Fear Not!

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

Life is full of fears, as Christians we will never know what Satan and the World’s Government has in store for us. We will continually be hated of the world because of Satan and his control of the world system. We know the world in which we live and we know it is not our home in its current state. The world is evil and it hates God, and because it does, it will always hate God’s children. We saw a great example of this hate in the move the United Nations made against Israel, God’s chosen Nation. Beloved, never trust the world or the system of it because it is controlled by the devil himself. As we open a New Year, we need to be ever prayerful to God for peace for His beloved children and churches. It is true to hope that Jesus will return this year, and please let us be in earnest prayer for His return.

Now, let me say, fear not little flock. Fear not because God has the control of everything, even evil and Satan. God has promised us that in Christ Jesus we are His. Let us be reminded that even as bad as things look, as much as Satan and the world may want our destruction, our God is Omnipotence itself. There is no power other than that of God. God spoke and the world existed, heaven existed, the universe existed, and yes Satan, hell, and evil existed. But as you look into the universe and see as big as it is, just be reminded, our Heavenly Father controls it all. Beloved, this is why we have no reason to fear. It is God’s will to give us much, and much we will receive. History tells us that God will allow the sacrifice of His own to receive glory about something. God allowed His Own Son Jesus to die for His glory of redeeming His chosen people. God has allowed many of those that followed Jesus to die horribly at the hands of man to bring glory to His blessed name. God has always allowed his people to suffer throughout history for His glory, fifty million or more in the years of 500ad thru 1500ad. These believers died for many reasons and the most notable was the preservation of the churches and the doctrinal truth of the bible. It was funny to hear this current Pope speak about persecution of today compared to the persecution in history. The Pope said we are more persecuted today than they were then. Well maybe for the Catholics who were the persecutors and murders of any non-Catholic Christian. History tells us that Catholicism is the worst aggressors of persecution than any other worldly group. It is possible with this Pope being as liberal and unintelligent about the bible, that he could help the world lead another persecution against true believers in Jesus Christ. I would just ask all Churches and believers to watch him and his actions, and certainly make it a matter of prayer. We do not need to let our arms down with the insertion of a new President after the New Years. Let us not forget that God is leading the world into the Tribulation Period, and Mr. Trump is just another piece of the puzzle that God is using to accomplish His will. Beloved as the New Year comes in today let us look more earnestly to God in prayer, and for answers. We do not know what God has in store for believers and churches, but the road to the Tribulation Period is still being traveled. Times for us could get worse and worse and most likely will, so prepare for the worst. Paul in writing to young Timothy wrote, “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto…For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.” 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4

Fellow Christian, enjoy the New Year and have hope that this may be the year that Jesus shall return. Be in constant prayer for yourself and other believers and churches alike. For we know until Jesus comes, we are subject to more persecution. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution...But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived...But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them...And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:12-15

Lie Not One To Another!

“For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. (8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Colossians 3:6-10

Today is what the world calls Christmas. I’m not going to get into the realness or the phoniness of the holiday, and I’m not going to debate whether Christians should celebrate the holiday. Although, I must point out that it is not a Christian Holyday and it is not about Jesus Christ nor about His birth. We can all debate the holiday, but those two are not debatable. I want to speak today about both Christmas and Easter. Neither of the holidays are not about Jesus Christ, nor are they about His birth or resurrection. It is all about two phony Cartoon Characters named Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, which neither one is real. Now it is ok to have Cartoon Characters in children lives but to say that they are real and do exist is a lie. I am dumbfounded when I hear people say “at what age do you tell the children that Santa and the Easter Bunny isn’t real?” when it was a lie to tell them they were real to start with. The Lord told us, as Christians, we should put away “all these” things, and “Lie not one to another” is one of those sinful things we should put away. If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ and you tell children, any child that either Santa or The Easter Bunny are real you are in the wrong. Stop it now, please! I know it is fun for the family, I know the entire aspect of both are fun for the children, but both are sinful in nature. Think about it, both undermine Jesus Christ, only Jesus Christ should be upheld and glorified. Christmas is about Santa Clause and gifts, and Easter is about the Easter Bunny and hunting eggs, so what is the harm with them? Both includes lies and sinfulness those two holidays and exclude Jesus Christ. All glory belongs to Jesus Christ and none other. People live in an unreal and sinful world, and lying to one another is the menu of the day. But I am speaking to Believers in Jesus Christ, and we ought to put away the sinfulness of the old nature and walk in the new nature that is in Jesus Christ. The world will do as they please, they support abortion, gay marriage, perverts sharing bathrooms with children of the opposite sex, and etc. but as Christians we are commanded to put those thing away, and walk in truthfulness and righteousness. Jesus Christ does not like sharing His earned glory with two phony Cartoon Characters named Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny. These holidays are not about Jesus Christ, they both replace Him and take His earned glory. No, it is not “ok”, I am not being mean, I am right and a lie is a lie no matter how unintended or small it was. If you celebrate the Christmas season then that is between you and God, but if you lie about the holiday and say it is about Jesus Christ then that is indeed an awful sin. If you are about sharing our Saviour’s glory, then that is another sin. So, when should you tell your child that Santa and the Easter Bunny is not real? Today, without question today would be that exact time, and then ask the Lord for forgiveness and if the child is old enough, apologize to the child. We (as Christians) must understand, life for us is not about fun, it is not about our happiness, our life is about serving and glorifying God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. We must understand that will include suffering, persecution, people hating you, and dying for Christ. Our happiness and fun (so to speak) will come when we are in heaven. Our job as Christians is to worship God, and to forward the Gospel to a dying and lost world. Christian can have fun, but not at the devaluing of our Saviour, and God Jesus Christ.          

