October 23, 2009

“Firm in Freedom”

Blessings Folk!

Are you standing firm?

In what are you standing?

Many true believers need to hear and understand the following verse.
Many are walking in bondage.
Many are deceived.
Many know not the truth.
Many are confused and frustrated.

Hear the truth...gonna give several english translations…


Gal 5:1
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
NASU

Gal 5:1
1 Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery.
(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

Gal 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
KJV

Gal 5:1
5 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)


Many, if not most, Christians today are continual oppressed with yokes of slavery.

The same thing had happened to the Galatians. Paul had already asked them some profound questions…


Gal 3:1-3
1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

NASU

Someone had deceived the Galatians.

Paul was asking them how they were saved...by the works of the Law or by the Spirit?

They were saved by faith in the Lord Jesus...the drawing of the Spirit. They were not saved by the works of the Law.

But, now someone was seeking to superimpose works as a means of “maintaining” salvation.

They were saying, “you are saved by faith, but, now you have to do things a certain way”...my translation…Happy Happy

The same happens today.

We are told that we must

  • worship a certain way
  • support “our church”
  • look a certain way
  • believe certain interpretations
  • meet/fellowship at certain places/times, etc.
  • “go to church”...a physical complex, completely ignoring the design of the true church
  • etc. etc. You get the idea.

The Lord is telling us that we are not “perfected” in the flesh.
We do not live out the life of the Spirit by works.

Yes, we have works.
But, the works are the fruit of the Spirit lived out in the true Believer.

Many do not understand this.

They continue to do works to attain salvation.
They continue to do works to maintain salvation.
All the while, they the miss the true Life available in the Lord.

Seek the Lord today.
Ask Him where you stand.
Listen.
Respond.
Refuse the bondages of religious slavery.
Stand firm in the freedom received from the Lord Most High, enslaved only to Christ.

Pray today for Charlie...needs healing from the Lord...heart dying.
Pray for Flipper...

Blessings!!

October 19, 2009

“Spiritual Sweat”

Blessings Folk

Most of us have seen the sad story of recent deaths that occurred at a “spiritual warrior” retreat. Apparently at least three folk died as a result of period of time spent in a “sweat lodge.”

Here is one account.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/18/third-sweat-lodge-death

These type of things are not new. They will continue to increase.

I first heard of such some 25 years ago. A good friend had a family member that was intensely involved in the “sweat lodge” movement...for lack of a better term.

Do not be deceived.

These folk are serious.

Most are “highly educated” with advanced academic degrees bestowed by man.

They know much.

They do not know the Truth.

They actually suppress the truth.

The Lord told us of such…we have spoke of this repeatedly...but it bears another hearing in light of all that is occurring today. Read the following...


Rom 1:18-23
18 For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,
19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
20 From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

Note these truths.

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. The truths is there, yet they choose to suppress it...to ignore it… to hide it.

What is this this truth? There are two things here.

  • God has shown it to them. God has made evident among (“within&rdquoWinking them that God is. God has placed within every person the awareness of Himself. Therefore, we have a “inner” testimony.
  • All mankind has an “outer” testimony that God is. God reveals His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature (or as the KJV states better “Godhead&rdquoWinking through that which He created. Again, the Lord reveals through His creation His eternal power and Godhead. All mankind sees this.
  • All mankind has the inner testimony.
  • All mankind has the outer testimony.

What does this have to do with the “sweat lodge” story?

The Word shows us.

  • Even though they knew God, they did not glorify God nor show gratitude.
  • They reject God.
  • Their thinking becomes as nonsense.
  • Their senseless minds become darkened.
  • Claiming to be wise, they become fools.

This is what we are seeing today.

The sad folk in the lodge were seeking “spiritual enlightenment.”
They are deceived with a darkened mind.

The same thing is happening within every arena of our culture.

Politically, darkness and deception reign.
Economically, blindness prevails.

Many believe that we have endured the hardest part of the most recent challenges.

I do not believe this to be so.

More trying times are directly ahead, especially economically.
I believe this based upon pure, scientific observation of what happened historically in the 1920s and 1930s.
I believe this based upon the Word of God.

