A Cabana by the Sea
In a quaint cabana,
On an island reef,
Lived a man whose lifespan was,
At the most considered “brief”.
For nigh the dawn meets the tide,
That old man death will come;
With scythe in hand, to take a man,
And pick him as a plum.
The reaper grim, scythe in hand,
Will come this very night;
To collect another winsome soul,
From a life of sin and blight.
With the coming of morning light,
Another soul shall be set free;
A lonely man with bated breath,
Meets death in a cabana by the sea.
“A good man” his friends will claim,
“And kind and true and pure”;
But don’t ask his God my friend,
You see, His judgment is good and sure.
His God may speak a different tone,
“A putrid, wretched man”, says He;
And His judgment will be Just, and true,
In that cabana by the sea.
One night more to live,
And what then shall he do?
“Prepare to meet thy Maker, sir”;
He doesn’t have a clue.
He’s been good to all his kin,
And a friend to every friend;
He’s given back what he received,
And was faithful to the end;
He went to church now and then,
But was busy as could be;
And didn’t have time for prayer and alms,
Nor for such “foolishness” you see.
He walks the beach with tearful eye,
And sobs with fearful heart;
To think that tonight he’ll die,
And from this world will depart;
Then another comes his way,
A man walking alone;
His eyes were bright and full of life,
As for his face—it shone.
He walked with a certain lilt in gait,
He came singing a peculiar song;
One of beauty and of grace,
Of a place he didn’t belong.
The two passed on the sand,
The one tearful and afraid;
The other joyful, with a glow,
The sad one, in need of aid.
The stranger continued a little way,
Then turned and quietly spoke;
“I sing of a Land far away from here,
Where One who had died awoke”
“A man who has died can live again?”
Questioned the broken man, His hope was sparked anew;
“Yes indeed” the answer came, “Indeed he can;
A man who has died can live again, and so, my friend, can you”
The stranger turned and walked away,
And nothing more was said;
Despondent man was left alone,
With new thoughts in his head.
He hurried back to his seaside home,
And found that Book so grand;
Blowing off the long term dust,
He took it in his hands.
With memories of long ago,
Of Sunday Schools all past;
He found what he had missed so long,
And found true joy at last.
A body was discovered late the following day;
All nestled and snug in bed;
The Bible opened on the shelf,
The body cold, and dead.
But Life had come the night before,
As he read of Christ upon the tree;
And found grace in the eyes of the Lord,
In that cabana by the sea.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John. 11:25)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Our Three-fold Trials
Our Three-fold Trials
Job (chapters 1-2)
Job was tried in three areas and from three directions; our trials follow much the same pattern. When we are tempted, we are tempted from above, from below, and from all sides, but at different times, and in different ways. Our trials may not be from three directions at once, often one is sufficient to defeat us, but all testings and trials are from one of these three sources, and all can be overwhelming if we are not walking with the Lord. We have testing from above; temptations from below, and trials all around us.
Testing from above--The Lord tests His children at times, so that they can learn to have the resolve they need through life and cope with trials that will inevitably come our way. He does not test us to see what we will do--the omniscient God knows exactly what we will do in all situations and at all times, but he tests us so that WE will know what we will do! These tests will allow us to trust, and walk in the confidence that God is with us, and we must rely upon Him to get us through. It is important that we know how to face testing, and trials and temptations.
Temptations from below-- The devil seeks to undermine the Lord through us. He cannot get our souls once we belong to the Lord, but he can confuse us and make us of none effect for the work he has given us to do. Unless we walk daily with the Lord, and keep His Word fresh within us, we have no power against the wiles of Satan as he “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Trials from the world around us-- Trials come from others mainly, but also from the fact that we are but flesh, and flesh has its weaknesses. Affliction is the tools of trials, to keep our minds on problems, and not on the Lord; we are afflicted through the flesh and the world, and if not walking close to the Lord, we will be affected adversely by afflictions.
Persecution then, is also from the world around us, and is a powerful tool in the testing, trials, and temptations that come upon us; it is a trial that the world imposes on us, whether we desire it or not. It can be evidenced by affliction, but may take a course of its own, leaving havoc in its wake.
Gypsy Martindale
Job (chapters 1-2)
Job was tried in three areas and from three directions; our trials follow much the same pattern. When we are tempted, we are tempted from above, from below, and from all sides, but at different times, and in different ways. Our trials may not be from three directions at once, often one is sufficient to defeat us, but all testings and trials are from one of these three sources, and all can be overwhelming if we are not walking with the Lord. We have testing from above; temptations from below, and trials all around us.
