It Is Okay to Be the Only One

Good Morning,

When Jesus left Heaven, He left a perfect place to go to an imperfect place.   Jesus walked through life as a perfect man, dwelling among imperfect men.  He dealt fairly and honestly with all, while their dealings were far from proper or just.

As I read this passage, I considered these thoughts:

Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”

vs. 7 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”

vs. 8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Although Christ deserved the very best, He made Himself of no reputation. He gained no earthly accolades; all the praise of men could not adequately glorify Him as He deserved.  


My line of thought this morning centers on this reasoning: He did right while others did not do right; he loved, while others did not love; he forgave while others did not forgive, and he was kind and thoughtful while others were the extreme opposite.  

I consider these thoughts and remind myself that it is okay to be the only one in a relationship doing right.

We often do right until someone fails to realize our sacrifice, and then we do wrong.  We will be clean and orderly until someone with whom we live ignores the cleanliness and allows their sloppy ways to be dominant, and then we become angry and yield to our own selfish ways.  We each tend to love our spouse, as long as love is shown in return; if love is not reciprocated, the relationship is strained. Perhaps we react differently, but we tend to retaliate easily with unloving action if we do not receive a little back of what we give.  

For the college student, it is okay to be the only one in the dorm reading his Bible daily, or keeping the rules faithfully, or honoring the spirit of the school appropriately.  

It is okay to be the one in marriage who cleans up while others do not.  If you have children, be sure to train them to do right in this matter; your spouse or other adult guests may not grasp the spirit of order, cleanliness, and usefulness.  It is okay to keep doing right while others have no clue, for that is the Christlike life.  

Philippians 2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Christ humbled Himself; He tolerated the sinfulness of men and the shame of this godless world, and yet, He did right. Without a doubt, Jesus corrected the actions of those nearest Him: to Peter, one of his closest friends, He said, “Get thee behind me Satan.” Jesus also corrected the disciples when they feared the terrible storm:

Luke 8:25 “And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.”

When people watched to see if He would heal on the sabbath, Jesus chose a few words of correction: “with anger…”

Mark 3:5 ”And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”


Many a missionary has given up because he felt there was no lasting fruit from his labors.  Many a pastor or parent has turned to a casual lifestyle and stopped fighting for right when they saw no real change in those they attempted to help.  

The most important thought is that we must not give up on doing right simply because we are alone in doing so.  Right is right, whether we are in a crowd or alone.  Godliness is the proper reaction even though we are alone in our behavior.  

Some of our biggest failures come when we begin to think we are the only one who cares or the only one who is standing for right.  If we entertain those thoughts, we must be reminded that God is in agreement with the right choice; we are not alone, and we are truly in the very best of company.  

Pastor

Forgiveness

Good morning,

It seems that one of the problems humanity struggles with is forgiveness.  Forgiveness is referenced in books, movies, and often in Scripture; the decision to forgive remains difficult, but it is of utmost importance.  We read about it on wall hangings; but honesty, we know what is right, yet it remains difficult.  

Colossians 3:13 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 18:21 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”

vs. 22 “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

To fully grasp the importance of this doctrine you need to read the verses following verse 22.  It is imperative we forgive!

The example is right before us in the Bible, and forgiveness is an element of the most difficult circumstances.  Betrayed, falsely tried, unjustly punished, mocked and ridiculed, yet Jesus sought their forgiveness. 

Luke 23:43 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” 

There are many ideas about these passages and their warnings, but for the moment, let us agree that God clearly says, FORGIVE! Whatever wrong one has endured, it cannot be as severe as the cross and all that went along with it.  FORGIVNESS is as clear a part of Christian living as prayer and Bible reading. 

If you struggle with forgiveness, here are a few suggestions that might help:

• Memorize passages dealing with forgiveness.

• Read Bible stories, such as the story of Joseph or of Jesus and how they suffered and forgave.

• Read Bible lessons on forgiveness as these mentioned above.  

• Read missionary stories of those who suffered and continued to love and serve like Through the Gates of Splendor, about Jim Elliot;  How I Know God Hears and Answers Prayer, by Rosalind Goforth; To the Golden Shore, by Adoniram Judson.  

Stop reading or listening to those who help you justify your bitter heart.

