there never will be an event that happens that God could not have stopped or changed. I know in these horrible times of school shootings, hurricanes, tornados, and etc. etc. etc. most would like to think that God is absent or there was simply nothing He could do, but folks it is just the reverse of that, God is never absent from anywhere, and He controls every event. Just because horrible events happen to good people, children, or even Christians does not mean that God was absent or unable to stop it. God promised "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45 whenever bad comes it comes to both and by the will of God. God does not move His children out before the storm but sends them through it. God’s will for you may be bad or even very bad but it is Gods righteous will for you to suffer.

Let us always remember “For it is better, if the will of God be so…” no matter what! It was better that Jesus Christ suffer beyond our imagination and then give His life that for Him to have called ten thousand angels to rescue Him from the cross. It may be better for God for you to be poor, unwise, or even unhealthy. We do not know the will of God nor do we know the mind of God, but this we do know every single thing that happens in your life is the will of God. Peter also told us "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;" 1 Peter 3:14 in other words when suffering comes be happy because God has chose to use you this way, you will be blessed in it. I would rather suffer everyday of this life for Gods glory than to be healthy, wealthy, and wise, and loose my soul to eternal damnation. This life is but a short time, but eternity will never end and neither will the blessed rewards God rewards us with in glory. God’s people have always suffered and always will. Many millions suffer horrible deaths for Gods glory; were these sufferings and death in vain? No! Every single one was by Gods blessed will for them and to His glory. Folks our life is not about us and our glory; it is about Gods praise and glory. What we want is irrelevant to Gods wants; we are tool for Him to get glory from. He is the potter and we are simply the clay, He molds and makes us what he wants us to be, and that is not always glory on our part although in heaven it will be glory. So next time it rains or even pours on you, next time disaster comes your way remember what God said; "Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. (14.) And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done." Acts 21:13 – 14 Let us all remember to pray “Lord thy will be done, even if it’s disaster for me and may all glory be yours”. AMEN!

Bowing To The World.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13:1

It is true that all powers that be, are ordained of God. It is also true that all world leaders that sit in ruler ship of the world are ordained of God. We are as believers in Jesus Christ subject to the powers that be. However that is; we are not to simply agree with the world! We live in a world that Satan controls and will control until Jesus Christ takes that authority away during the millennium period. And while we are subject to the law’s that be, this does not mean we are to simply bow down to every law they make. We are not to accept laws that disobey the scriptures, we are not to obey laws that subject Christians to the lost mans desire. Peter told us in Acts 5:29 “…We ought to obey God rather than men.” We are followers of God first and just because God causes something or allows something to be, does not mean it is good for us to be a part of it. The scriptures are our law and rule in this life, and lost people are not interested in what they say. Abortion is legal in America however it is still murder and God still says we are not to murder. God told Adam in regards to his sin; “… Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;” Genesis 3:17 God told us as Christians to give the world what belongs to them, but unto God what is due Him, and all of our allegiance belongs to Him. Sin is sin regardless of who we blame it on. 1 Samuel 15:24 says “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” We simply cannot obey the voice of the world and blame our stupidity on the other person. I believe Adam did that and God did not accept it. If we as Christians obey the voice of the world then we will be punished with the world. God has a purpose for all things He does and He is not a one size fits all God. What God does with this world is not always for His saved servants. This world is heading toward the tribulation period and we as Christians are not because Christ will catch us out before it starts. And while we must suffer through all the bad because it rains of the just and unjust, we do not always have to accept the will of God for the world as His will for us Christians. Abortion is legal but not for Christians therefore we must stay away for abortions. So when religious leaders such as the SBC or any other source tell us we must accept something as Gods will and not fight against it, they could not be more wrong. Any Christian that surrenders to the laws of the world as the laws of God for us is wrong. We are to always obey Gods Holy Script and nothing else, ever. Folks, God is the commander of all things, His blessed will is always accomplished. He controls every detail of everything, and He is never off duty or on vacation. Why God allows something or causes something does not mean we know His purpose in doing it. We are to accept what happens as Gods will, but it is not always His will for us His children. Do not ever accept anything as Gods will for us just because it is his will for a lost and dying world. Always obey Gods blessed word and nothing else.

