America! America!

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

Oh beautiful, for pilgrims' feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!

Oh beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!

Oh beautiful, for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!
Samuel Ward: From wikipedia.com

I love our country. I was born here, grew up here, and will probably die or ascend into heaven (the rapture) from here. My memory stretches back about fifty years to this date and I can’t help seeing what has become of our nation. What was only a whisper and kept in closets for shame is now openly supported and taunted nation wide. But it is not my intent here to show forth our nation’s sins but to exhort those who believe in the power of prayer and who will do so to pray for our nation, not only today on this Independence Day, but on a daily basis.

Pray for our leaders:
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 1-4

We should pray for them for the obvious reason stated, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” This means we should pray for them so we can have peace in our streets; peace in our homes; the privilege of free speech, the right to preach and teach the whole Word of God without government harassment or their “framing mischief by a law” “Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?” Psalm 94:20

A ruler’s heart can be changed and turned as mentioned in Proverbs 21:1: “ The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” The “rivers of water” mentioned here are small channels of water as used in irrigation which can sometimes be changed with just the moving of dirt with the foot.

Seek the peace of the city:
Jeremiah wrote to those who were in captivity in Babylon the following: “Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. ” Jeremiah 29: 5-6 This is like the first admonition but it is here up to us to try to seek the peace of the city and live peaceable lives. Sometimes, doing the work of God is anything but peaceful in that we fight Satan and his followers but in general terms, we are to live peaceably and treat others as we want them to treat us. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14

Do our best to obey the laws of the land:
We are exhorted to obey the laws that we are under. I feel that this should be done as long as Biblical teachings teach otherwise, but this is rare. An example would be if there was a law forbidding Bible reading, then we would have to stand for Christ and read our Bibles or find another solution. This is my opinion and this also comes with conviction but let me make it very clear that many use the Bible as an excuse to disobey the law when in fact it is not so.

“ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Romans 13:1-4

By reading the above scripture, it should be very clear why we need to pray for our rules. We should pray for the elections that will be coming up in 2008. It is important who will be ruling us. I’m not on a political soap box because right now I don’t know who I’d vote for….it’s more who I wouldn’t. But we, as a church, as a nation, need to pray. We get who we ask for according as to who God ordains. God is the judge but he makes judgment in light of what we are as a nation.

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.” Psalm 75:6-8

One more scripture that many are very familiar with……and it is true!

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Homosexuality

Let’s get right to the point.

Is homosexuality a sin according to God’s word? Yes. (By using the word “homosexual” we are talking about “gays” and “lesbians.”)

Does that mean that we hate the homosexual? Absolutely not! Even though we live in a day that we are accused of being hate mongers by anyone who may not like our viewpoint, we do NOT HATE THEM NOR SHOULD WE, in fact, our heart should go out to them. But again, let’s be VERY clear on this. WE DO NOT HATE HOMOSEXUALS!!!

Let me also say that I know some who hold this lifestyle who I think very highly of in other areas. Most are not the militant type that you would see on TV but are polite, peace loving people. But if God’s word does not OK this lifestyle, are we, as a church, justified by condoning this practice? Is it fair to them? No. Will some be offended? Yes, they will but just because someone is offended doesn’t make the truth of God’s word wrong. There is a law snaking its way through congress that poses strict panatelas against hate crimes. While this may seem good on the surface, it only paves the way to stop the church from preaching the unadulterated Word of God which should be the right of the church. It is not the mission of the church to always make people happy but to get them to heaven.

Let look at the scripture.

Romans 1: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

A simple reading of the above text can show that God is not in favor and will judge this type of behavior. Also, it does not support the fact that one is naturally born a homosexual. GOD IS SMARTER THAN SCIENCE!

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

That seems clear to me.

1 Timothy 1: 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

The word “whoremongers” is taken from the Greek word “por’nos” meaning a prostitute bus specifically a “male” prostitute. It is derived from the Greek word “pop-ras”-ko” meaning “to sell.” This same “whoremonger” is used in Revelation 21:8 which says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

This was also forbidden in the Old Testament as we read in the following scriptures.

Deuteronomy 23:17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

1 Kings 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

This does not take in account the judgment of Sodom for this sin as well. See Genesis chapter 19.

This is very clear in the Word of God and leaves little to argue with when rightly dividing the word of truth. While it may be argued that empowers in Rome and some Greek philosophers favored and even practiced this, it doesn’t validate in light of the Word of God. While we are not the final judge, we do have the obligation of bringing out the truth of God’s Word. Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” We must do it in love and not in malice, reaching for their souls so they may have deliverance and eternal life.

Jude 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Note Jude says “hating the garments” and not them.

The Oneness Crowd

I get emails from folks that of what is commonly referred to as the “Oneness Movement.” ( I had mentioned to one that I was waiting a couple of weeks to respond but I’ve decided that I’d get this out of the way before I left.) Those in this movement believe that Christ is all in one, another words there is not a trinity but Christ is God and the Holy Ghost. They site scriptures out of context to support their claim and if you follow their arguments, the result is only confusion. I have debated with them on occasion, personally and via email but I will tell you that it is a waste of time. They are like lions waiting to pounce on your every word and twist it to their liking and they also are good at not answering a question with a direct answer but giving some other unrelated answer. If you debate with them long, you will be led down a meandering road of confusion which is what they really want, as the devil is the author of it. I’m not writing this just for my own behalf but for those of you who may come in contact with these people.

