Scofflaws
06-28-14
Proverbs
14:34 (NASB) 34
Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a
disgrace to any people.
I thought this week that I would read the news a little more closely than my
normal headline scan. Normally I will read just the headline and the
accompanying trailer, usually a few introductory sentences, then skip to the
next headline. But, this week I decided to "click" to the whole article and get
the inside skinny. Well, as you have probably already anticipated, that was a
big mistake. It took about ten minutes and I was shaking my head in outright
rage. (smile) It is apparent that we have become a nation of scofflaws. A people
that mock, deride, and for the most part ignore the tried and tested laws
of this nation. But, this week some took it a step further. It seems that a
significant portion of the mainline church has decided to take a stand against
God and His Holy Word. I won't go into details. You can search it out for
yourself if you are even interested. As I sat there shaking my head in
disbelief, I felt my spirit welling up inside of me. You know don't you? You
hear an impassioned speech or a powerful, anointed sermon and you get fired up.
You are ready to go DO SOMETHING! You are going to CHANGE SOME THINGS AROUND
HERE! How dare they even consider doing such a dastardly deed. Well,... over my
cold, dead body. You know how that goes don't you? That's kinda how I felt this
week after reading "the whole article."(smile again) Then reality set in." Well
Ronnie, just what is it that you are planning to do?" said the voice of reason
and rationality. Sometimes that voice is your friend, sometimes it is not, but
that is another story. At any rate, I plopped back down in the chair, realizing
my revolution was over before it ever got started. I sat there for a few moments
and clicked on to the sports section( the only section that I read thoroughly on
a consistent basis). Then, a couple of verses crossed my mind as I read about
the Red Sox.
1
Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB) 17
pray without ceasing;
Ephesians
6:12 (NASB) 12 For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual
forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Folks many battles are fought in the courtrooms, schools, and streets across
this land, but, none are ever WON there! No, no. The battles are won in prayer
closets. Yes, I believe God has called people to wage battles in public arenas.
But, do you realize that prayer is the only remedy that we as Christians have
been empowered with to wage those spiritual wars? Folks, if we believe that
spiritual wickedness is fearful of a protest sign in the street, we are
mistaken. If, for one minute, we believe these principalities will stop
the tempting of our children with drugs, alcohol, etc. because of a "just say
no" slogan, or a "this is your brain on drugs" ad, then.... we are deceived. So
while I conjure up visions of grandeur in my mind of leading a great charge
against the forces of evil, God reminds me that the REAL BATTLE is unseen.
Brothers and sisters sometimes our future as a people and a nation
appears bleak. We wag our fingers at the God of all the universe, thinking we
are immune from His correction because of a sense of entitlement that we believe
we deserve from Him. I pray that He stays His hand of wrath against this
country. The flip side for us as Christians however is the fact that no matter
what.. He's got our back. He is sovereign. His plan is moving surely toward His
desired outcome. I just pray that our nation can stay under His hand of mercy.
Psalm
91:1-2 (NASB) 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the
LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!"
God Bless
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Friday, June 20, 2014
The Church Triumphant 06-20-14
We read a lot these days in Christian circles and elsewhere about the demise or some would say the apostasy of the American church. It appears that the church today has been fed and for the most part relished a message of materialism and quality of life; a message that is largely irrelevant in most other parts of today's world and increasingly so in our own country. Seed faith,instant healing, and the 100 fold return just doesn't preach in Pakistan,South Sudan, or China where Christians are routinely slaughtered for a simple profession of faith.
15 He *said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Matt 16:15-18 (NASB)
Peter's famous confession. What we have to understand here is that no man revealed or taught this to Peter. It was supernaturally revealed and Peter supernaturally caught it. More importantly however is Jesus' response. He would build His church on Peter's realization of WHO Jesus was, the Messiah, The Son of The Living God; not on WHAT the Son of God could do to enhance his(Peter's) quality of life. But, for the purposes of this message, it is the next statement that I want to talk about.
and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Matt 16:18 (NASB)
I thought about those words today as I sat to write this blog. Despite the apparent failure of the church and it's search for relevance, Jesus' words tell us of a church that is rock solid and victorious against the
onslaughts of hell. Add to this the fact that in spite of all that is supposedly wrong, the Bible still commands us to assemble together. To come together to worship.
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Heb 10:24-25 (NASB)
And herein starteth the message. As you probably know I have a couple of little girls that are very close to my heart. Chloe and Maddie Grace are like my own kids. I am still waiting for the day that I wake up and find out that Chloe has finally turned into an obnoxious teen. But, until that time whenever she leaves and goes back to Georgia my heart aches for a while and I miss her. At any rate last weekend Chloe and Maddie came over to Memaw's to water her plants for her and to see if the tomato plants had any ripe tomatoes that they could pick. During the visit Chloe walked into Memaw's bedroom to say hello and Memaw was tired and probably didn't look too good to a six year old. Chloe visited for a brief time and then left. That was that.
The following day was Father's day and I was tied up with Memaw. My children called me and that made my day and as it got to be around 9 P.M. I thought all the Father's day festivities had passed. But, I received a phone call from Shelley and she told me that Chloe and Maddie wanted to give me something. As it turned out they had made me a homemade Father's Day card. You know, the kind that take their place of honor on the frig. Well, as we were out in the parking lot Shelley told me that Chloe had asked her Sunday School class that day to pray for Memaw. "She didn't know what was wrong, but God did," was the way that she had put it to her class. So, she led her class in prayer for my 94 year old invalid mother and here is my point. Had there not been a church with open doors to go to that day Chloe would've been at home. Had there not been a man or woman sacrificing their time to teach young children about Jesus and praying and whatnot, that corporate prayer of six year olds would have never gotten off the ground. Had they not taken the time to "assemble together" it would have been just another day in the life.
With this simple illustration God showed me that indeed the church is not totally compromised and there are still good, Bible believing churches out there. If you have found a good one, then it is in your best interests to support it any which way you can. If for no other reason than to make it possible for the little children, the next generation to have a place to go to learn about the Lord Jesus. Our generation did it for us. Don't we owe our children the same?
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
Psalms 78:2-4 (NASB)
God Bless
We read a lot these days in Christian circles and elsewhere about the demise or some would say the apostasy of the American church. It appears that the church today has been fed and for the most part relished a message of materialism and quality of life; a message that is largely irrelevant in most other parts of today's world and increasingly so in our own country. Seed faith,instant healing, and the 100 fold return just doesn't preach in Pakistan,South Sudan, or China where Christians are routinely slaughtered for a simple profession of faith.
15 He *said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Matt 16:15-18 (NASB)
Peter's famous confession. What we have to understand here is that no man revealed or taught this to Peter. It was supernaturally revealed and Peter supernaturally caught it. More importantly however is Jesus' response. He would build His church on Peter's realization of WHO Jesus was, the Messiah, The Son of The Living God; not on WHAT the Son of God could do to enhance his(Peter's) quality of life. But, for the purposes of this message, it is the next statement that I want to talk about.
and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Matt 16:18 (NASB)
I thought about those words today as I sat to write this blog. Despite the apparent failure of the church and it's search for relevance, Jesus' words tell us of a church that is rock solid and victorious against the
onslaughts of hell. Add to this the fact that in spite of all that is supposedly wrong, the Bible still commands us to assemble together. To come together to worship.
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Heb 10:24-25 (NASB)
And herein starteth the message. As you probably know I have a couple of little girls that are very close to my heart. Chloe and Maddie Grace are like my own kids. I am still waiting for the day that I wake up and find out that Chloe has finally turned into an obnoxious teen. But, until that time whenever she leaves and goes back to Georgia my heart aches for a while and I miss her. At any rate last weekend Chloe and Maddie came over to Memaw's to water her plants for her and to see if the tomato plants had any ripe tomatoes that they could pick. During the visit Chloe walked into Memaw's bedroom to say hello and Memaw was tired and probably didn't look too good to a six year old. Chloe visited for a brief time and then left. That was that.
