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The end...is at hand

3/15/2018

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        The End…Is At Hand
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (1Peter 4:7).
 
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE SHORT BOOK by the Apostle Peter. Three great proofs of the accuracy of the Bible are 1. The Bible account of the creation of the earth is accurate and is being affirmed (layer after layer); 2. Prophecies were written long before their fulfillment.  3. The Bible’s account of world history has at times stood alone until research catches up and the Bible is always confirmed. Peter says “the end of all things is at hand.”  He employs the principle of imminence. At any time. It could happen right away, or it could be a little later; Imminent.
 
I HAVE REFERRED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS in Washington. It is the largest library in the world in both shelf space and number of books (over 34-million books). The Bible is one of the books in this library and it is the only book that can predict the future. The Apostle Peter says there is coming an end to the earth and its system as we now know it. Everybody is not happy about that and this kind of thing is one of the reasons why there is such a put-down against the Bible.
 
SOMEDAY, THE CEMETERIES OF THE WORLD MAY LOOK LIKE PLOWED FIELDS because a series of resurrections of dead human bodies is going to take place. Some people believe the Lord may just raise the dead through the ground without disturbing it.

Could be. When Jesus was raised from the dead, he came through his grave clothes that were left undisturbed. The gravestone was moved aside. Some think the gravestone was moved so Jesus could get out of the tomb. Others of us believe He could have come through the stone even as he came through the wall and appeared to His disciples after He arose from the dead. In that case, the stone was removed to let others see into the tomb, that He was gone.

IN OUR MAD CULTURE THAT HAS COME UNGLUED, there is a horrific revulsion against the idea that there will be an end of…anything. Our centers of learning boast that we have been improving since the first frog made it out of the slime. But a funny thing happened on the way to utopia. Einstein forced the mad scientists of his day to acknowledge that the universe has not always existed. The universe was not static but moving from another state. (Is Einstein getting too much credit?)
 
EINSTEIN HAD BENT HIS OWN THEORY OF RELATIVITY TO ACCOMMODATE the dogma of the day. But he was driven to change his position through his math formulas in conjunction with a discovery at the Mt. Wilson Observatory in California. By 1931, the Big Bang explanation of the universe was born. You may want to Google “Einstein and the Big Bang Theory” and see what you come up with.

THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT CAUSED IT. The Big Bang presented another problem. From the time of the Big Bang, the stars of the universe have been moving outward and the universe has been in a state of progressive entropy, or running down from a higher state of existence and there are many ways this is being scientifically measured. If there was a “big bang,” it would have taken awesome power to pull the universe apart. It could not come apart all by itself. If you want to grapple with this, you can have yourself a life-time Rubik’s Cube.

THE OBSERVABLE ENTROPY OF THE UNIVERSE, IN REVERSE, means that the universe suddenly came into being. Did it come about of its own accord or was it by the unthinkable— “Oh Gasp!”—hand of God?  The entropy of the universe requires that at some time, unless God intervenes, the universe will give up the ghost and cease to exist; not in our lifetime, of course.

THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND: meaning “at any time.” Imminent.  We are told that the coming of Jesus back to earth to take out his saints could be at any time:
 
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words (1Thessalonians 4:16-18).
 
THIS DAY DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE. People today, as in the day of Isaiah, want preachers to preach smooth things. “Make us feel good and positive in our rebellion against God.” Many Christians today are so beat down by work and family and things going against them that they simply do not want to hear anything but smooth things, sweet things. But we are told to “look up!” (Luke.21:28).
 
We’ve had enough tornados to do us a while. Tornados wait for no man. And the coming of the Lord will wait for no man. He tells us in our verse for today: “be sober and watch in prayer.” Those are good words; encouraging words. We can get things in prayer that we can get no place else. How is it with you? Do you want nothing but smooth things from the Lord? I don’t like what I see coming but it’s coming. I’m comforted by knowing we are in His outstretched hand and He will never leave us or forsake us.
 
…this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: (Isaiah 30:9-10).

Digging Deeper
God is in charge. He has a plan and a calendar and a clock and at His appointed time he will bring this world into judgment.
 
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  (2Thessalonians 1:7-8).
 
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  (2Thessalonians 1:9-10). Ω
 
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MARCH 16, 2018 – FRIDAY
A.M. Deuteronomy 28   P.M   Mark 15:1-26
 
March 17, 2018 – SATURDAY
A.M. Deuteronomy 29-30       P.M.  Mark 16
 
March 18, 2019 – SUNDAY
A.M. Deuteronomy 31-32   P.M. Luke 1:1-23
 
Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:
 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
There is a Fountain (4:39) (Vestal Goodman and the Gaither Group.)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PasK3ZFAOPE

I notice that singing groups are not tempted to gyrate and circus when they sing this. It’s not a carnival song. I use it often, partly because I never get tired of it and partly because the need for it is never exhausted.

 You may have to adjust the volume or delete an ad.
Beginning this Friday, the week-end Morning Minute will be discontinued. The daily Bible readings for Saturday and Sunday will be posted on Fridays and again on the following Monday.
 
 
 
 
 
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Preaching to the dead

3/14/2018

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               Preaching to the Dead

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit (1Peter 4:6).
 
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE APOSTLE PETER'S first book. There’s a strong parallel between his time and our time and the things that remain relevant. We humans surmise that we are permanent in this world. That is faulty thinking and feeling. Even though Peter was a life-time fisherman and had spent much of his life in the sun and many times naked in a boat, he was no dummy.

TO THE CONTRARY, HIS WRITING IS SO SOPHISTICATED that some historians and scholars find it hard to believe that Peter wrote the book that bears his name. I hope our brief encounter with some of the verses of his book arouses a new appreciation for his writings.

PREACHING TO THE DEAD. Does this mean: 1. To those who are spiritually dead and have no relationship with God? or, 2. To those who became Christians and then died? Or, 3. Is it speaking of Christ preaching to the spirits in prison after He was crucified and before He rose from the dead?

AFTER SEARCHING OTHER BIBLE REFERENCES relating to death and preaching and spiritual matters, I believe it has to be talking about those who are alive in this world but are dead unto God. People who have no relationship with God. They are dead unto Him.

BECAUSE GOD'S JUDGMENT IS COMING, the Gospel was preached. If the hearers do not respond in repentance and faith, they are as good as eternally dead. Rebels are already dead in trespasses and sins and they will be judged. On the other hand, if one will repent and turn to the Lord, that dead person can pass from death to life. The Apostle John wrote:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24).
 
REBELS ARE DEAD IN THIS LIFE they are temporarily alive by our human standards. Those who respond to the Gospel in faith and repentance, in this life are passed from death unto life. In this life we have everlasting life. Not at some future time, but now…in this life. (…is passed from death unto life). Furthermore, we will not in the future come into condemnation as lost sinners because we have accepted God’s offer of the death of His son as payment for our sins.
 
