Kisses

 “And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.”  (Gen. 27:26)

A kiss is usually an outward expression of love.  There are many “kisses” in the Bible (in 19 verses) that speak of the character of man.  I offer a few of them in this document.

1. The kiss of affection:
    In the verse I selected, the first “kiss” in the Bible, Jacob greets his beloved son with a kiss.  He seems to know there is something amiss, but blesses Jacob anyway, instead of Esau.   Though deceptive on Jacob’s part, the kiss was an expression of affection by Isaac.  
    A kiss can speak of many diabolical deceptions, and it can be a gesture of endearment, and love, it can go both ways. 

2. The kiss of deception:
In 2 Samuel 20:9 we read; “And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.”

This is a very diabolical and subtle kiss, with evil intent.
To kiss in this manner, or to feign to do so, speaks of trust and companionship to the one, but evil is the motive of the other.  This kiss betrays trust and catches the unwary victim by subtlety. 

3. The kiss of allegiance and loyalty:
Though used metaphorically, we have another type of kiss which speaks;

“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”  (1 Kings 19:18)

This is where Elijah sought refuge in the Lord because of Jezebel.  Though he seemed despondent, the Lord assured him that He had seven thousand faithful followers in Jerusalem, that had “kissed” the Lord, and not Baal. 

4. The kiss of faith:
This is also a kiss of loyalty and love.  Again we see the word “kiss” used metaphorically, as an act of endearment, but aimed in the right direction.  The verse I refer to is Psa. 2:12:

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

 To “kiss the Son (note the capital “S”) is to draw close to Jesus; it is to hold Him in our heart, and admire Him greatly in our thoughts, and it speaks of intimacy with our Lord, without which we have nothing. 

5. The kiss of reward and appreciation:

“Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.” (Prov. 24:26)

Again we see the metaphor for kiss.  The word “kiss” seems to speak many different “languages“, and apply many different ways.  Men respect an honest man whether they admit it or not.  They may never let him know it, but they respect his honesty and openness, it is natural to do so.  Most likely, the man that gives a right answer will be upright in his affairs, he will be honest in business. 

6. The kiss of betrayal:

“Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.”  (Mt. 26:48)

The kisses of a false friend hurt deeply when he is discovered; they pierce us to the heart, and cause much consternation in our life, yet they are more common, I think, than we realize.  Jesus asked Judas a convicting question: “But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” (Lk. 22:48).  One wonders how low we can go when betrayal is our goal?  Perhaps it was more than the money, the thirty pieces of silver, which amounted to quite a sum for them, perhaps it was a deep-seated evil a love for the world--Satan’s world, hidden deep within his heart.  Betrayal on any level is evil; whether in marriage, in business, or in societal matters, their always seems to be an ulterior motive.

7.  The kiss of salutation:

Five verses, the last five in the Bible that contain the word “kiss” speak of greeting “one another with a holy kiss” (Rom. 16:16); or 1 Cor. 16:20~2 Cor. 13:12~1 Thess. 5:26, each of these say essentially the same thing but the last mention of “kiss” changes just a bit:

“Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Pet. 5:14)

A “kiss of charity“, of brotherly love; of giving to the need of a brother.  Charity means the same thing it means today, loving enough to see to the needs of others. This too is a wonderful and kindly and God-like kiss.

The Characteristics of Love

1.  Love desires reciprocation.
    A one-sided love promotes frustration and discontent.
    Love desires company (companionship). 1 John 4:19.

2.  Love is unbiased, without prejudice.
    It is unconditional;
    Conditioned love is mock love.

3.  Love is eternal.
    There is no “falling out of love”;
    Nothing can replace true love, as it has no end.

4.  Love cannot be described.
    No words adequate enough to describe love. (“so much” as in John 3:16)
    Love is seen in action, not in words.  (Calvary).

5.  Love is not self-seeking.
    There is no pride in love; no self seeking.
    Love is “others” minded, it gives and asks nothing in return.

6.  Love is pure.
    Real love promotes chastity.
   
7.  Love is powerful.
    Love brings the strongest and most noble of men to their knees.

8.  Love is motivational.
    It promotes Truth;
    Love demands action. 
   

A Fisher of Men

Matthew  4

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (v. 19)

    Forgive me if I take this verse out of context, but there is an illustration that one can apply here that teaches us a great truth.  You see, Satan too is a good “fisher of men”.  It is as if he casts the bait out into the sea of life, and just waits to see who bites.   The bait may be drugs, sex, or alcohol, or anything, it may be simply a proud heart, but the emphasis is not on the bait, but on the catch.  We may not bite the worm of alcohol; or the lure of drugs; we may not get caught up in immorality, or thievery, but somewhere in the tackle box of Satan, he has a lure that will get our attention, and we will bite.  We may nibble a little at first, as fish often do, but then he just throws out more of the same bait until we swallow the hook.  In this way, he sees our weakness, and feeds it until we are hooked.  The devil does not have the ability to be omniscient, all knowing, as many of us seem to think; we need not give him so much credit as to emulate the characteristics of God.  He is not all present, as God is, nor all powerful, but he is wily, and very, very subtle.  Yes, he is a fisher of men too, or rather a fisher for men.  Peter knew this, and wrote, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”  The devil doesn’t care how he gets you to stumble, as long as he does it.  It makes no difference to him which bait you take, or how much of it you take, but his concern is to side-track you, and to get you off course with the Lord.  You see, once you are saved, he can never get you back again, but he will work night and day to destroy your joy; or to get you to stray away from truth and right.  In this way, he gets the victory; in this way, he devours us. 

    The remedy for this baiting is to stay close to the Lord.  Be vigilant; be on guard; and walk circumspectly.  The remedy is seen in the verse we quoted in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant….” And the reason for such carefulness is also given, (the rest of the verse), it is, therefore a warning as well as a wise admonition, be watchful, and be very careful.   Satan’s tackle box has something in it for each of us, something that we will bite on, and he knows that if he throws enough bait out there, that we will bite on something. 
Let’s lean on the grace of God, and hope that when we bite, it is just a nibble and that old Slewfoot doesn’t hook us, and reel us in.  We need to rely on the Lord’s strength and not our own.  Our strength is weakness, our victory is in Jesus.

2 Tim. 3:17

“That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

    Our God is the Great Provider for our souls, and bodies.  He has “furnished” us with the right equipment He desires us to have, the “right stuff” to do His good work.  Of What do I refer you ask?   In 2 Timothy 3:17, our God tells us that we are “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  He has already given us all we need to do right.  What has He given?  Himself, the Holy Spirit!  Fully, and wholeheartedly, to us.  The previous verse tells us what we are to carry in our hearts, so that we will be “perfect” and prepared unto every good work, and that is the Word of God.   It is oh, so precious to us, and so very useful too.

    My friends, we have no excuse for NOT doing the work of God.  We are prepared for it already, and quite able to do it, according to Gods Word.   Don’t tell me that you cannot do what you’re supposed to do, I know otherwise, and so does God!   You see, ALL scripture is given by...God.  He is the Giver, and the Provider, and the empowerer!    He never commands us to do what He does not already prepare us to do!   Did you hear that?   He demands of us to do good, but He makes it easy for us to do it by giving us the “tools” and resources we need to do it.   All we have to do is get going!