The Oneness doctrine was contrived in a campmeeting back in the 1900’s by a man who supposedly prayed all night and received this revelation. Later, they realized it was in error but by that time it had already grown out of control and could not be stopped as error always multiplies. They will say Paul was a Oneness or whatever term they want to use but that’s not so.


1. I do not hate those who are a part of this doctrine. I have run into many good people who are sympathetic to this and have enjoyed some short times of fellowship. But I have also run into those who are nothing but contentious and are on a crusade to promote this.
2. Debating them is useless for two reasons. They will not change as this is a spirit of error and only deliverance can change them. I have seen some come out of this oneness movement and realize the error they were made to believe. But when a man or woman has been in this movement for many years, it is very difficulty to get them out. The second reason is that I certainly am not going to change my view of the Trinity after being saved for over thirty-one years.
3. Their emails are long, so long that it is laborious to even read through them. They take you down winding roads turning in one path than to another. If one takes the time to respond such a long article, they will pounce on your words and even your terminology. It just takes too long to mess with them. I work a job, pastor a church, and have a wife, children who are married and grandchildren. I just don’t feel I want to waste my time fooling with them. Don’t you either.
4. Their spirit is a very hard spirit to deal with….probably one of the hardest because it is so close to the real thing. Remember though, Satan can appear as an angel of light.
5. Finally, I will always email or even talk with anyone who has questions or some disputes on sanctification or other points I raise. I don’t mind that as I feel I can help. You are always welcome to write, but to those of this doctrine, don’t bother. I just won’t spend the time with you as I feel there are others who are really sincere about the Word of God and need my attention. I will not answer your emails and if you try to post, I’ll take it off. I have learned that the biggest thing the Oneness people want is a good argument and row. You’re not getting it here! It’s finished!! No more!! Take your heresy somewhere else because I don’t buy into it and it won’t have a spot here in this blog.

To the rest ----- May God help you and keep you.

What's Up

I’ve tried to enter a blog, if not weekly, on a bi-weekly basis. Many times I’ve had the Lord prompt me as to what to say. However, sometimes, I’ve had the urge, when not getting any special leading, just to make comments. I’ve finally fallen to that urge.

We are fighting a war – a spiritual one. I don’t want to make it sound like many are not aware of it but I really don’t think we, as a whole, really understand how important it is. There is a war in the heavens and on earth that will one culminate in Christ’s return and his setting up of his 1,000 years reign on earth. These things are spelled out in prophesy. Before this happens however, the Antichrist will arise and deceive many and will one day dominate the entire world for, it is believed, three and a half years. Antichrist forces and spirits have been loose since the begging of time but are now ramping up as they prepare for the final showdown against God and Satan. All of this is clearly outlined in scripture, however there is disagreement among Bible scholars as to when Christ will return for his church, or as we know as the “rapture.” There will come, what Bible scholars believe as the seven year tribulation period with the last three and a half years being ruled by the antichrist and false prophet. It is not completely certain as to when the “rapture” will take place: before the tribulation, in the middle, or after. I personally feel it may occur before however I refuse to be dogmatic about this because prophesy is so tangled and I am convinced that most of us do not have the complete picture of things.

For example, let’s look at what was happening during the time our Lord walked on the face of the earth. The disciples believed, as told by many scholars and even indicated in scripture, that when the Lord arose, the kingdom of God would appear. They felt like they were going to be in a place of prominence in it. That’s why they asked him in Acts 1:6 what they did. “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” This was right before the his ascension into heaven. He put them to rest on this by saying the following. “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” This has been two thousand years ago and we are looking for his appearing.

If all of this sounds strange and foreign to you than you are not familiar with basic prophesy and I urge you to study the scriptures. There are numerous places in the Bible that you can study but I would suggest you start with the book of Daniel and Revelation. You will not understand everything in there, in fact much of it may leave you wondering upon the first reading but as you continue to study, you will begin to find the truths of God’s word.

But you and I can do nothing without Christ in our hearts. If he doesn’t live in yours, please invite him in. He’s a perfect gentleman though…..He won’t come in unless you ask him.

Lack of Knowledge

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:” Hosea 4:6

That verse has been used many ways. I’ve heard some preach it in regards to those lacking prosperity. They would say that because the poorer lack the necessary knowledge to succeed, they don’t. That’s partially true. I’ve heard others say that the knowledge that people lack is knowledge of the gospel and Christ’s saving power. That is even more true. Many people, even in this United States, are not aware that Christ can save them and make them a new creature in him. They may have experienced some religion, but not that saving, changing religion that only Jesus Christ can give. But to get the true meaning of this verse, we must read a little further.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Israel’s problem was that they lacked knowledge, like many in the world, and even in the church. But the reason was that they had rejected the knowledge that was once available to them. When you read the rest of the verse, God is telling them that they forgot the law so he would forget their children. After this, the northern kingdom of Israel went into captivity about one hundred years before the southern kingdom of Judah. They stayed in that condition for centuries and now the entire nation is still struggling. We know that God is not finished with Israel but rejecting knowledge has a great price.