I Am A Sinner!

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12

I am a sinner, and I will die a sinner. As long as I have the old man in me, I must understand what I am, a sinner. In this flesh I will never be perfect, I will never be able to look at another sinner in shame and disgrace, because I am a sinner, therefore I must look with pity and sorrow. I know my sins have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, and that makes me white as snow, but a sinner I still am. I must remember to bow and thank God every single moment of my blessed day for His grace. I must bow and pray every single day that God will forgive me as a sinner, and for the sins I have. I must remember to bow and thank Jesus Christ every single day for His blood shed too free me from the sins that I have done and those that I do every day. I do not hide my sins from God, He knows them all. Psalms 103:13-14 “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him…For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” I must remember to thank God every day that He pitied me enough to saved me by His grace. My God, my Father, knew me before He made the earth, before He created His kingdom called heaven, before He created anything, my Father knew me, He knew I would be a sinner, but He still loved me, how amazed I must be He elected to save this poor unworthy sinner. As hard as I work, as hard as I study, as much as I try, I am still a sinner asking my Father for another day of forgiveness. I must try to remember what I am in order to try and not sin today, but I also must understand that I will. I will sin and not even know it, I will sin in my thoughts, in my actions, or I will even sin in trying not to sin. There is not a single day passes that I am not reminded that I am a sinner, saved and forgiven by my wonderful Saviour and God. Thank you Father for the election that lead to my Saviour giving His life and shedding His blood to forgive me for my sins. As I enter this New Year I continue to pray that my Saviour Jesus Christ comes and rescues me from this sinful flesh, and I start my new life SIN FREE for eternity. When I drop this old robe of flesh and have a new glorified body like unto my Saviour. Yes, thank God one day this sin nature will leave me, and I will be able to breath a breath of life with no concerns of sinning. Therefore, the next time I see another sinner sin, I will remember my own frame, and I will just pray for them, and pray also for myself that God will grant us both the grace that neither one of us sin again. I pray that you are saved. I pray that the blood of my Saviour has washed you from your sins. I pray that God has forgiven your sins, and I pray that you remember your frame and that you thank God every day for his love and grace to you. Oh sinner, you will never in this life be free from sin, but you can have your sins forgiven. You can be freed from the hold of sin on you, you can be able to change your life in Jesus Christ. And I promise you while a sinner you will leave this world, you will awaken a redeemed, forgiven, and cleansed child of the living God. Psalms 103:1-4 "A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (4.) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;" Thank you my Father, and Thank you my Saviour Jesus Christ!     

Only Believers In Jesus Christ Are God’s Children.

Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Let this be understood, “we are not all God’s Children”. This is another lie told by those who have no understanding of God’s Holy Script. If a person does not believe in their heart that Jesus Christ is their total Saviour then they are not saved, and they are going to the eternal lake of fire. There are no exceptions no matter what Dr. Pastor says. Your pastor is not the final authority on the bible no matter who he is. Just like the Pope has no authority to forgive sins and neither does Catholic Priest. This old lying trash coming from the pulpits every Sunday Morning is nothing but just that, lying trash. Paul, who was an authority in the scriptures because he actually wrote 13 or more books of the Bible by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote that only those who believe in Jesus Christ are saved, everyone else is lost and going to hell, if God does not save them first. Paul was fighting the same false stuff then as we do today, works. God point blank without question said that SALVATION IS NOT OF WORKS but people continue to believe that salvation is of works. Ephesians 2:9 “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 9:16 “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” 2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” Now how much more proof is needed? Jesus Christ is our salvation and only in Him can we be accepted into or ever see the kingdom of God. This is exactly what Jesus told a ruler of the Jews, named Nicodemus. This is what Paul and Silas told the jailer. This is what Peter told a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch. Acts 8:37 “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Not one single word about works of any sort. However, pastors just keep telling people to work their way to heaven. They just keep preaching lies after lies. Folks, it was Jesus Christ who died. Thank God it will be Him who will judge us, and who will condemn the lost. Romans 8:34 “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Folks, it was Jesus Christ who died to give us salvation. It is Jesus Christ who saves sinners. And, it is Jesus Christ who receives all the glory of our salvation. He is the one who died and shed His blood, and there are no more avenues of salvation. 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.” So, no, we are not all the children of God, we are not all loved of God, and we are not all going to heaven. I tell you the truth, if you are not washed in the blood of the Lamb, then you are condemned in your sins. 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 is right you are already condemned to the eternal hell fires. But, there is still time, still hope, but if you continue to live in sin and deny Jesus Christ as the Saviour, then there is no hope for you.

