We need to be humble servants.

1 Cor. 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”

Humility, this word means - a modest or low view of one's own importance - Humility is a quality of being modest and respectful of oneself and others. God said of our humility, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6, 10 The Apostle Paul was writing to a church with many issues, but apparently one of their problems was that they were low in understanding of God’s word. Paul had a very humbled heart because God gave him a very humbled heart. Paul understood this church’s issues and preached to them accordingly to their understanding. Paul understood what grace is, and he also understood what mercy is. God said in Pro. 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” We need to remember as Christians, church members, church workers, teachers, and mostly as Pastors, that our fear of God is our guide in our ministry and if we lose this fear or our reverence of God then we will fail in our service to the Lord. Serving God is an honor, and we ought not take it lightly or just as a work, but as an honor and privilege, both to God and the Lord’s church. We never need to be critical of God’s people not of God’s churches, and we always need to remember that whatever we are, whatever our service is, it is by God’s grace. Paul was very loving to this church; he was not critical of them but preached a sermon that the weakest believer could understand. As teachers we must recognize the power of God’s word and understand that it is the Holy Spirit is teaching it and not us. Paul did not want to be recognized as a brilliant man of God, but he wanted God’s word and powered to teach. Paul understood what all Christians need to understand, and all Ministers and Pastors need to never forget, we are nothing, we have no power, and that we are just humbled servants of God and by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. I know a lot of great Ministers, teachers, and Pastors but the greatest of them all are those with the greatest humbled hearts. Let us all let Paul’s example be our teacher, it was not his experience or ability that gave his ministry its power; it was the work of the Spirit of God. We must teach that other believers may learn, not for self-performance. We are all teachers, instruments of God’s power, understanding all accomplishments of that are of God and not of us. We must remember that we are servants of Love and every sermon, every conversation, every action, must be in love and in much mercy and grace, and by God’s authority. Paul told this church in verse 3 “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” Paul was sharing in their weakness understanding that their weakness was his own weakness, “But by the grace of God I am what I am:” 1Co 15:10 Everything we are, as believers is by God’s grace, and if we ever leave that state of mind, we are no longer humbled. Paul reminds us “I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” No matter how hard we work, how hard we prepare, how hard we preach, or how high we rise, we are never better that the Apostle Paul as a servant of God. Our fear and reverence of God keeps us humble, but also our dependence on the power of God keeps us humbler like Paul, never taking credit that belongs to God and always giving God the glory. As fleshly people we will never be anything on our own, everything we become, every advancement we make, every good work we perform, is God’s grace working in us. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 Thank you Lord God for the grace you have given us to be your humbled servants.

This is who I am

As a Christian and a Pastor, I must admit that I am only a sinner saved by God’s grace. The Apostle Paul wrote it best when he said, “I am what I am by the grace of God” 1 Cor. 15:10. However, while God had grace on me, saved my soul, caused me to be a minister, called me to pastor a church, I am still just a man living by God’s grace. I will live and die a man, a sinner saved by God’s grace thru His love and mercy on me. As a man, I am not perfect, I am not complete, I am not above sin. If you look at me for sin you will find it, if you want to charge me with sin then go ahead. If you believe you are better than I am, you may be right. But remember this I live, I move, and I have my being by God’s grace. I know that if it were not for God’s grace I would fall flat on my sinful face. I admit what I am, I do not try to deceive anyone or hide my true identity as a sinner saved by grace. I work as hard as God allows me too. I hope I can truly repeat the Apostle Paus when he said, “…his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all…” because “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” So, unless you are Jesus Christ you are no better than I am, and you are looking thru the same mirror of grace and seeing the same sinner saved by grace. Humility is our greatest human attribute, God said, “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” Prob. 22:4. So please pray with me that our Lord will not allow us to get puffed-up in our prideful human nature because the Lord also said, “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”  Proverbs 15:33 Please pray for me and I will pray for you, because none of us are perfect or better than the other, and we are all one in Jesus Christ. “For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:30 – 31 Thank you Father, and thank you Jesus, for what you have done for this sinner!

Godliness and Contentment.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 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 6:6-10

