The Church is to be ONE.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)

Unity in a church is not an option it is an absolute must, a command from God and her Head Jesus Christ. God said while a “body” has many members, together they are one, as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One. It was Jesus who prayed to the Father just before His death for this unity, not only as a church but also as Christians. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21) There is only one way for a church to be one, every member must have much love, humility, grace and mercy for each and every one of the other church members. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit as it does in everything else that is godly, and these fruits are all the gifts of the Holy Spirt. Every member must surrender all power and authority to the Lord Jesus Christ and allow that authority to work through the majority of the churches heart and desire. Allowing every vote to be settled as the will of God and holding no thought of opposition. But this goes beyond voting and working of the church, it is extended to the entire working of the church, this takes much love, it takes the “love of God in your heart”. This is submitting to the working of the Holy Spirit and incudes Him to assembling the church as He chooses, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (1 Corinthians 12:18) We must understand that every member was set into place by the Holy Spirit and every member is as valuable as another no matter who they are. A church has many members and we all know that can create division and it is our job as members to overcome that and not allow division. Never, ever allow yourself to devalue a member of the Lords church, ever! “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you…Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary…And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.” (1 Corinthians 12:21 - 23) Unity in a church says “oneness” and oneness begins with our love and respect for every member, one for the other no matter what we are joyful, and sad together for each other. We were all set into the church for our learning and to worship God in that learning. We must all adhere to the scriptures on this subject and make sure we are fulfilling them the best that we can. The Pastor is the leader, he is the God placed teacher and it is from him that you should seek your understanding of the scriptures. The church is a seminary of biblical studies and your Pastor is your instructor in that biblical education. The Pastor has his responsibilities to the Lord, the church and the membership, and a dysfunctional body is not a healthy body. It is the Pastors job to work and keep unity in the church, and while sometimes that is a large work it is still their work. No member should ever become a dysfunctional member of the body, one dysfunctional member could affect other members and that could destroy a church. If a member has an issue that cannot be resolved then present it to the Pastor, do not become a problem in the body without consulting the Head (Jesus Christ) and His under-shepherd/overseer, the Pastor. The doctrine of the church is important, because doctrine is simply the teachings of the scripture. Remember, the church is “a seminary of biblical studies” of teachings handed down from Jesus to the twenty-first century. There is a lot of teaching in the world about the bible, and the vast-majority of it is worldly not godly. It is not your responsibility to give the others an opportunity, that could do great damage to your learning, do not forget Satan appears as an angel of light waiting to devour you. If we all work together, teaching, learning, loving, caring, and all doing our part, Jesus Christ will always bless the church. If you become an enemy of the church’s doctrine, of the churches ways of doing things it is better to leave than become a problem in the church. The church is the most important institution on earth because it is God’s assembly and changing the teaching to worldly teachings will do nothing but destroy the church. We must all stand strong in the word and in each other. Elder Oscar Mink wrote the following; "For the edifying of the body of Christ," all work and Service rendered should have this end in view, all effort Put forth to build up, or promote the individual is spent in Vain, the fabric of the church is so interwoven that when one member is weakened, the whole fabric diminishes in strength. Thus when we pray for an ailing member, we pray for him as an Individual, and for his improvement, but we should ever have in view as we pray for the individual the overall welfare of the church, knowing that the individual being helped, helps all The members of the body. …All Gifts are of Equal Importance... "for the edifying of the body of Christ," this is the Obligation of the membership collectively, and there is not a member which does not have something to contribute toward the up building of the church, your contribution may go unnoticed by the great majority of members, even as the widows mite was overlooked by the prominent members of the synagogue, but Christ took special note of the gift, and there is no gift in the church which gets more attention from Christ that any other gift, Christ says, "he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much… (Luke 16:10)." “The church must be one”!

We should only serve one Master.

Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

What Master do you serve? If we looked deep into our hearts it might surprise us when we find the answer. The word (master) means - supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller – (Strong’s) Something or Someone that has so much authority in our life that it controls us in thought, word, and in walk/actions. In some form we are all controlled by two masters, God and the world. However, the thought of the scripture is “your service” to that master. If we do not examine ourselves closely and do it with much prayer to God, we may miss whom we are truly serving. As a Christian we have been redeemed of God and by God, we are kept by God’s power, and only serve God by His grace and mercy. God ordained our service to Him before the foundation of the world, and that service is only possible in Jesus Christ. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  (Ephesians 2:10) Therefore, whatever God has ordained will be, whatever work God has chosen for you will be your path in life, without error. We, as Christians can do God’s chosen work and still fail God in this life. God’s work in our life only makes us complete in that chosen work, we can fail God in many other areas of our life. Not any of God’s earthly servants were perfect, not one, not even Paul. We are all sinners, even in our saved state we are all still sinners. It is easy for us to find ways to fail God, to find ourselves serving the world and not God, we just all need to take a close look into the mirror of God’s word to find it. Paul told the folks at Corinth, “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?” (2 Corinthians 13:5) While we (as Believers) are not “reprobates” we do need to examine ourselves to see who is controlling all areas of our being, it might surprise us if we look into the bible as a mirror at what we see. In reading the scriptures in preparation of my sermons and I often wonder how we as a church are responding to that scripture. Let’s use this scripture as an example, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:22) The Lord just commanded us to “Abstain from all appearance of evil” not just evil itself, but even if it appears evil. Evil means – culpable – which is blameworthy, reproachable, or something that is scripturally wrong. Here we will find much error in our life, if we examine in the mirror of God’s word. Also let’s look at this verse, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:28) Give it some thought, how do you do, how do you really do? Folks, our service to God is “…rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 understanding God’s word and serving our Master rightly. If we fail, we will find ourselves serving the wrong Master. While it will not cause us (as Christians) to hate God, it could cause us to hate some of what God said. Think about God’s word, if you love it you will do it, if you do not do it, it is because you despise what God has said. The only possible Way to perfectly serve God is to serve His word, and without error. If we find error, then let us correct that error and only serve one Master. Let us all take the time to examine ourselves and search for error, none of us are perfect, but that is not an excuse.

Is Hell Real?

“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke 16:23-24

This scripture came to mind this week when I saw an article on Facebook that said, “Pope Francis says Hell does not exist”, so I clicked on the article to find these words. (“There is no hell where the souls of sinners suffer in eternity”, Pope Francis was quoted as saying in a Thursday interview with Italian daily La Repubblica. Francis said: “after death, the souls of people who repent are pardoned by God and join in his contemplation, “but those who do not repent, and therefore cannot be pardoned, disappear.”) Now as a Baptist Pastor and as a Christian in general I would never look to the Pope for bible commentary, words of wisdom, or even biblical truth, however, you would think even the Catholics could get this right, but as you can see even the Pope refuses the simple truths of the bible. I think this shows the pure evil ignorance of the Catholics and reason for the people to make a mass exit from Catholicism today. But, they will not and when they all die, they will find out that “hell” is a real place just as the rich man did when he died. I’m not going to spend my time on Catholicism except to point out their pure ignorance on biblical issues. This is absolute proof that all the education the world has to offer will not make you literate in God’s word. Just because a person has a Ph.D. does not make them smarter than an “old uneducated country boy”. God calls the weaker vessels of the earth and makes them bible intelligent. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty…And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are…That no flesh should glory in his presence.  (1 Corinthians 1:27 - 29) Folks, you do not need a Ph.D. nor do you need a great biblical education to know that hell is real and all lost people will enter the eternal fires of hell when they die, even many who call themselves Christians. Matthew penned these words, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) and please notice God sends them there because they do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour. “but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Lost souls like the Pope teach what their evil heart tells them to preach, they do not recognize biblical truth as fact. God said in Matthew, “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up…Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.  (Matthew 15:13 - 14) Jesus said in Revelations these words, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works…And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death…And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  (Revelation 20:13 - 15) Folks, people who are not taught by the Holy Spirit do not understand the bible. “For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.” (Isaiah 28:26) While a seminary can train a person in most everything aspect of a church function, they cannot give biblical knowledge to lost people, nor can lost people make sense of the bible. James penned these words, “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. “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.  (James 1:17 - 18) Apparently Pope Francis is not a believer in Jesus Christ because he has said many very ignorant things about the scriptures that should be basic teachings. Follow him and people like him in biblical teachings and you to will see that hell is a real and a horrible place. As God said, “And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Please read these scriptures, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved…He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  (John 3:17 - 18) Hell is real and all who do not trust Jesus Christ as their Saviour will enter it when they die, will you find it, I hope not.

Thank God for salvation!