A Place Prepared For Us.

John 14:2 - 3 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3.) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." When most Christians read this passage of scriptures; the first thing they notice is “In my Father's house are many mansions…” and it is an exciting thought. Who would not like to live in a mansion for all eternity? However I think the most glorious thought here is over-shadowed by this thought. The two most glorious thoughts here are “…I go to prepare a place for you…” and “…I will come again, and receive you unto myself…” If we would think about it the word “mansions” simply means - a staying place, that is, a residence – it has nothing to do with what we would consider mansions here on earth. I believe heaven is sectioned off because we do find the Holy of Holies which is where Gods throne is, and we do know that Christ Jesus throne sits right next to Gods. 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." When we think about it Jesus said “In my Father's house are many mansions…” or many residences therefore it is evident that different creatures have different places assigned to them. But Jesus said “I go and prepare a place for you” that is all of Gods elect or all of Gods children. We are not going to be scattered all around (I don’t believe) but rather we will have a special place. I also believe the church will have and even more blessed place as the Lords bride. Jesus did give us a hint here when He said “…that where I am, there ye may be also” I believe our place in heaven will close to our redeemer. We do find believers where we find Jesus in the scriptures. I believe our dwelling place is together in the special place Jesus has prepared for us. The second glorious promise is “…I will come again, and receive you unto myself…” Jesus is coming again someday and all will be over on this earth for the “church age”. It is glorious to think about all the believers that died in Christ is there with Him and when He returns as here He promised than all saints will be caught up in the air to be with the Lord. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:6 - 8 "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7.) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (8.) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." I am ready dear Lord please come. I know the thought of the Lords return has grown to skepticism but the Lord said it would; Luke 18:8 “…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” I see that little faith today. However let’s remember that the Lord is going to return and I see it soon, just look around, is the world ready for the Lords return? I see that little faith on the earth, therefore I see the Lords return without much delay. The Lord promised to come quickly so I pray come quickly Lord, come quickly! Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” So don’t pay so much attention to the word “mansions”; believe me every part of heaven will be royalty but rather pay more attention to the other two promises. Please keep praying with me that the Lord returns without delay.

Contentment In The Lord’s Churches.

Philippians 4:11 - 12 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12.) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." I know this is really to us the believer’s however today I would like to point this to the Lord’s churches. We are living in a time of apostasy where many have left the Lord’s churches for a good time and feeling in the religious places of worship. I am a firm believer that we are living in the last days and the Lords return is not so far away. However the reason, it is a fact that the Lord’s churches are all feeling the pains of smaller membership, less money, fewer visitors, and even less people being saved. But as churches we all must remain CONTENT at all times in the churches as we must in our personal life. Being content means to be satisfied, and the reason for this is because we cannot change any of it on our own. Everything to the churches are in the Lord’s hands and He will do as He pleases in them all. We must all (as Paul said) learn that whatsoever state we are in to be content and remain happy in the Lord. Your Pastor is God’s servant to the church; in Revelations the Pastors are called “Angels” which means messengers. They neither are church builders nor are they money raisers, nor are they saviour’s, they are simply servants of Jesus Christ to the Lord’s churches. The Lord blesses the churches that are content in whatever state they are in and He never said it would be easy, but He did promise not to put more bad on us than we could handle. Paul said he had experienced both “abased” (that is to be trampled upon by man, to suffer hardships) and to “abound” (that is to excel) and whether the times were good or bad we are all to be content. Paul went on to say “…in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." We are to both be full and hungry and both to excel and to suffer hardships. In my 9 years as Pastor here in Texarkana we have been through all these thing and as of right now we are being richly blessed but who knows tomorrow it may all fall apart, but whatever the Lord gives us we will certainly learn to be content. Please dear brethren do not fret if things are not going so well in your church because God is in charge and all things are His blessed will. Churches get into trouble when they fret and start attempting to make things happen; we simply cannot do Gods work for Him because if we mess up He may remove the candlestick. All we can do brethren is to continue to teach and walk in truth and trust God to do all the other. He is in charge and He is the only one who can make the bad times better. Paul went on to say in Philippians 3:8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” I would not trade the knowledge that Christ has given me for a church full of people because if I did it would be all for loss. We must count all things as dung rather than to change who we are or what we teach for gain on the other side. The sovereign grace of God is worth more than a hundred new members any old day. Folks stay true to Gods word and He will stay true to you, what have you gained, if you gain the whole world and lost your own soul. That is exactly what churches give up when they change for gain. Times and likes may change but God never changes. Let us all continue to pray and for one another that Jesus will return soon and take us all home so that the Bride can be joined with her Groom.