We, in America, have been given much knowledge of the scriptures. We have available to us an inexhaustible supply of materials that can help provide the knowledge of God’s Word. The Old Testament law had several parts; governmental, ceremonial, moral, cleanliness, and holiness. While the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, it was also provided in order to make the Jews a separate people who could live in harmony with God and be effective for him on the earth. The moral aspects of the law re still with us and are translated into the New Testament. The church has this knowledge available to keep it a separate body, but is rejecting it. We are seeing the church so close to the world today that it is very difficult to tell which is which. Preaching against sin is becoming less and less and the knowledge of the Word of God is being rejected in place for modern teachers who can make us feel good. Paul was right when he wrote about the perils of the last days.

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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

The flesh likes what makes it feel good. We all like someone to pat us on the head and tell us we are doing good. What we don’t like is someone telling us we are doing something wrong. This is why Paul continues to admonish Timothy in the following verse. “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Timothy would endure afflictions for preaching the gospel just like today. But we must trust in his Word and do our best, with God’s help, to obey it. Living the Christian life is not just a Sunday thing. No where in the Word of God do I find that, but living for him is a 24x7 thing. If we want to be able to call on him anytime 24x7, we should expect we are going to have to be his 24x7.

The Mothers in the Church

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

This is the time we honor our mothers which is right. It’s a wonderful time when the family, the oldest institution, is exalted and the mother being the keeper of it. A godly mother is priceless. She teaches her children the things of God and how to interact in this sinful world using God’s principles and commandments in his word. Here’s what the Apostle Paul wrote Titus about the mothers and their conduct.

We are living in a horrible time when we are hearing more and more where mothers are killing their own offspring. Truly this is the type of thing the Apostle Paul was referring to when he wrote Timothy saying that people in the last days would be “without natural affection.” It can only be a demo possessed woman who can go the lengths to kill her own children.

What is the older women’s responsibility to the younger who are just starting a family. The answer is in Titus 2:4, “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children”. It seems a little strange that someone would have to be “taught” to love their children and husbands, but if it were so in those days, how much more in this evil time where sin will look for you instead of you having to look for sin. But a mother’s job is a never finished. Many times they come home from work each day only to have to do another days work at home. And while us men can do some things, lets be honest, the ladies are the “keepers of home” and those who “guide the house.” 1 Timothy 5:14

You mothers who are reading this are extremely important! The values you set for them and the character you build will be with them throughout their lives and eternity. Be strong! Raise your children to fear God and keep his Word. Teach them to hide the word in their heart that they might not sin against God. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11 May the Lord help the mothers in our land who fear God raise a generation of God-fearing youths who will be able to fight the battles on their knees so we may not have to fight as much on the battlefield. God help our mothers!

The Lord’s Song – Continued

“Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.” Psalm 33:2-3

It is a fair statement to say that listening to music that doesn’t glorify God is not pleasing to him. When it became very apparent to many young church going people that Rock ‘N Roll was evil and of the devil, they backed away from it. So then Satan had another plan. Bring it in the church under the name of Jesus, and that’s what he did. What is happening to our “Christian” music today? The lines are becoming so blurred in some areas between the genre of Christian music and secular that some producers are now starting to say that there is not a Christian Music genre anymore The word “genre” in this context means “An expressive or style of music.” Wikipedia also says the following: “Genres are formed by sets of conventions, and many works cross into multiple genres by way of borrowing and recombining these conventions.” But remember, are we following the producers or the Bible? There IS a separate “song” for the Lord and one for the world and when these become blurred it is confussion and following after the doctrine of Balaam.

I’ll not fuss about the predominant beat that is in our music today for that is heard in all types of Christian Music. I’m using that term loosely for now. It would have been deplorable to have a drum set in the average church 50 years ago but now it is common place. Don’t get me wrong, I like some percussion and a little beat but I’m just trying to illustrate where we have been and were we are now. I’m not going to quibble about how various artists live. Most in the professional fields don’t live like we feel they ought and many have no separation from the world at all. But we sing in church gospel songs that were written by sinners who had an inspiring moment. I also will not flatly say that everyone in one category is wrong and the other is right. For example, not all of the music in the Southern Gospel category is without some questionable value and there are some good spiritual songs in the contemporary music ranks. But where we measure the merit of it is by the fruit it bears. Each type of music produces its own culture which is also a type of fruit. Look at the scripture below.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:15-20

Look at the fruits of the music. With the fruits, also comes the culture as mentioned above. Here are some lyrics to a song by a very well known Christian rock group called Skillet. It from the song, “The Last Night”

Your parents say everything is your fault
But they don't know you like I know you they don't know you at all
I'm so sick of when they say
It's just a phase, you'll be o.k. you're fine
But I know it's a lie

This is a “Christian” group! What kind of fruit will that bring? And when you read the lyrics of the whole song, there is no context that it can have Christ involved or be referred to. Groups turning their drums upside down, using dazzling light shows, selling teeth coverings that light up do not glorify God nor does these things bear Christian fruit. There is a distinct culture that the Christian rock genre produces, and it’s not of God. The Dallas Morning News described a DC Talk “Freak Show” concert in the following manner. "As teenagers' shrieks filled the Dallas Convention Center moments before dc Talk took the stage Friday night, one of the relatively few grown-ups in the sold-out crowd observed, 'This is just like the BEATLES.'" Dallas Morning News, April 27, 1996

Where is Christ in that! If you say that they are going after Christ like people went after the Beatles you’re badly mistaken. You may argue that there are lots of teenagers being saved at these concerts. First, I don’t believe they really are but there may be some as God can save anyone, anywhere. However, what are they being saved to? Unfortunately, this has become so popular and has been embraced by the “church” as the church has become more like the world. This is why, when raising a voice against it, there is so much opposition and so little support. This kind of music produces the same fruit as their rock counterparts; rebellion! You can see it in the words given above.