GOD DOES NOT REQUIRE OUR SINS TO BE PAID FOR TWICE. The good news of the Gospel is that God appointed a way for us to be forgiven of the wages of sin (death) because Christ died for us, in our place. This is old hat to the faithful, but it is not old hat to those who have never come to realize just what God did for us on the cross. Neither have most people realized what trouble they are in with God until they repent and humble themselves before Him. We are dead men! Dead!
 
JESUS SAID UNTO HER [Martha], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25). Here it is again: “dead.” Bible preachers do not make this up. It is what the Bible says. “Dead.” But the morally, spiritual dead people can be made alive…alive forevermore. That is good news! Here it is again:
 
PAUL WROTE TO THE EPHESIANS: And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). If you are lost, if you do not have the Spirit of God dwelling in you, you may think you are very much alive and having a wonderful time.  I call your attention to the Bible comment about Moses:
 
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (Hebrews 11:24-25).

So, if you are skin-deep religious on the surface,  but it has never reached your heart, your days are numbered, and you will enjoy the pleasures of sin for only a season—a very short time. If you now have in your body your very last breath, then what is your future?
 
I HAVE SPENT MUCH OF MY ADULT LIFE IN HOSPITALS AND FUNERAL HOMES and watching caskets lower into the earth. My friend this is reality. The party will be over before you know it. You are headed for the box in the ground. That is your future. Forget about trying to outwit God. If you have Christ in your heart you can survive a fiery airline crash. If they never find your bones, you will get another brand-new body that will never die again.
 
“When the gospel is preached, one of two things will happen.  Some accept it, and if they accept it, they are going to live for God and live throughout eternity. Others reject it, and those who reject the gospel are the men who are dead in sins and are dead to God throughout eternity; that is, they have no relation to Him whatsoever.” (McGee)

Digging Deeper 
Paul is saying the same thing the Apostle Peter said in our verse today.
 
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (Ephesians 2:2-3). Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;) (v.5)
 
MY FRIEND, IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED, you are right now walking according to the plan of Satan for your life and you are under his power. Because of that, you are among those who are “the children of wrath.” The reason for this is that you are copying what Satan did when he was the archangel of Heaven. He wanted to take God’s place.

“I will be like the most High. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”  (Isaiah 14:13-15)

ARE YOU A FRIEND OF THE DEVIL AND IN ALLIANCE WITH HIM and rebelling against God? Unless you change your course and repent (change your direction) you are right now, already “a child of wrath.” You are a dead man, a dead woman, that is, you are as good as dead.

In one sense, you are dead because you are disconnected from God; there is no umbilical cord between you and God. And you are dead because you are in defiance of God’s person and authority over you.  You think like you please, talk like you please, do as you please with no thought of what God thinks about it. That makes you a “child of the wrath of God” and you are as good as dead if you continue that way.

BUT GOD IS DETERMINED TO HELP YOU if you will let Him. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in your place; to shed his blood so that you don’t have to. You see, the penalty for rebelling against God is death. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 6:23)

HE URGES YOU TO DO THIS: While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  (Hebrews 3:15) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Romans 10:13)

I CAN TELL YOU THE DAY YOU ARE GOING TO BE SAVED because God has told us: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.  (Jeremiah 29:13) Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MARCH 15, 2018 - THURSDAY
A.M. Deuteronomy 26-27    P.M. Mark 15:1-26
Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:  
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
There is a Fountain (4:39) (Vestal Goodman and the Gaither Group.)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PasK3ZFAOPE

I notice that singing groups are not tempted to gyrate and circus when they sing this. It’s not a carnival song. I use it often, partly because I never get tired of it and partly because the need for it is never exhausted.
              You may have to adjust the volume or delete an ad.

Beginning this Friday, the week-end Morning Minute will be discontinued. The daily Bible readings for Saturday and Sunday will be posted on Friday and again on the following Monday.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

3/14/2018

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               Enough is Enough…

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead (1Peter 4:3-5).
 
WE ARE TRACKING PETER'S FIRST BOOK and today he is plowing hard ground and loading the shoulders of the oxen that are pulling the plow! You know, unless you are willing to bend your neck and submit yourself to the lordship of Christ, you’re wasting your time reading stuff like this. I don’t mean to be ugly. But if we are not willing to bend and yield when we encounter the Word of God we might do well to just play a game of checkers and avoid the voice of God. Adam and Eve tried it when they hid in the garden, but God came out to find them.
 
PETER IS WADING INTO THE INTENSE PARTYING that was going on in that day and that attracted some of the weaker Christians. They were in danger of joining the party animals. That’s why Peter wrote this and it’s in your Bible. God didn’t put stuff in the Bible to take up space, so He could write a best-seller in a hurry. Peter is dealing with an area of grave concern in our verses today. Don’t think that because you are saved and know all the verses of Amazing Grace that you’re above the wiles of the devil. If you had a weak spot before you were saved, the devil knows what it is and he will try to drag you back into it the rest of your life. You can count on it.

THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT IT THIS WAY: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (Hebrews 12:1)

Did you catch that? Robbing banks may not be your weakness. Some people had rather climb a tree to tell a lie than to stand on the ground with a glass of ice tea and tell the truth. You may not be a tree-climbing liar. But there may be a sin that is easier than all other sins, that gets you every time you get near it.

THAT'S WHAT PETER IS TALKING ABOUT. What about this one: The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.  (Psalm 58:3) I’m not the perfect angel. I’m just the plumber. If you’ve got some roots growing into your drain lines, sooner or later, you’re going to have to dig up the whole thing and cut those roots out of the line or there’s going to be a mess in your house and everybody will be holding their noses.

GOD GAVE VINEYARDS TO THE JEWS in their culture and from it they could make wine for celebration and forgetting their sorrow. All the wine in that day was not fermented. Even the grapes on the vine were sometimes referred to as wine.
 
THERE WAS FERMENTED WINE AND UNFERMENTED WINE IN ISRAEL. None of it was the fortified wine that is sold today. If it was fermented, it was the weakest of the alcohol drinks.  It depends on the context as to which it might have been. When Jesus turned the water into wine at Cana of Galilee, at the wedding, it is unlikely that it was fermented wine. If they had been drinking fermented wine until they ran out, a lot of them would not have been able to complete a sentence and some of them would have been plastered on the ground.
 
A CHIEF OF POLICE POINTED THAT OUT TO ME ONE DAY. I had never thought of it. But he had. He had thought of it a lot because he was responsible for checking out the parties when they got noisy and some of them wanted to fight. Pretty soon there was blood and somebody would have to call an ambulance and that’s when he had to make it his business. One day the Lord spoke to him and told him to leave the beer alone. He didn’t go to the Bible and look up the Hebrew and the Greek. He told me that all he had to think about was to remember what drinking was doing to people around him. So he quit.
 
HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN THERE WOULD BE A COUNTRY MUSIC CONVENTION out in a field, invariably the N.C. Highway Patrol would have to park a couple of cars there and be on hand. That meant they were pulled off the highway and away from policing speeders and drunk drivers, to keep an eye on these people who were getting plastered and losing their minds in the field.
 
