CHAPTER 3 THE EXCLUDED CHRIST
Our Heavenly Father we ask you to be present and speak to the heart. This one who reads is seeking your guidance and loving care. Send the Holy Spirit to heal any hurt and show how much you care and love us. We know Lord that you have given each special gift for a specific purpose. Thank you Lord for caring enough to listen as our hearts seek you and loving enough to send your only son to die for our sins. In Jesus name we ask all things.
As we once again come into the presence of Almighty God let us each think about Jesus and how he has been excluded. How was He treated when he walked the earth? How is he treated today?
Most will quickly exclaim He is not excluded has not been excluded. Many will take offence with such a statement.
Truth is He has been left out of many churches and many Christian’s lives. Oh He is talked about, held in high esteem, but few know Him. We celebrate His birth and His resurrection; we use His name in vane and pray well-rehearsed prayers asking for God to bless us in His name, yet we really don’t know who Jesus truly is. Yes he is God’s only son but he is so much more.
As we begin let me call your attention to three things Jesus has been excluded from.
First he was excluded from his own people. The thirteenth chapter of Matthew tells us a story of how Jesus had been teaching and preaching and was coming to his hometown. What should have been a joyous reunion was turned into something that resembled a riot. . A great welcoming should have been in the offing, but instead He was met with doubt and indifference. Much like He is met with today. You must understand Jesus loved those people and wanted to bless them. His heart was filled with the love He had for the people of his hometown. What did they do to make him feel so dejected? They simply refused to hear Him. In fact they mocked him. They all said, “Isn’t he just the carpenter’s son?” He and his teaching offended them. Jesus has been excluded ever since He came into this world. Lets face it he came into this world through the barn and physically left by a borrowed tomb. I firmly believe this is because He did not teach along the traditional lines accepted as doctrine. I’m sure there were no churches then and there are no churches now that would call Jesus as their pastor. Now wait a minute sure we would want Jesus as our pastor. Really? Think about what that would mean. If you will read what Jesus taught about how we should live and love and conduct our business would you truly want someone like that as your pastor? We might have to make some changes in our lives! You know the love your neighbor as yourself thing. Or do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Yep I bet we would have to make some changes.
Jesus said in Matthew 23:13 that the Pharisees shut up heaven to sinners. Today we don’t call them Pharisees we call them church members, deacons, elders, bishops, cardinals, and pastors. However, the result is the same heaven is shut to sinners. Those who refuse to let God work in His church do this today. All they do is insist on teaching the doctrines of men instead of the doctrines of God. While the man made doctrines are pleasing to men God is not at all pleased with the results. The Bible says men are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. There are those in the church who have such a sour attitude that the spirit is quenched and in some cases driven completely out. It is strange, though, that if Doctor So-in-So proclaimed it from the pulpit then it must be from God. In some cases this is true. God still speaks through those He calls. There are many pastors today who God is using in a mighty way. Yet there are many false prophets who are speaking today. The only way to be sure of what is being said is to be in tune with God. God is not the author of confusion. Whether true or false most will blindly follow never questioning the source or the validity of what is said, especially if the message is emotionally charged. If Jesus were a member of some churches he would have been dropped from the roll long ago for non-attendance. Not by His choice but because He is not welcome in the very church He died for. That is very sad. Just like the people of Nazareth we many times reject the Son of God.
The second thing Jesus has been excluded from is the world. In Matthew 27:22-36 we find a record of the trial of Jesus. Pilate asks what should be done with Jesus for I find no fault in him. The religious crowd shouted, “Let him be crucified.” They mocked him spit in his face yet only a few hours earlier they wanted to crown him king. Now they want to nail him to a cross.
Many today still crucify Jesus. How you say do we crucify Jesus? By your unbelief, by you’re of lack of faith, by backbiting and griping, by not wanting to forgive a brother or sister. By your unwillingness to follow where God leads. By your disbelief that God can still work miracles in this life. The list could go on and on as to why and how we still crucify Jesus.
The world today still excludes Jesus. Hey, it’s not popular to serve God. Men are lovers of pleasure more that lovers of God. More and more preachers are fond of the fame, glory, money and the adoration of men than they are of the adoration of God. They want to be popular with man rather than be pleasing to God.
Politics in the church kills mission work and church growth. Why? Because for God to get the glory man must take a back seat, and man does not want to be in the shadows.
The saddest and most cruel exclusion is from His church.
This is brought to light in Revelations 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” If Jesus is standing knocking on the door he must be on the outside. Sadly today Jesus is locked out of the very church he died for. Let me say that Jesus did not die for buildings or land. He died for people. People then are the church not the buildings, not the buses, not the programs, not the government and certainly not the stage show productions.
Jesus said the Pharisees shut up heaven to sinners in Matthew 23:13. This was the religious crowd the church leaders of Jesus day. Those who were at the temple doing all the church things, performing all the rituals, standing and speaking memorized prayers, singing hymns and reading from the book of the law. These people were so wrapped up in religion they missed the Son of God. Today there are those who will not let God work in the church because of their bitterness, unforgiving spirit and their lack of concern for the lost. They will not let him work in their lives because they are more concerned with popularity than with the things of God. Like the Pharisees of old they are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Heaven help us if anyone should want God to work in the lives of others. In other words the modern Pharisee kills the spirit by their attitude.
