Ask Rick

The Next Day after Christmas

Rick — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:54:06 +0000

Luke 2:20
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

I enjoy the Christmas season because it seems as though many more people are actually thinking about Christ.

Oh, they may be thinking of a babe in a manger but at least their thinking about Jesus.

People do a lot of travelling to spend time with relatives and friends at Christmas time.

And even in 2011 people will attend a church service who will not attend at any other time of the year.

Maybe that first Christmas WAS something like what we see today!

They had the angels singing, so the air was filled with Christmas music.

They had the shepherds visiting, kind of like local friends dropping by.

And they had the Wise men coming in from out of town, they did not make it in time for Christmas, but they got there for the same reason a couple of years later!

Kind of like when we go to visit family in other cities, and we don’t get there for Christmas, but we do show up around that time of year!

But let me point out to you an interesting little note!

Luke 2:20
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

Note that after the shepherds visited and saw the babe in the manger they returned.

In fact, if you think about it, for most everybody, life got back to normal after that first Christmas day!

The shepherds returned to their flocks; the angels silenced their singing. The Wise Men made the long trip BACK HOME. And it seems like everybody forgot about that Holy Night!

So much so, that we do not even know for sure what day Christ was really born!

The shepherds returned as did everybody else, ALL EXCEPT MARY AND JOSEPH!

When Christmas is over this year, will you simply return to life as normal, perhaps praising God for the chance to celebrate Christmas, but really, none different than you were before?

The reason for the season seems to fade quickly into another new year and beyond.

Mary and Joseph had their lives radically changed by Christmas.

All of us who have had children know that bringing a baby into the world drastically changes the lives of Dad and Mom.

It changes their lives from the day of the birth of that child forever.

A person can never be the same after they have had a child born into their family!

Many will come for a visit when a baby is born.

They may visit in the hospital or in the home.

They may even bring a gift.

They all want to hold the darling and uh and ah over it.

But soon everyone is gone and the parents are left alone to raise the child.

I wonder what it will be like for us this Christmas.

Will we pause for Christmas and then go back to life as it was before Christmas or will this be a life changing season for us?

• MARY AND JOSEPH NEVER DID RETURN FROM SEEING JESUS!

That Christmas night when they first saw Jesus,
was for them only the beginning! From that moment until Jesus became a man they saw Him daily.

When you turn in repentance and faith to the Lord Jesus Christ you are radically changed and you have the rest of your life and all of eternity to spend with Jesus your Saviour.

Mark 1:15
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

May be you have gone through many Christmas’ not believing the gospel.
It is time for you to repent and receive Christ as your Saviour.

Acts 20:21
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Repentance takes place when you see yourself as a sinner in need of a Saviour and you turn to the Lord Jesus as your only hope of salvation.

John 3:16
“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 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:”

John 6:47
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

John 20:30
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

John 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Mary and Joseph did not leave Jesus in Bethlehem; they took Jesus home with them.
They were warned by the angel of the Lord of danger and they took Jesus down into Egypt.

Matthew 2:13
“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Matthew 2:14
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:”

In the Bible Egypt is a type of the world.

When you get saved you take Jesus into the world with you.

Colossians 1:27
“To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

When you get saved you have Christ living in you and wherever you go you take Him with you.

You cannot escape living in the world and sometimes living in places that are not good for you.

You can live for the Lord Jesus anywhere in the world.

The Bible says:

1 John 2:15
“Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16
For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 John 2:17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

You can love Jesus instead of this world and what it has to offer.

John 14:15
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

All you need to do to show your love for Jesus is do what He tells you to do.

Mary and Joseph also moved to Nazareth but they never moved anywhere without Jesus.

Now there was a time when Mary and Joseph left Jesus behind in Jerusalem and did not miss Him for awhile.

• They lost Jesus at the Temple

You cannot lose Jesus in the sense of losing your salvation but you can get away from the Lord and that is called backsliding.

Proverbs 14:14
“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.”

You can attend church faithfully, read your Bible daily, pray daily, and involve yourself in ministry and still get backslid; cold and indifferent to the things of the Lord.

A man was asked, “Do you believe the two biggest problems in the church are ignorance and indifference?”

The man replied, “I do not know and I do not care!”

Proverbs 14:14
“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.”

Notice that a backslider is filled with his own ways.

That is a self centered life that is consumed with self; that is a life that is focused only on self.

ME FIRST! YOU LAST!

In Exodus chapter 20 God gave to Moses what we call the Ten Commandments but in the New Testament the Lord summed them up in Two Commandments.

Matthew 22:37
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Matthew 22:38
This is the first and great commandment.

The first 4 commandments are all about man’s love for God.

Matthew 22:39
And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 22:40
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

The last six commandments are all about man’s responsibility to man.

There is nothing in the Ten Commandments about self-serving.

Perhaps we could conclude that we have gotten away from the Lord (we are backslidden) when our focus turns inward.

When we ourselves become more important and more of the focus than God or others we are backslid.

Sins are committed for self pleasure and victory over sin is ours when we are living our life for God and others.

1 Corinthians 8:3
“But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”

When someone truly loves God it will be seen in their actions and heard form their lips.

It is not something that they will need to tell you.

Philippians 2:3
“[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

When God is loved by an individual it will also be seen in their actions towards others.

The Christian life is a life of putting God first by giving yourself to minister to others.

• They lost Jesus at the Temple

• They lost Jesus…Jesus did not lose them

John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The life of Jesus is eternal life and He paid a great price to make that eternal life available to mankind.

1 Peter 3:18
“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:”

1 Peter 2:24
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

2 Corinthians 5:21
“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.”

On the cross of Calvary the Lord said “It is finished” and that was the conclusion of the debt owed by mankind.

2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:18
And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

2 Corinthians 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:21
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.”

Man’s debt of sin was fully paid by the Lord Jesus Christ and He now offers eternal life to all who will receive Him to be their Saviour.

John 3:15
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

• They lost Jesus…Jesus did not lose them

• They did not notice that Jesus was missing for almost three days

Again, I say that you cannot lose your salvation but you can get backslid.

A peculiar thing about backsliding is how slow and gradual the movement away from God is and how unnoticed is its actions.

You can get up every morning read your Bible and pray, attend every church service, work in the ministry, and be indifferent to things of God on the inside.

Backsliding happens gradually and when you finally realize that it has happened to you; you look up with amazement at how far you have gone away from God.

What you now realize is you are not reading your Bible and praying every day; in fact, you do not remember the last time you read your Bible or seriously prayed about anything.

You may or may not be still in church but you have probably quit serving.

You probably used the excuse that you needed a break or you just did not have time for your family.

Of course those were lies but you had convinced yourself that was a need.

You might notice that your excuses are focused on self and that is the problem.

We must die daily and do a self examination daily.

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

Psalms 139:23
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Psalms 139:24
And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

They lost Jesus…Jesus did not lose them

They did not notice that Jesus was missing for almost three days

• They found Jesus exactly where they lost Him

The problem a backslider has is how do I get going again serving the Lord and others?

You go back to where you got off track and start again.

Someone may say, “Do I need to re-dedicate my life to the Lord?”

I am not exactly sure why we want to get hung up in unscriptural terminology but you can call it anything you want to call it.

• Confess and Forsake Sin

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

Proverbs 28:13
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.”

You just need to get back to reading your Bible and praying with the intent of loving God and loving others.

Pay attention to what you read in your Bible and ask God to speak to you before you begin reading.

Spend your prayer time praying for others; Prayer is a time when you can just forget about self.

Get back in church faithfully; Sit up and pay attention, take notes, do something to make sure you listen to the message.
Do the right thing and do not worry about getting a feeling.

• The Next Day after Christmas

Millions of people celebrate Christmas but the day after or soon following Christmas and Christ are forgotten.

People go back to life as usual. Mary and Joseph nurtured their relationship with the Lord Jesus, Will you?

Prayer should be made in agreement with the Holy Scriptures

Rick — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:27:42 +0000

Today we hear Christians quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14 as if it had some magical power to solve America’s problems.

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

The “my people” in this verse could not be the church. Think how impossible the verse becomes if it were. Which church would it be and when is the last time you saw a group of Christians who could be in agreement on one subject such as this. And how are you going to get all of them to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways. We don’t even agree on what is wicked. Notice also that once you get this unity God hears, forgives and then heals the land. I am not going to say that such a task is impossible but I want to interject that prayer must be in agreement with the Holy Scriptures. Is it God’s will for America to turn and get right with God? Careful now! We are considering the Holy Scriptures. Let us suppose that everyone gets right and turns and America turns and once again becomes the great Bible preaching nation that we once thought it was. What is your motive for wanting that? Are you busy in the work of God? Are you absolutely positive that your motive is not selfish and motivated by the comforts that you love so dearly?

I believe in prayer but I also believe in repentance. When American Christians get broken about their sin and truly repent they will be ready to pray. The Bible tells us very clearly what the church would be like in the last days. We are the Laodicean church and we are “a sorry lot”. Those are my words.

Revelation 3:14
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Revelation 3:15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Revelation 3:16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

I do not believe that American Christianity can even begin the road of repentance until it confesses what it has done to God’s word.

Proverbs 13:13
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.”

That is a subject I am willing to discuss if you want to contact me and begin the discussion. Apostasy is a departure from the truth while maintaining that you are still standing on the truth. It is hypocrisy! It is the preacher who says, “I believe that the authorized King James Version is the word of God” and then he says, “In the Greek…” That is an apostate preacher who says one thing and believes something all together different. I did not say that he is aware of his crooked dealings: some are and some are not. And any English version that is not the Authorized King James Version is not the word of God. I make those statements without any hesitation after being saved for almost 36 years and having read, studied, searched, memorized, and meditated on the Holy Scriptures for all of those years. No one who has taken the time to look at the other English versions could say that they are on equal ground with the AKJV nor could they say honestly that there is no doctrinal error in those other English versions.

If you want to know why we are in the Laodicean period of church history it is because we gave up the Book that God gave us.

I believe also that there is the possibility that the times of the Gentiles are over and God has turned in the direction of the Jews, the Tribulation, and Millennial.

Luke 21:24
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

Romans 11:25
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 11:26
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”

I believe that other than a remnant of Gentile souls God’s work from here on out is going to be fulfilling the promises that He has made to the Jews. Yes, I know that many Gentiles will be redeemed during the tribulation but let’s face it the Bible does have divisions. One of the great sins of our day is ignoring the divisions and trying to make the church the only thing that God is interested in. You cannot shove every verse of the Bible into the church age and make a doctrinal application. God has not promised to extend His time table because people are still lost. That is why the people who claim the name of Christ need to be telling others how to be saved and using the right Bible when they do it. Someday soon it will be too late for most of America.

2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 3:15
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

The Jews are God’s chosen people and they have been given promises that no other race of people can claim. You did know that the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world as a Jew, didn’t you. And you have read the Old Testament, right! You have read about Abraham, right!

Genesis 12:1
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

You do know that God has not changed His mind about this promise, right!

God is at this time gathering all nations for destruction. The nations, in the Bible, are a term for every nation except the Jews (Israel). The Jews are not reckoned among the nations of the world.

Numbers 23:9
“For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”

The Jews were to be a people unlike any other nation.

Leviticus 18:24
“Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:”

It was from among the Jews that Christ came and the Bible says clearly salvation is of the Jews.

John 4:22
“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”

Let me interject a scriptural thought at this point that obviously is not considered by many today.

God is the Creator of all mankind.

Genesis 1:26
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

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

It is commonly taught that man is something special and should feel good about himself because he was made after God’s likeness and in the image of God.

Maybe we should just keep reading in the book of Genesis and find out if there is any truth to this positive pie in the sky, “I feel good about who I am” and “You just gotta believe in yourself.”

Adam was given one command and was just like you and I a colossal failure.

Genesis 2:16
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Adam was surrounded by trees that he could eat of one but just like you and I he had a tough time dealing with that one tree being forbidden to him. Why would God plant a tree and then tell me not to eat of that one tree? And can you believe it: God said I would surely die if I ate of that one tree? That is not fair! Where does God get the right to plant a tree in my garden and then tell me not to eat of it or He will make sure that I die? There you go! That is modern man. It is not yours: It ALL belongs to God. And God can do whatever He wants with it because He made it and He made it with a plan and a purpose. God cannot make a mistake and so whatever decision God makes is RIGHT. God is Sovereign!

God gave man a choice to be obedient or disobedient and God already knew which choice man would make. God knew man would make the wrong choice and therefore God, being much smarter than man, had a plan and a purpose for man. This plan would be 4,000 years down the road from the origin of man’s disobedience and God already knew all that would happen in the time between the sin and the sacrifice.

Let’s go back to Genesis and read something that most people seem to miss. Man is not one of God’s children just because God made him. We are not all God’s children and our relationship to God is creation to Creator. He is your God on the basis of creation but that does not guarantee you any security in eternity outside of salvation that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 5:1
“This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Adam was made in the likeness of God but we are reading the book of the generations of Adam which is going to tell a different story about Adam’s sons.

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

Just As we read it in Genesis chapter 1.
Genesis 5:3
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:”

Read that verse carefully and believe what you read. Adam’s son was in his likeness and after his image. What is the difference between the Adam of Genesis chapters 1 and 2 and the Adam of Genesis chapter 5? The difference is disobedience. This Adam that is now having sons in his likeness and after his image has been changed. God told Adam when he ate of the tree that was forbidden he would die. Adam died spiritually the very day that he ate of the forbidden tree in that he was separated from fellowship with God and at the age of 930 years Adam died physically. The death penalties went into effect exactly as God had said.

Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Notice that the word is WAGES (plural). There is more than one kind of death. We all understand that when someone dies physically we place them in a box and put the box in the ground. The dead are separated from the living. Spiritual death is the dead being separated from the living.

John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The Lord Jesus is “the life” and we are dead spiritually.

Ephesians 2:1
“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

Before you get saved you are alive physically but you are dead spiritually. You are living but you do not have life: God’s life.

1 John 5:11
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:12
He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Saviour you receive life and you can have fellowship with God.

1 John 1:5
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your
Saviour you are dead spiritually and if you die physically while you are still dead spiritually you will go to Hell.
Romans 5:12
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Job 14:10
“But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?”

Luke 16:22
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luke 16:23
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luke 16:24
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

Adam’s sons are no longer in the image of God they are in his image and they have the sentence of death on them. All of mankind after Adam’s disobedience have been born dead spiritually and eventually will die physically because we are no longer in the image of God.

When the Lord Jesus Christ came to bear the sin of us all it is recorded that He is the image of God and that would be because He does not have death in Him and that is because He has not been disobedient.

2 Corinthians 4:3
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

The way you get the image back is ask the Lord Jesus Christ to save you and then He will indwell you and His righteousness will reflect the image of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:21
“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.”

The Lord Jesus Christ became a man just like Adam and was tempted just like Adam but the Lord Jesus Christ never sinned. He was never disobedient to the Father.

John 8:29
“And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

The following verses and many more are recorded about the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21
“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.”

1 Peter 2:22
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

Hebrews 4:15
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.”

John 1:29
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

1 Peter 2:24
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

1 Peter 3:18
“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:”

The Lord Jesus Christ succeeded; Adam failed. When you are born you are born in Adam’s image and Adam’s likeness and you are dead in your trespasses and sins.

Ephesians 2:1
“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

You need to be born again.

1 Peter 1:23
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

John 3:6
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

You are born again after you hear the word of God and turn in repentance and faith to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:13
“In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

The word of truth declares that you are a sinner and in need of repentance.

Ecclesiastes 7:20
“For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”

Acts 20:21
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 7:10
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Once you acknowledge by the preaching of the word of God and work of the Holy Spirit that you are a sinner you can turn to the Saviour and be saved.

Romans 10:9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:11
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Once you have turned in repentance and faith to the Lord Jesus Christ you become one of God’s children.
John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:”

Galatians 3:26
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Now that we know that there is a difference between being one of God’s creatures and being one of God’s children let us return to our study.

It was the Jews to whom God committed the writing of the word of God. All (40 +) men who were used to pen the words of the Holy Scriptures were Jews.

Romans 3:1
“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision?

Romans 3:2
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”

Religion today has substituted itself for the Jew and kicked the Jew out. Oh sure they blow kisses at the Jew and say that we should be nice to them because if we do God will be nice to us.

The Jews are the superior race and they will survive all the attacks because God has promised them some land, a king, and a kingdom. It is our duty as Bible believers to accept the facts of the word of God and praise His holy name that some day SOON He is going to step out into the air and take us to the Judgment Seat of Christ.

America will get what she deserves and no amount of prayer is going to stop the judgment of God. God may bless me in many wonderful ways as a child of His but I am in a nation that God must judge. And when judgment comes I may lose some of the comforts of the luxury that I now live in but blessed be God I am still saved. I believe the Bible mentions something about us living in a way that gives Him glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 6:19
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

America has forgotten God!

Psalms 9:17
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, [and] all the nations that forget God.”

Therefore, America is one of the nations being gathered for destruction.

Joel 3:2
“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and [for] my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”
Zechariah 14:1
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

Zechariah 14:2
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Zechariah 14:3
Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”

Zephaniah 3:8
“Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”

Jeremiah 30:11
“For I [am] with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”

The only nation that has a promise of preservation is the nation of Israel.

Jeremiah 30:16
“Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.”
Jeremiah 46:28
“Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.”

America fits into the category of all nations and God gives His thoughts of America in the Bible.

Isaiah 40:17
“All nations before him [are] as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.”

I love America but I believe America has mocked God and America will pay. America can do whatever America wants to do but America will answer to God.

I believe the reason so many are praying to try and stop certain politicians from going into office is because they do not want to lose their comfort zone. American is fat and Americans are happy as long as they have money. Yes there are a few dedicated believers left but for the most part American Christianity is a fire gone out. We have access to more ways to preach the gospel than any generation that has ever lived and we have done less that any other generation. I do not look forward to any part of the future except the rapture but I will do my best to accept whatever comes because God has the right to do whatever He chooses.

Perhaps I sounded to bold or harsh for you but my friend we are in the last days. We have preached it for years and now that it is hear we do not want to acknowledge it. There has been a verse in the Bible that has greatly troubled me for years. I will close with that verse without comment.

1 Peter 4:18
“And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

True or False, You decide

Rick — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:56:28 +0000

Luke 16:19
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:”

Here we have a rich man who is living life the way we all suppose that we would live if we only had millions of dollars. There is an interesting statement made just a few verses prior to this one.

Luke 16:15
“And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

Obviously the way that we look at things and the way that God looks at things are not the same. Those things which we think would make us happy seem to be things that are an abomination to God. Maybe the statement about the heart is important. “God knoweth your hearts.” What does God know about our heart?

Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

There isn’t anything more deceitful than our heart and it is desperately wicked. That would indicate that it is not wise to trust my heart.

Proverbs 28:26
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”

Why would one be considered a fool for trusting in his own heart?

Mark 7:21
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Mark 7:22
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Mark 7:23
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

Our desperately wicked heart defiles us with all manner of evil and thus only a fool would put confidence in something like that.

Obviously this rich man needs God but his riches have him in bondage and he is fooled into thinking that he is doing just fine.

Luke 16:20
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

Our contrast with the faring sumptuously rich man is a beggar who obviously cannot walk. He is laid at the gate of the rich man in hopes that the rich man will share his wealth with him. The beggar is not only unable to make a living because of his physical handicap he is said to be full of sores. The beggar has some kind of bodily affliction that would make him a putrid eyesore. An interesting note about the beggar in contrast to the rich man; the beggar has a name; Lazarus. The remainder of the story would indicate that the beggar was under the protection of God when he died and thus God knows his name.

Luke 16:21
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Lazarus is hungry and desires that he could just snatch some of the crumbs that fall from the rich man’s table. Instead of food to give him strength he has dogs licking his sores. Imagine laying on the ground and not having the ability to move on your own covered with sores. Along comes the dogs; an animal that will eat his own puke and begins licking the sores of Lazarus.

One might ask the question, “Where is God?” If this beggar belongs to God then why is he afflicted with the inability to walk about in his own power and why does he have these sores on his body? And why would God allow him to lie at the gate of the rich man desiring something to eat and instead get licked by dogs? “Where is God?”

Those of you who do not like God will not like my answer but you will have something to think about. Man is much more than just a physical body.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Man consists of three parts; spirit, soul, and body. The body is only one third of the trinity and it is the only visible part. The spirit and the soul are invisible to the human eye. The spirit and the soul are the spiritual part of man and thus man is two thirds spiritual. The body is the temporal part of man that means it has an end.

Let’s take a trip back to the beginning of time and see what happened with God’s first man.

Notice that God said, “Let us” which would indicate that there is more than one. How many Gods are there?

In the Old Testament we read:

Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:”

God said “Let us” is one.

In the New Testament we read:

Mark 12:29
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:”

And once again God said “Let us” is one.

Ephesians 4:6
“One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.”

And once again God said “Let us” is one.

If there is only one God then why did God say “Let us?”

The answer is there is only one God but He has chosen to present Himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God who is one is a Trinity. You do remember that man is also a trinity (spirit, soul, and body).

Man being made in the image of God would at least in part be the trinity. Man is said to be made in God’s image and after His likeness.

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

O.K. we must resolve another issue before we go any father. Is God the creator? The answer is Yes He is or no He isn’t. You know that He is the creator so why would you suggest that He isn’t?

Romans 1:19
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.

In you, has been manifest that which may be known of God. It is God that shewed it unto you.

Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

God is invisible.
John 4:24
“God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”

That one God that is a Trinity is a spirit and you have never seen Him with your eyes.

John 1:18
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].”

The invisible things of God have been clearly seen from the time of creation. And the invisible things of God that have been clearly seen are understood by the things that are made: that would be you. The invisible God that is clearly seen and understood by the things that He has made also understand His eternal power and Godhead and you are without excuse so stop making excuses.

You understand His eternal power; you know that He is eternal. You understand the Godhead; God is a Trinity.

Obviously, if God is the creator He made you and if He made you then you are responsible to Him. You will answer to God for what you have done with the life that He gave you.

Now let us go back to the beginning of the creation of man and read.

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

So here is man being made in the image of God and after His likeness.

Genesis 2:7
“And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Formed from the dust of the ground would be the physical body.

Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life would be the spirit.

And man became a living soul.

