Co-workers

Good Morning,

Following the ministry of Paul, we see that Titus and Demas left him.  Paul’s other writings indicate many others who walked away from Paul and back to their old lives (or whatever it was they picked instead of the ministry).

In John 6, Jesus asked the apostles, “Will ye also go away?”  Our Lord also had followers leave His side.  

The first admonition of our Lord is to deny ourselves.  Paul used comparisons such as sheep being led to the slaughter and dying daily.  The life of Christian service is difficult, and some people simply do not keep going in the fight. 

Candidly speaking, some of our friends will not finish their course. Paul made the exclamation, “I have kept the faith, I have finished my course,” meaning that it was a great success to stay on track to the end. He also indicated that it is not uncommon or surprising that some do not finish the race. 

The Lord told of seeds that were sown in a place where they did not sprout, and of other seeds that grew for a time and wilted in the heat; yet some seeds brought forth fruit.  Remember that even the fruit-bearing seeds varied: some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold.  (Matthew 13:8, 23)

This is not a despondent lesson today, but a reminder that road we travel is not easy, and some situations simply do not end well; be wary of weariness, sinfulness, selfishness, or the attacks of the wicked one.  

Of the churches in Revelation 2-3, we read correction directed toward all but one.  Churches have people in them; people are frail, and therefore churches slip, drift, and need revival or correction.  If the problem is not fixed, the church may lose its candlestick from its place. (Revelation 2:5)  Churches, like individuals, do not all stay on track. 

Among the Apostles there were three who were brought into special situations where others were left aside; Peter, James, and John found their way into unusual intimacy with the Lord.  

Paul said we are to war a good warfare and to fight the good fight, and Peter said to resist Satan steadfast in the faith.  We are at war; some soldiers are special forces, some win the Medal of Honor for valor, some will serve well, and some will turn from the truth. (2 Timothy 4:4)

Recently, I found a box of old photo albums. While, looking through forty years of pictures, I see dear friends who served and joined us in ministering the Gospel to the lost at home and across the ocean. Sadly, many of them now sit idly in church, and some do not attend church at all.  Some are the dearest of co-laborers, others could not speak a word of kindness towards me.  Wherever they are today, I would not have missed the joy of serving with them for anything. We had wonderful times together.  Although I miss them, I do not want to miss the next opportunity to take part in preaching in a park, running a camp, teaching a class, or visiting a widow.  I love the dinners, beach barbecues, big days, and Vacation Bible School – and I anticipate the next ones! 

My memories and love of friends from the past is clear, but I have no intention of missing out on tomorrow.  I will press on with new friends or no friends, as God gives grace.  Did you ever considered how many times the apostles must have sat talking and remembering things they did, and then Judas’ name entered the conversation?  I am sure the names of other dear friends who had left their work were mentioned along the way, and they reminisced over great works that were accomplished, even though they had not seen that good friend for a long time.  It had to have happened many times, even if was only remembered in their hearts and minds.  A great work needed to be done, and they “turned the world upside down.”  

We do not all finish the race; we do not all end the race the same, and the rewards at the end will most certainly be different.  May we be found faithful.  

Pastor

The Environmental Solutions

Good Morning,

 “Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.”

What is going to destroy the earth and humanity?  Bear with me through a few illustrations and I will tell you. 

I remember being on a bike trail with one of our children, we were deep in the hills of Northern California and enjoying the day.  The child, getting in front of me was speeding away and I noticed a sharp corner with dirt or sand on it.  To me, experience said, “This is a place to lose traction and crash.”  The child did not have the experience I had and sped toward the sharp bend in the road.  Too far ahead to hear my warning and trusting in their own perception and limited experience, the inevitable occurred and I, seconds later, came upon the crash. 

Experience gave me the superior ability as guide and lead biker, but inexperience took the lead (assured of their own ability) and disaster followed.  Most of our earthly wisdom is gained by experiencing or watching another experience something.  

Proverbs 19:25 “Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware…” 

Proverbs 27:12 “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” 

This last passage illustrates the bike incident.  Simple does not mean bad or sinful, just inexperienced.  Time and experience allows us to learn much, and as such, we ought to listen to those who are older than us.  

When it comes to God, morality, and spiritual truth, we have no true experience – only shallow earthly circumstances.  We have no knowledge except our own eyes and ears, and they cannnot know truth about eternal things.  Therefore, we need to look to the Bible, for It tells us what cannot be learned by walking in the world. 

Humanity tends to have opinions based upon nothing at all.  We form our thoughts or develop our views based upon what seems logical or what we heard.  Boastful speakers will insist that their views are correct, yet, their few decades of life give them no possible ability to understand the eternal perspective. Experience is how we learn about hot and cold, slippery corners on roads, and most everything else – we learn through our senses.  When faced with long-term problems, our opinions are worthless and our views are vain; the Bible becomes the basis for all truth.  The inexperienced and simple will end up in a wreck as my child did.

Regarding our personal behaviour, we tend to think our life is our own, and that it is our business what we do or do not do. This philosophy leads to the use of alcohol and drugs, moral depravity, and other corrupt activities.   What most do not know is that God deals with societies, centuries, and the planet based upon our behavior.  

That is a long introduction to get us to the point. 

Isaiah 24:4 “The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.”

vs. 5 “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”

vs. 6 “Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.”

These foolish environmentalists think plastic straws or gas-powered cars are destroying the earth.  Read what God says is causing the ruin of our planet:

Isaiah 24:5 “… they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”

vs. 6 “Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth…”

The sense of touch, smell, hearing, and taste cannot predetermine the end result of violating the law of God.  When man changes what is right and wrong, God promises a result, globally. Humanity needs to go to the wiser One (God) and seek His understanding so the world does not end up in a wreck.  God says that when we transgress, change, and break Bible commands, the earth is destroyed. 