Gospel music should have a clear and understandable message as to what is being conveyed. That’s why the Apostle Paul used the word “admonishing” which means “to warn and exhort.” “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 There must be that clear message that the hearer can understand. The message of Christian rock is not necessarily so. Michael W. Smith's album, Change Your World, has 2819 words but the word of Jesus occurs — ZERO! His album I’ll Lead You Home, has 2046 words but again Jesus occurs — ZERO! I realize the “hip” will say, these are his old “projects” as they are now called but things have not changed.

This is a subject that would take books to properly show and illustrate the demonic influence that Christian rock has made . But while we are on Michael W. Smith, lets point out one more thing that was observed by Dial-the-Truth Ministries.

“On the back of Smith's album The Big Picture, is Michael W. Smith — BACKWARDS! A common satanic practice, taught by Satanist Aliester Crowley (Crowley is very popular in the rock music world). Crowley gives instructions to the Satanist: But something even more frightening appears on the album . . . The M in Michael and the T in Smith is part of the Runic (runic means secret) alphabet used in witchcraft and Satanism! Only someone involved in the occult would know such an alphabet exists! In the book, Web of Darkness, former Satanist Sean Sellers says, "Runes are the oldest form of occult knowledge and magic . . . their use sets a person against God." (Sean Sellers, Web of Darkness, p. 72)” From Christian Rock: Blessing or Blasphemy by Terry Watkins.

As I said above, this just scratches the surface. There is no way we can cover this vast subject in this small sace. The rebellion and demonic influences that this music produces in the name of Christ is astounding. We must again recall Jesus’ statement in Matthew 7:15, “ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

We have a lot of wolves prowling around our country in the name of Jesus, and they’re devouring our children and will eventually devour much of the church! There will be some that will read this and do a lot of “hair splitting” in order to defend Christian rock music, however I challenge you to prayerfully back off a little and take a long look at the fruits that this is producing and you’ll find that it is not producing Godly character or a hunger for Christ. The language and some of the terms may even be god-ward, but the fruit will not be there. That’s because it’s not The Lord’s Song!

The Lord’s Song

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

Music can be a powerful element. Before I was saved, I would read in various music magazines statements like, “Music is the most powerful force on the planet.” Of course we know that God’s power is the most powerful but this illustrates how much influence and “power” some musicians feel music can have. God thought it was so important that he built music into his arch angel, Lucifer, who is now Satan or the devil now. At one time though, Lucifer possibly ruled the planet although I’m not going to get into the argument if there were thousands of years between Genesis 1:1 and 2 at this time. The point is that he was God’s arch angel until he fell.

Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18 He is now the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2b But at first it was not so. He was a leader and even had music built within him.

Ezekiel 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (Underlines are mine).

While the first eleven verses of Ezekiel chapter 28 deals exclusively with the King of Tyrus, this part does not. Even though he is named, someone else is being addressed. We know this for several reasons.

1. The King of Tyrus was not perfect in beauty
2. He could not have been in Eden
3. While he no doubt had many precious stones, he could not be covered literally with all of these in such a great fashion.
4. The King of Tyrus was “created” from the womb therefore he could not have tabrets and pipes within him.
5. He was not the anointed cherub nor was he on the mountain of God.
6. He was not perfect in his ways for all have been born into sin.

Just from the above, there can be little or no argument that the one being addressed is Satan, or Lucifer before the fall. This describes him before his fall. He was perfect in beauty as all God’s angels are. He had been in Eden at one time and perhaps there was a former one, who knows. The point is that he at one time was a beautiful angel before his fall. He was adorned with all the precious stones including the sardius, the topaz, the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, the carbuncle, and gold. He also had tabrets and pipes built within. These provided for the three basic elements of music: melody, haromy, and rhythm. He no doubt led in worship and praise to God and made beautiful music doing so.

BUT WHEN SATAN FELL, HIS MUSIC FELL!!

This does not mean that music in itself is bad. When we read the book of Psalms, we are constantly reminded of the psalms written for the choirs and musicians. David himself was a great musician. And while there is no direct mention of musical instruments used in the New Testament church, there is no word that they cannot be used either. However, if you choose not to have instruments in the church, I understand. But when church is over, do you go out into the car and turn on the music that glorifies adultery, sex, and all the vices of sin!

Satan has used music to subvert whole generations. He has used it to demonize and introduce a culture that is only bent on rebellion. Anyone who does a casual glance back in time since the early 50’s when Elvis came on the scene can see how Rock ‘N Roll has advanced and how the wickedness and influence of the music has created a generation gap that was never there before. Even the term is taken from immoral terms. Wikipedia says the following about the term.

The term "rock and roll", which was black slang for dancing or sex, appeared on record for the first time in 1922 on Trixie Smith's "My Baby Rocks Me With One Steady Roll". The word "rock" had a long history in the English language as a metaphor for "to shake up, to disturb or to incite". The verb "Roll" was a medieval metaphor which meant "having sex".

Quite frankly, I don’t feel someone can claim with an honest heart that they are Christ’s and continue to listen and sing the songs glorifying the lusts of this world. Music is esthetic and becomes a part of what we are. That’s why the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:18-19 the following: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” As Christians, the tunes and lyrics within us should glorify God, not Satan.