The following day was Father's day and I was tied up with Memaw. My children called me and that made my day and as it got to be around 9 P.M. I thought all the Father's day festivities had passed. But, I received a phone call from Shelley and she told me that Chloe and Maddie wanted to give me something. As it turned out they had made me a homemade Father's Day card. You know, the kind that take their place of honor on the frig. Well, as we were out in the parking lot Shelley told me that Chloe had asked her Sunday School class that day to pray for Memaw. "She didn't know what was wrong, but God did," was the way that she had put it to her class. So, she led her class in prayer for my 94 year old invalid mother and here is my point. Had there not been a church with open doors to go to that day Chloe would've been at home. Had there not been a man or woman sacrificing their time to teach young children about Jesus and praying and whatnot, that corporate prayer of six year olds would have never gotten off the ground. Had they not taken the time to "assemble together" it would have been just another day in the life.
With this simple illustration God showed me that indeed the church is not totally compromised and there are still good, Bible believing churches out there. If you have found a good one, then it is in your best interests to support it any which way you can. If for no other reason than to make it possible for the little children, the next generation to have a place to go to learn about the Lord Jesus. Our generation did it for us. Don't we owe our children the same?
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
Psalms 78:2-4 (NASB)
God Bless
Friday, June 13, 2014
Jesus Is The One
I read this message from Joshua Drucker yesterday and wanted to share it today. It's a powerful word and I believe that we can all glean some truth from it. God Bless.
Psalm 68:11 (KJV) 11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
I just got off the phone with a family member that was very upset by my sermon "The Danger Of Looking Back." I have received multiple negative comments about that sermon. Even my dad said "son,you put out too much information and used too many names." The main point that the family member was trying to make was that I didn't use "facts."This person told me that my brother DID NOT lose all of his "earthly possessions," then told me a list of his things: Two fishing poles, a stove, washer and dryer, dishes, computer, etc,. etc,. I must admit that I got frustrated in the conversation because she and other people missed my point. That point being my brother "looked back" and now he is facing 5,10,15, 30 years in prison. So, yes in the next 30-60 days he will have lost ALL of his earthly possessions and his freedom because he "looked back." As soon as his wife wanted to leave him, he should have said "O.K." and left the house...PERIOD.
People that know me personally, know that I don't point the finger and blame people for "my" stupid choices. It was Bubba's choice that caused this, just like it was my choice to make that stupid call from the prison phone. For whatever reason, God has chosen me to share my life through this platform. I was completely happy in August 2007 as I lived in the honor dorm of Cobb County Jail. Just as Abraham unexpectedly heard from God to leave his family and travel to the Promised Land; I also heard from God to "step out" and write.
Do you mind if I am completely honest with you today? Do you think I like to write all of the sermons that I write? Do you think that I like to write about my failures and also open up my personal life? Joyce Meyers was told by God to tell other women that she was" raped" ( yes she used the word raped instead of "molested" by her father because God told her that is what it is). Joyce Meyers told people all over the world that her dad had raped her over 2000 times. And if I am not mistaken, she preached her testimony while he was still alive and living at her home because God had told her to forgive him and take care of him until he died.
A few weeks earlier the Holy Spirit told me to write the sermon" No Wavering." In it I wrote how Jesus, the Apostles, and Smith Wigglesworth performed miracle after miracle. My entire body cringed as I penned those words because this writer has been through living HELL the past 12 months. Here I was writing about a victorious Gospel while living a defeated life. Please...let me finish my point before you delete this message.There are weeks when the Holy Spirit will inspire me to write about prosperity and healing; other weeks He will instruct me to "open up" myself and expose my wounds. Some weeks I love my writings and other weeks I despise them. But, regardless if I want to write a sermon or not, God has called me to write.
Psalm 68:11 (KJV) 11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
On January 7th, 2014 my nephew died on my parents living room floor. Thirty days earlier my older sister had died. I had been transported back to Cobb County for a court hearing when I found out the news about Devin. I was so discouraged that I called a very spiritual woman friend named Linda.I said to her "I'm on death row, two nephews have died prematurely, my older sister just died, my younger sister can't walk or feed herself, and my brother is going through a horrible divorce.......WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO PREACH?" This woman very calmly said, "The truth Joshua. You are to preach the truth." THE TRUTH! That is what I have been trying to preach since August 2007. I was so frustrated on the phone with my family member that I began to raise my voice and defend my writing. I was so loud that a woman walking by my family member could hear my voice and made(what she thought) a funny comment. She said" My God, it isn't that bad unless he had killed someone." My family member looked at her and said," he did, he killed two people." The stranger said,"oh my God," and gave my family member a hug and prayed with her. I get so ANGRY sometimes when I defend this ministry because I am passionate. I didn't choose this but, since I "have it" I am going to fight for it and defend it like I would my own daughter.What many people don't know is a lot of my readers have been through hell and back and they depend on these words. I have readers who are serving a life sentence in prison and never getting out. Readers that were raped 15 years ago and still can't live a normal life today because of it.
A woman wrote me about a month ago that ran across our website and contacted me. She raised her son by herself for 18 years. Sixteen months ago her son said to her " I hope you die" and he then left the state and hasn't come back. Since then she has tried to commit suicide twice. A few weeks ago another woman from Oakland,California was Googling the name Apostle Paul and one of our sermons came up and it spoke directly to her. She wrote me and told me that she lives in extreme poverty and the only way she is able to read my sermons is by a government issued phone. As far as I know I don't have any multi-millionaire readers. I don't have any congressmen or affluent names in the community reading these sermons. People read my sermons because they have had their butt kicked by life, the devil, and yes..their own stupid choices. They are looking for a "word" that will get them through the day. There is nothing wrong with Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, or Rod Parsley. However, the people that reach out to me can't relate to them. And those ministers SURELY can't relate to my readers.
1 Samuel 22:1-2 (KJV) 1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
I have heard from people ALL OVER the world. Guess what they ALL have in common? PAIN, TROUBLE, HEARTBREAK! Good people that love other people and love Jesus.But, for whatever reason they are hurting and dying inside. And they write me because they think,"hey, I can be honest with this guy. This guy has messed his entire life up and he still has hope; and, he's still trying to serve the Lord."I have uncovered every nasty sin and stupid decision that I have EVER COMMITTED. Once again, I don't know why I am led to write some of the sermons that I write. Especially when God wants me to write about VICTORY. But guess what? Just because Amanda isn't healed or Devin died in his sickness doesn't mean that our God isn't a healer. Just because I'm on death row doesn't mean that our God isn't a deliverer.
John the Baptist was sitting on death row and he questioned Jesus' deity. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the ONE or should we look for another. Jesus sent word back to John and said,"Go and tell John what you have seen and heard. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up , the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one not OFFENDED by me." What Jesus was trying to tell John was this,"just because mighty things aren't happening in your life doesn't change the fact that I am the ONE."
Hebrews 11:35-37 (KJV) 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
If there were ever a few verses that I disliked in the Bible, it would have to be the above verses. This may be the first time that I have ever preached on these verses. These "people" that were stoned, sawn in two, suffered mockings, etc,. were men and women of faith that served God and LOST.At least in this life THEY LOST. I am sorry. But, I can't explain why your baby died. I don't know why your mate left you. I don't know why your son is strung out on drugs, even though you raised him right and gave him a perfect home. I don't know why you are still sick or in chronic pain. I don't have an answer for you.
