Gen 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Cain is our first example in scripture of one who exhibited spiritual paranoia. What is it? This is a condition of the heart which affects the conduct of one who has rebelled against or rejected instruction from God. Cain’s rebellion was to bring his own offering to God (which God would not receive) and harden his heart because he could not have his own way. After the Lord had given him space to repent, Cain still would not submit to God. This resulted in him murdering his brother Abel and becoming a fugitive/vagabond. For the rest of his life he was insecure, running from place to place always looking over his shoulder expecting someone to come after him and kill him.
When a Christian is paranoid, unable to rest in the security of God’s care, always expecting some tragedy to happen, there is certainly an underlying reason. When a child of God is disobedient, unrepentant and stiff-necked, he will be restless and paranoid, believing he is the subject of constant ridicule and criticism of others. This is exactly where Satan will subjugate him in spiritual paranoia.
Beloved, don’t waste your life in worry and turmoil. You are not fooling anyone, especially God. Cain, no doubt, tried to convince everyone that he was right, but nothing displays confidence in God better than submission and obedience to Him. When troubles come there is nothing like being right with God.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
SHORTCUTS
Ex 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: Ex 13:18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
When I was in Bible school I had a roommate whose grandfather had a cabin on the Enangua River near Buffalo, Missouri. Many weekends we would leave school on Friday afternoon and spend the night fishing and studying at “grandpa’s cabin” and making it back for lights out on Saturday night.
As time went on other fellow classmates were invited to join us and we had a grand time enjoying the woods, working on the cabin, mowing the landscape and fixing up our little “hide-away.” Everyone was respectful and appreciative of the privilege and opportunity to go there. Grandpa was no longer able to physically take care of the property so it worked out well for all of us.
One weekend my roommate was not able to go because of work. We were so disappointed that the break in our week filled with monotony was not going to happen. But my roommate asked grandpa if it would alright for us to go without him. We were granted permission, so myself and two friends headed off for our weekend of relaxation. One of our friends offered to drive so we piled into his car with books and fishing gear and off we went. We had been on the road for a half hour when I noticed nothing seemed familiar. I said to the driver that we must be off route. He assured me that he had learned a “shortcut” to grandpa’s cabin. We traveled another half hour when it became obvious that we were lost. Another hour took us farther away from our appointed destination. Our weekend was ruined because someone decided to take a “shortcut.”
In our text we are told that God would not lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and directly into the land of promise because they were not ready for war. They would have fled back into the hands of bondage in Egypt. So through the wilderness they were lead so the LORD could “de-Egyptianize” them. When people have lived in bondage so long (in Israel’s case it was 430 years) they become dependent upon their taskmasters. Thus it is with the new believer in Christ Jesus. They must be given the “milk of the word” before they will be able to eat meat. They are not ready for war. They must be brought along and fortified. No shortcuts. New believers who try to take spiritual shortcuts will fail to grow as God intends and lose their way. Many blessings are lost because of shortcuts. A teenager who seeks to satisfy their lustful desires by pre-marital sex will rob himself of a great treasure and struggle to recover from it. A man or woman who leaves their family hoping for a shortcut to happiness will enslave himself or herself with a terrible burden. The only way to true peace, joy and happiness is to just follow the Lord through the wilderness. Grandpa’s cabin awaits at the end of the trail.
When I was in Bible school I had a roommate whose grandfather had a cabin on the Enangua River near Buffalo, Missouri. Many weekends we would leave school on Friday afternoon and spend the night fishing and studying at “grandpa’s cabin” and making it back for lights out on Saturday night.
As time went on other fellow classmates were invited to join us and we had a grand time enjoying the woods, working on the cabin, mowing the landscape and fixing up our little “hide-away.” Everyone was respectful and appreciative of the privilege and opportunity to go there. Grandpa was no longer able to physically take care of the property so it worked out well for all of us.