Sour Grapes

“What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” Ezekiel 18:2

The above proverb was used by the children of Israel in order to give an excuse for their sins and their captivity. They were saying that, due to the sins of the fathers, they were also sinning. However, God is condemning this excuse as he condemns it today. This generation cannot blame the past generation for their sins but every man must bear his on sin. Galatians 5:5 says, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” Verse 7 then says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This is a true fact of life, and much so concerning the things of God.

When someone says something like, “I got that bad temper from my dad,” or “I know I swear a lot. I got that from my mother,” they are makinging excusing for their sin and blaming it on their parents. They are doing like the children of Israel did when they said that their fathers ate sour grapes and set the teeth of the sons on edge. It is true that we do inherit some traits and even carry some genetic disorders from the past generations. In Exodus 34 6 we read of this account. “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” The Lord is telling Moses that things can be passed down to the third and fourth generation due to the sins of the fathers. However, we are still responsible for what we do today. We may have inherited some traits, but Christ will judge us as to how we deal with these traits, “for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” Romans 14:10b

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Mark 15:34

Just before his death, our Lord felt God had turned his back on him. That’s why he uttered that phrase in Hebrew (even though he spoke Aramaic) that many of us can quote, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.” It should be a comfort to us then to know that even the Son of God thought that the father had forsaken him. There are many times we feel that today. In the face of a trial where there seems to be no deliverance; in a time when we pray and yet the heavens feel like brass; when we fall into times of despondency or depression and find it difficult to get out; when a loved one doesn’t seem to want to follow Christ but seems to go out of their way to rebel against Him and your counsel; All these make us feel that God has forsaken us. But he really hasn’t.

It is not uncommon to feel discouraged or forsaken. David felt the same way.
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” Those who can buy their way out of a problem or try to remedy it by their own means do not grow in faith and could eventually lose the very faith it takes to be a child of God because “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17b Hebrews 10:38 also says, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Our faith is being tried. James 1:2-4 says the following: “¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

David oven goes on to say in Psalms 22:2, “O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” He has prayed and cried out to God but seemly to no avail. He felt forsaken, not even able to get a prayer through. I am Pentecostal and have always heard and repeated the old phrase, “It’s better felt than ‘telt.’” Another words, I like to feel the spirit of God when I pray, worship, preach, and even talk to others about Him. However, sometimes there is no feeling and it is necessary just to walk by faith.

What to do!

What should we do? Keep praying and serving him. Read the Bible because Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” It is our roadmap to heaven as well as our guide on earth. I may not always feel his spirit, but I can always read his Word. God doesn’t have to always give a “revelation” or “word of prophesy” although he can as that is scriptural as long is it is in accordance to his Word and it is REALLY from him. He has already spoken to you and I through his Word. If we keep praying and believing, we will be encouraged and he will hear. “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24

Psalms 42:5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

Our Lord is no longer on the cross my friend. He’s not in the tomb, nor is he even on the earth in bodily form. But he is coming back. Be ready! “look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

Christian Music Anyone?

“A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.” Psalm 138:1

There is rising in the music community the question, “Does the Christian music genre still exist?” Understand that this is not a debate on the types of Christian music but if the whole genre is fading? I’ll say right now that I’m not an expert in the music industry so I cannot give facts on what artist is doing where. What I can do, however, is comment on the whole question and that it is sad that a question of this is being asked or thought about. Please don’t misunderstand me in that I am not “throwing stones” at anyone for actually raising this question. They are simply basing their observations on what they are currently seeing happen in the music industry. I’ll leave that to them. I’m concerned about their observations.

The cause of this concern lies in the fact that we are continuing to see the lines of separation between the church and the world become thinner and thinner. We must evangelize the gospel and use whatever we can legitimately use for the spread of the Good News. We are Christ’s Ambassadors. Let’s say I came to you from a foreign country, say Spain. Let’s say you are tired of the country you are living in and know there has to be a better place. If I come looking and acting like the country are are now in, you may say, “What’s the difference? You look and act the same and talk the same way I do. You tell me how wonderful Spain is and how gracious the people are there but your manners are the same as mine. You’re culture is no different. Why should I spend the money to go to Spain which, from what I’ve seen, is no different than here?” I hope you get the point.

When I was first saved back in 1976, I was a band director in a small school in Iowa. I began to listen to a Christian radio station out of Cedar Rapids in the evenings when I would be working in the band room. (I wasn’t married then). The first thing I noticed was that the music then had a positive feel to it and I could sense a definite difference from that which I was teaching and hearing during the day. It was uplifting and made me feel closer to the Savior. Isn’t that what Christian music is supposed to do?

I quoted the scripture above for a reason. David said he would praise God with a “whole heart.” That doesn’t mean just part, but the whole. But he goes on saying that “before the gods” he would sing praises unto the Lord. The word “gods” here doesn’t mean idols but is loosely translated as “rulers” and interpreted as “judge” five times. He’s saying that he will praise God before the rulers, but we can also apply this to praising God before the people. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” This stems from actually singing songs with a message that may teach or provide a gentle warning of a coming judgment, as well as encouragement. 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

A Reproach To The Nations

“Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.” Ezekiel 22:4

Like Israel, America has become a reproach to the nations. Here Ezekiel is stating that now the southern kingdom, which was Judah, has now fallen and become a reproach to the nations of the world. The cause was apparent – sin! It was sin in the government, sin in the people but the cause was sin in the priesthood. America is in the same lot. Our churches no longer are the centers of deliverance but worldly entertainment with a “Christian” flare to it and havens for those who practice “social concerns.” Worship in the general sense is feigned or not done at all, but has become a routine just like the routine that the priests performed when they carried out their daily functions has priests. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 America has stood on the Biblical principals of the church for years but now these have crumbled. The church can no longer stop the sweeping tide of sin and leftist propaganda that is now hitting our news daily. While in some places the pews are full, the tide of sin even in those attending has not decreased.