But, I do know that "your life," whatever it may be, does not change the fact that Jesus is still the ONE and you don't need to look for another. Even now, as I pen these words, a vicious lie from the pits of hell has been spread about me here on death row. A lie that has put my life in danger. For the past two weeks, night after night I have sat in my cell in fear, wondering if I am going to get stabbed with a knife, my throat cut, or jumped on. Something I knew nothing about, nor do I know the people involved. But, someone lied and slandered my name and now my life is in danger. But, guess what? Jesus is still the ONE. Even though I am scared, even though my family is suffering, even though my relationships are severed, even though I am on death row, and even though some people may not agree with my writing...JESUS IS THE ONE.
I don't know if this should be a sermon or a journal. I should just call this a rant. I apologize for not writing a professional three point sermon. I apologize for being "all over the place." I'm in a dark place in my life right now and it takes every bit of strength and energy to get through each day. But guess what? Jesus is the ONE. I told my family member on the phone that I would write these sermons as long as I had someone to type them and publish them. If I no longer have people or the funds to continue, then I will stop. This life is hard my friend.... real hard. And the only way we are going to survive is abiding in Christ. I write these sermons only because God told me to. And I write them as I feel led. I may not have all the answers, but, I do have obedience. When I "hear"..I "write."" It takes faith and courage to lay yourself on the cross and expose your wounds. However, I gladly do it just in case I can touch "one"person, or help "one" person get through their day without quitting, walking out on their family, leaving their position at work or in church, or maybe even keep someone from committing suicide.
This is my post which has no one to hold it but me. If I abandon it, I discover that it is something inside myself that I abandon. This is MY POST.And I sill stand here until God moves me.
God Bless,
Joshua Drucker
I read this message from Joshua Drucker yesterday and wanted to share it today. It's a powerful word and I believe that we can all glean some truth from it. God Bless.
Psalm 68:11 (KJV) 11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
I just got off the phone with a family member that was very upset by my sermon "The Danger Of Looking Back." I have received multiple negative comments about that sermon. Even my dad said "son,you put out too much information and used too many names." The main point that the family member was trying to make was that I didn't use "facts."This person told me that my brother DID NOT lose all of his "earthly possessions," then told me a list of his things: Two fishing poles, a stove, washer and dryer, dishes, computer, etc,. etc,. I must admit that I got frustrated in the conversation because she and other people missed my point. That point being my brother "looked back" and now he is facing 5,10,15, 30 years in prison. So, yes in the next 30-60 days he will have lost ALL of his earthly possessions and his freedom because he "looked back." As soon as his wife wanted to leave him, he should have said "O.K." and left the house...PERIOD.
People that know me personally, know that I don't point the finger and blame people for "my" stupid choices. It was Bubba's choice that caused this, just like it was my choice to make that stupid call from the prison phone. For whatever reason, God has chosen me to share my life through this platform. I was completely happy in August 2007 as I lived in the honor dorm of Cobb County Jail. Just as Abraham unexpectedly heard from God to leave his family and travel to the Promised Land; I also heard from God to "step out" and write.
Do you mind if I am completely honest with you today? Do you think I like to write all of the sermons that I write? Do you think that I like to write about my failures and also open up my personal life? Joyce Meyers was told by God to tell other women that she was" raped" ( yes she used the word raped instead of "molested" by her father because God told her that is what it is). Joyce Meyers told people all over the world that her dad had raped her over 2000 times. And if I am not mistaken, she preached her testimony while he was still alive and living at her home because God had told her to forgive him and take care of him until he died.
A few weeks earlier the Holy Spirit told me to write the sermon" No Wavering." In it I wrote how Jesus, the Apostles, and Smith Wigglesworth performed miracle after miracle. My entire body cringed as I penned those words because this writer has been through living HELL the past 12 months. Here I was writing about a victorious Gospel while living a defeated life. Please...let me finish my point before you delete this message.There are weeks when the Holy Spirit will inspire me to write about prosperity and healing; other weeks He will instruct me to "open up" myself and expose my wounds. Some weeks I love my writings and other weeks I despise them. But, regardless if I want to write a sermon or not, God has called me to write.
Psalm 68:11 (KJV) 11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
On January 7th, 2014 my nephew died on my parents living room floor. Thirty days earlier my older sister had died. I had been transported back to Cobb County for a court hearing when I found out the news about Devin. I was so discouraged that I called a very spiritual woman friend named Linda.I said to her "I'm on death row, two nephews have died prematurely, my older sister just died, my younger sister can't walk or feed herself, and my brother is going through a horrible divorce.......WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO PREACH?" This woman very calmly said, "The truth Joshua. You are to preach the truth." THE TRUTH! That is what I have been trying to preach since August 2007. I was so frustrated on the phone with my family member that I began to raise my voice and defend my writing. I was so loud that a woman walking by my family member could hear my voice and made(what she thought) a funny comment. She said" My God, it isn't that bad unless he had killed someone." My family member looked at her and said," he did, he killed two people." The stranger said,"oh my God," and gave my family member a hug and prayed with her. I get so ANGRY sometimes when I defend this ministry because I am passionate. I didn't choose this but, since I "have it" I am going to fight for it and defend it like I would my own daughter.What many people don't know is a lot of my readers have been through hell and back and they depend on these words. I have readers who are serving a life sentence in prison and never getting out. Readers that were raped 15 years ago and still can't live a normal life today because of it.
A woman wrote me about a month ago that ran across our website and contacted me. She raised her son by herself for 18 years. Sixteen months ago her son said to her " I hope you die" and he then left the state and hasn't come back. Since then she has tried to commit suicide twice. A few weeks ago another woman from Oakland,California was Googling the name Apostle Paul and one of our sermons came up and it spoke directly to her. She wrote me and told me that she lives in extreme poverty and the only way she is able to read my sermons is by a government issued phone. As far as I know I don't have any multi-millionaire readers. I don't have any congressmen or affluent names in the community reading these sermons. People read my sermons because they have had their butt kicked by life, the devil, and yes..their own stupid choices. They are looking for a "word" that will get them through the day. There is nothing wrong with Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, or Rod Parsley. However, the people that reach out to me can't relate to them. And those ministers SURELY can't relate to my readers.
1 Samuel 22:1-2 (KJV) 1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
I have heard from people ALL OVER the world. Guess what they ALL have in common? PAIN, TROUBLE, HEARTBREAK! Good people that love other people and love Jesus.But, for whatever reason they are hurting and dying inside. And they write me because they think,"hey, I can be honest with this guy. This guy has messed his entire life up and he still has hope; and, he's still trying to serve the Lord."I have uncovered every nasty sin and stupid decision that I have EVER COMMITTED. Once again, I don't know why I am led to write some of the sermons that I write. Especially when God wants me to write about VICTORY. But guess what? Just because Amanda isn't healed or Devin died in his sickness doesn't mean that our God isn't a healer. Just because I'm on death row doesn't mean that our God isn't a deliverer.
John the Baptist was sitting on death row and he questioned Jesus' deity. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the ONE or should we look for another. Jesus sent word back to John and said,"Go and tell John what you have seen and heard. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up , the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one not OFFENDED by me." What Jesus was trying to tell John was this,"just because mighty things aren't happening in your life doesn't change the fact that I am the ONE."
Hebrews 11:35-37 (KJV) 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
If there were ever a few verses that I disliked in the Bible, it would have to be the above verses. This may be the first time that I have ever preached on these verses. These "people" that were stoned, sawn in two, suffered mockings, etc,. were men and women of faith that served God and LOST.At least in this life THEY LOST. I am sorry. But, I can't explain why your baby died. I don't know why your mate left you. I don't know why your son is strung out on drugs, even though you raised him right and gave him a perfect home. I don't know why you are still sick or in chronic pain. I don't have an answer for you.