IN MY YOUNGER DAYS, I preached a good bit in the Union Gospel Mission in Chattanooga. The homeless people, most of them alcoholics, came in and listened to somebody preach and waited to get a bowl of beans or soup. I always mingled among them and greeted them and asked them how they were doing. They had stories to tell. The dirtiest page in the hymnal was “Love Lifted Me.” I’m serious. I flipped through several hymnals and it was easy to catch the dirty pages. That told me a lot. They wanted to be loved. Many of them had lost businesses and their families and their self-respect.
 
THEIR EYES WOULD GLANCE DOWN AT MY BIBLE and somebody would show me they were on my side. They would quote the verse about “a little wine for your stomach’s sake and thine oft’ infirmities.” They never knew where it was, but it was their favorite verse and they were stickin’ to it.

J. Vernon McGee, the radio teacher wades in on our verses today.
Enough is enough! "Lasciviousness"—that's living in sexual sin. "Lusts"—that includes a great many things, lusting after the things of the flesh. "Excess of wine" is drunkenness. "Revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries." "Banquetings" should be translated "carousing." "Abominable idolatries"—the Scriptures tell us that the love of money is the root of all evil; covetousness is idolatry in our day. These are the things which will take you away from God, and Peter clearly spells them out.”(McGee)

THESE VERSES ARE A CHAPTER RIGHT OUT OF MY LIFE.  Before my ninth birthday I wanted very much to be part of a gang of boys, so I practiced “cussin’” so I could be one of them. I learned it real good and it became such a habit I was afraid I would “cuss” in my sleep and my mother would hear me.  I had no idea it could take hold of me like that did. It worried me.  When I got saved in the bean market in October 1943, I was so transformed that I had to make the rounds at school recess and try to get everybody saved. It didn’t fly.
The boys ganged up on me, put me on the ground and tried to make me pray in mockery.

So these verses tell it like it is. I think J. Vernon McGee’s comment and personal testimony are some of the best I have seen, so I’m going to include it.  It shows how the Lord was dealing with him and the road He had laid out for him. He says:

“Either you are going to please God or you'll please men. And if you are pleasing men, you will not please God. The Lord Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). If the world does not hate you, then there is something radically wrong. (He continues.)

“WHEN I WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OLD, I began to work in a bank. They put me on the teller's cage when I was seventeen and promised me that the next year I would be made a junior officer. I felt that I was well liked and popular in that bank. Then I went to a young people's conference where I made my decision for Christ and to study for the ministry.

I came back to the bank and resigned, yet they let me have a part-time job—they were good to me in that way. But I found out that I was no longer the popular boy in that place. As a Christian I became very unpopular. In fact, the fellows with whom I had run ridiculed me, and they did a good job of it because they knew what my life had been before. That was a very difficult decision I made at that particular time.

Digging Deeper
It doesn’t matter what I think about things Christians ought not to be doing, or what McGee thinks. If you belong to God, then pray about the questionable areas in your life. McGee talked about the dance hall he was attending and it was not exactly the Jewish dancing in the Bible. It could get pretty steamy and fog up your glasses.

WHAT MATTERS IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE REALLY COME CLEAN with the Lord and laid everything down at His feet to do His will for your life. That’s what matters and it’s what will matter when we stand before Him: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2Corinthians 5:10).

THE LORD DEALTH WITH ME VERY EMPHATICALLY ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES including the dancing thing when I was 17. It’s a pretty good excuse to bosom up with another man’s wife or to warm up a maid to go outside with you if you are inclined to do so. Of course, if you are about dead and you have already planned your funeral, or you are a super saint, it may not affect your hormones. But you better be careful about stepping on a land mine. There was one very pregnant girl who lamented, “I should have danced all night. All night, I should have danced!”

PETER'S LAST VERSE REMINDS US: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick (the living) and the dead. The writer of Hebrews did his best to urge people to live for God. He had to conclude that on some it had no effect at all. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it (Hebrews 4:2).
 
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MARCH 13, 2018 - TUESDAY (and)
MARCH 14, 2018 - WEDNESDAY
A.M.  Deuteronomy 20-22  P.M. Mark 14:26-50
A.M. Deuteronomy 23-25   P.M. Mark 14:51-72
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:  
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
His Eye is On the Sparrow (4:15)
(Wintley Phillips – Maranatha Missions Conf.)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KumK_Y6eyY

 You may have to adjust the volume or delete an ad.
​
Beginning this Friday, the week-end Morning Minute will be discontinued. The daily Bible readings for Saturday and Sunday will be posted on Fridays and again on the following Monday.
 
 
 
 

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armed for life

3/12/2018

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               Armed for Life…

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God (1Peter 4:1-2).
 
SINCE CHRIST HAS SUFFERED FOR US...he is the best example for our mindset. We do better if we are following a life blueprint. We are going to have to suffer some in this world, so we need a pattern to go by. Jesus didn’t promise much when He preached: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  (Luke 9:23) Jesus is not talking about carrying a sign around that says “Please wipe your feet on me.” He’s not talking about sleeping on the front porch with the dogs so the community will comment on your humility.
 
BUT THERE IS A MINDSET THAT IS DIFFERENT from the world's way of thinking. It’s not “looking down our noses at people.” That’s the opposite of what he’s talking about. It’s not the “holy Joe” thing. It is a quiet and powerful mindset that is stable in the face of the storms of life and gives off a heavenly fragrance. There’s no way to fake it. We don’t get it out of a book from Amazon. We get it from living with God’s book.
 
ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND.The most effective place to be armed is in our minds. We wander all over the place when we are not armed in our minds. It takes a certain kind of mind to be willing to suffer bad things for the sake of Christ. It is so much easier to trim the message so that it does not offend. The world system thinks coarse talk is humor and that being plastered is having a good time. They will not like it if you don’t “ha-ha” with them. Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: (1Peter 4:4)

WHEN I WORKED 3RD SHIFT in the boiler shop and put up a new tract on the wall above the men’s urinal every night, one of the men came in and saw what I was doing and passed the word along. They quickly dubbed me: “Preacher.” They were good-natured about it. But it didn’t take long for them to come by my work station, one at a time, and spill their guts about the problems in their lives and ask me to pray for them.

WHEN ONE OF THEM WOULD GET SAVED at a church in their community, they made a bee-line to my work place to say: “You won’t believe what happened to me. I got saved today!” I wasn’t a holy-Joe among them. That wouldn’t have worked. I prayed to be a steady candle among them. That was my mission field.

SOME PEOPLE WHO SING HYMNS IN CHURCH may laugh when someone mocks the name of Christ. Oh yes. They are the fringe group; the onlookers. But, will you laugh if they call your mother an ugly name? If we are armed in our minds we will not think calling our mother a bad name is funny. If we are armed in our minds we will not think that mocking God and His Christ is humor but that it is taking the name of the Lord our God in vain. It’s no better if it comes through the tube into your living room.  Are you armed?
 