Only God Can Save A Lost Sinner

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (64.) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (65.) And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." John 6:63 – 65

This battle in life is growing older by the day. When Paul said “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 Timothy 4:7 What a fight he must have fought. We are so blessed to live in the Twenty-First Century where we have the complete word of God, but the fight is still hard. With Arminianism blooming like wild flowers these days it certainly makes life hard for Sovereign Grace Churches and their Pastors. It is hard to fight Satan and his theories and lies. Sometimes I have to wonder how the Sovereign Grace of God made it all the way to the Twenty-First Century. You look over at the Arminian churches and see all the wonderful things they have, all the young people whom they are bleaching their young minds with Arminian lies, and it just breaks your heart. It is sad to bring your children up in a right thinking church, a good Sovereign Grace Church only to see them enticed by the bait of Satan’s lies and tools of trickery. The next thing you know they have forgotten all the good truth they were taught for years, and believing and spreading Arminianism. If only they were working that hard for God! However, it may be, we are still here. We may be small, but God is still being honored and blessed in His little church of truth. I still preach the truth about salvation, even if it is only a small group of saved people. My job as a Pastor is to preach the gospel, it is God’s job to allow people to hear it and be saved. While the people of Arminianism are falsely leading people in the wrong direction with their lies, the truth about salvation can still be heard right here in this small Sovereign Grace Baptist Church. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:16 “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of…” because my preaching is nothing except God use it for His glory. We use no lies, we tell no false stories, we do not disrespect God by shouting “He cannot change your will”, we ask for no decisions, turning over a new leaf, or etc. We simply preach the gospel of the bible and if anyone’s life is to be changed by it, then God will change it. Understanding this make preaching the gospel a blessing, because you never know how God will use it. As a Pastor of the Lords church, preaching the gospel is my job, Paul went on to warn us Pastors in 1 Corinthians 9:16 “…for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” Oh! How sad for those who preach anything other than the truth about how God still saves sinners. Remember this as John wrote in verse 65 “…I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." Only God can cause repentance to a lost sinner, if you do anything to cause a sinner to falsely move, then before Jesus Christ you will stand guilty. Oh, lost sinner do not believe the false teachers of Arminianism, I plead with you. Find a Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, hear the Pastor and be truly led to the saving blood of Jesus Christ. Do not lose confidence Pastor, church, or believers, God still saves sinners. While the churches of heresy continue to grow, the truth is still in the little Sovereign Grace Baptist Churches. It is through our preaching that the world will come to repentance in Jesus Christ. God is still the Saviour and we are still His messengers. Romans 10:13 - 15 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14.) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15.) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

A Believers Liberty In God’s Word.