But, I do know that "your life," whatever it may be, does not change the fact that Jesus is still the ONE and you don't need to look for another. Even now, as I pen these words, a vicious lie from the pits of hell has been spread about me here on death row. A lie that has put my life in danger. For the past two weeks, night after night I have sat in my cell in fear, wondering if I am going to get stabbed with a knife, my throat cut, or jumped on. Something I knew nothing about, nor do I know the people involved. But, someone lied and slandered my name and now my life is in danger. But, guess what? Jesus is still the ONE. Even though I am scared, even though my family is suffering, even though my relationships are severed, even though I am on death row, and even though some people may not agree with my writing...JESUS IS THE ONE.
I don't know if this should be a sermon or a journal. I should just call this a rant. I apologize for not writing a professional three point sermon. I apologize for being "all over the place." I'm in a dark place in my life right now and it takes every bit of strength and energy to get through each day. But guess what? Jesus is the ONE. I told my family member on the phone that I would write these sermons as long as I had someone to type them and publish them. If I no longer have people or the funds to continue, then I will stop. This life is hard my friend.... real hard. And the only way we are going to survive is abiding in Christ. I write these sermons only because God told me to. And I write them as I feel led. I may not have all the answers, but, I do have obedience. When I "hear"..I "write."" It takes faith and courage to lay yourself on the cross and expose your wounds. However, I gladly do it just in case I can touch "one"person, or help "one" person get through their day without quitting, walking out on their family, leaving their position at work or in church, or maybe even keep someone from committing suicide.
This is my post which has no one to hold it but me. If I abandon it, I discover that it is something inside myself that I abandon. This is MY POST.And I sill stand here until God moves me.
God Bless,
Joshua Drucker
Friday, June 6, 2014
Are You
Serious?
06-06-14
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NASB) 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Let me share with you today. I'll try and not get too personal or be too transparent today, but if I do please forgive me. I try and send these blogs out around 4-6 P.M. on Friday and up until a couple weeks had been pretty successful. I came in this morning from work about 4:30 and
laid around a bit until I heard Memaw(my mother) calling me from her bedroom. When I got to her she was in a very uncomfortable state. Without going into detail , we spent the next couple of hours trying to get her squared away. When we got her calmed down and comfortable, I went back to go to bed and could not fall asleep. I laid there tossing and turning and it was well past sunup when I finally dozed off; only to be awoken some time later by people out front. So, I laid vainly trying to fall back asleep. I finally gave up and got up, a little tired and a lot grumpy. After my morning(afternoon) ration of coffee, I realized that I would not be able to meet my self imposed deadline for this message. It was at this point that in my spirit I got my backside on my shoulders to put it delicately. I started grumbling under my breath about never being able to sleep, about having to deal with Memaw, especially on a Friday, and on and on. I ended my rant with something like I'll never get my message out. Then I started about the importance of meeting the deadline and whatnot. Just about the time that I spit the word importance out of my piehole, I was checked in my spirit. Immediately I was reminded of a church marquee that I see every night on the way out to my route. On that marquee they have a statement that reads something like this.
.
"We take Jesus seriously, we just don't take ourselves too seriously."
The Lord then took me aside and spoke to my heart the above scripture. Then He very gently chided me about what it meant to be a "real" Christian. (smile) He spoke to my heart very gently and said "Ronnie, I have uncounted numbers of gifted people that worship and praise me; myriads of preachers, teachers, and blog writers more eloquent and well versed than you to proclaim My Word; thousands upon thousands with much deeper financial pockets who are willing to give if I ask them... and then it dropped. But, you(and my sister Betty) are all I have to help your mother get out of bed when she needs to go to the bathroom. Your the only ones I have to watch her as she tries to walk to the dinner table or to give her a hug or a good night kiss; to tell her that you love her. You are the ones that I have chosen to show her my love."
As I thought about all my supposed "good works" and what I was "doing for the Lord," my attention was drawn to those words in those verses. "But do not have love." It's easy to get puffed up isn't it? To take ourselves and our lives a little too seriously. We become legends in our own minds. You feelin' me? The Apostle Paul said it this way.
1 Corinthians 8:1 (NASB) 1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
Knowledge makes arrogant. The KJV says it "puffeth up." I'll finish with a last thought. My blog can wait another day. If the truth were known it can wait throughout all eternity. Those works and blogs are still filthy rags aren't they? But, the opportunity to minister to my mom or anyone for that matter; to display the love of Christ to another human being is really where it's at isn't it? Isn't that what being a "real" Christian is all about?
I can set the world on fire. I can turn it upside down. I can even die for it. But, if I don't have love one for the other......it is worthless, vain and futile.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NASB) 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB) 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
God Bless
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NASB) 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Let me share with you today. I'll try and not get too personal or be too transparent today, but if I do please forgive me. I try and send these blogs out around 4-6 P.M. on Friday and up until a couple weeks had been pretty successful. I came in this morning from work about 4:30 and
laid around a bit until I heard Memaw(my mother) calling me from her bedroom. When I got to her she was in a very uncomfortable state. Without going into detail , we spent the next couple of hours trying to get her squared away. When we got her calmed down and comfortable, I went back to go to bed and could not fall asleep. I laid there tossing and turning and it was well past sunup when I finally dozed off; only to be awoken some time later by people out front. So, I laid vainly trying to fall back asleep. I finally gave up and got up, a little tired and a lot grumpy. After my morning(afternoon) ration of coffee, I realized that I would not be able to meet my self imposed deadline for this message. It was at this point that in my spirit I got my backside on my shoulders to put it delicately. I started grumbling under my breath about never being able to sleep, about having to deal with Memaw, especially on a Friday, and on and on. I ended my rant with something like I'll never get my message out. Then I started about the importance of meeting the deadline and whatnot. Just about the time that I spit the word importance out of my piehole, I was checked in my spirit. Immediately I was reminded of a church marquee that I see every night on the way out to my route. On that marquee they have a statement that reads something like this.
.
"We take Jesus seriously, we just don't take ourselves too seriously."
The Lord then took me aside and spoke to my heart the above scripture. Then He very gently chided me about what it meant to be a "real" Christian. (smile) He spoke to my heart very gently and said "Ronnie, I have uncounted numbers of gifted people that worship and praise me; myriads of preachers, teachers, and blog writers more eloquent and well versed than you to proclaim My Word; thousands upon thousands with much deeper financial pockets who are willing to give if I ask them... and then it dropped. But, you(and my sister Betty) are all I have to help your mother get out of bed when she needs to go to the bathroom. Your the only ones I have to watch her as she tries to walk to the dinner table or to give her a hug or a good night kiss; to tell her that you love her. You are the ones that I have chosen to show her my love."
As I thought about all my supposed "good works" and what I was "doing for the Lord," my attention was drawn to those words in those verses. "But do not have love." It's easy to get puffed up isn't it? To take ourselves and our lives a little too seriously. We become legends in our own minds. You feelin' me? The Apostle Paul said it this way.
1 Corinthians 8:1 (NASB) 1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
Knowledge makes arrogant. The KJV says it "puffeth up." I'll finish with a last thought. My blog can wait another day. If the truth were known it can wait throughout all eternity. Those works and blogs are still filthy rags aren't they? But, the opportunity to minister to my mom or anyone for that matter; to display the love of Christ to another human being is really where it's at isn't it? Isn't that what being a "real" Christian is all about?
I can set the world on fire. I can turn it upside down. I can even die for it. But, if I don't have love one for the other......it is worthless, vain and futile.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NASB) 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB) 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
God Bless
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Slow
Down
05-31-14
First an apology for my tardiness this week. I was unavoidably tied up yesterday. please accept my apologies. Just some thoughts this week. The famous philosopher, Ferris Bueller once said,"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." A much wiser(wiser than Ferris?!) yes wiser than Ferris, put it this way.