One weekend my roommate was not able to go because of work. We were so disappointed that the break in our week filled with monotony was not going to happen. But my roommate asked grandpa if it would alright for us to go without him. We were granted permission, so myself and two friends headed off for our weekend of relaxation. One of our friends offered to drive so we piled into his car with books and fishing gear and off we went. We had been on the road for a half hour when I noticed nothing seemed familiar. I said to the driver that we must be off route. He assured me that he had learned a “shortcut” to grandpa’s cabin. We traveled another half hour when it became obvious that we were lost. Another hour took us farther away from our appointed destination. Our weekend was ruined because someone decided to take a “shortcut.”
In our text we are told that God would not lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and directly into the land of promise because they were not ready for war. They would have fled back into the hands of bondage in Egypt. So through the wilderness they were lead so the LORD could “de-Egyptianize” them. When people have lived in bondage so long (in Israel’s case it was 430 years) they become dependent upon their taskmasters. Thus it is with the new believer in Christ Jesus. They must be given the “milk of the word” before they will be able to eat meat. They are not ready for war. They must be brought along and fortified. No shortcuts. New believers who try to take spiritual shortcuts will fail to grow as God intends and lose their way. Many blessings are lost because of shortcuts. A teenager who seeks to satisfy their lustful desires by pre-marital sex will rob himself of a great treasure and struggle to recover from it. A man or woman who leaves their family hoping for a shortcut to happiness will enslave himself or herself with a terrible burden. The only way to true peace, joy and happiness is to just follow the Lord through the wilderness. Grandpa’s cabin awaits at the end of the trail.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW
The old adage “what you don’t know won’t hurt you” is one of the most deceptive philosophies anyone can follow. It is rarely true in the secular world and never true concerning spiritual matters. We are not to be “children of darkness” stumbling around in the world without direction and unaware of the workings of God. Such a one would be susceptible to any lie Satan could throw at them.
A caution from God I read recently stated, “Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)” Certainly the children of Israel were affected by their ignorance of God’s ways. We are as well.
The Word of God is an inexhaustible resource of truth. Often I refer to it as the complete truth of the universe because its principles and precepts are universal. It is not difficult to discern if someone lives in darkness or light. We may measure this by observing how they apply the Word to living. Simply put, walking after the flesh is death and darkness, walking after the Spirit is life and light. If you, Beloved, need convincing, just observe the direction the world is going.
A caution from God I read recently stated, “Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)” Certainly the children of Israel were affected by their ignorance of God’s ways. We are as well.
The Word of God is an inexhaustible resource of truth. Often I refer to it as the complete truth of the universe because its principles and precepts are universal. It is not difficult to discern if someone lives in darkness or light. We may measure this by observing how they apply the Word to living. Simply put, walking after the flesh is death and darkness, walking after the Spirit is life and light. If you, Beloved, need convincing, just observe the direction the world is going.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
TESTAMENT
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
We have a testament given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Mt 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Every time we observe the Lord’s table we give remembrance to that testament.
For any testament to be of worth, seven requisites must be satisfied:
There must be a testator (one who leaves a will, Jesus Christ).
There must be living heirs (those who inherit, sinners saved by grace).
There must be goods to be inherited (for us, eternal life).
There must be the death of the testator (crucifixion).
There must be a public confession of that death (the blood).
There must be witnesses (believers).
There must be a seal (the Holy Ghost).
Salvation is not under probate. Every requirement has been satisfied. It stands in God’s courtroom. Satan may argue against it, but he is no match for the blood of Jesus Christ. For three days and three nights this testament was presented to, approved and sealed by the heavenly Father. Christ arose to be the executor of this testament.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
We have a testament given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Mt 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Every time we observe the Lord’s table we give remembrance to that testament.
For any testament to be of worth, seven requisites must be satisfied:
There must be a testator (one who leaves a will, Jesus Christ).
There must be living heirs (those who inherit, sinners saved by grace).
There must be goods to be inherited (for us, eternal life).
There must be the death of the testator (crucifixion).