"One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Romans 14:5

Here in Texarkana, we were blessed to have one of our supported Missionaries to visit us last Wednesday night. Brother Dan Sullivan Missionary in Thailand, Brother Dan brought a study titled “Soul Liberty” which is the base for this article. While I have titled it different is all means the same thing, in fact some people would title it “Christian Freedom”. As Christians we are bound to Gods word, the doctrine or teachings of the bible are facts and cannot be changed for any thought or reason. As Sovereign Grace Baptist we are bound to the doctrines and beliefs of God’s word as has been handed down through history from Jesus Christ until now. Men and women have worked hard, even died to preserve God’s blessed Truths from generation to generation. And we here in the Twenty-First Century must also preserve the truth of the scriptures. It is not doctrine I am speaking of here, but rather the beliefs in God’s word that we differ. I have for years wrote, preached, and begged Christians to be tolerant of one another and our different beliefs. Once again I want to remind all my beloved Family in Christ and especially my beloved Minister Brethren that not a one of us is perfect in our belief of the Scriptures. We are all sinners, and come short of the perfectness of the Holy Scriptures. If any person does not allow room in their thoughts for error, then that person might as well stop their learning of God’s Holy Word. The fact is we are all subject to error and we must all allow each other room for error. Remembering our own frames and how fragile we truly are. I agree with Brother Sullivan when he said the Baptist Doctrine are fact and unmovable and any true Baptist will believe them and stand on them, and they are not subject to argument any more. However, there are some interpretation of the scriptures that are debatable because of the way you and I might interpret them. God said "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation...For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:20 - 21 meaning man did not write the word of God, but were writing as God moved them. It is God’s word and therefore it is exactly what God wants it to be. We as Believers or churches cannot change it and make it a private interpretation. Sometimes we will find things in the bible that you will see one way and I will see another way, but who is right, you or me? Here in Romans the subject is about whether Christians can eat meat or should we abstain from meat. God answered in verse 3 "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him." Do not offend each other, because you are not the judge of your brother or sister, but of God. Folks, the truth is there are some things that we are going to interpret in the scriptures that others see another way. As Christians and church members we must allow for error on both sides. Beloved, this is a fact, if I separated myself from every Christian I disagreed with on something scriptural, then I would most likely be alone. God said we are to be acceptant of one another, because you are not the judge of what is right or wrong, God is. Please allow me to ask this question, if by chance you are wrong on something and you chastised another believer, or withdrew fellowship from another brother because of this non-doctrine difference, how will you feel when you stand before Jesus Christ to find out that you were wrong?  As “A Believers Liberty In God’s Word” is allowed freedom to their interpretation of God’s word, and still be able to worship and serve together as Saints of God. If you judge another Christians beliefs as though there is no room for error on both sides, then you will be judged by Jesus Christ the very same way. God told us two very important things when we judge another believer, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:" Luke 6:37 and "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24 Brother things that are of private interpretation are just that and should be just that and nothing more. I have personally had a couple of brethren whom I love withdraw fellowship from me because they disagree on a private interpretation of a non-doctrinal issue. They will account before Jesus Christ for their intolerance of “A Believers Liberty In God’s Word.” May God be merciful to them in judgement. Beloved it is ok for you to see a scripture one way and I see it another, we are not perfect Theologians of the scripture. Even our beloved first churches did not see everything perfect. There were many errors in the Lords first churches, and we still error today. Now for this final thought, we are not God’s policemen. God did not appoint us to police the belief of other Christians or church members. And the reason He did not is because there is only one single perfect being and His name is Jehovah, and we know Him as Jesus the Christ. Paul finished this thought in Romans chapter 14 with these words, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12 Brethren, you do not have to account for me before God, I do. Allow room for error because the error might actually be on your part and not mine. Let them that eat meat eat it, and those that eat herbs eat them, it’s ok, we still worship, pray, study, and learn together in Christ. “He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.” Romans 14:6 Let us all worship together and work together, for we are small as it is in this world, and let us not quarrel over little things. Again, while the doctrine of the church has been handed down from Jesus, Paul, Peter, and etc., not everything we believe is Baptist church doctrine. Let us all love one another and study together to show ourselves approved to God, we are only here for a short time and we must hand down a unified loving church to our next generation. We must ask ourselves, what kind of a church attitude are we handing down? What kind of an example are you personally handing down? Is it godly?      

Frustrating God

1 Thessalonians 4:8 “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”

This week we want to look again at the word “frustrate” taken from Galatians 2:21 where Paul wrote "I do not frustrate the grace of God..." that is, he will not render the grace of God worthless or bring it to naught by saying that salvation is by works. Because it cannot be by both works and grace because one makes the other worthless. This week we see the word “despiseth” which is the same Greek word as frustrate. Here Paul writes that “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God…” Despising God here is disobeying what God commands. When Christians disobey God’s word they are not despising or rendering man’s words worthless, but rather God’s. Your Pastor does not preach, nor did the Apostle Paul write our own words but the words of God, therefore to render them useless by disobeying them is to frustrate God. See God is Sovereign and when people do not recognize God as Sovereign then they in reality render God useless. People who does not recognize His word as His Own Sovereign Word, then they fail to recognize His authority. It is the same in salvation, when men make-up their own salvation then it renders God’s salvation as worthless, therefore rendering God useless. God designed salvation to bring Himself and His Son Jesus The Christ glory. Therefore, every time a sinner is saved then the Angels in heaven rejoice in their praise to God because He has graciously saved a sinner. This giving all glory to God, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for their miraculous act in combining to save a sinner. Now let us explore some ways that God is frustrated or rendered useless by Christians, churches, and Pastors, today. When God is taken out of salvation then God is no longer needed in order for a sinner to be saved. In other words, if a Preacher is good at convincing a sinner to choose to repent and the sinner makes that decision, then who is to be praised? Why would the Angels in heaven rejoice over that? They are created to praise God, not man. Ah, then in this type of salvation the sinner and the Preacher are to be praised and not God. God said in Romans 1:24 "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:" because they no longer worship God, but themselves leaving God out of salvation altogether. According to them their salvation is to their praise and glory because God had nothing to do with it, rendering Him useless. God said in Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Now if you look at real salvation everything praises God, The Father chooses and predestinated everything, The Son died to furnish the sin cleansing blood, and the Holy Spirit delivers salvation to the sinner, this renders man useless instead of God. See God is King in all things and this is a truth some people have forgotten, refused to believe, or simply have ignored this truth. God said that salvation “…it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Romans 9:16 Therefore God saves whomever He chooses. See, God has that right since He is the creator of all things, He has the right to make a vessel unto honor like Jacob, and one unto dishonor like Esau, whether man likes it or not. 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?” Rendering God useless in salvation is rendering man’s salvation worthless. God saves sinners and man has nothing to do with it. God blesses us in allowing us to preach the gospel, but God saves sinners and He does not need man to get it done. Therefore, while so many render God useless we as Sovereign Grace Baptist praise God and we render man useless. God needs no one to accomplish His will.