Psalm 127:2 (NASB) 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
My favorite verse in all the Bible is the one that precedes the above verse.
Psalm 127:1 (NASB)
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless
the LORD guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
It speaks to the vanity of building our lives, our dreams and aspirations without the direction and counsel of the Lord. That being said I was reminded this week past of an article, actually articles that I read concerning the American worker. Bear with me, I have a point. The article spoke about the workers in America being overworked. At least those that can find a job. It cited study after study about the gradual lengthening of the work week from the 60's and even before to the present day. We work longer and harder than any country in the industrialized world. It is estimated that we now work on average one month per year more than our preceding generations. But here is the real kicker. Since the 1970's the wage of the American worker, adjusted for inflation is flat or even slightly negative! It seems that 40 % or so of American workers are working for less than the minimum wage of 1968 adjusted for inflation. So yes, you are working longer and harder and for less money too!! Apparently, all those profits have found their way to the corporate coffers and the investment classes, you know the so called 1%'s. While you, fellow average Joe, are working yourself to death to feed and clothe your family. O.K., O.K. No, this is not a political diatribe on income inequality. The Bible speaks to that on countless occasions. It is a fact of life.However,I had to lay that foundation to make my point.
There are people out there(you may be one of them) that are worn out physically, mentally and spiritually due to a system that makes empty promises. All this system cares about is squeezing the last ounce of energy and life out of you to increase it's bottom line. It could care less whether you live or die. Your spot will be filled before your desk is cleaned out. You feelin' me here? So what are you saying here Ronnie? That I should quit my job and start the revolution? Not at all, far from it as a matter of fact. The Bible is very clear about those that don't want to work and play the system. Read this.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NASB) 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
The key word being "willing." If this verse was official public policy for our country we wouldn't be in near as bad a mess would we? I shall proceed to keep my big mouth shut as that IS the beginning of a political diatribe!(smile) My question to you is simply this. Are you tired from the beatdown the world is putting on you? Are you so worn out that you can't or better yet DON'T HAVE THE TIME to enjoy the kids, grandkids etc.? Has your joy been stolen or more accurately worked and pressed out of you? If so, then maybe it's time to take a good look at that verse again.
Psalm 127:2 (NASB) 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
"...For He gives to His beloved EVEN IN HIS SLEEP."(caps mine)
Folks, my point is this. To feel slighted, to become angry or frustrated with circumstances, (even though we all have and still do at times), to stage sit-in protests at your employer's corporate offices is to miss the point of this verse. What this verse and the one before it is saying is this. Quit killing yourself for a system that doesn't care. Get alone with God, tell Him how tired you are and how that you can't see the forest for the trees. Your being pressed beyond measure and you need HIS help. Ask Him to help you find a way to take a step back and SLOW DOWN from the demands of the system. Listen, He owns it all. The cattle on a thousand hills. All and I mean ALL the gold and silver is HIS! And it is His good pleasure to give you a little slice and get you off that killer treadmill. Don't go out and make any radical changes, no....take it to the Lord God Almighty and allow Him to make the radical changes for you.
Psalm 121:1-8 (NASB) 1
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.
God Bless
First an apology for my tardiness this week. I was unavoidably tied up yesterday. please accept my apologies. Just some thoughts this week. The famous philosopher, Ferris Bueller once said,"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." A much wiser(wiser than Ferris?!) yes wiser than Ferris, put it this way.
Psalm 127:2 (NASB) 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
My favorite verse in all the Bible is the one that precedes the above verse.
Psalm 127:1 (NASB)
It speaks to the vanity of building our lives, our dreams and aspirations without the direction and counsel of the Lord. That being said I was reminded this week past of an article, actually articles that I read concerning the American worker. Bear with me, I have a point. The article spoke about the workers in America being overworked. At least those that can find a job. It cited study after study about the gradual lengthening of the work week from the 60's and even before to the present day. We work longer and harder than any country in the industrialized world. It is estimated that we now work on average one month per year more than our preceding generations. But here is the real kicker. Since the 1970's the wage of the American worker, adjusted for inflation is flat or even slightly negative! It seems that 40 % or so of American workers are working for less than the minimum wage of 1968 adjusted for inflation. So yes, you are working longer and harder and for less money too!! Apparently, all those profits have found their way to the corporate coffers and the investment classes, you know the so called 1%'s. While you, fellow average Joe, are working yourself to death to feed and clothe your family. O.K., O.K. No, this is not a political diatribe on income inequality. The Bible speaks to that on countless occasions. It is a fact of life.However,I had to lay that foundation to make my point.
There are people out there(you may be one of them) that are worn out physically, mentally and spiritually due to a system that makes empty promises. All this system cares about is squeezing the last ounce of energy and life out of you to increase it's bottom line. It could care less whether you live or die. Your spot will be filled before your desk is cleaned out. You feelin' me here? So what are you saying here Ronnie? That I should quit my job and start the revolution? Not at all, far from it as a matter of fact. The Bible is very clear about those that don't want to work and play the system. Read this.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NASB) 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
The key word being "willing." If this verse was official public policy for our country we wouldn't be in near as bad a mess would we? I shall proceed to keep my big mouth shut as that IS the beginning of a political diatribe!(smile) My question to you is simply this. Are you tired from the beatdown the world is putting on you? Are you so worn out that you can't or better yet DON'T HAVE THE TIME to enjoy the kids, grandkids etc.? Has your joy been stolen or more accurately worked and pressed out of you? If so, then maybe it's time to take a good look at that verse again.
Psalm 127:2 (NASB) 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
"...For He gives to His beloved EVEN IN HIS SLEEP."(caps mine)
Folks, my point is this. To feel slighted, to become angry or frustrated with circumstances, (even though we all have and still do at times), to stage sit-in protests at your employer's corporate offices is to miss the point of this verse. What this verse and the one before it is saying is this. Quit killing yourself for a system that doesn't care. Get alone with God, tell Him how tired you are and how that you can't see the forest for the trees. Your being pressed beyond measure and you need HIS help. Ask Him to help you find a way to take a step back and SLOW DOWN from the demands of the system. Listen, He owns it all. The cattle on a thousand hills. All and I mean ALL the gold and silver is HIS! And it is His good pleasure to give you a little slice and get you off that killer treadmill. Don't go out and make any radical changes, no....take it to the Lord God Almighty and allow Him to make the radical changes for you.
Psalm 121:1-8 (NASB) 1
2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.
God Bless
Monday, May 26, 2014
Matthew 24
I wanted to share with you a study that I did some time ago on this exact passage. It is thorough and somewhat lengthy but I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you do also. It is entitled The Olivet Discourse.
This passage of scripture is found in three Gospels. Matt.24, Luke 21, and Mark 13. In order to fully comprehend, all these different accounts must be studied. Different authors included certain items and also left out certain items, but , when taken as a whole the context and meaning become quite clear.
To give a historical setting we will start with the Matthew account. Mark 13:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6 also record this.
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Matt 24:1-2 (KJV)
Jesus had just finished blasting the Pharisees and as he and his disciples left the temple area they pointed out the magnificence of the temple. The above scriptures record Jesus' response. This prophecy aroused three questions from his disciples..
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Matt 24:3 (KJV)
The first question "when shall these things be" refers to Jesus' warning about the destruction of the temple look at Luke's account:
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luke 21:7 (KJV)
When will the temple be destroyed and what sign will alert us that it is about to happen?
Another question was then posed..and what shall be the sign of thy coming,
Matt 24:3 (KJV)
This was not talking about the "catching away" of the saints as no sign will be given for that peculiar event.It was referring to Jesus' 2nd coming.
Finally, a third inquiry..and of the end of the world?
Matt 24:3 (KJV)
That word world translates age. What is the sign of your coming and what is the sign of the end of the age?