    Scripture is given by His Inspiration, that there be no confusion, no misunderstanding when it comes to doing what is right.   So, we are without excuse, faced with a decision, “What are we to do about it?”   We are to do good, at all times, everywhere.   We have what we need to do so.  God has already furnished us with that, He saw to it that the need was met.
    His desire, then, for us?  That we be “perfect.”    How could we ever hope to do so?   By the Word already given; the inspired Word of God, our hope, our Stay, our portion in this world.  It is indeed profitable unto us.
   
    What effect does our sin have on our prayers?  Sin acts like a filter in which our prayers pass through.  You see, we have the Holy Spirit in us, if we are saved, but not all of Him is affecting our prayer and influence on others when soul winning.  Why?  If we have sin in our lives, that sin which we have long-since accepted as “all right with God”, then the sin filters out much of our influence and we become less effective in the work of the Lord.  The fullness of the Spirit is hindered and we only function on half-power.  We will be much more effective, and see much more fruit in our lives if we will get the sin out.  With this thought in mind, let us continue to go (forth) into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature…

No Balm in Gilead?

    Is there no balm in Gilead?   The Lord asks this question in Jeremiah 8:22: “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”   The problem was the indifference of God’s people to His will and to the law (His Word).  Just two verses before this, God, speaking through Jeremiah, makes another observation: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”   We all  have grown lax when it comes to serving our God.  At times, we do well, but then we seem to “peter out” and slack off on the things of God.  We are a busy people, it seems, but perhaps busy in the wrong things!

    Remember the old strong smelling salve that was good for wounds and scrapes and burns?  You don’t see it any more, modern medicine has consumed it.  I remember a balm (we called it “salve”) that my mother used to rub on our sunburned skin to soothe us.  It was a smelly, brown salve that was thick and pasty, but it did relieve the pain.  The question is asked “Is there no balm in Gilead?”  I re-phrase it for us today “Is there no balm in churches?”  Is there no balm in our homes, and in our places of work?  Where is the soothing ointment that we used to see so frequently?  Is there not an aromatic, sweet smelling salve of the Holy Spirit to comfort us, and heal our wounds?  
    There are spiritual wounds that beset us; some are slight abrasions, and others more severe, even fatal, but there is also a Physician here.  There is a soothing Balm in Christ.  Jesus is called “The Great Physician” by some, and indeed He is the healer of the body as well as the soul.  Jesus is the balm of the church, the “balm of Gilead, if you will.  He is able, and willing to comfort us against the spiritual wounds of lust, envy,  jealousy, and contentions; He is the balm that will heal us.  That is not to say that this old body will not suffer ever again, it wears out through years of use and abuse, but there is an ointment for the soul, and that is everlasting.  The comforting hand of Jesus will never wear thin. 
    There are doctors today who treat illnesses, but they cannot make the body heal.  Only God can fuse the skin back together again; only He can make the scrapes disappear, the doctor merely applies the right medication, and then the Lord does the work!  Doctors do the right thing to prepare the body for healing, but God does the actual healing.  No doctor is truly a healer, give praise where praise is due.  There is a balm in the churches today, in the form of the Holy Spirit of God.  Balm was a medication to heal pain, but Christ is our medication to heal the anxieties and troubled hearts of His people.   All the counseling that doctors do, they cannot give the peace that the Lord gives us; when they experiment with troubled minds, they are, at best, guessing, and “practicing” medicine on us, but Christ is thorough, and He heals the perplexing vanities of our minds and hearts.  The old balm that I remember had been perfumed so that it did not give off an unpleasant odor; Christ is a sweet smelling aroma, a perfume for the stench of sin, and the stink of a worldly life.  

    Take the “Balm of Gilead” and apply it to your life; take Jesus as your Savior and see what wonders he will perform through you.  Take Him even while you’re healthy, and not just when aches and pains prevail; He is the Balm of Gilead, the Great Physician for the soul, and the Medicine for our troubled minds.  He cures the heartaches and the headaches of life, and comforts us when we are troubled.  There is a cure for your “blues”; there is a cure for your worries and your depression; there is a friend for the lonely, a companion for the forlorn, and a hope for the hopeless, all in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus will carry you through the storms, and set your feet upon solid ground.  Won’t you ask Him to save you today?  Remember Jeremiah 8:20: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”  Will this verse describe you, my friend?   Now is the  time of salvation,   “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

    Call upon the Lord while He is near, Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isa. 55:6)

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Roans 10:13)

 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. (Psa. 116:13)


                                                                            Jackson Scott

Calvary

From man’s perspective:

Judgment over death hell, and sin.
Calvary was a judgment in which the entire world is judged. 
The Devil Himself fought with Christ for dominion:
    The powers of darkness were shaken;
    The earth spewed forth her wrath;
    The world mocked and turned from Him.

It appeared to be a victory for the forces of evil.  
Christ submitted Himself to a seeming defeat!
It had a solid impact on the apostles,
He appeared as just another “savior”.  
A time of sorrow for mankind.

Christ died while women cried;
He was buried while the apostles tarried;
He rose from the grave, the sinner to save;
He’s alive evermore on that golden shore.


From God’s perspective:

The Judgment of the law which condemned man.
Judgment for death, hell, and the grave.
The Devil did fight with Jesus--Jesus won!
    A humiliated Savior;
    A victorious conqueror;
    A faithful servant;

He arose a victor over all!
He submitted to the will of God;
He restored the apostles;
He introduced salvation to the world.

Christ died in shame, but rose in glory;
He walked with sinners, but lived with angels;
He was buried in darkness, but raised in the Light.

Separation

Our separation is three-fold:

We are separated at Calvary
    The Lord separates us from judgment when we put our faith in Him.  This type of separation is by the blood of Christ.  This separation separates us from our sins, it is an instantaneous, and invisible work performed in us.

We are separated by holiness
    The Word separates us, either when we withdraw from worldly people or things, or they separate themselves from us!  The Word cleanses and rebukes us so that we are given discretion with the wisdom of God.  We are no longer under the curse of sin; this happens spiritually first, then mentally, and physically.

We are separated by doctrine
    Our beliefs separate us from the world in the sense that we are “different”- a “peculiar people”. 
    This type of separation separates us from false doctrine, and at times must divide the brethren for the good of man and the glory of God.


    We don’t hear much about separation these days, the world preaches unity.  We need to get back to Biblical separation, and learn to stand on the principles of the Bible.   We must have separate lifestyles, separate  philosophies, and separate friendships, all of which describe the social, mental, and physical aspects of our life.

Separation

Our separation is three-fold:

We are separated at Calvary
    The Lord separates us from judgment when we put our faith in Him.  This type of separation is by the blood of Christ.  This separation separates us from our sins, it is an instantaneous, and invisible work performed in us.

We are separated by holiness
    The Word separates us, either when we withdraw from worldly people or things, or they separate themselves from us!  The Word cleanses and rebukes us so that we are given discretion with the wisdom of God.  We are no longer under the curse of sin; this happens spiritually first, then mentally, and physically.

We are separated by doctrine
    Our beliefs separate us from the world in the sense that we are “different”- a “peculiar people”. 
    This type of separation separates us from false doctrine, and at times must divide the brethren for the good of man and the glory of God.