This is the cure for all environmental ills.  Obey the Bible!  The trouble is, man will trust his senses rather than the Bible so people will crawl down that pitiful hole of self-reliance.  Trusting in the vain perspective of a brief life, humanity will force others to drive electric cars (that get their power from coal), and rid the world of cows (who exude CO2), while fighting for “equality” and “diversity,” while thinking they are saving the world.

Look at what God said: 

Isaiah 24:4 “The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.”

vs. 5 “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”

vs. 6 “Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.”

Mankind and the earth will be destroyed because mankind refuses to submit themselves to the law of God.  

Pastor

My Rights

Good Morning, 

1 Corinthians 9:12 “…lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.”

Paul was talking about his rights as an apostle, his privileges as a minister, and the simple fact that those who work should be paid. There was a question about Paul receiving pay for his work, and although Paul had that right, he did not accept it because he did not want to “hinder the gospel of Christ.”

I have no right to hinder the work of God. The very foundation of Christianity is a cross and self-denial. The most basic elements of the Christian life is to put others first. Scripture makes it clear that, though he had certain rights and privileges, he would take advantage of none of them, for fear he might hinder the great work of the Gospel.

There is nothing more important than God’s work, God’s people, God’s house, and God’s Book. As we plan various events in life and consider certain actions, we should always consider whether or not this will hinder or aid the work of God, God’s people, God’s house, or the gospel ministry.  We need to ask ourselves if our actions will help or hinder the work of God.  This is the ultimate question regarding what we do and say. 

We are surrounded with talk of rights.  Driving through the Bay Area I saw a giant sign painted on the side of a building that read, “Healthcare is a Right.”  Really?  Who promised it?  What guarantees were offered to assure it?  If it is a right, how have thousands of years passed without it being enjoyed?  

The right to free speech and free exercises of religion is a RIGHT given to us in the Constitution.  Prior to that, those freedoms were not RIGHTS, they were wishes.  A person who does not work, does nothing to aid society, gives nothing to mankind, only takes, and gives nothing at all cannot possibly DESERVE anything or have any RIGHTS!   A right is guaranteed by a power, a person, or an agreement. Paul had Scriptural RIGHTS to receiving pay and to having provisions for his companions, but Paul would not exercise those rights, “…lest we should hinder the gospel ministry.”  Understand this: my RIGHTS are not as important as the work of God.  A wise person puts God’s work far above his own RIGHTS. 

Just because you CAN do it, or just because the law gives you the RIGHT to do it, does not give you the right to hinder the work of the Gospel. 

Mankind runs selfishly, Christianity runs selflessly.

Pastor

Failing At Grace

Good Morning,


We have all been in a classroom and heard of failing.  I do not think I ever failed a class; I cannot even remember if I ever failed a test (although I am sure I did).  

What I do not want to fail at is securing the grace of God to stand in trials.  The book of Hebrews speaks of this:

Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God…"

The answers to how and why, and the results are more than I can cover in this brief morning thought. (You will have to stay tuned for a sermon on the entire chapter, for you need all of it to get this truth clearly in your mind.) 

Today’s article is simply A "DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT" NOT A "DOCTRINAL THESIS.”  For a brief illustration, consider a schoolroom and a test: you are given material to learn, and then you are tested.  The test in this chapter is "chastening."  Some form of the word "chastening" is used six times in seven verses. The book of Psalms uses some form of this word seven times in 150 chapters. No other book of the Bible uses any form of this word more than three times.  Hebrews 12 alone uses a form of "chasten" six times.  This chapter is about chastening!  


The next question is, who or what is God using to chasten us? 

God will use shame (vs. 2), sinners (vs. 3), and grievous situations (vs. 11); all of these things are in the Father's hands.  

The question is, can we run our race while suffering?   Can we run (vs. 1), resist (vs. 4), endure (vs. 7), and stay peaceful towards all men (vs. 14)?  That is how we "pass the test."

It is impossible to do these things on our own so the Lord offers grace.  Grace is the Divine ability to do that which mankind cannot do on his own.  We fail when we do not secure and hang on to grace. 

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

vs.15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

If we fail the test of chastening because we do not cling to the grace of God, bitterness possesses our heart, many people around us will be defiled, and disciplinary warnings follow. (For example – "If you fail this test, you will have to take the third grade over again.”)

Accept these warnings without explanation (for there is just no time to explain here); the warnings ought to be enough to urge us to seek and to secure the grace of God.

Warning 1- turned out of the way (vs.13)

Warning 2- no man shall see the Lord (vs.14)

Warning 3- many defiled (vs.15)

Warning 4- rejected and no place of repentance (vs.17)

(None of these warnings mean you are not saved.)

Do not "fail of the grace of God.” (12:15)  

THERE ARE TESTS and THERE IS CHASTENING, but THE GRACE OF GOD IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE.   Do not fail to get it. You may end up taking the class over again.

Pastor

The Way of Peace

Good Morning,

Isaiah 32:17 “…the way of peace…”

Sadly, even in a nation so advanced, most people have no clue where to find peace.  We are seventy years into a nation that tossed God, prayer, and the Bible out of their schools, public arena, and politics.  I would like to ask, “How is it going?”  

Isaiah 32:17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

That’s not too hard to figure out.  If we bring righteousness back into our lives, peace, quietness, and assurance will follow.  Why so few people have any strong beliefs?  Why are so few people sure of their gender?  The majority are living godless lives; they have tossed out the ONE thing that shows truth and security – THE BIBLE.

Righteousness produces peace, rest, quietness, and assurance.

Peace, quietness, and assurance come from righteousness. Our nation’s turmoil is a byproduct of unrighteous living.  The confusion in our churches is a result of men being afraid to preach the righteousness of God.  The priest in the Old Testament was to show what was righteous and what was wicked.  The religious leader was to “make a difference.”  Nowadays, it seems that religious leaders are doing all in their power to make wrong okay, and blur the difference between right and wrong – in turn making NOTHING WRONG.