Testing from above--The Lord tests His children at times, so that they can learn to have the resolve they need through life and cope with trials that will inevitably come our way. He does not test us to see what we will do--the omniscient God knows exactly what we will do in all situations and at all times, but he tests us so that WE will know what we will do! These tests will allow us to trust, and walk in the confidence that God is with us, and we must rely upon Him to get us through. It is important that we know how to face testing, and trials and temptations.
Temptations from below-- The devil seeks to undermine the Lord through us. He cannot get our souls once we belong to the Lord, but he can confuse us and make us of none effect for the work he has given us to do. Unless we walk daily with the Lord, and keep His Word fresh within us, we have no power against the wiles of Satan as he “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Trials from the world around us-- Trials come from others mainly, but also from the fact that we are but flesh, and flesh has its weaknesses. Affliction is the tools of trials, to keep our minds on problems, and not on the Lord; we are afflicted through the flesh and the world, and if not walking close to the Lord, we will be affected adversely by afflictions.
Persecution then, is also from the world around us, and is a powerful tool in the testing, trials, and temptations that come upon us; it is a trial that the world imposes on us, whether we desire it or not. It can be evidenced by affliction, but may take a course of its own, leaving havoc in its wake.
Gypsy Martindale
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Lord Jesus Christ
Our Lord Jesus Christ
“Lord” is Jesus’ deified name; seen as God.
“Jesus” is His earthly name; seen as man.
“Christ” is His prophetic name; seen as the Messiah
--the Promised One.
The complete title describes what Christ really is:
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
The “Son of man.”
God (Jehovah);
Jesus (the Son);
Christ (The Messiah).
Jesus is His name,
Christ is His title;
“Lord” entails both of these.
“Lord” is Jesus’ deified name; seen as God.
“Jesus” is His earthly name; seen as man.
“Christ” is His prophetic name; seen as the Messiah
--the Promised One.
The complete title describes what Christ really is:
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
The “Son of man.”
God (Jehovah);
Jesus (the Son);
Christ (The Messiah).
Jesus is His name,
Christ is His title;
“Lord” entails both of these.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Bride of Christ
Who is the Bride of Christ?
There are a total of 16 times that a bride is mentioned in scripture, 9 are n the Old Testament, and are comparative, and 5 are in the New Testament, with 4 of those being in the Book of revelation. Only one passage comes right out and says who the bride is when an angel said to John, “I will show you the bride”.
Rev. 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
This is the only place where our Lord says definitely that he will show who the bride is. The others compare the church to her, but may not be the actual bride. The others speak in comparative terms:
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Jer 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
The rest in the Old testament speak of an earthly bride and compare her glory to the glory and beauty of God and His people.
The first mention of the word “bride” in the New Testament is in John 3:29 and was spoken by John the Baptist;
Joh 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Notice that there are “friends” of the bride (Jn 3:29), these also will be at the wedding supper of the Lamb, but as attending to the guests.
Then we go to the Book of Revelation:
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Again, comparative,…“as a bride adorned for her husband.” “As” is a word of comparing one thing looking like another.
Here is where the angel is about to show us who the bride is:
Rev. 21:9 “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev. 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,”
The bride is the church, all those who are written in the Book of life.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
There are a total of 16 times that a bride is mentioned in scripture, 9 are n the Old Testament, and are comparative, and 5 are in the New Testament, with 4 of those being in the Book of revelation. Only one passage comes right out and says who the bride is when an angel said to John, “I will show you the bride”.
Rev. 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
This is the only place where our Lord says definitely that he will show who the bride is. The others compare the church to her, but may not be the actual bride. The others speak in comparative terms:
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Jer 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
The rest in the Old testament speak of an earthly bride and compare her glory to the glory and beauty of God and His people.
The first mention of the word “bride” in the New Testament is in John 3:29 and was spoken by John the Baptist;
Joh 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Notice that there are “friends” of the bride (Jn 3:29), these also will be at the wedding supper of the Lamb, but as attending to the guests.
Then we go to the Book of Revelation:
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Again, comparative,…“as a bride adorned for her husband.” “As” is a word of comparing one thing looking like another.
Here is where the angel is about to show us who the bride is:
Rev. 21:9 “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev. 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,”
The bride is the church, all those who are written in the Book of life.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Why works?
Why works?
