The Inevitable

So many people are nervous and apprehensive about the upcoming elections and, indeed, fearful of the collapse of this nation. Perhaps we should prepare for the inevitable!? 

Feeding The Sheep, or Amusing The Goats?

 ~Archibald Brown 

“A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

An evil is in the “professed” camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most short-sighted Christian can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years this evil has developed at an alarming rate. It has worked like leaven, until the whole lump ferments!

The Gospel

What is the Gospel?
The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek. Rom. 1:16
...and I am not ashamed.

Gracious Speech

Gracious speech is a concept deeply rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing the importance of speaking with kindness, wisdom, and love. The Bible frequently addresses the power of words and the impact they can have on both the speaker and the listener. Gracious speech is characterized by its ability to edify, encourage, and reflect the character of Christ.

Spiritual – Eternal – Carnal – Temporal

Four concepts contrast the fleeting, physical nature of earthly life with the unending, divine nature of the soul. Together, they form a framework to guide believers in prioritizing lasting spiritual growth over temporary physical desires. The distinctions break down into two main pairs:

We Live Unto The Lord?

We live unto the Lord, Rom. 14:8

“If God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for immortality that we should tarry here. It is possible for a man to be taken to heaven, and to be found meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, though he has but just believed in Jesus. It is true that our sanctification is a long and continued process, and we shall not be perfected till we lay aside our bodies and enter within the veil; but nevertheless, had the Lord so willed it, He might have changed us from imperfection to perfection, and have taken us to heaven at once.

The Great God Entertainment

The only power God recognizes in His Church, is the power of His Spirit. Whereas the only power actually recognized today by the majority of evangelicals, is the power of man. God does His work by the operation of the Spirit; while Christian leaders attempt to do theirs, by the power of entertainment. Bright personality has taken the place of the Spirit's influence. But only what is done through the Holy Spirit will abide eternally.

Fix Our Eyes On Jesus

Hebrews 12:2, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!" 

“In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the Earth.” Gen. 1:1

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

We all know the creation account in Genesis chapters 1:1 through 3:24. Chapters that require much study. And those of us who have put in much study (relatively) need to put in much more study...unless we think we know it all (again, relatively and with all due respect).

Christ the Word

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word...
We could spend, at least, the rest of the day on this very short first part of this verse.
“Word” here, Logos, is from the Greek, and in a few words means: thought (or reason), and (expressed) word. Think of it as that which is not seen (being thought or mind), and that which is manifest (as in, spoken or revealed)... God Who is Spirit manifest in Jesus in the flesh. (which we read later in verse 14, the Word was  made flesh.) It is what “incarnate” means; “made flesh, or embody with flesh.” The word incarnate is not, to my knowledge, found in scripture.

Water for the Thirsty

In my morning email of devotions, I received this from out of the Spurgeon Library...
"I will pour water upon him that is thirsty." Isaiah 44:3

The rule of establishing “context” compels me to read surrounding text, passages, and/or the entire chapter (at least). This is what verses 1-6 say...

G O D

The WHOLE Bible is about GOD! Many, many Christians, down through time, have become “Jesus” worshippers to the exclusion of God the Father, especially during and after the “hippie” era. I lived through it. Some would say, “Yes, but they generated interest in Jesus.” Yes they did... some good, but a lot bad. Bad because it was from a wrong perspective and motive. The “Jesus” movement took away from God. But that’s another sermon.

Lord and God

A reality of the Old Testament was God’s dealings with the Hebrews. Beginning with calling out one man, Abraham who was called out of the race of men, since there was not yet a “race” of Jews. God worked to bring about a righteous holy people for Himself who would (should) evangelize the world. We’ve all heard the phrase “the best laid plans of mice and men” and in this case God too... “do often go astray.” Yes, indeed! But God is not surprised or foiled... all part of the plan.

Understanding

I came away from church this past Sunday with the distinct impression that we (the corporate church in the world) do not really understand. It wasn’t “church” that was disappointing... it was the bible teaching, but I’ll confess, I could be cynical, or I’m naïve and only think I’m cynical.

Jew and Gentile in the Bible

The Old Testament was (for the Jew) God’s prophetic message of redemption and
restoration to Israel as a Kingdom of priests. It was God’s plan for Israel to become a holy nation to then go and reconcile the rest of the world to God. But they, with exceptions, rebelled continually against God’s Sovereignty. They never had the faith in God that He would accomplish what He promised. Israel repeatedly rejected God’s rule over them in their sin of unbelief. The Old Testament record is of God dealing primarily with the Jews only. In the 2000 years from Abraham, Gen. 12, to Acts 7, few Gentiles were saved, Eph. 2:11-12.

Discourse or Violence

Charlie Kirk said, “When discourse ends, violence begins.”

And Jesus said, “It is finished.”

The dialogue began with Adam (a-dam’ = man). God had much to say to Adam, considering he was a brand new creation, one of his kind, not another like him. Adam may not have had any questions, but God had much knowledge to give him... and a warning-- “Do not eat of that one tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you, dying you shall surely die” Gen. 2:17. And then the violence began.

Salvation Is Of The Lord

Jonah 2:6+9 says, “You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You… Salvation is of the Lord. 

There is much in that whole chapter of Jonah that relates to God, and to Jesus, and to Israel, and to us. But I would direct our focus this morning to, “Salvation is of the Lord.”  How does God save sinners? By taking the penalty for sin (death) which was due man, onto a body of His own to enter death, undeserving, under His own power wherein death had NO power over Him so He could destroy it, and sin, and satan. That is my nutshell version. There is SO much more there on that theme that you could write a book on it. In fact… He did. You’re holding it.

The Old Concealed - The New Revealed

"What is in the Old concealed, is in the New revealed" ~Augustine

If you keep reading the Old Testament you will read about the mysteries of God that even the prophets didn’t know about as Peter wrote, “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time (when), the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow (two advents). To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to you they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12.

Consider Him

Heb. 12:2-3, Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Questions

In Mark 8, we read a very familiar verse that the whole world has heard at one time or another but disregards as “religion” and they, of course, do not want “religion.”

I heard someone speak, a while ago, about “Questions” in the Bible. If you want to stay busy for a while, chase down and study out those questions. So... in Mark 8:36 we read,

The Silence of the Lamb

In Mark 15; Luke 23; and John 18 we read where Jesus is brought before Pilate by the priests and pharisees.

In Matt. 27:12-14 we read,  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.