If you want peace in your home, strive to create a more righteous environment. Decide what is righteous and unrighteous; do not allow the unrighteous activities into your house.   Make sure there are no unrighteousness video games, no unrighteousness movies, no unrighteous actions taking place.  Righteousness is the doorway whereby peace, quietness, and assurance enters your home and church.   Lift it up!  

Pastor

Response to Trouble

Good Morning, 

When people think they are in danger (notice I said THINK, they need not truly be in any danger), they will often panic. Just as the story of Chicken Little, they will run around in a frenzy, and all kinds of stupid follows.  

Numbers 14:1 “And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.”

The twelve spies had returned; two spies said it was fine, but the other ten said it was terrible and that they would all die. 

The trouble began when the masses chose to listen to the wrong individuals.  They listened to men of fear rather than men of faith.

1. They listened to the wrong people.

2. They got angry and blamed godly leaders – men who were proven and men whom the Lord had obviously blessed and guided.  Who were these ten doubters? Had they parted any Red Sea?  Had they called down any plagues? 

vs. 2 “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron…”

3. The discouraged folks made foolish accusations and made ridiculous statements without any fact or logic. 

vs. 3 “And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey?” 

No one had died; no one had even been hurt; in fact, they had not yet entered into a battle.

4. They forgot all that God had done: the ten plagues, crossing the Red Sea, or the presence of God shown in a cloud or pillar of fire. How much did they need to keep their faith? 

5. They wanted new leadership – worldly leaders that would guide them back to Egypt (the place where their lives were comprised of bondage and slavery).  

vs. 4 “And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”

God’s people will often turn to worldly leaders who ask little of them and will not push them to victorious Christian living.  Sometimes, people would rather live under the normal worldly influences than fight the fight of faith and continue to see God do mighty works among them.  

We will all face fear; some people will turn back to the world, and others will follow men of faith – the choice is yours. 

Pastor

Who Says?

Good Morning,

As children, many times, one child will give orders to the others. Before any orders are obeyed, the question, “Who says?” is often asked. The child being ordered to do something wants to determine if the order was the sibling’s opinion or whether the order came from a parent or a teacher (strange as it may seem). If the order is from the sibling, the subordinate will not care to follow, but if the request is from the teacher or parent, the order is followed.

Many years ago, a man in our church lived on dirt road, and he got tired of the people driving fast. He kept telling people to slow down. He carried no authority, and he had no right to demand certain driving (other than common courtesy which was lacking on that street). I drove by his home one day, and although he was old and very frail, I found him in the street with a pic, digging trenches and building speed bumps. If he could not get people to do slow down out of courtesy, he would get them to slow down out of necessity.

Our world is promoting every kind of perverse, immoral behavior imaginable. Conversations that never would have been talked about or done in public before, are now constantly being shoved in our faces. There are many different people with opinions, but the big question is, “Who says?”

Leviticus 18 gives us the answer to, “Who says?“ 

vs. 2 “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.” 

vs. 4 “…I am the LORD your God.”

vs. 21 “… I am the LORD.” 

vs. 30 “… I am the LORD your God.” 

This chapter says you are not to marry your aunt or sister, as well as many other specific moral laws of God.  The reason they should have obeyed was because “I am the LORD your God.”

This chapter describes very clear and specific moral restraints; the answer to “Who says?” is very clear in the chapter, and mentioned four times!  He is God, and He makes the rules.  

The perversion, vulgarity, and moral lawlessness of the land into which Israel was going to enter caused the land to “spew” out the prior inhabitants.  God warned that if Israel did the same, they would also be vomited out of the land. The behavior of people defiles the land. 

Leviticus 18:25 “And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.”

vs. 28 “That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.”

Do not allow the tv, radio, and social media to convince you that wrong is right and right is wrong; right is right because God said so. 

In the law, God is clear:

vs. 22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” 

These laws are not just Old Testament laws, Paul repeats these same rules of behavior in Romans 1: 

vs. 26 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:”

vs. 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.”

Vile,  unseemly, unnatural… “Who says?”  God says!  

We need to shut off the advertising of shame on television, radio, internet, social media, and perhaps even conservatives who seem to constantly say, “Everyone has a right to live as they wish…”  Well of course they do, Adam and Eve had freedom to live as they wished, but it was still wrong to eat of the forbidden fruit.  It almost seems as though some conservative folks are justifying wrong under the guise of freedom.  

I can speed in my car, but the police might still give me a ticket.  I can live in adultery, but that does not make it right. One is against the laws of the land, and the other is not; but “Who says?” is what matters?  I can rob a bank, but the freedom to do so does not make it okay. We have laws! The laws of the land can say anything mankind wants them to say, BUT GOD SAYS some things are right and some things are wrong.  

Pastor 

Reverence

Good Morning,

Leviticus 19:30 “Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.” 

Reverence is not used very much in the Bible, and almost never used today. In the prior verse, God told Israel to reverence the place He met with them. In the times of the kings, Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Saul,  fell down and reverenced David as king. 

Bathsheba reverenced the king, her husband, though they had been married for decades: 1 Kings 1:31 “Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king.”  

In the book of Esther, chapter 3, the people reverenced Haman, the wicked assistant to the Babylonian king (except for Mordicai; he would not bow).  Psalm 89:7 says that God ought to be reverenced.

The New Testament says that two other people ought to be reverenced, the father and the husband:

Ephesians 5:33 “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

Hebrews 12:9 “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence…”

There is no end of sermons on loving one’s wife, but when have you heard a sermon on the wife reverencing her husband? 

There is no New Testament mention of reverence for the mother, nor is there any mention of reverence for the pastor or political leader.  The clear instruction to the New Testament child is to REVERENCE their father.  The wife is to be sure she reverences her husband. 

(This word is so unused that my spell correction keeps changing reverence to reference.  Five times it has done this as I typed this short note!)

Few, if any people, reverence anyone, let alone the dad and husband.  