Arguing
Jude 1
 Contending for the faith…
    Arguing edifies!  Yes, you read me right, arguing edifies both sides of the argument, if they will both be teachable. It causes both parties to think through their priorities, and search the scriptures more diligently. One of the major problems in the church today is that we have been taught to avoid arguing; a man that will not argue will hide the truth.  We are afraid to argue, and we decorate that which we do engage in as “debate” or simply a “discussion”, but never an argument.  What we will not defend, we will eventually condone, and what we condone we will learn to embrace.  It is imperative then, that we “contend for the faith” as Jude instructs us, and do not be afraid to argue.
    Edification is granted to us when we argue because we have to study more diligently for accuracy; it is edifying to the opponent because he is led to see things in a different light.  I believe that a good argument bears fruit, and is part of “contending for the faith” (Jude 1:3).  Though it often ends in a stalemate, or so it seems, it plants seed for thought and has long range advantages.
    There is so much false doctrine in the church today that many have simply given in to it and condone it, but say they do not believe it.  Eventually we do begin to believe it as we are exposed to it more and more, unless, that is, we fight against it.  It is a gradual and subtle process.  Even faith is a matter of growth; we do not begin “walking in faith” completely, but our faith grows as we learn and study the Scriptures.   How do you suppose there were only eight righteous people in Noah’s day?  It seemed the rest of the world had condoned sin, and allowed it, and eventually were caught up in it.  Lot was headed that way himself, until the angels literally pulled him out of Sodom.  Be careful of that which you condone, defend the faith “once delivered unto the saints“, and be steadfast in your convictions.  In defending the truth, you grow stronger in truth, and you glorify the Father Who is the Truth. 
    If the preponderance of scripture is there, stand with it!  If it is not, then search for it until the Lord reveals His Truth through it.  Don’t be afraid to argue for the truth, though it stands on it’s own merit, we cannot ignore false doctrine, and think it is okay. We build stronger lives when we defend Truth. 

Properly Growing

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.  K. 2:52)

    Jesus grew in four ways, physically, spiritually, socially, and of course, in wisdom.  If He grew in wisdom and in “grace” with the Father, how much more must we?  Let’s examine these four aspects of growth:

He increased in wisdom
    Could it be that the Lord had to learn the Fathers’ ways just as we do?  He grew from an infant into a man and increased daily in the Truth.  Notice that wisdom is the first mentioned “growth” even preceding stature.  He learned from an infant, and was undoubtedly born with a greater capacity to know and to understand the will of the Father.  We are never too old, nor too young to learn of the grace of God, and the ways of His leading.  Start your children out right, by creating in them a desire for the Holy, and point them to the One who knows from His youth, the will of the Father.  This would take diligent effort in the Word, daily, seriously, and reverently; it would not hurt to supply the household with good, solid Christian music too, some of the old hymns, and none of this modern day mumble-jumble.  Jesus grew mentally.

Jesus increased in stature
    Stature is one thing we have not much control over, but it may be important to know that Jesus was human enough to grow physically.  It is comforting to know that our Savior and I have a few things in common--we grow mentally, and physically without a lot of effort on our part.  Perhaps that is the limit for most of us when we compare our lives to Jesus’, but it need not be that way completely.   Disease can hinder growth, just as sin can hinder or spiritual growth.

He grew in favor with God
    Jesus grew spiritually.  He was obedient to the Father in every way, and because of this, He grew mightily in the Lord.  He grew as man grows, but because he was without sin, He grew much quicker.  Sin hinders our growth, and “all have sinned”, therefore we cannot attain to the heights that Jesus reached when on earth, but, by the grace of God, we can work toward that goal.   The closer we get, the greater our capacity to find favor with God.  One man can grow more rapidly than another, as we all know, by abiding in the Word, and way, of the Lord.  To obtain the favor and the blessing of God is the greatest accomplishment man could achieve, and ought to desire.  Our standing with the Lord will guide the rest of our lives in truth and favor if we will do right by Him.  Our testimony will reveal what we really are. 

Jesus also grew in favor with man
    Not only did He grow in favor with God, but He grew socially, in favor with man.  Of course there were those who opposed, but the real men  followed Him, and still do.   Those who are bent on evil and self seeking, will never find the hidden treasure of the favor of God, not unless they forsake their evil ways by taking Christ as their Savior.   To obtain the favor of man we must do right also.  Most of us think we have to become what they are to obtain their favor, but most men respect the man that has values and does right at all cost.  They may not always understand why we would do it, but they often respect us for it; of course, we may not realize that at the time--they do not grovel at our feet and tell us how much they admire us, but they may never forget the example they have seen in us.  How wonderful that the Lord gives us favor with men too. 

                                                                                                                               Jackson Scott

3 divine loves

There are three great loves in my life, all others are subordinate to these three:
My first love is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Nothing supersedes the Love I have for Him.   Men have jeopardized their lives for love of the Lord, because He has blessed them beyond comprehension.  Thus, the Lord God Almighty is my first and foremost love, and that only by His grace.

The second great love I have is for my wife, who the Lord has chosen for me, and me only.  I love her with all the love my Lord has given me, and there is no other mortal as wonderful as her.  There is no one, and nothing that I love on this earth more than the woman that God has given me; and He has allowed us the great privilege of spending eternity together with Him. 

My third great love is the love of my country.  Though I do not, and would not, put anything on par with my Lord, I see America’s flag as the paradigm of freedom for the world, as one sees Calvary for a Monument for men’s souls.  Yes, as Calvary represents the liberty we have in Christ, so the “Red, white, and blue” stands paramount above all other countries and banners; it represents, in the human world, what Calvary represents in the Christian realm.
    It is almost as if the Lord Himself designed our flag, and inspired the name “Old Glory”; 
The red symbolizes the blood of Christ which makes all men free;
The white represents righteousness, imparted to those who believe;
The blue shows the firmament, and God as Creator;
The stars remind me that he is the eternal God who lives beyond the stars;
And the stripes remind me that it is by His stripes that we are healed. 
Yes, “old Glory” speaks of glory, and though it is not worthy to be exalted anywhere near our Lord, freedom is worth dying for.  

Our Lord died to make us free; liberty was so important to Him that He made man a free moral agent, giving him the freedom to choose.  Many men have also died for the freedom of American people, let us never forget, and always remember to pray for the country that men gave their lives for.

The Kings Highway

“Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.”  Num. 20:17

    The “Kings High way” was the smoothest, best, and safest route for one to take to wherever he wished to go.  The High way was a road that was well traveled and it was fit for a king to ride on.  It was a good way, and the very best way to go.  In the Proverbs, we have a reference that describes this way perfectly:

“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.”  Prov. 16:17

    The Kings highway is the way of righteousness; the “upright” travel there often.  The wicked was not allowed to travel there, and it seems that all had to have permission of the king to take that particular route.  The Israelites were steadfast, and determine not to turn aside; this is typical for those on the Kings High way. Isaiah makes it clear that this was the “right” way, the good way, and not open to the forward or perverse:

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”  Isa. 35:8

    We have the Kings permission; we have His blessing as we walk His way, we must not turn aside.   Many obstacles beset us; many trials prevent us from going on, but go on we must.  Let us be resolute, and steadfast as we walk the Kings highway. 

   

The Answer

Christ is the answer.

Some ask “What is the question?” perhaps in a derogatory manner.
The Answer:  Christ is the answer to all our problems; our needs are all met in Him.

Some might ask, “The answer to what?”
Answer: The answer to peace, joy, the answer to coping in life; to life eternal.

Others may even ask, “How can one man make that much difference?”
The answer: That “one man” is God in the flesh; with God, all things are possible.
He is/was the Creator of all things, how can he NOT be the answer?