One area of life a lot of Christians fail in is “contentment”. The word means - satisfaction with what one has – and may I add, being satisfied with what God has graciously given us. However, in this world people believe “money” brings happiness, but in reality, it only brings misery. The Lord said, “godliness with contentment is great gain”, which means - “to be devout," denotes that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude” – therefore it is godliness and not money that should deliver happiness to every Christian. God reminds us in reference to money that, “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”. So why do so many Christians seek more money instead of more godliness? You can have both money and godliness, yes, but only if God graciously supplies both as an act of grace. We must remember that “the love of money is the root of all evil”. We must first and last seek godliness if we are going to be happy because God warns us seeking more than God gives us could cause us to “fall into temptation and a snare”. What is a “snare”, it is defined this way, -it is a trap, the allurements to evil by which the Devil – a place that no Christian wants or needs to be. It is this love for money that has caused many Christians and churches to fall into the snare of the devil and leave the truth of the word and godliness. God said of this “love for money” that it will only “drown men in destruction and perdition”. The word “perdition” means - ruin or loss or waste – another place no true Christian or church wants to be. God said “while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith” or in seeking more than God gives by grace it caused them to err from the faith and godliness. The greatest godliness in a human heart is faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ, and faith in His sovereignty to supply our every need. Paul wrote these words to the church at Philippi, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:17-20 Beloved, please understand, seeking money instead of godliness can cost you in eternal rewards, something no true Christian should want. Patience is needed for us to be godly and content. James wrote, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:8. A Believer with a patient heart will always be godly because we trust the Lord in contentment. Paul wrote to Timothy these words, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 1 Tim. 6:11 Listen beloved, we all know, and God certainly knows we need money to live in this world. But when our love for money takes away from our godliness then we have allowed “foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” And for this there is no excuse, God never bless those that lose faith in Him to supply our needs. Nothing is more important than God and our serving God in the Truth of His word.    

The Lord’s Elected Fold.

John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

God said in Ephesians 1:4 “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:” The question must be asked, who are the “us” in this verse? The word “us” are those who are the elect of God chosen before the foundation of the world was ever created by God Himself. People who want to deny the election of God must deny the whole of the scriptures. Some people say that the doctrine of election means that God was selective of some and refused others, and this would be true. When God said 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.” God cannot mean the entire population of the world because God does not lover every soul who has lived in the world. The greatest example is Esau, God said in Romans 9:13 “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” God did not come to hate Esau because God never loved Esau. We must remember that God is eternal, and He never changes, “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Jas. 1:17 Therefore, God never loved Esau, not ever, therefore it must be concluded that God never loved everyone in the world. God said in Rev. 17:8 “…whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world…” If names were not written, then they are not the elect of God. But it also tells us that names were written, and written before the foundation of the world.

Now, let us understand that while some claim that the elect of God are the Jews only, but this cannot be true. God has an elected nation in Israel and an elected people in those elected from the entire world’s population. When John wrote “For God so loved the world…” He could have not included the entire population because not only did God hate Esau, but the Psalmist also wrote “…thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Psm. 5:5

With this all being said, we have established that the elect of God is not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles also let us look farther into John 10:16. Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold…” also making known that while the elected fold included some Jews, it was not limited to Jews but also some Gentiles. Jesus went on to say “them also I must bring” that is into this fold which would include the world or the Jews and Gentiles being in the fold together. But Jesus went farther when He said, “…they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” These elect Gentiles would hear His voice and they would come to Him for salvation, and they, and the Jews would be ONE-FOLD WITH ONE SHEPHERD. There is no more Jews and Gentiles but one-fold, one Saviour, and one nation. You cannot be one if you are not one and united in Christ. Jesus said in His prayer, "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." John 17:9 – 10 Here is the true answer to John 3:16 that He did not include the entire population but rather the elect from the world, elected before the foundation of the world. Then in verse 20 we see Jesus add us to His prayer, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” John 17:20 But He never included the entire world.

Before the foundation of the world God had an Elected fold of souls, He gave this fold to His Son Jesus, and Jesus was born in time and redeemed them with His blood. This entire fold, both Jews and Gentiles are one-fold with one Saviour. Jesus said in conclusion, “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 Thank you Lord for saving my soul and for making me your child, inserting me in your fold before the foundation of the world, Amen!   

Walking with God.