These stories and their suffering dwarfs anything that we might have suffered, yet they forgave, served, and deeply loved those who hurt them. 

Do not settle for a second-rate relationship to the Lord because of a heart of unforgiveness; go on the offensive and beat that sinful thinking.  

There is more Bible on forgiveness than on liquor, yet many who would never take a drink of alcohol harbor bitterness and unforgiveness in their hearts.  Get it right!

Pastor

Entropy

Good morning,

Can you imagine anything more absurd than evolution? Look at your cars; the fact that your car is not as good as it once was proves entropy. Things wear down, break, rust, and fall apart.  These evolutionists act as though everything is getting better and better; but mankind is certainly not getting better, we just keep killing each other with more advanced techniques.

Look in the mirror. Have the years made you better and better? You ladies might put on some make up and you guys might go to the gym work out, but you are not going up and down stairs like you used to and you know it.   You and I are on our way to be worm food and there is no way around it.

Time makes nothing better. Chromosomes are no more advanced and genes are no better in a human being than those made by Levi Strauss – they all wear out.

The only reason anyone believes in evolution is because they hate the alternative. Humanity hates the idea that there is a God to Whom they are accountable. 

Romans 1:28 “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.”

Mankind, especially the real educated ones, love to act as if man is the center of all the universe, that man is the highest life form, and that we are accountable to no one.

Paul wrote about this:

Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

The only way to make something better is work the outside energy source into the equation. You can replace parts on the car to make it faster or perhaps to give it a better stereo system. That car will not get any better unless someone puts something extra into it. With the human body or an animal body, you might put in extra vitamins and minerals, exercise, and put it in a better environment, but even all that effort, the body will end in death.

That is why there is a need for the new birth!

John 3:3 “…Ye must be born again…”

When God gives birth to a new creature, He makes something better, but even your new birth will degenerate if you do not add Bible, prayer, and Christian service. Those are the things that will help you grow as a Christian. If you do not work on developing your spiritual life, you will die spiritually, and then eventually die physically, and you will go to heaven flat busted. Yes, you are still saved, but your Christian life will not mature and develop, without growth in grace. 

You need to ADD:  

2 Peter 1:5 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Consider American government; is it getting better? Consider the morals of the nation; are they getting better?  How about our education; check out the test scores and quality of what is being taught in our schools, and you will find that it is not getting better.  Everything gets worse with time.  

My grandmother was a simple, poor, farm girl from Central Iowa, but she was taught Latin in school, and she could write cursive beautifully. Try that in public schools today.  She could also work, keep her money in order, keep her morals, and love her husband. 

Entropy means things mankind does will grow worse and worse, but with the Lord, things will improve wonderfully – wow, what a difference!  Put your time and money on the Lord!  

Pastor

Time Conflicts

Good Morning,

One of the most common and well-understood concepts in life is that there is not enough time to do all that we believe needs to be done.


In college, I remember hearing from “‘Chapel Quotes’, by Bob Jones Sr.: ‘Duties never conflict.’” Yet, in life, I feel that the battle to decide which duty is a priority is constant. What I believe needs to be done is rarely NOT in conflict with something else I feel MUST be done.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

The word purpose means it is intentional and that God is happy with it. God has a purpose for everything that happens. When we feel we cannot get every job done, we must remember that a purpose exists for our not getting everything done. When there is not enough rain, animals die. When there are floods, everything gets messed up.

There is a time to die, but most of us do not think it is our or our parents’ TIME. There is a time to war, but again, many people would never feel there is a time to fight. Observe nature: suffering, death, loneliness, forest fires, drought, pestilence, earthquakes, and floods. No one plans these discomforts, yet these discomforts happen every day. Yes, human discomforts are a product of the flood, but God still has a purpose, and He is not dead!

Ecclesiastes 3:14 “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”

We should FEAR some things. We should fear God. We should tremble before Him, but to fall apart because everything is not ideal is foolish.

Ecclesiastes 3:3 “A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;”

We may not like the timing God has in His design, but we can trust the God Who controls the timing.

There is a time to lose:

Ecclesiastes 3:6 “A time to get, and a time to lose…”

A time will come when we will “seem” to fail, but failure is not always understood. When we get to Heaven, we will have a far better perspective on life. Did Paul understand being hungry? Probably not, but he did say, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:12)

Paul made clear that the plans of God were not always “seen” or understood. We do not need to panic.

Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”


We want to have a clear view of each step, a reason for each situation (of course the OCD folks want everything done on schedule and in an orderly manner, Ha! Ha!). Try being a parent, a pastor, a businessman, or even a missionary; you will see how little is in your control.

Dr. Wendell Evans, our Bible college president, posted the quote, “DO YOUR BEST AND HANG THE REST” on the wall during finals. His intent was to remind us that we are not going to get everything done, nor will we accomplish everything in a timely manner. We should try, and we should prayerfully plan and execute; but when we do not get everything accomplished, we must rest in the Lord. If you could get it all together, you would not need to rest in God; you would rest in YOU— a big difference.

The cross of Calvary is all about failed people in a failed world — and abounding love. Do not stray from that simple truth.

Pastor

Guilt

Good Morning,


Christians face a great deal of guilt.  Some guilt is from their own memory, regrets of the deeds they have done.  Some guilt comes from the devil’s accusing, slandering, and trying to create the illusion of defeat.  We must face guilt in a Scriptural manner, no matter what the cause.  

David acknowledged his wrong: 

Psalm 51:3 “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”


Guilt creates defeat and needs to be dealt with in order to find peace.  

Psalm 51:1 “...blot out my transgressions.”

vs. 2 “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”

vs. 3 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”


Thus far, these verses have used the words and phrases: blot out, wash, cleanse, purge, clean, and whiter than snow. Collectively, these words define cleanse.  Read through the chapter and observe how many adjectives the Bible uses to describe cleansing and how many words are used to explain the state of the man who is now forgiven (such as joy, a right spirit, delivered, etc.). 


Somehow, David exchanged his days of fasting, guilt, grief, and sorrow after adultery and murder to being restored.   His transition was made just as all believers should do.  Regaining the joy of salvation is a path all sinners should travel.  Understand that each day, David woke up and saw Bathsheba, his wife: the lady with whom he had committed adultery, the lady whose husband he had killed, the lady who lost her baby because of his wrong.  Yet being reminded of his wrong, David still had peace, joy, and victory. How did he do it?


Sometimes the reminder of our wrong drives us back into guilt; David must have faced that potential daily, yet God restored his joy.  

vs. 12 “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”


Rather than be driven into guilt, we should be driven into the wonder of God's mercy and forgiveness.  Rather than wallow in our shame, we should revel in the mercy and forgiveness of God.

Forgiveness and restoration is much like salvation and living by faith.  We have to be willing to accept the truths the Bible states and have faith enough to believe God.  


First, let us not side-step the process of forgiveness. David claimed the sin, he confessed it, and he did not try to make it appear better than it was. 

vs. 3 “For I acknowledge my transgressions:”


David confessed that he had wronged God, that his sin was against the commands of God, and that no matter what men thought or how the situation ended on earth, he had broken the commandments of a righteous God. 

vs. 4 “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight”


David took all the blame and admitted he had been a sinner from the beginning. This was not a slip up; he sinned and he had been doing it since childhood. 

vs. 5 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”


David did not just stop the sin and hope to be better, he called the sin wrong and asked God to forgive and to cleanse him.  The couple living in adultery who finally gets married does not usually confess their wrong; hence, they miss some of the joy and peace they could have had.  The couple who conceives a child out of wedlock often marries but fails to confess the wrong; and again, they miss some of the rest and restoration God could provide.

vs. 7 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me,”


David was willing to take the punishment.  David accepted that God knew how to clean him up; he did not beg for life without repercussion, and he accepted that God might need to punish him.  For a week, David fasted and prayed for the life of the child.  Next, he simply said, “Do what you think best to clean me up.” 


David planned to live for God:

vs. 13 “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee”

vs. 14 “…and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.”

vs. 15 “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise”


David had a broken heart; tears had poured from his eyes, and he was truly sorry. The time had come for him to decide to go on and make the day count for God.


vs. 17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”


No victory exists in ruining tomorrow, as well as yesterday.  We can not fix yesterday. We can only confess and forsake the wrong of the past.  Tomorrow can be ruined by guilt, so why give Satan such a victory?  Live for God, and make tomorrow glorifying to God.  