I was speaking to a young adult, age 20 or 21, a good person.  The young adult’s dad had handled a situation in a manner that they did not approve, and said they were not sure if they should scold him or something else similar.  I do not believe I said anything; I just thought for a moment.  I assured the young person that the Lord will care for the situation if He wished to do so.  The matter involved a family gathering of importance to this young person, and the dad did not choose to attend.  I am sure that young adult loved the father, but had, at least mentally, forgotten the word reverence. (Probably, many of us have been there as well.) 

I never heard my parents fight, yet one time, there was an exchange of some tense words over my step-brother who was causing difficulties in the home.  I said they sounded like a couple of two-year-olds fighting.  That stopped the fight for the moment, and they were both very unified in correcting me (seventeen years-old at the time). Children are to reverence their fathers, and they are not to correct their mothers.  In that situation, I shut my mouth, and my parents were in agreement that I better stay that way.  

Consider the word REVERENCE.  In your New Testament, the two people to be reverenced are dad and husband – this is another politically incorrect thought, yet it is straight from the Good Book.  

Pastor

You Cannot Please Them All

Good Morning,

Seek to please God not men (for they are most impossible to please, especially when you are seeking to please God).

Matthew 11:18 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.”

vs. 19 “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners."

No matter which political candidate, godly Bible church, or converted family that sold out to the Lord, the world will not like you.  The world will criticize you for one thing or another; they slandered John for being different, isolated, removed, and aloof.  The same folks criticized Jesus for being friends with "sinners."

You cannot please this evil world!  


It is far better to please the Lord.  Micah 6:8 tells us what God requires of us: “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly" with God.  Isaiah writes of the man pleasing to God: "but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)  We can please the Lord.  

God is far easier to please than the deceitful world around us.  God is honest, true, faithful, and never changes; He is everything opposite to the world around us.  

The problem with too many Christians and churches today is that they are trying to fit in with the world, seeking to be accepted by the world, and desiring to create an atmosphere in their church in which worldly influences will like them.  Folks, the world hated our Lord – they killed Him; they hated His followers and His church. One cannot please God and the world.   If you live in such a way that the world approves of you or your church, you can be sure the Lord does not!  

I remember when I made the decision to get saved. I knew I was walking away from my friends and my old lifestyle, and it did not bother me one tiny bit; they had nothing worth living for, and their world was empty and unsatisfying.  It still amazes me when I see churches or individual believers trying to shape their faith into something the world likes – the world hates the things of God!!  

You cannot love God and the world.  You cannot be friends with the world (James 4:4).  You cannot fashion yourselves after your old life and please the Saviour at the same time (1 Peter 1:14).  If you try to please both, you will fail at both.  Why not please God, love Him, and live a separated life honoring to the faith delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

Pastor

Strangers & Pilgrims

Good Morning,

When the law was made that no one could pray to anyone except the king, that was no big deal to the people who bowed down to a rock or a wooden statue; bowing down to the king was no big deal, everyone did it – except for Daniel because he was strange.

The people in Babylon had no problem worshiping multiple gods. When the king said pray to the statue, they just did it – except for Daniel’s friends… you see, they were strange.

1 Peter 2:11 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”

They call us strange, and we are; but consider who is calling us strange:

• People who attend a ball game, paint their face (and often their chest) with team colors. (They call US strange for wearing decent clothing!)

• People who sit with 50,000 people and scream at 22 men on a field in the snow. (Yet, they say we are strange for gathering with a few or a few hundred and saying, “Amen” during the sermon.)  

• People who paint their hair odd colors, dress guys and gals alike. (Yet, we are called strange because our men look masculine and our ladies look feminine.)

The element that makes us strange is that we believe something – and we really do believe it!

Strange?  I will tell you what is strange:

• Folks not knowing which restroom to use! 

• People who live as though they will never die - yet, we all know we will.

• A mom or dad working countless hours, while allow kids to raise themselves; and they wonder why their children have self-esteem issues.  

Yes, we are strange.

While they boast of how drunk they became and of the stupid things they did, and laugh about the incidents (for fools make a mock at sin), they label us "strange" for teaching abstinence, restraint, and temperance.  Strange?  Really?

While they prance their youth around beaches in less than underwear, we are called strange for not mixing boys and girls for a swim activity.

They call us strange because our girls wear skirts while their gals wear nothing more than thick nylons.

The world will spend endless piles of cash on casinos and parties while calling us strange for not gambling and avoiding the party life.

Public schools have failed in academics and morals, yet we are considered strange for spending money on private education.

No, we are not…. well, to be honest we are strange.  We march to a different beat.  We respond to a higher calling.

The Bible even calls us strange.

1 Peter 2:11 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”

Really, being strange is only a matter of the environment in which one exists.  If I were in Japan, I would speak a "strange" language. In California, my speech is not strange.  When it comes to who we are and how we behave, once in the presence of the people of God and the house of God, we are "no more strangers."

Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

When we join in song and Bible preaching, we are not strange to each other.

We belong in Heaven; we are not strangers there.

We are not strangers to God; He knows our names and has prepared a place for each of us.

We are not of this world; we are strangers here.  

It all depends upon your choice of company and where you are that makes you strange.

Pastor

Word of God

Good Morning,

On occasion, I will address a subject that is needful because of the continued attacks upon a biblical truth.  Gender and family issues are certainly under attack, and booze and separation from the world are likewise under constant assault, but today, I would like to address the subject of our Bible again.

Jesus said to the devil, “…man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)  We do not need to think too deeply to grasp the truth that in order to LIVE by every word, we must of course, HAVE EVERY WORD. 

Paul writes to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (1 Timothy 3:16-17) 

Again, it does not take an intellectual mind to discern that if ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable for the things listed, of necessity, one must secure a copy of SCRIPTURE.  It is evident that Timothy says that Scripture IS INSPIRED, as the beginning of verse sixteen states.  How could Timothy know the inspired Scripture from a child, if he could not secure a copy of the inspired SCRIPTURE? 