Some ask “Why am I here?  What is my purpose in life?”
Christ is the answer to that too. He is our purpose; to glorify Him we were created.

Some have wondered, “Where is peace in life?”
The answer is in Christ.  He is the end of searching; the climax of our being. He is the answer to life; the answer to “Why am I here?”

Charity 1 Corinthians 13 It is interesting to note that the word "charity" is mentioned 9 times in this short chapter. Why nine? Because it shows the trinity in triplicate! The Father is all three in one; the Son is all three in one, and the Holy Spirit is all three in one. They are all the essence of love and what it is to us. No speech, no matter how grand it may seem, amounts to anything at all unless it is laced with charity. Benevolence, kindness, consideration, all these are entailed in charity. Charity is love, as God is love; it is more than mere giving of alms. Charity "outshines" all other gifts, and stands premier above all the rest. Notice that it is even put above faith! What an amazing thing this is. Charity is the paramount virtue in our lives; it entails compassion, praise, dedication, and all other good qualities all wrapped into one bundle. It is righteousness in action; it is a metaphor of grace; it is godliness in thinking; it is goodness in practice; it is sanctification in spirit, and many other things. It is the total package for the Christian. Paul emphasizes the place of charity, and the importance of it. No sacrifice is greater; no blessing is more to be desired; no act of kindness is equal to it. There is no greater duty; no greater joy; no greater virtue than charity. It is action as well as emotion, focused at God as well as man. It is a gift, most precious, Jesus incarnate! Here are just a few of the attributes of charity. It is the guiding factor in our Christian walk, (vs. 4-7). Here we have the attributes of charity; here we see its value. We have here the strength of charity (v. 8); it "never faileth" when properly applied. Though all other gifts run their course and lose their strength, charity never does. There has been much speculation as to what "that which is perfect" refers to, but keeping things in context, the subject here is charity. "That which is perfect" must be a perfect love, or charity, and since it stands above all else, it will outlast all else. Yes, charity is perfection; it is the essence of truth and everything good, and merits the highest praise. When charity comes, everything else will fade away. Here we see the rise to maturity. We need to realize that there is a time to "grow up" in charity, and not have a childish or ignorant picture of it. The exercise of charity is the utmost of maturity, and the apex of the Christian ideals. We may never completely attain to what charity is, but we ought to always be reaching toward it, and heading in the right direction toward it. These illustrations may help us to see a different side of charity, and to apply it in the proper way. Paul uses parables and illustrations in his teachings quite often, and he seems to be the epitome of teaching and what teachers are to be. Charity reveals what we really are. If we ever attain to the great height of charity, we will not know only in part, as we do through prophesy and knowledge, and such, but we will know fully and completely the workings of the love of God. Our view of life and self is somewhat cloudy right now, and vague, but we see through the humility of charity what we really are, "when that which is perfect is come", or when we finally do reach the goal of the virtue of charity. These seem to be the "big three" in the Christian walk, faith, hope, and charity, but look at the greatest of these (v. 13)! This is similar to David’s mighty men, there were three, but there was one that was even greater than the other two, and so it is with charity. Charity is love, but it is the very core of love, it is concentrated love, focused in a finer direction and a more concentrated area. Love is paramount to all things, everything comes out of love. Charity, like grace, is freely given; if it is not received freely and unmerited, it is not received at all. You cannot buy charity; it is not earned, lest it lose its essence; it is either free, or not at all. Love, according to man’s reckoning, is conditional; it is given to some, but withheld from others; charity is not so, it is given to all who will receive it.

Evil Upon Evil “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5) Today I feel as Lot must have felt, My soul is vexed daily with the evil of this world. Even the city I live in is said to be the crime capital of the world, or the country at least. With mayhem on every side, anarchy and political betrayal rampant in our government, and untold murders and molestations, it is no wonder the Lord is displeased with our country. It seems as if evil is piled up on top of evil creating a vast mountain that reaches far beyond our scope of understanding, and it is rapidly getting worse! It sure makes one long for heaven that much sooner, but the Lord is with His people. He will deliver us from evil, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. It seems that we live among constant trouble, and few are the reprieves of joy, but there is hope in the Lord. The heart of man is desperately wicked, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9) We all know the truth of this verse, but the really scary thing is that the heart is deceitful “above all things”, friends, that is scary. The heart of man is the most wicked thing in the world--no, in the universe, and we all have one inside us! Evil seems to grow; it is progressive in the fact that one evil act promotes another, and that another, and on the cycle goes. Only the blood of Jesus can remedy it, and only faith in Him will wash our sin away, and cleanse the putrid heart within. Let us all, as Christians, hate the evil, and love the good (Amos 5:15), and obtain the favor of the Lord. “Ye that love the Lord hate evil.” Psa. 97:10

Leadership Observations: Every man is either a leader or a follower; neither is anything without the other. A leader cannot be a true leader until he has followers; every leader needs followers. Every follower needs a leader too. The two work together for the betterment of one another; as a follower builds the leader, so the leaders draws more followers. One must conclude then that a follower is as important as the leader. Good leaders make followers, they gather them unto themselves. Every follower then, makes his leader stronger by merely following. To be a good leader, one must first have been a good follower; Good followers make the best leaders. It behooves us then, whether we are followers of leaders, to be the best we can be. As followers, we must work to promote the leader, so that when we become a leader, we can build new followers--and so the cycle goes. A leader is not a “pusher”, he leads from the front, and not from behind. Any leader that has to push his men into action is not a qualified leader, but a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. Ambition makes a man want to be a leader, but it takes more than ambition to lead; zeal is fine, and a good quality to have, but zeal does not make a man a leader. We often confuse the issue, and elect a leader because of his ambition or zeal, but when we learn to look at his history, we can more rightly judge his abilities. A knowledge of the “battle” and knowing his enemy is important, but it is not leadership in itself; a leader becomes a number of good qualities, developed through experience and wisdom. A wise leader is a good listener. Leaders, take care of your followers, they are a ladder to your success. They will remain loyal to you when you desperately need loyalty, and that is an important commodity for followers. Respect is a two-way street; too many leaders demand respect because they have the title, and not because they are worthy of it. Work to make yourself worthy of their respect, and in return, respect them; like love, loyalty is reciprocated easily when given liberally.

Battlefields and broken bodies We have built great and magnificent buildings over past battlefields; we have erected sub-divisions, and built roads over parking lots of generations long gone. We have done wonders in the heavens and in the earth, but life has rolled over us all, and we have been cast upon the dung heaps of life. Today we tread over battlefields and bones long passed away, never stopping to give them a thought or a prayer, and still life goes on. It marches onward, as a great banner of evil and good; it marches on to a battlefield of a different sort, war waged on the brim of existence only to discover that age-old spirit that chases us all through life--the spirit of death. A continual struggle exists between the two, the one giving, and the other taking, and still life trudges on seeking more life, all the while ruining that which it has given until it is swallowed up by death. Yes, life squeezes a man until he dies, and then discards him in six foot of ground…and the end is not yet…. Some day, oh some glorious day, the Reaper will come and glean the wheat from the tares, and those that are found faithful will enjoy sweet rapture forever with the Lord. Let us remember those “glory days” when knights gave their lives in service for their country; when men bravely fought for the control of their own land, and for those who have fallen by the wayside. Let us remember those who fought on foreign soil so that America could be free from toil, and those who stayed home and fought from the factories and plants to feed the soldiers way off in who-knows-where. Let us give thanks for the pioneers that forged a path through the wilderness for others to follow, “trailblazers” they were, and for those who gave of themselves to serve the wounded soldiers at home and abroad. Yea, as we tread these turmoil-filled streets, let us consider how many thousands, yea, millions have went on before us, and made us what we are, and our country what it is today…and we walk over their graves! Give thanks, oh people, give thanks for the battles that led the way…for you…for me. May we step carefully and cautiously as we tread these not-so-hallowed streets and consider those forgotten men and women who believed in Truth, and went with faith forward into battle, to battle good and evil first-hand; let us thank the Lord for them, and whisper a prayer for their ancestors, of which may be our friends and neighbors. Mostly, my friends, give thanks for Calvary where the ultimate battle has taken place--for us.