The pattern of forgiveness presented here is simple (much like 1 John 1). By faith, we all must accept that God is not a liar and that He forgave us, cleansed us, and that our sins are no longer on His mind.  Only Satan wants to defeat us by reminding us of our shameful past.  


1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God said He would forgive and cleanse us, so the question is, “Are we doubting God?”  Are we saying God is not honest?  Or are we willing to get up today and consider ourselves cleansed?    Are we willing to claim God’s promise of forgiveness as we claimed His promise to save us? Are we willing to use today to please the One Who forgives and cleanses?   The question is one of faith.  

Pastor

Rebellion

Good Morning,

While trying to rebuild Israel, Nehemiah wrote reminders of what Israel had gone through and why those terrible things had happened.

Nehemiah 9:16 “But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,”

vs. 17 “And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.”

Look at the list of wrongdoing:

vs. 16 “…dealt proudly… hardened their necks…hearkened not to thy commandments…”

vs. 17 “And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders…hardened their necks… rebellion…”

(They desired) “…to return to their bondage:”

Mankind is so full of self and rebellion that it is difficult to understand the love of God for us.  Yet, He does not leave us without chastening.  God allows situations to enter our lives to draw us to Him and to motivate us to turn from our wrong.  Rebellion cannot be ignored; God does not ignore it, nor should we.  Although we hate to be caught, being caught is necessary.  Whether it be speeding or lying, we need to have boundaries set up, and violating those boundaries demands some form of punishment.  

Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

When there is no correction, we lean more heavily on our rebellion and get stronger in our determination to be rebellious.   As parents, every time rebellion arises, we must deal with it.


I love what Brother Jim Rushing told us about his children.  When they would not take correction, or when their actions were relatively right but their attitude was wrong, they were removed from all activities with friends.  They sat with their parents in church and went soul winning with Mom or Dad; they were not allowed to sing in the teen choir, attend teen activities, or be alone in their rooms.  Every waking hour, they were with Mom or Dad until there was a change in their spirit.  In our current culture, I would also remove all media and limit the child’s or teen’s listening privileges to only that to which Dad or Mom is listening.  (For more details, read or listen to “Critical Stages in Child Rearing” by Jim Rushing.)

Too many parents are afraid to be mean.  Our adversary is mean beyond words, and we are in a fight for the lives of our children.  

Proverbs 29:1 “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

We must correct rebellion, or it will soon be too late to correct. Notice what Solomon wrote: “while there is hope.”

Proverbs 19:18 “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.”

Back to Nehemiah: if we expect to rebuild anything, correcting the spirit of those with whom we work is necessary, whether it be on the job or in our homes.   If you would like more information, we have albums of child-rearing messages in our church bookstore.  

Pastor 

Male & Female

Good Morning,

One way we can know where to apply our energy is by seeing the places the enemy attacks.  In battle, the military does not need to defend a place where there is no attack.  The place with much enemy activity and value is the place on which we ought to focus much of our attention.  

Since the late fifties, an assault on masculinity and femininity has taken place.  The homosexual movement is not an end in itself, but one part of a massive attack on something sacred to God: men and women. 

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Genesis 5:2 “Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.”

In case you wondered, God only let male and female animals on the ark, the others were left off.  

Genesis 6:19 “And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.”

Of course, there were no others, but God did specify that He wanted both males and females on the ark.  We must understand that just because God made us male and female does not mean that men and animals do not act against nature at times. Do not try to use stupid activity to create another gender or erase the ones God designed. 

From Genesis to Revelation, you see God dividing the genders, and yes, there are only two.  Long hair or cute feminine hairstyles on boys is one assault on manhood.  Another assault on masculinity is feminine attire working its way into the man’s closet.  Likewise, masculine attire and masculine hairstyles on women are gradual assaults on the woman God created.  Whether it be among movie stars or in the job market, the biblical role of men and women is facing a slow attack, and great work is being done to erase the lines of gender and gender roles.  If gender does not matter, why would Satan work so hard to make a change?  Why do we see so many cultural pressures on the girls to be masculine? Why would Satan do so much to make boys more feminine?  Important territory must be defended by the people of God, and we can be sure that it will be attacked by the enemies of right and decency.  You have to admit that the attack is obvious: gender lines are not just being attacked and becoming blurred, they are being reversed as often as possible.  