Many have fallen in love with the world and worldliness so much that they are now believing a lie as said in 2 Thessalonians 11-12, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” This has happened in all rinks and many have strayed away from the Word of God and have built their doctrines on philosophy, favorite teachers, and their own lusts. “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;” 2 Timothy 4:3 We are living in that time now. Judgment on America is looming and it will begin at the house of God. 1 Peter 4:17 says, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

Other nations can now see this. While we, as a nation have done many wonderful things throughout the world in helping those less fortunate than us, we are also causing them to look on things other than the Gospel but on things of this life. I’ve heard press accounts that say, “People hate Americans” and then try to blame in on foreign policy. But may I remind you what the Solomon wrote in Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” And the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” So after reading these scriptures, may I ask who is responsible? There are more and the study could be much more in depth but that’s enough to chew on for now.

Those who claim to be a part of the church in the United States must get serious before God. We must take our prayer time and Bible study seriously. We must not try to see how close to the world we can come and still retain our salvation and contact with God, but hunger for the things of God. I fear only judgment and tragedy will cause the church to come to its knees. “Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Malachi 3:18

Do You Have to “Find Yourself”

“A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” Proverbs 18:2

Young people have been saying for several years, “I need to go and find myself.” Whet people are saying is that they don’t know their true purpose here on earth nor do they know their real identity. By identity, I mean they really don’t know what kind of person they should be. Now I’ve never heard of someone calling from somewhere near Dallas saying, “Guess what! I found me here on I-20 and 365.”

This is the problem with many. They never really grow up to “find themselves,” and are still living in their teenage years because of it. If you’re reading this and this is your case, Jesus Christ can give you your true identity and help you know yourself. If you will ask him into your heart and commit your life to him, you will truly “find yourself.”

But there are many in the church who haven’t found themselves. They don’t know what they’re supposed to do in the church nor do they really have an identity as a Christian. They’ve prayed and perhaps been baptized in water by immersion which is the scriptural way, but they have never grown after that. They have gone on their way simply claiming to be a Christian but no longer abide in the vine of Christ. The church is full of this type of Christian and I’m afraid that they will eventually lose out with God. John 15:2 says, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” So what is bearing fruit?

One way of bearing fruit is having the fruits of the spirit which cannot be done without God’s help. These are the following: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. See James 5:22-23. We are constantly warring against the flesh and if you constantly yield to the flesh it will have control. I know if I constantly feed my flesh with this world and take no time for the things of God, the spirit gets less and less dominance all the time. If I would continue on this downward spiral I would eventually lose out with God altogether. “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 Eventually the basic faith in salvation is lost and the soul is lost. The works of the flesh are these: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 Wow! These sound bad, don’t they.

Galatians 5:17 says, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” It sounds like a losing battle doesn’t it. But it’s not. Verse 18 has the answer. “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” That means you want to do right, not just because someone tells you to. You and I can accomplish this by “feeding the spirit” in devotion to Christ. Pray and read your Bible daily and be faithful to a Bible believing church. You will grow and “find yourself” as a Christian. Remember, you may have “found yourself” in a good career but if you don’t “find yourself” in Christ you will be dealing with eternity. Careers last for only a moment in time, but eternity is forever!

Are The Gifts of the Spirit For Today?

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:39

Peter uttered this statement about 2,000 years ago at the end of one of the greatest messages preached, seeing 3,000 souls that day yield to Christ and take him as their savior. But there was more. He was also talking about what happened to 120 disciples a little earlier that day. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4

These were filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. This is the same Holy Ghost that Christ spoke of in John 7:37-39. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” One must drink of the waters of eternal life like he told the woman at the well in John 4:13, “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” That is eternal life. But there’s more, the Holy Ghost as a river of water as mentioned in John 7:37-39.

Is it still for today. The answer is in the scripture quoted above. “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:39 We are still in this time as the Lord is still calling many out from the world to be saved and washed from the sin of this world.

Let’s look at another scripture. In 1 Corinthians 13:8 it says the following: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” It says that tongues will one day cease. That’s true. So will knowledge.

You may say, “I know people who speak in tongues and live like the devil or that’s all they talk about. There’s more to that than tongues.” You are right on both accounts. There are people who live in sin and claim to speak in tongues. Jesus warned of this in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Notice here he doesn’t even mention tongues but other works of the spirit. This is happening today but that doesn’t make the promise invalid. It makes it more valid in that Jesus said there would be false teachers even doing works in the name of the Holy Ghost but that doesn’t make the real thing wrong.

Seek to be filled with the Spirit of God with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is not all, in fact it’s just the beginning. There is much more that needs to be written but I try to keep these short. I will also say that speaking in tongues is not something one just does to impress or even in church if there are unbelievers. Much more is written about this in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14. There is power in praying in the Holy Ghost. We need this power church!

What Would You Have Done?