“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

Have you ever dreamed of walking with God? Have you ever thought what it would be like to take your Heavenly Father’s hand and walk with Him? As Christians we have that opportunity every day of our earthly life to walk with God. However, realistically speaking God does not have a body, so holding His hand is impossible. “God is a Spirit” John 4:25 but walking with our Heavenly Father is a real thing for every believer in Jesus Christ. However, the question is how much do you truly want to walk with God? Walking with God requires walking “in the light, as he is in the light” because that is where God is. God does not walk in darkness, because you only find Him in the light, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5. If you are walking in darkness then you are not walking with God. John wrote in verse 6 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” God’s element is only in light and never in darkness, therefore we will never find God in darkness. God told us “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” Ephesians 5:8 The word “were” is past tense not a present word. As believers saved by grace thru the glorious blood of our Saviour, we are no longer in darkness, but in light because in Christ there is no darkness. The Lord warned us “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness…” Eph. 5:11 This is not a request but rather a command from God. God promised that He would never leave nor forsake us, He never promised that we would not leave nor forsake Him. Christians sometimes do fall back and walk in darkness. And when they do, their fellowship with God is separated. Remember when Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God? Christians try also to hide from God when living and walking in darkness. God said, “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” Eph. 5:12 However, it is much more shameful to commit them. Our work as Christians is to rebuke darkness, not to join it. God went on to say in Eph. 5:13 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” Do we want to have real fellowship with God and allow the things we do in this world to be manifested for the world to see, or hide from God in darkness? Look at it this way, God said, “No man 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.” Matt. 6:24 If a believer is walking in darkness they are hiding from God, they have little or no fellowship with God. Serving darkness or mammon will cause a believer to despise God and the light He is in. If you are not in the light of God, you are not serving the Lord, you are not happy as a Christian because you are hiding in the worlds darkness. Jesus said, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:20 – 21. Darkness is the place of the lost, not the place of Christians, do not find yourself in a place where you separate yourself from God. Allow your works in this world to be in the light, in fellowship with God, Jesus, and the Word of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matt. 5:16 Is your light shinning before men or are you ashamed of the light, do you despise the light? Today is a good day to repent, ask the Lord to forgive you and to start a new walk in the light and in fellowship with God. And that all starts by getting into church, getting everything right between you and the Lord, and living as a witness against darkness and walking in fellowship with our Father.   

Be careful in dealing with other believers.

1 Corinthians 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”

If to study

This chapter teaches us so much about our knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God and His word. We understand that everything from God is a gift and God gives His gifts in diverse ways to His children. 1 Cor. 12:1 – 11 will teach us more about this. But to us who are blessed with God’s gifts of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God and His word. We are responsible for those teachings, to grow in them, to decern them, and to walk in them. Everyone, from the Pastor down are to spiritually know, understand and in wisdom how to properly decern biblical truths. And one of those teachings is to “spiritual judgeth all things”. Not somethings, not things we think of, not things with human understanding, but things taught by God in His word. Once we step outside of those guidelines, we have failed God. Everything we judge must be judged in LOVE, with the love God gives us and not human love. Since our understanding of God’s giving of gifts to each believer, our judgment must be with much caution. Because another believer may not understand spiritually or be as spiritually smart as you are. We must remember that only God can truly teach another believer and cause them to decern the scriptures. God went on to say “…yet he himself is judged of no man.” Because we do not know the workings of God in every believer’s spiritual life, or even what God is doing in our life. We only know and understand what God is showing us, we do not know the mind of God. Our judging others must be with much love and understanding of what God is doing, and this takes much prayer. Please understand, God is judging us on our action as we are judging His other children. Especially as Pastors and church members. Let us never stop studying, praying, learning, and walking in that spiritual education, because we do not want to fail God.      

Can salvation be temporary, or lost?

Hebrews 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

The question before us today is “Can salvation be temporary” because some religionist who call themselves “Christians” believe it is possible. Their thinking is (while distorted) that a person who does not have enough good work can indeed lose their salvation. However, these same people with their distorted thoughts do not have the ability to spiritually discern the truth of the bible. While their thoughts are full of error, they ignore the scriptures in the context that God has written. They eliminate the whole meaning of “grace” and every verse that speaks of God’s grace involving our salvation. Paul wrote in Romans 11:5 – 6 “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of 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.” This verse solves the debate over grace verses works in the salvation of souls. God has by His elective will, ordained a remnant of souls to be His children by grace. NOT because of the merit of any person, but because of grace. In Ephesians chapter 2 in verse 8 God said, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Therefore, people that believe only in the merits of their own free will, will never chose to be saved, because they cannot. People are born sinners and at enmity with God, they do not want to retain God in the knowledge, they are totally depraved, and they have no human desire to come to Christ. This is why God the Father MUST DRAW THEM, John 6:44a “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”

Second, in Jesus Christ we have an eternal hope that God promised before the world began, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2 also see Titus 3:7. The very fact that salvation was promised before the world began, was an elective choice of God, a promise made to Jesus Christ, and is a gift of God and not works on our part. It is made unattainable by us, and impossible to lose by us. God said, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” In Jesus Christ, God had offered a sacrifice that could redeem His elected remnant “once and for all” Heb 10:10. The very fact that Jesus Christ was crucified because of our sins means He took our sins, all our sins to the cross and died for them, all at once time. In order for us to have sins unforgiven means that Jesus’s death was non-sufficient to redeem us, once and for all. Hebrews 6:6 “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Also see Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus was not crucified in hopes that we would decide to ask for forgiveness, Jesus took our sins to the cross and gave His earthly life on that cross for them, all of them. If He did not, He would have to be re-crucified before your sins are forgiven by God.

Salvation is eternal and our salvation is called “eternal life” not a temporary life. God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to redeem His elected remnant, chosen before the foundation of the world. Not as some believe, to give by grace, as a hope of eternal life, if we do our part. But rather God gave us an eternal life that gives us hope.