Who Is A God like Unto Thee!

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” Micah 7:18 Oh! merciful and gracious God who is like unto thee! One can never answer this question until they realize the grace and mercy of our great God and Saviour Jehovah God. I am not talking about all the trash that is preached from the pulpits today, I’m talking about really having a basic understanding of Gods grace and mercy. People sing the glorious old hymn every week titled “Amazing Grace” and never have an understanding of what they sing. This is grace “…that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage…” one is not simply saved; oh no; one is saved because of Gods mercy and grace. One does not simply change their mind and follow the Lord. “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Romans 3:11 Not one single person since the fall of Adam. Every single person born since Adam fell has been born at enmity with God. Not one single person should have ever been allowed to stand before our great God; not one. God is holy and cannot accept sin before Him at all. God hates sin as He hates the workers thereof. He should have never loved one single sinner since the fall of Adam. Every single human being since and including Adam and Eve should rightly be cast into eternal darkness to burn in hell’s fire for all eternity. Paul said in Romans 7:24 "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" and then he goes on to answer in the next verse "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord..." because man certainly cannot deliver himself. Oh I know many today proclaim that salvation is easy and free and all you have to do is to do some impossible act on your own, they say that God cannot change mans will but that you must change you own will, but I say, as God says that is impossible. A Leopard cannot change his spots and an Ethiopian cannot change his skin color and man cannot change what he is and that is one that is at enmity with God. Now this is a fact; all that talk does is cancel the grace and mercy of God. How can one sing “oh merciful and gracious God” if all or any of salvation is up to a person who will never seek God on his own! If salvation was in any part or in any way up to man we would never be saved. God said in Romans 11:6 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Just as grace stops being grace once one believes that salvation is by our works, then salvation stops being mercy and grace once man has any part in it. Jonah shouted "...I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. Jonah 2:9 not because he rescued himself but that he was entirely rescued but God. How are we to ask “Who is a God like unto thee…” if we fail to recognize that He is the Saviour. It is God folks, not God and me, but simply God. Understanding that we cannot save ourselves nor do we play any role in our salvation. It is only then that we can even begin to have an understanding of both mercy and grace. "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." Psalms 86:5 but we will never call on Him without God first calling us and leading us to the cross of Christ where both His mercy and grace is at.