“But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar.” John 19:15

Let’s pretend that you are living in Jerusalem at the time of Christ. You’re all excited because this is the time of year when a lot of people are in town for the biggest feast of the year, the Passover. Many of your friends and relatives have come in and you’re having a great time. Then you hear something about this King that has been traveling around the country for a few years and everywhere he goes, people talk of seeing great miracles. But also, he seems to have gotten the priest and scribes all up in arms. You go to the temple faithfully because it not only shows you are a decent person, but that you are somewhat of a patriot because this is the Jews religion and you’re a Jew.

Then the morning of the Passover, you go out with your friends and things seem to be in kind of an uproar. People are going to a place just outside the town gate and they seem pretty upset. “Why not follow them,” you say. As you get closer to see what the commotion is all about, you see the one they call the King and he looks in pretty rough shape. He’s bleeding and someone is carrying a cross beside him. Then you see Pilate and you marvel that he’s out there so early in the morning.

Then Pilate is trying to talk the people out of demanding the King’s execution but they won’t have it but keep crying, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Then suddenly you get all caught up in it too and you start yelling the same thing the rest are yelling, yet part of you is saying within yourself, “Why am I doing this?” Still, you keep yelling.

Finally, you shout with the rest that dreadful statement, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” Matthew 27:25 You then see him laid down on the cross and nails go into his hands and feet. The cross is raised. You watch for a long time but after a while your heart begins to sink. It gets dark and you decide to go home.

If Christ is not in your heart my friend, you are the one above. You may not have been in the crowd but you are still in the dark. Yes, we were all born into sin and we all had a part of crucifying the King, but many have found that he has risen and it’s a new day. Are you still in the dark? Come to know Christ as Savior and ask him into your heart so save you from your sins. Remember one thing. He’s a perfect gentleman and will not come into your life until you ask.

If You Become Rich, Does That Make You Godly

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Timothy 6:5

We live in a prosperous time.  Our economy is growing and unemployment is at a low.  We survived the 9/11 economy slump and things seem to be rolling along quite well.  God has been good to us as a people.  But do we appreciate his blessings and do we understand that he can also take away as Job found when he said in Job 2:21, “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.”  Paul said to those who were able to gain some wealth in this world, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:16-18  Most of us in America are rich compared to many in the world how don’t have indoor plumbing, no refrigerator, nor have ever ridden in a car.  Also, when I was growing up, to have one good bathroom with a shower a tub was pretty good, but now hardly any home gets built without at least a bath and a half.  Good has been good to us, don’t you agree?

This has, like many other things, has crept into the church in the form of thinking something like this. “If you’ve got nice things, God must be blessing you.”  Well, maybe he is, and maybe he’s just allowing it to happen.  First, let’s get one thing straight.  Tithing is an essential part for a Christian.  I believe that if a Christian doesn’t tithe, the he’s robbing God.  I can write more on this doctrine but won’t know.  “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:8-10.  lest someone be contentious and say this is just Old Testament, let me point out that Christ commended tithing when he was rebuking the scribes and Pharisees, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Matthew 23:23  In the more than ten years I have pastured, I have never harped much on tithing although I teach it.  Why, because, while essential, it not the weightiest matters and I never want to give the impression that I’m always out for money, because I’m not.  But I had to bring this out to point out that God can and will help those who tithe and give.  

But now to the point.  When you and I get up in the morning, God does not say to his angels, “Now I wonder how I can make my servant richer today”.  On the contrary, we are HIS servants!  It is completely unscriptural to say that, just because someone has a nicer home, a bigger car, and better job that he or she is blessed by God more.  In fact, the scripture almost teaches the opposite.  “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 6:9-10  The poor Christians in some third world countries are no doubt more blessed by God than we are in America.  “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” James 2:5  

In closing, I don’t think we should have to all be poor in order to be right with God.  He does bless those who serve him with prosperity and will meet our needs, however we must flee from the mindset that only the rich are blessed by God.  That is totally unscriptural.  

Can Your Name Be Blotted Out?

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5

Can you be lost after you have been saved?  Can your name be blotted out of the book of life?  Yes.  

Jesus spoke to the church in Sardis that to those who “overcometh”, their names would not be blotted out of the book of life.  

First of all, what is the book of life?  It is a book that is in heaven where all the names of the redeemed, or those who have been saved from sin by Jesus Christ.  Revelation 12 through 15 reads the following:  “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. 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.”  From that, it is very apparent that your name will have to be written in the book of life in order to make it into heaven.  

If the name is in there, it can also be blotted out, which simply means no longer there.  Revelation 3:5 which is given above signifies this can happen.  Moses knew it was possible when he prayed the following in Exodus 32:31 and 32, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”  God’s answer was the following in verse 33: “33  And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”  So now we know that Moses, God, Christ, and the Apostle John who wrote the book of Revelation knew that names could be removed, or blotted out of the book of life.  From these scriptures, we learn that when a name is blotted out of the book of life, a soul is damned and headed for hell unless there is repentance.  This is not popular doctrine but is correct and biblical.  Yet millions of people are taught that all they have to do is pray a simple prayer, get baptized and they’re in for life no matter what.  I’m sorry but that’s a lie from hell!

Let’s look at John 10:27-28.  “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”  No man can pluck Christ’s sheep out of his hand.  That’s right, no one can cause you to lose your soul.   However, there is also a condition and it’s found in verse 27 and that is that they hear his voice and they follow him.  