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

The one single error many make when thinking about God is understanding that God is Omniscient, God knows everything, and this is an eternal knowledge. Also, many people do not recognize God as being truly Sovereign and that means He is in control of everything. Isaiah wrote these words about God in Isaiah 46:9-10 “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 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:” This means God knows everything and there is nothing He does not know, and if something is God counsel or God’s work then He not only knew it but ordained it before the world began. One of God’s most graceful works is salvation, salvation is the work of God not the work of man. I know some people believe that salvation is in mans hands but that is impossible, because God would never trust the accomplishment of His works in the hands of man. “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God…They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:11 - 12) Man cannot preach a simple sermon without God’s power, nor can man accomplish anything without God’s power. God knew before the world that salvation was needed, God also elected a remnant of mankind that would be saved. “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:” (Ephesians 1:4) Notice this election was done “before the foundation of the world” not in time nor did God look into the future and see who would believe, all unprovable myths preached by man seeking to do what only God can do. God elected Jesus to die on the cross for sinners long before there were any sinners. “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” Acts 4:27-28 What was God’s counsel, what did God “determined before to be done.”? It was the crucifixion of His own eternal Son Jesus, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” (Acts 2:23) Also known unto God before the foundation of the world was His elect, His chosen children.” These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee…As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him…And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:1 - 3) If God knew all His works before the foundation of the world, then didn’t God have to know these elect He gave to Jesus and sent Jesus to die for and save. Jesus Himself said this promise “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  (John 6:37) Jesus went on to promise in verse 39 “that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing”. Jesus went on to say, “That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.” (John 18:9) There is only one-way God can accomplish His ordained will and that is He accomplishes it, and “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” This is absolute fact that God saves sinners and He chose them before the world ever began. Therefore, I must stand in awe and say Thank You Lord for my salvation. If you are lost this should weigh heavy on your heart, if not the Holy Spirit has not convicted you. But if it does weigh heavy on your heart then read these verses, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved…And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30 - 31)

Preach the Word.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2

This is the charge given to every Minister as they enter the ministry of preaching God’s word. Before God calls His ministers, they are just regular Christians, just regular church members, listening, learning, and working to do God’s will according to His word. Then one day God the Holy Spirit delivers to them orders from God the Father, come and preach the word. It is at this time that their life just changed, and rapidly changed, and in an instant, we have a whole new work. That work is to preach God’s word, WOW what a change in a man’s life, we now have the most important work on this earth, “to preach God’s word”. What an overwhelming job, you are the one that God has chosen to be one of His ministers. However, that new job comes with importance, it comes with a charge, “Preach the word” preach God’s word. Suddenly you are Gods speaker, led by the Holy Spirit, you now have the awesome task to speak for God. Some folks do not understand all that comes with that task and I cannot explain it all for the lack of time, but let me say this, it consumes your entire life. I can only speak as a Pastor because that is all I have done, but I must stand back and praise God for everything accomplished. As a Pastor I am an overseer of a local New Testament church that belongs to Jesus Christ. I am also the leader in the church and the Under-Shepperd of the church, what a blessing. While being a Pastor is a work, “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” 1 Timothy 3:1 it is a “good work”, it is the “best work”. Then there comes the responsibility, oh what a responsibility it is, “Preach the Word” and if we fail, we fail in so much. God did not call us for any other reasons, He called us to preach the word, and most of the time preaching the word is a blessing to the hearers, and sometimes preaching the word hurts them. As a minister of the word you have a lot of wonders, do the hearers truly hear, are they paying attention, are they going to even get what I am preaching, then we must be reminded of Gods promise, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 It is not about us, we cannot change one single thing, we will not make one lost soul saved, we will not make one believer a church member, we will not build the church, and we will not destroy the church while preaching the truth. It is our faithfulness to the truth of the word that we as ministers are to be judged, “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 The word “honor” means - a value – and the Lord said these men are worth double that worth, honor can mean many things, some may count it as money, but it can mean so many things because there are so many ways to honor your Ministers and Pastors of truth. The question is, if your Pastor or Minister are doing their part, are you all doing yours? Please honor your Minister, His life is not a normal life, his work is not a normal work, and being a Pastor of a church is not like being a normal church member. And may I add, neither is being a Pastors wife, they too are a part of the ministry and they also have commandments of God, do not leave them out of the honor due their husband. As Pastors we must concentrate on the work, “preaching the word” always remembering what God said thru the prophet Isaiah in  Isaiah 55:11 “…it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” This is our crutch in the ministry, it will keep us true to the word and it must be our anchor in the ministry. Our only responsibility is to the preaching of the word in truth, the results of that preaching is in God’s hands not ours. We are not to worry about the results, it is not Facebook and we should not be seeking “likes”. The word of God (in truth) is powerful and God has chosen you to preach it. If people do not like it, that’s not your problem, if people will not listen that is not your problem. If you upload your sermons to the web and only one soul hears it, that one person was blessed of the Lord. Not many are going to listen to the truth of the word, it is not what they are looking for because God said, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears..their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3 - 4 This is not an excuse, it is a fact, people in general and even some that you believe to be Christians and even some that are Christians simply will not desire to hear God’s truth. But our job as Ministers is to continue to preach the word even if we think it is not accomplishing anything or if many do not even seem to care. Do not concern yourself Ministers with results, just do the work you were all called to do, and if only a few seem to be listening or even seems to care, God does. And if one single soul is blessed by your sermon, then that one is the one God blessed thru your ministry today, and tomorrow there will be another, and another, and another. Remember, if the world loves you and praises you, you are not preaching the truth!