God is immutable in all His ways!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 Jeff Foxworthy is the host of a new game show on TV called "The American Bible Challenge". My wife and I sometimes watch the show and enjoy it overall except the errors the show has. They had a poll a few weeks back that really shows the ignorance of the American people. The question was (however I cannot promise this is an exact quote) “what percentage of Americans believes that God has at some point changed His mind?” The answer was what disturbed me and it was 75%. Well that tells me that 75% of the American people have no idea what they are talking about. God has never changed His mind about anything, ever! The word “variableness” means – transmutation which means no changement or no evolution and goes as far as to mean no developpement – and why would there be any change with God because not only is He immutable (unchangeable) but He is also omniscient (has all knowledge). Let’s look at the truth, the world wants God to change for many reasons and the biggest reason is they don’t like the fact that God is bigger and better than they are. The religious world has put God on our level or below and therefore He is nothing, because that is what man is outside of Christ. The world would like to think that God has evolved and is still evolving. They would like to think that God has changed on Abortion but He has not it is still murder, and on homosexuality but He hasn’t it is still an abomination to God. Sin is still sin to God and He still going to hold all guilty that have not been washed in the powerful cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. The world is still heading full steam toward the Tribulation Period, a time when God will show His wrath against this world and yes He is still going to melt the earth with fervent heat and send all the lost to hell just as He has always planned to do. James went on to say “…neither shadow of turning." That means - there is not the faintest hint or shade of change in God – so for all those 75% who think that God has changed His mind; you might want to change yours on that question. We see in Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” and in Isaiah 46:10 it says “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” when God said “…My counsel shall stand…” that means - that it shall be stable, settled, fixed, established. Therefore for God to have ever changed in the slightest hint means that He is not God. For God to have changed in the minute change would destroy all that He is. Paul said "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." Romans 11:29 John Gill said on this verse; "that is, they are immutable and unalterable; God never revokes them, or calls them in again, or takes them away from the persons to whom he has made such a previous donation: the reasons are, because that his love from whence they spring is always the same; it admits of no distinction, nor of any degrees, nor of any alteration; and electing grace, according to which these gifts are bestowed, stands sure and immovable; not upon the foot of works, but of the sovereign will of God, and always has its sure and certain effect" The Sovereign will of God; this is what people have forgotten because they are scared to death of Gods sovereign will; so like homosexuality and abortion as to many other things in this world they have changed the truth into a lie and a lie into the truth. They make God out to be small and ineffective but they will find out that was a mistake. God has not changed nor will He ever change; He is the same Sovereign God He has always been and His will is still being done. "For I am the LORD, I change not..." Malachi 3:6 AMEN!

The Most Powerful Message!

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Hebrews 4:2 The most powerful sermon in the word is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the one single sermon Christ demanded to be preached not just in the church, not just in the churches, not just in a certain part of the world, but to every single human being to have ever been born. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15 Not to just one race of people, not to just those we think might be receptive of it, but to everyone. Paul says in 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." It is the one single message that God uses to save the lost sinner. There are no second salvation messages because there is not any message that has the power that the gospel does to save the lost. There are no other words man can speak to save the lost sinner, there are no tricks man can do to affect the lost, there are no good ways to plead and beg the lost to come to Christ that is equivalent to the gospel. God said the gospel and it alone has the power to bring the proud sinner to his knees and ask God for salvation. It is the power of God to save the sinned and nothing else has this power. Paul says that nothing else works, not signs or wonders, not youth groups, not movies about hell, not good jokes from the pastor, not entertainment of any sort, but the simple message of the gospel. "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, (19.) Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." Romans 15:18 – 19 Why the gospel message? Why is it that this little message is more powerful than anything else we can do to bring a sinner to Christ? Paul said back in Romans 15:19 “…by the power of the Spirit of God…” it is the single message that the Holy Spirit uses to save the lost sinner. The saved heard the gospel for the first time after the Holy Spirit had convicted their unrepentant heart. Paul said in Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Not led by your pastor, church worker, persuasive words, or any other trick, but them that are led to the gospel by the Holy Spirit. Let’s read what God said in 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." Salvation is of the Lord and man has no power to save one single sinner. Those that think they can add to the gospel and make it more powerful, or add something special to it that it might reach more lost sinners, they hindering the gospel more than helping it. Folks! The gospel is the power of God, it doesn’t need tweaking! 1 Corinthians 9:11 - 12 "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (12.) If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ." God said in our text scripture “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them…” Why does the gospel profit some and not others? Why is it one may sit and hear the gospel millions of time over their life time and die and go to hell unsaved? It is because God never saved them! The gospel will not always profit a person and deliver them from their sin. There will be those who will hear it and never repent. The reason is God did not save them. Nothing, not even the gospel has salvation power if not delivered to the sinful heart by the Holy Spirit. This is a fact so many have lost over time, some believe they don’t need God and His power so they have created other tactics to save the lost and what they have are churches full of dead people. We close with this powerful scripture "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;" 2 Timothy 1:8

Without Hope In Christ Life Would Be Most Miserable!