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (Mt. 25: 37- 39)
It is not the work here that we must focus on, but the heart attitude that we keep hidden deep within us. The parallel verse, v. 44, we see that both the righteous and the unrighteous produced the same works. Both were told the same thing, that what we do to others, we do to Christ. The key to this parable, I believe, is that the works reveal the motives. They reveal the hidden intent of the heart--the “inner self”. Works become much more useful and important when we see this, and we can learn from them ourselves. The nations did not know when they did this to Christ, neither side knew, yet they discovered that how we treat our fellow man speaks much of the true “us”. Some did the works to obtain spirituality, while others did them because they were spiritual minded. Works do not merit anything, on the contrary, they reveal much. We must all ask ourselves if what we do is done to the glory of God, or in hopes of obtaining glory from God. Both were challenged, but only one side was rewarded. Let us make an effort to “be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven us (Eph 4:32, not direct quote) A few verses down from our text verse in Matthew, our Lord says “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Mt. 25:40)
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (Mt. 25: 37- 39)
It is not the work here that we must focus on, but the heart attitude that we keep hidden deep within us. The parallel verse, v. 44, we see that both the righteous and the unrighteous produced the same works. Both were told the same thing, that what we do to others, we do to Christ. The key to this parable, I believe, is that the works reveal the motives. They reveal the hidden intent of the heart--the “inner self”. Works become much more useful and important when we see this, and we can learn from them ourselves. The nations did not know when they did this to Christ, neither side knew, yet they discovered that how we treat our fellow man speaks much of the true “us”. Some did the works to obtain spirituality, while others did them because they were spiritual minded. Works do not merit anything, on the contrary, they reveal much. We must all ask ourselves if what we do is done to the glory of God, or in hopes of obtaining glory from God. Both were challenged, but only one side was rewarded. Let us make an effort to “be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven us (Eph 4:32, not direct quote) A few verses down from our text verse in Matthew, our Lord says “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Mt. 25:40)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Carnality Test
Carnality Test
(To be answered in your heart, do not write out your answers. Be honest, even if it “hurts“)
1. Name three super models.
2. How much do you spend on television? (cable, satellite, etc.)
--big screen tv?
3. How much do you watch tv?
4. What kind of programming (contract) do you have for your cell phone?
5. How many electronic “gadgets” do you own?
5. Do you own a boat, motorcycle, or snowmobile?
--How much do you use it?
--Does it own you?
6. Did/do you vote for economic reasons? Other reasons than spiritual principles?
--Do you have a scripture verse for your reason for voting?
7. Do you have any close friends that are unsaved?
--Hunting, fishing partners, etc. (friends that you run with?)
8. What do you believe about secular education?
--The more knowledge, the better?
9. Do you miss church or church events for family gatherings?
10. How is your giving record?
--can you honestly say that your giving glorifies God?
11. Do you sleep with a gun for protection?
--How much do you trust in the gun to deliver you?
12. Do you follow the latest styles when dressing?
--does the world decide what you will wear?
--Do you try to look “sexy”?
(To be answered in your heart, do not write out your answers. Be honest, even if it “hurts“)
1. Name three super models.
2. How much do you spend on television? (cable, satellite, etc.)
--big screen tv?
3. How much do you watch tv?
4. What kind of programming (contract) do you have for your cell phone?
5. How many electronic “gadgets” do you own?
5. Do you own a boat, motorcycle, or snowmobile?
--How much do you use it?
--Does it own you?
6. Did/do you vote for economic reasons? Other reasons than spiritual principles?
--Do you have a scripture verse for your reason for voting?
7. Do you have any close friends that are unsaved?
--Hunting, fishing partners, etc. (friends that you run with?)
8. What do you believe about secular education?
--The more knowledge, the better?
9. Do you miss church or church events for family gatherings?
10. How is your giving record?
--can you honestly say that your giving glorifies God?
11. Do you sleep with a gun for protection?
--How much do you trust in the gun to deliver you?
12. Do you follow the latest styles when dressing?
--does the world decide what you will wear?
--Do you try to look “sexy”?
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Why Am I Here?
Have you ever asked yourself that question, “Why am I here?” I have. Men have been musing on this very question for thousands of years, and yet, the Bible had the answer all along. We are here for the glory of God. Isaiah says: “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” We are made to glorify God. Friends, our sole reason for existence on this old earth is to glorify God. We are not given the gift of life to make our mark in the world; we are not alive for the sake of self or mate, but solely, and only for the glory of God. He has told us why we were created. We all have the same purpose in life; there is no other reason given by man or by God as to why we breathe and have life. Science has not answered the question of the existence of life; they have not given any reason to the origin of life, except that it “just happened”. No, man does not have the answer, but God does.
