Saturday, February 27, 2016

There Comes A Time When Christians Must Give up On the Wicked.

Psalm Chapter 5

As a Pastor, a minister and proclaimer of the of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is my earnest prayer that all men come to Jesus Christ for salvation. I pray that God will lead me to them that are in need of salvation and give me the words to deliver them to the blood of Jesus Christ, a place where salvation is only found. Our church will spend any amount of money and reach to any depth of the earth to pull a lost and dying sinner to Christ. We cry unto the Lord as David did in his morning prayer and we too ask God for guidance as David did. It is evident in the scriptures that God knows all who will, and will not come to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Therefore we ask the Lord to lead us to the battle field of the lost, and to the lost who through His grace and mercy have hope though election. God is righteous, God is holy, God will never allow an unrighteous or unregenerate soul to stand in His sight or His Holy Land called heaven. The greatest love, the greatest mercy, is the fact that God chose to love a remnant of the wicked and chose to save and make righteous this remnant, righteous in His sight through Jesus Christ. However, with a remnant loved and that same remnant saved, there must be a larger amount who have not received that same special love, mercy, grace, and salvation. These people are known as the wicked because they are all Satan's people. God never said He wanted all mankind to be saved nor did God ever say that He loved all mankind. It is a fact that God spoke about condemnation of these non-elect. In Psalms chapter 5 David in his prayer to God said in verse 9 "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue." This is not the wicked people on earth but rather all of the non-elect on the earth. Pastor after Pastor speaks of God's love for everyone on the earth but David said in verse 5 "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." The foolish are those who reject Jesus Christ as Saviour and are in their condemned state. People try in every way to put every deceased person in heaven, but the truth is if they never trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour then God did not want them nor accept them into His Holy Land. In fact David said "... thou hatest all workers of iniquity." God will never love them. In fact God said in Romans chapter one that He has "given them up" to their evil and sinful ways. Romans 1:26 "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections...", and in Romans 1:28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind..." God has nothing good to say about them, King David said in Psalms 5:9 "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue." and Paul went even farther in Romans chapter 3:10 - 20. As Christians, churches, and Pastors we must understand that people who hate God hate him for a reason, and that it is their nature and God is not going to redeem or repent them. They are not Gods elect and therefore they are going to live their wicked and do their evil works until they die and then they are going to hell. As Christians and churches we never stop praying for redemption for them but we must understand that there are some wicked people who will never change. We see the world as their habitation and not ours, therefore we must give it to them to destroy because God has already done so. The world has not been God's since the He gave it to Adam and he lost it in the fall and will not be again until Jesus Christ destroys Satan and all the ungodly people in the world for the final time. Beloved, please do not allow this world, it's politics, or anything worldly worry you because God is still in control. The blind will lead the blind into wickedness, and then in to eternal destruction, but to us, God will lead us safely home, a place prepared for us by Jesus Christ. John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you..." Folks, there comes a time when we as believers must also give this evil world up to its evil and understand it is not ours, yet, but one glorious day will be. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee...For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalms 5:11 - 12

Saturday, February 20, 2016

The Rapture and Persecution Of Christians.

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12

As believers in Jesus Christ there is one single event we look so forward to, and that is the Lords return. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:" 1 Thessalonians 4:16 What an event it will be, there will be a "shout", not just any shout but it will be a glorious shout. Then there will be a blowing of a trumpet, not just a trumpet sound but "the trump of God" I don't know exactly what this shout or trump of God is but I can promise they both will be special and the forerunner of the calling home all believers on the earth. However, of that time we simply do not know, except the Father. "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew 24:36 Since there is no way for us to know the will of God on this time, we simply must hope and pray that the appointed time for the "shout" and "trump of God" are soon. This time has been promised and hoped for since Jesus Christ ascended into the cloud in which He shall return. "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