The balance of the chapter in Romans 1 gives even more insight…
“God gave them over…” Repeated 3 times….well here...take a couple of minutes and read it.

Sounds like news reports of the day.
We exalt evil in the name of enlightenment.
We are what is described in the Word.

Rom 1:24-32
24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.
25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural.
27 The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion.
28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong.
29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.
32 Although they know full well God's just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyrightß © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

Shudder and tremble.
Repent and confess.
Receive the forgiveness of the Lord.
Let the power of the Most High be released through His love.
Those who are truly saved are vessels of the Lord for the Kingdom of God.
Allow the Kingdom of Light to shine in the darkness...

Blessings!


October 9, 2009

“Peace”

Blessings Folk!!

So, the world awards itself with rewards for “peace” based upon “hopes and aspirations” of things to come.

LOL. Reward away…

The Lord reveals much about “peace” in His Word.

In the New Testament we see that “peace” is often spoken over one another.

Hear these powerful Words from the Lord via the prophet Isaiah:


Isa 26:3
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
KJV

Perfect peace comes from the Lord.
The Lord will keep us in perfect peace.
Our mind must be “stayed” - focused, attuned - upon the Lord.
Our mind must be regenerated by the Lord.

We do this by trusting in the Lord.

We do not trust in the way of man.
We do not trust in the actions of man.
We do not trust in ourselves...even the things we do “in the name of the Lord.”

We trust in the Lord.

But, there is more…

Read the initial context…

Isa 26:1-5
1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

KJV

Did you note the timing reference?

“in that day”

We as believers in Jesus have peace now.

Israel will “in that day”...a day yet to come...the day when all Israel will look upon the crucified one and believe…

So, as the world continues to praise itself and its attempts at peace, remember this…

Isa 48:22
22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.
KJV

Isa 57:18-21
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord ; and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
KJV

Isa 59:8
8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
KJV

Therefore, live in peace.
Rejoice in peace.
Jehovah is everlasting peace.

Know that the world is not the source of peace, nor does the world know peace.

Lastly, we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Ps 122:6
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
KJV

A thorough examination of the Word reveals how the “peace of Jerusalem” will come...only upon the return of the Lord.

Rev 22:20-21
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

KJV

Yes Lord!
Come quickly.

Blessings!!






October 7, 2009

“Blessing of a Full Quiver”

Blessings Folk!

Read the following - Psalm 127.

Most of us will be familiar with many of the phrases.
We may not realize that they are found together in context.


Ps 127
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord : and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

KJV

Several questions come to mind.

What are you building?

  • Stuff?
  • Power?
  • Prestige?

Upon what are you building?

In Whom do you trust?

Do you sleep well? If not, why?

Are you giving life to vain things?

What do you consider to be your reward?
What heritage will you leave behind?

Are you happy?

To what do you give time, energy, life?







Let us seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness...

October 1, 2009

“Do You Believe?”

Blessings Folk!

The family would be sitting together watching a television program.

Suddenly he would growl. A sound of a non-human animal. A look of evil in his eye.

When he would walk through the kitchen the cabinet doors would shake and shudder...not from the footsteps, but from some unseen force which was more real than that seen.

He ranted and raved for years.

The slightest of offenses would send him into a tirade of hate about what he would do.

Some said he was simply mean.
Some said that there was something more in control.

Decade followed decade.

Finally, he wrote down a list.

A list of who he would kill and the order in which he would do it.

First, he would kill his mother and father. Then he would kill “Billy”...a man who had only told him that “if you don’t like it here, why don’t you leave?”

The outburst more intense. All day long the 45 year old man blasphemed his mother and father. More and more.

He told them what he would do. The murders. The list.

He had it planned.

Finally, the threats exploded into action.

He picked up a crutch and attacked his mother.

Father picked up a gun and shot his son between the eyes, blowing out the back of his head.

Still, he lived a few hours...apparently the autonomic system had not been immediately impacted.

Father has not been “charged”. It was self-defense.