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." 1 Corinthians 15:19 Have you ever given thought to the fact that in Christ, if all is not true we are most miserable creatures? This passage is certainly speaking of Christ’s resurrection, and that if He did not rise from the dead then life is miserable for the believer. However I believe that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of mankind and that He died and rise from the grave and is sitting on God’s right hand. Many were teaching in those days that Christ’s body was taken and there was no resurrection, however ignorance has always run deep in the lost. They have always wanted to depend on anything but Christ Jesus as the Saviour. I believe there is no salvation outside of Christ, because God has declared "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12 With this being said it is without doubt that there is no salvation outside of Christ Jesus. Someone once asked “what about the different religions of the world”? Well the scriptures do not tell us of another way except in Christ. Jesus Said “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9 if one does not enter by the “Door” then they will not enter. So unless one can find scripture of another way then there are none. Maybe this is why God said "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" Matthew 7:13 There is nothing that exist that is a part of salvation except Christ, not baptism, not works, not anything else except Christ. People want to argue that faith without something else is dead, but I’m not saved by faith, I am saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am saved because the blood of Jesus Christ is enough to save me from all my sins and wash them all way. "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." 1 John 1:7 Faith is my believing this; and that, I most certainly do. Paul spent the first seven chapters in Romans explaining how that works is not a part of salvation and in Ephesians 2:9 Paul made this bold statement "Not of works..." can it be any more clearer? Now how about baptism, can it be part of our salvation? Well first of all it also is a work, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us..." Titus 3:5 please remember, works destroys grace "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:6 so some will say, but in Mark 16:16 God said "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." but it does not say that if you are not baptized that you are damned nor does the scripture ever say such a thing. The same misunderstanding is about Acts 2:38. Is the water the sin cleanser or is the blood of Christ, because it cannot be both. And then there is that most powerful verse in 1 Peter 3:20 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." And which I must ask “really” are they serious about this? There is no evidence; I mean absolutely no evidence that one single person was ever baptized in the Old Testament. These folks were saved by the water when the water lifted the ark above the death and destruction beneath them. Folks if you are not saved by Jesus Christ and your sins are not washed by His blood then just as those who did not believe in the resurrection you are living a most miserable life because this world is as good as it gets for you. I am not here to argue; those days are behind me, however I do ask that you give some thought to what has been said. Do you truly believe that the works you do can contend with the work Christ has done for all those that believe in Him?

Good Verses Evil!