A READINESS TO SUFFER AND DIE...J. Vernon McGee, the popular radio Bible teacher, sometimes would remind his listeners that one day in America the true church of Jesus Christ will have to go underground. Surely not! Oh, he’s not the only one. Thousands of God-called pastors and Bible teachers in America know that one day the present hostility against Bible Christianity will drive the true Church underground. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  (John 12:25)
 
ARM YOUR MIND FOR LIFE that when and if that time comes, you will stand unto death. When you are being ridiculed or persecuted for Christ, the armament of your mind will determine the outcome. Living for Christ these days is not for spiritual sissies.  There is going to be increased conflict and strife against those who stand for Christ. Nothing has changed in two thousand years.

HOWEVER, WE ARE MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD GLOBALISM, toward a one-world government and a one-world set of values and beliefs. (No, it’s not the Moslems who will rule the world. It will be the 10-nation, European alliance, ruled by the anti-Christ.) If you truly know Christ as Savior and Lord, you won’t be here to bother with that. But, the gathering shadows from the global government that will prevail, those shadows are now leaning over the United States as we slowly adjust to a one-world government. Jesus talked about the birth pangs preceding the birth of the Tribulation Period.
 
FOR HE THAT HATH SUFFERED IN THE FLESH HATH CEASED FROM SIN - “when a man is dead, he will sin no more;” referring of course to the present life. So if a Christian becomes dead in a moral sense - dead to this world, dead by being crucified with Christ (see Galatian 2:20) - he may be expected to cease from sin. The reasoning is based on the idea that there is such a union between Christ and the believer that his death on the cross secured the death of the believer to the world.” (Barnes)
 
I don’t think Mr. Barnes is talking about living “above sin,” a sinless life. But, in a general sense of the terms, he is talking about the commitment to a direction and a framework of thinking that hold high ideals of thinking and conduct. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)   
 
Digging Deeper
DID YOU KNOW THE BIBLE TALKS about a tough mindset in living the Christian life? Love? Yes, and sometimes it’s a tough love. I said earlier that living the Christian life is not for spiritual sissies. Death to self.  Who wants to be dead to self? I love self. But loving self grows a mushroom or a squash. God has something in mind more like an Oak tree that takes a hundred years to grow. The kind that draws your camera. The timber men tell us that Red Oaks are through at 40 years. But the White Oaks are a different thing. They just keep on growing and facing he storms and winters and wind and get stronger and stronger.  
 
MY DADDY WAS AN EXPERT TIMBER MAN. When I knew him best, he was processing Hickory trees for skis, picker sticks for weaving machines, shunt poles for the railroad, ladder rungs for firemen’s ladders, and tool handles of all kinds. He taught me to grade these items as they came from the saws. He graded tough and passed on only the best. Several times, he told me that the best Hickory timber grows on the north side of the mountain where it endures severe cold and wind. It makes a tough tree.
 
GOD WANTS SOMETHING A LITTLE TOUGHER and with a little more character than a mushroom or a squash. The magazine: SELF will not make anything more lasting than a cucumber, in my opinion. It takes the Word of God to define man and his place in the universe. It is not man’s word. If we are going to live for the Lord so that the Spirit of God is at home in us, we must deal with this aspect of the Christian life. Don’t wait till you can get a busload going that direction before you start down the road. You will have to walk by yourself until you can find some company. Arm your mind for life….to live for God. For he that is dead is freed from sin.  (Romans 6:7)
 
DR. LEE ROBERSON TOLD US IN CHAPEL several times, about the book: “When Did You Die?”  I think it has been out of print a long time. It never hit the charts. He felt that every Christian should be exposed to the ideas of the little book. (It is NOT the current book by that name, written by Temple Hayes. She has eight steps to stop dying and is of the mindset of Joel Osteen.)  T

THE APOSTLE PAUL PUT IT LIKE THIS:  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: (2Timothy 2:11).

JESUS PUT IT LIKE THIS: He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  (John 12:25)

THIS KIND OF THINKING WILL NOT SLIP UP ON YOU and take over you in your sleep. You don’t need to worry about that. God may allow you some practice time in dying to self, when things don’t go our way. Nobody likes to be “put down.” It’s how we handle the north winds and storms that count. How did Jesus handle it? Ω
  
Read Through the Bible in a Year
 MARCH 12, 2018 – MONDAY
  A.M. Deuteronomy 17-19  P.M.  Mark 14:1-25
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:  
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
Will Your Anchor Hold (2:08) (St. Albans - Leeds.)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTfypuXwrMA
 
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Where is Jesus?

3/8/2018

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                               Where is Jesus?

Who [Jesus Christ] is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him (1Peter 3:22)  There is a vast structure of angels in Heaven, well-organized and Jesus is the authority over them.
 
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE WRITING of the Apostle Peter in his first letter to Christians who were scattered abroad in the Roman Empire. It could have been during any of the three periods of persecutions initiated by the Romans. If it was under Nero, the letter was written about 64 A.D., about 30 years after the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Peter writes strong encouragement to the persecuted Christians to stand firm in their faith and to face death if necessary. I say, “face death if necessary,” because they were doing just that. Peter, himself, would be crucified upside down at his own request.
 
IT IS RELEVANT TO CHRISTIANS IN THE MOSLEM AND COMMUNIST COUNTRIES today. We should not be surprised if the present anti-Christian sentiment we see rising with each generation in the United States will one day rupture into blood and death for Christians here in our homeland. Moral decay and rot is usually not sudden. It increases with each new generation.

Our nation has officially discarded the Bible except for window dressing in swearing in ceremonies. A slight trace of our religious legacy gives it a nice touch. We are now without a blueprint, without chart or compass, without a North Star with which to navigate through troubled waters.
 
I HAVE SEEN A GREAT MORAL DETERIORATION AND SHIFTING OF ATTITUDES in America during my lifetime. We should diligently study the Bible to learn the characteristics of moral decay. We should read American history, so we can discern the changing of the times toward social experimentation and chaos.  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?  (Psalm 11:3)

JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES:
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you (John 16:7).

JESUS PROVED HIS RESURRECTION FOR FORTY DAYS.
Jesus stayed with his disciples forty days after his resurrection from the dead. This gave Him plenty of time to reveal Himself to those who would give witness to His resurrection. Here is a summary of His appearances.

For I [Paul] delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: (1Corinthians 15:3-4)

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time (1Corinthians15:5-8).

No time for trivia or discussing the Super Bowl games or fishing. The disciples barely had a handle on his crucifixion and resurrection. He appointed them a place to meet him and they returned to their biggest question: . . . Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6). They may have heard that an angel had appeared to Jesus’ mother and told her that her child would be given the throne of his father David and he would reign over the house of Jacob forever (Luke.1:32-33).

JESUS HAD NEVER TOLD THEM THAT ISRAEL WAS NOT GOING TO BE RESTORED. They knew from the Old Testament prophets that God was going to set His Son upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem and that Israel would be restored and become a great world power, a leader of the nations.  Surely all of the disciples knew Psalm 2 by heart; that the Jewish Messiah would rule with a rod of iron.

