tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65161117619620968202024-03-29T00:25:18.208-07:00Dr. John's Bible Studies<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lvncT5WLCVo/RZ69nLMhObI/AAAAAAAAAA0/1XqJ4LxpugU/s1600-h/Bible,jpg.jpg"><img src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lvncT5WLCVo/RZ69nLMhObI/AAAAAAAAAA0/1XqJ4LxpugU/s200/Bible,jpg.jpg" border="2"/></a><big><big><big><big> Dr. John's Bible Studies</big></big></big></big><br>
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom... Colossians 3:16Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-67461224880016293932011-10-30T11:48:00.000-07:002011-11-05T11:49:38.266-07:00Does Your Life Please God? - Romans 12<span style="font-size:130%;">In the early chapters of Romans Paul emphasized the universal plight of sin in the lives of both Jews and Gentiles. Then he presented the provision of salvation by grace through faith, and not law and works; then [in 9-11] he explained how the Jews had rejected the salvation plan and suggested that their rejection was used by God to reach the Gentile nation. This has been a heart warming </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>theological discussion</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> of God’s plan for man. Beginning in chapter 12, Paul moves from the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>theological study</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> to the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>practical use</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in individual lives. </span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul begins in verse one by making a challenge to all listeners and readers. “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When Paul uses the word sacrifices here he is making reference to the sacrifice of animals in the OT, but God and Christ have made it clear that obedience from the heart is much more important than the sacrifice of bulls and goats. God is looking for a committed life. Are you committed? If your answer is yes; do your actions prove it? Have you become as a little child in your faith and trust?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">For some reason it is very difficult for adults [especially men] to think like and emulate children in their daily life. Jesus knew this was the condition of adult hearts and in Matthew 18:2, he was dealing with the problem when he called a child, had him stand in front of the people and said: “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Remember this! Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Kingdom of heaven.”</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> What did he mean? He was simply saying that if we want to please God we must obtain and maintain the attitude of a child that normally has inherited an abiding faith in their parents and a strong desire to be accepted by both parents and others such as teachers, ministers, and anyone in a guardian position.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Children desire to please their parents in order to receive their approval. Young students try to please their teachers not just to make good grades but they crave recognition and respect. A child has an implicit trust in a parent; so much so that they will stand on a high platform and jump into the arms of the father—believing that they will be protected from harm; a child who can not swim will jump from a diving board into a pool of water if dad is there to catch them…that is faith in action. Their action demonstrates their love for the one that will save them. Love at this magnitude has no hypocrisy in it; and it is important that we realize this for in 12:9, Paul tells us that “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Love must be without hypocrisy, detest evil; and cling to that which is good.”</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God is our Heavenly Father, and he wants us to offer ourselves [not dead animals] but a living soul as a daily sacrifice through our obedience. Do I believe in the “Security of the Believer?” Yes I do. But I also believe that there are some who may believe that they are saved when they may not be. How can one know for sure? DOES YOUR LIFE PLEASE GOD? You are pleasing God when you continually and willingly trying to do what Paul is telling us here that we must do. We must be constantly aware that our obedience must be rendered because of our love for Him, and what Jesus has already done for us. [Christ died for all and saved us when we trusted him] and our constant and willing obedience is the living proof that we are PLEASING GOD. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The acts of obedience are legion; too numerous for me to list all, but Paul listed some in this chapter and there is enough here to help us know whether God is pleased with us or not. We have different gifts: no man has all gifts but each person has a gift that he can use to obey. We are to use the ones we have; if it is prophesying—use it. If your gift is serving others, then you must serve. If you are an encourager, a contributor, a leader, or can show mercy, then you must do what God has enabled you to do. All acts of obedience must be done out of a heart of love and not for gain. I can not think of any other two words in the bible that are more important than the words ‘love’ and ‘obedience.’</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul tells us that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“our love must be sincere.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">He said, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">One gift does apply to all of us, and there is no excuse for our neglect because we can all “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Be faithful in our prayer life.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Do you really care whether or not YOUR LIFE PLEASES GOD? If you do, then you will read the twelfth chapter of Romans. Paul tells us what our personal responsibility entails and it is easy to understand. However, it is not necessarily easy for us to do. You will find the order given in verse 20 to be the most difficult [at times it is for me]. We are to love our enemies, feed them when they are hungry; and give them water when they are thirsty. We are living in a world where people prefer to sue for what they can gain rather than forgive. We are not to be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is imperative that you realize that before you can even think about pleasing God through the life that you are living each day—you must first accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior and Lord of your life. If you have been redeemed from a life of sin, I believe that you can read this chapter, obey where you have the gifts to do so and really know that YOUR LIFE IS PLEASING TO GOD. If you are still young—accept Him now while you have time left to lay up many treasures in Heaven; and if you are growing old, surrender your life now, today, because you don’t have much time to spare. </span> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-76817156860285821912011-10-23T11:46:00.000-07:002011-11-05T11:48:01.819-07:00God's Plan - Romans 9 - 12<span style="font-size:130%;">You will note that I have entitled this lesson as GOD’S PLAN. Plan is singular by intent; because </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><u>only God</u></i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> could have organized one plan that could and did cover everything that exists today; or has ever existed, or ever will exist in all of Heaven, earth and in the universe. In previous lessons I have established that God is SOVEREIGN; [has always exited and is the one and only supreme ruler]. God is OMNIPOTENT [has absolutely no limitations] and is OMNIPRESENT [has always been everywhere] and He is IMMUTABLE which means that He has never and will never change. </span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>The one characteristic of God that is especially important in your ability to understand this lesson is that God is OMNISCIENT</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> [</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>knows all</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>things</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">]. God knew a trillion years ago </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>[or when God was]</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> that I would be writing this lesson today and He knew that you would be reading it; and He was then… and still is very concerned about how well you will understand his purpose for your life and the mercy he has shown toward you; and that you never give up, but always remember that He is a patient God. You were given free choice, however, because of his fore-knowledge; you must understand that He has always known what your spiritual condition would be this day—He has always known you! And He has always known where you would spend eternity—because he knew what choices you would make. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Now, please stop for one moment where you are and try [as best you can] to visualize the entire universe including the sun, moon, stars, galaxies and the known world. You live here on earth and know something about what is happening here; so </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>emphasize your study</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> of the earth and all its wondrous beauty and complexities, including the mountains, rivers and oceans, night and day and how the earth hangs in space, held by gravity. Now think about all the living things, plants, animals, and people, with organs, tissues, cells, which have many parts, including a wall, protoplasm, nucleolus, genes, and even DNA]. All of these things that we know about are only a ‘dot’ on the map of His total creation which includes the many galaxies that only the scientists have discovered, and think they know about. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Only God in his total majesty has the ability to design a plan of this magnitude! Therefore, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that God’s plan included the life of each and every human being, from inception to the grave, and encompasses all eternity. In his plan He decided to give each of us the freedom and responsibility to choose our eternal destination. That is, he planned a heaven and a hell, and gave you and me the privilege to choose where we would spend eternity, and He has challenged each of us to “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">There is no gray area; you must either choose God and righteousness or Satin and evil. Jesus says that we are either ‘for’ Him or ‘against’ Him, and that simply means that there is no middle ground; no fence to ride. You must make a choice; </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>if you do not choose him, you automatically choose to stand against him.</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God created a perfect world and also man with his help-mate, knowing that man would choose to disobey Him. Therefore, his original plan also included his plan of redemption and salvation, [a way for man to be forgiven and be able to return unto Him in a perfect state, [as though he had never been lost]. The plan resulted because of his </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>grace, free and un-earned, without merit on man’s part, </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">and because of </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>his Mercy </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">which you can learn about in 9: 1-29. We have assurance that we can participate in this plan as explained by Paul in [9:30-10:21]. We know that we are sinners and that we do not please Him throughout much of the life we live, but we can be assured that He will be patient with us and that he is a God of second and third opportunities by studying [Romans 11: 1-36. Our lesson today is ALL ABOUT GOD’S PLAN.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Many of those [especially the Jews] that heard Paul preach opposed him. Because of his message he was rejected and persecuted, run out of town, stoned to near death and actually thought to be dead, because of Jewish opposition [see 2: Cor. 11:22-27]. Please read this passage; it is amazing that the Jews could treat Paul the way they did and for him to still love them and care for their future. One might think that he would seek revenge and either mislead his enemies or withhold the truth from them; but he did not. Paul forgave them and spent his life trying to reach them and bring God’s Plan </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>to </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>them and all</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u> </u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>posterity</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> [Read 9: 1-5].</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Paul seemingly tried to emulate the life of Christ by saying that, if it were possible, he would be willing to be cursed and cut off from Christ if it would save his own race—the people of Israel. In other words, Paul was willing for God to condemn him—if by so doing, that would save his people of Jewish descent. Then in verse five, he reminded them that Jesus became the Messiah [The one and only God over all] and that the Messiah descended from Jewish parents.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Primarily, Paul is dealing with a group of Jews. God had told them that, since Abraham, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>they</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> were His </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>chosen people</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. He gave them the law, and made them many promises, and for about six thousand years they had believed in God and trusted him to keep his promises to them. And now Paul is telling them that salvation is by grace through their faith </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>and not of</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>law or works</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">—and it is easy to see why they were upset. His answer starts in verse six: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>you must read it. </b></i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">He says the word of God </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>has not failed</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">; but some of you have failed because you are not in total obedience…which is required. He said that “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Not all of you who are descendants of </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>Israel </b></i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>are</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><b> Israel.” </b></i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> What does this mean? The word Israel generally applies to the people living there that are doing God’s will; therefore if they are disobedient they are really not considered a part of the recipients of his promises. Then Paul gives examples of what he means; he used Abraham and his sons, Isaac and Ishmael to explain.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God promised Abraham that he would father a great nation. When his wife Sarah could not bear children—they took things into their own hands and tried to help God’s promise come true by having Abraham sire a son, Ishmael, through his maid servant…not his wife. Later Sarah had a son, Isaac, fulfilling God’s promise. Ishmael was the oldest and should, by law, be the one to succeed his father; it was a promise—God changed the rule and declared the younger son Isaac as the seed of Abraham. Thus not physical descent, but the will of God determined the inheritor of the promise. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>It may not be written anywhere in the bible, [but I personally think</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> that someone may have ask Paul if God did this—[“Could he possibly be honest and fair? And did God go back on his promise?] If they did not ask the question—then Paul just knew what they were thinking, because he answered the question in verse 14. “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? ABSOLUTELY NOT!”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God did not give the blessing to the firstborn who by ancient tradition should always receive it. God did not include all descendants of Abraham in the covenant. God blessed Jacob, though Jacob had not earned it. Paul is proving that God’s actions grow out of His mercy and grace and not from justice; if this were not true, we would all be damned [see 2 Chron. 19-7].</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We find the words predestined and foreknowledge in several scriptures. There is no doubt in my mind that God knew each of us before we were conceived—He has that foreknowledge. At the time He designed his PLAN, He foreknew that many would never accept Him, but he included “freedom of choice” and placed the responsibility on the shoulders of each one to make the choice. Paul explains that responsibility in 10:8-13—you must read this scripture. You must choose; and herein is the decision you must make. Your faith is in your heart and it must be confessed with your mouth. “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Jesus is Lord”—when you [must] confess this with your mouth, and believe in your heart [faith] that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead YOU WILL BE SAVED. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. The scripture says, ‘anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, God is Lord of all, and richly blesses all who call on Him,--for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">You make the choice, God gave you this privilege, however, He has always known which choice you would make.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We owe much to the Jews because God chose them to reveal his coming to the entire world—some of them never believed, or they disobeyed Him. However, He always had a remnant that remained faithful. God never promised that the entire nation would be saved; only those who were faithful to Him [the remnant] were considered true Jews [11:5]. Paul says some were hardened; but this was not punishment for their sin. It was a confirmation of their personal stubbornness and rebellion. The scripture says that God will not always strive with man—and this is an example where God removed their ability to see and hear and repent as the consequences of their rebellion; God did not predestine them to die; they made their own choice. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Verses 8-10 describe the punishment for hardened hearts as predicted by the prophet [Isaiah 6:9-13]. If you [any one] continually refuse to hear the Word, you will eventually not be able to understand it. Paul saw this happening among his people. Do you realize that in God’s plan, he intended for their failures to lead to the salvation of the gentile world? God did not force any Jew to be disobedient; however, in His plan he arranged it so that those that did would make it possible to save Gentiles who would otherwise have never known about the plan of Salvation. God conquered the Jewish spirit and dominant drive in Paul [a devout Jew] on the road to Damascus, and here in this lesson Paul is now trying to get both Jew and Gentile to understand the plan of salvation is by grace through faith and not works and law.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God did not predetermine that any man or woman would go to heaven or hell, but he did predetermine that they would have to choose for themselves, and because of His foreknowledge, God knew which choice they would make.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Note: Predestination is a deep subject; many disagree on its true and total meaning. I pray that I have </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>not </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">misled any one; but if so, that God and you will forgive me. Amen.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-63790643405422671322011-10-16T11:44:00.000-07:002011-11-05T11:45:51.977-07:00The Security of the Believers - Romans 8<span style="font-size:130%;">There are some simple truths in God’s word that can not be denied. One of the most important truths is that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>GOD IS OMNIPOTENT, </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">which simply means that His power is innate; that is, God was not born; </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>He has always</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>been;</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>and there has never been any limitation to the power of God</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. In Genesis 18:14, the Hebrew language asks the question </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Is there anything too hard for the Lord? </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And the language is so constructed that it means to imply—</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Of course not, nothing is too hard for the Lord to do.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Therefore, God has the power to save man from sin and He also has the power to keep him saved. Ask yourself the simple question. Has God ever lost anything that he loved and wanted to keep? He loves you and if you have given your life to Him—He wants to keep it.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">All Southern Baptist would like the world to know why we believe in “The security of the believer,” and much of the proof is found in the 8</span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"> chapter of Romans, which we study today. By reading Article II of “The Baptist Faith and Message” you will find that we believe that the triune God reveals Himself to us as </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This means that he is </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>three persons in one; </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">each one has His own personal attributes, but there is no division of nature, essence or being; in other words, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>God is one in essence [His fundamental nature] but He is three in personality.</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God is OMINIPRESENT; </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>He has always been everywhere. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">He remained in Heaven while His Son came to earth and lived approximately thirty-three years during which time Jesus Christ [The Son] completed the plan of salvation for man-kind; and after this work was completed Jesus sent The Holy Spirit [third person of the God head] to earth to utilize his plan to save the lost by convicting and leading people to Christ. Our study today is dealing with the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all people on earth.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Article II of Baptist Faith further states that The Holy Spirit is the third person in the God Head. He deals with each of us individually and in different ways. He inspired special authors to write the Bible and through its illumination He enables us to understand the truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer in the Body of Christ. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption, The Holy Spirit is not one/third of God; neither is He a third God, but he is God, present and active in your life and mine. In order to get the full picture you MUST READ: His Presence in Romans 8:1-11; His Guidance 12-17; His Prayer Life 18-27; and we will expound more on His Assurance found in 8:28-39.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Let me be very frank and to the point. The doctrine of </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>security of the believer </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">does not apply to an unsaved person. Only after you have accepted Christ as your Savior [been born again of the Spirit] are you secure in Christ. As kindly as I know how—allow me to warn you—that if you are still willingly living a sinful life, and enjoying it, you need to re-examine your re-birth experience. If you did not realize that you were a sinner, lost without hope; and if you did not find new hope in The Lord Jesus Christ, believe in Him, trust Him, and repent of your sins, and invite Him to come into your life and save you, and promise to live for Him and through Him—you are not saved! But if you are saved verses 9 through 11 applies to you. Read it. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">You are saved now, therefore the outward person that we all can see, touch and talk to is in the flesh, but your soul is </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>not in the flesh, but in the spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. Without the Spirit, you do not belong to God. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It is not unusual for the best of us to wonder sometimes if we are really a Christian but we must realize that this is the work of Satin. Some are waiting for a “feeling” to know…and you will never have a feeling that gives complete assurance. How can you know? Believe God. Trust. Faith. You will know The Spirit has come only because Jesus promised he would send His Spirit to us. When he starts working in you, you will know without a doubt that Jesus is the Christ; God’s Son and that eternal life can be obtained only through Him [1: John 6:5]. You will begin to willingly act as The Lord directs you to act [8:5]; your mind will be set on what the Spirit desires of you.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the greatest works of the Spirit is his help with our prayer life. Some Christians are so old and ill and this and other family conditions have brought about so many problems that we do not know what or how to pray for the right things. Verses 26-27 are two of my most comforting verses in the bible. I try to think of all my blessings and thank him for the ones I remember and then call on the Holy Spirit to name the rest that I have forgotten. I usually have a special need that is hurting, or that is causing a special concern and I pray for Gods intervention; but what I believe to be even more important is that I ask the Holy Spirit to really decide what my greatest needs are and ask God to provide only what is most important. Do you sometimes have problems wording your prayers? If so, why don’t you place this problem in the hands of the Holy Spirit? He will help you Pray. Ask Him to complete a perfect prayer; one that God can and will honor. Be sure to end each prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ. The Bible directs us to always pray in the name of Christ.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Romans 8:28 is one of [if not] the greatest verses in the Bible. First, you must love God and must have been called by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the purpose that God has for your life. If you meet this condition—then you can be absolutely sure that God will work through all of the things that take place in your life here on earth [good things or terrible experiences] and that He will make the end result something good for you. You may have doubts; you may not always understand; but in God’s time He will work things out for your good. You simply must exercise your faith; you must truly believe that God is faithful, truthful and completely just and will do what he has promised to do for you!!!! </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Those who are called are the ones [every one] that the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ as their savior and Lord. After their conversion, everyone now has a new mind set and a new perspective on life. They do not trust in self, power, position, money, but in God only. In 1 John we find that God’s ultimate goal for us is to make us more like Christ. As we become more like Christ we can discover our true selves and God’s chosen purpose for us. How can we discover and know that we are in his will? We can learn this by studying His Word and examining the life that he lived as a man on earth [with temptations and trials just as we have] and emulating his life through our lives. When we do good works we prove that our faith is strong. God predestined that we do good works; it was not an after-thought with Him, however we do these works to prove we are saved and not in order to be saved.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Christ loved us and saved us and so we are more than conquerors through him who loved us [v-37]. Paul then says that because we have won the battle [become more than conquerors] we can be sure that we have won our battle against Satin. He said; </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” [v-38]. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Christ is in us and we are in Christ—He holds us in his hands—an no one can pluck us out of his hand [John 10:28].</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-30009474378649081242011-10-09T11:42:00.000-07:002011-11-05T11:43:56.241-07:00It's All About Victory - Romans 7<span style="font-size:130%;">In all history nations [especially the weaker ones] have struggled against the threat of being over run and even destroyed by ungodly governments of the super powers. In our recent studies of Jeremiah. We learned of the demise of Judah and Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. And then in AD 70, Rome destroyed the city again. It has been over 2000 years now, and the total return of a complete country with specific boundaries has still not been re-established. There are literally hundreds of examples of the rise and fall of nations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I was 18 years old when I graduated from High School in April of 1943 and had already volunteered for the Air Corps, knowing that we had been at war with the Nazis in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific since they bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and that I was sure to be drafted soon. At my age, my memory is not as sharp as it once was, but I well remember D-Day, June 6, 1944. Things had not been going well for the US and her allies in Europe, and the successful invasion of Normandy [although very costly in lives lost] was the first real glimmer of Victory over our enemies in WWII. This was the largest invasion effort ever attempted in any war and involved over 150 thousand soldiers and more than 175 thousand Marines and Naval personnel. Although battles continued to rage until the war was over in May, 1945, our hope for VICTORY was never as dim as it had been before the invasion.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">All of these examples, both named and referred to, are mere skirmishes in comparison to the greatest threat ever to invade the world and that would be the invasion of sin into the life of each person that would ever live in this sinful world. The price [or result] of sin is death, and therefore man was doomed until God sent his Son to provide a way of escape…a way to VICTORY. The death of Jesus Christ on the Cross overshadows the deaths of all the soldiers in all the wars of all times and provides each of us a door to complete and eternal VICTORY. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">When sin entered the world God gave man a right to choose how he would live his life, however, God maintained complete authority to determine what is right or Godly and what is wrong or sinful. It therefore became necessary for God to provide a way for man to decide or know what was righteous and what was evil, and he provided his law and revealed it through His priest and prophets. The Ten Commandments formed the basis, they were carved in stone and written on scrolls and delivered to His people. God’s laws were never meant to save man from sin; but they were given so that man could know right from wrong. God’s people lived under and by these laws for over 4,000 years and dedicated people came to believe that their eternal life depended upon their keeping of the law.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">One of, if not the greatest problem, that Paul and the other apostles and teachers of the New Testament age had was to convince the Jews that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ and his grace, through their faith and not of works [and not of keeping the law]. Paul shows that the law is powerless to save the sinner but that the law is not a sin in itself; rather it is the school master that taught him that he was a sinner. He said, “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘do not covet.’ </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The sinner is condemned by the law; the law keeper can not live up to it—and the person with the new nature finds his or her obedience to law sabotaged by the effects of the old sinful nature.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Last Sunday our teacher said that he sometimes thinks that many ministers and teachers make the salvation experience sound too easy; just believe on the Lord and be saved…period. Paul surely confirms that belief here because he is saying that we are saved by trusting in Christ but after that there are many things given n law that one must do in order to be obedient to Gods command…Not to be saved; But to be obedient after one is saved. It seems very evident here that ‘keeping the law’ and ‘doing good works’ are both absolutely necessary not to gain salvation but to prove that we are believers.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul said that he was a slave to sin. In verse 15 he said, “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Then he said that the confusion comes because he still has the sinful nature that he has to deal with each day. The law only tells him what his sins are and reminds him when he is out of line…and that is the purpose of the law. But when he wants forgiveness for those sins, he must go back to Jesus Christ, who is the only source of forgiveness.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In closing of the lesson, I am made to wonder if there is any way to lead people to see sin as an evader of earth and even more devastating that the invasion of France and Belgium by the Nazis. And then even more important, is there any way for Christian people to lead the world to see the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the one battle that brought victory to the world. We emphasize the importance of the lives of our soldiers that have given their lives for America’s freedom [and we should] but so often we forget the sacrifice our Lord made for our souls. </span> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-43568567618436399792011-10-02T08:23:00.000-07:002011-10-10T08:25:00.674-07:00It's All About New Life - Romans 6<span style="font-size:130%;">We are fortunate in this country; especially here in the greatest state, Arkansas, to have special caring people who have dedicated their life’s work to programs designed to help people in despair find </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>New Life</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. The Sheriff’s Ranch at Batesville works with young people that might otherwise be in reform school or prison. Southern Baptist support homes for orphans and otherwise neglected children. There are now two homes in Heber that caters to battered women and unwed mothers. A few years ago Bro. Lloyd Blanton, of Heber Springs, dedicated his life to a work with offenders who are serving time for crime and drug abuse, and First Baptist Church, Heber, furnishes them a building to use as their headquarters for work, counseling and worship services. These programs and many more are in many ways about obtaining a NEW earthly LIFE, the title of our lesson for today deals with one obtaining a NEW SPIRITUAL LIFE. It is ironical but a New Spiritual Life is the best assurance one can have of a NEW earthly LIFE.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In each case referred to above there will always be specific circumstances that differ, but generally speaking these unfortunate citizens at one time lived a human life style that was at least not life-threatening; however, every one of us are born into a flawed life style that mandated us to live under the threat of sin. It is sad but sins such as lust, greed, pride, and abuse of drugs; and finally lying, stealing, spouse abuse and even neglect of children crept in creating an unacceptable life style that has only one remedy—each one must create a NEW LIFE. The new life will only be productive or even acceptable when the individual or family commit themselves to following the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Roman Road, </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">as recorded in the gospel of Romans. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>Please read Romans</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Each one of us was borne of man, and inherited the characteristics of our parents. The first man, Adam, was created perfect, but God chose to give him his choice of choosing good or evil, life or death, heaven or hell, and the Genesis story tells us that man chose to disobey God, and he fell from grace. Sin interred the human race at the Garden of Eden on that day. I contend that was the saddest day in human history for because of it all posterity has been born in sin. By one man, Adam, sin entered the world; and then God provided one Man [Jesus] to pay our sin debt and thereby provided us a way for us to obtain a NEW SPIRITUAL LIFE that, if personally accepted, will redeem, save, convert us and make it as though we had never sinned.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I also contend that the happiest day in all history for mortal beings, as horrible as it had to be, was the day our Lord was crucified. His death gave all men the right of choice to choose to continue in the old and original life of sin and death, or a NEW LIFE of righteousness and glory. This life on earth is like a vapor, here for a moment and then it vanishes away. For many, it is relative plesant, enjoyable and acceptable; for others it is often harsh, negative and hard to accept. However for all it provides the opportunity to make the right choice regarding where we will spend eternity…forever…world without end. Therefore, it is ALL ABOUT LIFE. If you have lived to the age of accountability here on earth—</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Choose you this day whom you will serve.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In order for you to understand why we are talking about the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>old life, </i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">and </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>the new life</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in this lesson you </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>must study the content in chapter six. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The people had just been told that sin was increasing, but that grace abounded and always remained sufficient to cover the sins of man. The first admonition in the sixth chapter is that people must not think that they can continue in sin simply because God’s grace will increase when they do. Yes, God forgives sin, but that does not make sin any less serious. God does love man, and Gave His Son to die on the Cross to forgive our sin; Our Savior enjoys our acceptance of his gift, but he still hates the sin that caused his death. There is no doubt; the availability of God’s mercy must not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxness.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul used the picture of baptism to explain what it means to have a NEW LIFE in Christ. In that day, immersion was the usual form of baptism—that is, new Christians were completely ‘buried’ in water. Even in the baptism of Jesus, the bible says that he went down into the water and came up out of the water…He was buried in water. People understood that this form of baptism symbolized the death to an old life and a resurrection up and into a New Life—and it is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the ‘coming up out of the water’ symbolizes Christ ‘coming up out of the grave’—He was dead, but he arose to New Life.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We must think of our old life [life before being saved] as being dead and buried and as a Christian, we must now have a powerful motive to resist any further sin, and there must now be a deep desire to sin no more. A born-again-believer can enjoy a New Life in Christ because we are united with him in his </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>death and resurrection.</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Our bondage to sin must now be gone, because our evil desires and love for sin died with Christ. Now, by grace, through our faith, we have an unbreakable fellowship with Jesus Christ, our Savior. We may sin, but we do not desire to sin—and if we do sin, his grace is always sufficient to forgive us of our sin when we repent and ask for forgiveness. Dear friends, this chapter in Romans has a powerful message—please take time to read all 23 verses. This chapter conveys the reason why I believe that if anyone </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>still enjoys sin</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">, they need to re-examine their salvation experience—and ask the question: Am I really saved??? Learn more by reading Ephesians 4:21-24 and Colossians 3: 3-15.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Verse six tells us that the power and penalty of sin died with Christ on the cross. When any person accepts Christ their Old Self or sinful desire dies once and for all, so we are now free from its power. The ‘body of sin’ mentioned here is not the human physical body—but it is our rebellious sin-loving nature that we inherited from Adam as recorded in Genesis. We should not think of our body as being sinful even though it sometimes cooperates with our sinful nature. It is not our body that is wrong but the sinful nature in us leads us to do wrong. Verses 8-10 should make the fear of death mute in our earthly life, for we know that Christ died and now lives and will forever, and Christians are alive in Christ and they too will never die.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since we are saved for sure and forever can we continue to sin at will? Verse 15 says that “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>By no means”! </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">You can not!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">When you accept Christ, you become his helper, his hands and feet…He becomes your Master and you become His slave. While you remain in sin, sin is your master and you are a slave to sin. You can not serve two masters? No. You can either serve God and holiness with the end result being eternal life; or, you can serve sin and evil and earn wages for it</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Have you made your choice? Please remember that life, even four-score and ten years, is so short; it is like a vapor or cloud—here now, and momentarily gone. A cloud appears and then with one small shift in the wind it disappears from our view and is gone forever.</span></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-63951027620577546602011-09-25T08:22:00.000-07:002011-10-10T08:23:28.033-07:00It Is All About Grace - Romans 5:1-21<span style="font-size:130%;">[See first word in title above] What is ‘IT’? It happens to be ‘salvation’ or ‘being saved’ from eternal damnation and/or eternal separation from God and all that is good. Or the positive picture is one of being forever in Heaven in the presence of God, our creator, His Son Jesus Christ and all of our loved ones who have been saved by Grace, through their faith in His Son. No other inspired writer emphasized this truth more often and more forcefully than the Apostle Paul. There is absolutely no other way to be saved! All mortals who ever become citizens of Heaven will do so because of the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Grace of God; </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">and </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>through their active, working faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It is not enough to just ‘say’ “I have faith”—faith becomes active and working when you truly believe in the Lord and totally commit your life into his keeping. Example: You can truly believe that a life-raft will save your life from drowning and take you safely to the shore; your belief will only become an active, working faith when you climb on board and fully realize that you are floating safely above the destructive water and breathing life saving oxygen from God’s pure air.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There is a HIGHWAY to heaven! To my knowledge no bible has ever been published with a physical map designating the route one must take but the highway does exist. The biblical map consists of verbal instructions, and the best one is called “The Roman Road” which is found in The Book of Romans, it was written by Paul and it tells us how to get from earth to heaven safely. The first thing we must realize is that we need God’s power [and grace] because we have a problem with sin—“</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">3:23]. “Sin” means we have missed the mark; missed God’s intended destination for us—heaven. No one can reach the destination on our own. Your good works will not save you; however as soon as you are saved, you must go to The Book of Peter and learn what he means when he says that “faith without works is dead.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We can work and earn money, wealth; but sin earns wages as well, the bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“For the wages of sin is death, but the </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>gift</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> [grace] of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Romans 6: 23]. A verbal highway to heaven is found in Romans 10:9: “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">To confess Jesus as Lord involves agreeing with God about your sin and your need for salvation. All must repent of their sin and turn around from the direction they are headed. There is only one highway—it has a destination at each end and your future depends upon the direction you are going. To “believe in your heart” is the act of placing your faith in Jesus, trusting that He died on the cross to pay for your sins. “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” 5: 8].</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This lesson covers chapter five in Romans. The first part elaborates on—or offers a conclusion to—the line of truths found in chapters three and four; and there are two leading thoughts found here. 1. It explains the method of induction into the grace of salvation. 2. It discusses the happy estate of the justified person. There is a doubled-barreled question being answered here. First how do we get into Christ? Then, how does Christ get into you? You can find this concept in John 15-4—“</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>I in you…and you in me” This</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> is where we get the doctrines of Justification through faith…we get into Christ by His grace through our faith. Then Regeneration continues daily because Christ lives in and through us gracefully; we are regenerated, grow, become more Christ-like because He is in us.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The first verse tells us about the happy estate of the justified person. It is very simple </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. </b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This peace comes only by faith in Christ and not by works lest anyone should boast. I personally can think of no other condition that can ever surpass the position of any man who has </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Peace with God.</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There appears to be two concepts mentioned in these verses that could cause concern to anyone with a weak faith. The Bible teaches that salvation is a one act seen. We are by grace through faith accepted into the family of God, and Christ says that no one, power or principality can pluck us out of his hand or the hand of his Father. On the other hand we must continue to grow in Christ [we are becoming more like Him]. We are in the world but not of the world. We continually feel the presence of Christ and also the daily presence and pressures of sin. We must realize that only through his power are we able to withstand the darts of the evil one.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul started the book of Romans telling strangers that they were sinners because of sin’s nature and origin, and not because God had created them that way. Now in verse twelve today he uses Genesis as his source to remind all of us that sin entered the world </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>through one man</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and that it has now come to all men, for all have sinned. The most wonderful part of this message is that God also sent the remedy for sin </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>through one man</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;">, His Son, Jesus Christ. Just as all men fell because of one man…now all can be saved by faith in what one man [Christ] has done for us. He gave his life’s blood on the Cross so that all who believed in him, repented of their sin, and confessed Him as their Lord would be saved.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We become so discouraged when we realize that trespasses and sin has increased even in our lifetime. What we really should do is rejoice because Paul tells us that when sin increases, God’s Grace Increases </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>even more</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. We do not deserve it. It is unmerited grace. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Just as sin</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul gives all believers [all saved people] a sincere warning when he tells us that God’s grace increases even more than sin does. He says that this does not give us a license to sin any time we want to. If one is saved, he/she will not have a </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>desire</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> sin. I realize that it is not ‘politically correct’ for me to tell you this—but if you still have within your heart a true desire to sin—you need to re-examine the experience you had that caused you to think that you were save. [</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>If we say that we do not sin, we lie; the truth is not in us.] </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>However, </u></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Christians do not rejoice in their sinning ways; therefore if you do, you are still in a lost condition and have never been saved by grace through faith. The bible exhorts us to examine ourselves and determine which road we are traveling on and which direction we are going.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you are truly interested in your future and want to find your way, and know what your destination will be—please study the Book of Romans, for it is the best road-map to heaven that has ever been written. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>There has never been a time in all history when it was more important for people to read God’s Word, study the verbal road map, and start following it daily.</i></span></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-16849466855598620792011-09-18T08:20:00.000-07:002011-10-10T08:21:51.103-07:00Good News to Believe - Romans 3:27 - 4:25<span style="font-size:130%;">I will paraphrase a message that is covered well by the author of our lesson for today that appears in “Exploring the Bible” published by LifeWay. It is really sad to know that there are older people that have lived great lives and have been a positive force in the lives of many people and have enjoyed being “good neighbors” to so many and are mistakenly banking on their good-works to get them to heaven. They have built an imaginary scale in their mind that weighs good and evil…it is a simple ‘balance board’…and they have placed all their good deeds on one end and their evil deeds on the other, and since the ‘good’ outweighs the ‘bad’ they visualize this as their ticket to life eternal. They only ‘hope’ the plan works, and they have no bible proof that it will. In fact the Bible teaches that it will not work. In fact, the balance board proves that it will not work…because the heavy end of the board “goes down” and not up toward heaven.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The somewhat new phrase “politically correct” has become so popular and accepted by so many that today there are Preachers, Pastors, Church Leaders and Bible Commentary Writers who are afraid to teach the “Whole Truth” which tells us that there is a Hell to shun just as surely as there is a Heaven to gain. Their argument is that if they, as a Bible witness, condemn wickedness strongly, they will not be able to continue to reach their followers, who may be committing some of the sins mentioned and will be turned off, and will not continue to attend and participate. Paul thought that it was necessary for him to teach the truth and that it was his follower’s responsibility to either accept or reject it. In the end, their ‘lost blood’ will not be on his hands.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Salvation has nothing to do with doing what man thinks is correct, [political correctness] nor does it have anything to do with one being good enough to receive God’s approval. Be careful now and do not miss-quote me when I tell you that personal salvation [being saved] is not attained through your belief that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>there is a God</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;">, and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to redeem lost man. (The Devil believes this to be true and he will never be saved] The Good News is that we MUST BELIEVE…We have been told the truth and we have the opportunity to accept it. This is “faith” and faith is necessary; however one must realize that he/she is lost, and put their faith to work by personally asking Jesus to forgive their sins and to accept them as his redeemed children because of their faith and not because of any good works they have done.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In our lesson today, what is the GOOD NEWS TO BELIEVE and act upon? This lesson emphasizes the truth that God saves people by grace [freely, no pay, or works in exchange] through their personal faith in Jesus Christ; it becomes a “personal relationship” and is not a business deal, and this is the one and only way to make sure that Heaven is your home. Now, some will say that you should not warn people of their sins, it is politically incorrect, and it may offend them and drive them away from you and away from the church. If this is true, then why did Paul spend practically the entire first chapter to the Romans telling them of their sins? He told them they were sinners first and then told them how to be saved. These are people whom he had never met, did not know personally, and has never written to before; and he finishes the first chapter telling them they have degraded their bodies with one another in homosexuality, and are worshipping false gods. He even goes further and singles out the Jews by warning them that all are saved by grace through faith and not by Jewish law. Salvation comes </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>by trusting in</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>what Christ did for us on the Cross only</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">, and has nothing to do with what we have done to earn it Ephesians 2: 8-10].</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">You may ask why salvation is by faith only. First, it eliminates the pride of human effort because faith is not a deed we do, but a receptive condition of the human heart. Second, faith exalts what God has already done and not what people can do. Third, our faith causes us to admit that we can not keep the law; that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>we can not measure up to what God demands</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">; we can not reach His standards on our own, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>without help from Him</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. And finally and simply faith is based on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and not our </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>performance</i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> for God.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul went to great lengths to explain that God’s laws [including the Ten Commandments] were necessary for all who lived before Christ, setting out the guide for them to go by in their dealings with God, the government and each other. Then he chose Abraham as his example; Abraham was made right because of his belief in God; his faith was credited to him as righteousness. Against all hope, Abraham, in hope believed, and because of his faith, he became the father of many [4: verse 18]. There was no earthly way, at the age of Abraham and his wife that he could become the father of many without God’s intervention. However, Abraham was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised, and he believed [had faith] that God would do what he said he would do…and it was credited to him as righteousness. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This truth [and it was credited to him as righteousness] was not written for Abraham alone, but it was written for us today to whom God will credit righteousness if we only believe [trust, have faith, accept] the fact that God raised Jesus or Lord from the dead and that Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. For it is by God’s grace that we are saved, only when we have faith in Him and put our personal life in his hands…for we are dead in our trespasses and sin until he raises us to a new spiritual life of justification. {Justification means: “just as though we had never sinned.”} Further good news is that the Lord “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Will remember our sins no more”…</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">there is no double-jeopardy in God’s court. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">GOOD NEWS TO BELIEVE is not always plesant new to hear because it is GOOD NEWS to know that even though we are lost, and undone God has given us a perfect plan of salvation that has never and will never fail, and that He has given us a free will to choose between eternal life and death. There are only two roads, one narrow and it leads to Heaven, and one wide and it takes you straight to Hell. You are traveling on the road of your choice as of this moment, so make very sure it is leading you to your chosen destinations.</span></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-63309699025677588572011-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:002011-10-10T08:20:07.296-07:00Good News to Hear - Roams 1:18 - 3:26<span style="font-size:130%;">As a youngster, living in the country ten miles from the closest town, Des Arc, we had no phone, radio, TV, and our only paper was the GRITT, hand delivered only occasionally, and it never contained any local news, and seldom any Arkansas news. As the communication industry grew, it was always controlled by the party in power and what I did not realize at that time was that the news we received was not always the truth, and has never been the whole truth because the writers are not inspired to perfection.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I know now that the only ‘good news’ is the ‘truth’ and the only publication that has been consistently truthful through all ages is the Holy Bible. It seems to be a paradox; but often good news is not pleasant to hear, however, only the good news will set man free. Very few [if any] realize how fortunate we are to have the ‘truthful Word of God’ authored by inspired authors like Paul. Paul wrote the total news regarding the action of men which were both spiritual and carnal in nature. Those that were spiritual in their actions accepted Paul’s writings, and those who were indulging in sinful actions did not want their history revealed. Times haven’t changed, and this is the cause of the failure of our media sources today.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">When you study the bible you can be assured that you are studying both the bad and good sides of human nature. In our lesson today, Paul made sure that his people [the Romans], whom he had never met, understood that they were sinners by nature and that neither the Law nor Works would save them. Then he proceeded to assure them that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to assure them a plan of salvation by which they could be saved; and that it applied to all people, the Jew and the Greek, whether weak or strong, rich or poor, emperor or peasant. This truth is the reason why The Plan of Salvation is called the GOOD NEWS TO HEAR.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I was with a party of </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>lost duck hunters</b></i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> one night in The Raft Creek Bottoms, cut off from high land by the rising back-waters. It was after midnight, cold and raining, black dark and our flash light batteries died. We heard a car horn in the distance…fired our guns to signal our location and soon saw a dim light moving our way. Two men in two boats rescued us and all was well. We knew we were lost. Men cared and came to help. We only had to receive their help and get in the boat. Sinful people who have never studied God’s word do not know they are lost so God sent his Son to rescue them. God also sent Paul to tell them their condition and to tell them that they only had to believe in Christ and his ability to rescue them.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The bible tells us about the sinful conditions in the city of Rome during this period in time [probably the worst around AD 50 to early 60s—Nero died in 64.] History books paint horrid pictures of Emperor Nero and his horrible treatment of Christians in that city. They were thrown to the wild animals in the public arena for the masses to enjoy the carnage. They were burned at stake. Nero personally instructed his soldiers to burn Rome, and then blamed the Christians for the atrocity, turning the public against all Christians. History tells us that Nero sat on his balcony and played his fiddle as he watched the Capitol City of the Roman Empire burn. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The church in Rome was surrounded by a paradox. The empire had conquered the world of that day, and Rome was the capitol. It was the most sophisticated culture the world had ever known. However, it was one of, if not the most, depraved cultures the world has ever known. The people and their leaders portrayed rank humanism at its very worst. No appetite was left unfulfilled, no carnal desire was left un-fulfilled—and the people indulged in every sinful desire of their heart. Paul had heard what was transpiring there and he proceeded to enumerate some of their most hideous sins. He, like Christ, told them of all their sinful ways. His report sounds as though it should have been addressed to Hollywood, California, US of A. with instructions to be opened September 11, 2011.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is absolutely necessary for you to read chapter 1, verses 18 through 32. Go there now!!!! My concern is that Paul could have written the same scriptures regarding the depraved element of the American society today. Oh God, I pray that Christian people in America will awaken and through their vote for right, stop this very present humanistic element from gaining more power by infiltrating the Federal Government any more than they already have.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">True Christians must emulate Paul and his reasons for fighting the humanistic doctoring. We must always remember that Christ loved people, but hated their sins. Christians that are willing to stand against the immoral sins of a depraved society have always, and will always be accused of being anti-minded. We can not afford to succumb to that level. We must agape the sinner but reveal his sin and help him to acknowledge his wrong and be willing to repent. And there is no way that we can please God by joining in or condoning the very sins that Paul has enumerated in this passage.</span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Many people who want everyone to know that they believe in God will boast of his loving nature and refuse to admit that his wrath against sin is equally as powerful and sure as his love for man. Verse 18 tells us that “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>The wrath of God [is being revealed] from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">{Is being revealed} is in the present perfect tense and states that His wrath—has been revealed—is being revealed now—and will always be revealed. Our God is a “sinless” Super King of Kings who can not even look at sin, therefore certainly can not condone it; He never has and never will.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Verse 21 says that these same people that claim to know God do not glorify him or praise and thank Him. Their thinking is futile and their hearts are foolish and darkened; they claim to be wise but they have become fools. The sinful desire of their hearts includes sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. {I did not make this up…read verse 24} Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. It happened in Sodom and Gomorrah; it was happening in Rome; and it continues to happen throughout the world today. Paul condemns homosexuality and illicit sexual acts specifically in verses 26-27.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Please, as Christians we must be fair minded and we must realize and admit that ‘the pot can not call the skillet black’ and we must go ahead and read verses 28-32…which includes every one of us, saved and unsaved. Just look at this list of sinful acts that are considered the products of depraved minds. Included is “every kind of wickedness” including envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. The list also includes gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful, and disobeying your parents. Not only is it wrong to commit these specific sins personally, but it is wrong for Christians to approve of any others that practice them. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Christian friend…you can not sit on the fence. You must declare your position. If you are not against sin…then you are for it. Please remember that God created man in his own image; and that means that man was perfect. You were not born with a God given tendency to do wrong. You were born with a God given right to make a personal choice, and you choose to sin or not to sin. When Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit, sinful influence was allowed to enter into the lives of people, and made it necessary to choose between right and wrong. Each individual must do so daily, constantly, and without the aid of the Power of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to please God.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Our lesson today is ‘</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Good News to Hear” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">first, because it tells those who do not already know that they are lost; second, for those who have accepted the humanistic lifestyle it warns them of their error, and calls for repentance. However the third reason this is </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Good news to Hear” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">is the greatest news of all times; God loves us so much that he gave His Son, Jesus Christ, who freely died on the Cross to save depraved man from his sins. Repent, trust and believe in Him, commit your life to His keeping, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, obey His commandment to the best of your ability…and you are and will be forever saved.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><u> </u> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-73469839505627003852011-09-04T08:15:00.000-07:002011-10-10T08:18:26.561-07:00Good News to Tell - Romans 1:1-17<span style="font-size:130%;">Following a physical examination by your doctor, there is one announcement that you never want to hear. You never want him/her to say “I have some good news and some bad news” and the question is even worse, “Which do you want to hear first?” Spiritually speaking the Book of Romans has both good and bad news and in a nut-shell the bad news is: “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” [3:23]. Then with surprising comfort the good news is “God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ [5:8]. This is even greater news than hearing the doctor say “You had liver or pancreatic cancer but it is in total and permanent remission.”</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul was converted on the road to Damascus and he became the greatest of all New Testament evangelistic preachers and writers. From the day of his conversion one of his heart’s desires was to witness to the Roman people, and The Roman Letter represents the pinnacle of his labors. All scripture is inspired, all is good and none is bad; however Romans just has to be one of the most loved and often read books because it contains the essence or core of the story of how one is saved. Please, I challenge you right now, [read Romans from 1:1 to 16-27] read the entire book, in one setting, if possible. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This letter is so different from all the other letters written by Paul, because he did not start the church there and had not been to Rome, though he had always wanted to visit there. The bible does not record the founders of the Roman church…we know that visitors from Rome were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost [Acts. 2:10] and we know that many Christians left Jerusalem after Stephen’s martyrdom and fled to other cities [Damascus, Acts 9-2], [Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria Acts 11:19], and it may-have-been that some of these went to Rome and planted the church. Roman history books record that Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome in AD 49, and it could have been that it was because of the teachings of Christ. By the mid 60’s, the time of Nero, the church had grown and was a danger to Nero who labeled them a subversive element, and blamed them for the burning of Rome. You will remember that Nero actually burned the city himself…and played his fiddle while it burned…he was a nut. Paul wrote this letter to the Roman Church in AD 58, ten years earlier. He was in prison there in about 60 to 64…Paul died there in about 64, during the reign of Nero.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">All of Paul’s letters to other churches were written to people he knew, to places he had been, and about problems, opportunities and circumstances that existed. A letter is somewhat like a phone call—it is an answer to a question that another asks or it may ask questions that require answers. In this letter to the Romans—Paul did not know the people on the other end of the line…they had never seen him, and had not written to him. It was his first communication with the Roman Church.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We know Paul had never been to Rome because in 1:9-10 he stated that he had wanted to visit them for a long time, but God had a lot of work for him to do first. Paul was one of the most learned Jews who was taught at the feet of Gamaliel, and was an expert in Jewish law and an avid proponent, but he was also a Roman by birth…his father was a Roman. As a Jew he had persecuted gentiles [his own people by birth] and now as a converted Jew [A Christian] it is easy to see why he wanted to witness to his people in their capitol city, Rome. Because all have sinned he knew that they NEEDED GOD’S MERCY. And, because Christ died for them, he had some GOOD NEWS TO TELL, and this is our lesson for today.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Should you ever need to introduce me to a congregation, the greatest introduction you could make is “Ladies and gentlemen, this is John Vandiver, a SERVANT of Jesus Christ.” I wish it could be totally true. Servants have masters and masters own servants. Paul introduced himself in this letter as the SLAVE of Jesus Christ [1:1]. He recognized his Lord as his master…simply because the word Lord is the opposite of the word slave or servant. Then he immediately proclaimed his right to apostleship by telling us that he “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>was called to be an apostle.</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you read between lines in the gospels you will find that some did not want to include Paul as an apostle because he was not one of the twelve first personally chosen by Jesus—and even this could have been the thorn in his flesh. Paul, with good reason, knew in his heart that God called him in a very obvious and agonizing way, striking him blind for a time while on the road to Damascus. He was not the first with a personal call; Abraham heard the call of God [Genesis 12: 1- 3]. Moses answered God’s call [Exodus 3: 10]. Jeremiah and Isaiah were prophets, although they did not ask or want to be, but were compelled to answer the call from God in [Jer. 1: 4 & Isa. 6: 8]. Paul saw his life as one compelled to answer God’s call.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul realized that he was “set apart by God” and believed that he was called even before he was born to do a special work for his Master. He considered to be set apart by his people when the Holy Spirit told the leaders of the Antioch Church to separate him and Barnabas for the special mission to the Gentiles [Acts 13:2]. In this calling he said he received two things; the first was grace, which is always free and unearned—and he received the task of taking the gospel to the gentiles which he also considered as a special honor and a responsibility; not for his honor but as his toil.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In verses 8 through 15, Paul talks to the Romans as though he is offering a prayer of thanksgiving; he thanks God [in the name of Jesus Christ] for his relatives and friends in Rome for their demonstrated faith and lets them know that he is praying for them. He assures them that they will grow by knowing his faith and that he will prosper by sharing their faith with them and talks of their mutual need for each other. Paul lets them know that he has wanted all along to visit them that he might be able to win souls there among the gentiles. He lets them know that even though he has a Jewish background, he feels his obligation to all people, the civilized and the savage; the educated and the ignorant, Jew and Gentile—“So then, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who live in Rome.