There must be a public confession of that death (the blood).
There must be witnesses (believers).
There must be a seal (the Holy Ghost).
Salvation is not under probate. Every requirement has been satisfied. It stands in God’s courtroom. Satan may argue against it, but he is no match for the blood of Jesus Christ. For three days and three nights this testament was presented to, approved and sealed by the heavenly Father. Christ arose to be the executor of this testament.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
BE CAREFUL! GOD MAY GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT!
1Sa 8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 1Sa 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 1Sa 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 1Sa 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 1Sa 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 1Sa 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
Samuel had two sons; Joel, which means Jehovah is God, and, Abiah, which means Jehovah is Father. They were placed in a position of trust, but their lack of character lead them to be greedy, receiving bribes and perverting judgment. Not all preacher’s kids go bad, but these two did. If satan can not get the preacher to bend many times he will go after the preacher’s family. So the elders of Israel demanded a king rule over them. This, of course, was not what God had in mind and the thing made Samuel angry. But God told him to harken to the request of the people because it was not a rejection of the prophet but of the LORD.
Now God warned them that when they got a king he would take from them their families, their work-force, and their farms. Consequently, Saul did just that. And the LORD told them when they cried out to complain in that day He would not hear them. Why? Because they got what they asked for.
Certainly, America has done the same.
Samuel had two sons; Joel, which means Jehovah is God, and, Abiah, which means Jehovah is Father. They were placed in a position of trust, but their lack of character lead them to be greedy, receiving bribes and perverting judgment. Not all preacher’s kids go bad, but these two did. If satan can not get the preacher to bend many times he will go after the preacher’s family. So the elders of Israel demanded a king rule over them. This, of course, was not what God had in mind and the thing made Samuel angry. But God told him to harken to the request of the people because it was not a rejection of the prophet but of the LORD.
Now God warned them that when they got a king he would take from them their families, their work-force, and their farms. Consequently, Saul did just that. And the LORD told them when they cried out to complain in that day He would not hear them. Why? Because they got what they asked for.
Certainly, America has done the same.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
THE EXCUSES OF MOSES
Exodus 3 and 4 record the conversation between Moses and the God of his fathers. God desired to send Moses to Pharaoh and demand the children of Israel be let go to return to their God-given homeland. Moses, a fugitive of Egypt and now a shepherd of some forty years, is reluctant to respond and obey.
Moses’ first objection was “who am I?” God never said Moses was anyone special only that He would certainly be with him and he would return to Mount Horeb to serve the LORD.
The second of these objections was concerning the Israelites themselves. They had been so long in Egypt (the world) that they either had forgotten God or doubted that He truly was God. Moses knew they would ask of His name. “I AM hath sent me unto you” was to be the response. They were to be reminded that God is God...there is no other.
The third objection was Moses concern over his authority to bring such a message, even though the LORD had stated that they would hear Moses. God brought his attention upon what was in his hand. Moses said, “A rod.” God would take the contents of Moses hand to prove his authority from God.
The fourth objection Moses presented to God was the lack of his ability as a speaker. Again God responds by reminding Moses that He is the creator of men and the giver of abilities to men. Utterance would come to him as he needed it.
The fifth objection was that God should send someone besides Moses. I do not know if God’s patience wore thin with Moses or that He was offended by Moses casting doubt upon the wisdom of choosing a man such as Moses. But God had preserved his life from destruction, prepared him on the back side of the desert for forty years, and presented the plan to bring Israel out of bondage. If God had wanted someone else to go, He would have asked them.
Now, what’s your excuse?
Moses’ first objection was “who am I?” God never said Moses was anyone special only that He would certainly be with him and he would return to Mount Horeb to serve the LORD.
The second of these objections was concerning the Israelites themselves. They had been so long in Egypt (the world) that they either had forgotten God or doubted that He truly was God. Moses knew they would ask of His name. “I AM hath sent me unto you” was to be the response. They were to be reminded that God is God...there is no other.