1 Timothy 3:15 “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.” 

It seems obvious that this “child” had and knew the very words of God, words that were given by INSPIRATION.

Obviously, Timothy had no “original” copies of the Bible; he could not physically hold the first editions of what Moses or Jeremiah wrote.  A well-read modern Bible usually starts falling apart after about twenty years; what condition would the writings of Moses or Ezra be a thousand years after being written? 

I do not think anyone would argue that the Scripture Jesus referred to when He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word,” or what Timothy knew from a child could not be originals.  

With these obvious truths before us, we must assume that God is capable of preserving the exact words He had written, and that He could preserve those words for us. (Note Psalms 12:6-7.) 

The question for today is, why are our college teachers telling our young people that there is no perfect Bible in their hands? If the perfect Bible is in another version or in another language, why have they not found it and placed it in the hands of our students? 

Those questions reveal a great deal more than I have time to deal with today, but sufficient it to say, Jesus said, we will live by EVERY WORD that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and that Timothy knew those Words as a child.  Do not let any professor or “parrot” pastor tell you that the Bible in your hands is flawed, or that the REAL Words of God are hidden in countless manuscripts around the world (that only a handful of Greek and Hebrew scholars can understand). 

Just a friendly reminder that the Bible is true word for word; but allow me to add, if you do not read it, what difference does it make that you have it?  A kitchen full of the finest foods will not help a man who will not eat regularly from its stores. 

Pastor

All the Glory

Good Morning,

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

Isaiah 48:11 “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”

God will often allow incredibly good things to enter into our lives; at other times, trials will come. We enjoy abundance, while others around the world see very little of what we call “blessings.”  

Whatever we face, God wants the glory, thanks, and honor.

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God wants the “credit” or the “glory” as Isaiah wrote above.  We are here to do what He wishes, to achieve His goals, and to accomplish things pleasing to the Lord.  Way too often we invite God to bless, to provide the things we desire, and to help us accomplish the plans and goals we seek – that philosophy of thinking is backwards.  

God is sovereign; God will achieve the things He determines to do, and the journey, as in the case of Jonah can be very difficult if we do not listen to His instructions.  Sometimes, as in the case with Joseph, the situation can be difficult while being in the center of the will of God.

The important detail is that we strive to carry out God’s instructions the way He directed them to be done; leave the results to Him. We do not do what we do to be blessed or to prosper. We do what we do because it pleases Him.

When situations end well, God should receive the glory and thanks.  When circumstances go wrong (in our minds), we still need to give God thanks and honor; for we are here for Him, not Him for us.  Just as a good soldier, we are ready and at His service if the commander needs someone for a difficult mission.  No one plans on dying when they put on the military uniform, but we do understand that some will give their lives after doing so.  Is there any reason God could not ask us to suffer for His name’s sake?  Then give Him the glory and thanks for using us.  

Philippians 1:29 “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” 

In the temple, the priests were to keep the incense burning all the time; it was a picture of our prayers.  Though blood sacrifices might not be as frequent as fresh bread, candles, and incense, all were a part of Old Testament worship.  Our job is to be available, and to give God all the credit for His loving kindness and tender mercies.

As Job said, “…shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall not we receive evil?”  (Job 2:10) Whatever He needs, may we be available and thankful.

Pastor

Plastic?

Good Morning,

We all know that these evil plastic bags the stores SELL us are bad.  I mean, honestly, how could any decent citizen use a plastic bag to carry their groceries?  So to help motivate us to not use these satanic bags, the store charges us for them, and that makes it all somehow better? 

Some of you still use those demented plastic bags though, really, how could you in good conscience use that grocery bag at the checkout line?  You have seen her, the lady in front of you in line is the conscientious shopper, the one who brought her own cloth bags; she is revered as a noble citizen of planet earth.  The dirty bag, used over and over is pulled out and proudly set on the counter, and the admiring glances of others see someone with a heart of gold.  

The box boy (sorry, box person for they themselves are not sure of their gender today) picks up the meat, wrapped in plastic, and places it in the cloth bag. The milk, cheese, deli potato salad, lunch meat, and organic cereal (all wrapped in plastic) is securely placed in the dirty cloth bag.  Wait, I see organic apples, oranges, and broccoli that are also placed in a plastic bags (somehow different from those vile bags at the check out stand). The ice cream is in a plastic tub; the orange juice is in a plastic bottle, and the bacon (even health-conscious folks love bacon) is also sealed in plastic. 

While stopping by Costco, the nature-loving person buys their Kirkland coffee in a plastic container, their organic blueberries in a plastic bag, and their chocolate tuxedo cake in a plastic container. Carefully carrying these items out of the store, without the purchase of an evil plastic bag, the royal shopper places everything in their electric car (made half of plastic and powered by electricity produced by coal), and drives home feeling as if they have made a difference for mankind.   

Really, if we want to make a difference, perhaps we should teach a Sunday school class and tell others how to get to Heaven and out of this messed-up world.  If we want to make a difference, let us keep our bus routes picking up the poor and forgotten.  If we wish to help our family, perhaps we should shut off the television, eliminate the screens, and read books or even read the Bible together.   Now, there is an idea that will help the world.  

2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 

God is going to burn this world – cloth bags and electric cars included. He will literally burn it! These things simply do not matter much to the Lord. May we stay busy telling others how to be saved and how to secure a home in Heaven.  Forget the silly little things invented by blind, emotionally-guided, deluded men (like not using plastic bags) and learn the Word of God.  May we focus on things that truly will make a difference.

Pastor

Proud IFB

Good Morning,

Our world is infinitely provided with foolishness, ignorance, and assumptions. One such ignorant assumption crossed my path recently; someone said that I was an IFB. Saying so, as if it were a cuss word. They were talking as though the behavior of someone across the nation or across town was somehow tied to our church.  IFB… INDEPENDENT – They missed the “I” of IFB. We are not tied by finance, by leadership, by organization, or by fellowship – we are independent.