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This lesson closes in verses 16 and 17 when Paul says, “I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God’s power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles. For the gospel reveals how God puts men right with himself: it is through faith, from beginning to end. As the scripture says, ‘He who is put right with God through faith shall live.”’ Here in we find the complete plan of salvation.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God has the power to save the lost. We must repent and believe.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We can know the way to receive salvation by reading the gospel.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Salvation is for every living creature…Jew and Gentile.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The gospel reveals the steps we must take in order for God to save us.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Finally, the gospel assures us that when we follow the plan in faith we shall live forever…in Heaven, a glorious place, so special it is beyond our ability to describe. If you believe in Heaven and Hell…you have a choice; however if your choice is Heaven, it requires you to prepare. If your choice is Hell, live as you desire, do what you want and know you are on the right road. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-55432240280881779282011-09-04T05:00:00.000-07:002011-09-04T05:00:08.459-07:00Good News to Tell - Romans 1:1-17<span style="font-size:130%;">Following a physical examination by your doctor, there is one announcement that you never want to hear. You never want him/her to say “I have some good news and some bad news” and the question is even worse, “Which do you want to hear first?” Spiritually speaking the Book of Romans has both good and bad news and in a nut-shell the bad news is: “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” [3:23]. Then with surprising comfort the good news is “God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ [5:8]. This is even greater news than hearing the doctor say “You had liver or pancreatic cancer but it is in total and permanent remission.”</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul was converted on the road to Damascus and he became the greatest of all New Testament evangelistic preachers and writers. From the day of his conversion one of his heart’s desires was to witness to the Roman people, and The Roman Letter represents the pinnacle of his labors. All scripture is inspired, all is good and none is bad; however Romans just has to be one of the most loved and often read books because it contains the essence or core of the story of how one is saved. Please, I challenge you right now, [read Romans from 1:1 to 16-27] read the entire book, in one setting, if possible. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This letter is so different from all the other letters written by Paul, because he did not start the church there and had not been to Rome, though he had always wanted to visit there. The bible does not record the founders of the Roman church…we know that visitors from Rome were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost [Acts. 2:10] and we know that many Christians left Jerusalem after Stephen’s martyrdom and fled to other cities [Damascus, Acts 9-2], [Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria Acts 11:19], and it may-have-been that some of these went to Rome and planted the church. Roman history books record that Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome in AD 49, and it could have been that it was because of the teachings of Christ. By the mid 60’s, the time of Nero, the church had grown and was a danger to Nero who labeled them a subversive element, and blamed them for the burning of Rome. You will remember that Nero actually burned the city himself…and played his fiddle while it burned…he was a nut. Paul wrote this letter to the Roman Church in AD 58, ten years earlier. He was in prison there in about 60 to 64…Paul died there in about 64, during the reign of Nero.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">All of Paul’s letters to other churches were written to people he knew, to places he had been, and about problems, opportunities and circumstances that existed. A letter is somewhat like a phone call—it is an answer to a question that another asks or it may ask questions that require answers. In this letter to the Romans—Paul did not know the people on the other end of the line…they had never seen him, and had not written to him. It was his first communication with the Roman Church.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We know Paul had never been to Rome because in 1:9-10 he stated that he had wanted to visit them for a long time, but God had a lot of work for him to do first. Paul was one of the most learned Jews who was taught at the feet of Gamaliel, and was an expert in Jewish law and an avid proponent, but he was also a Roman by birth…his father was a Roman. As a Jew he had persecuted gentiles [his own people by birth] and now as a converted Jew [A Christian] it is easy to see why he wanted to witness to his people in their capitol city, Rome. Because all have sinned he knew that they NEEDED GOD’S MERCY. And, because Christ died for them, he had some GOOD NEWS TO TELL, and this is our lesson for today.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Should you ever need to introduce me to a congregation, the greatest introduction you could make is “Ladies and gentlemen, this is John Vandiver, a SERVANT of Jesus Christ.” I wish it could be totally true. Servants have masters and masters own servants. Paul introduced himself in this letter as the SLAVE of Jesus Christ [1:1]. He recognized his Lord as his master…simply because the word Lord is the opposite of the word slave or servant. Then he immediately proclaimed his right to apostleship by telling us that he “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>was called to be an apostle.</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you read between lines in the gospels you will find that some did not want to include Paul as an apostle because he was not one of the twelve first personally chosen by Jesus—and even this could have been the thorn in his flesh. Paul, with good reason, knew in his heart that God called him in a very obvious and agonizing way, striking him blind for a time while on the road to Damascus. He was not the first with a personal call; Abraham heard the call of God [Genesis 12: 1- 3]. Moses answered God’s call [Exodus 3: 10]. Jeremiah and Isaiah were prophets, although they did not ask or want to be, but were compelled to answer the call from God in [Jer. 1: 4 & Isa. 6: 8]. Paul saw his life as one compelled to answer God’s call.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul realized that he was “set apart by God” and believed that he was called even before he was born to do a special work for his Master. He considered to be set apart by his people when the Holy Spirit told the leaders of the Antioch Church to separate him and Barnabas for the special mission to the Gentiles [Acts 13:2]. In this calling he said he received two things; the first was grace, which is always free and unearned—and he received the task of taking the gospel to the gentiles which he also considered as a special honor and a responsibility; not for his honor but as his toil.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In verses 8 through 15, Paul talks to the Romans as though he is offering a prayer of thanksgiving; he thanks God [in the name of Jesus Christ] for his relatives and friends in Rome for their demonstrated faith and lets them know that he is praying for them. He assures them that they will grow by knowing his faith and that he will prosper by sharing their faith with them and talks of their mutual need for each other. Paul lets them know that he has wanted all along to visit them that he might be able to win souls there among the gentiles. He lets them know that even though he has a Jewish background, he feels his obligation to all people, the civilized and the savage; the educated and the ignorant, Jew and Gentile—“So then, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who live in Rome.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This lesson closes in verses 16 and 17 when Paul says, “I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God’s power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles. For the gospel reveals how God puts men right with himself: it is through faith, from beginning to end. As the scripture says, ‘He who is put right with God through faith shall live.”’ Here in we find the complete plan of salvation.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God has the power to save the lost. We must repent and believe.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We can know the way to receive salvation by reading the gospel.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Salvation is for every living creature…Jew and Gentile.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The gospel reveals the steps we must take in order for God to save us.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Finally, the gospel assures us that when we follow the plan in faith we shall live forever…in Heaven, a glorious place, so special it is beyond our ability to describe. If you believe in Heaven and Hell…you have a choice; however if your choice is Heaven, it requires you to prepare. If your choice is Hell, live as you desire, do what you want and know you are on the right road. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-83956582740048943252011-08-28T19:58:00.000-07:002011-08-29T20:00:04.357-07:00Rely on the Lord's Love - Lamentations 1 - 6<span style="font-size:130%;">Most people would agree that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>experience</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> is a super teacher. Students have their best and easiest opportunity to learn from any great teacher. Learning from any source, results in physical, mental and spiritual growth. Most people would also agree that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>suffering</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> is an </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>experience</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> that everyone must face at some time in life. Therefore, since suffering is an experience, we grow from </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>suffering</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and through the suffering believers can grow to be more like Christ. Since older adults usually suffer many aches and pain these truths should help us to be able to accept the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>discomforts</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> of life as a part of God’s plan. If young people study and believe God’s word, they too can understand and accept the fact that their </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>suffering can be useful</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in drawing them closer to God. It is another paradox in life, but joy, peace and happiness can sometimes arrive over the bumpy road of suffering. It takes faith and trust to turn a painful problem into a valuable experience. </span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God loved the people of this world so much that He gave his Only Son to suffer and die for their redemption. Therefore, because of God’s love and the suffering of Christ on the Cross, we have eternal salvation. At the age of accountability and on through life, it is imperative that we learn to RELY ON THE LORD’S LOVE and we must never consider our infirmities and misfortunes as punishment. Instead we should see them as building stones that help form the foundation for our faith in God and growth in service to Him and our fellow man.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Even though you agree with the facts stated above, at some time in life the question will still arise in our minds—“Why does God allow me to suffer?” Have you ever been in a difficult situation and wanted to ask, “Why me Lord?” “What did I do to deserve this?” The truth is—you may not deserve it, but it is just a warning to prevent you from doing something that would cause you to deserve it. The important question is; did you act on the warning? Or, did you react to the situation? Does personal difficulty increase or decrease your faith? I can tell you—that it depends on whether or not you believe God’s Holy Word to be Truth.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This question [“Why me Lord?”] has perplexed people throughout the ages, ever since the early trials of the Jewish people, and reached it’s zenith during the days of Jeremiah when Jerusalem and the country of Judah suffered through their destruction by the Babylonians. We must remember that God did not cause the suffering of his people; He only allowed it to take place because of their sins, especially their rejection of Him and His authority over them. In some ways it is hard to understand this concept; but the truth is that their suffering resulted from the fact that He loved them so much. In just a few hundred years, He proved this paradox by sending his Son to die for man kind, to provide freedom from fear and sorrow and make this freedom everlasting.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are several reasons why people must suffer. In Hebrews 12: 5-11, we find that God permits suffering in order to discipline His people. In the case of Job, his suffering was a test [Job 2: 3-10]. Peter taught us that suffering will help us to grow in faith [1 Peter 4: 1-2]. It may be hard to grasp and fully understand but sometimes our suffering may benefit others who are watching our reaction to our misfortunes. Then, there is the case of Christ, who had no sin, but suffered for the sins of others [2 Cor. 5:21]. Through it all, we must simply learn to RELY ON THE LORD’S LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS. We should never feel that trials come because of our weakness, and we must always remember that the All-powerful Son of God, The Lord Jesus Christ, was there [right where we are, only worse] and his situation was so difficult that he cried out asking God why He was being forsaken. “Why have You forsaken Me?” God sustained his Son. And because of God’s faithful love for us—He sustains us in the midst of our suffering. He will not leave or forsake us!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Here is a digression in this thought process, but a true to life example of the subject, that is being addressed in this lesson. Just [a moment ago] as I finished the above paragraph, the phone rang, and the news was that two of our dear Christian friends of many years passed away today; one this morning and one early this afternoon. Our church seems to have had more than its share of losses in the last very few years, and my question is why this must happen to First Baptist in Heber? </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is hard for me to understand how a retirement community can possibly grow in numbers. In order to assist my family, I prepared a funeral arrangement document [back in 1994] that listed six honorary pall bearers, six of my best friends, and today they are all deceased. My question is; Lord, why have you honored me with longer life? In comparison to God’s time, life here on earth is like a vapor or fog; we are here for only a moment and then vanish away. Now, redirect your thoughts to Lamentations.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Following the study of the Book of Jeremiah and the fall of Judah, you must now read the short five chapters in the Book of Lamentations. You won’t regret it! In some ways it is a brief look back at what was a long story of troubles. It reviews the destruction of Jerusalem; it proclaims God’s mercy; it tells you again the consequences of sin; and best of all, it gives you a beautiful picture of our HOPE that is found only in Jesus Christ. Please read Lamentations today before you sleep tonight. I only have time to tell you briefly about the hope we have in the midst of our afflictions which is recorded in chapter 3. Our lives are reflected in the life of the author, Jeremiah.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We are people of affliction because of sin and God’s wrath against it. Life is not easy, often cruel, and we start rapidly growing old the moment we are born, and sometimes life is bitter and full of hardship. Jeremiah’s life was no bed of roses; his life rivaled that of Job’s, but he remained faithful and strong. He is a wonderful example of what we should be. But through it all in verse 21, he said that “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Therefore I have hope.”…</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">22 and on </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They [</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">compassions] </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The bible teaches us that God is ultimate perfection and when he finished each phase of His creation He observed it and said “it is good.” Then sin entered and created a huge debt that was impossible for man to pay. Christ paid that sin-debt for us on the cross, but he chose to let sin continue until Salvation’s plan is completed. We must live in this world and bear our portion of the ravages of sin and remain faithful and trust God for our ultimate deliverance when Christ returns to rescue His own. What a day of rejoicing that will be! There will no longer be the question of “Why me LORD? The question will then become a positive statement…truly an announcement…’IT IS ME LORD! God’s answer will be, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Well done</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> good and faithful servant.” The answer for some will be, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Depart from Me, I never knew you.” “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is sad, but some will receive an answer to their announcement</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-6140344203272678782011-08-21T18:35:00.000-07:002011-08-26T18:36:37.226-07:00Recognize the Lord's Authority - Jeremiah 46 - 52<span style="font-size:130%;">Anyone must believe the Bible to be The True Word of God in order to recognize the Lord’s authority. By studying the Bible we know that God created the heavens and earth and all that is therein. He is the GREAT I AM and as such He is the owner of all and the authorized director of all activity. He is the Authority whether or not any individual recognizes the fact. It is sad, but some believers either forget or simply fail to recognize that God controls our destiny and this simple neglect causes many of our undesirable circumstances in life. As we grow older and gain valuable experience it becomes obvious that our neglect to place God first [recognize his authority] in our lives</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> never</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> brings acceptable results.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are no exceptions to the rule of accountability; in this lesson today we find that the powerful are accountable by reading [Jer. 50 & 51]—and the privileged are found accountable in [Jer. 52]—in fact every one of us is said to be accountable in [46 to 50]. I believe the writer discussed the accountability of everyone first and then realized that the powerful and privileged might not get the point, so he singled them out in the later chapters. The lesson we learn here is that God is no respecter of any person because of status or position; he requires, yes, even demands, that each individual must recognize his authority. To do otherwise results in spiritual suicide and eternal death starts with unbelief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you truly believe in Him, then it is very easy to recognize his authority over you. Christ is the Light of the world, the Salt of the earth, and the only Door to heaven; He said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The failure to recognize God’s position as our Creator is a form of arrogance or false pride which is a sinful attitude or behavior that ascribes to our selves the glory, honor and power that belongs only to God. This attitude can pervade our thinking so easily that we hardly recognize that it is happening. For example; we often pray for what we want instead of praying for what God knows we need. When we do this we are actually saying that we know better than God knows what we need. Am I saying that you should not pray that a love one that is very ill should not be healed? No indeed, I am not. But I am saying that you should recognize that it must be within God’s desire, His plan, and His purpose for you and your love one. Remember that Christ, realizing that he was facing death on the Cross, prayed for his own life in the Garden, but even He said; “Not My will, but “Your will” [God’s will] be done.” I don’t know about you, but when I think of Christ’s prayer, it makes it much easier for me to pray for my wife and children and say to Him—“This is my desire Lord, but never-the-less, your will is acceptable.” We absolutely must avoid personal arrogance.</span></p> Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-51972725191640094272011-08-14T18:31:00.000-07:002011-08-26T18:33:54.900-07:00Follow Orders - Jeremiah 40 - 45<span style="font-size:130%;">If you are a parent, then you know that children are rebellious at an early age and really find it difficult to follow orders. Most adults can remember the day when it was difficult for them to follow orders especially when they did not fully agree with the orders being given…and in some cases that wasn’t too long ago. May be it is not so hard to understand why God’s People, [the Jews] were reluctant to follow the orders of God whom they had never seen or heard, but only knew about through the Priest and Prophets who proclaimed that they got their orders from God in a vision or dream. </span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I will be first to admit that God has never spoken to me in an audible voice; and, to my knowledge and remembrance, never in a dream or vision. However, I truly believe that He has given us His Word [in Holly Writ] so that we know what His orders are for us in 2011. It is imperative that we read His Word, study it and know what He would have us say and do. In a nut-shell, that is to BELIEVE, REPENT and OBEY HIM.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I must divert from the bible lesson for a moment to say that I have always thought that officials who are elected by the people are supposed to listen to the orders that the people give them. However, it is very obvious that the house, senate and president of the USA have refused to hear the public cry for them to cut spending and balance the federal budget. As a result, it seems to be imperative that the American people are about to find out, first hand, what it is like when the elected officials refuse to FOLLOW ORDERS. In government [just as it has always been in spiritual matters] there will always be a PAY DAY SOMEDAY. Now that leaders have refused to FOLLOW ORDERS again, our ‘pay day’ may come before 2011 is completed. The legislation that has just been adopted is only ‘patch work’ and will not solve our problems. It is only a beginning, and we have no assurance that things will change for the better.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The leaders, including the kings, and many of the priests, refused to FOLLOW THE ORDERS given by God, through the prophet Jeremiah, in about 627 to 586 BC. We are now studying the effects of their refusal in chapters 40 to 45, even after they have already seen God’s hand at work for several years. One would think that after the invasion by Babylon, loosing the battle, many being taken captive and even more starving from lack of food, that there would no longer be any resistance to the ORDERS OF GOD. However, it is just not human nature to submit to Spiritual guidance. It has always been almost impossible to get political leaders to admit they have failed when their ideas are no longer working in a positive way.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY">“<span style="font-size:130%;">The Northern Kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians in 722 BC. The Lord had announced through such prophets as Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah that He would send a similar disaster on the Southern Kingdom of Judah if the people did not turn from their sins and return to Him. In the late 600s BC, Assyria fell to the Babylonians or Chaldeans. The Lord repeatedly warned that He would use the Babylonians as His instrument of judgment on His people’s sins if they did not change their ways.” See footnote [1].