THEY SAW JESUS THROUGH THE EYES OF WOULD-BE PATRIOTS and power brokers. For example: And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?  But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all (Mark 9:33-35).

THEY LISTENED LIKE SCHOOL CHILDREN, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET IT. They didn’t want to get it. They were living with the promised Jewish messiah, but they were not on the same page with him. It wasn’t long until James and John came to Jesus privately and put in a job application to be big shots in His kingdom.
 
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.  And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory (Mark 10:35-37).

That didn’t turn out too well. Their mother got into the act. Either they were reporting their lack of progress to their mother or else she was a king-maker mother who was the private coach for her two sons.

CONSIDER THIS: Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.  And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom (Matthew 20:20-21). That was turned down too.

AND NOW WE COME TO THE LAST DAY OF THE FORTY DAYS.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power (Acts 1:6-7).

Jesus is about to leave for the earth for two thousand years and they are going to pay with their lives for following Him. They are still hanging on to their quest for the Jewish kingdom. Jesus does not rebuke them or tell them they have been all wrong about it.  They are going to have to make-do with what He has told them and obey Him in what he has commissioned them to do.  We call it: The Great Commission.

Digging Deeper
The kingdom that the disciples were looking for, will one day become a reality. But before that day, Jesus is calling out a people for His name from all over the world to rule with Him. He will return as the Lion of Judah and not as the Lamb. 

THEY WATCHED HIM LEAVE...
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:9-11).

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:20-21).

We believe in the imminent return of Christ: at any time. There are no signs for His return for the church. There are signs for when He returns with the church seven years later to reign on the earth for a thousand years. Where is Jesus? He is in Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for you and me when we think and behave less than perfectly. Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
 MARCH 9, 2018 – FRIDAY
  A.M. Deuteronomy 8-10 P.M.  Mark 12:28-44
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:
 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
Three Times I Asked Him (2:14) (Bennie White & Michal Pies – Calvary Mem.)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eVxnjQ9GVw

A new song to me. It’s about Paul’s prayer to God for healing of his infirmities and the Lord’s promise that His grace was sufficient for him, even though the Lord would not heal him.
                                          
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does baptism save?

3/8/2018

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                      Does Baptism Save?
. . . eight souls were saved by water (Noah).  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:  (1Peter 3:20b-21).
(Photo: Jordon River:Traditional Site of Jesus’ Baptism.)
 
THIS IS A TROUBLING PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. The easiest way to deal with it is to skip over it and go to the next chapter. Is there more to it than on the surface? Whatever it means, it must harmonize with the rest of the Bible. I have books opened and stacked up and have visited postings on the Web to see how various scholars have commented. I see some squirming, but I don’t think there is any reason to make something hard out of these verses.

THREE THINGS SHOULD BE ASKED ABOUT EVERY PASSAGE UNDER STUDY: 1) What does it say?  2) What does it mean?  3) How does it apply to me? It says what the verses above say. Now what does it mean? We begin by asking some practical questions. Then we can dig deeper and see what is being said and what is not being said.

ARE WE SAVED BY BAPTISM?  That’s the first question. If baptism is essential for salvation, then, repenting and receiving Christ as Savior and Lord is not enough. There is yet lacking one thing: baptism. At that point we would have to say that we are going to be saved by baptism. So, is it possible to truly repent of one’s sins and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and still not be saved? When I was 12 years old I attended the closest church I could walk to when my daddy was away working. That’s what they believed and taught, and I have found people since then that believe that.
 
Well, the thief on the cross was saved but not baptized in water (Luke 23:43).  We are placed into the body of Christ by baptism but not by water baptism: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (1Corinthians 12:13).
 
WE ARE TOLD: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7). Now then, we must look closely at this verse: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16). Simply stated: “he that believeth not shall be damned.” But it does not say “he that is baptized not shall be damned.” Very important.
 
THE MINDSET OF THE DAY. Walvoord and Zuck suggest: “Baptism does not save the soul from sin, but does save us from a bad conscience. Peter clearly taught that baptism was not merely a ceremonial act of physical purification but a matter of a good conscience. The act of public baptism would “save” them from the temptation to sacrifice their good consciences in order to avoid persecution. For a first-century Christian, baptism meant he was following through on his commitment to Christ, regardless of the consequences.” (p.852 The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
 
BAPTISM WAS (IS) A PUBLIC WAY OF CONFESSING CHRIST.  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38). We may well wonder why a new believer in Christ would hesitate to be baptized if the faith is genuine. Following the Lord in believer’s baptism is the first act of obedience.
 
THE CEREMONY WAS (IS) SYMBOLIC: buried with him (his death) in baptism; raised from death as he was raised from death to walk in newness of life after Christ. The symbolism was immediately recognized by early Christians and continues to this day. It is one of the ordinances of the church. The other ordinance is the communion service; partaking of the body and blood of Christ (symbolically).
 
“BAPTISM IS THE SYMBOL OF WHAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED in the heart and life of one who has trusted Christ as Savior (cf. Romans. 6:3-5; Galatians. 3:27; Colossians. 2:12). To make the source of salvation perfectly clear Peter added, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. cf. 1 Peter.1:3)”(Walvoord &.Zuck).
 
Digging Deeper
IS SALVATION AVAILABLE ONLY TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO can find enough water in which to be baptized? And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1John 2:2). Is the blood of Christ sufficient for the sins of the whole world or is it the blood of Christ plus water baptism that is sufficient for the sins of the whole world?
 
IS SALVATION AVAILABLE ONLY TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO are healthy enough to be baptized? Can people in the intensive care units of hospitals not be saved because they cannot be baptized? Of course, this raises the issue of whether baptism is by immersion or does baptism include sprinkling? I was saved under the preaching of Dan Graham, a Presbyterian evangelist. Through his preaching the Spirit of God convicted me of sin and brought me to Christ when I was nine. Dan Graham built a Bible college near Bristol, Virginia that remains to this day. I never knew of him immersing converts.
 
Although I was only nine years old, I didn’t want to be baptized by being sprinkled or having water poured on my head. I never agreed with his form of baptism. We have this left for us to consider: And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him (Acts 8:38).
 
If baptism is essential to being saved wouldn’t we need to know if the mode of baptism is immersion or sprinkling? If it were that important, wouldn’t the Bible have more to say about it and explain exactly how we are to baptize new believers?
 
DURING THE FIRST DAYS OF THE WAR IN IRAQ, at least one of our chaplains baptized new believers with his own spit. He worked up all the spit he could, spat in his hand and applied it on the head of the one being baptized.
 
These were men who were going into combat and might be killed the next day. They wanted to be baptized. On several occasions, shallow basins were dug in the sand, overspread with a plastic sheet and filled with water. They would lie down in the water and the chaplain would administer baptism by pushing their heads under the water. Some were baptized in the Euphrates River.
 