The power of the cross

It is: 1. The power of God (1 Cor. 1:18) Salvation It is His means of reaching man. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Muslims worship a dead god; Hindu’s worship an idol; Only One God is the True God… “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn. 14:6) 2. It is Redeeming power (Rev. 5:9) It is God’s way of ridding us of sin, by His blood. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Gal. 3:13) 3. It’s reconciliation (Eph. 2:16) “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” Christ did away with hatred. And united us in the Father. 4. It is Peace (Col. 1:20) “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Peace cancels out fear: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Jn. 14:27) 5. It’s quickening power (1 Peter 3:18) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” We too are “quickened by the Spirit” in Christ. “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Eph. 2:5) 6. It is Keeping power (1 Peter 1:5) 7. It is soul winning power (Mt. 28:18, 19) 8. It’s healing power (1 Peter 2:24) 9. It is An offense (1 Peter 2:8) The preaching thereof is “foolishness” to some. 10.It is Eternal power Rom. (16:25) The power of the cross is seen in our lives in many ways; it motivates us toward righteous living as it provides new life in Christ.

An Ode to Prayer Many things are lacking in the church today, but probably the greatest of these needs is diligent, fervent prayer. (descending verse) Prayer is the essence of the Christian life; It is the Christians’ joy, to the glory of God; It transcends all boundaries, It defeats all problems; It strengthens the weak, And feeds the hungry. Prayer obtains the unreachable; It lightens all burdens; Comforts the broken heart, And changes lives; And, most of all, it pleases God. (“Men ought always to pray”) Prayer brings us before a Holy God; It bends His ear to our needs; Prayer taps the endless resources of Heaven, And obtains a power unfathomable to man; It is an amazing thing, Allowable by an even more amazing God; Prayer opens the heart of God, And through it is poured out great blessings; Prayer reaches out to a Living God, And returns with arms full of love. Prayer calms the storm, As it soothes the troubled soul; It brings joy to the woeful heart; Prayer—is it for God or for us? Often our prayer is complaining; What does this do for our God? Yet it moves Him to action on our behalf; It stirs His loving heart; And we receive His abundant grace. It recognizes His greatness, “Men ought always to pray, and to not faint.” Prayer works; It works for us And pleases our Lord at the same time. The prayer of faith moves mountains; It redeems lost souls; It is a blessing to all. “Men ought always to pray, and faint not” “Pray without ceasing” For the seasoned veteran, It is His hope. Prayer makes a difference to all involved; It works wonders, and obtains much; It is just right to do. It is commanded of us, And expected of us. Pray, pray, pray.

Evolution 2 It is easy to see why Darwin came up with his theory of evolution; though I abhor the teachings of it, I can see the animal-like nature of man in many different aspects of his life. It would be easy to believe that man, at best, is a mere beast, and guided only by his instincts to survive. Man is unique in his creation, and yet, it seems that he insists on mimicking the animal in his appetites and attitudes; he, though a living and intelligent soul, seems to fall from his place of supremacy and dominance over the animal kingdom and into the abyss of equality with primates and beasts. Yes, and a great abyss it is, a pit that descends to the furthest limits of hell, and always leads to a hellish life and death. It is no wonder that Darwin was fascinated by the likenesses. An animal, for one thing, has no perception of others. His existence is all for him, and it becomes the “survival of the fittest”. This is because “others” thinking is a product of love, and that, not necessarily a human trait, is not a possibility in a true sense, for animals. Love is from God. It is given unto man, and shared only by mankind and his God, and is a two-way communication for them both. Love is received, and love is given. Even the vilest of humans has loved someone at sometime, and yet they resort to animalistic behavior in their personal every day life. It ought no to be so. An animal, when he finds food, thinks it is for him, and fights to keep it until he is satiated. If we set seed out for birds, the squirrels help themselves, and have no thought for the birds. Consideration is for man, and is not a process that animals employ. Consideration is born of love. It may be the embryo of love, the very early and weak workings of love, but nevertheless, love is the root of it. If we put corn out for the squirrels, the foxes will rob them of it; the entire animal world is of the “me first” mentality. Thus, when men fail to consider others in their dealings, are they not acting like animals? We fight and struggle for dominance among each other, as do the animals, and often we can be very vicious in our actions. The real deception in the matter is that we blame it on human nature, and confess that we think ourselves ancestors of monkeys or other brute beasts! Our nature is to be self-centered, and to care only for ourselves in all matters of life and lust, and so, by our actions we support Darwin’s theory and strengthen his cause. There is but one remedy for our folly, and that is a re-birth; a renewing of our spirit by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. That, my friends, is our only hope of living above the animals, as we were created to do. One peculiarity that animals and man share is the preservation of the species. An animal, in a mock love, will fight, and even die to protect their own as if there were a bond of love between them. I wish to say that animals cannot love: Love is of God, and in fact, God is love, therefore animals cannot and do not know how to love. What we consider love from our pets, is a loyalty rather than a love. It is instinctive for them to protect their own, for the preservation of the species. This instinct was instilled in them from creation, so that they would not fall into extinction. When mankind fights to protect those he loves, it is an entirely different thing. Man does not act on instinct, that is a trait given to animals. We function, at times, on intuition, which is far different than instinct. Intuition is given to man for his protection and discernment in important matters, and is in some cases supernatural; it is not given to animals. Because of the confusion of the two, many have surmised that we share a common trait with these beasts that have no reasoning, and in fact, no sense. Let me add that even a dog can be loyal; loyalty is of a lower degree than we usually suppose. What we call loyalty, (as the Bible also does) is actually “faithfulness” and is directed toward God, and not necessarily toward man. Even the Parable of the Good Steward is just that, a parable depicting our service and loyalty to the Master. Loyalty is won out of respect, and is in a sense “earned” from others, it is not “automatic”. Even a dog will not remain loyal to a master that is cruel.