</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Bible tells us that “All have sinned’ and that we must “Repent and turn from our wicked ways” or suffer the consequences. He tells us in [Jer. 40: 1-41:18] that failure or refusing to learn from past failures will be devastating. He also says in [Jer. 42:1-43:7] that we must request and follow the Lord’s guidance. And we know that persistent rebellion will bring spiritual sorrow and physical devastation when we study [Jer. 43:8-44:30]. Since God is a loving and just Heavenly Father we can always feel secure and know that He will reward our faithful service [Jer.45: 1-5]. The question keeps arising—why will we not FOLLOW ORDERS? The answer must be either ‘disbelief’ or out-right ‘rebellion.’ Do you believe what God tells you in his Word? I do, and that is why I know that we must trust Him.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The number one sin has always been, and is now, the worship of ‘other gods’ instead of the True God—and that is idolatry. Stated in another way, it has always been man’s failure to accept Jesus Christ as the One and Only Savior. Ancient people are noted for their devotion to other things such as a golden calf, the sun, moon and stars, and various graven images. I believe that some people dream up or think about an imagined God. He is not a god in our head, but must be the God of our heart [soul]. Finally, there is no doubt that accepting or holding a false doctrine of God is a form of idolatry. One can not commit idolatry and receive salvation from it. When we create a mental image of God we have created an idol. Idolatry is much more prevalent today than many of us realize. Even though the common sins like greed, gossip, and hatred are most grievous; and adultery, stealing and misuse of drugs are common—the sins of idolatry and unbelief are still even more important.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Idolatry is commonplace and must be identified and removed from our lives. The Lord has declared judgment on those who engage in idol worship. Do you play golf, go fishing, or visit Aunt May on the Lord’s Day—instead of going to church to Worship God. There is nothing wrong with any of these activities—unless they replace God in your life, and then they become idols. Oh yes—you can even worship God while you fish, hunt or play; but remember he warned us “Not to forsake the gatherings of his people to-gather in His temple to worship.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I feel compelled to talk to parents of children and teen-agers for a moment. Do you take your children with you to worship? Do you insist that your teen-agers attend Sunday school and adult church, hear the Sunday message and gain the knowledge and background they will need to take our place when we are too old to lead? Where are the teen-agers on Sunday mornings at the eleven o’clock service? Are they sleeping in, playing ball or skiing on the lake? </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> <span style="font-size:130%;">And one more personal question: do you miss church to go watch them play ball? Do you accompany them to the lake on Sunday morning, share their fun-time, drive the boat, and feel that you are needed to help them stay safe. If you do—you are worshipping a very serious idol. You are putting your own children before God. What a shame because God loves children, before he loves adults; and it is imperative that you love and support them. You just can not afford to do it and leave God out. I plead with you to make sure that you have your priorities in the right order—the order that Christ would use. If you are not in Sunday school and Church, how can you expect your children to believe it is important?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I plead with you to study chapters 40 through 45, and see for yourself what happened to a people that that refused to put God in first place in their lives.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> <span style="font-size:130%;">[1] Explore The Bible, Adult Commentary Summer 20111, LifeWay</span></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-46475184897844452282011-08-07T18:30:00.000-07:002011-08-26T18:31:28.265-07:00Stay True to God's Word - Jeremiah 34 - 40<span style="font-size:130%;">Is it reasonable or even possible for you to believe that a vast majority of the people in the world actually detest the Holly Bible? You should believe because it is sorrowfully true. It is even harder to believe that there are a large percentage of American citizens that reject it; especially since our country was founded as ONE NATION UNDER GOD. One of the best proofs that the Bible is the inspired Word of God is the fact that many prophets, like Jeremiah, foretold, in detail, events that would happen hundreds of years in advance of their happening. How could they have known the future events without God’s revelation to them? Rejection of the Bible has always been a problem, because people just do not want to be reminded of their sins. Jeremiah wrote God’s message to Judah on a scroll and when King Jehoiakim heard it read, he cut the scroll into pieces and burned it in his wintertime fireplace [36:23].</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are at least three ways that rejection takes place. 1. Some refuse to honor the Bible; they attack it instead. Many who proclaimed the Word were attacked or even killed. Some trivialize, mock and ridicule the Bible; and others have burned or otherwise destroyed it. William Tyndale’s version of the English bible was burned in England in A.D. 1526 by the Bishop in London. 2. Some simply ignore the Bible, refuse to read and study the Word and their rejection is through ignorance. 3. Probably the most common rejection of the Bible today is simply by disobeying it. Many have studied the Holly Writ and are able to tell you much about it; however they still reject the message and refuse to be guided by God’s Word.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There seems to be no doubt that God expects his people to read, honor and obey his Word and acknowledge his authority, and STAY TRUE, that is heed his word. He is grieved when anyone fails to accept his word, and for sure there will be a penalty to pay for those that refuse, or even neglect to study. I thank the Lord every day for the privilege I have of studying and sharing His Word with you. I praise Him for making it possible for it to appear in two papers; </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>The Sun Times</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>White River Journal</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. If you read this commentary, please complement the papers for publishing it without charge. The Word tells us to study to show ourselves approved by Him. It is a commandment and is imperative. Do you have a set plan or system to follow that provides regular Bible study? </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The lesson today tells us that we must STAY TRUE to God’s Word. Ask yourself the question; how can I stay true to the Word when I do not read and study what it says? In chapter 34, God’s judgment arrived. Jeremiah was directed to remind Judah’s King Zedekiah that following the Exodus from Egyptian bondage, God directed that all Jewish slaves, men and women, be set free after six years of service to their owner. Slaves were set free under this king, and then almost immediately, they were again enslaved. This was repulsive to God and Zedekiah was told that he and his subjects would be taken bondage by the Babylonians. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In chapter 35, the Recabite family was chosen by God to be an example to all people showing that the tribe that followed Jonadab son of Recab was more dedicated to their leaders than the Jews were to Almighty God. The Recabites were a nomadic tribe of Jews; Jonadab, their leader, set forth a rule that the Recabites were never to drink wine, live in houses, or farm fruits and vegetables and they STAYED TRUE to his teaching. Even when Jeremiah set wine before them and told them that God had given them the order to drink, they still refused. God did not approve of the drinking of wine; he used this as a test to prove that the Recabites would remain true to their leader. God directed Jeremiah to tell Judah that they were told to have no other gods, not to marry aliens, to be honest, not to practice extortion, to release their slaves and etc. etc. and since they had refused to STAY TRUE TO HIS TEACHING, He would allow them to go into captivity.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God is a patient and loving God and has never damned any person or people without first giving more than one warning; and I want to remind you that all of these warnings were written for the benefit of all posterity, including the USA. His patience was being tested too far by King Jehoiakim and the people of Judah. Jeremiah dictated and Baruch wrote a scroll demanding their obedience and in chapter 36 we find that God was still patiently waiting for His people to repent. He said; “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Perhaps they</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>will bring their petition before the Lord, and each will turn from his wicked ways…” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">However, even though warned by three of his leaders not to destroy the scroll, the King cut it into shreds and burned it in his fireplace. The Supreme Court has ordered God’s Law, The Ten Commandments, removed from the view of the public—“Because they might read it and could become defiled.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In chapter 37 & 38, we find that Jeremiah remained true to God, but was taken prisoner and punished and accused of deserting to the Babylonians. He was finally thrown in a cistern with no water, just mud, where he was left to die from starvation. A Cushite official pleaded his case to the King and got permission to rescue Jeremiah. He sent thirty men who used ropes to draw him from the cistern. God will always use his tremendous power to rescue his own when they choose to STAY TRUE to Him in time of need.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God’s patients were frayed to the breaking point in chapter 39, and the fall of Jerusalem was great and disastrous. Space and time prohibits me from telling you the story, so please go there and read what happened. It is both interesting reading and a very definite warning to all who are disobedient. And, what do you think King Nebuchadnezzar did to Jeremiah? Did he take him captive? Or, did he allow him to return home to his own people? You will find the answer if you read all eighteen verses. Now, I ask you, have you paid the price that was paid by Jeremiah for the privilege of worshiping and telling others what the Word of God says to them? Will you STAY TRUE TO GOD, no matter what happens?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-21457303679670299162011-07-31T18:28:00.000-07:002011-08-26T18:29:58.282-07:00Check Your Direction - Jeremiah 30 - 34<span style="font-size:130%;">The first eighteen years of my life were at home, on the bank of Raft Creek on the east side of a wilderness that was several miles wide and even longer; about 120 square miles where only one house and one old miser lived alone. Many times hunters would get lost and need help to find their way out of the woods. I was an avid hunter, and at an early age, when an experienced woodsman taught me how to find my direction while I was in the Raft Creek Bottoms. At the age of accountability, I became lost in the wilderness of sin and my Christian parents taught me how to find my way out. At age twenty-two, I finally used their advice, checked my direction, and found the way home, by way of the Cross. My compass that never fails was the Word of God. Have you CHECKED YOUR DIRECTION lately.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Under the Old Covenant, God sometimes appeared to man in a vision, dream, or even in a personal audible voice. He chose His leaders like Moses, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, and King David and sent them to His people to warn them of danger, to give them directions to live by, and even to lead them into the Promised Land. Some listened, obeyed and were blessed; but some refused to follow His leadership and suffered as did Judah in its Babylonian captivity. However, under the New Covenant, each individual has the responsibility of finding his own way. Our highway map is the Holly Bible and our counselor is the Holly Spirit. We were created with a soul; and an inner spirit that causes man to seek a higher power. There are many gods, but only one omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and sovereign God—He is in three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holly Spirit. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Man must personally choose his destination; it will be either Heaven or hell. The bible says there are two roads, one wide and one narrow. The road to hell is wide and well marked along the way with signs that are easy to read and many will travel this way. The road to heaven is narrow and the only signs you will have is the bible, and sadly, only a few will travel this road. We have the individual responsibility of finding our own way, and that is why we need to CHECK OUR DIRECTION.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">For the past seventy years the Jewish people have been in bondage, and as God had promised they are now returning home. In chapter 31 he told them to: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to your towns.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Then He asked them; “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>How long will you wander, O unfaithful daughter?”</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> They needed to check their direction to make sure they all followed the right road back to Jerusalem.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In verse 27 God said: “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>The days are coming when I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals. Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant.</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then in verse 31-34 the Lord declared: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant though I was a husband to them.</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time; </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><u><b>I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts</b></u></i></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least to the greatest, for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The people in the days of Jeremiah learned that there would be a new covenant, and the news traveled down through time until John The Baptist came preaching that there was One coming soon who would save man from his sin. The new covenant was born in a manger in Bethlehem.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">From the first day of Christ’s ministry until his ascension back to Heaven, He dealt with the minds and hearts of the people. He explained who he was, and proclaimed his mission to seek and save the lost, and expected people to understand with their minds. He proved himself by his actions, his miracles, and caring nature and expected people to accept Him into their hearts as Savior and Lord. This transformation is possible only when each individual experiences a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and for this reason we are personally responsible and must CHECK OUR DIRECTION. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The word “sin” must be the ugliest word in Webster’s dictionary. We don’t like to hear about it and ministers don’t enjoy preaching about it. There are so many sins that it is impossible for us to name them here, but for those who have studied the Word—God has provided a red flag that pops up, like a road sign in our minds and hearts, as our warning. We all have sinned and come short of God’s glory, but he is faithful and just and will forgive all who will repent and call on Him for forgiveness. However, there is one sin that will not be forgiven and that is the sin of personally rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord. There is no neutral zone; you have either “accepted Him” or you are “rejecting” Him. What choice have you made? </span> </p> Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-88437236262255393402011-07-24T18:27:00.000-07:002011-08-26T18:28:17.275-07:00Settle Down - Jeremiah 26 -29<span style="font-size:130%;">Have you ever been in a car wreck or witnessed one as it was happening? You may have spent your last dollar and did not know how you would obtain food for tomorrow. Try to imagine what was going through the minds of the survivors during the recent tornado in Joplin, Missouri and the first few minutes after. The most of us have had at least one experience that caused a torturous fear; an unreal nervous attack that plunged us into a condition of total despair. The first response necessary to regain normalcy is to SETTLE DOWN. Fear and worry, like anger, will destroy all ability to reason. </span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Jewish people of Judah and especially the city of Jerusalem were awakened from a normal night of rest to find that they were being conquered by the Babylonian army and were being taken captive to live as prisoners and slaves in a foreign land. They must have been kicking and screaming and fighting back to no avail. In this lesson, Jeremiah is attempting to console these people and assure them that God would not forsake them or leave them and that they would fair better if they would just SETTLE DOWN and prepare to pay for the sins that had brought this devastation, and he gave them a direct order to pray for their enemies that conquered them.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Christians who have studied God’s word and believe it to be truth understand with their heart that they can trust the Lord and know that He has a plan for them in life’s unsettling experiences. The captives that surrendered and went peacefully and maintained their faith in God not only lived through it, but many prospered and actually assumed positions of prominence in Babylon. These were the leaders that brought the Jews back home some seventy years later…as God had promised.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This lesson starts with the 26</span><sup><span style="font-size:130%;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size:130%;"> chapter that states that these events took place under King Jehoiakim and that indicates that it was in 609-608 B.C. and just before the exile. God sent Jeremiah to the “courtyard” of the temple with the same kind of message that he preached in his temple sermon recorded in chapter seven. God told Jeremiah that just maybe the people would listen this time, and if they would repent He would spare them from destruction. Leaders, including priest, were angered and threatened to kill the prophet. God interceded on his behalf and his life was saved but the people were plunged into total despair. All the wealthy, educated, talented and skillful people were driven as slaves into Babylon. Only the weak, unskilled and poor were left behind without leadership, and subjected to foreign occupation. When the Jewish elite arrived in Babylon many were given a territory where they could build a new life, others were worked into the economy where their skills were needed. They were traumatized, a broken and distraught reminant under foreign rule, and they began to grumble and complain. [See 28, and 29: 1-14] </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Jeremiah wrote these people a letter and said this is what the Lord God says to all that were carried away into bondage. SETTLE DOWN. “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat the produce. Marry and have children, direct your children to marry and multiply, increase, do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”[</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Paraphrasing] In other words, get back to normal as best you can…and depend upon God for the results.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Why were they given these instructions? Just like Christ has promised us that He will never place more on us than we are able to bare, God would give them a way out if they would only settle down and trust Him. They were told that in seventy years God would come to them and fulfill His promise to return them to their homeland. “Vengeance is mine and I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore their captors would be punished for taking them captive. In the following chapters the bible tells us that God kept his promise and the people and their nation was restored.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The conditions in Jerusalem became so catastrophic in the last days of the siege that the people were starving, actually became cannibalistic. Could this happen in America? I say to you that unless our government stops spending more than the taxes collected, the day will come when there will be no more credit available, and paper money without anything to back it up will be worthless. In my opinion, there has never been a time in our history when there was a greater need than now for God’s people to return to Jesus Christ, pray, and trust God for leadership.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Regardless of whether the American economy fails or prospers, many individuals will continue to experience difficult times. Earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods will increase in the latter days [the bible says so] and we see it happening all over this earth. Accidents and illness will continue, and at some point in the life of each reader of this lesson, a day of reckoning will come. Only the strong in spirit, mind and body will survive. The only way to surmount tragedy is to place your faith in our Lord, and truly believe in your heart that “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Just remember that he had a purpose in mind for each one of us when he made us and He will provide a way if we will “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Only trust and obey.”</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span> </p> Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-82312281188827981622011-07-17T18:24:00.000-07:002011-08-26T18:26:11.326-07:00Keep Your Behavior In Line - Jeremiah 22 - 26<span style="font-size:130%;">I believe that it is fair to say that most Christians, really deep down in their hearts, want to “Keep Their Behavior in Line” with what God would have them to do. If you are one of those, I suggest that you study the life of King Josiah in 2 Kings. The writer of 2 Kings says that “Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with his entire mind and with all his heart and with all his strength according to all the Law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him. His sons followed him as King of Judah, and unfortunately they did not follow in their father’s footsteps. The nation forgot God and became so sinful, worshipped other gods, and brought about the wrath of God who sent Jeremiah to warn them of their condition.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Young people in our day should study this lesson and learn that failure to follow Godley advice given by parents and grand parents can and will bring disaster in their future. The breaking of man’s laws will bring a fine, a jail sentence or even prison. The breaking of God’s law will just as surely bring disaster, and it may far exceed a prison sentence. Judah’s failure to worship the True God carried them into Babylonian bondage. Read again the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah and you will find that the political life and military issues involved in the life of this nation were very complex; however, the spiritual issues were very simple. When the nation was faithful to God, He blessed them; when they rebelled against Him, he judged them and allowed their enemies to destroy them. America—heed this warning! Awaken, listen and learn from Judah’s mistake.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The most important thing to remember is that if the sons of Josiah, who succeeded him, had kept their </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>‘Behavior in line with that of their father’s </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Judah would have been spared from total destruction. Just as surely, if the government leaders of America will follow in the footsteps of Josiah, and trust God for their wisdom and ability to govern fairly, God will continue to bless America.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The first 21 chapters of this book have emphasized the fact that God is a jealous Creator who will not tolerate any person or nation that worships false gods. However, the emphasis has now switched to include man’s personal relationships with each other and tells us that He will not tolerate those who treat their fellow man unfairly and without compassion. The examples given here refer to the ungodly kings that followed Josiah and their treatment of their subjects.