Frustrating Jesus Christ.

John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Last week we looked at “Frustrating The Grace Of God”. We learned last week that the word “Frustrating” has many differing definitions which all lead to the definition - to reject, - it is also like, to set aside, disannul, bring to nought. The ugliest definition is “bring to nought” which is what is done when Salvation by grace is rejected for any sort of works on our part. God boldly said salvation cannot be of both works and grace because one cancels the other out. Romans 4:4 - 5 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt…But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." In our text scripture John 12:48 it says “He that rejecteth me…” the word “reject” is the identical Greek word as Frustrating in Galatians 2:2. So you might ask “how does one render Jesus Christ disannulled or bring Him to nought? Well, Jesus answered that question in John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words…”. By rejecting Jesus Christ as Saviour one is making Him worthless to themselves. If Jesus Christ has no true value to you as Saviour then He serves no purpose to you. It is the same with God’s grace, either it is everything in bringing you to your salvation or nothing. God promised that Jesus Christ would come and save sinners “…thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 God also promised that "...being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Romans 5:9 Since this is true then we must also believe that salvation is in Him and Him alone because Jesus Christ said it absolutely was. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39 Why would they testify of Him and not our works, because He is salvation, and Him alone. The way one can frustrate Jesus Christ is exactly the way they frustrate God’s grace, they render it useless through false thinking in works. If one truly examines the scriptures, they cannot determine that works have any place in salvation at all. Salvation is not Grace and works and salvation is not Jesus and works, otherwise both grace and Jesus are rendered totally useless. This is properly defined in   Ephesians 2:8 - 9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...Not of works, lest any man should boast." If salvation is of Grace and through Jesus Christ, then nothing else belongs in it. What else could be a part of it? Pastors and Ministers frustrate both grace and Jesus Christ every single time they preach that works, any sort of works have any part in salvation. This is God’s record, recorded in His word, and to deny it is to deny God’s word and truth. God sent His Son to seek and to save and this mission has nothing to do with the efforts of man and his works. If you are saved, truly saved, then you were saved by God’s wonderful grace and through His Wonderful Son Jesus Christ. Paul summed this all up in his letter to the church as Rome in Romans 3:24 - 25 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” 

Frustrating The Grace Of God

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21

 

The subject we want to look at today is “frustrate the grace of God”. In order to understand this in its proper usage we look at the Greek word for “frustrate” which is atheteō and that means - to set aside, disannul, bring to nought – therefore Paul is writing here not to disannul God’s grace. So the next question is how does one render God’s grace worthless? Well in reality we cannot, God’s grace is God’s and not ours. It is only our grace once God gives it to us and believe me once you receive God’s grace, the last thing you want to do is to lose it. Paul is speaking to those who believe that you are not saved by God’s grace but rather by some sort of works. See if one is saved by works, and that is works of any sort then they void out grace. Grace and works will not go together. God says that grace is an act of giving, and works are a payment of debt which we cannot pay. If one earns salvation, then it is of works and not of grace. Paul defined it this way in Romans 4:4 - 5 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt…But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Now, what is counted as righteousness, his faith. Because works voids out grace. Paul went on to say in Ephesians 2:8 - 9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...Not of works, lest any man should boast.” One cannot boast if salvation is by grace, but God has nowhere to glory if salvation is of works. People who want to earn salvation by works, any sort of works is foolish because they cannot be saved. Nowhere in the scriptures is it even hinted that one is saved by works, not in one single place, without stretching the scriptures beyond their bounds and causing it to change from its original meaning. If God said in Ephesians 2:9 “Not of works…” then it would be contradictive for Him to say elsewhere that it is of works. God also said it frustrates the grace of God to say it is any other way than by grace. Let us look at the context in which Paul was speaking in Galatians 2, in verse 20 Paul said "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Paul is saying that the life we have in our redeemed state is in Christ and not ourselves. Paul said the life “I live; yet not I…” it is not my life but the life of Christ in me. Now if the life we live in our redeemed state is Christ, then how is it by works. God said that salvation is a Gift, “…it is the gift of God…” Eph. 2:8, and if a gift of grace then where is works? People sing these words “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me....” but kill the whole blessing of grace with works. God point blank said (1.) that it is not of works, and (2.) that it is of grace and here people want to change the record of God and tell people that it is earned by our works. Folks here is Gods record and if your Pastor tells you any different he has changed the truth of God into a lie. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son...He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:11 – 12 According to God’s record salvation is by God’s grace and through the blood of Jesus Christ. We cannot simply change God’s Holy Script, but people do it all the time. Please do not frustrate the grace of God, it is too valuable. God said "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.” Acts 16:30 – 31 again nothing about works, it is all about the grace of God and in Jesus Christ.

No Love Of Christ In You!

John 5:42 “But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.”