The third objection was Moses concern over his authority to bring such a message, even though the LORD had stated that they would hear Moses. God brought his attention upon what was in his hand. Moses said, “A rod.” God would take the contents of Moses hand to prove his authority from God.
The fourth objection Moses presented to God was the lack of his ability as a speaker. Again God responds by reminding Moses that He is the creator of men and the giver of abilities to men. Utterance would come to him as he needed it.
The fifth objection was that God should send someone besides Moses. I do not know if God’s patience wore thin with Moses or that He was offended by Moses casting doubt upon the wisdom of choosing a man such as Moses. But God had preserved his life from destruction, prepared him on the back side of the desert for forty years, and presented the plan to bring Israel out of bondage. If God had wanted someone else to go, He would have asked them.
Now, what’s your excuse?
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
THE FEAR OF GOD
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Fearing God sounds so negative to most folks. But I have found it to be the most positive of attitudes one can have. An experience early in my life caused me to have an appreciation for fearing the authority God placed over my life. My father gave me strict instructions concerning a route I was to travel with a friend to a youth meeting. I was not to detour from the specified route my father laid out. Because I feared my dad, I obeyed his instructions even though tempted to do otherwise by my companion. The detour would have been faster, but the path that Dad had given was safer. Consequently, I avoided a riotous and dangerous situation that could have cost my life and the life of my friend. Fear of the authority God put over my life was a good thing.
The only alternative to not fearing God is to fear man and that is never good. The fear of man leads to sin, ungodly alliances, and eternal damnation. The fear of God leads to salvation and obedience that produces good fruit and blessings. The book of Proverbs teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Liberal Pharisee-ism has stolen the key to knowledge from many today. In the name of liberality they circumvent the fear of God. It perverts the Gospel message and turns it into a religious experience rather than a conversion to Christ. It perverts the worship of our Lord by its carnal speech and music. It perverts the redemption of a soul into a “feel good about yourself” experience which is hollow and meaningless. Why? Because man by nature “will not have this man (Christ) to rule over us.” No fear of God.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Fearing God sounds so negative to most folks. But I have found it to be the most positive of attitudes one can have. An experience early in my life caused me to have an appreciation for fearing the authority God placed over my life. My father gave me strict instructions concerning a route I was to travel with a friend to a youth meeting. I was not to detour from the specified route my father laid out. Because I feared my dad, I obeyed his instructions even though tempted to do otherwise by my companion. The detour would have been faster, but the path that Dad had given was safer. Consequently, I avoided a riotous and dangerous situation that could have cost my life and the life of my friend. Fear of the authority God put over my life was a good thing.
The only alternative to not fearing God is to fear man and that is never good. The fear of man leads to sin, ungodly alliances, and eternal damnation. The fear of God leads to salvation and obedience that produces good fruit and blessings. The book of Proverbs teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Liberal Pharisee-ism has stolen the key to knowledge from many today. In the name of liberality they circumvent the fear of God. It perverts the Gospel message and turns it into a religious experience rather than a conversion to Christ. It perverts the worship of our Lord by its carnal speech and music. It perverts the redemption of a soul into a “feel good about yourself” experience which is hollow and meaningless. Why? Because man by nature “will not have this man (Christ) to rule over us.” No fear of God.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Not a creature was stirring, not even a RAT.
Pr 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
I think we give too much attention to what our enemies think than what the Lord thinks. I believe the Gospel has been watered down by pastors and evangelists because they are trying in there own power and way to reach the lost. While the endeavor of fulfilling the great commission is noble, modern preaching has compromised the message of salvation so much the lost end up in confusion and in more darkness after they have heard it.
I see a great need for pleasing God over making peace with our enemies. Our text promises that if we will be faithful to Him, He will take care of the rest. I believe we should enjoy our time in church, cherish our fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord and “have a good time” in God’s house, but when it turns into a fleshly party for the sake of entertaining the lost, COUNT ME OUT!