This occurred in the community where I sit. Happened a few days ago.

Sad.
Tragic.
But sadder still upon reflection.

I know first hand information about the matter.

Leaders and family within the Body of Christ knew that this man was possessed by demons.

None spoke of it save in the soft whispers of a trusted friend or loved one.

They openly acknowledge that they did not know what to do.

The church saw, but due to ignorance of the Word, they felt powerless.

Many within the church do not believe that demons exist.
They are wrong.

Many believe, yet they do not believe that they have power over evil.
They are wrong.

Jesus showed by Word and Deed what to do.
Jesus told us…


John 14:12
12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

KJV

We learn much when examining the encounters that Jesus had with those demon possessed. Read a couple today…

  • Matt 9:32
  • Matt 12:22
  • Mark 9:17
  • Mark 1:32
  • Mark 5; Matt 8:28

The church did not know “what to do.”

Here is what to do.

In the name of the Lord, tell the evil to leave.
Do not ask them to leave.
Do not ask the Lord to make them leave.
You, as a Spirit-filled vessel of the Most High God...by the power of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and in faith and belief in Him and His Word...command them to leave.

We do not have to yell and shout.
We do not have to recite “spiritual mantras”.
We do speak in the power of the Lord.
The name of the Lord.
The blood of Jesus.

1 John 4:4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

KJV

Who knows what the Lord might have done in the above situation.

Now, do you believe?

Do you believe that the Lord desires to do the “works and greater works” in and through you?

If not, spend time in the the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
Ask the Lord to teach you. He will.
Set aside preconceived ideas, thoughts, understandings, fears and doubts.
Simply read the Word.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not live in self-imposed doubt.

We do pray for the family. Years of terror are now past. May the peace and comfort of the Lord continue to be with them.

Let us close with the “Great Commission” from the book of Mark...we usually hear these words from Matthew...most want to ignore Mark…

Mark 16:15-20
15 And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

KJV
Go and do likewise.

Blessings!!

Those of y’all local…we begin a new Bible study next week...book of Samuel...will distribute workbooks at first gathering.
Mondays, 6 p.m.
or
Tuesdays, 9 a.m.
First Baptist, Cullman


September 30, 2009

“Wonderfully Made”

Blessings Folk!!

The Word of the Lord is Truth without fail.

I am experiencing a portion thereof...glory without end…join with me in praising the Lord


Ps 139:14-17
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

KJV

There is no doubt that the Lord God created all in the manner which He revealed in His Word.

Yes, many will deny this.

Many who profess faith in the Lord will deny the truth of His Word.
They listen to the voice of “the expert”.
They listen to the voice of “science”.
They listen to the voice of “the professor”.
They do not give heed to the Word.
They do not seek the Spirit.
They speak “what they think”…

I remember years ago...a young person who wanted to know some things about “end times”...he had his opinion...I asked if he had ever read the book of Daniel. He answered “no”. I told him that we could not discuss the things he desired...his was only opinion...what he had been told...what he thought. He did not know the Word.

Many who profess faith are deceived by the ways of the world. We see it especially in the political realm. They will think highly of themselves because they care for the welfare of those in need...all the while not meeting the need themselves. They simply stealing from one person to give to another at no expense to themselves. Then, they feel good.

The same reject that God created the earth.
At best they will want to say that the Lord “created” through evolution.
They are deceived.
They hide behind “science”, not knowing what true science is.

They will blithely ignore the “elephant in the room” issue of abortion.
How can we terminate that which is fearfully and wonderfully made?
How can we support political organizations and causes who readily kill, and still claim citizenship within the Kingdom?

Here is the challenge today.

Submit to the Lord.
Seek Him.
Read His Word.
Seek not to “explain it away.”
Ask Him to reveal truth.

If you are truly saved, He will bring forth revelation, illumination and enlightenment that will continue to transform.

If you are not saved, He will draw you unto salvation.

My point of rejoicing in that which is fearfully and wonderfully made?























Those of y’all local...we will begin a new Bible study next week… 1 Samuel. Email me for details.

Blessings!!