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The word ‘woe’ means misfortune or excessive suffering, and the following verses introduce a pronouncement of divine judgment against King Jehoiakim because of the tactics he used to build his royal palace. Verse 13 </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Woe for the one who builds his palace through </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>unrighteousness,</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> his upper rooms through </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>injustice</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>, who makes his fellow man serve </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>without </b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;">pay</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> and </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>will not give him his wages</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>, 14 who says: ‘I will build myself a massive palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ He will cut windows in it, and it will be paneled with cedar and painted with vermilion……..17 But you have eyes and heart for nothing except your own </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>dishonest profit</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>, shedding innocent blood and committing </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>extortion</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> and </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>oppression.”</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> [Emphasis mine.]</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The good king, Josiah died in war at the battle of Megiddo in 1609 B.C. His son, Jehoahaz, followed him and reigned for only three months before he was captured by a Pharaoh in Egypt, where he remained until his death. Jehoiakim succeeded his brother as king of Judah and was in power during the time of Jeremiah’s warnings, for he was evil and oppressive during his reign. Neither son imitated his father. God’s judgment was on them and they could not claim their father’s blessings because they had not inherited his faith in God. It is so with us today, we may inherit the wealth of our parents but we cannot inherit their faith. Each person must acquire their own relationship with the Heavenly Father. Christ said that YOU must be born again.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In verse 21, God said, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me.”</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Evidently this man had been hardheaded and hardhearted since his youth and surely did not follow his parent’s advice. Wealth and power became his God, and meant more to him than his right relationship with the Almighty. There is a terrible price to pay anytime any of us becomes so satisfied with our position, wealth, home, cars and things than we have no time for God.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">It does not stretch our imagination to see that this pronouncement of divine judgment would apply to any king, president, politician or any employer that has the position or power to force people to work underpaid or under oppression. The first thing that comes to my mind is the fact that many [if not most] of our elected officials all the way from county judges to the president of the United States are able to live lavishly for the rest of their lives; some after serving only one or two terms of less than ten years. It is without doubt that their excessive gain resulted from dishonest gain at the expense of the citizenry. No doubt, many have lived and died with this sin over their head, but one thing is sure and that is that there will be a pay-day—some day.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This lesson teaches us that we must first fear God and trust him for guidance. It teaches the young that they must honor their parents and follow good parental advice. It teaches all of us that a good reputation and Godly character is always much more important than riches. And finally, it teaches us the ‘Golden Rule’ is a very clear way; that we should treat others as we would have them treat us—so we must “KEEP OUR BEHAVIOR IN LINE.” May God bless you, real good!</span></p> Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-66037283364556705192011-07-10T18:16:00.000-07:002011-08-26T18:24:25.509-07:00Submit to Divine Discipline - Jeremiah 19 - 22 <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Many of you who are reading this lesson will be either parents or grand parents and a Christian. Have you ever wondered why your children are or were prone to be disobedient? Have you ever instructed your children in matters that would be very obviously of benefit; instructions that, if followed, would actually bring joy, peace and maybe financial or other types of gain—and they still refused your advice? Do you want at least one possible answer? </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Just look in the</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>mirror</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. Why don’t you “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Submit to Divine Discipline?” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I think it is because your children and you inherited a sinful nature. Your divine nature was forfeited in the Garden of Eden. You and your children may have been ‘born again’ spiritually speaking, but you still maintain the human nature to sin: and that includes a tendency to rebel against both Divine, and parental Discipline? It is sad and often costly, but we usually must undergo disciplinary action before we will submit. Ask yourself, why do I disobey God when I know there will be a price to pay?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Biblical history was recorded by divinely inspired prophets to give all posterity important information regarding God’s approval or disapproval of the action of His people. We have the opportunity to profit by the mistakes of our forefathers. Read chapter 19 and you will learn that Israel had reached low ebb in human history. As you read this scripture, it will help you to know that the Valley of Ben Hinnom was a place where the people of Jerusalem dumped their garbage; and Topheth was located in the valley. The word Topheth means ‘fire-place” and is probably where their children were burned as a sacrifice to other gods. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Jeremiah wrote this warning during his ministry somewhere between 627 and 586 B.C. and it came true, the first time, about 100 years later, in 586 B.C. during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—and again in A. D. 70 when Titus destroyed Jerusalem. During the siege, food became so scarce that the people became cannibalistic, actually eating their own children. You can find that not just Jeremiah, but others too, had prophesied that these things would happen, by reading Moses in Leviticus 26 and again in Deuteronomy 28. The actual accounts where these predictions came true are found in 2 Kings, 6 and Lamentations 2 and 4: 10. Listen to me now, today; John Vandiver is telling you that these things happened because the people were stiff-necked and would not listen to God’s words [19:14]. Do you think…do you honestly believe…that God will turn his head the other way while Americans do the same things that these people were doing?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We must not blame God. He loves us, [everyone] but He will not condone our sins. Read in 20: 4 and on where He tells us that we are a terror to ourselves and He will hand us and all our wealth over to another nation who will conquer and kill, plunder our land and enslave us. I realize that He was talking about Judah, but He is talking to America too. We must hear [listen attentively] and believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Some of you may want to discredit me for writing this, but just remember that Jeremiah was also discredited, beaten and put in stocks because he told the truth, and the people did not want to hear the truth of God’s Word. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The first six verses make a sad statement regarding the fact that a priest [church official] whose name was PASHhur was the one that heard Jeremiah’s condemnation of the sins of the people and condemned him. He ordered Jeremiah to be beaten and put in stocks overnight. Sadly, I tell you that we have Baptist ministers today that feel that it is more important to be ‘politically correct’ than it is to preach the real truth. Just recently, one told me personally that this is necessary in order to maintain his ability to deal with people today, and not be rejected. His feelings seem to be that it is not advisable for Christians to condemn the Islamic threat and other ‘cult’ religions for fear of hurting the feelings of others who may not agree. He said that his job was to win people to Christ…and I agree. However, I believe that people also need to know the dangers that lurk as “Sheep in the skin of lions” and Islam is definitely a threat to Christianity. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Gospel Ministry is not an easy job, and has never been, and Jeremiah is a perfect example [Read 20: 7-18]. He was so disappointed and distressed that he accused God of deception and even cursed the day he was born; and it was all because he had preached the truth as God had instructed him—and was persecuted for it. The New Testament warns us that the people have itching ears—they want to be told what they want to hear rather than be warned of their errors. Preachers today are not beaten and placed in stocks, but they get fired when they step on too many toes. No wonder we do not hear more messages condemning the sins of our people.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">You must read chapter 21 to find that blaming the preacher and persecuting [firing] him will not atone for our sins. And ministers must learn that they cannot compromise the gospel messages because they are not pleasing to their congregation. Jeremiah’s prophesies became real, Jerusalem was attacked by Babylon…the siege started and the same man that put Jeremiah in stocks, Pashur, was sent to Jeremiah by the Jewish King Zedekiah to ask him to beseech God to come to their rescue. He said, “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">[Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon] </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>will withdraw from us.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">What was the result? In verse 3 we read that Jeremiah told him; </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Tell Zedekiah, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the…and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This simply means that their weapons will not be sufficient to protect them and God goes on to tell them that they will even suffer from a plague [probably something like, a flew epidemic or typhoid fever]. Not only that, but their food supply will play out and people will suffer famine; then those that survive will be taken into captivity by Babylon. Finally, before they leave Jerusalem, their soldiers will destroy the city by burning it to the ground.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b> </b></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God always has a limit beyond which he will not tolerate our sins. His greatest wrath has always been toward those who deny Him, forsake Him for other gods. God is good, and gracious, [by his grace we are saved] but He is also a jealous God. Please try to imagine how displeased he must be with our government that is allowing His Name to be removed from our money, our pledge, and all public places! Our time and opportunity must be drawing close to the end of his patience. Am I an alarmist? Was Jeremiah an Alarmist? No. We are more like Paul Revere who road at night, just warning you that the British [in this case God] is on his way and there is danger ahead. Even the Communist has warned America that we would perish from within. Our presidents and congress have failed to heed His warnings ever since Rowe vs. Wade; don’t show, don’t tell, and especially since the ugly 1960’s.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Even when we consider the conditions during the days of Jeremiah, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>there has never been a time in all of history when it was more important for a people to SUBMTI TO DIVINE DISCIPILINE. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">You and I may not be able to control what politicians do; however, we are responsible and can control what we do as individuals. Have you surrendered to God? </span> </p> Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-83235082726165055192011-07-03T03:50:00.000-07:002011-07-03T03:50:00.603-07:00Never Say It's Hopeless - Jeremiah 16 - 20<span style="font-size:130%;">Just after Katrina hit New Orleans, thousands thought things for them was hopeless. The city is thriving today even more than it was before the flood and many people are better off than they were before the hurricane. In the early 1940’s the Germans had become so successful that most of the citizens in England and France [Europe] thought their countries were doomed; then American troops landed on the Normandy Beach Head, and the rest is history. Twelve disciples gave up their home life, their jobs and professions, and followed Christ to the Garden where he prayed with them and explained that he would be crucified; He hung on the cross the next day and they suddenly felt hopeless and went fishing. They thought their hopes were gone; life became hopeless, only to become revived again three days later. Our American way of life is in jeopardy but you and I still have the freedom to vote for NEW MANAGEMENT. We must never say that life is hopeless; Christ gave his life to prevent that from happening. As long as we are alive there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Have you ever battled the feelings of hopelessness? If so, what was the change factor that helped you to enjoy a better day? I have been there; done that; and can tell you that it sometimes takes a huge effort and much time to be able to look back and see that God had a hand in establishing peace and confidence in the future. Time and experience makes it possible for us to see that there were many incidents, many of which were unpleasant, that God use to change hopelessness to an optimistic attitude regarding the future. His unfailing promise to “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Never leave or forsake me” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">was one of my greatest spiritual catalysts. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Have you thought about the great number of ‘makeover’ programs that are popular on television today? Some have to do with ‘a new home,’ ‘remodeling of present home,’ ‘new furniture’, ‘hair style for women,’ ‘skin care,” ‘losing weight,” and I like the one that answers the wishes of some fatally ill child with a ‘trip to Disney World.’ Why are these programs so popular? In most cases it is because these programs represent a ‘dream come true’ to a hopeless person or persons that had actually given up their dream of ever being what they wanted to be, owning things they desired to have, or going places they wanted to go. There is good news; God wants to help us move beyond our past failures into a useful life for Him. A broken life in God’s pottery house can become a new vessel. Broken and failing hope can be renewed; however it requires repentance and rededication. It definitely requires the inclusion of God in the lives of both men and in any nation. The government’s present plan to remove the name of God from our money, our pledge of allegiance, and from public view is a sure way to invoke God’s wrath upon a wayward nation. Please God, help us to pray and work to keep You in our personal lives and the life of the United States. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">America is a land of broken lives today, extremely indicative of the people of Judah that Jeremiah wrote about in these five chapters in our lesson today. He both warned and encouraged the people of Judah to return to the Lord. I hope and pray that as a teacher of the Word, I will be able to do the same for those that read and think upon these writings. Let us pray that God will replace our complacency with overt action; and renew our dependency on our Creator, Friend and Savior.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">You who are older will remember that before the typewriter and computer when people wrote a document that they did not want to fade, they would use an indelible pencil whose markings were difficult to erase. In chapter 17, God stated that Judah’s sins were indelibly “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Written with an iron stylus, on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">God knew that it would be difficult for them to erase their mistakes, because of their unwillingness to repent and become humble. We must repent, humble ourselves and pray in order for God to hear and answer our prayers and heal our land, restoring America to one nation Under-God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The last nine verses of chapter 17 are dealing with sins that God considered to be of great importance. Judah was guilty. America is guilty today. Two commandments were being broken. They were instructed again to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, and were told that their failure to comply would bring sure destruction. The Sabbath was set aside to be used in worship and praise and failure to comply always breaks the first commandment which is to </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“Have no other Gods before Me.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Many of our church pews are empty at Sunday morning worship, while professing Christians exhibit their love for rest, recreation and other preferred activities.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There is no doubt; living a Christian life has never been easy, and has always required some sacrifice. God is a loving deity; but He is also a jealous God, and because of his monumental sacrifice for us, He expects our commitment to Him to precede any other love or concerns we have. Regular attendance at your church indicates your commitment to Him. Your frequent and continued absence indicates that you have other Gods [interests] that come before your creator, The Lord, Jesus Christ. Allow me to be very specific; young people you must not put pleasure first, before God in your life—first attend church and then go play. Parents and grand parents if you truly love your children take them to church </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>first</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and then go watch them water-skiing, playing ball, or competing in their favorite game or sport. “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">and then you have God’s promise </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“In their latter years they will not depart from God.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Young people; think and remember—your teachers, deacons, pastor, and other leaders in the church are growing older and will soon leave these positions to you. You soon will be expected to accept these responsibilities and therefore you need to be in church and Sunday school where you study God’s Word and learn how to be a Christian leader. Think again, you attend school six to eight hours a day, five days a week to learn how to live, work and pursue your chosen profession—and you only have two to five or six hours each week to learn how to handle your Christian obligations. Man’s law says you must attend school; but only </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>YOU are responsible</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> for your Christian education.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are great lessons for all of us being taught at the Potter’s House in {Jer. 18: 1-25}. Read about it now. The first lesson concerns judgment and repentance, and the other deals with the relationship between God and man; His sovereignty and our freedom. God sent Jeremiah to the Potter’s house where he was taught a lesson that he never forgot; and where he received his instructions to pass on to us. It is obvious that in this story the potter represents God and the clay represents people. We are in the hands of God being molded each day of our lives. The noun “potter” comes from a verb called </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>“yatsar” </b></i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">which means ‘to shape’ ‘to form’ or ‘to fashion’ and this is what God does with all </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>willing people</u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> whom he created.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In this story the clay being used became flawed and the vessel being made became useless so the potter reclaimed the clay from the wheel and he re-made the vessel into a beautiful and usable container. Jeremiah reminds us that this is what God does for each of us on a regular basis when we are willing to submit our lives into his hands. We are His creation, he made us and therefore He has the sovereign right to re-mold our flawed lives into a useful vessel for Him.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Israel was in the hands of God, just like the clay in the potter’s hand. They were ‘flawed’ and sin abounded and so God told them that they could both repent and yield their lives to Him or be destroyed. Please note in verses 7 to 10 that his order extends to other nations…even America. Please remember that man’s history repeats itself and often throughout Biblical history God has allowed evil nations to prevail over his people when they became disobedient and failed to repent and turn to Him. God has limits that only He knows, beyond which he will not go. Farmers reap what they sow. Both Christians and nonbelievers will do the same, and wild oats sometimes multiply rapidly. What kind of crop will you gather </span> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-16196518658721452512011-06-26T18:38:00.000-07:002011-06-26T18:38:00.137-07:00Rise Above the Tide - Jeremiah 11 - 15<span style="font-size:130%;">For the introduction I quote the author of the lesson in the Life Way Commentary for summer 2011. “We all have days of conflict, weakness, sadness, grief, regret, or confusion. Sometimes such days of distress and discouragement stretch into months, even years. How do we relate to God during those stormy times? Does knowing God help us? Do our difficulties motivate us to question God? During such times, does he have anything to say to us?” For those of us with experiences like these, Jeremiah wrote about the way God dealt with the wayward people of Judah; and I believe it is a warning to Americans today, even those of us who live in Heber Springs or have friends or relatives here.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The prophet, Jeremiah was not different, he had his bad days and they stretched into at least forty years. Allow me to digress momentarily and remind everyone that our ministers [or yours, wherever you worship] fits this mold also. Our pastors of the Word and ministers of song, youth and children, and even Bible study teachers are no different. They seek and need the encouragement from those Christians that are strong in the Lord, and they deserve their support. Christians are obligated to lift their leaders up in prayer often; and we should support them in our conversations with others. Even when you are displeased with their work, there is never an excuse for open criticism that may cause them even more problems. If you are unhappy, tell them personally, and don’t gossip about it to others. When or if you feel a change is needed—just remember that the next one you call may have more problems than the one you have. An open stand against God’s chosen workers is a dangerous position to be in. Sincere prayer may help most. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I do not know your views regarding the study of history, but, to me, the study of biblical history is not only exciting but essential in the life of a Christian. When younger, I preferred the study of the New Testament to the Old one, but after extended study of God’s word, I find that knowledge of the early history of God’s people is paramount and essential to the understanding of the New Covenant established by the blood of Jesus Christ.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We can learn that God is real, in charge and unchanging through the study of history. He has always allowed people the freedom to make choices [and to experience the consequences of those choices] and this is recorded as biblical history. We can and should learn from the mistakes made by others. We can know God’s plan for his people, established in the beginning, and unchanging, and we can learn that He is moving forward to accomplish His goal; and we learn that He uses people like you and me to accomplish his goal of redeeming the lost.