Now with all this goodness being spoken about, let us also set out thoughts on reality. The real story here is we simply do not know when Jesus will return, today, tomorrow, a year, decade, or even a century, the truth is we do not know, but only hope and pray it is soon. With this being said, we as Christians must realize that this world is worsening almost by the hour. Jesus Christ was hated and hunted most all his life until he surrendered His life on the cross. Since the time of Jesus His followers have been persecuted even to the point of miserable and gross deaths. If you follow Christians thru history you will find they were persecuted and killed in very horrible ways. We saw Christians in the "dark ages" This is a time around 5th – 15th century. During this time the Roman Empire controlled by the Catholics seek to destroy any Christians who would not convert to their religion. Many millions of Baptist were slaughtered by these governments and Catholics. Christians were beheaded, hung by the neck, crucified in many ways, tied to wheels and rolled over rocks until every bone in their bodies were broken, and many were rolled in lard and thrown alive to the wild animals to be eaten alive. All of these persecutions were simply because they were followers of Jesus Christ, proclaimer's and obeyers of His word. Here in America we were blessed when our forefathers escaped the King's government and Catholic persecution and sailed to a new world where Christians could worship God without persecution. However, we know if we read the scriptures we will never escape the persecution of Satan and his followers. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12 As some of you who are young may not know, but there were times in this nation (while we were not a Christian Nation) where godliness was more tolerable toward God and the bible. However, in the last 50 years a great and fast descent has progressed to where we are at today's time. America has reached a point where godliness is a thing of the past and heathenism has captured our Nation. With the death of Justice Antonin Scalia it is possible that the Supreme Court will turn ultra liberal and liberalism hates God and Christians. I do not know if churches and Christians have woke-up to this fact of not, but if the Court is turned liberal the U.S. Constitution will become obsolete and the court will re-write it to fit liberalism. Our rights afforded to us by the First Amendment will be in jeopardy of being over written by the new liberal court. There could be a time in our life time when it could become to hard for true churches and Christians to exist in America. We could very well become the object of imprisonment and even death because of who we are, followers of Christ and His word. I know there are a lot of folks who are saying this will never happen in our life time, but I also heard this on gay marriage, and the legalization of some mind altering drugs like Marijuana. Beloved, what I say is very logical and very possible. Never doubt the power of Satan. All churches and Christians need to focus on the preaching of the gospel, but we also need to focuses on prayer and unity because the axe of liberalism and the most hate time for Christians has just fallen with the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. As I said we do not know when Jesus Christ will return, but for our sake I pray it is soon. Believe me the haters of Israel and Christians has this on the top of their mind and agenda. Let us all be in much prayer. "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Peter 4:7 May God bless us all as we watch and pray together. And please let us all "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Money And Churches.

This week I saw an article written on Facebook that was written by an ex-Southern Baptist Church employee and it was about the money in churches. She had suggested that the government needs to start taxing churches because they are receiving so much money. First of all the government has no right to tax the churches on anything. If taxation comes to the churches then the next step is controlling them with IRS agents or at least the threat of it. I can understand why people would be looking at the churches for taxation because one thing she was right about, assemblies that call themselves churches are raking in big bucks and hiding it in so called churches. A church is about glorifying God The Father, Jesus Christ The Son, and The work of the Holy Sprit in us that are saved. The churches are not about money, however business always are. These "churches" are no longer churches but rather business and the Pastor are not Christ minded they are business minded looking for a larger "store" (or church) to apply for as the new manger. These "stores" do not sell products, they sell christianity. I wonder what Jesus would think of those "churches" today? "And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;" Mark 11:15 I know that in the large organizations like the SBC, ABA, BMA, and most if not all there must be millions if not billions floating around that should be taxed, but how do you do it is beyond me. I understand there must be abusers. I know there are a lot of wonderful, hard working believers among them that want to do the work of the Lord but with them are a lot of abusers. These people are hurting the little church that serves only one purpose and that is to serve the Lord our God in Spirit and Truth. We are not about money and have never been. Personally as Pastor I have no idea what our church has in the bank. When I need to know I will ask the treasure or hear it read every six months in our business meeting. My job is to under-shepherd the flock that Christ has chosen me for. Some Pastors wants a more hands on approach but not me, that is our treasures job and not mine. If we start to run in the red every month then he will let me know. We never ask for money, we take up no collection in plates (except for a pacific cause or person) and we do not pass them more than once a service. I know there are abusers and if the government can figure them out with out attacking and sending IRS agents into the small churches then fine, but we are protected by the Constitution. I know there are abusers, I just saw an article titled "Catholic author raises Two million to get souls out of purgatory" where this woman is raising and giving money to the Catholic government big money for something they cannot do, and I know because there is no such place. I also read where the SBC wants to start infant baptism, I wonder why, ok its about the money. This issue was a blood bath in the early centuries between Baptist and Catholics and the "churches of error" before they assembled together to form the Catholic Church. I will close with this thought, I personally do not know all the goings on in the large organizations and Independent bodies that collect money under the name churches, but I do know this, any type of government interference will destroy the small church that desire only to serve the Lord and not at the alter of the mighty dollar. I heard a religious organization, don't remember the name of it but it included something with "family" in the name, these people actually wanted people to call so that they could lead them in changing their will to leave their house to them. This is what I call swine. But this is not what true churches are about, we are not about money because God said "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10 The love of money will cause you to error from faith. Huh, wonder why God would say that? Oh, because it is truth.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