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Matthew 12:35 One fact about being a true Christian is that your heart has been changed. When man looks at man; he (man) sees only what he can and that is evil that appears to be good. Man cannot see the heart of another man therefore he (man) does not know his motive behind the act of what appears to be goodness. The world is full of well intentioned people who think and are recognized of doing good and has very good moral values but in Gods eyes are corrupt in every possible way. We must understand that although some appear and are seen to be good and upstanding in our eyes are evil in Gods eyes. God said of all mankind “…That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. (21.) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…” Mark 7:20, 21a this is every single man, woman, and child to have ever existed with the exception of Jesus Christ. What comes from the heart of man defiles him and what comes out of mans heart is only evil. Have you ever heard the old quote “he has a good heart” well the truth is unless they have been truly saved by the blood of Jesus Christ that is a lie, no natural man has a good heart. We need to understand that outward actions and inward thoughts can be, and almost always are different. God said about Jesus “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” Matthew 9:4 He knew their hearts. Every single person Jesus Christ saw or associated with He knew every thought of their hearts as well as all people. People can fool other people but we cannot fool God. So the question must be asked; can any person be naturally righteous in their heart without Christ? The correct answer is absolutely not. God said in speaking to the natural man “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10 Man can look for good, man can even see good in others without Christ but the truth is the blind are looking at the blind. For example a murder sees good in another murderer. The truth is that the natural man does not know good because there is no good in his heart. God went on to say “And the way of peace have they not known:” Romans 3:17 How could they; there is no fear of God in their heart, no good in them. This is why they cannot change themselves. How can an evil human just “turn over a new leaf”, make a decision to turn from evil to righteousness, or change their will from doing evil to doing good. Folks it simply is not possible, this is why there are millions upon millions who think they are Christians who are still in their natural state. God said “To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, (78.) Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, (79.) To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:77 – 79 He gave us salvation from our sins, He gave us righteousness and He gave us light to see good. Therefore the conclusion is this, good can only come from a person whom God has blessed with salvation and the knowledge of doing good. Good is a “fruit of the Spirit” that is the Holy Spirit; it is not anything within man himself. Without the grace of God we will never change nor do anything to honor God in this flesh. Good comes only from the blessed saved because without salvation there is no good. Good comes from “within” and while the lost may look and act morally good; in Gods eyes he does no good at all. God said “sit in darkness” because that is all they know. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. (20.) And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” 1 Corinthians 3:19- 20 while it may seem like goodness, to God it is evil. What seems like wisdom to man is foolishness to God. There are a lot of “Christian” and even preachers that will stand at the Great White Throne in judgment and ask “what happened” and He (Christ) will reply “…I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity…” Matt. 7:23. Folks don’t rely on your own thinking but rather flee to the scriptures they will guide you to righteousness. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1

Easter; What Is It?

“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:4 You know I grew up celebrating all of the religious holidays just as most of the world does and out of ignorance had no idea what I was doing. Christmas was always about gifts and Santa Claus and Easter was always about the Easter Bunny, hiding and finding Easter eggs, and candy. But today I find that neither one represent nor honor God. As a Sovereign Grace Pastor I have found that God is a jealous God and has no desire to share His glory or honor except with those He chooses to share it with. If we use Christ’s birth and resurrection with mythical creatures such as Santa and the Bunny then could Christ also be thought of as mythical. According to the Religionist and Arminian’s world of worship, Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus Christ but that simply is not true; because every Sunday morning is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus rose from the grave early on Sunday morning just before the sun rose. Matthew 28:1 “ In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” And the stone had been moved and the Lord had risen. This is the very reason we have the Christian Sabbath on Sunday morning instead of Saturday as the Jews did. We as Christians are not under Jewish customs therefore the Passover has nothing to do with our celebration of the Lords resurrection. Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Every Sunday morning is a celebration of the Lords resurrection and not just one time a year. Good Friday is nothing! This one has me totally confused. I guess if you have the weekend off then every Friday must be a good Friday. But just as Easter make no sense, Good Friday make even less. Now I’m not stupid; I understand what they (the Religionist and Arminian’s) think; but what confuses me is the math of it. The scripture conclude that “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.” Matthew 12:40 Now if Christ was in the grave for three days and nights then how did He die on Friday. Their calculators need an adjustment. In order for Christ to have been in the grave three days and nights then He must have died on Wednesday instead of Friday. Folks, church services are about worshiping Jesus Christ and nothing else. We are not to worship to satisfy the worshiper but to serve the Lord God. A proper service includes prayer, song, preaching, and more prayer and anything else is unacceptable. Worship is not about Christmas, Easter, cowboys, strong men, comedians, or etc., etc., etc. I am afraid that more places of worship are more interested in creature satisfaction than in God satisfaction. So while those that have their Easter egg hunts today, think about this and ask yourself this question, “is God satisfied”? Something looks very wrong when I think about the Apostle Paul hiding Easter eggs. I believe Paul would have been insulted to walk into a place of worship and see what most of these places are doing and calling it worship. If I ever get to the point where I need an Easter bunny to remind me of my Saviour’s resurrection, I will consider myself to have great spiritual problems. Matthew 4:10 "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (9.) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (7.) Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (7.) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine."