II Timothy 2:1-4
I. Grace is the Source of the Christian Life is Christ Jesus
A. It is a life whose strength is derived from the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,”
B. It is a life that is to be shared with many others who will share Christ Jesus.
2 “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful
men who will be able to teach others also.”
C. It will be a life with its fair share of suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
D. It is a life that is single-minded; its one pursuit is to please Christ.
4 “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who
enlisted him.”
It is the grace that is in Christ Jesus that empowers a Christian to be all that he is capable of being for the glory of God. The Apostle Paul wrote it another way in I Corinthians 15:10,
10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me”.
II. Suffering is Part of our Service to Christ Jesus
A. As a good soldier of Christ Jesus, we are to suffer.
3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2Ti 2:3 ESV).
B. To receive a grant of suffering from Christ is a high honor, indeed.
29 “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Phi 1:29 ESV)”
C. Knowing that it is God’s will for his soldier to suffer at times only increases the soldier’s faith in this Captain in knowing what is best for His men.
19 “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1Pe 4:19 ESV).
III. A Life of Service is a Life of Standing in the Grace of Christ
A. With the full armor of God on, we can stand against the schemes of the devil.
11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph 6:11 ESV).
B. Our stand is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil.
12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12 ESV).
C. Having all the full armor of God on, not only will we be able to withstand, but also to stand firm in the evil day.
13 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Eph 6:13 ESV).
Friday, September 11, 2009
Who Will You Depend Upon?
There is a great battle going on in the world relative to the question: “Who can you believe: the Lord Jesus Christ or man?” Whether you are a Christian or a pagan, the question is relevant. It does matter. There are some who may disagree with the statement “…the question is relevant;” nevertheless, it is a true statement. Just for a moment, I would like for you to consider what hangs on the truthfulness of God’s Word:
I. The heavens and earth will be destroyed, but the truthfulness of God’s Word will stand: Matthew 24:35 35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
II. According to His Holy WORD , the heavens and the earth are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly:
2 Peter 3:7 “But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
III. According to God’s promises made to His people, new heavens and a new earth will be made in which all of God’s people will dwell for all eternity: 2 Peter 3:11-13: 11 ¶ “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
You have a choice, Pilgrim. You can either choose to trust God at His Word and live your life for Jesus while on this earth, or you can choose to reject Jesus and His Word and live your life for yourself while on this earth. What you must understand is this: the choice you make on this earth has eternal consequences. Those people, who choose to live their lives by the Word of God, will live in a state of anticipation and holy resolve. They know lives of holiness and godliness do make a difference to God. They know this because God’s Word states it so: v.11 “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.”
On the other hand, you can live your life for yourself. Do you really want to base your future on yourself or on what man says? You don’t know what is going to happen in the next five minutes of your life – nor do you know whether you will be here on this earth, or standing before the judgment seat of God. Does it make sense to depend upon the changing values of mankind, which change from generation to generation? Or does it not make sense to depend upon the Word of God, whose character and integrity comes from the God Who spoke the very Word of God?!
Concerning your soul and your destiny, who will you depend upon: God or man?
I. The heavens and earth will be destroyed, but the truthfulness of God’s Word will stand: Matthew 24:35 35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
II. According to His Holy WORD , the heavens and the earth are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly:
2 Peter 3:7 “But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
III. According to God’s promises made to His people, new heavens and a new earth will be made in which all of God’s people will dwell for all eternity: 2 Peter 3:11-13: 11 ¶ “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
You have a choice, Pilgrim. You can either choose to trust God at His Word and live your life for Jesus while on this earth, or you can choose to reject Jesus and His Word and live your life for yourself while on this earth. What you must understand is this: the choice you make on this earth has eternal consequences. Those people, who choose to live their lives by the Word of God, will live in a state of anticipation and holy resolve. They know lives of holiness and godliness do make a difference to God. They know this because God’s Word states it so: v.11 “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.”
On the other hand, you can live your life for yourself. Do you really want to base your future on yourself or on what man says? You don’t know what is going to happen in the next five minutes of your life – nor do you know whether you will be here on this earth, or standing before the judgment seat of God. Does it make sense to depend upon the changing values of mankind, which change from generation to generation? Or does it not make sense to depend upon the Word of God, whose character and integrity comes from the God Who spoke the very Word of God?!
Concerning your soul and your destiny, who will you depend upon: God or man?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Pastor/Teacher
11 "And he gave … the shepherds and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." (Eph 4:11-14 ESV)
In other bible translations (KJV, NKJV, NAS, etc) the phrase “the shepherds and teachers” is translated “pastors and teachers.” The Greek word ποιμένας (Eph 4:11 BGT) doesn’t look familiar to us. But when you look at the Latin Vulgate, you will find a word that does look familiar: pastores (Eph 4:11 VUL). It is an easy step into the English language to find the plural noun – pastors.
So, why have we taken the time to give this little lesson in word origins? It’s simple. Without the clear understanding that a “Pastor” is really to be a “Shepherd,” then God’s people will not clearly understand what to expect from their Pastor. Stay with the above text and you will see how the meaning helps you understand what a Pastor does.
1. Instead of being the janitor, the church-greeter, the hospital visitor, and the driver to youth camp, the Pastor is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry.”
2. Instead of building up his own power base, to secure his own ministry, and to guarantee good financial packages, a Pastor is to be “building up the body of Christ.”
3. A Pastor is to be focused on growing God’s children into strong people of faith, knowledgeable in the Word of God to the point of reflecting Christ Jesus in every aspect of their lives.
4. A successful Pastor is one who has fed God’s people on the whole counsel of God; their lives will not easily be swayed by false teachings or crafty schemes that continually come down the denominational turnpike. The Pastor will have trained God’s people to test everything by the Word of God – to be good “Berean Christians” (Acts 17:10-11).
To understand what Pastor really means is to fully appreciate what Jesus was saying to Peter in John’s Gospel:
15 “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16 He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.” (Joh 21:15-17 ESV)
Knowing that Pastor means Shepherd, it now makes sense why Jesus would say to Peter
1. in verse 15 – “feed my lambs.”
2. in verse 16 – lit. “Shepherd my sheep.”
3. in verse 17 – “Feed my sheep.”
Along with prayer (Acts 6:4), there is no greater task of the Pastor than to “shepherd” God’s sheep, by feeding them the whole counsel of God – The Holy Scriptures!
To fail in feeding God’s people, is to fail as a Pastor/Teacher.
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." (Eph 4:11-14 ESV)
In other bible translations (KJV, NKJV, NAS, etc) the phrase “the shepherds and teachers” is translated “pastors and teachers.” The Greek word ποιμένας (Eph 4:11 BGT) doesn’t look familiar to us. But when you look at the Latin Vulgate, you will find a word that does look familiar: pastores (Eph 4:11 VUL). It is an easy step into the English language to find the plural noun – pastors.
So, why have we taken the time to give this little lesson in word origins? It’s simple. Without the clear understanding that a “Pastor” is really to be a “Shepherd,” then God’s people will not clearly understand what to expect from their Pastor. Stay with the above text and you will see how the meaning helps you understand what a Pastor does.
1. Instead of being the janitor, the church-greeter, the hospital visitor, and the driver to youth camp, the Pastor is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry.”
2. Instead of building up his own power base, to secure his own ministry, and to guarantee good financial packages, a Pastor is to be “building up the body of Christ.”
3. A Pastor is to be focused on growing God’s children into strong people of faith, knowledgeable in the Word of God to the point of reflecting Christ Jesus in every aspect of their lives.
4. A successful Pastor is one who has fed God’s people on the whole counsel of God; their lives will not easily be swayed by false teachings or crafty schemes that continually come down the denominational turnpike. The Pastor will have trained God’s people to test everything by the Word of God – to be good “Berean Christians” (Acts 17:10-11).
To understand what Pastor really means is to fully appreciate what Jesus was saying to Peter in John’s Gospel:
15 “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16 He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.” (Joh 21:15-17 ESV)
Knowing that Pastor means Shepherd, it now makes sense why Jesus would say to Peter
1. in verse 15 – “feed my lambs.”
2. in verse 16 – lit. “Shepherd my sheep.”
3. in verse 17 – “Feed my sheep.”
Along with prayer (Acts 6:4), there is no greater task of the Pastor than to “shepherd” God’s sheep, by feeding them the whole counsel of God – The Holy Scriptures!
To fail in feeding God’s people, is to fail as a Pastor/Teacher.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
I Will Give To Each of You As Your Works Deserve
The title of this literary piece is taken from Revelation 2:23 where Jesus is speaking to the Church in Thyatira.
18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 "'I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,
23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works” (Rev 2:18-23 ESV).
Many will be surprised when they read of this Church in Thyatira. Jesus commends them for their love, faith, service, and patient endurance – and that their latter works exceed their first. That is no mean accomplishment. Yet, for all that is right with this church, there is something terribly wrong – the practice of sexual immorality and spiritual idolatry. Is it possible that this can happen in a Christian church?
Wherever you have saved sinners filling the pews, you have the potential of having unrepentant sin in the pew as well. The same holds true for so many pulpits in today’s churches – there are pastors who have no holy unction in their preaching because they carry unconfessed sin in their hearts.
In the Thyatira Church they had a woman Bible teacher, who passed herself off as being a prophetess with special knowledge. She is leading believers away from the truth with her false teachings. This is happening in churches today. God will bring judgment against churches who put up with such false teachers in their congregations, as He did the Church in Thyatira. God will bring sickness and illness upon the false teachers and all those who follow their teachings. The Lord also promises to bring great tribulation to those churches who are committing spiritual idolatry.
God will not tolerate any of His churches to fool around with sin. The Lord made it very clear:
7 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal 6:7-8 ESV).
God will not be mocked. And He won’t play the fool. And anyone who tries to play God as the fool is a fool, indeed. What you sow is what you will reap – this principle applies both to churches as well as to individuals.
You will reap what you sow!
18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 "'I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,
23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works” (Rev 2:18-23 ESV).
Many will be surprised when they read of this Church in Thyatira. Jesus commends them for their love, faith, service, and patient endurance – and that their latter works exceed their first. That is no mean accomplishment. Yet, for all that is right with this church, there is something terribly wrong – the practice of sexual immorality and spiritual idolatry. Is it possible that this can happen in a Christian church?
Wherever you have saved sinners filling the pews, you have the potential of having unrepentant sin in the pew as well. The same holds true for so many pulpits in today’s churches – there are pastors who have no holy unction in their preaching because they carry unconfessed sin in their hearts.
In the Thyatira Church they had a woman Bible teacher, who passed herself off as being a prophetess with special knowledge. She is leading believers away from the truth with her false teachings. This is happening in churches today. God will bring judgment against churches who put up with such false teachers in their congregations, as He did the Church in Thyatira. God will bring sickness and illness upon the false teachers and all those who follow their teachings. The Lord also promises to bring great tribulation to those churches who are committing spiritual idolatry.
God will not tolerate any of His churches to fool around with sin. The Lord made it very clear:
7 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal 6:7-8 ESV).
God will not be mocked. And He won’t play the fool. And anyone who tries to play God as the fool is a fool, indeed. What you sow is what you will reap – this principle applies both to churches as well as to individuals.
You will reap what you sow!
Friday, June 12, 2009
The Day of The Lord
“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
(1Thess. 5:1-11 ESV)
What are you concerned most about in your life? Is it the economy, politics, the greenhouse effect or global warming? Or are you worried about the insanity that is going on in North Korea, our beloved troops fighting overseas; maybe closer to home – where is the next crazy person going to pop up and start shooting innocent U.S. citizens? Each of these subjects carries a certain measure of merit over which you can justifiably be concerned. But I am asking you to consider a more personal matter – your destiny.
Something of much greater import is approaching and the question is, “Are you ready for it?” In the above Scripture passage, the Apostle Paul refers to it as “the Day of the Lord” (verse 2). What is it? It is a reference to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It will happen when you least expect it. It will be sudden and final. Once Jesus returns, there is no asking Him for second chances. Sudden destruction will come upon the person who is not living for Jesus Christ. The unbeliever will not escape the wrath of God. You can continue to sleep your life away. You can get drunk and live in a fantasy world all your own. But the fact of His Coming will not go away.
The Day of the Lord is close in two ways:
(1.) you could die without Christ today or
(2.) Jesus could visibly come to bring judgment of this earth.
The Scripture says,
27 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Heb 9:27-28 ESV).
If you die, then you face the judgment. If “the Day of the Lord” occurs, you will still face the judgment. The question is, “How will you face the judgment?” Jesus came the first time to deal with the sin of His people on the Cross. Are you of the Light or are you of the Darkness? Do you eagerly await His return, or do you try to deny the truth of it? The fact is, whether you look for Jesus to come, or deny His existence, He is still coming.
Are you ready for “the Day of the Lord?”
2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
(1Thess. 5:1-11 ESV)
What are you concerned most about in your life? Is it the economy, politics, the greenhouse effect or global warming? Or are you worried about the insanity that is going on in North Korea, our beloved troops fighting overseas; maybe closer to home – where is the next crazy person going to pop up and start shooting innocent U.S. citizens? Each of these subjects carries a certain measure of merit over which you can justifiably be concerned. But I am asking you to consider a more personal matter – your destiny.
Something of much greater import is approaching and the question is, “Are you ready for it?” In the above Scripture passage, the Apostle Paul refers to it as “the Day of the Lord” (verse 2). What is it? It is a reference to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It will happen when you least expect it. It will be sudden and final. Once Jesus returns, there is no asking Him for second chances. Sudden destruction will come upon the person who is not living for Jesus Christ. The unbeliever will not escape the wrath of God. You can continue to sleep your life away. You can get drunk and live in a fantasy world all your own. But the fact of His Coming will not go away.
The Day of the Lord is close in two ways:
(1.) you could die without Christ today or
(2.) Jesus could visibly come to bring judgment of this earth.
The Scripture says,
27 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Heb 9:27-28 ESV).
If you die, then you face the judgment. If “the Day of the Lord” occurs, you will still face the judgment. The question is, “How will you face the judgment?” Jesus came the first time to deal with the sin of His people on the Cross. Are you of the Light or are you of the Darkness? Do you eagerly await His return, or do you try to deny the truth of it? The fact is, whether you look for Jesus to come, or deny His existence, He is still coming.
Are you ready for “the Day of the Lord?”
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Nature of Man's Will and Heart
Christians know that man’s will is predisposed to evil because man is a fallen, sinful creature. Man’s will is not separate from man’s nature. If man has a fallen nature, then he has a fallen will. And man’s will is free to act according to its nature. Since man’s fallen nature is in rebellion against God, so, too, the will of man is in rebellion against God. This is why we hear the Holy Scriptures declare:
Romans 3:10-12 10 “as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
According to the Scriptures above, no man seeks for God – it is not his nature. As the Scripture states, it is man’s nature to turn aside from God. Left to himself, lost man will never choose Christ as his personal Savior. Even Satan cannot force man to turn away from Christ Jesus. The Evil One can tempt man to reject Jesus, but he cannot make him reject Jesus. Satan knows he doesn’t have to make man reject Jesus. Man is left to freely choose Christ, but because of man’s fallen nature, man will always reject Christ. Man cannot say, “The devil made me do it,” when it comes to turning aside from Jesus’ offer of salvation. Man is responsible for his own decisions and his own actions.
Man does not choose his desires, man chooses according to his desires. Where do the desires of man originate; they originate in the heart of man. This statement is validated by an observation made by the LORD concerning man:
“The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:5 ESV)
The average man, when given the choice between a plate of salad and a plate of French fries, will choose the French fries over the salad every time. He may say in his mind, “I desire the salad because I know that it is better for me; yet, he will still choose the French fries. Why? Because his heart wasn’t in it. It was not the desire of his heart – no matter what logic or reason his mind was presenting to him at the time. The same thing occurs when it comes to man rejecting sin and asking God to forgive him of his sins.
Man will acknowledge his sinfulness, but that doesn’t keep him from sinning. He may mentally desire to change his ways, his habits, etc. and reform himself, but he will never be successful at it. Why? Because it is NOT the desire of his heart to change. And when it comes to the heart, man cannot change it! He cannot change his heart because that change is not the true desire of his heart. As a hog loves slop, man loves his sin. His will is enslaved by the desires of his heart. Speaking of his human nature, the Apostle Paul wrote:
15 “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”
(Rom 7:15-19 ESV)
Paul was confessing that, even with a changed heart, though he has the new desire to not want to sin, apart from the grace of God, he will continue to sin. For by grace through the enabling faith that Christ provides you, can a person live the Christian life.
Man cannot change his heart, only Christ can. By the grace of God, man must repent of his sin and Jesus Christ will give him a new heart that will beat for God.
Romans 3:10-12 10 “as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
According to the Scriptures above, no man seeks for God – it is not his nature. As the Scripture states, it is man’s nature to turn aside from God. Left to himself, lost man will never choose Christ as his personal Savior. Even Satan cannot force man to turn away from Christ Jesus. The Evil One can tempt man to reject Jesus, but he cannot make him reject Jesus. Satan knows he doesn’t have to make man reject Jesus. Man is left to freely choose Christ, but because of man’s fallen nature, man will always reject Christ. Man cannot say, “The devil made me do it,” when it comes to turning aside from Jesus’ offer of salvation. Man is responsible for his own decisions and his own actions.
Man does not choose his desires, man chooses according to his desires. Where do the desires of man originate; they originate in the heart of man. This statement is validated by an observation made by the LORD concerning man:
“The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:5 ESV)
The average man, when given the choice between a plate of salad and a plate of French fries, will choose the French fries over the salad every time. He may say in his mind, “I desire the salad because I know that it is better for me; yet, he will still choose the French fries. Why? Because his heart wasn’t in it. It was not the desire of his heart – no matter what logic or reason his mind was presenting to him at the time. The same thing occurs when it comes to man rejecting sin and asking God to forgive him of his sins.
Man will acknowledge his sinfulness, but that doesn’t keep him from sinning. He may mentally desire to change his ways, his habits, etc. and reform himself, but he will never be successful at it. Why? Because it is NOT the desire of his heart to change. And when it comes to the heart, man cannot change it! He cannot change his heart because that change is not the true desire of his heart. As a hog loves slop, man loves his sin. His will is enslaved by the desires of his heart. Speaking of his human nature, the Apostle Paul wrote:
15 “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”
(Rom 7:15-19 ESV)
Paul was confessing that, even with a changed heart, though he has the new desire to not want to sin, apart from the grace of God, he will continue to sin. For by grace through the enabling faith that Christ provides you, can a person live the Christian life.
Man cannot change his heart, only Christ can. By the grace of God, man must repent of his sin and Jesus Christ will give him a new heart that will beat for God.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers
Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers
In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul warns about godlessness in the Last Days:
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men” 2 Timothy 3:1-9.
We are told in verse 5 that these false prophets and false teachers will have an appearance of godliness, but they will have no real power. They are fakes, charlatans and deceivers of people who are beguiled by their faith and prosperity gospel. In verse 6 we are told they creep into households (by way of television and the radio) and capture weak women, burdened down with sins and led astray by various passions. These women go to seminar after seminar, buys CDs, videos and books, “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” They never find truth in these conferences, meetings and gatherings because what is preached and taught there (by women and men false preachers and teachers) is nothing but lies, half-truths and twisted Scriptures. They are promised wealth and prosperity, but it is the false teachers and preachers who are getting wealthy off of these poor, misguided souls.
I plead with you to listen to the words of God as recorded by Jeremiah His prophet:
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD” Jeremiah 23:16.
False teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Charles Capps, Robert Tilton, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, Marilyn Hickey, Paula White, Rod Parsley, Joel Osteen and many others have visions that are delusions of their own minds, and are not representative of the Lord God of heaven:
25 “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'
26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,”
Jeremiah 23:25-26.
God exposes the fact that these charlatans did not get their teaching from God, but they are simply repeating lies and stories that they have heard from one another:
30 “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, 'declares the LORD.'
32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD”
Jeremiah 23:30-32.
The only people who profit from their heresy and blasphemous teachings are the false teachers and preachers themselves.
We need to heed Scripture’s warning to be good Berean Christians (Acts 17:11); Christians are to make sure that a Bible verse is being taught correctly in light of the whole counsel of God:
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve”
Romans 16:17-18.
God warns His shepherds to
“…hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers…
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach” Titus 1:9-11.
In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul warns about godlessness in the Last Days:
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men” 2 Timothy 3:1-9.
We are told in verse 5 that these false prophets and false teachers will have an appearance of godliness, but they will have no real power. They are fakes, charlatans and deceivers of people who are beguiled by their faith and prosperity gospel. In verse 6 we are told they creep into households (by way of television and the radio) and capture weak women, burdened down with sins and led astray by various passions. These women go to seminar after seminar, buys CDs, videos and books, “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” They never find truth in these conferences, meetings and gatherings because what is preached and taught there (by women and men false preachers and teachers) is nothing but lies, half-truths and twisted Scriptures. They are promised wealth and prosperity, but it is the false teachers and preachers who are getting wealthy off of these poor, misguided souls.
I plead with you to listen to the words of God as recorded by Jeremiah His prophet:
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD” Jeremiah 23:16.
False teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Charles Capps, Robert Tilton, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, Marilyn Hickey, Paula White, Rod Parsley, Joel Osteen and many others have visions that are delusions of their own minds, and are not representative of the Lord God of heaven:
25 “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'
26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,”
Jeremiah 23:25-26.
God exposes the fact that these charlatans did not get their teaching from God, but they are simply repeating lies and stories that they have heard from one another:
30 “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, 'declares the LORD.'
32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD”
Jeremiah 23:30-32.
The only people who profit from their heresy and blasphemous teachings are the false teachers and preachers themselves.
We need to heed Scripture’s warning to be good Berean Christians (Acts 17:11); Christians are to make sure that a Bible verse is being taught correctly in light of the whole counsel of God:
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve”
Romans 16:17-18.
God warns His shepherds to
“…hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers…
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach” Titus 1:9-11.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Second Coming of Christ
The Second Coming of Christ
By Creth D. Hopkins
What is the 2nd Coming of Christ? What exactly does it mean? A careful study of the Holy Scriptures unveils a clear understanding as to the manner of Christ’s coming.
I. His return will be personal.
“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven" Acts 1:11.
Over 500 witnesses had personally seen Jesus following his resurrection. He had been personally with the disciples up to and including his personal ascension. The heavenly messengers are promising that He would come again in the same manner – a personal return.
II. His return will be physical.
Acts 1:11 confirms that the same Jesus, who had manifested His physical return to His disciples, and Who was then ascending in the same physical body, will return again in the same resurrected, glorified body in which He ascended:
“so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” Hebrews 9:28.
III. His return will be visible.
Check every reference of the 2nd Coming of Christ and you will find they all emphasize his visibility.
“you will see the Son of Man (Jesus) seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven" Matthew 26:64.
The Apostle John wrote:
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen” Revelation 1:7.
IV. His return will be sudden.
Jesus warned
“For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” Matthew 24:27.
A thief steals with a suddenness that always bewilders the victim. The Apostle Paul uses this imagery in describing the day when the Lord will make His appearance:
“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” I Thess.5:2
V. His return will be unexpected.
The 2nd Coming of Christ will not happen at a time when people are looking for it. Again, Jesus warns
“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” Matthew 24:44.
VI. His return will be terrifying.
Regardless of your station in this life, if you don’t have Jesus as your personal Savior, His 2nd Coming will bring terror to your heart. Why? Because it represents the outpouring of the wrath of God on all unbelievers:
“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Revelation 6:15-17?
VII. His return will be glorious.
With all the rest of the saints, all true believers can join the Apostle Paul in
“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13.
Are you looking forward to the 2nd Coming of Christ Jesus? I pray that you are. The last recorded words of Jesus were
"Surely I am coming soon." Revelation 22:20a
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20b
By Creth D. Hopkins
What is the 2nd Coming of Christ? What exactly does it mean? A careful study of the Holy Scriptures unveils a clear understanding as to the manner of Christ’s coming.
I. His return will be personal.
“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven" Acts 1:11.
Over 500 witnesses had personally seen Jesus following his resurrection. He had been personally with the disciples up to and including his personal ascension. The heavenly messengers are promising that He would come again in the same manner – a personal return.
II. His return will be physical.
Acts 1:11 confirms that the same Jesus, who had manifested His physical return to His disciples, and Who was then ascending in the same physical body, will return again in the same resurrected, glorified body in which He ascended:
“so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” Hebrews 9:28.
III. His return will be visible.
Check every reference of the 2nd Coming of Christ and you will find they all emphasize his visibility.
“you will see the Son of Man (Jesus) seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven" Matthew 26:64.
The Apostle John wrote:
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen” Revelation 1:7.
IV. His return will be sudden.
Jesus warned
“For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” Matthew 24:27.
A thief steals with a suddenness that always bewilders the victim. The Apostle Paul uses this imagery in describing the day when the Lord will make His appearance:
“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” I Thess.5:2
V. His return will be unexpected.
The 2nd Coming of Christ will not happen at a time when people are looking for it. Again, Jesus warns
“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” Matthew 24:44.
VI. His return will be terrifying.
Regardless of your station in this life, if you don’t have Jesus as your personal Savior, His 2nd Coming will bring terror to your heart. Why? Because it represents the outpouring of the wrath of God on all unbelievers:
“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Revelation 6:15-17?
VII. His return will be glorious.
With all the rest of the saints, all true believers can join the Apostle Paul in
“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13.
Are you looking forward to the 2nd Coming of Christ Jesus? I pray that you are. The last recorded words of Jesus were
"Surely I am coming soon." Revelation 22:20a
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20b
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Arch Enemy of Man: Part III: What Is Satan's Destiny
You cannot hide anything from God. He keeps record of our thoughts as well as our actions. We learn this truth by observing how God confronted Lucifer with his sin:
13 “You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High' “(Isaiah 14:13-14). Lucifer was full of self – full of pride – and rebelled against his Creator God. God changed Lucifer’s name to Satan for becoming an Adversary – a hater of God.
According to the Holy Scriptures, war ignited in Heaven between God and Satan:
Revelation 12:7-12 7 ¶ “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
Satan knows that his time is short. The hate that Satan has for God is immense. And because man is made in the image of God, Satan hates mankind as well. The Evil One quickly provided the proper scenario in which Adam and Eve could be tempted with sin in a way that he was familiar:
"Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:1b-5).
Adam brought sin into the world when he chose to follow Satan instead of God. With Adam spiritually dead, it didn’t take the Adversary long to become the god of this age.
A spiritual darkness came over this world. Satan’s hatred for man became reflective in all the religions he invented – human sacrifice became the de facto method of worship for fallen man. Satan thought everything was going well until he realized that God was sending His Son, Jesus, into the world to usher in the Kingdom of God. Through the successful work of Jesus on this earth, He was able to say relative to the Evil One,
“…I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18a).
Jesus maintained to his disciples that
“…the kingdom of God is within you"(Luke 17:21).
He reminded them of the fact that
“…the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
Satan thought he had defeated Jesus on the Cross by having Christ killed; but Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. And with His resurrection Jesus validated the Kingdom of God which He ushered in when He came into the world. Jesus reigns today as His Kingdom grows.
Satan’s destiny:
“and the devil … was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
Satan’s destiny is the same as all those who reject Jesus, as their personal Savior.
13 “You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High' “(Isaiah 14:13-14). Lucifer was full of self – full of pride – and rebelled against his Creator God. God changed Lucifer’s name to Satan for becoming an Adversary – a hater of God.
According to the Holy Scriptures, war ignited in Heaven between God and Satan:
Revelation 12:7-12 7 ¶ “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
Satan knows that his time is short. The hate that Satan has for God is immense. And because man is made in the image of God, Satan hates mankind as well. The Evil One quickly provided the proper scenario in which Adam and Eve could be tempted with sin in a way that he was familiar:
"Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:1b-5).
Adam brought sin into the world when he chose to follow Satan instead of God. With Adam spiritually dead, it didn’t take the Adversary long to become the god of this age.
A spiritual darkness came over this world. Satan’s hatred for man became reflective in all the religions he invented – human sacrifice became the de facto method of worship for fallen man. Satan thought everything was going well until he realized that God was sending His Son, Jesus, into the world to usher in the Kingdom of God. Through the successful work of Jesus on this earth, He was able to say relative to the Evil One,
“…I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18a).
Jesus maintained to his disciples that
“…the kingdom of God is within you"(Luke 17:21).
He reminded them of the fact that
“…the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
Satan thought he had defeated Jesus on the Cross by having Christ killed; but Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. And with His resurrection Jesus validated the Kingdom of God which He ushered in when He came into the world. Jesus reigns today as His Kingdom grows.
Satan’s destiny:
“and the devil … was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
Satan’s destiny is the same as all those who reject Jesus, as their personal Savior.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Satan: The Arch Enemy of Man: Part II: How Satan Works
Satan: The Arch Enemy of Man
Part II: How Satan Works
By Creth D. Hopkins
Jesus was speaking to unbelievers when He made the following statement concerning their will and the nature of Satan:
John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The nature of lost man is to do the desires of the devil. And since the character of Satan is that of a liar, unsaved people will believe the lie of the Devil before they believe the Truth of Jesus Christ. The following is a partial list of some of the lies Satan wants you to believe in comparison to the Truth that God declares to all who will hear:
(1.) Satan: “The Bible is full of errors, myths and interpretations by men.”
God: “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (II Tim.3:16a); “Know this first of
all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from
God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter 1:20-21).
(2.) Satan: “There is no God; He is just something sick minds have invented.”
God: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do
abominable deeds, there is none who does good” (Psalm 14:1).
(3.) Satan: “Man is basically good. Any wrong that is found in man is due to his
parents, his culture and others around him.”
God: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for
God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does
good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).
(4.) Satan: “There is more than one way you can find God and there is more than
one truth that will lead you to God.”
God: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
(5.) Satan: “You can have eternal life by simply believing in Jesus’ name – you
don’t have to obey Him. Remember, once saved, always saved!”
God: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the
Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
(6.) Satan: “God will reject you because of the sinful life you have led.”
Jesus: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to
Me, I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
(7.) Satan: “You can fall from your salvation, your salvation is never secure.”
Jesus: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will
snatch them out of my hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater
than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the
Father are One” (John 10:28-30).
Who do you choose to believe: the father of all liars, Satan, or will you believe Jesus? Your choice is critical – your soul hangs in the balance.
Part II: How Satan Works
By Creth D. Hopkins
Jesus was speaking to unbelievers when He made the following statement concerning their will and the nature of Satan:
John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The nature of lost man is to do the desires of the devil. And since the character of Satan is that of a liar, unsaved people will believe the lie of the Devil before they believe the Truth of Jesus Christ. The following is a partial list of some of the lies Satan wants you to believe in comparison to the Truth that God declares to all who will hear:
(1.) Satan: “The Bible is full of errors, myths and interpretations by men.”
God: “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (II Tim.3:16a); “Know this first of
all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from
God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter 1:20-21).
(2.) Satan: “There is no God; He is just something sick minds have invented.”
God: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do
abominable deeds, there is none who does good” (Psalm 14:1).
(3.) Satan: “Man is basically good. Any wrong that is found in man is due to his
parents, his culture and others around him.”
God: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for
God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does
good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).
(4.) Satan: “There is more than one way you can find God and there is more than
one truth that will lead you to God.”
God: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
(5.) Satan: “You can have eternal life by simply believing in Jesus’ name – you
don’t have to obey Him. Remember, once saved, always saved!”
God: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the
Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
(6.) Satan: “God will reject you because of the sinful life you have led.”
Jesus: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to
Me, I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
(7.) Satan: “You can fall from your salvation, your salvation is never secure.”
Jesus: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will
snatch them out of my hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater
than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the
Father are One” (John 10:28-30).
Who do you choose to believe: the father of all liars, Satan, or will you believe Jesus? Your choice is critical – your soul hangs in the balance.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Satan: The Arch Enemy of Man: Part I: Who Is Satan?
Is there such a being as the Devil? Is he red in color, has horns and a forked tail and carries a pitchfork? And what about Lucifer and Satan; are these names of other evil beings or do all these names apply to one evil essence? Is the Devil the product of religion or Hollywood, or is he the figment of our imaginations?
This is the first installment of a three-part series on “Satan: The Arch Enemy of Man.” The papers will follow in this order: Who is Satan? – How Satan Works – What is Satan’s Destiny?
Satan is real – there is no doubt about that. But he wasn’t first called Satan (which in the Hebrew language means “adversary”), he was named Lucifer. There are two passages that give us a clear description of Lucifer (Hebrew meaning: “Day Star”):
Isaiah 14:12-15 12 " How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.”
Ezekiel 28:15-19 15 “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity (sin) was found in you. 16 "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. 18 "You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever." ' "
Like all angels, Lucifer was created by God (Psalm 148:2, 5) to serve the Lord. Sin originated in the heart of Lucifer due to pride. And it was pride that drove him to rebel against God and become His adversary; thus, God changed his name to Satan.
He is far more than the caricature of a red devil with a pointed tail and a pitchfork. When it is to his advantage the Evil One can display himself both in horrid realism and in ghoulish reality. There are other times when Satan will portray himself as a holy man or even an angel of light (II Cor. 11:14). Satan can appear like the well dressed gentleman in the pew or the nicely dressed lady standing in the aisle. He is well versed when it comes to quoting the Bible (Matt.4:6), but herein he betrays himself – he will inevitably quote the Scripture out of context. He will place a satanic spin on the Scriptures and interpret it contrary to how God meant it.
In trying to understand who Satan is, it is good to know the meanings of his names. Satan is a Hebrew word, it means ‘accuser’ or ‘adversary.’ Devil is a Greek word, it means ‘slanderer.’ From the word ‘devil,’ we get the English words diabolical, or diabolic. Indeed, Satan is the Diabolical One. In Ephesians 2:1-3, he is listed as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (v.2b). To those people who reject Jesus and His Word, the Devil is their god – “the god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4). Satan is the father of those who hate Jesus and the Holy Scriptures (John 8:44). He hates all mankind, especially genuine children of God.
This is the first installment of a three-part series on “Satan: The Arch Enemy of Man.” The papers will follow in this order: Who is Satan? – How Satan Works – What is Satan’s Destiny?
Satan is real – there is no doubt about that. But he wasn’t first called Satan (which in the Hebrew language means “adversary”), he was named Lucifer. There are two passages that give us a clear description of Lucifer (Hebrew meaning: “Day Star”):
Isaiah 14:12-15 12 " How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.”
Ezekiel 28:15-19 15 “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity (sin) was found in you. 16 "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. 18 "You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever." ' "
Like all angels, Lucifer was created by God (Psalm 148:2, 5) to serve the Lord. Sin originated in the heart of Lucifer due to pride. And it was pride that drove him to rebel against God and become His adversary; thus, God changed his name to Satan.
He is far more than the caricature of a red devil with a pointed tail and a pitchfork. When it is to his advantage the Evil One can display himself both in horrid realism and in ghoulish reality. There are other times when Satan will portray himself as a holy man or even an angel of light (II Cor. 11:14). Satan can appear like the well dressed gentleman in the pew or the nicely dressed lady standing in the aisle. He is well versed when it comes to quoting the Bible (Matt.4:6), but herein he betrays himself – he will inevitably quote the Scripture out of context. He will place a satanic spin on the Scriptures and interpret it contrary to how God meant it.
In trying to understand who Satan is, it is good to know the meanings of his names. Satan is a Hebrew word, it means ‘accuser’ or ‘adversary.’ Devil is a Greek word, it means ‘slanderer.’ From the word ‘devil,’ we get the English words diabolical, or diabolic. Indeed, Satan is the Diabolical One. In Ephesians 2:1-3, he is listed as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (v.2b). To those people who reject Jesus and His Word, the Devil is their god – “the god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4). Satan is the father of those who hate Jesus and the Holy Scriptures (John 8:44). He hates all mankind, especially genuine children of God.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Does Good Preaching Matter?
Is the Church meeting the needs of the average 21st century person? Why should I listen to what is being preached today in the average pulpit? Questions like these often will plague the 21st century mind – and for good reason. The average church of today does not have a strong pulpit ministry. Today’s pulpit is more a “social” pulpit than a “preaching” pulpit; the central focus is not on “Thus saith the Lord.” And that is tragically sad. People come to church – not to hear the latest joke – but to hear a word from God. And if that Word – that Message – is from God, it will have three elements to it: (1.) it will glorify God, (2.) the Message will be Scripturally sound and (3.) it will be relevant to the person’s life. One or more of these three elements are missing in the average sermon delivered from the average pulpit of the average church of today. And that is the reason why it can be said that the average pulpit of today is weak in faith; and when the pulpit is weak in faith, the people of the church will be weak in faith as well. The Holy Scripture declares:
Romans 10:17 17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
When the Holy Scriptures are preached something wonderful happens within the soul of the listener.
Hebrews 4:12-16
12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
When God’s Word is truly preached from the pulpit, its power will be realized in the pew. God is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. There is no creature hidden from His sight. What God says to us is relevant because all things in our lives are naked and open before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. To believer’s, Jesus is our great High Priest, Who intercedes for all those who place their trust in Him.
We can hold fast to the Word of God, for its soundness comes from the integrity of the living Word of God Himself – Jesus Christ! And this is why we can come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Jesus is always there for His people. As God’s people follow Jesus in their lives, the Word of God will display its power through their lives. And that is when God receives all the glory: when God’s Word becomes the living force in the life of a child of God – to the praise of the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
Romans 10:17 17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
When the Holy Scriptures are preached something wonderful happens within the soul of the listener.
Hebrews 4:12-16
12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
When God’s Word is truly preached from the pulpit, its power will be realized in the pew. God is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. There is no creature hidden from His sight. What God says to us is relevant because all things in our lives are naked and open before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. To believer’s, Jesus is our great High Priest, Who intercedes for all those who place their trust in Him.
We can hold fast to the Word of God, for its soundness comes from the integrity of the living Word of God Himself – Jesus Christ! And this is why we can come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Jesus is always there for His people. As God’s people follow Jesus in their lives, the Word of God will display its power through their lives. And that is when God receives all the glory: when God’s Word becomes the living force in the life of a child of God – to the praise of the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What Is a Dead Church?
According to the Holy Scriptures, there are many churches that have the appearance of being alive, but they are spiritually dead. They have their scheduled times of meetings, they go through their readings, saying of prayers, and even make reference to the Bible. But they are dead. How so?
Revelation 3:1-6 ESV Revelation 3:1 ¶ "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
First, the Scripture says they are asleep spiritually. They are not sensitive to the working of God in their midst. Their focus is not on the Lord Jesus Christ; their emphasis is on the working of man. The Bible clearly teaches that our sole purpose in life is to glorify God in all that we do. The dead church does not do that; they exist only for themselves. When they run up against something in the Bible that runs contrary to their traditions, they are heard to say the seven last words of a dead church: “We’ve never done it that way before.” And when a church says that, they are displaying their lack of commitment to the Word of God and their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (v.2).
Secondly, a dead church has forgotten the great teachings that they had first received and heard. Jesus tells them, “Keep it and repent (v.3). God has told His churches to preach the Word of God without compromise. God’s churches are to be bastions of Truth. In today’s world, churches need to be powerful in the delivery of the Word of God – without compromise and without apology. Jesus is to be the central focus of our preaching. He came and lived a sinless life, carried all the sins of His people and nailed them on the Cross in His body, died and rose again in three days, and is living today at the right hand of God. Jesus will soon come again to judge His Church and the world. Churches who are not preaching these truths must repent of their sins, and keep these holy truths before all the people who come to their services.
Lastly, we are told that even in dead churches, there are some “who have not soiled their garments, and they walk with Me in white, for they are worthy (v.4). This is a word of encouragement to those who are remaining faithful in these dying churches. They are the salt that has kept the local church from totally dying. Keep up the good work, faithful ones. As you confess the name of Jesus before others, Jesus will confess your name “before My Father (v.5).” Through your faithfulness to Christ, there is still hope for churches that are dying – who, in fact, appear to be dead. Repent of your sins and return to Christ and His message of repentance.
Revelation 3:1-6 ESV Revelation 3:1 ¶ "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
First, the Scripture says they are asleep spiritually. They are not sensitive to the working of God in their midst. Their focus is not on the Lord Jesus Christ; their emphasis is on the working of man. The Bible clearly teaches that our sole purpose in life is to glorify God in all that we do. The dead church does not do that; they exist only for themselves. When they run up against something in the Bible that runs contrary to their traditions, they are heard to say the seven last words of a dead church: “We’ve never done it that way before.” And when a church says that, they are displaying their lack of commitment to the Word of God and their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (v.2).
Secondly, a dead church has forgotten the great teachings that they had first received and heard. Jesus tells them, “Keep it and repent (v.3). God has told His churches to preach the Word of God without compromise. God’s churches are to be bastions of Truth. In today’s world, churches need to be powerful in the delivery of the Word of God – without compromise and without apology. Jesus is to be the central focus of our preaching. He came and lived a sinless life, carried all the sins of His people and nailed them on the Cross in His body, died and rose again in three days, and is living today at the right hand of God. Jesus will soon come again to judge His Church and the world. Churches who are not preaching these truths must repent of their sins, and keep these holy truths before all the people who come to their services.
Lastly, we are told that even in dead churches, there are some “who have not soiled their garments, and they walk with Me in white, for they are worthy (v.4). This is a word of encouragement to those who are remaining faithful in these dying churches. They are the salt that has kept the local church from totally dying. Keep up the good work, faithful ones. As you confess the name of Jesus before others, Jesus will confess your name “before My Father (v.5).” Through your faithfulness to Christ, there is still hope for churches that are dying – who, in fact, appear to be dead. Repent of your sins and return to Christ and His message of repentance.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
What Is Success
Success is finding and fulfilling God’s will in your life. How this is accomplished is shown in the principles Jesus is teaching in the parable of the talents:
14 ¶ "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” Matthew 25:14-30
1st Principle – (v.14)We are slaves to Jesus. This is where many people will stop. They refuse to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. By refusing His Lordship, they refuse His Savior-hood. Jesus makes it very clear: we have been bought with a price, we are not our own. If Jesus has saved you, then He owns you. It is as simple as that. You belong to Him.
2nd Principle – (v.15) Jesus has entrusted us according to our ability. Each of us is unique. We all have abilities that God intends for us to use for His glory.
3rd Principle – (v.16-17) God has placed the seed of success into the very soil of our abilities. All we have to do is perform the work God has called us to do.
4th Principle – (v.18,24-30) God will not bless those who do not serve Him with all their hearts. “If just a cup of water I place within your hand, then just a cup of water is all that I demand.” Use it not for the Savior, and you’ll lose it to sin.
5th Principle – (v.19-23) God honors those who honor Him. Success is, one day, hearing God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.”
14 ¶ "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” Matthew 25:14-30
1st Principle – (v.14)We are slaves to Jesus. This is where many people will stop. They refuse to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. By refusing His Lordship, they refuse His Savior-hood. Jesus makes it very clear: we have been bought with a price, we are not our own. If Jesus has saved you, then He owns you. It is as simple as that. You belong to Him.
2nd Principle – (v.15) Jesus has entrusted us according to our ability. Each of us is unique. We all have abilities that God intends for us to use for His glory.
3rd Principle – (v.16-17) God has placed the seed of success into the very soil of our abilities. All we have to do is perform the work God has called us to do.
4th Principle – (v.18,24-30) God will not bless those who do not serve Him with all their hearts. “If just a cup of water I place within your hand, then just a cup of water is all that I demand.” Use it not for the Savior, and you’ll lose it to sin.
5th Principle – (v.19-23) God honors those who honor Him. Success is, one day, hearing God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.”
Friday, March 13, 2009
Who is The Head of The Church?
When you hear the word “Church,” what comes to your mind? Is it brick and mortar, steel and glass? Is it a beautiful building, having a steeple with a cross on top? Many people think so, but they are mistaken. Other people think that a Church is an organization, run by men and women, much like a business – but this is off the mark as well. The Church is an organism – a real live entity with Jesus Christ as its Head:
“Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior” (Ephesians 5:23b).
There are three things that the above Scripture teaches us:
(1.) Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. There is no Pastor, no Pope, no Bishop and no Prophet who is the Head of the one, true Church – only Jesus!
(2.) The Church is the Body of Christ. The visible church is not what is being described here, it is the invisible Church – the one, true Church of God. When it comes to the one, true Church – the Invisible Church – only Jesus Christ is the Head – the Chief Shepherd of His sheep – the Church. Local, visible churches are to reflect the invisible Church. Shepherds, called Pastors (Eph.4:11-12), take their example from the Chief Shepherd – Jesus (I Peter 5:4). The local church is to be made up of saved sinners, who are led by their pastors in their worship of Christ and in their living for Christ.
(3.) Jesus – the Savior – is the Spiritual Head of the saved – the Church. The very word “church’ means “called-out ones.” Notice, the emphasis is placed – not upon the Church – but upon Jesus, Himself! While the Church is the Body, Jesus Christ is the Head. The believer’s ultimate comfort, encouragement, joy and instruction are to be realized in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Lord. Jesus will never fail His people; Jesus will always provide for His people; Jesus will never leave His people.
The Institution of Marriage mirrors Christ and His Church
Ephesians 5:23-25, 32 23 “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
Just as Christ Jesus is the Bridegroom and the Invisible Church is His Bride, so also is the institution of marriage – an institution created by God – made to where the husband (the Man) is to marry his Bride (the woman). The picture is correct only when you have a man and a woman – as God intended it to be from the beginning. This is why you have the closing statement:
Ephesians 5:31 31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
God made man and woman to have a unique relationship with one another. It is in the heavenly institution of marriage – between a man and a woman – that the one of a kind love and relationship that Jesus Christ has for His people can be properly shown. The relationship between Jesus (the Groom) and His chosen ones (the Bride) can only be shown between a man and a woman. His glory and honor is displayed in no other way!
“Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior” (Ephesians 5:23b).
There are three things that the above Scripture teaches us:
(1.) Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. There is no Pastor, no Pope, no Bishop and no Prophet who is the Head of the one, true Church – only Jesus!
(2.) The Church is the Body of Christ. The visible church is not what is being described here, it is the invisible Church – the one, true Church of God. When it comes to the one, true Church – the Invisible Church – only Jesus Christ is the Head – the Chief Shepherd of His sheep – the Church. Local, visible churches are to reflect the invisible Church. Shepherds, called Pastors (Eph.4:11-12), take their example from the Chief Shepherd – Jesus (I Peter 5:4). The local church is to be made up of saved sinners, who are led by their pastors in their worship of Christ and in their living for Christ.
(3.) Jesus – the Savior – is the Spiritual Head of the saved – the Church. The very word “church’ means “called-out ones.” Notice, the emphasis is placed – not upon the Church – but upon Jesus, Himself! While the Church is the Body, Jesus Christ is the Head. The believer’s ultimate comfort, encouragement, joy and instruction are to be realized in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Lord. Jesus will never fail His people; Jesus will always provide for His people; Jesus will never leave His people.
The Institution of Marriage mirrors Christ and His Church
Ephesians 5:23-25, 32 23 “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
Just as Christ Jesus is the Bridegroom and the Invisible Church is His Bride, so also is the institution of marriage – an institution created by God – made to where the husband (the Man) is to marry his Bride (the woman). The picture is correct only when you have a man and a woman – as God intended it to be from the beginning. This is why you have the closing statement:
Ephesians 5:31 31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
God made man and woman to have a unique relationship with one another. It is in the heavenly institution of marriage – between a man and a woman – that the one of a kind love and relationship that Jesus Christ has for His people can be properly shown. The relationship between Jesus (the Groom) and His chosen ones (the Bride) can only be shown between a man and a woman. His glory and honor is displayed in no other way!
Who Can You Believe: Jesus or man?
There is a great battle going on in the world relative to the question: “Who can you believe: the Lord Jesus Christ or man?” Whether you are a Christian or a pagan, the question is relevant. It does matter. There are some who may disagree with the statement “…the question is relevant;” nevertheless, it is a true statement. Just for a moment, I would like for you to consider what hangs on the truthfulness of God’s Word:
I. The heavens and earth will be destroyed, but the truthfulness of God’s Word will stand: Matthew 24:35 35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
II. According to His Holy WORD , the heavens and the earth are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly:
2 Peter 3:7 “But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
III. According to God’s promises made to His people, new heavens and a new earth will be made in which all of God’s people will dwell for all eternity: 2 Peter 3:11-13: 11 ¶ “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
You have a choice, Pilgrim. You can either choose to trust God at His Word and live your life for Jesus while on this earth, or you can choose to reject Jesus and His Word and live your life for yourself while on this earth. What you must understand is this: the choice you make on this earth has eternal consequences. Those people, who choose to live their lives by the Word of God, will live in a state of anticipation and holy resolve. They know lives of holiness and godliness do make a difference to God. They know this because God’s Word states it so: v.11 “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.”
On the other hand, you can live your life for yourself. Do you really want to base your future on yourself or on what man says? You don’t know what is going to happen in the next five minutes of your life – nor do you know whether you will be here on this earth, or standing before the judgment seat of God. Does it make sense to depend upon the changing values of mankind, which change from generation to generation? Or does it not make sense to depend upon the Word of God, whose character and integrity comes from the God Who spoke the very Word of God?!
Concerning your soul and your destiny, who will you depend upon: God or man?
I. The heavens and earth will be destroyed, but the truthfulness of God’s Word will stand: Matthew 24:35 35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
II. According to His Holy WORD , the heavens and the earth are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly:
2 Peter 3:7 “But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
III. According to God’s promises made to His people, new heavens and a new earth will be made in which all of God’s people will dwell for all eternity: 2 Peter 3:11-13: 11 ¶ “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
You have a choice, Pilgrim. You can either choose to trust God at His Word and live your life for Jesus while on this earth, or you can choose to reject Jesus and His Word and live your life for yourself while on this earth. What you must understand is this: the choice you make on this earth has eternal consequences. Those people, who choose to live their lives by the Word of God, will live in a state of anticipation and holy resolve. They know lives of holiness and godliness do make a difference to God. They know this because God’s Word states it so: v.11 “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.”
On the other hand, you can live your life for yourself. Do you really want to base your future on yourself or on what man says? You don’t know what is going to happen in the next five minutes of your life – nor do you know whether you will be here on this earth, or standing before the judgment seat of God. Does it make sense to depend upon the changing values of mankind, which change from generation to generation? Or does it not make sense to depend upon the Word of God, whose character and integrity comes from the God Who spoke the very Word of God?!
Concerning your soul and your destiny, who will you depend upon: God or man?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
When Christ Rejects a Church
When does Jesus Christ reject a church? Answers to that question are found in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of The Revelation. In Revelation 2;1-7, Jesus speaks to the Church of the Ephesians. Jesus makes the following statement:
Revelation 2:4-5 4 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Jesus warns the church that they have left their first love – the love for Christ! With all the activities that occupy the time of a church, it is easy to get side-tracked with its love. Jesus needs to be the central focus in the life of a church. It is love for Jesus that provides motivation to follow Him in the life of a church, as well as the life of a believer. When the emphasis is placed more on the programs of the church, rather than the Person of Jesus, a church, as well as a believer, can fall into the same trap as did the Ephesians’ church.
In Revelation 2:12-17, Jesus speaks to the Church of Pergamum. Jesus makes the following judgment:
Revelation 2:14-16 14 “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Jesus warns the church that they are wrong in tolerating error and outright heresy in the church. To inject anything of the world, or any religious traditions which do not have a biblical base, is to promote humanism and man-centeredness in the Christian faith. This action by a church makes it anti-Christ in its practice, and heretical in its teaching. Pro-abortion and supporting a gay-lifestyle are two such practices which are contrary to the Scriptures. Christ opposes such humanistic expressions; churches should follow His example.
In Revelation 3:1-6, Jesus speaks to the Church of Sardis. The problem this church had related to spiritual deadness. Jesus declared,
Revelation 3:1-2 "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”
Programs with no life, business as usual, form with no substance – these are the characteristics of a church that Jesus will reject. Do you belong to a church like this? Is your church spiritually asleep; is everything running alright, but you have no real life? Heed the warning of Jesus:
Revelation 3:3 3 “Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”
Jesus is coming soon. Is your church ready? Are you ready? Repent and return to Jesus.
Revelation 2:4-5 4 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Jesus warns the church that they have left their first love – the love for Christ! With all the activities that occupy the time of a church, it is easy to get side-tracked with its love. Jesus needs to be the central focus in the life of a church. It is love for Jesus that provides motivation to follow Him in the life of a church, as well as the life of a believer. When the emphasis is placed more on the programs of the church, rather than the Person of Jesus, a church, as well as a believer, can fall into the same trap as did the Ephesians’ church.
In Revelation 2:12-17, Jesus speaks to the Church of Pergamum. Jesus makes the following judgment:
Revelation 2:14-16 14 “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Jesus warns the church that they are wrong in tolerating error and outright heresy in the church. To inject anything of the world, or any religious traditions which do not have a biblical base, is to promote humanism and man-centeredness in the Christian faith. This action by a church makes it anti-Christ in its practice, and heretical in its teaching. Pro-abortion and supporting a gay-lifestyle are two such practices which are contrary to the Scriptures. Christ opposes such humanistic expressions; churches should follow His example.
In Revelation 3:1-6, Jesus speaks to the Church of Sardis. The problem this church had related to spiritual deadness. Jesus declared,
Revelation 3:1-2 "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”
Programs with no life, business as usual, form with no substance – these are the characteristics of a church that Jesus will reject. Do you belong to a church like this? Is your church spiritually asleep; is everything running alright, but you have no real life? Heed the warning of Jesus:
Revelation 3:3 3 “Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”
Jesus is coming soon. Is your church ready? Are you ready? Repent and return to Jesus.
Are You Ready?
First, there will be a shout – a loud cry of command – that will be heard around the world! This cry will make the hair on the back of the neck rise to attention. The mouth will get dry and the heart will beat faster as all the souls of mankind will hear the cry. It comes from the voice of an archangel and it calls all of creation to attention. And with this majestic voice of an archangel, calling all saints to attention – and sending terror into the hearts of the unrighteous – you also have the clarion sound of a trumpet – the trumpet of God! This is no secret happening; all of creation responds to God’s call. It is the trumpet call of God for the gathering of all saints: those who had died and now reign in heaven with Christ, and those saints alive on the earth. It is a call to the gathering, as the glorified Christ gathers His saints into a victorious force. With this glorified force of all of God’s elect, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords comes to the earth to bring final judgment against Satan, his demons, and all the children of wrath who fight with their god, Satan. Fire from heaven will destroy all the forces of evil, and the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur.
I Thessalonians 4:16-18 16 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 52 “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”
Revelation 20:9-10 9 “And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
God, sitting on a great white throne, will judge the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. The works of men will be judged: those works done for the glory of God will be honored; works done for self-glory will burn in the wrath of God. A final book is checked. All those souls who have been saved by the blood of the Lamb of God will be received into God’s Presence; each soul who was unwilling to repent of their sins and ask for God’s mercy paid for by Jesus on the Cross will be thrown into the lake of fire to die an eternal death – forever separated from the Presence of God.
Revelation 20:11-15 11 ¶ “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Are You Ready?
I Thessalonians 4:16-18 16 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 52 “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”
Revelation 20:9-10 9 “And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
God, sitting on a great white throne, will judge the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. The works of men will be judged: those works done for the glory of God will be honored; works done for self-glory will burn in the wrath of God. A final book is checked. All those souls who have been saved by the blood of the Lamb of God will be received into God’s Presence; each soul who was unwilling to repent of their sins and ask for God’s mercy paid for by Jesus on the Cross will be thrown into the lake of fire to die an eternal death – forever separated from the Presence of God.
Revelation 20:11-15 11 ¶ “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Are You Ready?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
What Is A Godly Wife?
What does the Holy Scriptures say about such an important subject? One of the finest descriptions of a godly wife was given by a woman. It is found in Proverbs 31:10-31.
Below are a list of seven of the qualities that a godly wife has:
1. A godly wife is strong and carries her strength with dignity. She is not afraid of the future.
Vs.17 – “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.”
Vs.25 – “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.”
2. A godly wife is not a busybody, she is wise and teaches kindness.
Vs.26 – “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
3. A godly wife is not lazy. She looks to the needs of her family and is not idle.
Vs.27 – “She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
3. A godly wife is a good business woman, is industrious with her hands, and works hard for her family within the home.
Vs.13-16 – “She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.”
4. A godly wife is trusted by her husband and will do him good. She will not bring shame to his name.
Vs.11-12 – “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
5. A godly wife will be a mother whose children praise her, and her husband will praise her, too.
Vs.28 – “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
6. A godly wife realizes that outward charm and beauty are temporary; she focuses on pleasing the Lord in everything she does.
Vs.30 – “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
7. A godly wife will be known for her godly example and Christian works.
Vs.31 – “Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”
The Christian woman of today is challenged by the world to be many things – most of which have nothing to do with the aforementioned list. She understands her role as wife and mother is the most challenging role to which God calls her. Only by God’s grace can a woman maintain the balance that is so necessary to fulfill such a high calling.
God be praised for all you women who put Christ first in your life. Your godly example and Christian witness is sorely needed in our world today. Bless you in your service to Him, in your love for your husband, and in your devotion to your family.
Below are a list of seven of the qualities that a godly wife has:
1. A godly wife is strong and carries her strength with dignity. She is not afraid of the future.
Vs.17 – “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.”
Vs.25 – “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.”
2. A godly wife is not a busybody, she is wise and teaches kindness.
Vs.26 – “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
3. A godly wife is not lazy. She looks to the needs of her family and is not idle.
Vs.27 – “She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
3. A godly wife is a good business woman, is industrious with her hands, and works hard for her family within the home.
Vs.13-16 – “She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.”
4. A godly wife is trusted by her husband and will do him good. She will not bring shame to his name.
Vs.11-12 – “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
5. A godly wife will be a mother whose children praise her, and her husband will praise her, too.
Vs.28 – “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
6. A godly wife realizes that outward charm and beauty are temporary; she focuses on pleasing the Lord in everything she does.
Vs.30 – “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
7. A godly wife will be known for her godly example and Christian works.
Vs.31 – “Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”
The Christian woman of today is challenged by the world to be many things – most of which have nothing to do with the aforementioned list. She understands her role as wife and mother is the most challenging role to which God calls her. Only by God’s grace can a woman maintain the balance that is so necessary to fulfill such a high calling.
God be praised for all you women who put Christ first in your life. Your godly example and Christian witness is sorely needed in our world today. Bless you in your service to Him, in your love for your husband, and in your devotion to your family.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Where Is Your Hope
Where Is Your Hope?
By Creth D. Hopkins
The world is quickly finding itself in a whirlpool of economic crisis that is sucking down whole nations into financial oblivion. Greed and avarice are the “Scylla and Charybdis” that America faces today; and these monsters are having a field-day with the hope of Americans. Each day brings a new announcement of yet another bailout. And the magnitude of these bailouts is so huge that we have dropped the word “millions,” and have graduated to billions – even trillions of dollars! We are talking figures that are hard to get our arms around.
Presently, we are at $7.76 trillion and counting: this amount is equal to about nine times the money spent in Iraq and Afghanistan. To put it one way, it is equal to about $24,000 for every American in the U.S. – man, woman, and child! Or to put it another way, the amount represents about half the value of everything produced in the nation last year. And there seems to be no end in site. The figures on job losses are just as dismal. The government reported on Friday, saying employers cut 240,000 jobs in October – this brings the year’s total job losses to 1.2 million. Hope for improvement is quickly going down the drain. I recently heard one woman say that half of her 401 account has disappeared in the last month. Where did it go?
The gods of materialism and humanism are servants of Satan, whose sole goal is the destruction of man. And through these gods, Satan has effectively turned millions of Americans down the paths of despair and self-destruction. We have only begun to see the affects of such turning away from the one, true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The patriarch Job once said, “Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish” (Job 8:13).
Only a true child of God can have hope in such trying times. The Apostle Paul wrote:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Christians have a great opportunity to share Jesus with other people who have no hope in times like these. It is Jesus Who is our Hope! (I Timothy 1:1)
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, repent of your sins, and ask God for His mercy. He will save you, and give you the strength to face the crisis that is before you. Then, you can join with Peter and say: “Blessed be the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3).
Where have you placed your hope? If it is in the world, then you are to be pitied. If it is in Jesus Christ, you have reason to rejoice – and have HOPE!
By Creth D. Hopkins
The world is quickly finding itself in a whirlpool of economic crisis that is sucking down whole nations into financial oblivion. Greed and avarice are the “Scylla and Charybdis” that America faces today; and these monsters are having a field-day with the hope of Americans. Each day brings a new announcement of yet another bailout. And the magnitude of these bailouts is so huge that we have dropped the word “millions,” and have graduated to billions – even trillions of dollars! We are talking figures that are hard to get our arms around.
Presently, we are at $7.76 trillion and counting: this amount is equal to about nine times the money spent in Iraq and Afghanistan. To put it one way, it is equal to about $24,000 for every American in the U.S. – man, woman, and child! Or to put it another way, the amount represents about half the value of everything produced in the nation last year. And there seems to be no end in site. The figures on job losses are just as dismal. The government reported on Friday, saying employers cut 240,000 jobs in October – this brings the year’s total job losses to 1.2 million. Hope for improvement is quickly going down the drain. I recently heard one woman say that half of her 401 account has disappeared in the last month. Where did it go?
The gods of materialism and humanism are servants of Satan, whose sole goal is the destruction of man. And through these gods, Satan has effectively turned millions of Americans down the paths of despair and self-destruction. We have only begun to see the affects of such turning away from the one, true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The patriarch Job once said, “Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish” (Job 8:13).
Only a true child of God can have hope in such trying times. The Apostle Paul wrote:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Christians have a great opportunity to share Jesus with other people who have no hope in times like these. It is Jesus Who is our Hope! (I Timothy 1:1)
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, repent of your sins, and ask God for His mercy. He will save you, and give you the strength to face the crisis that is before you. Then, you can join with Peter and say: “Blessed be the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3).
Where have you placed your hope? If it is in the world, then you are to be pitied. If it is in Jesus Christ, you have reason to rejoice – and have HOPE!
Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone!
Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone!
By Creth D. Hopkins
In the forty-plus years I have been in God’s ministry, I have never heard a question for which the Bible did not have an appropriate answer. The reason why the Bible is so pertinent and ‘to the point’ is simple: it is God’s Holy Word. While the Bible was written over a period of some 1,500 years by over forty writers, its sole Author is God Himself:
16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The word inspiration actually means “God-breathed.” When you read the Bible you are actually reading the exhaled breath of God on printed page. God is the sole Author as well as the sole Interpreter of His Word:
20 “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21
It is called the Holy Bible because God, as its Author, is holy. You can depend upon it because it has been tested and found trustworthy. We are warned not to add to it:
“Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6
God makes His will very clear to us concerning His Bible:
“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32
Many cults add the teachings of their leadership to the Bible and say that their doctrine is as inspired as is the Holy Bible. God had the Apostle Paul write the following warning:
8“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9
How we handle the Bible is a serious matter. We are to read it, trust it, and obey it. It is dangerous to mishandle the Bible. The Apostle John gives us a final warning:
18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
By Creth D. Hopkins
In the forty-plus years I have been in God’s ministry, I have never heard a question for which the Bible did not have an appropriate answer. The reason why the Bible is so pertinent and ‘to the point’ is simple: it is God’s Holy Word. While the Bible was written over a period of some 1,500 years by over forty writers, its sole Author is God Himself:
16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The word inspiration actually means “God-breathed.” When you read the Bible you are actually reading the exhaled breath of God on printed page. God is the sole Author as well as the sole Interpreter of His Word:
20 “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21
It is called the Holy Bible because God, as its Author, is holy. You can depend upon it because it has been tested and found trustworthy. We are warned not to add to it:
“Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6
God makes His will very clear to us concerning His Bible:
“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32
Many cults add the teachings of their leadership to the Bible and say that their doctrine is as inspired as is the Holy Bible. God had the Apostle Paul write the following warning:
8“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9
How we handle the Bible is a serious matter. We are to read it, trust it, and obey it. It is dangerous to mishandle the Bible. The Apostle John gives us a final warning:
18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
The Virgin Birth
The Virgin Birth
By Creth D. Hopkins
One of the Scriptural truths that is vehemently attacked is the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. “Why is it so important to believe in the virgin birth of Jesus?” To answer the question succinctly, the virgin birth of Jesus points to the sinless nature of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4:15-16 15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Opponents use two passages of Scripture to attack the sinless nature of Jesus Christ:
(1.) It is pointed out that Joseph is listed as the father of Jesus and that Jesus came from a family wherein there were at least six children borne to Joseph and Mary:
Matthew 13:53-58 53 ¶ “And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”
Joseph never said that he was the father of Jesus; He knew that the true Father was God.
(2.) Opponents also point out a vicious rumor that Jesus was born illegitimately:
John 8:41b-45 “They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father--even God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.”
The greatest proof we have for the virgin birth is the life of Jesus Christ Himself. Because Jesus had an intimate relationship with His heavenly Father, he lived a life on this earth that no mere mortal could have lived. Because Jesus was God’s Son, He was able to heal the lame, give sight to the blind, and raise the dead. Only the God-man, Jesus Christ, could have done those things – miracles that His opponents could not deny. Jesus died a horrible death for His people, and rose from the dead to be our living Savior, Who is coming again. It is only Jesus, the Son of God Who forgives men of their sins.
Those who chose to reject the virgin birth of Jesus also reject Jesus, the Son of God. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
By Creth D. Hopkins
One of the Scriptural truths that is vehemently attacked is the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. “Why is it so important to believe in the virgin birth of Jesus?” To answer the question succinctly, the virgin birth of Jesus points to the sinless nature of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4:15-16 15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Opponents use two passages of Scripture to attack the sinless nature of Jesus Christ:
(1.) It is pointed out that Joseph is listed as the father of Jesus and that Jesus came from a family wherein there were at least six children borne to Joseph and Mary:
Matthew 13:53-58 53 ¶ “And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”
Joseph never said that he was the father of Jesus; He knew that the true Father was God.
(2.) Opponents also point out a vicious rumor that Jesus was born illegitimately:
John 8:41b-45 “They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father--even God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.”
The greatest proof we have for the virgin birth is the life of Jesus Christ Himself. Because Jesus had an intimate relationship with His heavenly Father, he lived a life on this earth that no mere mortal could have lived. Because Jesus was God’s Son, He was able to heal the lame, give sight to the blind, and raise the dead. Only the God-man, Jesus Christ, could have done those things – miracles that His opponents could not deny. Jesus died a horrible death for His people, and rose from the dead to be our living Savior, Who is coming again. It is only Jesus, the Son of God Who forgives men of their sins.
Those who chose to reject the virgin birth of Jesus also reject Jesus, the Son of God. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Have You Received God's Gift?
Have You Received God’s Gift?
By Creth D. Hopkins
What do you want for Christmas? This question is probably the most asked question there is during any Christmas season. And the answer to such a question is manifold in nature. Gifts asked for range from cars to handbags, shoes to shotguns, perfume to puppies. But I have one question for you: Have you received God’s gift?
In the Biblical account surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, we have the following heavenly message conveyed to Joseph, the betrothed husband to Mary:
"Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20-21).
The gift of God is His Son, Jesus. The name Jesus means “Yahweh saves.” When a person receives Jesus as his/her personal Savior, that person is saved. It sounds simple, and it is – but the ramifications of receiving such a heavenly gift are immense. To understand the gift and its ramifications, let’s look at the heavenly declaration closer.
“She will bear a son…” The first thing we must recognize is that Jesus is a heavenly gift. The personhood of Jesus did not originate in the womb of Mary. Jesus was not created in time, rather he became incarnate in time. Incarnate means “in the flesh.” Micah, the prophet, spoke of the eternality of Jesus over 700 years before he was born into this world:
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2).
Before Jesus took on human form, He existed in eternity. The apostle John quotes Jesus speaking to this point in a conversation with the Jews:
56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad." 57 So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am"(John 8:56-58).
When Jesus was speaking to Pilate about His Kingship and His Kingdom, Jesus said,
"You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”
(John 18:37).
Only Jesus could have said this: “For this purpose I was born…I have come into this world…”.
(1.) To receive God’s gift, you must believe that Jesus is God come in the flesh.
(2.) To receive God’s gift, you must acknowledge you are a sinner.
The Bible states:
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Will you acknowledge the truth about yourself – you are a sinner in God’s eyes. If you will confess that to God, then the Bible has some great news for you:
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15).
This is God’s heavenly message to you: To glorify His Father, Jesus came to save sinners:
“…for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21c).
(3.) To receive God’s gift, you must repent (turn away) from your sins, and ask Jesus to save you.
By receiving God’s gift, your sins are forgiven you, you become a child of God, and your final home will be heaven. Jesus said,
“Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37).
Will you receive God’s gift this Christmas?
By Creth D. Hopkins
What do you want for Christmas? This question is probably the most asked question there is during any Christmas season. And the answer to such a question is manifold in nature. Gifts asked for range from cars to handbags, shoes to shotguns, perfume to puppies. But I have one question for you: Have you received God’s gift?
In the Biblical account surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, we have the following heavenly message conveyed to Joseph, the betrothed husband to Mary:
"Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20-21).
The gift of God is His Son, Jesus. The name Jesus means “Yahweh saves.” When a person receives Jesus as his/her personal Savior, that person is saved. It sounds simple, and it is – but the ramifications of receiving such a heavenly gift are immense. To understand the gift and its ramifications, let’s look at the heavenly declaration closer.
“She will bear a son…” The first thing we must recognize is that Jesus is a heavenly gift. The personhood of Jesus did not originate in the womb of Mary. Jesus was not created in time, rather he became incarnate in time. Incarnate means “in the flesh.” Micah, the prophet, spoke of the eternality of Jesus over 700 years before he was born into this world:
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2).
Before Jesus took on human form, He existed in eternity. The apostle John quotes Jesus speaking to this point in a conversation with the Jews:
56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad." 57 So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am"(John 8:56-58).
When Jesus was speaking to Pilate about His Kingship and His Kingdom, Jesus said,
"You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”
(John 18:37).
Only Jesus could have said this: “For this purpose I was born…I have come into this world…”.
(1.) To receive God’s gift, you must believe that Jesus is God come in the flesh.
(2.) To receive God’s gift, you must acknowledge you are a sinner.
The Bible states:
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Will you acknowledge the truth about yourself – you are a sinner in God’s eyes. If you will confess that to God, then the Bible has some great news for you:
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15).
This is God’s heavenly message to you: To glorify His Father, Jesus came to save sinners:
“…for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21c).
(3.) To receive God’s gift, you must repent (turn away) from your sins, and ask Jesus to save you.
By receiving God’s gift, your sins are forgiven you, you become a child of God, and your final home will be heaven. Jesus said,
“Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37).
Will you receive God’s gift this Christmas?
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