Jesus Christ is the single most rejected man in the history of this world. People hated Him when He was on this earth, so much so they released a murder to crucify the Son of God. John wrote "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." John 1:11 Jesus Christ came to the Jews and they rejected Him, so much so they punished Him worse than any man. The world hates Him and also rejects Him, and because of their hate for Jesus they also hate Christians. Even “so-called Christians” hate Him, while they seek to worship Him they in reality hate Him. They hate Him because He is the Saviour of the world.  "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" John 11:26 He, and He alone is our salvation, but as the Jews rejected Him, so does most of the religionist called Christians. Salvation is in Jesus Christ and the bible is completely proof of this, but so-called Christians reject Him as Saviour and trust their own works for salvation. I understand why this is done, it is because people trust themselves more than Jesus Christ. People just cannot believe that a person can obtain salvation without their input. This is the mentality of the human nature, “only I can do it, and do it right”. However, we cannot, we have not the ability within us to do it ourselves. If we did we would not need a Saviour. The forgiving blood of Jesus is needed every day of your life, even after you are saved. Believers in Jesus Christ, Christians, are still sinners, we still sin every day. But, somehow some people truly believe they are sin-free because after their salvation they can live sin-free lives, oh, how wrong you are. We need the grace of God every day just to do one single thing to bless God. The only good thing in us is Jesus Christ and God’s forgiveness of our sins. The fact here is people, “so-called Christians” do not love Jesus Christ. He is not valuable enough to them to be their Saviour. His blood is not good enough to wash their sins away. He is not powerful enough to be their Saviour, therefore they must do themselves what Jesus was not able to do. Let us look at the word of God, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”  Jude 1:24 – 25 The idea that works, works of any sort is to replace the Saviour is to say that His power is less than yours. It is to reject Jesus Christ as Saviour and therefore you will hate Him and not love Him. Paul, speaking to his young preacher Timothy said this “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”. 2 Timothy 4:18 With this being said, I must ask this question, “how is Jesus Christ preserving us, if we are preserving our own selves”. Jesus Christ Himself said these words “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28 If He has given us eternal life, then how is it that we can lose eternal life? So let’s look at it this way, we have been delivered in Jesus, we are preserved in Jesus, we cannot perish in Jesus, and no man (including ourselves) can pluck them out of my hand, but somehow people keep their salvation by works. Folks, people who will not accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour is rejecting Him as their Saviour, and therefore they hate Him and not love Him. Listen to the words of God, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8 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 2:7 – 10. Salvation is nothing about ourselves, everything is a gift of God, everything is ordained of God, and everything is accomplished by God’s power. Now I ask, do you truly love Jesus Christ, because only those saved in Him truly love Him.  

Whom Will You Serve?

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

If you are a Christian, do you truly worship Jehovah God? This is the first question you must ask yourself, do I serve the Lord God. There are many people who worship every Sunday and fail to worship Jehovah God. We cannot simply worship as we please, be in service as we please, and believe as we please. God is set in His ways and He changes not. James tells us in James 1:16 - 17 "Do not err, my beloved brethren...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." There is no turning with God, therefore do not err. God does not change with time, nor does He ever allow time to change Him. This is good for us because if God changed He might just be willing to consume us. God told Israel that they were blessed because He did not change. Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” They most certainly deserved to be consumed, just as we do today. In case you do not understand the word “consumed” it means to end or to rid the earth of them. This is why God is not using Israel today but rather Gentiles. But look what most Gentiles have done to God, His churches, and His truth. The name and power of God have been watered down and changed so much that the true God (Jehovah God) has been eliminated from Christianity. People have failed to worship the Lord in fear, in fact people no longer fear God. It is the fear of God that should keep us in line with the Lord, but where has that fear gone? The Psalmist wrote in Psalms 2:11 “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” But today it is hard to get church members even to attend church, and they wonder why their life is falling apart. They have lost their fear of God and seem to no longer to care. The Psalmist also wrote these words of warning in Psalms 89:7 “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” Is He, is He held in Reverence? Is He held in Reverence in your home Christian, in your church Pastor, are you Christian Holding God in Reverence? Christianity and churches are not allowed to worship as they please, they are not allowed to change things as they please, God has standards and if we fail to meet those standards we fail to worship the Lord. God does not take whatever He can get, He demands and if His standards are not met then your worship is not accepted. It is not ok with God for you to worship as you please, believe as you please, and to attend church as you please. If a church member will not attend church, that member should be excluded from the church. Church is not an option in the life of a Christian, it is a must. The write to the Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 10:25a “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” If a member does not want to attend church, then they should not continue being a part of the Lords church. As Christians we need to choose if we are going to serve the Lord or mammon, because we cannot serve the two together and at the same time. Christian it time for you to decide whom you are going to serve, are you going to be like Joshua and serve the Lord or not? Men, you are personally responsible for the membership of your family, it is our duty as men to the Lord to run our homes and make these decisions. We will be held reasonable to the Lord, does that make you fear, it ought too. Christian, you need to choose, and that choice ought to be to worship God. Anytime you choose not to attend church you have failed to choose obeying God. You have showed that you no longer fear God. Church, a godly standard, a believing truth, is not an option it is a must. Believer, who are you choosing, God or mammon? Please give this verse some thought, “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.” Luke 16:13 What are you telling God when you fail to attend church?   