The Thief

THE THIEF I find myself on a cross on Calvary Hill. I am here justly, for I am a thief and a robber. I have sinned, and must pay sins’ wages with my life. My partner in crime is here also, for we went in together to steal and to plunder. There is another here also, between my partner and I, they say He is the Son of God! It is said that even Pilate found no fault in Him, yet He hangs here with thieves and criminals. Many rumors reach my ears as people wander by, talking loudly to one another. They seem to be referring to this one called Jesus. Oh, how they mock Him, laughing and jeering at Him. “If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us,” I hear my partner’s voice booming sneeringly. Does he actually believe that this is indeed the Son of the living God? The passers-by go, nodding their heads, saying “He saved others, Himself He cannot save”. They jeer at Him, the Innocent One, when I should be the one they jeer at and scorn. I am the thief, and not Him. So many are laughing, mocking, rebuking Him, that I find myself caught up in their folly. I hear my own mouth speak railing accusations against Him, along with my partner also. Oh how I hate myself for it, why did I do it? My heart is suddenly beating wildly as I realize the rage that has built up within me, at those who rail at Him. I feel the helplessness that He must feel, the pain and rejection. Many of our own laws were broken to put Jesus here, (it seems I am not the only criminal here), but still I hear Him utter “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Who, but God Himself, could have such compassion on those who hate Him? Such love I have never seen! My friend continues to mock Him. How ashamed he makes me, to think that I chose him as a friend. He complains all the while, yet this Jesus is silent, watching with tender, tearful eyes, the hustle and bustle of the crowd that has gathered. My “friend” still mockingly requests to be freed, “If thou be the Son of God...” I can bear it no longer, and almost shout in my anger “Doest thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing amiss.” Jesus has turned His teary eyes upon me now, such tenderness in His stare, I can’t restrain my words, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom”. A faint smile has formed on His lips, breaking the gloom of the moment, an unusual expression for one so condemned, the smile remained as He said “Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.” Oh, the joy that floods my soul; here in the midst of death, I’ve found peace at last! As the sky darkens, I hear Jesus say rather faintly, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” I would love to comfort Him, but am helpless to do so. I am growing weaker and weaker. The last words I hear from Him are “It is finished”. What could He be referring to? Had He accomplished some great feat for mankind? Soon I will ask Him in Paradise I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20

Names and Titles of Jesus

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (Acts 8:35) Names and Titles of Jesus The Advocate (1 John 2:11) The Almighty (Rev. 19:15) The Alpha and Omega (Rev. 21:6) The Anointed (Psa. 2:2) (Heb. 1:9) The Beloved (Eph. 1:6) The Bishop of our Souls (1 Peter 2:25) The Branch (Zech. 3:8) The Bread of Life (John 6:35) The Bridegroom (John 3:29) The Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) The Chiefest among ten thousand (Song 5:10) The Christ (John 1:41) Christ the Lord (Lk. 2:11) The Counselor (Isa. 9:6) Day Star (2 Peter 1:19) Deliverer (Rom. 11:26) Emmanuel (Mt. 1:23) (Isa. 7:14) Elect (1 Peter 2:6) Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6) Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11) Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5) First Begotten (Heb. 1:6) First Fruits (1 Cor. 15:23) First and Last (Rev. 22:13) Glorious Lord (Isa. 33:21) God (John 20:28) Good Master (Mk. 10:17) Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14) Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) Habitation of God (Col. 2:9) Head of All (Col. 2:10) Heir of All (Heb. 1:2) Holy One (1 John 2:20) Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27) Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4) Judge of Israel (Micah 5:1) Judge of the quick and the dead (Acts 10:42) Judge of all the Earth (Gen. 18:25) King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17) King of Glory (Psa. 24:7) King of Kings (1 Tim. 6:15) Lamb of God (John 1:36) Light of the Gentiles (Acts 13:47) Light of the World (John 9:5) Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5) Lily of the Valley (Song 2:1) Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4) Lord (2Peter 1:2) Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8) Lord of Hosts (Isa. 54:5) Man of Sorrows (Isa. 53:3) Master (Mk. 12:14) Mediator (Heb. 12:24) Messias (Messiah) (John 1:41) The Mighty God (Isa. 9:6) Most Holy (Dan. 9:24) Nazarene (Mat. 2:23) Only Begotten (John 1:18) Only wise God (1 Tim. 1:17) (Jude 1:25) Our Peace (Eph. 2:14) Our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 2:11) Physician (Lk. 4:23) Potentate (1 Tim. 6:15) Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Precious (1 Peter 2:6) Priest (Heb. 5:6) Prince (Acts 5:31) Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6) Prophet (Deut. 18: 15, 18) Rabbi (John 6:25) Redeemer (Isa. 59:20) (Job 19:25) Rock (1 Cor. 10:4) Root of Jesse (Isa. 11:10) Rose of Sharon (Song 2:1) Savior (1 Tim. 4:6) Shepherd of Souls (1 Peter 2:25) Son of God (Heb. 6:14) Son of Man (Acts 7:56) Star of Jacob (Num. 24:17) Sun (MalachI 4:2) True Vine (John 15:1) Truth (John 14:6) Unspeakable Gift (2 Cor. 9:15) Very Christ (Acts 9:22) The Way (John 14:6) Wonderful (Isa. 9:6) The Word (John 1;1) The Word of Life (1 John 1;1)

Calvary

Calvary From man’s perspective: Judgment over death hell, and sin. Calvary was a judgment in which the entire world is judged. The Devil Himself fought with Christ for dominion: The powers of darkness were shaken; The earth spewed forth her wrath; The world mocked and turned from Him. It appeared to be a victory for the forces of evil. Christ submitted Himself to a seeming defeat! It had a solid impact on the apostles, He appeared as just another “savior”. A time of sorrow for mankind. Christ died while women cried; He was buried while the apostles tarried; He rose from the grave, the sinner to save; He’s alive evermore on that golden shore. From God’s perspective: The Judgment of the law which condemned man. Judgment for death, hell, and the grave. The Devil did fight with Jesus--Jesus won! A humiliated Savior; A victorious conqueror; A faithful servant; He arose a victor over all! He submitted to the will of God; He restored the apostles; He introduced salvation to the world. Christ died in shame, but rose in glory; He walked with sinners, but lived with angels; He was buried in darkness, but raised in the Light.

Christ our all and in all.

He is:
Our strength (Neh. 8:10);
Our rejoicing (Phil. 4:4);
Our help (Psa. 46:1);
A great peace )Psa. 119:165);
Our provision (Prov. 3:5,6);
Our sustenance (Mt. 6:28-34);
Our Father (Mt. 6:9);
Our Shepherd (Psa. 23:1);
Our armor (Eph. 6:11);
Our counselor (isa. 9:6);
Our Comforter (John 14: 16-18);
Our refuge (Psa. 46:1);
Our everything, and more!

Now, who/what do you run to when trials come? Does the Government meet your financial needs? Does sleeping with a gun under the pillow bring you security against crime? Do you go to friends or family when needs arise, or do you run to God? These questions are imperative to your faith.
In whom do you trust?

Jesus acrostic

JESUS

The name of our beloved Savior serves as an outline for my brief message in an acrostic.

J Justified freely. Someone has said that “justified” means “Just as if I’d never sinned”. It focuses on our sins but, but particularly on guilt. Justification is a legal term that pardons us from the legality; the punishment; and the penalty of sin. We need not feel guilty about our sin any longer, but confident that the Lord has removed us from it, and it from us, and declared us free from sin and guilt.

E Eternally secure. Never having to worry about the reproaches of sin again; no “double jeopardy” in the court of our Lord. We are not called to account any longer “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

S Saved by the blood of Christ, and the grace of God through faith in Jesus. A God-given grace given to us in measure, as a free gift to every man, according to the capacity that the Lord allows us. We are to focus this faith on Christ, and not on self or the worldly provisions available to us. Faith grows through exercise, and though we cannot initially produce faith on our own, we can allow it to grow within us, by adding to it. We are saved to the utmost degree “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25)


U Unconditionally saved. No stipulations; all men are saved the same way, and all begin at the same point, as lost and dead in trespass and sin. Nothing can be done by us to merit faith, and no one can “help” faith save us but the Holy Spirit of God.

S Sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Set aside for a special duty--that being to glorify the Father, and the edification of man. A call to service which is earmarked by obedience to the faith, making us a “peculiar people”.

Recap:

Justified
Eternally;
Saved
Unconditionally, and
Sanctified.

Indeed, “Just as if I’d never sinned”.

Pray for America!

“And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 3:12)

How long will the Lord put up with the Muslims proclaiming their false god? Oh, how ala makes a mockery of our Lord, and seems to get the victory over God’s people, but his day is coming. In the meanwhile, we must pray; we must pray that the Lord would bless our nation, and destroy the altars of Baal that boast themselves against Him.
The name of the Lord is become a reproach in our society today. God forbid! The Almighty, one and only true God of all creation is slighted for the sake of a powerless god that doesn’t even live today, and evil prevails. Terrorism is at its peak, and we, as children of the Lord, must call upon Him in prayer to show Himself strong, and defeat the giant of Muslimism. His arm is strong against His enemies, and surely the end is near for them, but let us do what the Lord would have us to do, and remember 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” We desperately need the Lord to heal our land. Are you praying for your country, my friend? That is our sole duty toward society--to pray; anything else in inconsequential. Look with me at Psa. 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” He has chosen those that have chosen Him; we need to get back to God. To obtain the blessing of the Lord on our nation, we need to draw nigh unto Him, and pray for our country. It is up to God’s people, not the politicians; not the laws; but the Christians--we are they which will make a difference by humble prayer coupled with righteous living. We must seek God’s face. It’s never too late to pray, with God all things are possible.

The “Prince of the powers of the air”

The “Prince of the powers of the air” (Eph. 2:2)

The powers that be, the “power of the air” exist all around us, of course. These satanic powers, and the desire of “power” in this world, then, are of the devil, and not of the Lord. Why do we constantly try to achieve power in this worlds’ system? The business of this old world is, frankly, none of our business! Most influence, power, or “business acumen” come through treachery and trickery to some extent, and does nothing to serve the eternal purpose of God. We already know the danger of riches, but too often we seek this grave danger, the success of the world! All power, and manipulations of men, all “charisma”, and influence for the prosperity of this world’s organizations or policies, is not of God, but is of the world. We are told not to “love the world, neither the things that are in the world” or the love of the Father is not in us. (1 John 2:15-17). Unfortunately we are very vulnerable to these things. We need to let the Holy Spirit guide us into all Truth, and quit the foolishness of this world.

Keep in mind that in Luke 4: 6, Satan said directly to Christ; “And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” Jesus never rebuked him for making a false statement as He did elsewhere in scripture.

All I need and want

All I need and want

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

I’ve always wanted riches,
But I’ve always needed redemption;

I’ve always wanted reputation,
But I’ve always needed reconciliation;

I’ve always wanted reliability,
I’ve always needed repentance;

I’ve always wanted restitution,
But I’ve always needed rehabilitation;

I’ve always wanted revenge,
But I’ve always needed remorse.


Christ has given me everything I Have always wanted,
And he has given all I need.

Pray for America!

“And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 3:12)

How long will the Lord put up with the Muslims proclaiming their false god? Oh, how ala makes a mockery of our Lord, and seems to get the victory over God’s people, but his day is coming. In the meanwhile, we must pray; we must pray that the Lord would bless our nation, and destroy the altars of Baal that boast themselves against Him.
The name of the Lord is become a reproach in our society today. God forbid! The Almighty, one and only true God of all creation is slighted for the sake of a powerless god that doesn’t even live today, and evil prevails. Terrorism is at its peak, and we, as children of the Lord, must call upon Him in prayer to show Himself strong, and defeat the giant of Muslimism. His arm is strong against His enemies, and surely the end is near for them, but let us do what the Lord would have us to do, and remember 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” We desperately need the Lord to heal our land. Are you praying for your country, my friend? That is our sole duty toward society--to pray; anything else is inconsequential. Look with me at Psa. 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” He has chosen those that have chosen Him; we need to get back to God. To obtain the blessing of the Lord on our nation, we need to draw nigh unto Him, and pray for our country. It is up to God’s people, not the politicians; not the laws; but the Christians--we are they which will make a difference by humble prayer coupled with righteous living. We must seek God’s face. It’s never too late to pray, with God all things are possible.

Properly Growing

Properly Growing

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. K. 2:52)

Jesus grew in four ways, physically, spiritually, socially, and of course, in wisdom. If He grew in wisdom and in “grace” with the Father, how much more must we? Let’s examine these four aspects of growth:

He increased in wisdom
Could it be that the Lord had to learn the Fathers’ ways just as we do? He grew from an infant into a man and increased daily in the Truth. Notice that wisdom is the first mentioned “growth” even preceding stature. He learned from an infant, and was undoubtedly born with a greater capacity to know and to understand the will of the Father. We are never to old, nor too young to learn of the grace of God, and the ways of His leading. Start your children out right, by creating in them a desire for the Holy, and point them to the One who knows from His youth, the will of the Father. This would take diligent effort in the Word, daily, seriously, and reverently; it would not hurt to supply the household with good, solid Christian music too, some of the old hymns, and none of this modern day mumble-jumble. Jesus grew mentally.

Jesus increased in stature
Stature is one thing we have not much control over, but it may be important to know that Jesus was human enough to grow physically. It is comforting to know that our Savior and I have a few things in common--we grow mentally, and physically without a lot of effort on our part. Perhaps that is the limit for most of us when we compare our lives to Jesus’, but it need not be that way completely.

He grew in favor with God
Jesus grew spiritually. He was obedient to the Father in every way, and because of this, He grew mightily in the Lord. He grew as man grows, but because he was without sin, He grew much quicker. Sin hinders our growth, and “all have sinned”, therefore we cannot attain to the heights that Jesus reached when on earth, but, by the grace of God, we can work toward that goal. The closer we get, the greater our capacity to find favor with God. One man can grow more rapidly than another, as we all know, by abiding in the Word, and way, of the Lord. To obtain the favor and the blessing of God is the greatest accomplishment man could achieve, and ought to desire. Our standing with the Lord will guide the rest of our lives in truth and favor if we will do right by Him. Our testimony will reveal what we really are.

Jesus also grew in favor with man
Not only did He grow in favor with God, but He grew socially, in favor with man. Of course there were those who opposed, but the real men followed Him, and still do. Those who are bent on evil and self seeking, will never find the hidden treasure of the favor of God, not unless they forsake their evil ways by taking Christ as their Savior. To obtain the favor of man we must do right also. Most of us think we have to become what they are to obtain their favor, but most men respect the man that has values and does right at all cost. They may not always understand why we would do it, but they often respect us for it; of course, we may not realize that at the time--they do not grovel at our feet and tell us how much they admire us, but they may never forget the example they have seen in us. How wonderful that the Lord gives us favor with men too.