Slanderers and accusers love to lump folks together in groups, thereby maligning them because of others who have stumbled.  Nevertheless, that would be like saying the first place team is the same as the last place team because they both play the same sport.

We understand that Satan is an accuser of the brethren.  It is his specialty to slander you when you do not want to drink liquor at a company gathering, or for skipping a family gathering for church on Sunday. It is the specialty of Satan to bring railing accusations against you for simple things like attending church on Sunday or putting your children in a private school, rather than the public education cesspool.

Of course, Satan is going to slander anything that is good and godly. Slanderers attacked the prophets; they also attacked Jesus, Himself. The apostles all faced their share of verbal and physical assault as well – that is what Satan does.

I have two pastors, both in Heaven, who both pastored Independent Baptist churches. Independent – that means nobody is over anybody. That means the church next-door or across the street is none of my business. That means the Bible and the membership are the ones who make the decisions in our church planning. Independent means we are independent, and whatever another independent entity does is no more our business than what Ecuador has to do with Estonia. These are independent nations; they do not oversee each other.

Let me quickly define IFB.

Independent means we are independent as a church. I think I have made that clear. We pay our own bills, and we give to whomever we choose on the mission field; no one outside our church tells us what to do.

Fundamental means that we stick to the basics, the most foundational truths and principles of our church. Fundamentals meaning we believe the Bible to be the Word of God. We believe Jesus was virgin-born, that He died for our sins, that He rose again three days later, and that He is coming again for us. Fundamental means we believe the simple old principles that old-time Baptists believed throughout the ages. We believe that baptism is for believers, and that it is under water. We believe that the church is to be separate from the state, and that the church members are to be separate from the world. The Bible says friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Baptist means we are Baptist. We are not Lutherans; we are not Presbyterians; we are not Methodists – we are Baptists! We are not Protestants – we were never Catholics, and we never did protest and come out of the Catholic Church. As our Wednesday night Bible studies have shown, Baptist churches, as well as others who are Baptistic in their philosophies, have been around for 2000 years. We did not come from the Reformation, and in reality, we were reformers long before the Reformation ever took place.

I, for one, am proud to be what I am spiritually and organizationally. I love that I am an American, and I am proud of it. America has its flaws, but it is my country, and there is nowhere else I would rather be. I am thankful, proud, and honored that I can have a wife and a family. I am certainly proud to be called a child of God. I am a member of an independent church, and that church believes in the fundamental doctrines that Baptists have always held. We are Baptists! Therefore, yes, I am an IFB!  I do not believe I have ever identified myself or our church as IFB, as if it were a title (for the very essence of independent does not allow it).  If I said we were a part of a group called IFB, then we would not be “I” or independent.  Yes, we are Independent; we are Fundamental, and we are Baptist, but we are unaffiliated with anyone – so we are not in a group, denomination, or association.   It is nobody’s business how our church is run, and it is none of our business what other churches do because we are independent.

Pastor

Offense

Good Morning, 


The Bible tells us that if we love God’s Law, we will not be offended.  I am aware of how little the Bible is read and loved, and by how easily offended people are.  I am not talking about trials or broken hearts — we all have those or face them.   To be offended means to stumble or have something happen that causes us to stumble, to fall, or to run away from the right things we once did.  Turning from a relationship, or quitting on a friend or a job because we have been offended is the subject here.  


Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”


Those who love the Bible will tolerate injustice and keep going. 

Those who love the Bible will find peace in troubled times.  


Proverbs 18 brings us to the other extreme.  It talks about a brother being offended. Through whatever offense, the wise man warns us that winning an offended one back to a close relationship will be very difficult. A “brother offended” is somebody who needs a deeper walk with God and a greater love for the Bible. Too much needs to be done for God for us to wander around being offended over every mistake or wrong that another does. 


Proverbs 18:19 “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle."


In the past five decades of being a Christian, I have known many Christians who love the Bible and walk with God but were hurt. They briefly grieved over their pain, and then moved on with life.  As a general rule, those who feel the world has offended them have failed to develop a close relationship with the Word of God.  The simple reality is, a deep love for God‘s Word will help us bear the awkward, difficult, and even offensive situations without being offended.


In Genesis 37, we read about the brothers of Joseph conspiring against him.  Joseph had been his dad’s favorite son, and he had turned in his brothers for doing something wrong. Adding this incident to Joseph’s other actions greatly irritated the big brothers to the point that they considered killing him. Eventually, they sold him into slavery. What weak and frail men allowed such small irritations to cause them to go to such lengths of dramatic response.  


I think we would all agree that the wrong done to Joseph far exceeded any wrong the brothers had to face. Yet, we find that the brothers were offended and acted wickedly while Joseph forgave and acted godly.


I have found it impossible to control the offensive things people do. Correcting wrong behavior of others is impossible; therefore, I devoted myself to a walk with God and a love for His Book in hopes that I might never stray from the right path because someone “offended me.” My goal would be to so walk with God that I would always forgive, always love, and always believe in people, even though they may behave poorly. 


In a world where technology occupies our minds hundreds of times a day, may we be the kind of people who step away from the world regularly to read the Bible, meditate on certain passages, and prayerfully seek to know God personally and intimately.  God said that if we loved His Law, we would never be offended.  What a change in our world that would bring!  

Pastor

The Scorner, The Faithful, and the Observer

Good Morning,

From the very beginning in the garden, Satan has cast doubt on anyone or anything faithful or respectable.

Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

Had God ever misled Adam and Eve?  No! Had the Lord ever given Adam or Eve any reason to doubt Him? Of course, not!  Yet, Eve doubted the Faithful One and listened to the scorner who was “unknown.”

In this story, as in countless others, we have the scorner – Satan, the Faithful One – God, and the observer – Eve.