Life Can Be Frightening; But, Never Forget God’s Promises.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee...So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Hebrews 13:5 – 6

I know that life is frightful, every corner life takes it seems like evil is there and is wanting to harm us. We as Christians are concerned about our future in the upcoming elections, concerned about our life and ability to serve the Lord. We also concern ourselves with the future of the Lords churches, and maybe troubled finances, or even sickness in our life. I understand because we Pastors go through your issues with you, and also, we go through the same issues in our life. Whatever life brings our way, worry not, God is your buckler in life, and you have His promise that no matter what happens in life, God will never leave nor forsake you. The Psalmist wrote these words, "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Psalms 91:4 God never promised that we would not ever be in troubled times, He never said we would not have sickness, nor did God ever promise that you would never see death or die yourself. It is a biblical fact that God promised you would have all these things in life. However, remember this fact, God has promised to never, ever, leave nor forsake you no matter what happens in your life. No matter if the world hates you God will forever love you and forever be your buckler and shield in life. God tells us to be content, no matter what happens in life, because He is with us. Not only with us but controlling every aspect of our life. God said He would never leave us, therefore He is with us. I would like you to take the time to read the 46^th Psalm, in it you will find loads of comfort no matter what life brings to you.  God made us this glorious promise in Psalms 46:1 "...God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Look, God is a PRESENT HELP in all our troubles. Beloved there is nothing you go through alone in this life. God told us as believers to gain strength in this very fact, never allow the problems of this life weigh us downs or separate us from the Lord and His service. God has not left you alone, nor has He left you. Remember, God never changes, no matter what. Therefore, it would be impossible for God to leave you in any way. So beloved, gain strength and courage from God and His promises to us.
The Psalmist went in verse 5 to say, “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” God is in your mist and therefore never be moved from the blessed faith that He has given to you. Stand-up believer in the Lord, let the strength of God and His blessed promises keep you happy and in courage. To those who are worried about the upcoming elections and our future as Christians and churches, God told us this through the Psalmist, “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.” Psalms 46:8 Beloved God has a plan, everything is God’s plan, and in that plan is for our time. God controls everything and everything develops according to His predestined will. Fellow believer, stand in God and the strength He has given us. Be content, and follow His blessed word no matter what. Never lose faith in Him or His works. God has made us believers many promises, but the biggest promise He has made us is the hope of eternal life and this life is in His Son Jesus The Christ. Beloved, Life is promised to be full of problems and misery, but God has promised to walk right through them with us no matter what, even if they lead to our demise.  “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Joshua 1:5

Uncorrupted Doctrine.

Titus 2:1 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:”

As we see this letter Paul wrote to a young preacher named Titus we see the insightfulness in which Paul spoke to people. Paul understood much because he had dealt so much with the Holy Spirit. Paul had written 13 or so books of the Holy Script of God, therefore his insight on God’s truth was undisputable more than any other man, other than Jesus Himself. As Christians, it would do us much good to pay attention, not only to his penned words but all of the bible. This book called the bible (while sometimes credited to men and women) is Gods Holy Script. God is not a man, although Jesus Christ was a man and everyone else involved in the bible were men and women, God is not. As people we have fleshly feeling, we have little understanding, and even less knowledge of God. God is simply too large for our understanding. His word is written as such that only a true believer, and a true believer that studies and prays much for understanding can even began to understand. I find it strange when men want to show their understanding, when they really do not understand as much as they think they do. Before a man begins to speak he needs to understand what he teaches, because men who teach untruthful things will account to Jesus Christ. However, teaching anything other than “sound doctrine” is unacceptable to God. God wrote the scriptures for our understanding, and it is our duty to God to study to show ourselves approved to God. 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.” A “workman” as Paul put it is a “labor in the word of God” and a good labor does as his boss tells him. Folks, if it is not “sound doctrine” that the labor is teaching than it is a lie. People cannot just assume they are right, they cannot teach to please people, because whom do we seek to please, man or God. That would be like asking who are we going to serve God or mammon. And it might surprise you at the number of people who think they can please both with a little compromise. However, God never compromises on doctrine or anything else. God said in Romans 14:18 “For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.” If it is acceptable to God then man ought to approve of it, not vice versa. We are only accepted of God if we are in truth. Acts 10:35 “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” However, once the truth vanishes away for false teachings then we cannot call it sound doctrine any longer. Only the truth will ever be accepted of God, once compromised then God will not have it. It ought to fear man not to be in sound doctrine but it seems most men have lost their fear of God or never feared Him to start with. The single word that will teach you truth or sound doctrine is “study”. Christians need to learn that doctrine only comes to those that labor for it, and that labor will show God that we have advanced in the teachings of His word. Labor for this and it will draw you closer to the Lord. But, please remember that we must labor for the meat of His word, and nothing else will satisfy God. 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."