Before answering these questions Jesus pointed to some
characteristics of the coming age none of which would signal that the end was near.
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matt 24:4-6 (KJV)
Jesus was the first to claim to be the Jewish messiah however many since Him have made that claim. Also, he said that periods of local wars would persist but thius would not signal the end. It was at this point that Jesus began to answer the disciples questions. He dealt with their third inquiry first.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these arethe beginning of sorrows.
Matt 24:7-8 (KJV)
This response is recorded in all three accounts. These are the beginnings of sorrows or more closely birthpangs.This description of successive pangs is painted by the O.T.prophets. What is important here is the phrase "nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom". This is the sign of the end of the age. It is not the local wars already referred to but is a Hebrew idiom meaning a World War. This idiom when it was spoken pointed to a total conflict of the area in view. It's usage is found in two O.T. passages. Isaiah 19:1-4 points to Egypt being in view, 2 Chronicles 15:1-7 points to the Middle East, this last passage pointing to the whole world.
To keep to sequential context we must now look at the Luke account
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke 21:12-19 (KJV)
Notice the beginning words "But before all these things"
when reading all three accounts one sees that this is inserted in Luke and it gives an account of what the Apostles are going to encounter. It is a description of their forthcoming experiences. Some say this was inserted to comfort the Apostles when the Messianic Kingdom did not soon materialize and they confronted the suffering resulting from their preaching of the Gospel.
After this Jesus proceeds to answer the first question: the sign of the destruction the temple. It is recorded in Luke only.
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luke 21:20-24 (KJV)
This passage of scripture had a very interesting fulfillment.
In 66 A.D. a Jewish revolt broke out When this revolt broke out the Roman general Cestus Gailus surrounded the city of Jerusalem thus compassing it with armies. When the Hebrew Christians saw this they knew destruction was near. However, the Roman supply lines were inadequate to maintain the seige and he lifted it.This allowed for vs.21 to be fulfilled. After the Romans withdrew Hebrew Christians fled Jerusalem ans set up a community across the Jordan River in a towncalled Pella.
In 68A.D. another general named Vaspasian compassed the city for two years. In 70 A.D. they attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Because of the melting gold into the crevices of the stones the Romans turned every stone to get at the gold leaving not one unturned. Also, in this siege over a million Jews were slaughtered but no Hebrew Christian lost his life because of the obedience to Jesus command in vs.21. Since that time Jerusalem has been trodden down of the Gentiles.
The answer to the second question requires a careful reading of the text in Matthew and also a corresponding text in Mark.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matt 24:9-14 (KJV)
You can read the corresponding passage in Mark 13:14-23 . Matthew 24 begins with the word Then which implies that these next passages are sequential; being part of the travail or birthpangs describing the last days. This is very similar to the passages in Mark 13:9-13 and Luke 21:12-19 . Luke is clear stating that "before all these" indicating an inserted passage. Mark has a small problem with this view because of vs.10 being mentioned in the Apostles experiences. However, the preponderance of scripture taken in context would support this view. That said ,let's look at Matthew once more and when we do it is clear that Jesus is talking about the first half of the tribulation. The use of "then" implies chronology and goes on to describe events of the first half of the tribulation.
After this Jesus moves forward to the middle and second half of the tribulation in vss. 15-28.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered
Matt 24:15-28 (KJV)
Jesus described many events taking place during this time. The abomination of desolation standing in the holy place marks the second half of tribulation. This event will signal a Jewish flight from Israel because of the intense persecution to follow this flight is also recorded in Rev.12
Anti Semitism will be worldwide and the nation of Israel would be destroyed except for a shortening of the days.
This period will be characterized by false christs and prophets typified in the counterfeit trinity of Revelation.
Jesus then warns against following this Antichrist even though he does great signs and wonders. Vs. 27 he describes what His coming will be like. Vs. 28 gives a hint as to where Jesus is coming back to. The carcase or better rendered the body is a reference to Israel being where the Gentile nations are gathered to destroy them.
The body will be gathered to a place called Bozrah or Petra in Greek. This is in accordance with Micah 2:12-13. This is where the vultures will come against them34:1-7 and Isaiah 63:1-6.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matt 24:29-30 (KJV)
These verses provide the final touches to the question of His coming. It gives the sign which shall precede Jesus secind coming. It will be a total blackout of light to the earth. Immediately after the tribulation of those days a blackout followed by the light of the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. Thus, Jesus answered all three questions providing the signs which would accompany the events. The first in 66-70 A.D. The second in 1914-1918 with the first world war and the third at the end of the tribulation.
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matt 24:31 (KJV)
Jesus then describes a world wide regathering of the elect of Israel and in Luke 21:28 gives this exhortation.
When you see these things come to pass look up for your redemption draweth nigh. What things? The beginning of the birthpangs which started with the first world war.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Matt 24:32-34 (KJV)
There has been much speculation about this parable most of which concern the reestablishment of the state of Israel. A quick note: Israel in scripture is usually represented as a vine not a fig tree.Also, a generation can mean anywhere from 20-100 years. In scripture only one time is it given a period of time and that is in Genesis 15:13 and that is reckoned at 100 years. In context this passage should be taken literally. Jesus was making an illustration simply saying that as the fig tree leafs out we know summer is near; so we should know that His coming is near as we see these events unfold.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matt 24:35-44 (KJV)
The next passage of scripture I believe points to the catching away or "rapture" of the saints. No matter how one believes these scriptures are describing something.People being taken away one here,the other gone. Jesus second coming can be predicted with accuracy. It is pretty clearly spelled out in Daniel and Revelation. Since that is not the purpose of this study I will leave you to investigate that on your own.
This passage refers to an event that cannot be predicted. Indeed according to this passage not even Jesus himself knows when this event will take place. It also speaks of the times as being normative. As the days of Noah they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. Normal conditions. Then a taking away.At the time of Jesus physical return times will be anything but normal.The earth will be undergoing the most catastrophic judgments in history. So this passage describes a taking away under normal times. Also, in vs.42 an appeal is made to watch or to BE READY. This is equivalent to salvation.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:36 (KJV)
Once again the appeal to watch or be ready is made. After this appeal is made our Lord went on to give five parables all pointing to the importance of watching and being ready. They all speak to some being ready for their lord and some not being ready. These are not aimed at different types of believers but at believers and unbelievers.
The Olivet Discourse comes to a close with thre judgment of the Gentile nations after the King is come and He sits on his throne.
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
Joel 3:1-3 (KJV)
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 3
Matt 25:31-34 (KJV)
These scriptures speak to a judgment of the Gentile nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat . The basis of this judgment will be on their treatment of the Jews during the tribulation. This is an eternal judgment and the sins against Israel are laid out in Joel.They are a scattering of the Jews in the middle of the tribulation, a parting of the land referring to the last war,and for selling the Jews into slavery. The last part of the 25th chapter of Matthew describes Jesus pronouncement of judgment on the Gentiles based on their pro or anti semitism.
God Bless.
I wanted to share with you a study that I did some time ago on this exact passage. It is thorough and somewhat lengthy but I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you do also. It is entitled The Olivet Discourse.
This passage of scripture is found in three Gospels. Matt.24, Luke 21, and Mark 13. In order to fully comprehend, all these different accounts must be studied. Different authors included certain items and also left out certain items, but , when taken as a whole the context and meaning become quite clear.
To give a historical setting we will start with the Matthew account. Mark 13:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6 also record this.
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Matt 24:1-2 (KJV)
Jesus had just finished blasting the Pharisees and as he and his disciples left the temple area they pointed out the magnificence of the temple. The above scriptures record Jesus' response. This prophecy aroused three questions from his disciples..