Here you have the trinity of man made in the likeness of the Trinity of God with an additional statement you need to pay attention too.

“…man became a living soul.”

When you were made you were made a living souland the soul never ceases to exist.

O.K. here is man made after God’s image and in God’s likeness and then given a woman to be his wife and placed in a garden with permission to eat anything he wants except for one tree that is forbidden to him.

Genesis 2:8
“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

Genesis 2:16
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

What in this world is a tree of the knowledge of good and evil? What kind of fruit would that tree have on it? And why would God say that I must die if I eat from that tree?

To be continued…

Salvation, How important is it?

Rick — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:39:47 +0000

As a Young child and throughout those years that I was growing I always believed that there had to be a God. I never doubted that God was the Creator of all things…including me. I never doubted that God was invisible and I had never seen Him but somehow I knew that He was there. As I grew older I became rebellious to authority and chose an unacceptable way of living. I would not have been mistaken as an unbeliever and could have easily been classified as an atheist or agnostic by the way that I lived. But in those days of wickedness I still knew that there was a God and there was this awareness that someday I would answer to Him for my chosen way to live. I lived in ignorance of the facts and tried never to consider the reality of God. One day I found myself in much trouble and there was no way out of the consequence. Miraculously, God made a way out and that does not mean that I got away with wickedness that means that God had a plan and a purpose for my life and He was working out the details.

I was born at a very early age and grew up normal…Whatever that is. I was the son of a man who had done well with his life financially. Not rich, but comfortable. This man taught me to work and to pay my bills. He taught me to be honest and do the right thing. He wanted me to get an education because he had only completed the eighth grade. In his day that was sufficient but he could see that more education than that would be needed for my generation. I finished high school, started college but soon dropped out. When I was the age of eighteen this man that had taught me about life was killed. I immediately acknowledged God by telling Him that if that was the kind of God He was then I did not want anything to do with Him. You see, I did not deny the existence of God I denied the work of God that I did not agree with. I knew that it was God that killed my dad.

Enter, the Rebel! I became very rebellious to authority and was bent on doing what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it because I wanted to do it. I developed an exceeding hatred for life. At the age of 20 for reasons unknown to me I decided to join the U. S. Army. I found out quickly that I no longer had the freedom to be a rebel. The crazy thing is I liked the Army way of doing things. I took the blood transfusion. If you cut me I would bleed O D Green. The Army way of life fit me. I liked the Army but my anger at God grew more manifest in my choice of life style. I drank and became a drunk. I never was an alcoholic because I hated going to meetings and making confessions. So I was a drunk.

I had gotten married, had one child and another one on the way. I was in the running for worst husband and father of the year. I was on my way to a disaster full speed ahead. I hated life. I wanted to die. I was afraid to commit suicide. You do remember that I knew there was a God and I knew that death would not be the end of anything but physical life. I knew that I would face God. I knew that there had to be a Hell for people like me could not go to Heaven.

God was at work doing what only God can do. I had relatives and they had gotten things right with God and they were serving Him faithfully in a church. These relatives got burdened about my wife and I and they began to pray for us to get saved. They thought that maybe they should get others involved in praying for us so they shared their prayer request with other members of their church.

I had been sent to Germany for a 39 month assignment with the U. S. Army. In 13 months I was on my way back to the U.S.A. and Ft. Hood Texas via a mental hospital. After evaluation I was released and my family and I made straight course for Abilene Texas. You say why was I going to Abilene? I had a God ordained appointment that I was not aware of. I went to visit those relatives who had been praying for me but I did not yet know that they were praying for me.

Arriving on Saturday we planned on leaving the next day, Sunday. We were asked to go to church with these relatives on Sunday and we agreed. I don’t know why. I did not want to go to church. God is much bigger than you think and He is definitely smarter than anyone you have ever met, physically speaking.

I sat through a Sunday School Class on that Sunday morning and I do not have a clue what the teacher said. I sat through a sermon on that Sunday morning but I do not have a clue what the Preacher said. But while I listened to that man preach someone began talking to me on the inside. No, not audibly but clearly from within. I was impressed with the fact that I needed a Saviour. As I sat and listened to this internal voice I remembered from my childhood that at the end of the sermon there would be what is called an invitation. An invitation is given so you can walk down the isle to the altar and someone can take the Bible and answer your question. I began to think, “I wish that Preacher would shut up, I need to go to that altar and get saved.” Finally the time arrived and the Preacher did give the invitation and I rose with tears in my eyes and informed my wife that I needed to get saved. I believe I said to her, “Do you want to get saved?”

On that day I received the Lord Jesus Christ to be my Saviour.

How important is salvation? My life was changed. I no longer hated life. I now knew how to love my wife and my children. I was no longer a rebel. I had reasons to live and no longer wanted to die. I had a worthy purpose for my existence. I still believed in God but my view of Him had greatly changed. I now believed that God made no mistake when He killed my dad. I now believed that God had the right to do anything He wanted to do anytime He wanted to do it and everything that God did was right. I know that someday I will answer to God but I will answer as a saved man. I know that I am eternally secure and Heaven will be my home when I leave this planet. I know that I cannot go to Hell because the Lord Jesus Christ, My Saviour, has already done that for me. Why is salvation important? It makes life worth living.

You may e-mail me at crjaquess@sbcglobal.net if you have questions.

Salvation, How important is it?

Rick — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:52:28 +0000

On that day I received the Lord Jesus Christ to be my Saviour.

You may e-mail me at crjaquess@sbcglobal.net if you have questions.

Is There A God?

Rick — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:45:18 +0000

The Bible does not appear to even attempt to prove the existence of God and that is because God has put within every man the knowledge of His existence.

Romans 1:19
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.