The Second Coming of Christ

1 Thess. 4:14-18

The hope of all the church is the return of Christ for His own. Satan seeks to downplay this doctrine because when we look to the second coming, the world loses it’s hold on us. The economy is no longer so important; politics loses it’s power in our lives; gas prices take second place to the Lord, as does everything else. Yes, the second coming takes first place over all that this world has to offer--or at least it should! Today it is in question among many “believers” as to whether there is a second coming or not. Some see it as an allegorical fallacy, while others view it as a futuristic event that never is obtained in this lifetime. There are many various thoughts concerning the second coming, but we, the elect know that Jesus is coming soon and we shall walk with Him in Glory. This still ought to be our motivation, our hope, and our great joy, and it shall stand paramount to all the doctrines and teachings of mankind until that final step takes us into the heavenly realms, and we shall see Jesus. Let it always be first in our desires, and hide itself deep into our hearts, and never, ever forsaken lest we fall short of the blessing and forfeit our reward as we work for the Lord.

Christian Service

Christians nowadays put a lot of emphasis on our own works. What I mean is that we feel that the busier we are running to and fro, and doing the things we do “for the Lord” is our service or worship to Him. My friends, worship is a personal thing; it is an intimate relationship between us and our Savior. Our service may show that we believe; it may exalt us to certain heights, and gain us favor and position, but many times, it is simply a dead end when it comes to worshiping our Lord. Perhaps this is why we sometimes “burn out” for the Lord, we are too busy working to worship!

“Worship” is defined as:
“1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.”
2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence. Etc.

This we do in our hearts, and not in our actions. Jesus said “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (Jn. 4:24) I believe that this is what the Lord was speaking of. The key word is “adoration”; when we truly adore someone, they consume all our thoughts all the time, yet sometimes we get so busy serving the Lord, we do not take time to adore Him! Adoration is defined thusly:

“1. To worship with profound reverence; to address with exalted thoughts, by prayer and thanksgiving; to pay divine honors to; to honor as a god or as divine.
2. To love in the highest degree; to regard with the utmost esteem, affection and respect; as, the people adore their prince.” (Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English, of 1828)

We worship the Lord in our “closet” rather than in our public acts.

God gives, we give

God Gives, We Give.

“God so loved the world that he gave..”

To give is to serve.
Giving of oneself takes a little away from the giver. As the Lord gives a portion of Himself, He need not be replenished, but we do! As we give of ourselves, we dwindle away gradually, and must go to the Lord for replenishing. Since he is the Almighty God, and needs no replenishing He is able to replenish all who come to Him. Think of a battery; as it gives, it discharges, and eventually dies out until it is charged up again. As we give out our gifts, and our “helps” in ministering to others, day by day and week by week, we need to be re-charged by getting back to the “Charger,” which is the Lord. Giving is the one true manifestation of love that the Lord allows us here, to show Him unto others. Be a giver, and be constantly busy in the Lord’s work, and stay close to the “Charger”. If you will do this, you’ll be a useful vessel in the hands of the Lord, and never run out of power yourself!

Praise in a can

It’s time to open a can of praise. To many, it is as if praise comes in a can and is to be opened on special occasions for special events, then stored away for another time. We ought to have praise for the Lord in our hearts each day, and all day long, and allow it to find its way to our lips and hearts. There are so many blessings that we can praise Him for, but we seem to keep it bottled up for certain times and special moments. So much, it seems, is taken for granted and gets forgotten in our daily lives. How about the water that God has provided from His earth? Do we ever think to thank Him for that? Or the air we breath freely, and don’t even think about it. There are so many blessings given to us every day, and we go on as if we deserved them, not wondering from whence they come, or why.
Let us sing praises unto the Lord.

Life

Life is like a four tier building;

The first floor; Mayhem. Chaos, and confusion. Every man is born into this state, he spends much of his youth here, and some never really go on to the second floor. This represents those who live by the motto “do your own thing” or “Doing in MY way”; also the “If it feels good, do it” philosophy. This is man in his natural state. He that lives here is a “Me only” thinker--he cares not for anyone or anything else but “self.” Infant stage.

The second floor; Law. Stringent rules that demand of us; commanding that which we do not wish to give. A cage: A restraint to our natural instincts (intuitions); A binding cord, a forced obedience. As man grows, he realizes responsibility; subjection to bosses; to police; to judicial laws; to authorities; rules in general. In school he learns subjection.
Manners are gotten here, he learns from them, and morals. Teenage stage.

The third floor; Grace: a free will, but a will to do right instead of the “Me” attitude (first floor); A will to choose good or evil, which was introduced through law. Grace inside, law on the fringes. Law seasoned with grace; love prevails, patience rules. Young married.

The fourth floor; Utopia: The ideal. The exact right mixture of law and grace; of love and truth; of joy and peace. The epitome of all goodness. Heaven on earth; “Thy kingdom come”…Old age.

There are those who seem to be good at everything in this life. They set out to build, and do a great job: they put their heart into sports, and excel in that area; or they seem to have a charisma that charms others to do whatever they wish them to do. Whatever the case, it could be dangerous to excel in anything in the flesh. The more proficient we are in worldly things, the greater hold the world has on us. When we are good at repairing and building, we spend much time in this sphere of learning; when we are good at sports, our heart is drawn to sports events, and we become at least a little consumed with them; when we learn to motivate people that becomes a bane to us, and we find it getting out of hand; our mastery seems to master us instead of others. Those that are good at “business”, are always busy in their business--their time is not their own.

I used to feel deprived and “out of place” because I am good at nothing in this life, but now I see the blessing in it. I have nothing more to occupy my time and thoughts than that of meditating upon the Lord and His greatness and Majesty. Don’t ask me to repair a car, or to build a house, if you want it done right, and don’t choose me if you need a qualified ally in a sports game, because I will inevitably let you down, but choose me to pray for you when the need is great and the afflictions come, that I can do.

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”?

The Fear of the Lord

The Fear of the Lord 2

Pro 9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
Pro 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Pro 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

In Job 28:28 we are told the same thing as the last part of this passage, that “The fear of the Lord” is wisdom, and to “Depart from evil” is understanding. How many of us really fear the Lord? How many can claim to have understanding? It seems a small thing to some of us, but it is of the utmost importance. The Proverb says to reprove a wise man and he will love thee: It will make him yet the wiser, and he will increase in learning. Be wise, and take reproof, realizing that is betters you; but be careful with whom you council lest you fall into the traps of Satan.
The Lord loves humility. I believe that this one attribute is the one that David impressed God with so that he became a man after God’s own heart. Humility is admitting wrong doing without excuse or passing the buck on to someone else. When we realize our faults and take total blame for them, we are exercising humility. The sin is not to be rebuked in pride, but with a sincere effort to see one do what is right; in this way, God will bless the sinner as well as the reprover. Our reproofs are to done in humility and prayer, allowing the Spirit of God to work through us. The two go hand in hand with one another; humility compliments the fear of the Lord, and the fear of the Lord promotes humility.

Christianity

There are believers, and there are Christians. Believers have trusted Christ for their salvation, that is, in their hearts. Christians, on the other hand have Christ in their hearts and in their minds. Each of us need to see how we measure up.

Christ never lived one moment for Himself; how much time do we spend on “us”? Christ never lusted in His heart for anything; how do we measure up in this area?
He never worried about anything.
Finances
Future
Job or family.
He never trusted anyone else for His needs.
Government, etc.
One can then be a believer, and not a Christian (Chris, like-ian).

In Luke 18:8 Christ asks “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? The big question is, “Will he find faith in us?” Will Christ find us to be believers, or Christians? Which will it be for you?

There are believers, and there are Christians; which will he find faith in?

(This short devotion has convicted me to my soul, and I am afraid I fall much shorter than I had supposed.)