God draws lines in the style of hair that men and women should have.

1 Corinthians 11:15 “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”

vs. 14 “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?”

Revelation 9:8 “And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.”

Dress and hairstyles are not just matters of preference, but also matters of gender set up by the Lord.  The issue is not about modesty alone, but the very nature of mankind.  God made a man and a woman; from that moment, men and women were different in all areas: from the body to behavior, and from purpose on earth to place in society.  Men and women are not the same, and they are not to be the same. We are not talking about superiority, but purpose.  God created each man and woman for a reason.  Each gender has gifts that make him or her perfect for His work and for the glory of God.  Men and women are not here for the glory of men and women, but for the purpose the Lord created.  So when men and women pervert who they are, they limit their ability to do their divine job.  

If these things do not matter, why is there so much satanic work attacking these roles set up by God?  Italian fashion designer Miuccia Prada says, “Basically, I’m trying to make men more sensitive and women stronger” (brainyquote.com).  That quote was not from a Baptist, but from one explaining her purpose as a designer.  

God said that some clothing styles belong to a man and other styles belong to a woman — the two should not trade.  


Deuteronomy 22:5 “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.”

The why’s and what’s are not the issue: the issue is that God thought it was important to keep a distinction!  The obvious attack of Satan shows that Satan also thinks the distinction is important. 

I would like to step into the secular world for a moment:  Who is fighting for woman’s rights to be masculine?  Who is trying to eliminate feminine and masculine traits?  Who screamed obscenities and showed off lewd and vulgar things after the Trump election?  Was that the crowd we admire and respect?  No, evil, low-minded people tossed off the standards of decency and propriety — we do not want these people to be our role models. 

When we identify who is fighting for something, we can often determine on which side of the issue he stands.  If Hollywood and the music industry are fighting for something, often they fight for the side on which I do not want to be.   If the teacher’s union or democratic leaders fight for something, their view is not the same as mine.  Can we not see who is trying to erase gender lines and reverse family roles?  

I do not know all the reasons, but I know family and church mean a great deal to the Lord. As such, every family needs a mother and father, not two of the same. In the church, important positions were set by God, and we do not want to blur the lines.  

Yes, it matters who you are, and you should be happy being who God made you.  You matter; you do not need to fight to be like another gender.  When we see the devil trying to get our boys to be more feminine and our girls to be more masculine, we need to act!  The blurring of the line needs to be fought just as we would fight lying or cheating.  There is a reason God does what He does, and it does not matter if we agree or if we understand: He is God, and His will makes it right.  

The family, the church, and society, in general, will be happier and more honorable to God when we do things the way God wants them done.  Trust Him; He is God, and He knows best. 

Pastor 

Simplicity

Good Morning,

One of the troubles in life is the desire to impress others, a desire which manifests itself in our dress, our home, our car purchases, and countless other areas.  Many preachers have faced this desire when preparing their sermons, rather than preaching simple truths, they seek to WOW the congregation.   

Romans 12:8 “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Paul said to give with simplicity,  not to make ourselves look better than we actually are.  As far as preachers and their sermons are concerned, how can a man think that he could improve on the Word of God? The most basic truth of the Scripture is Divine in origin, supernatural in effect, and beyond understanding in every way.  How often have we read a verse over and over, and then one day, we read it again or hear a sermon on the same passage and realize that we have never before seen that truth. Of course, we have not seen it before — the Bible is infinite and eternal; the truth of yesterday was great, but the same passage has so much more to offer to a humble, seeking heart.

What was the desired testimony of Paul?  Simplicity.

2 Corinthians 1:12 “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

Paul needed no fleshly wisdom, just to live the simple Christian life and to humbly obey the Word of God. Pastors get in trouble for failing to take heed to Paul’s warning. They become weary of their own simple messages and dull routine of soul winning, visiting, and study.  Routines cause us to seek some new truth.  This is the point at which heresy and foolishness are born into the pulpits of our churches.  This principle of simplicity applies not only to preachers, but also to many situations (for example: a young lady who tries to compete with the other girls for the attention of the guys, or a guy at work seeking to catch the eye of the boss).