Until we get back to preaching the message of Christ with clarity and conviction, letting the “chips fall where they may,” we are not going to witness any “rats stirring.” Oh, the numbers may be down. We may not get to brag about the people who came to the altar. But when a soul gets under the conviction of the Holy Spirit of God, we will see our churches filled with men and women who truly love God.
“It easy to lead the church into apostasy, it’s not so easy to lead them out.”
I think we give too much attention to what our enemies think than what the Lord thinks. I believe the Gospel has been watered down by pastors and evangelists because they are trying in there own power and way to reach the lost. While the endeavor of fulfilling the great commission is noble, modern preaching has compromised the message of salvation so much the lost end up in confusion and in more darkness after they have heard it.
I see a great need for pleasing God over making peace with our enemies. Our text promises that if we will be faithful to Him, He will take care of the rest. I believe we should enjoy our time in church, cherish our fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord and “have a good time” in God’s house, but when it turns into a fleshly party for the sake of entertaining the lost, COUNT ME OUT!
Until we get back to preaching the message of Christ with clarity and conviction, letting the “chips fall where they may,” we are not going to witness any “rats stirring.” Oh, the numbers may be down. We may not get to brag about the people who came to the altar. But when a soul gets under the conviction of the Holy Spirit of God, we will see our churches filled with men and women who truly love God.
“It easy to lead the church into apostasy, it’s not so easy to lead them out.”
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I'm Just A Beggar
Lk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Sometime I believe I should change my name to “Lazarus” because it seems I am always begging. Nearly everyday I beg the lost to come to Christ or the saints of God to obey the will of God. I beg the church member to honor God with his substance, that is to say, be honest with tithes and offerings. I beg the young people to remain pure and seek after their Creator in the days of their youth. I beg the wayward to repent and turn back to God. I beg the absentee to return to the house of God.
And I beg God to be merciful to me, to forgive my sins and restore unto me the joy of His salvation. I plead for strength to stand aright and not compromise. I ask for His grace to go on another day, to beg some more. And though I am “full of sores” I beg to see the completion of my redemption…the rapture. Or perhaps, some day it will be said of me, Lk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom…
I do not know which shall be my exit from this world, but I know the eternal fate of this old beggar. 1Sa 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
Amen!
Sometime I believe I should change my name to “Lazarus” because it seems I am always begging. Nearly everyday I beg the lost to come to Christ or the saints of God to obey the will of God. I beg the church member to honor God with his substance, that is to say, be honest with tithes and offerings. I beg the young people to remain pure and seek after their Creator in the days of their youth. I beg the wayward to repent and turn back to God. I beg the absentee to return to the house of God.
And I beg God to be merciful to me, to forgive my sins and restore unto me the joy of His salvation. I plead for strength to stand aright and not compromise. I ask for His grace to go on another day, to beg some more. And though I am “full of sores” I beg to see the completion of my redemption…the rapture. Or perhaps, some day it will be said of me, Lk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom…
I do not know which shall be my exit from this world, but I know the eternal fate of this old beggar. 1Sa 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
Amen!
Foolish Words
Pr 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
There is an old adage that states, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Even the best of us will struggle from time to time trying to control that little member known as the tongue. I remember my father telling me that some things are better left unsaid.
Words spoken, even in jest, can be damaging to others as well as to our own testimony for Christ. I was reminded of this just recently when words were exchanged by some folks during a volley of comments and were taken the wrong way. Once words are let loose they can never be recovered. It is difficult to guard our feelings when the spirit has been wounded so.
Pr 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
There is an old adage that states, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Even the best of us will struggle from time to time trying to control that little member known as the tongue. I remember my father telling me that some things are better left unsaid.
Words spoken, even in jest, can be damaging to others as well as to our own testimony for Christ. I was reminded of this just recently when words were exchanged by some folks during a volley of comments and were taken the wrong way. Once words are let loose they can never be recovered. It is difficult to guard our feelings when the spirit has been wounded so.
Pr 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
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