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Matt 24:3 (KJV)
The first question "when shall these things be" refers to Jesus' warning about the destruction of the temple look at Luke's account:
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luke 21:7 (KJV)
When will the temple be destroyed and what sign will alert us that it is about to happen?
Another question was then posed..and what shall be the sign of thy coming,
Matt 24:3 (KJV)
This was not talking about the "catching away" of the saints as no sign will be given for that peculiar event.It was referring to Jesus' 2nd coming.
Finally, a third inquiry..and of the end of the world?
Matt 24:3 (KJV)
That word world translates age. What is the sign of your coming and what is the sign of the end of the age?
Before answering these questions Jesus pointed to some
characteristics of the coming age none of which would signal that the end was near.
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matt 24:4-6 (KJV)
Jesus was the first to claim to be the Jewish messiah however many since Him have made that claim. Also, he said that periods of local wars would persist but thius would not signal the end. It was at this point that Jesus began to answer the disciples questions. He dealt with their third inquiry first.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these arethe beginning of sorrows.
Matt 24:7-8 (KJV)
This response is recorded in all three accounts. These are the beginnings of sorrows or more closely birthpangs.This description of successive pangs is painted by the O.T.prophets. What is important here is the phrase "nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom". This is the sign of the end of the age. It is not the local wars already referred to but is a Hebrew idiom meaning a World War. This idiom when it was spoken pointed to a total conflict of the area in view. It's usage is found in two O.T. passages. Isaiah 19:1-4 points to Egypt being in view, 2 Chronicles 15:1-7 points to the Middle East, this last passage pointing to the whole world.
To keep to sequential context we must now look at the Luke account
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke 21:12-19 (KJV)
Notice the beginning words "But before all these things"
when reading all three accounts one sees that this is inserted in Luke and it gives an account of what the Apostles are going to encounter. It is a description of their forthcoming experiences. Some say this was inserted to comfort the Apostles when the Messianic Kingdom did not soon materialize and they confronted the suffering resulting from their preaching of the Gospel.
After this Jesus proceeds to answer the first question: the sign of the destruction the temple. It is recorded in Luke only.
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luke 21:20-24 (KJV)
This passage of scripture had a very interesting fulfillment.
In 66 A.D. a Jewish revolt broke out When this revolt broke out the Roman general Cestus Gailus surrounded the city of Jerusalem thus compassing it with armies. When the Hebrew Christians saw this they knew destruction was near. However, the Roman supply lines were inadequate to maintain the seige and he lifted it.This allowed for vs.21 to be fulfilled. After the Romans withdrew Hebrew Christians fled Jerusalem ans set up a community across the Jordan River in a towncalled Pella.
In 68A.D. another general named Vaspasian compassed the city for two years. In 70 A.D. they attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Because of the melting gold into the crevices of the stones the Romans turned every stone to get at the gold leaving not one unturned. Also, in this siege over a million Jews were slaughtered but no Hebrew Christian lost his life because of the obedience to Jesus command in vs.21. Since that time Jerusalem has been trodden down of the Gentiles.
The answer to the second question requires a careful reading of the text in Matthew and also a corresponding text in Mark.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matt 24:9-14 (KJV)
You can read the corresponding passage in Mark 13:14-23 . Matthew 24 begins with the word Then which implies that these next passages are sequential; being part of the travail or birthpangs describing the last days. This is very similar to the passages in Mark 13:9-13 and Luke 21:12-19 . Luke is clear stating that "before all these" indicating an inserted passage. Mark has a small problem with this view because of vs.10 being mentioned in the Apostles experiences. However, the preponderance of scripture taken in context would support this view. That said ,let's look at Matthew once more and when we do it is clear that Jesus is talking about the first half of the tribulation. The use of "then" implies chronology and goes on to describe events of the first half of the tribulation.
After this Jesus moves forward to the middle and second half of the tribulation in vss. 15-28.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered
Matt 24:15-28 (KJV)
Jesus described many events taking place during this time. The abomination of desolation standing in the holy place marks the second half of tribulation. This event will signal a Jewish flight from Israel because of the intense persecution to follow this flight is also recorded in Rev.12
Anti Semitism will be worldwide and the nation of Israel would be destroyed except for a shortening of the days.
This period will be characterized by false christs and prophets typified in the counterfeit trinity of Revelation.
Jesus then warns against following this Antichrist even though he does great signs and wonders. Vs. 27 he describes what His coming will be like. Vs. 28 gives a hint as to where Jesus is coming back to. The carcase or better rendered the body is a reference to Israel being where the Gentile nations are gathered to destroy them.
The body will be gathered to a place called Bozrah or Petra in Greek. This is in accordance with Micah 2:12-13. This is where the vultures will come against them34:1-7 and Isaiah 63:1-6.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matt 24:29-30 (KJV)
These verses provide the final touches to the question of His coming. It gives the sign which shall precede Jesus secind coming. It will be a total blackout of light to the earth. Immediately after the tribulation of those days a blackout followed by the light of the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. Thus, Jesus answered all three questions providing the signs which would accompany the events. The first in 66-70 A.D. The second in 1914-1918 with the first world war and the third at the end of the tribulation.
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matt 24:31 (KJV)
Jesus then describes a world wide regathering of the elect of Israel and in Luke 21:28 gives this exhortation.
When you see these things come to pass look up for your redemption draweth nigh. What things? The beginning of the birthpangs which started with the first world war.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Matt 24:32-34 (KJV)
There has been much speculation about this parable most of which concern the reestablishment of the state of Israel. A quick note: Israel in scripture is usually represented as a vine not a fig tree.Also, a generation can mean anywhere from 20-100 years. In scripture only one time is it given a period of time and that is in Genesis 15:13 and that is reckoned at 100 years. In context this passage should be taken literally. Jesus was making an illustration simply saying that as the fig tree leafs out we know summer is near; so we should know that His coming is near as we see these events unfold.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matt 24:35-44 (KJV)
The next passage of scripture I believe points to the catching away or "rapture" of the saints. No matter how one believes these scriptures are describing something.People being taken away one here,the other gone. Jesus second coming can be predicted with accuracy. It is pretty clearly spelled out in Daniel and Revelation. Since that is not the purpose of this study I will leave you to investigate that on your own.
This passage refers to an event that cannot be predicted. Indeed according to this passage not even Jesus himself knows when this event will take place. It also speaks of the times as being normative. As the days of Noah they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. Normal conditions. Then a taking away.At the time of Jesus physical return times will be anything but normal.The earth will be undergoing the most catastrophic judgments in history. So this passage describes a taking away under normal times. Also, in vs.42 an appeal is made to watch or to BE READY. This is equivalent to salvation.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:36 (KJV)
Once again the appeal to watch or be ready is made. After this appeal is made our Lord went on to give five parables all pointing to the importance of watching and being ready. They all speak to some being ready for their lord and some not being ready. These are not aimed at different types of believers but at believers and unbelievers.
The Olivet Discourse comes to a close with thre judgment of the Gentile nations after the King is come and He sits on his throne.
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
Joel 3:1-3 (KJV)
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 3
Matt 25:31-34 (KJV)
These scriptures speak to a judgment of the Gentile nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat . The basis of this judgment will be on their treatment of the Jews during the tribulation. This is an eternal judgment and the sins against Israel are laid out in Joel.They are a scattering of the Jews in the middle of the tribulation, a parting of the land referring to the last war,and for selling the Jews into slavery. The last part of the 25th chapter of Matthew describes Jesus pronouncement of judgment on the Gentiles based on their pro or anti semitism.
God Bless.
Friday, May 16, 2014
IN You Not BY
You 05-16-14
Romans 8:3-4 (NASB) 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Permit me a short preamble to my message please. I have learned over the years that I have to read the Bible as a whole. To make sense of it all, I have to understand the flow of what is being said. Anyone can take a verse out of context and make the Bible say what they want it to say to support their argument. It's called prooftexting. Remember this rule, "a verse taken out of context is a pretext." Jesus told His detractors to "search the Scriptures" to see if eternal life was to be found in Him. Don't take my word just because I write it. Look for yourself, it might save you a lot of pain. O.K. Let's move on.