You Cannot Hide From God.

Luke 12:2 - 3 "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. (3.) Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."

Mankind is very secretly in their life. In fact, at times in our life we have all hide things from others. There are things in in our life that we will carry to our graves with us that no one else knows about. However, there is nothing in our lives that God does not know about. God said that nothing will be covered, nothing hid, therefore whatever is in darkness shall be revealed and uncovered in judgment. You may carry secrets with you to your grave, but Jesus Christ will bring light on them in your day of judgement. God is Omniscience therefore there is nothing He does not know, nothing He does not see, and nothing He forgets (except sins forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ). I find it sad when people think I am trying to judge them and when I tell them God will be their Judge and they kind of smirk it off and reply “then let God judge me”. Oh, how ignorant are people of God’s judgment. Believe me when God judges you it will be a sad day, God knows and sees everything, and remembers it all. When you stand before the all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful God of creation it will not be a pleasant day, not even for believers in Jesus Christ. However, for believers who walk according to God’s word, their judgment will be good. The Preacher wrote by God’s Holy Spirit these words, Ecclesiastes 12:13 - 14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (14.) For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." I ask that we all read them several time over and ponder them in our hearts for some time, it might surprise you what comes to your heart. And let us not forget, God cannot be tricked with deception. Beloved, let me say it as nice as I can, heed the warnings of your Pastor in their sermons, and also in their visits with you. It is your Pastors work to oversee and to work with you in the Lord. He is not trying to mind your business, invade into your life, or judge you. God has set your Pastor in the church as an OVERSEER and an under-shepherd of the true Shepard Jesus Christ, your Pastor cannot oversee if you reject him. As Pastors we are here to help the church, to help you in your spiritual life, because one day you will stand before Jesus Christ in True, and real judgment, and if you think your Pastor or other church member is rude, wait till Jesus Christ judges you. We will all stand before Jesus Christ in judgement, the saved at His second coming and the lost at the Great White Throne. The two judgements will be at different times but both will be by Jesus Christ. The second judgment will be the sad one, that is where the lost will stand before Jesus Christ, they will attempt to justify themselves Matthew 7:21 – 22 only to find out that there is no justification in their works. Revelation 20:11 - 13 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them...And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works...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." Their final judgement will put them in hell for all eternity. Jesus Christ knows their works, He knows their hearts, and He knows them not as His Own Sheep. Folks, you cannot hide from God neither can you hide anything, unforgiven sins for the lost or lack of works for believers, one-day God will shine a light on them and all eternity can see them. Today is the day to find forgiveness, today is the day to repent, today is the day to change your life to serve God in truth. To us believers who are saved, today is the day for true revival in our lives, tomorrow could be too late.  Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”    

The Lord Blesses A Liberal Giver.

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure… For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

As humans and as fleshly people we have a 100% downside. If we read Romans chapter 3 we will see just how horrible mankind are. I know most people do not believe the Lord is speaking about you in that chapter, but He really is speaking about all mankind. We (as humanity) believe that people are basically good, but with a small downside, but that is not what God says, He said “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11.) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12.) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Romans 3:10 – 12 and that is not the Jews but the Jews and Gentiles which includes all mankind, with the exclusion of Jesus Christ. Please understand that moral goodness is only good in human eyes, God judges the heart. We have to understand that what we do with expatiations of something in return is something done fleshly and not spiritually.  Godly giving is giving liberally and not expecting a return. Salvation is not given by grace if we have to earn it, just like giving is not gracious on our part if we expect a return. "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 Something earned is not gracious on the givers part, just as expecting a return on our giving is not cheerfulness if we expect a return. God said in 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” Now let me give a little commentary on this verse, every single person is controlled by their heart, if one has a godly heart then they will do accordingly, but a fleshly heart is different. Secondly, God said a believer will not give (grudgingly- that is of regret or sorrow) but a godly giver will give cheerfully or willingly because God commanded. Giving not expecting a return. However, God said He will return it to you “measured” in weight. This is not a guaranteed and not a reason that we give. But what it shows is if we are gracious with our money or possessions then God will be gracious back. What God does promise is that if you give for the right reason (out of godliness and graciousness) then He will return it. Job lost about all that he had, just about everything, he did not understand why but he was ok with it because he wrote “And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21 but he did not expect God to double the return. See beloved a cheerful giver gives because the Lord commands it of us, but our thinking is that we want to do it because it is an act of love for God. We help each other, therefore it is not painful to reach in our pockets and help others. Christians ought not feel pain in helping the Lord’s churches or Gods people with anything they have because God has freely given it to us. The more you give the more blessed you will be, if given out of cheerfulness. Folks, it is just earthly possessions, but it can reap you heavenly, eternal rewards. Be kind in giving and thank God that He blessed you enough to help others. Remember, we are Christians, therefore (as hard as it can be) we ought to like Christ in many ways.