There are many who in one way or another deny that there is a God in spite of the fact that they know there is.

Romans 1:32
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

It is sin that provokes man to deny that there is a God because admittance that there is a God is admittance that they will answer for the lifestyle that they have chosen.

Romans 3:19
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

As a believer I can listen to the ramblings and ravings of the lost man or I can spend time strengthening my faith in God.

I decided a long time ago that being in the minority is most always the right thing.

The very first verse of the Bible declares that there is a God.

Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

I cannot prove to anyone that there is a God but as I have already stated they know that there is a God so I am never interested in the conversation about the non-existence of God.

I am going to give you one proof that there has to be a God.

I am not attempting to prove that there is a God for everyone already knows that there is a God.

I am just going to give you something that proves that there has to be a God.

When you are challenged by the so called atheists, agnostics, skeptics and hecklers of this world you might just respond with some truth from the word of God.

Psalms 14:1
“The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.”

The person that says there is no God has a heart problem and we knew that before they spoke.

The brain takes in information contrary to God and because of his heart problem man decides to believe what his brain has learned.

The only other option that I know of other than some religion that teaches a lie about how to know God is the theory of evolution.

Let me say first of all that God gave every individual a free will and you can believe anything that you chose to believe.

If you want to believe a lie God will allow you to believe that lie and damn your soul to Hell without one concern about your eternal soul.

We sometimes get the impression that God is walking around wringing His hands trying to figure out how to get people saved.

God is not upset because many have chosen to reject His Son.

I did not say that God has changed His mind about what He has already put into writing.

Titus 2:11
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”

1st Timothy 2:4
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

2nd Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

I said God is not upset about being rejected.

He isn’t even surprised by the rejection.

Matthew 7:13
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Matthew 7:14
Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

I cannot explain how but the word of God says that every person on every spot of this earth has the grace of God appear to them and they are given a choice to receive God’s Son or reject God’s Son.

2nd Corinthians 4:3
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2nd Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

First comes the choice to believe and then comes permission for the god of this world to blind if the choice is to believe not.

You might make note of verse 3 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”

Does God hide the gospel or truth from some people and why would God do that?

Often someone will say that the Jews under the law were looking forward to Christ coming as if they knew that He would come and die for them and they could then be saved by believing on Him.

You might have a hard time proving that when you study the disciples, who were chosen by the Lord.

They did not believe even after He had died on the cross.

Obviously they did not get the memo: or should I say did not believe what was written in the Old Testament.

Mark 16:14
“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.”

God had a plan and His plan included hiding the truth from some Jews until a specific time previously determined by God.

Luke 18:31
“Then he took [unto him] the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

Luke 18:32
For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

Luke 18:33
And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

Luke 18:34
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”

Luke 24:44
“And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me.

Luke 24:45
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”

The scriptures are hidden to all men until a time that God chooses to open your understanding.

The Scriptural admonition is “Search” and “Study.”

John 5:39
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

2nd Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

If you are not willing to “Search” and “Study” the scriptures will remain hid to you.

Here is the bottom line: God gave you knowledge of His existence and God revealed to you your need of a Saviour.

Once God has done that the choice is yours.

God will not force you to believe on His Son and God is not going to predestinate you to get saved because that would go totally against all that God is.

If you chose Christ as your Saviour God says to you “Search the scriptures” and “Study.”

God will not force you to search and study but He will not reveal truth to you if you do not search and study.

Yes you will learn some things from listening to others but you will never get all of what God wants you to have if you do not get into the Book and work at learning truth.

When it comes to the natural man it is very difficult for him to believe in something that he cannot see, feel, or touch.

1st Corinthians 2:14
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.”

• Proof for the existence of God is the new birth

When you get saved you are a new man in Christ Jesus.

2nd Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

What does it mean to become a “new creature?”

Does it mean that all of your tastes and desires are changed?

If you liked iced tea the day before you got saved you will like iced tea the day after you get saved.

Does becoming a new creature take away all of my sinful desires?

No! It magnifies them.

Romans 7:15
“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Romans 7:16
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.

Romans 7:17
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Romans 7:18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.”

Becoming a new creature in Christ is something spiritual that takes place and from the day of your new birth until the day of your death or the rapture your two natures will be contrary to one another.

Galatians 5:17
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

When you are born again you will develop a love for the things of God and develop a hatred for the works of the flesh.

2nd Peter 3:18
“But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
You are a new creature like Christ.

Colossians 1:15
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”

The Lord Jesus Christ never appeared as a man until after the virgin birth.

On many occasions we have the Lord appearing as an angel but that is another lesson.

Psalms 2:7
“I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”

This day is a specific time that God had ordained for His Son to be born.

Galatians 4:4
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Galatians 4:5
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

The Lord Jesus Christ was the first man ever born of the Holy Ghost which is also called the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:35
“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
Therefore we read: “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15)

When you are born again you are born again by the
Holy Spirit.

John 3:8
“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

At the time of the “new birth” the Holy Spirit indwells you and since Christ is the fulness of the Godhead the bible says:

Colossians 1:27
“To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

You are a new creature in Christ and Christ is in you so in you is a divine nature.

2nd Peter 1:4
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

You are a new (spiritual) creature and you have been changed.

• Proof for the existence of God is the new birth

2nd Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Thanking God for so great salvation

Rick — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:06:39 +0000

Hebrews 2:3
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];”

Where would we be if “so great” salvation had not been spoken by the Lord and then confirmed again and again by those who heard that truth? Where would we be if God had not taken it upon Himself to be the Initiator of the plan and purpose of His “so great” salvation? Where would we be if the Lord Jesus Christ had not taken it upon Himself to become one of us and live among us being tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin? Where would we be if the Lord Jesus Christ had not been willing to go to the cross and there bare our sins in His own body and be made sin for us? Where would we be if the Lord Jesus Christ had not been willing to be forsaken under the wrath of God and go to Hell for us? Where would we be if the Lord Jesus Christ did not have the power to rise from the dead and live again? Where would we be if that “so great” salvation had not been made available by grace through faith? Where would we be if we had to earn that “so great” salvation by our good works?