2 Corinthians 8:2 “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”

Relax, be honest, real, obedient, and stay SIMPLE!   We need to stay focused on these principles, even in troubled times. The word liberality that is used to describe the spirit and manner of giving in times of trouble is the same word simplicity.

Because they could become hypocrites.  Paul greatly feared that the people would get caught up in trying to impress others, seeking to be someone special,  or striving to be someone they were not.

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Satan beguiles us to seek what we should not want and to desire things that make us “as gods, knowing good and evil.”  Wrong thinking will cause us to desire the knowledge that is not meant to be revealed to us.  We ought to be our best.  We ought to seek to achieve all God allows us to achieve, but by all means, we ought to be thankful for who we are, yielding ourselves to the loving Lord for His glory, no matter the cause for which He calls us.  

Simplicity is the root for self-esteem.  Faith in the work of God in and through us is the simplicity God requires; but simplicity is also the way to find contentment.   

Pastor

People Know

Good Morning,

Matthew 28:11 “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.”

vs. 12 “And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,”

vs. 13 “Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.”

vs. 14 “And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.”

vs. 15 “So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”

The soldiers knew, and the chief priests knew; do not think that word did not circulate around to others who then also knew.  No one spoke up for the truth.  

Popularity, staying away from controversy, and fitting in will all move people to act against what they know to be right.  These soldiers  knew enough to send them to Heaven or Hell; the choice was theirs.  

Do not think that people will be honest, especially if it risks their position, popularity, or money.  If playing ignorant will get them cash, most folks will quickly forget what they know.  If saying what they know will get them in trouble, cost them friends, or risk economic repercussions, most people will avoid testifying to the truths they know.  Folks use the term “snitch;” that is simply someone who values a friend or cash more than their own honor and the truth. 

It would be good for us to do our best to lay aside expediency and to be honest, but do not expect it from everyone else.  

Pastor

Have Ye Not Read

Good Morning, 

Here are a few similar statements from our Lord. It seems He made it a practice to “get in the face of His critics.”

Matthew 12:3 “…Have ye not read…”      

19:4 “…Have ye not read…”    

21:42 “…Did ye never read in the scriptures…”

22:31 “…have ye not read that which was spoken unto you…”

Mark 2:25 “…Have ye never read…”

These religious leaders had read, studied, and even memorized much of the Bible, yet they missed it.  Jesus had to point out passages and truths accented with the question, “have ye not read?” 

To read is a beginning, to apply to our lives is entirely different.  To memorize a passage is great, but to allow it to change the way you live is the Christian life in its fullest.  To read and not implement the truth into our lives is, in fact, disobedience. 

The Bible is not just a book to be studied, but a Book to live! In each of the above passages, Jesus was correcting the behavior of the religious leaders with the Word of God.

To America’s casual Christians I would say, have ye never read “come out from among them and be ye separate;” have ye never read, “go unto all the world and preach;” have ye never read, “look not upon the wine,” have ye never read, “a woman shall not put on that which pertaineth to a man,” and on and on.  Our society wants a Christianity that does not bother them or make them misfits in society.   

By Peter, we are called “strangers and pilgrims.” 

With all that said, I would like to suggest that we read, “call unto me … and I will shew thee great and mighty things,” and then, “open thy mouth wide and I will fill it,” as well as, “ask and it shall be given.”  Believing in answered prayer,  I would like to challenge you to join me, and to seek to accomplish something great for God. Pray for souls to be saved and baptized, and for the Lord to call our young people to the ministry.  

In addition:

1. I would like to challenge you to keep doing what you have been doing, and to start doing anything God is nudging you to do.

2. I would like to challenge each of our members to be financially prudent on earth, and to invest in things eternal for the days to come.

Here are some projects for us to prayerfully consider:

• $120,000 for roofing the back half of our Sunday school building

• $60,000 for a beautiful patio/picnic area behind our Sunday school building

• $60,000 for continued remodeling of our auditorium bathrooms

• $1.3 million for a spacious auditorium

Have we not read, “…ye have not, because ye ask not?” 