The Death Of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

"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

Normally I do not write articles on political figures or politics, however today I make an exception. In the United States Of America the order of law is upheld by the United States Supreme Court who uphold the Constitution Of The United States. It is these nine Justices who define what the Constitution is and how the laws of America are bound to the Constitution. It is this court who forces those who would violate the Constitution to stop. Since it is the President who appoint the replacement of the departing justice, then President Obama would appoint Justice Antonin Scalia's replacement. However, it is the United States Senate who must confirm the selection of the President. Since it is now February and an election year and the process takes month's, Majority Leader in the Senate Mitch McConnell has said that the appointment of Justice Antonin Scalia's replacement should wait on the next President elected and takes office in January. Senate Mitch McConnell has this right since the Republican Party controls the Senate and sets the agenda. I do not know if most people understand this death and how it affects the way things are done in America. If the court goes from 5 - 4 Conservative to 5 - 4 Liberal it will affect the everyday way we all live day to day. There are a lot of things we enjoy as free American that could change by this swing, for example our freedom to worship as we please is protected by the Constitution's first amendment, also our freedom to speak as we please, and many other freedoms that churches and other religions enjoy that could be reduced or forbidden by a new Liberal Court. The right to have guns could be in jeopardy by a new Liberal Court. There is one ultimate fact, and that is the next year in politics just got very interesting by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. This will be the worst fought election in the history of America with so much in the balance of the outcome. This could now be the single election that billions upon billions of dollars are spent on to win the outcome. It may be the deciding factor on the churches in America in so many ways that we simply cannot name them all. But, however the outcome, God is in charge, and this is His blessed will. I cannot tell you how this will come out in the end, but one thing is for sure it is going to be nasty for America. I am asking all Christians, churches, and others of faith to pray about this matter. Beloved our existence as Christians hangs in the balance. If you never get involved in the voting process, then now is the time to get involved. I know that so many Christians do not vote, but do not let this election pass without voting. It is time for all Christians and churches to pull together and vote to save Christians from Liberalism controlling the court. Folks, this is not time for leaving it up to someone else, this is the time for Christians to fight for our freedom and maybe even our existence as churches. We trust in the Lord and the outcome will certainly be the Lord's will. Let us all be in prayer and do not stop until the outcome is settled. "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 We know that God is taking the world into the tribulation period and it appears to be closely at hand. While I have enjoyed the thought of the Lords return, we fail to remember the tribulation period follows His return. With this said we also fail to understand that the Lord will spend time setting the world up for that time and we as believers may suffer great persecution before that great and terrible time for the world. No matter the thought behind it, let us all be in much prayer and make our request know to God for mercy and grace in the upcoming days. "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27.) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28.) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:26 - 28

Sunday, February 7, 2016

There Shall Be No Boasting Of Believers.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9.) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10.) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8 - 10

The word "boast" in verse 9 means - to vaunt or to glory - if we would read verses 8 and 10 we could clearly see what we are not to boast of, and that would be our salvation and anything connected to it. As believers in Jesus Christ we actually have nothing to boast about because we were saved by God's grace and not because of anything of ourselves. This passage of scripture is probably the most read and studied three scriptures among the people who believe in the Sovereign Grace of God. There is a reason for that and that is it defines salvation to the fullest of God's grace. Paul 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." It must be clearly understood that anything in salvation on our part would be an act of works. It is clearly evident that most of the religion side of Christianity believe that works are necessary in some way for a person to be saved, however, it is clearly seen here that true Christians understand that any works on our part is a violation of God's word. If a Christian did one simple thing, played one simple part in their salvation then their salvation is void. It is clearly evident that God saves sinners and God alone. God said through the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Roman church that "... there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Romans 11:5. This remnant was chosen out of God's love and not out of merit. People will say that "God loves everyone in the world" but this is a untrue statement. People also will say that the election of God is for Israel only, this is also not true. While it is true that God elected the nation of Israel to be His chosen nation on earth, the choosing to salvation expands beyond the nation of Israel to the Gentile nations. In John 3:16 God said "For God so loved the world" however, this is not the entire population of the world because the scriptures also conclude that God did hate people, He hated Esau, the Psalmist also said that God hates the WORKERS of iniquity "...thou hatest all workers of iniquity." and that is all who are not in the remnant of the election of God. Let's look at 2 Timothy 1:9 where God said "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," remember if works are involved in the slightest then that work voids grace. God made clear in our text scripture that we are saved by grace and through faith (faith given of God and not our faith) and therefore we have nothing to boast of. God also went on to say "that not of yourselves" in any sort of way. Then the Lord goes on to say in verse 10 "For we are his workmanship" We are His creation because we are what we are by God's work and not ours. God also said in Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world..." This also is not Israel but those elected in Christ before the world began. "... which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," as Paul wrote to Timothy. People can dispute and fight God's word all they want, they can laugh at it, they can mock it, they can also use it out of context, but that is not going to change the truth. It is hard for a lot of people to accept that salvation does not include works of some sorts, but it does not. Real believers in Jesus Christ have nothing to boast of because their salvation was entirely of God's grace and works. We are thankful and not boastful, we are a very gracious people in understanding God's gift of love. God had promised to Jesus Christ before the world began and in time He has delivered. Thank God you were part of that promise of election. Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"