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We have always heard it said that history repeats itself; and that is true in the history of man; but this is not so in the history of God. People change, and repeat, and try for the new, then change again; but not so with God. He is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. Man’s history repeats; but the history of God and his plan for man is headed to a destination, leading history to a final conclusion which is the great judgment conducted by His Son, Jesus Christ—and it predicts and provides us with the hope of our salvation. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since I write lessons weekly, there is fear that some statements and suggestions will sound repetitious. One statement that seems so important is that Christ-like obedience is just as important for the Christian as repentance is to the non-believer. Do you try daily to obey the Word of the Lord? In this lesson, 11: 1-17, you will find that the people of Judah forgot the importance of obedience to their own determent. They falsely presumed that God would keep His part of the covenant agreement, even when they were unfaithful. They either did not know or forgot that a covenant is an agreement between two or more people and that both parties must keep their end of the bargain. God made thousands of promises to us and He will keep each one; however in every case we have an obligation to keep. Some great examples are: “I will heal your land—but—you must first repent of your sins, humble yourself, and make your request in prayer.” “I will save you from your sins—but—you first must repent of your sins and call Me by My name to come and live in your heart.” “Your children will be saved—but—you must bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” And then there is the one that applies heavily in Judah’s case; “I will be your God—but—you shall have no other gods before Me.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Hebrew word [</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>shama’] </i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">appears six times in the first eight verses. This word [</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>shama’] </i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">translated into English can mean either “listen” and/or “obey” God sent Jeremiah to Judah and they were admonished to “listen” to the warnings regarding their disobedience, and in this case they were also told that they must “obey” God or suffer annihilation. Note: In this case God did not kill and destroy these people and their country but he allowed a heathen nation to conquer and take them captive. God will not kill Americans! But if you will only listen and look you can see that he is allowing Satin to send floods, tornadoes and hurricanes; even a terrorist group to destroy the twin towers, pentagon and probably the White House or Capitol which was saved by the heroes that destroyed the plane in an open field in the mid-west. Jeremiah’s warning applies to us too.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">You have probably said to one of your children—“listen, did your hear me? Or, you have heard others ask the question. Was the question asked because the child had a hearing problem? No. The question was asked because the child was disobeying a command. This is exactly what was happening in Judah when Jeremiah told the people six times to listen to his warning and obey what God was telling them to do. The prophet was obedient to God in relaying this message and giving them the possibility of two results that could come. Disobedience would result in curses that would be allowed by God; and obedience would bring blessings [including a personal relationship with God] and a fertile land [see 11: 4-5].</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In verses 6-8, Jeremiah reminded the people in Jerusalem and Judah that they had examples in history that they could look back on and see what happens when disobedience prevails. God said that ever since He brought their forefathers out of bondage in Egypt he had continually warned the people regarding the different results that come from obedience and disobedience. They had the history of their nation that they could have used as a warning—just as we have an even more complete history of the subject. They did not listen/obey. Will America listen and obey? A better question and even more personal—are you listening to the warnings you are receiving? If not, would you like to know why you don’t? Find the answer in verse eight. You are stubborn and you have an evil heart. Harsh? God said it.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">On any given week-end this summer you can find many more people on the beaches, lakes, parks, at games, in gambling houses, and in bed asleep at home than you can find in the house of God. In verses 9-10 you can see that God calls this a refusal to obey his words and following other gods to worship them. His promise for this follows in 11-14, where He says that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>‘I</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>am about to bring on them disaster that they cannot escape.</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>They will</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>cry out to me but I will not hear</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">.” I have told you readers that God has a limit—that his spirit will not always strive with men, and we do not know in advance when He will say enough. It happened to Judah [see 14] He told the prophet not to pray for Judah—“</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>For I will not be listening when they call out to Me at the time of their disaster.”</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Time and space is so limited. God’s Word is so great and expansive that at one time the writer said that if it all was written down there would not be enough books to hold it. Not finished, and incomplete I must close this session by simply reminding you one more time that it is imperative for all of us to: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><b>RISE ABOVE THE TIDE”</b></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> AND </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>LEARN TO OBEY THE LORD. OR GET PREPARED TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Please remember that history repeats itself where sinful people are concerned; but the history of God is not repetitive but always the same and continuous, and will be until his goal has been reached…known as the end of the age, when Christ returns to claim His own.</span></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-82592923999763124002011-06-19T18:36:00.000-07:002011-06-19T18:36:00.139-07:00Live Above Board - Jeremiah 7:1 - 10:25<span style="font-size:130%;">Disguised as laws to protect personal confidentiality there are many questions that an employer is not allowed to ask a prospective employee; questions regarding political and religious preferences are examples. If you had moved to Heber Springs a couple of years ago and gone to work at one of the local industries, would anyone know by now whether you are a Christian or not? Assuming you were a member of a church would you have joined one here by now? If you had united with a church here, would you have told your buddies at the factory about the experience? Would you have invited any of your friends to attend with you? More importantly, would you have spoken to anyone about their relationship with God? </span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Would you participate in telling or even listening to the ‘dirty joke’ sessions that take place at break time? Would there still be some, if not all, that did not even know that you profess to be a Christian? The questions that you need to ask yourself are: “Do I demonstrate my trust in God? </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>DO I LIVE ABOVE BOARD? </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Note: the title of this lesson is DO I LIVE ABOVE BOARD. Does your life really count for Christ? Remember that only you and God need to be fully satisfied; however it is rewarding to please others.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since God can not condone sin, surely one of His greatest concerns is the fact that his people who claim to be believers are practicing life styles that are no different from those who have never claimed Him as their Lord. This is nothing new. In the Old Testament, God chose Israel as His special people and established His covenant with them. The basis for this covenant was the Ten Commandments. His people continually broke the covenant yet they blindly continued to believe that they were still under His protection. If you will study His word, you will find that, in many cases, they paid a horrible price for their sins while they were still living; and the unsaved will continue paying. It is no wonder that people who claim to be Christian seem to have so many problems confronting them daily. Sometimes God allows Satin to have his way in the lives of sinful Christians; and often they learn the hard way—experience is a good teacher but her lessons usually cost much more than we would like to pay.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Our covenant with God is something like a contract with a company to provide a service. We agree to pay and the company agrees to provide the service and if either fails to live up to the contract there is always a problem. There is one main difference though…because God is the company, the provider, and He never fails to keep his end of the bargain, Christians are the ones who fail. The bible teaches that ‘all have sinned and come short’ of God’s expectations, and many times we come short of his commands.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In our lesson today, Jeremiah prophesied that in the future, following the impending judgment on the nation, Judah, God would make a new covenant with Israel and Judah. Unlike the old one which was so severe that man could not keep it…the new one would enable people to uphold it. Under the new one, His law would be written on our hearts. We now have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and when our lives are dedicated [in our daily living] we receive forgiveness for our daily sins. In Ezekiel we find that he prophesied that we could keep the new covenant because of God’s Spirit that is within Christians, [Ezek.36: 26]. This prophesies came true as recorded in [Hebrews 8-9]. And it was sealed with the blood of Christ [Matt. 26: 28].</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In the early verses of this lesson God instructed Jeremiah to stand in the gate of the Lord and warn the people that visiting the temple regularly [going to church] does not fulfill the requirements made by God. The example that matters continues seven days a week, and twenty four hours each day. How does your life demonstrate that your faith is genuine? How do your day-to-day actions differ from those of unbelievers around you? Jeremiah warned the Jews; your pastor, Sunday school teachers, and the bible warn you today.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is imperative that you read this lesson in order to get the total message, but I insist that you re-read verses 9 through 11; “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Do you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house…and say “we are safe” safe to do these detestable things? Has my house become a den of robbers to you? “I have been watching! Declares the Lord. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The soldier standing guard may fall asleep on his watch; however, we can be assured that God never sleeps, and is watching our every move…both good and bad.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is easy for us to say that we do not do these specific sins that are named above…but do we? Ever cheat a little on income tax? Stealing. Ever gossip about another’s actions? Murdering reputation. Ever look, see and lust? Adultery already in your heart. Miss represent the truth in anyway? Lying. Ever partook in Lord’s Supper without first confessing sin and asking forgiveness? Burning incense. Ever preferred a great home; a new car: a vacation; or even your family to being with, or trusting in God? Following other gods. Folks, it is not easy to totally trust God and live righteous daily…in fact it is impossible, but we must endeavor to do our best and trust God to forgive us when we fail…and we must not fail intentionally and continually. God has promised to forgive 7X70; however he has also told us that his spirit will not always strive with men. There is a limit to God’s patients; I do not know where it is, no one does, but I fear for America today. Too many have forgotten God; too many are carrying their luck far beyond safe bounds.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In verses 12-15 God told these people to take a look at Shiloh, use it as an example to see what their fate would be. You should remember that God established his headquarters at Shiloh and placed the arc of the covenant there. Eli was high priest and Samuel was called to serve there, but because of the people’s wickedness, the Lord allowed the Philistines to capture the ark [which symbolized God’s presence] and He departed from the people there. God will not live where sin prevails and that includes the heart of his people. Jerusalem and Judah have now become as the people were in Shiloh, and God is warning that there will be a pay day. America has moved into Shiloh territory, and God will not allow his Holy Spirit to be trampled under the feet of undeserving, un-Godly, and non-repenting sinners or Christians.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This lesson contains what was known as Jeremiah’s temple sermon and it warned the people that they were involved in deceptive worship. It is deceptive when we practice our religion on Sundays and at church and live as the world lives throughout the rest of the week. We are not to be deceived, and we must remember that what so ever we sow, that shall we also reap. God will not be mocked and he is watching to determine what seed we are sowing.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In closing, you must read 7: 30 and 31 about the Valley of Slaughter. These people built one or more alters called ‘high places’ in the Valley of Ben Hinnom on which to sacrifice their sons and daughters in fire. How terrible!! Americans would never do that!! No. The law would not allow it…yet. However it is acceptable for butchers to use a grinding instrument and bore their brains out while still in the womb, then allow them to birth as a glob of dead flesh and blood that was only a few moments ago…a living sole. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">God saw these American babies just before they were killed, and He said that they were alive, and that he already knew what they were to accomplish is the life which is taken from them. Is there any difference in what the people of Judah was doing and what the Americans are allowing to be done? </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> <span style="font-size:130%;">There are viable organizations at work today trying to stop this hellish devastation of human life; I have signed several petitions lately, asking, begging, and demanding that Congress put a stop to our ‘Valleys of Slaughter that are operating in almost every community. Have you taken your stand against the murder of the unborn? I urge you to speak out at every opportunity, let God know that this is not one of your un-forgiven sins. Some Christians will argue that there are exceptions; that conditions can exist that justifies abortion. That may be so; but, personally, I prefer to let God decide, rather than some quack doctor. Let God have his way and the outcome will be acceptable in the sight of Jesus Christ, our Savior. I prefer to please Him, rather than abide by a man-made permissible abortion [murder] law. If you disagree with me regarding the sin of abortion—then my hope is that I have at least drawn your attention long enough to reconsider your stand. Every Christian should continue daily to LIVE ABOVE BOARD and be proud of the example their life sets before others.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-42317560126915982452011-06-12T18:34:00.000-07:002011-06-15T18:36:11.534-07:00Get Back on Track - Jeremiah 2:1 - 6:30<span style="font-size:130%;">I have already tried to formulate in my mind just how I will attempt to make this lesson pertain to the United States of America and the perilous times we are experiencing today. In my opinion, God inspired the writers to include this lesson as America’s warning. The question in my mind is: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Will our leaders heed this warning in time to save America? The Jews did not heed and their Pay-Day came soon and lasted 70 years. God Help Us! </b></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In fact, and the truth is that the Jewish nation is still paying today, over 3000 years later for sins that are related directly to those committed during this the days of Jeremiah. They were in bondage in Egypt prior to this occasion and were rescued by God, and were denied their home in Jerusalem for their continued failure to trust God, and their worship of idols instead of Him. Christ came and they rejected him as the Messiah, and they will never find peace on this earth until they do.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">You must read through these five chapters to get the picture of Jewish life as it had become in Judah, the Southern Kingdom, and the one that really had been shown more of God’s patience than Israel, the Northern Kingdom. The reading is not easy to fully understand because it is reported as a vision that came to the Prophet and it uses allegories [stories in which figures and actions are symbols of general truths]. I will attempt to generalize what appears to be the meaning to me.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This was a fruitful land; a land of plenty, as had been promised, a land of milk and honey. People were well off, living in much the same circumstances in that day and could be compared to America following WWII. Because God planned it that way, the land was fertile, the weather was conducive, and the expansive array of crops, including all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and other produce was abundant. Their industrial abilities, with far less machinery to work with than we have, were amazing. Their buildings were enormous and absolutely beautiful with the temple, as described in the bible was unbelievable. Their water and waste systems were a marvel, hidden underground and effective. Motes and walls surrounded cities for protection. They were blessed by God.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Now follow through and look at the problems that arose and while you study please watch the parallel with the same kinds of action and reactions that have occurred in America during the last hundred years. I digress a moment to say that I believe this story is in the bible to allow us to look back at their mistakes and profit by them. It is not an enjoyable read, in many ways it is a boring piece of literature and as far as I am concerned, any literature that deals with sin, immorality, deceit, deception, anti-Godliness, adultery, idol worship, and cult religions are boring. We do not read to enjoy; we must read to learn from the mistakes of others.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We must go back into the history of this nation briefly to explain why judgment is being brought upon Judah. Let us just start with Solomon, wise in head knowledge, but so lacking in spiritual commitment. God had told his people ‘</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>I am the I am, there is no other, you can put no other gods before Me, you must obey my laws, I have given you commandments to live by and you must obey Me. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">God demanded that they not intermarry with heathen nations because that would introduce other gods to his people and one of Solomon’s first mistakes was to marry an Egyptian. Things started down hill soon, and culminated with parts of the Holy Temple being desecrated by allowing idol worship there. This is probably the greatest of their sins, because it defies the very first commandment. But all sin is simply sin and wrong in the sight of God.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">As governmental power grew, certain people, especially the poor, were discriminated against in many ways but the one that fits us is that they were overtaxed unfairly and had to beg for mercy that did not come. Examples of multiple marriages, prostitution, [and even legal temple prostitutes] set the tone for the people to follow and it became one of the greatest sins of their day. They built their own idols with their own hands and called them gods and worshipped them. We have done the same thing. Think about it. You do not have to bow down, and pray to an object to worship it…you only have to put your greatest interest there, and forget God while you do it. Some of our gods are great, and would be acceptable to God, if we would only put Him first and thank him for them.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">As I write, next Monday is Memorial Day and [if gas wasn’t so high] where would millions be? Thousands will be even with high gas prices. Let us start with River Fest in Little Rock, with expensive trucks, motor homes, and expensive boats on all the lakes. Las Vegas will be alive with gamblers, and the beaches crowded on both coasts. To many their home is their castle, a new car is their most cherished item, diamonds shine brighter than God ever can in their lives. Then there is the immoral issue with government even passing laws to make many legal. God’s plan for the family is being ignored, same sex marriages, are now able to adopt and raise homeless children in homes that are damned by God’s law. There is a tragic history of laws being passed that demands that the name of God be removed from all public places and documents. I must limit examples, but you get the picture, surely you can see the parallel with our lesson on the destruction of Judah.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Judah had gone too far. God rebelled against them. He gave them one more chance when he sent Jeremiah, just a lad, to warn them—and the story you read today tells you that he has had enough. Jeremiah told them what they had done and what God was about to do. They were going to be destroyed by armies that would bear down and run over their land like oil that would run down the mountains and cover them. The results were that Babylon, a cruel and ungodly nation, was permitted to conquer Judah and they were taken into captivity for 70 years. God save a remnant as he always will, but the nation has never regained their original position.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">You can agree with me…or disagree…that is your privilege, but I truly believe that unless America returns to at least the Christian status we held in the early part of the last century, this nation is doomed to fall just as Judah did. Many, with more knowledge about nation failures than I have, have predicted that our downfall will come from within. Linen and Stolen both predicted that we would rot from within. The Islamic nations have determined to kill all infidels and convert the world to Islam. And in many ways we are playing straight into their hands. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>We need to GET BACK ON TRACK. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">And the only way is for us to guard against sin.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">This lesson can be summed up by saying that it tells us the consequences of unfaithfulness [2: 1-37]. Jeremiah gave the call to repentance [3:1-4: 4] and I humbly tell you that I am trying to do the same thing. In 4:5-31, he told them that judgment was certain. The fifth chapter spells out the corruption of Judah and it is parallel to our day. And finally the Calamity came from the North just as he predicted in the sixth chapter.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Please go to 5: 3-6 and read NOW. The people were the first to fail, then you would expect the leaders to bring us back, but they are even worse. I do not know who the lion, leopard and wolf are but they are crouched and ready to strike America. I am truly glad that I do not know the day and hour. But unless we repent of our sinful ways, and pray for forgiveness, and be humble about it—God will not protect America while it delves deeper and deeper into an immoral state that has forgotten who God is and that He is in power, and will have the last word. GOD BLESS AMERICA, IS MY PRAYER! Sadly, I know that the people of America must return to God before he will answer in the affirmative. </span> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-90611051858216135202011-06-05T18:31:00.000-07:002011-06-15T18:46:08.941-07:00Accept Your Commission - Jeremiah 1:1-19<span style="font-size:130%;">Do you consider yourself as a successful person? Have you read the life of Jeremiah and do you vision this great prophet as a successful man? Will you be happy with your life if it emulates anything near the success he had? How do you define the word </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>success? </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The most of the answers to this last question will look something like this—“I will be successful if I can acquire a reasonable amount of wealth; at least enough to live comfortably and care for my family—and in so doing can obtain a level of prestige, favor and power to be financially and emotionally secure. I must obtain and hold a good number of friends and admirers and enjoy the fruits of my labor. I know who I am and where I am going and will work confidently to meet my goals and in the process I will be a success.” In a few words, this seems to be an admirable ambition…BUT</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">By these standards, Jeremiah was a miserable failure. He witnessed for God and to His people in Judah for forty years—but no one would listen and his work seemed doomed to failure. He acquired no material success either; he lived a deprived life; was thrown into prison, and once was even tossed into a cistern. He was taken to Egypt against his will; he was rejected by his family and friends, his audience, and even by the Kings. He stood alone throughout his life. In the eyes of his world, and especially our world today, he was a failure—and by our definition given above, Jeremiah was definitely a failure; he was very unsuccessful…BUT</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In the eyes of God—Jeremiah was one of the most successful people in all of bible history. Why? He was successful “Because he ACCEPTED HIS COMMISSION FROM GOD.” As a member of God’s church, [</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>a Christian]</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> have you </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>accepted your commission? </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Do you attempt daily to do what you can to answer the call? One important command was for you to </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>study the word to show yourself approved. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Have you studied the portion of scripture that reveals the last command He gave to you and me just before his ascension? His bodily work was finished on the cross; He was on his way back to heaven and He charged his church to remain diligent in their preaching and teaching about what He had done for man. He said, “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Go into all the world, preach and teach unbelievers;…feed My sheep, pray, lift the fallen, do good to others as you would that they do for you,” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">on and on our commission is a great one. It is not a burden; but very demanding, time consuming but enjoyable; and rewarding beyond your deepest imagination.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The first chapter of this book records Jeremiah’s personal call from God and indicates that the assignment would be difficult. He said in verses 4 and 5 that “The word of the Lord came to me:” ‘</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born,…”’. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Without thinking, some, if not most, of us would say that we have never had an experience like that. Think about it for a moment. We were all created individually and specifically for God’s purpose. Though not audibly, God has spoken to us through his inspired and divine written word, which is now complete and contains all promises that came as a result of the new covenant. We know more about what God expects of us than Jeremiah ever could have known. If we fail to follow His orders, what excuse will we give on the Day of Judgment?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Parenthetically, let me say that this passage should challenge all who believe in abortion. God said that He recognized Jeremiah, chose him and set him apart as a prophet before he was born. If an unborn fetus is not a person, then how could God have known his destiny? And to whom or what was He talking and assigning this responsibility? Would he have chosen a glob of useless protoplasm? No. He spoke of an unborn fetus in the mother’s womb as a person.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">For those of you [if there are any] who doubt the call of God on the life of man, I ask you how you explain the conversation between God and Jeremiah? Read through these first verses, listen to the call of God, and then note that Jeremiah rejected the call and even protested saying, “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Oh, no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am [</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">only] </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>a youth.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">{Emphasis mine] Then note God’s answer or response. God told him not to make the excuse of being young, go where I tell you and say what I want you to say. And then the promise was “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you.” </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">We have two serious problems as rebellious sinners. First we fail to read His word to see what he has told us to do. Then when we read and learn his commands, we fail to follow; either out of fear of failure or maybe just because we are not willing to follow Him. The reason can only be neglect, unbelief, or laziness, all are serious sins. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I jut cannot complete this lesson without begging you to </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>read chapter one and REREAD verses 7-19. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">God spoke to Jeremiah through this vision; He speaks to us through his Word.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Jeremiah was called by God to prophesy to Judah [the southern kingdom] who had rebelled and were serving idols made by their hands. He told them that they would be in captivity for 70 years in Babylon and that they would eventually return from exile. Jeremiah survived the fall, but was forcefully sent to Egypt. He remained faithful in spite of Jerusalem’s destruction. He was totally ignored and despised but because of his determined obedience he remained strong and courageous. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are many other examples in the bible that show us how we must persevere in the Lord in order to be </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>SUCCESSFUL; </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">however, this one is all you need to tell and show you how God measures success in our lives. No matter how you and I define </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>success, if it does not lead to a right relationship with God—it is the wrong definition. </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Then how can you get it right? First, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>read</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> God’s word and follow the plan of salvation that leads you to surrender your life to Christ. Then </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>study</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> the word and see what God has </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>commissioned you</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> to do. The title of the lesson today explains the rest of the plan.—it says: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>ACCEPT YOUR COMMISSION. Have you?</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Please pray for me that I may be able to honestly, and sincerely, keep in practice the admonitions that are recorded in His word; and please pray that readers will react more favorable than the hearers of Jeremiah the Prophet. Then remember. It is a fact. If they don’t believe and act accordingly, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>“There will be a pay-day some-day. {</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Note: This is the title to a wonderful message preached by Robert G. Lee at Belleview Baptist in Memphis before his untimely death.}</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-12062144561072486852011-05-29T18:27:00.000-07:002011-06-15T18:45:15.029-07:00Be Forgiving - Philemon 1: 1-25<span style="font-size:130%;">One of the greatest blights in American history was caused by the introduction of slavery into our new country. Slavery has been practiced in one form or another since the earliest biblical times, and there are still forms of slavery even in our country today. The general concept was that a slave was collateral property of his/her owner and could be bought and sold as such; and could be treated or mistreated as the owner wished. I am assuming from my study of the bible that this was the general practice in the Roman Empire at the time of Paul’s writing. In one commentary I found that there was a population of just over a million people in Rome and about one third were slaves. This is a very personal letter written in [about 60 A.D.] while Paul was in prison in Rome, to his friend in Christ, Philemon.</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Philemon was probably a very rich person, with land and property, and could use the slave labor to promote… and increase his standing. He may have owned many slaves; but we know that he did own Onesimus, a slave, maybe a black man, [I am not sure]; but this is not the point; he was a man with a soul; and God loves all of his creation regardless of color or creed. This is the backdrop for our lesson today; but the lesson is not about slavery it is regarding forgiveness. The reason it is so important for you to know the setting is that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>we must be humble enough to forgive even those people we might consider as being of lesser importance than we are; even our slaves, if we were still owners of slaves. God forbid this evil to continue. The bible specifically states that we are to forgive others; even our enemies.</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Philemon was converted earlier under Paul’s preaching and was now a member of the young church which was meeting in his house, as was the custom in those days. Onesimus, his slave, had probably heard him speak well of Paul, and when he decided to run away—he sought Paul’s help; who was a prisoner in Rome at the time. As a prisoner Paul still had the privilege of writing and witnessing and stayed active in his church ministry. Paul befriended Onesimus, witnessed to him and Onesimus became a believer under Paul’s teaching.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul convinced Onesimus, now that he was saved; it was his Christian duty to go back to his legal master and settle what ever debt he owed. This letter to Philemon is Paul’s effort to also convince Philemon that as a Christian he must forgive his former slave for running away and for his prior theft of property. Paul states that both have a responsibility to do what is right as relates to the renewing of this partnership and now friendship as brothers in Christ. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">It was customary for owners to treat run-away slave harshly and sometimes even cruelly, and it must have taken a great deal of faith on the part of Onesimus to be willing to return to his master voluntarily. It also must have taken much faith on the part of Philemon to believe the glowing report Paul gave regarding this slave that had become a Christian, and wanted to return to his master and make things right. This incident required a mutual faith on the part of both men; and under the circumstances that can be hard to comprehend. Only those of us that know about the forgiving spirit of Jesus Christ will believe it to be both possible and necessary.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul starts this letter by stating that he is a prisoner because his affiliation with the Lord and his church; he further states that Timothy is there in Rome with Paul and is a brother in Christ; also that they are writing directly to Philemon whom they consider a dear friend and coworker in the spread of the gospel. Note that Paul salutes Apphia and Archippus [who are probably the wife and son of Philemon] and the members of the body that were meeting in his house. It was necessary for all to know about the conversion of the slave, Onesimus, and to know that he is now a converted soul and a member of the body of Christ; therefore is worthy of the forgiveness being requested. Paul prayed that they would experience the grace and peace of God. Grace represents the unmerited favor that Christ gave us and peace represents the state of total satisfaction and comfort that can come only from the God they serve. Together these two words represent all that is indispensable in the Christian faith in their church family—as well as in our church family today.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">I think that it is sad that the telephone and email of today has replaced the letters people once used to communicate personally. I hope the readers of this lesson are among the few left of this vanishing breed of letter writers. I personally have received several personal letters commending me for writing “My Life Story on Raft Creek;” and how they were able to relate to my story. Some have written to thank me for preparing these lessons each week. These personal letters have been a special blessing to me. Hopefully, you will take the time to write to your Christian friends when they are hit with hard times or bad health; or when they have accomplished something notable, especially if they have accepted Christ as their Savior. Your complements are as ointment to a wound; they make the recipient feel good. Paul congratulated Philemon for his care and concern for his Christian friends.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Note that in verses 8 through 11, Paul had always claimed to be God’s spokesman with the right to direct new Christians to do what was right. In this letter he did not direct Philemon to accept Onesimus back as his equal—instead he simply requested that he do so in the name of Christ. Paul said that he would really prefer to keep Onesimus there in Rome to help him, but felt that it was only right to give him up, that he might return to his owner and make things right.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In verse 15, Paul indicates that he believes that it was in God’s plan for the slave to run away from his owner so that he could return in this new capacity as the owner’s coworker in Christ. Remember in another scripture it is stated that “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord….” Then Paul told Philemon “If you considered me as your partner, then you should accept Onesimus as you would me.” Paul even offered to pay anything that Onesimus may owe his owner. This reminds us of the man that found a victim who had been robbed, beaten and left for dead—who rescued him and took him to an inn…instructed the innkeeper to treat him, and care for him and that he would return and pay the bill.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">We are reminded that it is not position of prominence, name, or background that makes a Christian our brother; neither does it matter who we are or what position we hold that causes us to be responsible for our brother. We are to befriend others and always forgive because of The One we believe in for our salvation. Always give Jesus Christ credit for any good deed you do. God forbid that I ever write one lesson for personal credit; I pray that my Lord will be praised and glorified, and that some soul may be saved. Please pray that I may remain humble and forgiving and that Christ and others may gain.</span><br /></p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516111761962096820.post-48815095501023701462011-05-22T14:07:00.000-07:002011-05-28T14:08:44.075-07:00Be Faithful - Colossians 3:23-25; 4:2-13,17<span style="font-size:130%;">Being faithful is not always easy or convenient. During the last few years it has become more apparent to me that being </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>faithful and obedient</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> to God’s will is as important for a Christian as ‘being saved’ is to a nonbeliever. The Christian’s responsibilities in faithful living extend to the family and friends as well as to observers who judge a Christian by their works. Faithful obedience is a command from God to all believers, and is just as important as the conversion experience; not in order to be saved; but because we are saved. Writers in the New Testament spent more time instructing Christians on how they should live their life, obey God, and treat others than they did on the simple plan of salvation. I truly believe that the most pressing problems that we face each day in our personal lives, in the life of the church and even the problems of the nation, and world can be attributed to people’s </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>disobedience to God.</b></span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In our lesson today, 3:18 to 4:18, Paul continues to make practical applications of the spiritual truths he had set forth in the first two chapters. Last Sunday, we dealt with our focus on holy living in general as we were instructed to set our goals on living a righteous life with Heaven as our final destination. Today, Paul has narrowed our focus to the Christian behavior to include the people we interact with each day, wives, husbands, children, friends, employees and employers. You can not, and you will not understand this commentary unless you read the lesson text. Please read now.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are two dangers that can become a problem as we study this lesson and we must be aware. First, we must be aware that exceptional circumstances do not negate the principals that are revealed in the Word, and second these passages must not be taken out of context. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The very first verses cause us to ask some ‘what if’ questions. What if the husband of a submissive wife is abusive? Should she steal if he commands her to do so? What if the parents abuse a child? Do you comply if your employer directs you to lie to customers, or to cheat on weights and measures, short change every opportunity? The husband is directed to love his wife. What if she is unfaithful, or mistreats his children? You must know the overall message of the bible, which teaches obedience and honesty are both important virtues. It is so easy to see how these commands are to be handled by just going back to chapter 3: 1 through 17, and read how we are to conduct our lives regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In Ephesians 5:25-32 Paul states that God has assigned husbands a leadership role in marriage and he has the responsibility of being the ‘head of the family.’ Man’s position is one of servant-leader modeled after the way Christ relates in love toward those of us that make up His church. Both wife and husband should emulate Christ—think about this, Jesus is our Lord, the Head of our household, but He never forces us to do anything; our obedience is always voluntary. Jesus is patient with us when we fail to follow his requests and continues to love us and to act in our best interest. Wives are not submissive to their husband; neither does husbands love wives because either deserves it, but because </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>it is in obedience to Christ.</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Verses 20 and 21 should not be taken out of context. Remember that Paul is writing this letter to the church, whose members [including parents] should be living as explained in 3: 1-7. One of the greatest tragedies of our day is that many children do not obey parental instructions when they are given; and in many cases parents do not offer the instructions. There is an age of accountability—and until that age is reached, children are not responsible. They may think they know everything, but in fact the parents must demand obedience. Children can not always see or understand the validity of some parental restrictions because they do not have adult minds. They too are to obey their parents because it is pleasing to the Lord. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The bible teaches that fathers, as head of the family, have a special responsibility toward their children, but children are to obey parents which also includes the mother. Parents should work as a team [agreeing together] and they must teach their children in the right way [see Prov. 22:6]. It is not easy to be a good parent, and it is easy to forget that you are dealing with an immature person. All instruction should be reasonable; nagging or failing to acknowledge commendable efforts may become habitual. Parents can exasperate children with undesirable demands, and Paul is warning us here. By the way, did you ever wonder why the bible does not teach children not to exasperate their parents? He did not instruct them because he realized that they were immature and would not understand or misunderstand the direction.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">In verses 22-23, Paul changes from our responsibilities as family members to the responsibilities of slaves and their masters. We think of slavery as being cruel and unjust but it has always been around, and was very prevalent in Paul’s day. I have often wondered why I have never found in the bible where slavery was either approved or condemned. It must have been condoned, as it seems, that was Paul’s position; at least he gave instructions as to how owners and slaves should treat each other. I wish to take the principles he laid down and apply them to management and labor today.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">There should always be an understanding between the person that hires and the person that agrees to work; the time, and expectations should be explained by the employer and the wages should be stated. The employee can either accept or reject; however, if he accepts the offer, he is obligated to carry out his part of the bargain. This would take pages to cover completely, but allow me to just mention a few little things that are just not right. Cell phones and cigarettes steal an hour or more each day from the employer. At ten dollars an hour, this means the employer is paying ten dollars a day for the worker to smoke and talk. The employee should work as diligently when left alone as while being supervised.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">Management has a responsibility to recompense good and honest effort. When profits go up, salaries should follow and favoritism has no part in the market place. Expensive unions would never have existed, and would never be needed if management would treat labor with respect. The other side of this coin says that when unions gain power they should not use it to force management to continue to keep and pay for inferior workmanship. Paul summed this up better than I can when he indicates that the worker should work as if he is employed by Christ; and I will add that the employer should treat his employee as Christ would treat him. Just think; with this arrangement we would have no labor/management problems in America.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The bible teaches that we are to ‘</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Work out our salvation in fear and trembling’</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;">—this does not mean that we work ‘for’ salvation. It pertains to our daily lives and includes the work place. Whether we are supervised or not, we should work as though we are working for Christ. Our actions in the work place are a part of our daily testimony. Those that see you at work may never see you in church; therefore the only chance you have to influence them is through your attitude toward your job. Failure to do right, is costly; “</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Wrongdoers</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done.” </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:130%;">The lesson winds to a close by suggesting that Christians have a responsibility to remain faithful to the Church and its leadership. Christ built his church upon a rock and promised that the gates of hell should not prevail against it. The church is His bride and He loves it; and He charged it with the responsibility of witnessing to the world. All ministers, in word or music, child or adult, are called into the ministry and the bible teaches that they are worthy of their calling. Individual members are viewed by God as if each member is a part of the body of Christ, an arm, leg, eye or hand; therefore when you fail to function properly you are actually making it impossible for Christ to reach his full potential.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="JUSTIFY"> </p>Whitfield Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003648486543743879noreply@blogger.com0