I spoke with someone recently who was working themselves to exhaustion. They were working two jobs and it was wearing them out. There was another problem to it all. They were only getting paid on one job. The other job was paying but the wages involved more work. The more they worked at this job, the more work the job required. Never any rest, never any break, just more work until they became so fatigued they were ready to quit. Discouraged, depressed, and condemned they couldn't keep going. They didn't WANT to keep going. I can't blame them can you? What kind of job is that?
It's that treadmill we jump on when we take upon ourselves the impossible task of pleasing God or attempting to gain His acceptance by our own merits.
Our merit takes as many forms as our minds can invent on ways to earn our way into God's acceptance. Usually though, it involves attempts to change our outward behavior according to our notions of righteousness or even worse someone else's standard of holy living. You've been there haven't you? I certainly have. You know stop doing this, stop doing that, or start doing this, and start doing that. Also, oddly enough we never seem to consider those "unseen sins." You know the really deadly ones that involve the condition of our heart before a Holy God. No, it always seems to center on the fleshly indulgences. Stop right here. I want to give you a verse(one of many) that speaks to those indulgences.
Colossians 2:20-23 (NASB) 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"
22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Focus on vs.23. ..."appearance of wisdom...self made religion....severe treatment....no value against fleshly indulgence." Our efforts to abstain from this and that, to offer a sacrifice of our merits to please or appease God are worthless. Not only that, they are of no value in our battle against those things of the flesh. It isn't in the power of our will or determination that overcomes sin. No, it is the recognition that sin has ALREADY been overcome as far as God is concerned. That goes against our nature. It just doesn't feel right does it? We must work for everything else in life. We must labor to have a roof over our heads, to have clothes on our bodies, to have food to eat. We must work for EVERYTHING that we have....EXCEPT God's salvation and acceptance. It just goes against our grain. Our NEED to earn our stripes is deeply rooted. Along comes God and says "there is nothing Ronnie, absolutely NOTHING that you can do to gain or more importantly for some of us TO KEEP my acceptance." I said all of that to bring home this one point to my friend. Look at the above verse again.
Romans 8:4 (NASB) 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
One small word in that verse fills the bill.... in IN. "...might be fulfilled in us..." IN us not BY us.
Read the verses before vs. 4. Read the chapter leading up to verse 4. Heck, read the WHOLE BOOK before vs.4 Get the flow of what Paul is saying here. The requirements for appeasing, pleasing, finding and keeping favor with, and anything else to do with our relationship with God have been fulfilled IN us by what or by whom? THE SON'S OFFERING OF HIMSELF AS A SACRIFICE FOR OUR SIN. Stay on that one verse until your eyes and spirit SEE the spiritual truth of that one word. It's already in you. You don't have to do anything to satisfy it except believe it. In truth you CAN'T do anything. You are powerless in your own ability. I could go on and on but I will stop. The Lord Jesus saves you, the Lord Jesus through His Spirit keeps you, and soon and very soon the Lord Jesus is coming back to glorify you and take you back with Him. Oh yeah, that's right, scroll on down in Chapter 8 and look at this.
Romans 8:29-30 (NASB) 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Take all your works, your merits, your standards, self imposed or imposed by others and cast them at the cross of Calvary. Let His Holy Spirit come and dwell inside of you and begin to learn to lean on His power. It matters not what I or anyone says or thinks about your "spirituality." It's between you and God. Always has been and He is not a taskmaster.
Matthew 11:29 (NASB) 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Psalm 103:10 (NASB) 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
God Bless
Romans 8:3-4 (NASB) 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Permit me a short preamble to my message please. I have learned over the years that I have to read the Bible as a whole. To make sense of it all, I have to understand the flow of what is being said. Anyone can take a verse out of context and make the Bible say what they want it to say to support their argument. It's called prooftexting. Remember this rule, "a verse taken out of context is a pretext." Jesus told His detractors to "search the Scriptures" to see if eternal life was to be found in Him. Don't take my word just because I write it. Look for yourself, it might save you a lot of pain. O.K. Let's move on.
I spoke with someone recently who was working themselves to exhaustion. They were working two jobs and it was wearing them out. There was another problem to it all. They were only getting paid on one job. The other job was paying but the wages involved more work. The more they worked at this job, the more work the job required. Never any rest, never any break, just more work until they became so fatigued they were ready to quit. Discouraged, depressed, and condemned they couldn't keep going. They didn't WANT to keep going. I can't blame them can you? What kind of job is that?
It's that treadmill we jump on when we take upon ourselves the impossible task of pleasing God or attempting to gain His acceptance by our own merits.
Our merit takes as many forms as our minds can invent on ways to earn our way into God's acceptance. Usually though, it involves attempts to change our outward behavior according to our notions of righteousness or even worse someone else's standard of holy living. You've been there haven't you? I certainly have. You know stop doing this, stop doing that, or start doing this, and start doing that. Also, oddly enough we never seem to consider those "unseen sins." You know the really deadly ones that involve the condition of our heart before a Holy God. No, it always seems to center on the fleshly indulgences. Stop right here. I want to give you a verse(one of many) that speaks to those indulgences.
Colossians 2:20-23 (NASB) 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"
22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Focus on vs.23. ..."appearance of wisdom...self made religion....severe treatment....no value against fleshly indulgence." Our efforts to abstain from this and that, to offer a sacrifice of our merits to please or appease God are worthless. Not only that, they are of no value in our battle against those things of the flesh. It isn't in the power of our will or determination that overcomes sin. No, it is the recognition that sin has ALREADY been overcome as far as God is concerned. That goes against our nature. It just doesn't feel right does it? We must work for everything else in life. We must labor to have a roof over our heads, to have clothes on our bodies, to have food to eat. We must work for EVERYTHING that we have....EXCEPT God's salvation and acceptance. It just goes against our grain. Our NEED to earn our stripes is deeply rooted. Along comes God and says "there is nothing Ronnie, absolutely NOTHING that you can do to gain or more importantly for some of us TO KEEP my acceptance." I said all of that to bring home this one point to my friend. Look at the above verse again.
Romans 8:4 (NASB) 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
One small word in that verse fills the bill.... in IN. "...might be fulfilled in us..." IN us not BY us.
Read the verses before vs. 4. Read the chapter leading up to verse 4. Heck, read the WHOLE BOOK before vs.4 Get the flow of what Paul is saying here. The requirements for appeasing, pleasing, finding and keeping favor with, and anything else to do with our relationship with God have been fulfilled IN us by what or by whom? THE SON'S OFFERING OF HIMSELF AS A SACRIFICE FOR OUR SIN. Stay on that one verse until your eyes and spirit SEE the spiritual truth of that one word. It's already in you. You don't have to do anything to satisfy it except believe it. In truth you CAN'T do anything. You are powerless in your own ability. I could go on and on but I will stop. The Lord Jesus saves you, the Lord Jesus through His Spirit keeps you, and soon and very soon the Lord Jesus is coming back to glorify you and take you back with Him. Oh yeah, that's right, scroll on down in Chapter 8 and look at this.
Romans 8:29-30 (NASB) 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Take all your works, your merits, your standards, self imposed or imposed by others and cast them at the cross of Calvary. Let His Holy Spirit come and dwell inside of you and begin to learn to lean on His power. It matters not what I or anyone says or thinks about your "spirituality." It's between you and God. Always has been and He is not a taskmaster.
Matthew 11:29 (NASB) 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Psalm 103:10 (NASB) 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
God Bless
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)