BUT WHAT OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THAT DRY SAND for  hundreds of years who could barely carry enough water with them to keep alive and who bathed themselves with sand? Were they disqualified from eternal salvation because at no time in their lives was there enough water in which to be baptized?
 
WHO IS TO DO THE BAPTIZING? We’re strict in this country about a pastor, elder, or deacon doing the baptizing. If someone in the desert or in a crowded city should call on the name of the Lord to be saved but there was no church or no church leader around to baptize them, would he/she die lost because the right person could not be found to perform the ceremony? These are not silly questions.  These are practical questions that must be faced if one embraces “baptismal regeneration,” the doctrine that water baptism is essential for eternal salvation of the soul.
 
Through the years, I have found a few children who testify that they were saved, but who could not swim and were deathly afraid of having their heads put under water. I have baptized a few adults who had been struggling with the question of baptism since they were saved as children. Did these children have faith all that time and were in danger of hell until they went under the water?

IN EAST TENNESSEE I LEARNED OF A FEW CHURCH GROUPS who taught that people come in contact with the blood of Christ when they are under the water being baptized.

On the other hand, I have wondered about some people who have had no concern at all that they should be baptized. If one has no pang of conscience that they ought to obey God, are they truly saved? I doubt it, seriously. When one is saved, the conscience is brought to bear upon one’s peace or lack of peace. Our text today brings the conscience into the picture. Being baptized is not a means of being saved but rather, the conscience bearing witness that one should be baptized is one of the indicators that one has been saved.  Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
 MARCH 8, 2018 – THURSDAY
  A.M. Deuteronomy 5-7   P.M.  Mark 12:1-27
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:  
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
There Is a Fountain (4:39) (Vestal Goodman & Gaither Group)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PasK3ZFAOPE  
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quickened by the spirit

3/6/2018

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      Quickened
     by the Spirit

…being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water (1Peter 3:18b-20).
(We’re working our way through the Book of 1Peter. Google has a collection of pictures about Jesus preaching to the spirits in prison)

CHRIST WAS "QUICKENED," - made alive by the Spirit. In our text yesterday and today, we read: “being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit:” This may appear to be a contradiction of Scripture since Jesus said: Therefore, doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.  (John 10:17-18)

THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION in His being raised by the Spirit, and His statement that He could raise Himself from the dead. Even though He had the power to physically resurrect Himself from the dead, He relegated His resurrection to the Holy Spirit. Christ raised Himself from the dead in that he was the executive in charge of His resurrection. Today we have the executive branch of government that oversees or carries out government edicts and programs. A familiar officer in corporations is the CEO: The Chief Executive Officer.

THE TRINITY WAS AT WORK: In creation, in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and in the salvation of lost men and women. The Trinity is one.

JESUS SAID: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  (John 6:44) Here, the Father is pictured as drawing those who come to Christ.

IN NOAH'S DAY, GOD, THE FATHER is at work through His Spirit: And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.  (Gen 6:3)

IN CREATION: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:… (Genesis 1:26) Who is “us?” It is the Godhead, the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. John says that Jesus participated in the creation: All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.  (John 1:3)

PETER TELLS US THAT CHRIST PREACHED TO THE SPIRITS IN THE PRISON of the damned, BY THE SPIRIT. It was not preaching as we know it today but was an announcement, a confirmation that their doom was sealed.

EVERYTHING JESUS DID IN HIS MINISTRY was in the power of the Holy Spirit. That is easy to overlook. He was God in the flesh, the God-man, but he did not do his work in the power of the God-man. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Luke.4:1) to be tempted by the devil and every step thereafter it was by the power of the Spirit.

HE DID ALL HIS MIRACLES IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. It is equally true that the only thing we are doing for God that’s of any value, will be by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. We are not more interested in God’s work than He is. Salvation is of the Lord. We get to help Him a bit.

NOAH PREACHED IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT to the rebels of his day. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years (Genesis 6:3).
​
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.  (Hebrews 11:7)

McGee tells us: “For 120 years Noah had preached the Word of God. He saved his family but no one else. It was the Spirit of Christ who spoke through Noah in Noah's day. In Christ's day, those who rejected Noah's message were in prison. The thought is that Christ's death meant nothing to them just as it means nothing to a great many people today who, as a result, will also come into judgment.” (McGee)

JESUS PREACHED TO TWO KINDS OF SPIRITS. First, it was to demon spirits and He was not preaching for their conversion. He was making an announcement to them that he had triumphed over them and had the keys to death and hell (Rev.1:18). Secondly, human spirits. Whatever preaching he was doing to the human rebel souls was not for their conversion but to confirm the message of Noah whom they had rejected with derision and contempt. This verse gives a little more on that:

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2Peter 2:4)

It is fashionable today to scoff at the message of salvation through Christ’s death on the cross just as it was fashionable to mock Noah, “the old fool” who was building a boat on dry land and was talking about rain that had never happened before. Christ has never come to set up a political kingdom on the throne of David in Jerusalem to reign over the earth, but, he is coming to do just that.

THE SPIRIT THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD will Raise God’s People from the Dead.    Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  (Romans 8:9b) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  (Romans 8:11)
 
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17). Ω
 
Read Through the Bible in a Year
 MARCH 7, 2018 – WEDNESDAY
  A.M. Deuteronomy 3-4   P.M.  Mark 11:20-33
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:  
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
I’ll Meet You In the Morning (3:31) (Gaither Group)
         (One of my mother’s favorites.)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYeAtTyGgrM
        (I could use some of Guy Penrod’s hair.)
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That he might bring us to god

3/5/2018

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        That He Might Bring Us to God
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1Peter 3:18).
 
BRINGING US TO GOD.  Is this strange? Why would I need to be brought to God? And if I need to be brought to God, why couldn’t my mother or father bring me to God? My mother carried me to church in her womb and I have attended church ever since that time. Wasn’t my mother bringing me to God? My mother was a good Christian woman and she brought me to church. But, alas, that was as far as she could bring me. She could not bring me to God. Bringing me to church is not the same thing as bringing me to God. Some things stood between me and God. I WAS...

WITHOUT CHRIST AND GOD AND FAR OFF... 
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  (Ephesians 2:12-13)  I was…
 
OUTSIDE THE HOLIEST. The “holiest” refers to where God is. In the Jewish Tabernacle and then in the Jewish Temple, it was the innermost room that contained the Ark of the Covenant and its Mercy Seat and was behind the veil. Of course, only the High Priest could actually go into the "holiest" once a year.

But now, Christ has been sacrificed as the lamb of God and the veil that hid the "holiest" has been rent in two and we may now go into the "holiest" through the blood of Christ. (Hebrews 10:20) I was outside The Holiest because I was not morally clean. I was a rebel, insisting on my way. I wanted to decide what was good and evil. I did not want God to decide that. The blood had not been applied to my heart and I was outside the "Holiest."
 