Romans 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

We would be tormented and tortured in the lake of fire for all of eternity.

Revelation 14:10 “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

Revelation 20:14 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Thank God for “so great salvation” that is absolutely free through repentance and faith!

Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Doctrine of Sin

Rick — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 12:44:28 +0000

The first time the word sin is found in the Bible is very educational and informing.

Genesis 4:7
“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

Cain knew what to do but he refused to do right.

James 4:17
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.”

The second time the word sin shows up in the Bible it is also very informative.

Genesis 18:20
“And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;”

What was the sin of Sodom?

Ezekiel 16:49
“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Ezekiel 16:50
And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw [good].”

The sin of Sodom was pride, fulness of bread, abundance of idleness, haughty, and abomination, which was sex perversion, hatred for the truth and no fear of God.

The progression of sin is not doing what you know is right to outright rebellion to God.

A person who refuses to do right in a little thing is headed down the road to outright rebellion to God.

All of us know of someone who just went off the deep end and committed sin that surprised us.

No one ever does the “Big Sin” without many little ones to pave the road for the “Biggie.”

Probably all of us have said, “I never would have believed that he would have done something like that.”

He wouldn’t have if he had taken care of the little sins along the way.

Song of Solomon 2:15
“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines [have] tender grapes.”

All sin is in the heart.

Any sin in the heart wants to make its way to the mind and begin the process of thinking about it.

Any sin that is thought about will eventually be acted upon (committed).

No one ever commits the horrible shocking sin until first of all they have committed many little sins and allowed their mind to contemplate the sin that costs greatly.

And then one day they commit the sin that will cost them their testimony, or their family, or their church, or their health or their finances.

The little sins that lead a believer in the wrong direction are not reading the Bible daily, not praying daily, and not being conscience of the importance of being God conscience throughout the day.

A believer should spend more time reading the Bible than they do most everything else.

A believer should develop the habit of talking to God about everything throughout the day.

A believer who has God on his mind is a believer who has the fear of God in his thought life.

If you are conscience of the presence of God it will keep you from a lot of sin.

No one ever arrives at a place where they have conquered sin.

1st Corinthians 10:12
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

1st Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].”

Obviously we will sin every day so we should develop the habit of confessing and forsaking sin when it occurs.

1st John 1:8
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

1st John 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

One of the reasons we need to talk about sin is to remind us that we are no better than anyone else.
No matter how repulsive and repugnant the sin let us not be lifted up in self righteousness.

Anyone who consistently reads the word of God will have constant reminders of their own shortcomings.

The history of America is the story of a country that has quit reading the Bible.

America used to be a country that read the Bible.

A nation that quits reading the Bible will be destroyed morally, mentally, and economically.

The first step toward disaster for anyone is failure to read the Bible whether they have never read it or they stop reading it.

People have said to me, “I just do not get anything out of the Bible when I read it!”

That is impossible!

It may be that you did not feel like you got anything but it is impossible to read the eternal words of the eternal God and not get something from that.

All people who consistently read the Bible are made aware of the fact that they have a constant work of God going on in them that keeps them on tract.

Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:”

All sin gets its beginning in the heart because our heart is wicked.
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

We are commanded to keep the heart and it doesn’t take long to realize that not only is that a big job it is a huge responsibility.

Proverbs 4:23
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.”

In the Bible we learn these truths.

The “issues of life” are from the heart.

Proverbs 4:23
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.”

The things which defile a man come from the heart.

Mark 7:21
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Mark 7:22
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Mark 7:23
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

A man must believe in his heart to be saved.

Romans 10:9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

A man must obey from the heart the doctrines of the Christian life.

Romans 6:17
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

A man is basically what he “thinketh in his heart.”

Proverbs 23:7
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart [is] not with thee.”

Let us take a closer look at the “issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.”

Life; as you view it and as you live it is formed in the heart.

Everything in life that you are confronted with is a product that comes from the hearts of other individuals.

Thus, the real issues of daily living are the sum total product of that which comes from the hearts of men.

Before the flood God made this statement.

Genesis 6:5
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.”

It is interesting to note that you cannot hide anything from God.

Notice that the verse says “GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth…”

Yes God saw the wickedness that was being committed but God also saw what was in the heart of those people.

Luke 6:8
“But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.”

John 2:24
“But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men],

John 2:25
And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

Perhaps if we were reading our Bible daily and read passages of scripture such as those, it would run interference for us in our thought life.

I believe we would be more cautious of what we are thinking if we were conscious of the fact that God knows our thoughts.

The primary keeper of the heart is the word of God.

Let us read the three verses that come before Proverbs 4:23.

Proverbs 4:20
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Proverbs 4:21
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

Proverbs 4:22
For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

Proverbs 4:23
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.”

Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 3:8
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

Proverbs 4:22
For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
If the heart is not kept in check by reading the Bible then the mind will begin to think on a specific sin.

As you dwell on that sin you are drawing closer to committing that sin.

No person who ever commits a destructive sin does it while faithfully reading the Bible.

The ignorant statements made by people today are made by people who are not reading the Bible.

The Bible says much about how to think and how to live.

If I am thinking right most of the time and I am doing right most of the time I believe I am protected from the sin that would destroy me.

Familiar verses that we should memorize and meditate on often:

Psalms 119:9
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.

Psalms 119:10
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psalms 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Job 23:12
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].”