Lets look at another popular scripture.  “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39  This is true, none of these things listed here can separate us from God’s love.  Isn’t that wonderful!  But we also have to point out that it doesn’t say sin or transgression anywhere.  

Just because you or I can’t give a perfect intellectual answer when someone is cut off from God’s presence doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, because it does.  In Romans 11:22 Paul says the following, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”  Do you see the word “if” that I underlined.  The verses speak for themselves.  

Here’s another one.  “¶  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”  Here, in John 15:1-2, Jesus is plainly saying that every branch in him that doesn’t bear fruit will be cut off.  Notice that these branches are a part of Him but can be cut off.  He gets more plain in verse 6.  “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”  In included verse 5 so that this couldn’t be taken out of context.  He’s talking, all throughout this entire passage, to his disciples and then to his church.  

There are many other scriptures that can be brought out but I try not to make these blogs too long.  Please don’t feel that I’m trying to make anyone angry but I am burdened and distressed when I talk to people who feel they are saved but are not living according to God’s Word.  Many have no real knowledge of the Scriptures and are not taught much either.  We want to se souls saved and not lost to the devil through his lies.  

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

“3 ¶  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

The word “poor” can best be defined by one being “reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms, destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor, as given by in the first two definitions in the Greek Lexicon.  The definition can be made broader but I think you get the idea.  When someone is said to be poor, they don’t have much, or their lacking.  Christ is not talking about someone who is poor in this world’s goods here but poor in spirit.  He then says that “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  What a great promise!  So, are you poor?  

We Americans are a proud bunch.  Admit it!  We’re of the “been there, done, that, got the T-shirt” crowd.  We’ve got to make sure we get the last word, or at least appear smarter than the next one, up stage or out wit the other guy so we can seem smarter, quicker, or produce the quality that we want to display as having more of.  That attitude and spirit carries into the church and into our attitudes and way we approach God.  How much do we really think we need him?  You say that you’ve taken him as your Savior so are in for life but do you need him now or like the people of the church in Laodicea who said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing?” One may perform a lot of good works, but if our dependency isn’t on God for our help, it is nothing.  Jesus said of those in Laodicea, “and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”  They had no idea of their condition before God and I’m convinced that there are millions who don’t either.  

We are dependant upon him in prayer in order to get the spirit of prayer when we pray.  We depend upon him in order to gain deeper knowledge of his word as the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:14,  “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  We are dependant upon him for strength and health for the doctor can only do so much.  We are dependant upon him for having a sound mind, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I recently read that, despite the bitter persecution in China, the church is gaining 3,000 believers a day.  When they are converted to Christ, I am sure they immediately realize their dependency on him.  Does America have to plunge to that level before the church here will understand that?

A Soul Cast Away

“25  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:25

The past few days the news has been humming about the death of a national figure, I guess, who saw both poverty and wealth.  When I turned on Fox News on my XM Radio Friday morning before work, they were buzzing about this woman’s death.  So, Anna who????   I know who she is now, but I’ll have to confess I didn’t before she died.  She was someone a kin to Marylyn Monroe who, as I remember very well because we were on a vacation in Chicago at the time, died of an overdose of sleeping pills the summer of my fourth grade year, 1962.  

I’ll not go into the story of Anna N. Smith’s life as you can Google it on the Internet and read a summary of her life at your leisure.  I’ll not bore you with the details only that she was a stripper, model, actress of sorts, heiress, and tabloid queen.  Yet, America seems obsessed with her death like couch potatoes watching a soap opera.  Even the conservative shows are playing this big and spending more time on it than anything else for now.  Why!  Because it sells and it is what the American people want.  This shows our culture.  We have a woman who has left a 5 month child and no one knows who the daddy is.  Her life was so tangled that she remarked recently, "Everyone in my life has stabbed me in my back," she said. "It's always a battle."  Hers was the death of a woman who had briefly tasted both wealth and fame and failed to cling on to either.  

Unless she was able to repent, she is no longer enjoying what life had to offer.  She tried to gain the world but lost out in the end.  Princess Di lost out, fleeing the very thing she once taunted and flirted with, the cameras.  Unless either of these repented, they are lost now!  This should be a lesson for us all.  Money, fame, and success as far as this word’s concerned is not the end of the matter.  The wise man gave us this admonishment.  “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13   To fear God is to know and live for his Son, Jesus Christ who said, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”  Luke 9:23

When you go to Anna Nicole Smith’s website now, at least at this posting, you’ll only see a picture with a woman in a scant dress with dates underneath – 1967 – 2007.  “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14  “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” Amos 4:12  

Praying For Our Leaders

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

We are living in troubled times.  That is certain.  Our nation is heading for times in which, I’m afraid, this generation nor the past has seen.  It is easy to just bury your head in the sand and forget about everything around you.  You can even make it sound kind of religious.  But that’s not God’s plan.  Paul exhorts to Timothy that we should pray for those in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness.  When the children of Israel were taken to Babylon, Jeremiah wrote them saying, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.” Jeremiah 29:4-7  

Pray for our leaders that we may have peace in our land.  We also must pray for our troops who are fighting for us abroad.  It is also important that the church pray for the upcoming elections in 2008 as the outcome will chart the course of our nation and make a difference in our lives for years to come.  Psalm 75:6-7 says, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”  Does that mean we just say what the kids now say, “Whatever!”  No.  God hears the prayer of his people.  I believe it is the true Church, believers in Christ, who can decide the future of this country, much more than any politician.