Fallen man has never been able to approach God apart from a blood sacrifice. Cain tried to approach God with garden produce. He refused to approach God with blood. He was a rebel. I was a rebel and needed a blood sacrifice to approach God. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19) I WAS…
 
NEEDING TO BE DRAWN. Why would I need God when I had friends who loved to do anything they could think of? I would never have searched for God on my own. My friends dominated me. I wanted to be accepted by them, so I practiced cursing and profanity, so I would be one of them, at age nine. I needed to be convicted of my sin. I needed to be drawn by the Spirit of God and He did just that for several days. He promised that He would draw, not only me, but all people. God is faithful to draw people to Himself, but people resist Him and struggle to go their own way until God draws them no more.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: (John 6:44)
 
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me (John 12:32).
 
And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,…. (Genesis 6:3)
 
 Just as I am without one plea – But that thy blood was shed for me;
And that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God I come – I come.
 
Digging Deeper 
From the earliest days of the Bible (Genesis 4), people discussed how to get to God. They instinctively knew that they were not fit to be in the presence of God, so they needed to bring God a little something to “try to fix it.”
 
And she [Eve] again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  (Gen 4:2)
 
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  (Genesis 4:3-4)
 
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  (Gen 4:5-6)
 
…. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.  (Genesis 4:8) Cain despised God and despised his brother who reminded him of God.
 
OUR TEXT FOR TODAY MENTIONS THAT CHRIST “hath once suffered for sins.” This was the promised Christ who was portrayed by Moses at a rock in the Old Testament.
At the beginning of their Wilderness Wanderings, God told Moses to strike the rock that the Israelites might have water. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.  (Exodus 17:6)

NEAR THE END OF THEIR WANDERINGS, God told Moses a second time to get water from a rock. God said:  speak to the rock. Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.  (Numbers 20:8)

THOSE TWO ROCKS WERE A PICTURE OF CHRIST. He was struck with death….one time. And now we may speak to Him and obtain the water of life.  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  (1Corinthians 10:4)

WE ARE FACED WITH A GREAT, OVERWHELMING TRUTH HERE: It takes the Old and New Testaments to have a complete Bible. “The New is in the Old contained; The Old is in the New explained.”  By reading the Old Testament, we cannot know that Moses was striking Christ (in a figure) and making living water come out of Him. Nor can we know by reading the Old Testament that Moses was speaking to Christ (in a figure) in order to obtain water from Him. But, the New Testament tells us this.
 
AT THE CRUCIFIXION WE READ: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34) The blood portrays His death and the water portrays His resurrection and eternal life for those who speak to Him in repentance and faith.

WE MAY NOW SPEAK TO THE ROCK OF CALVARY and obtain the living water. We are immediately ushered back to the Garden of Eden where God put Adam to sleep and took his bride from his riven side. Adam was here, a type of Christ, who was the second Adam. (1Corinthians 15:45)  The sleep was a picture of Christ’s death and the taking of Eve from Adam’s side portrayed Christ giving birth to the saints of God.

THE SONG WRITER (Toplady) says: “Let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.” (This is an illustration of why our children and young people need to be singing the old hymns to draw from them the wealth of the great doctrines of the Bible.)

DARE WE GO ONE STEP FURTHER? The woman at the well drew Jesus to make an unusual trip there to meet with her. The Jews didn’t go through Samaria to go north, but Jesus did. Her soul was empty and parched from her struggle with life; five husbands and one who was not her husband. She was thirsty and ready to encounter God. Jesus knows where the thirsty souls are.

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.  (John 4:10)

THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME.(Galatians 4:4)  Simeon and Anna spotted Him when he was a baby in the Temple. John spotted Him as he walked one day and said: “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.”  He is now offering the woman at the well:  “living water.” Have you spoken to The Rock? Do you have the living water, eternal life? Ω
 
 
Read Through the Bible in a Year
 MARCH 6, 2018 – TUESDAY
  A.M. Deuteronomy 1-2   P.M.  Mark 11:1-19
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:  
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
Just As I Am (A Cappello) (3:30) ( Pub. By S.E. Samonte)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxA0TFe3-Uo
​
 You may have to adjust the volume or delete an ad.
 A Cappello: Without instruments; in the style of a chapel, (a small church) which have no instrument, no organ. In contrast to (large churches which usually have an organ, or instruments.)
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christ suffered for sins

3/4/2018

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          Christ Suffered for Sins
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1Peter 3:18).
 
DO YOU SEE THE BLACK HAMMER raised to strike? Look at the soldier kneeling on his left knee with his head down. I don’t know if a soldier would have raised a hammer that high, but the artist seemed to think so. Looks like about a two-pound hammer.

JESUS HAD ALREADY WARNED: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  (Luke 9:23)

Becoming a Christian in those days wasn’t as simple and risk-free as it is today in America. Peter wrote his letter to Christians who were scattered and being persecuted. He encouraged them to stand firm in the face of suffering and death. It was written about 64 A.D., about thirty years after Christ rose from the dead. perhaps during the persecution by Nero. Christians suffered from the beginning. First it was at the hands of their own Jewish countrymen, such as the Apostle Paul. Later, the Romans considered them an outlaw religion, disloyal to Rome.

THE ROMANS FINALLY REALIZED that the Christians were not welcome any longer in the Temple at Jerusalem and at the synagogues. As Rome conquered new territories, they accepted the religions of those new territories if they proved to be submissive to Rome. They had crucified Jesus as one whose loyalty to Rome was in question and thus, His followers were naturally suspect. Christians were some of the best-behaved citizens the Romans had. Their loving behavior spared them the wrath of Rome for a while. In writing to Christians widely scattered, Peter writes in the strongest language to comfort and encourage persecuted Christians to stand firm for Christ.

ONE OF THE STRONGEST REASONS Christians should stand firm is that Christ suffered pain and death on the cross for our sins. Today, in America especially, many people who have attended church most of their lives do not know the meaning-in-depth of the story of Christ. They know that he was nailed to a Roman cross and hung there until he died and that he rose again from the dead. From that point on it’s a blank page. They do not know the what and why of His bloody death and how it relates to them personally.

MANY PEOPLE DO NOT NOW IN THEIR HEART OF HEARTS that Christ died for them personally and that their sins were laid upon him as their sin bearer. “Christ suffered for MY sins.” The crucifixion of Christ is a fact of history, but “what does it have to do with me?” For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).

SOME KNOW THAT  Christ died for the ungodly who feel that it was for those really bad people that the FBI has been looking for. “‘Ungodly people need Christ to die for them. I am not perfect, but I’m not bad enough for Christ to die on the cross for me. I’ve never robbed a bank or beat anybody up. I’ve worked hard and paid my bills. I’m an honest person.”

MAMNY KNOW THAT CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY but believe that Christ’s death only cleaned up their account until the day they were saved. From that day forward, they must “live it” in order to remain saved. It does not depend on Christ but depends on them. At this point they do not know the story of Christ. They either live in dread and fear that they will do something bad enough to damn their soul, or else they may become so discouraged that they give up living for the Lord altogether. We have all met people like this.