There are, however, multitudes of ways to accomplish the task before us. Yes, we can glorify God in many ways. Obedience is the premier way to glorify Him; submission to the will of God exalts His name and puts is in our rightful place with Him. This too brings glory to God. If we live our life and die at an old age, and have done little or nothing to glorify Him, our life is wasted and counts for nothing, and we die in our sin”. The Lord, in His marvelous and miraculous grace, allows us to live without giving glory to Him because He is a merciful and loving God, but we have not fulfilled our purpose in life if we do so. Every success we might have enjoyed, every happy moment and joyful time we have had; every “good” thing we may have accomplished, amounts to nothing if we have failed to glorify the Father. We are failures in life without Him. All awards that we have earned; all advances we have made for mankind; every battle we have faced means nothing at all if we have failed to glorify God. We have missed our reason for being. Oh friend, as you make your way through life, remember to keep God in all your thoughts; honor Him; praise Him; glorify Him, and you will have a victorious and successful life because you have done that which you were created for.
There are, however, multitudes of ways to accomplish the task before us. Yes, we can glorify God in many ways. Obedience is the premier way to glorify Him; submission to the will of God exalts His name and puts is in our rightful place with Him. This too brings glory to God. If we live our life and die at an old age, and have done little or nothing to glorify Him, our life is wasted and counts for nothing, and we die in our sin”. The Lord, in His marvelous and miraculous grace, allows us to live without giving glory to Him because He is a merciful and loving God, but we have not fulfilled our purpose in life if we do so. Every success we might have enjoyed, every happy moment and joyful time we have had; every “good” thing we may have accomplished, amounts to nothing if we have failed to glorify the Father. We are failures in life without Him. All awards that we have earned; all advances we have made for mankind; every battle we have faced means nothing at all if we have failed to glorify God. We have missed our reason for being. Oh friend, as you make your way through life, remember to keep God in all your thoughts; honor Him; praise Him; glorify Him, and you will have a victorious and successful life because you have done that which you were created for.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Lifting up Our Savior
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (Jn. 12: 32)
The Gospel lifts up the name of Jesus. It exalts Him far above mankind, and sets Him in His rightful place, on the throne of grace. As we present the Gospel message, it draws men unto Him, the Gospel incarnate. The power is in the Word, and not in the delivery; it is God-given, and not man made. We all know this, but in practice we seem to forget it! In John 6: 44, we see that “No man” can come to Christ but that the Father draw him, and the Father will accomplish this in three different ways:
First, the cross: Jesus was “lifted up” above the earth on the cross, and Calvary has been established as the beginning of our modern day calendar. All men still use the timetable of the cross for reckoning certain times, and all men’s attention was drawn to Calvary, and to the Christ of Calvary. This is the literal sense of the meaning “lifted up”, and it obtains a great amount of glory for the Father.
Second is the lifting up of His name in the hearts of His followers. As we exalt the name of Christ, and testify of Him, we see that others are often drawn to him by word of mouth. Our testimony and our praises are then used to glorify the Father in the lifting up of Christ. We lift Him up on high in praise, and He does the drawing of others to Him through His Spirit which works within us.
Then, the third application is the resurrection of Christ. In rising from the dead, our Lord indeed drew the attentions and affections of man the resurrection is the completion of the Gospel; without it, the Gospel would lose its power. It is the climax of the Gospel of Christ, and it draws men to Him in the very need that it provides—the salvation of souls.
The Gospel lifts up the name of Jesus. It exalts Him far above mankind, and sets Him in His rightful place, on the throne of grace. As we present the Gospel message, it draws men unto Him, the Gospel incarnate. The power is in the Word, and not in the delivery; it is God-given, and not man made. We all know this, but in practice we seem to forget it! In John 6: 44, we see that “No man” can come to Christ but that the Father draw him, and the Father will accomplish this in three different ways:
First, the cross: Jesus was “lifted up” above the earth on the cross, and Calvary has been established as the beginning of our modern day calendar. All men still use the timetable of the cross for reckoning certain times, and all men’s attention was drawn to Calvary, and to the Christ of Calvary. This is the literal sense of the meaning “lifted up”, and it obtains a great amount of glory for the Father.
Second is the lifting up of His name in the hearts of His followers. As we exalt the name of Christ, and testify of Him, we see that others are often drawn to him by word of mouth. Our testimony and our praises are then used to glorify the Father in the lifting up of Christ. We lift Him up on high in praise, and He does the drawing of others to Him through His Spirit which works within us.
Then, the third application is the resurrection of Christ. In rising from the dead, our Lord indeed drew the attentions and affections of man the resurrection is the completion of the Gospel; without it, the Gospel would lose its power. It is the climax of the Gospel of Christ, and it draws men to Him in the very need that it provides—the salvation of souls.
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