Pastor 

A Confused World

Good Morning,

The world is more comfortable with demoniacs than the Saviour.  Jesus makes folks uncomfortable, while demon-possessed men are not far from their comfort zone.  

The man possessed with devils wandered around the cemetery naked, and people were okay with it.  When they saw him clothed and in his right mind, they asked Jesus to leave town.  The world is so confused that they do not know what to do or how to face life.  

Matthew 8:34 “And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.” 

Do you ever wonder why people are okay with staying up late, drinking themselves stupid, and mingling with ridiculous and rude folks?  When someone invites them to church, they act as though church people have the plague. Has it not occurred to most of us that the world accepts the reality of their child sleeping around or experimenting with drugs, yet they panic when a child starts being faithful to church and changing their life for God?  

The world would rather have devils hanging around than Jesus!  If a child brings a Hindu book to school they are cool (even though it still says the world rests upon the back of elephants who stand on a giant tortoise), but a child who brings a Bible to school (the only Book that has continually stayed a thousand years ahead of science) is suspended for hate literature. The world hates the Bible.

Do not allow yourself to think that third-world nations are primitive and participate in heathen rituals while first-world nations are modern and logical.  Not on your life!  Europe and America are as comfortable with heathen living and godless immorality as any half-dressed jungle resident (not that the dress at American pools and beaches does not surpass jungle attire for nudity). 

When Paul writes that all are sinners, he did not stretch the truth. 

Romans 3:13 “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:”

vs. 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:”

vs. 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood:"

vs. 16 “Destruction and misery are in their ways:”

vs. 17 “And the way of peace have they not known:”

This godless world hates the Bible, hates truth, hates morality, and even hates logic and facts.  

We applaud those who have several months of sobriety under their belt, while we mock those who abstain from all booze from their youth.  

You cannot honestly tell me that this is an intelligent society.

We will never get this world to be logical or honorable, nor will we ever get them to base their decisions on truth – BUT we can do those things personally. May we have enough sense to do so!

Pastor

Death to Life

Good Morning

1 Corinthians 15:31 “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”

Humanity, frail, sinful, selfish, corrupt, and much more are in the hands of God being transformed to "Christlikeness."  The process is in His hands, and changing the literal nature of someone is no small task – therefore, we have Romans 8:28-29.  

God: divine, perfect, holy, righteous, pure, and an infinite list of other adjectives could follow. As bad as we are, we are being transformed into the divine nature, and the processes no easy task.  

2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

vs. 4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

There are things we need – things we must be passionate about to begin the work of changing our very nature.  The carnal, casual, or unconcerned Christian will have little Christlikeness in this life. I am not sure of the path, but at the end, when we see Him, we will be like Him.  (1 John 3:2)  Cultivating a longing to walk in His presence and to be like Him will require the need for a daily filling of His Word and meditation on His truths, as well as surrender to the Divine hand that brings into our lives those things that will help to develop a life of glory and honor for His purposes.  

We read about denial (Mark 8:34) and death of our carnal desires (Romans 6:6) that we might be alive unto God (Romans 6:11).

Romans 8:36 “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”  (Also see Romans 12:1-2)

We are to be available for sacrifice, death, and surrender of all our longings and desires.  This is not about God helping us fulfill our dreams, but about God using us to accomplish eternal and divine deeds. In His wonderful mercy, He allows us to be partakers in the magnificent work of the Almighty.

We mistakenly think that the Lord is here for our good, our needs, and our work. We almost treat God as though He is a trainer in the boxer’s corner; someone to be there, to make a few comments, to help out, and to cheer us on to carry out our plan, our purpose, and ultimately, our glory.  Not so!  The work is God’s, and the power is God’s, and the purposes are God's.  We are the tool (and not a very good tool yet).   More realistically, we are the raw iron, and He is the blacksmith who heats and pounds, and heats again to shape us until we become useful. Only then can He begin using us.  The best blades take the longest time to temper and shape.  

Paul says in the following verse that the life of Christ cannot be seen in us until we die:

2 Corinthians 4:10 “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

vs. 11 “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”

Pain, suffering, forced conformation, and tearing away at our selfish arrogance is no easy path to travel to Christlikeness. Those who help us, likewise, suffer much in their work with us.

Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you…”

Trust Him with your days, no matter the journey.

Pastor  

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