Jeremiah 15:16
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Romans 7:25
“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Romans 8:5
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

Hebrews 9:14
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.”

Hebrews 5:14
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
The way to stay right with God is to develop the habit of reading the word of God and never allow yourself to slack off, take a break, or slow down.

The resurrection…past or future

Rick — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 12:07:29 +0000

TEXT: 2nd Timothy 2:16-19; 2nd Peter 3:3-8

2nd Timothy 2:16
“But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2nd Timothy 2:17
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

2nd Timothy 2:18
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

2nd Peter 3:3
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Scoffers: One who scoffs; one that mocks, derides or reproaches in the language of contempt; a scorner.

Scorner: A scoffer; a derider; in Scripture, one who scoffs at religion, its ordinances and teachers, and who makes a mock of sin and the judgments and threatenings of God against sinners.

2nd Peter 3:4
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.

2nd Peter 3:5
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

2nd Peter 3:6
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

2nd Peter 3:7
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

2nd Peter 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Some say that the resurrection is past already and some mock and scoff at the teaching that Jesus Christ will come again.

As is true with anything about God the only source of authority that we have is the word of God.

• What saith the scriptures?

The scriptures teach that the Lord Jesus Christ will return for the purpose of judgment.

2nd Timothy 4:1
“I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;”

Shall judge teaches us that this event is yet in the future.

The “quick” are the saved.

Ephesians 2:1
“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

Ephesians 2:5
“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:”

“The dead” are the lost.

Those that are dead are spiritually dead and those that have been quickened are spiritually alive.

The dead will be judged when Christ returns and then cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:14
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

The two resurrections of the quick and the dead are separated by 1,000 years.

Revelation 20:4
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 20:5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

• What is The first Resurrection?

John 11:25
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 11:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

In these two verses we are taught that the first resurrection has two parts to it: the dead will live, and the living will not die.

This great truth about the resurrection is clearly given in two different passages of scripture.

1st Corinthians 15:51
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

A mystery in the scripture is a mystery.

MYSTERY: That which is beyond human comprehension until explained. In this sense, mystery often conveys the idea of something awfully sublime or important; something that excites wonder.

What is this mystery? “…We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”

John 11:11
“These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

John 11:12
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

John 11:13
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

John 11:14
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”
Sleep for the believer is another word for dead physically.

1st Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1st Corinthians 15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.

1st Corinthians 15:54
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1st Corinthians 15:55
O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?

1st Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law.

1st Corinthians 15:57
But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

You can only have victory over death through the Lord Jesus Christ.

1st Thessalonians 4:13
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

We are told not to be ignorant of what takes place when a saved loved one dies physically.

We are to believe what the Bible says and that truth is that they do not die they just change locations.

I know that we normally teach that Enoch is a type of the believer caught up at the rapture but his translation is also a good description of what happens to a believer who dies.

Genesis 5:24
“And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.” (Hebrews 9:27)

Hebrews 11:5
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

TRANSLATED, pp. Conveyed from one place to another; removed to heaven without dying;

John 11:25
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Believers do not die; their body dies but they just change locations.

2nd Corinthians 5:8
“We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

1st Thessalonians 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

We who are saved believe that Jesus died and rose again.

Romans 10:9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

“…even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

The believer who has died physically and is absent from the body and present with the Lord will still be present with the Lord when the Lord steps out into the air to call us up to be with Him.

1st Thessalonians 4:15
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

The word of the Lord teaches us that we which are alive and remain on this earth when the Lord comes shall not prevent them which are asleep.

The believer who has died physically has gone up to be with the Lord.

That is, he is present with the Lord in the person of his soul.

The Lord has promised us that we will get a new body when He returns.

Philippians 3:20
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Philippians 3:21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

We which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep means that the bodies of those who are already present with the Lord is going to be made knew at the same time we go up to be with the Lord.

1st Corinthians 15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye those who have gone on before us and we ourselves will receive our glorified body that the Lord promised to give us.

Are you ready?

1st Thessalonians 4:16
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:

1st Thessalonians 4:17
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.

1st Thessalonians 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Thoughts for the week

Rick — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:55:51 +0000

• Salvation is FREE

As I contemplated the truth of salvation this past week I was given over to this thought.

2nd Corinthians 4:18
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.”

This verse tells us why it is so difficult to study salvation or for that matter anything that pertains to God.

We are 2/ 3rd s spiritual (spirit and soul) and 1/3rd physical (body) yet we live in the physical and experience it every day. Therefore we are far more familiar with the physical.

We get all of our information about the spiritual (the unseen) from the word of God and it is all accepted on the basis of faith.

It is not difficult to understand why so many people do not spend any time learning about the spiritual because it is unseen.

It is equally understanding why so many people are prone to be persuaded by the miraculous because it some how creates a closeness and understanding and sight of things that are not seen.

Consider this truth and you realize that when you witness to an individual you are taking words from a book that is seen and telling them things that they cannot see and expecting them to believe it.

That is why salvation is a work of God and understanding has no bearing on it at all.

No one can understand what sin is. It cannot be seen. What you see are the visible occurrences of something provoked by an unseen force.

It is equally true that one cannot understand the Lord Jesus Christ going to the cross and becoming sin for us. One cannot understand that Christ died, was buried, and then after three days and three nights He got up from the dead and He lives.

Through the scriptures God makes it known unto us that we are sinners in need of a Saviour and then gives us faith to call out to one we cannot see for salvation.

Visible change can be seen in a believer but the indwelling Holy Ghost cannot be seen.

The work of God takes place on the inside of a believer through the word of God and the Spirit who is God indwelling the believer.

Everything about God and His work is spiritual and the spiritual is eternal while the physical is visible…it is temporal.