Something in the nature of man causes him to envy those in authority, those with power, and those who are respected by others. Mankind forever considers himself knowledgeable, trustworthy, and perhaps, even underrated by those around them.

It is not uncommon for one to sit wondering why he did not get the promotion or the advancement; we might even think he has done nothing to deserve it. The observer simply thinks he should have it.  When the observer hears slanderous words about the faithful who has position, influence, or power, they often readily receive those ill-spoken words – even though the one who is faithful never gave them any reason to doubt them.  

The scorner has never given any reason to be trusted.  Yet the carnal nature of man will habitually listen to the scorner.  Whether it be a youth concerning teachers or parents, or adults regarding the boss, political, or spiritual leader.

Sadly, almost all of us have heard a scornful person maligning the faithful for their own gain of position or money. We have watched in movies and read in books where corrupt scorners slander someone who is faithful.  Many times, we have mentally shouted “NO, DO NOT LISTEN!” In most cases, we see the scorner ending up, shamed, punished, and often dead. Sadly, when our turn comes to hearken to critical words about the faithful, we tend to listen. Maybe not believe, but we consider them.

Remember the words of our Lord?

John 8:46 “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?”

Tell me what you have seen and know to be wrong.  The same was said by Samuel:

1 Samuel 12:3 “Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.”

Remember the three people: the scorner, the faithful, and the observer.  We sit and observe; may we have the decency to trust the faithful.  Our world wants to be ready to accuse and slander everyone – it seems most of all the faithful.  I simply cannot live like that.  

Why would we listen to the unproven? Why would we not identify their scorn and slander as the works of the wicked one? It may be our own sinful nature that wants to believe some of the ill-chosen words.  It may be that we simply doubt if people are as good as they appear to be. We also tend to side with the underdog and think it noble to try to trust the scorner, even though he has given us no reason to believe in him.  

Personally, I think it wise to shut down any conversation in which the slanderer brings accusation against the faithful, or even subtle innuendos. When, over decades, one has proven themselves true, a prudent man would not entertain the slanderous report or the evil accusation.

One might say that perhaps the one who is faithful did stumble. Of course, that is possible, but when one has proven himself faithful over decades, why would we not give them our trust until proven guilty? (Innocent until proven guilty is a lost American ideal.) Also, consider the scorner, whom we know little about; they will throw any accusation – it is in their nature.  Would it not be common decency to believe in the credibility of the time-tested faithful one? Why not trust the reputable rather than heed the word of the unknown.

I simply refuse to entertain the words of a critic. If their criticism eventually be revealed to be a slanderous lie, I will be very happy that I refused to receive their words. If by chance they are true, then there is time to deal with that as well.  

Pastor

Overrating Nice

Good Morning,

Considering the upcoming and past elections, I am thinking about the word NICE.  (You ladies, hold on to your hats and do not burn me alive over this lesson.)  Nice is simply overrated!

Look at the great Bible men…. MEN – some were downright mean. Notice this verse:

Numbers 13:25 “And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.”

The Proverbs demand that we contend with the wicked – yes, “CONTEND!”

Proverbs 28:4 “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.”

We are all taught to be nice and to be kind, and I am in favor of that until we are pushed into a corner by evil – this is the point at which our nation has reached.  Not only Old Testament people were not "NICE."

John the Baptist was harsh in his preaching:

Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

Jesus was not always nice in His accusations toward the wrong crowd.

Matthew 12:34 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Speaking of our Lord's words, look over Matthew 23; Jesus was quite harsh, accused folks, and called names.  

Matthew 23:33 “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell.”

John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Look at the calling of Jeremiah; it was four to two negative over positive:

Jeremiah 1:10 “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.”

Does anyone remember the president who said, "Speak softly but carry a big stick?"  It is often the harsh, hard, mean guy who delivers from evil and builds something wonderful; the folks then forget who carried them to the place of peace and bliss. They choose a soft-mannered guy to follow the mean guy, and ruin follows.  It happened with Charles Spurgeon, Winston Churchill  and many of the great preachers in our lifetime.  

Young people who are saved, trained, and guided to a useful life under the leadership of a “mean ol' preacher” will often marry and move to the church of a "NICE" pastor.  Forgetting that their very life is owed to someone who will live Hebrews 1:9 “…loved righteousness and hated iniquity."

Mothers, you need to keep a solid husband and father around who is not feminine!  Kids need a strong man in their lives. Do not run off that man who is NOT a woman.  Real men are NOT WOMEN!   In this soft, be nice, never-get-punched-in-the-nose, never-punch-someone-in-the-nose world, a child is growing up to be the courageous warrior. This soldier is being trained to stand against the evils of this world, to fight in a real battle, or even to fight against the pressure of backslidden deacons or members urging for worldly music in the church?

What happened to a fear of dad or reverence for husband?

Proverbs 30:17 “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.”

Do you remember the days when a mom could give her children a "LOOK" and the wrong action stopped? That is not "NICE."  What ever happened to fear of mom? Historically, dad or mom could just look or snap their fingers and children would stop frozen in their tracks.  We have overrated nice!  

We all know the verse that says to not call anyone a fool, but Paul did it and so did God.  

Luke 12:20 “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

1 Corinthians 15:36 “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:”

Paul corrected Peter publicly, John called many names in the books of 2 John and 3 John.

We do not need to vote for a nice man, but a strong man who will fight evil in this land and protect our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.  After that, a man strong enough to stay out of our business!  I do not care how nice a president is, I care about how right he is.

While growing up, we were to avoid fighting if possible, but my dad told me that if there was no way to avoid a fight that I should be the first one to hit the other guy, and to hit him fast and as many times as possible – then run.  That brought about a peaceful life.  

One last verse for the advocated of “NICE:"

Proverbs 25:23 “The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.”

When someone starts criticizing and slandering, we ought to look angry not nice.

Pastor

What to Do With Sinners

Good Morning,

On Wednesday nights, we are studying, "Why We Are Baptists." Here are a few thoughts that are key in biblical thinking and Baptist theology.