GOD HAS MADE IT SIMPLE FOR TRULY SINCERE, LOST PEOPLE. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). You have to be lost before you can be saved. You must acknowledge that you are who God says you are: a lost sinner.

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).  …there is none that doeth good, no, not one (Romans 3:12). Your biggest job is not getting saved. Your biggest job is getting lost. God only saves lost people, not proud people.

LOOK AT THIS: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).  Have you called upon Him? Have you believed in Him?
 
Digging Deeper
 
YOU CAN ONLY BE SAVED WHEN YOU ARE DRAWN TO HIM BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: (John 6:44).

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father (John 6:64-:65).

By nature, we sinners do not call on God to be saved. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee:…. (Isaiah 64:7).

OUR SINFUL NATURE FEELS ADEQUATE WITHOUT GOD. We do not want to yield to God’s authority to be Lord over us. We want to be in the place of God. Therefore, we will never leave that smug, rebellious attitude on our own. We need help to turn from ourselves to God. He knows that and has provided help to us for calling on Him. In Noah’s day before the flood we read: And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,….(Genesis 6:3).

THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER, fallen men still need the Spirit of God to strive with them in order for them to be saved. Jesus said: And when he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove [convict] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8).

For the word of God is quick [living], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

THE BIBLE SAYS THE WORD OF GOD IS THE SWORD of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). If you feel drawn toward the Lord, it is the Spirit of God drawing you. (The devil will not draw you, that’s for sure.)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2Corinthians 5:21).

So, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:28).

If Peter were here today, in the strongest language he would tell you that Christ suffered for sins…for your sins. Jesus paid it all. That is all you need. That is the good news of the Gospel. Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
 MARCH 5, 2018 – MONDAY
  A.M. Numbers 34-36   P.M.  Mark 10:32-52
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:  
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)

Song for Today:
Jesus Paid it All (A-Cappello) (3:20) ( Pub. By S.E. Samonte)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bPaXN9j9yQ
   You may have to adjust the volume or delete an ad.
 
 

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a good conscience

3/1/2018

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            A Good Conscience…
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing (1Peter 3:16-17).

WE ARE PURSUING A BOOK WRITTEN BY by the Apostle Peter to provide doctrine and instructions for the first Christians and for all Christians that would come after them. They still had the Jewish Old Testament that they depended on for moral instruction and encouragement. But, they needed more books to enlarge their understanding and that would be suitable for Gentiles who had no Jewish background.

THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE IS A GREAT MYSTERY. There is a universal expectation that every human being will be born with a conscience, as surely as we expect fingers and toes. In every nation…in every century…the human conscience has appeared with almost every human being. I say “almost” because sometimes a cold-blooded killer appears to be “without a conscience.”  

ASIDE FROM THE COURTROOM, the Bible has this to say: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1Timothy 4:1-2.)

IN THIS DAY OUR CULTURE SEEKS TO SUPPRESS CONSCIENCE so as to give free reign of the senses of pleasure. Barnes speaks well for our benefit: “Conscience is not revelation, nor does it answer the purpose of a revelation. It communicates no new truth to the soul and is a safe guide only so far as the mind has been properly enlightened to see what is truth and duty. Its office is “to prompt us to the performance of duty,” not “to determine what is right.”

The other thing requisite that we may have a good conscience is, that its decisions should be obeyed. Conscience is appointed to be the “vicegerent” of God in inflicting punishment, if his commands are not obeyed.

Conscience pronounces a sentence on our own conduct. Its penalty is remorse; and that penalty will be demanded if its promptings be not regarded. It is an admirable device, as a part of the moral government of God, urging man to the performance of duty, and, in case of disobedience, making the mind its own executioner.”(Barnes-abbrev-emphasis added.)

DON'T TRY TO BE SAVED IN ETERNITY BY LIVING BY YOUR CONSCIENCE because you won’t make it. However, conscience has proven down through history to be a mighty force for good in stemming the tide of evil and avoiding shipwreck in the lives of individuals.

GOD HAS PLACED HIS OWN PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD AS BEACONS OF LIGHT. Clearly, the world does not want light and goes to great trouble to snuff out any light that restrains its pursuit of pleasure and self-will. We are “an impediment to progress” so we are told. Therefore, according to the world system, we should give way to simple majority rule even if that means collective rebellion against the Holy God who made us and the earth and the heavens. Our choice is to line up with the living God, or to line up with the world system which is in rebellion against God. That is, against God’s order, God’s values, God’s purpose and plan.

WE CANNOT FORCE PEOPLE TO SERVE GOD. But we can live with a good conscience so that when we are despised or falsely accused we may be a briar in the conscience of wicked men. This has brought suffering and death upon many thousands, even millions of people who determined to live for God in good conscience. So, what will it be for you today in the school, the workplace, or the home? Whose are you? To whom do you give allegiance?
 
Digging Deeper
…whereas they speak evil of you… God never promised us that people will think we are wonderful.  In fact, …they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: (1Peter 4:4).

Christianity can be tough living…Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  (Matthew 5:11)
Be careful if they give you a plaque…Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.  But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.  (Luke 6:26-28)

THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR WALK...NOT LISTENING TO OUR TALK. Having your conversation [total living] honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  (1Peter 2:12)

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.  (Psalm 37:5-6)

“There is no penalty that will more certainly be inflicted, eventually, than that incurred by a guilty conscience. It needs no witnesses; no process for arresting the offender; no array of judges and executioners; no stripes, imprisonment, or bonds. Its inflictions will follow the offender into the most secluded retreat; overtake him in his most rapid flight; find him out in northern snows, or on the sands of the equator.

“A guilty conscience will go into the most splendid palaces, and seek out the victim when he is safe from all the vengeance that man can inflict; pursue him into the dark valley of the shadow of death, or arrest him as a fugitive in distant worlds. No one, therefore, can over-estimate the importance of having a good conscience. A true Christian should aim, by incessant study and prayer, to know what is right, and then always do it, no matter what the consequences may be.” (Barnes) Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
 MARCH 2, 2018 – FRIDAY
  A.M. Numbers 28-29   P.M.  Mark 9:1-29
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Verses to Memorize:  
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him (1John 5:14-15).
 
Song for Today: 
The Longer I Serve Him  (4:26) ( Bill & Danny Gaither, Ben Speer & Group)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE6Jp61U44k
 In this setting, Danny Gaither (brother to Bill Gaither) was sick with cancer. Everyone knew it, and this accounts for the tears you see. (Danny Gaither 1938-2001. Age 62)                             
     You may have to adjust the volume or delete an ad.
 
 
 
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    Dan Carr is a "retired" pastor, writer, teacher and continues to write at this website. This blog and other articles are e-mailed free to anyone who wants them. Go to: 
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    Dan and Barbara live 
    at Flat Rock, AL between Chattanooga, TN and Huntsville, AL. on Sand Mtn.
    We enjoy gardening, reading, church, family and friends.

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