We studied that as the Bible was written and churches were first established, heresy was introduced to the churches. The apostles wrote about it. (See our rumble account "FBC Wildomar" for the lessons.)  The early development of the Catholic church came along, and works were added to salvation, which was encouraged by "Judaizers" in the book of Acts.  When the Reformation began to take place, Luther and others brought about a revival of "the just shall live by faith," but never really removed good deeds from the formula.

Basically, all PROTESTANTS carried an affection for works into their newly-founded denominations.

Baptists carried their Bibles and taught faith without works.

Catholics were all about candles, infant sprinkling, communion, stages of the cross, penance, communion, confession, and much more – all of which were adding works to salvation.  The other Protestant denominations were a bit different.

Baptists got the idea that God gave His Son as our substitute, and that we could not earn His grace.  We cannot ever be worthy of His grace.  We were saved by grace through faith because of the mercy of God.

Romans 5:15 “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

vs.16 “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.”

vs. 17 “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”

vs. 18 “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

vs. 19 “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

The "WORKS" philosophies creep into Baptist churches regularly. When someone says, "I don't think that person can be saved, or be a part of the church, or serve.... because of their sin…” I am reminded of the verses in Proverbs 6 that speak of the seven things God hates.  I do not think someone can be that critical of a brother and be saved (unless, of course, it is by grace).  The arrogance of judging a Christian brother as if we were innocent is repulsive.  

Jesus spoke of forgiving seventy times seven; that is no easy thing to do, but at least we can admit that we fail at it and confess our own sin.  Jesus also spoke, at length, on the subject, and summarized it all in this verse, " So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."  (Matthew 18:35)

Amish have “Shunning;"  Catholics have “excommunication;" Pentecostals and protestant denominations say you lost your salvation; Baptists have a Bible that teaches "forgiveness" and reconciliation.

We are not all the same.  

Pastor

Ill Gotten Gain

Good Morning,

Jeremiah 17:11 “As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.” 

Think about that verse.  If you get wealth in a wrong way, God promises you will end life as a fool! It also promises that any money gained will be lost in the middle of life. 

God places a giant priority on working and paying one’s own way.  Our world loves the “free ride” or the goose that lays the golden egg.  Yet, God values work and honest gain.  Not only that, but God says, He will diminish gain gotten in a wrong way.

Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase." 

Proverbs 20:21 “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.”

Oh, the multitudes who covet “unjust gain.”  

Proverbs 28:8 “He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.”

From another state, I heard of a faithful church member who was working at a bank. His church needed to finance a spring program, and the bank employee had an idea. He found a way to embezzle money from the bank. With that money, he financed some great bus promotion, and helped many people hear the Gospel, get saved, and get into church. To the delight of his pastor, he financed great promotion again the next year. For a few years, he had found a way to finance special events with money embezzled from the bank. The pastor obviously did not know where the money was coming from.

Eventually, the man was caught, jailed, and life became a big mess. Regardless of what he did with the money, it was not his, and his use of the money did not make his actions right.

“He that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.” Jeremiah 17:11 

Wealth gotten by vanity will be diminished. God said it would be so. It is not about the good you might do with the ill-gotten gain, it is the way the money was gained. Do you not think that the drug lords or gangsters might, at times, use their money to be a blessing to family or friends?  Would their nice deeds keep them from the natural judgment of God on their personal lives or the earthly result of wrongdoing?

Some young ladies from Iraq rode our buses. As they grew older, they told us that Saddam Hussein had visited their Baptist church during Christmas, and had brought gifts to the church for the children. They felt like he was not so concerned about the kids having a good Christmas as he was trying to win favor in the eyes of the church members. It was a political ploy.

You can be sure that the judge of all the earth will do right! No matter how noble a cause, someone might begin with ill-gotten gain. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro in all the earth, and he will execute judgment. It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Pastor

The Church and Israel In the Old Testament

Good Morning,

Anyone who is even slightly honest knows that there is absolutely nothing in common between Old Testament Israel and the New Testament church.

For some of you, this is an obvious statement without purpose. You may not have any idea why that statement would even matter. Let me assure you it matters. There is a group of Christians that believe the church has replaced Israel – “Replacement theology.” They have to bend a great deal of Scripture and stretch the imagination to do so, but many do, and in some cases, they believe that the church will go through the tribulation, for it is called, “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”

Let us think for a moment: the day on which we worship is different in the Old (Saturday) Testament and in the new (Sunday). The Old Testament also has dietary laws, but the New Testament has none.  The Old Testament has a continual flow of blood sacrifices being brought to the priests to offer at the tabernacle. In the New Testament, Christ offered himself once – for all! 

Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

In the Old Testament, there was no assurance of forgiveness; assurance was constantly in question. Paul, Peter, and others made it very clear that our salvation was eternal and secure, and that it could not be lost in the New Testament.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit, came and left believers, for the purpose of service. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit indwells us and will never leave us. The Old Testament Jews looked for an earthly king and an earthly inheritance; the church in the New Testament looks for a heavenly king and a heavenly inheritance.

Hebrews 11:16 “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

There was an endless number of laws and regulations upon the Old Testament Jew. A few examples include a rebellious son would be stoned and a Jewish man was required to make three trips a year to worship at Jerusalem. In the New Testament, we find incredible forgiveness, and mercy, not to mention the privilege of being able to worship daily, in the very presence of God, no matter where we are geographically. 

In the Old Testament, the high priest took a blood sacrifice into the Holy of Holies (the very presence of God) once a year. When Christ died in our New Testament, the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom, opening the access to God for all people.

There simply is no similarity between the Old Testament Jew and the New Testament church, except we both have a wonderful Book, a wonderful God, and the Saviour Who died to pay the sin debt for all mankind. We are blessed beyond words! In our New Testament era, we are certainly not Jews, and we are not under the Old Testament law. 

Pastor