As I worked on this God gave me the following poem that gives a picture of what is happening in the church today.
The Cowboy Came to Church© By Mike Holman
The old cowboy came in his soul to feed
He came in from a world cold and in need
His jeans were clean his shirt hardly new
There was mud on his boots hat dusty too
His hands were callused his coat well worn
Looked like he had weathered many a storm
He sat down on a pew far from the back
And he took a worn bible from an old canvas sack
A finely dressed usher from his nose looked down
“Can I help you he ask are you lost you new in town”
“Naw”, the cowboy just shook his head
“I just come to worship and get my soul fed
Been out on the range where it’s lonesome and cold
I just longed to hear about them streets of pure gold
To hear a sweet song about the love on the cross
Telling how Jesus came and died for the lost”
“You can’t set there that is the deacon’s pew
You’ll have to move for we have quite a few”
“Not a problem”, he said “I’ll just move back”
“Oh not there we have that one for Mrs. Black”
“Come on Lord”, the cowboy said
“Let’s get back there’s cows to be fed
We’re not welcome here that’s a sure bet
Don’t have a clue where they want us to set”
Putting his bible back in the sack
Picked up his hat and strolled to the back
As he stopped at the door a voice rang clear
“Shake the dust from your boots We aint welcome here”
It is a sad thing but prayers may even be stopped due to the spirit of some in the church. Look in the book of Exodus and you will find how negative votes almost stopped Israel from crossing Jordan to the land of milk and honey. Today many pray only with their mouth. The Bible says as a man is in his heart so is he. Proverbs 6 states God hates a proud look and a lying tongue. God looks at the heart He does not listen to the mouth. Jesus said about the Pharisees, “ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.” Matt 6:5
I feel it is time to reinstate Jesus into his rightful place, into our hearts into our ministries and into our churches. He has been excluded long enough.
Why just once can’t we do things God’s way and stop following the traditions of men? Let us not exclude Christ any longer.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
One More Night with the Frogs
CHAPTER 2 ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS
Our Heavenly Father we ask you to be present and speak to the heart. This one who reads is seeking your guidance and loving care. Send the Holy Spirit to heal any hurt and show how much you care and love us. We know Lord that you have given each special gift for a specific purpose. Thank you Lord for caring enough to listen as our hearts seek you and loving enough to send your only son to die for our sins. In Jesus name we ask all things.
Many times as I read the Bible stories I know God is opening views that are not always brought out in sermons or Sunday school teachings. Just such a story was found in Exodus 8:1-11. This is but one part of a long chain of events in the life of the King of Egypt.
In here we find a picture of a man who could not turn loose of his sin, his pride or his obsessions. He loved them so much he wanted one more night of misery. As King he also wanted to share his misery with his whole country. The Bible tells us the land of Egypt was covered with frogs as a result of Pharaoh’s pride and defiance to God’s request to let His people go. Not a few but thousands upon thousands of frogs. They were everywhere, in everything and were creating a royal mess. All Egyptians were affected by Pharaoh’s desire for one more night with the frogs. After God had plagued Egypt with frogs and Pharaoh’s magicians added to the mess Pharaoh sent for Moses so he could get some sleep and to get rid of the frogs. All he had to do was to agree with God to let God’s people go. Pride got into Pharaoh’s eyes and he went back on his promise for a fourth time. This is what caused the mess in the first place. But now Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Ok I’ll let them go just get rid of all these frogs.” Moses said, “Great when do you want to get rid of the frogs?” With all the royal wisdom that Pharaoh possessed he said,” Tomorrow.” God said, ”You got it.” So all of Egypt was facing one more night with the chirping stinking dying frogs.
Imagine for a minute what this must have looked like. The land was black with crawling hopping frogs. Everywhere your looked, stepped or touched you found a frog. The land was alive with them. When you went into your house there were the frogs, in the cabinet in your bed in your bath in your food storage, everywhere. As you came in your stepped on dozens of them and now there are dead slimy stinking frogs all over your house, in your yard, frogs alive and dead and stinking, as far as you can see frogs. After you got all the frogs out of your bed and tried to rest the volume of the frog song began to rise in the night air. As more and more joined into the chorus sleep became impossible for anyone. Night after night day after day noise stench and death.
“What was the king thinking?” murmured the kingdom. “One more night?” “I can’t take it any more.” Came the screams from across the land of Egypt. You are tired and need sleep just as you sink into your easy chair a frog hops across your lap and on to you head. The Egyptian heat has started to cause the dead frogs to decay and the stench is becoming unbearable. The thought on every Egyptian’s mind, “Do we really need these Hebrews?”
Back at the palace Moses is still shaking his head at Pharaoh’s statement. “You really want one more night with these frogs?” “What ever you say, I’m sure God can accommodate you and your country.” “I’ll see your tomorrow and we can get down to the business of leaving.” Pharaoh knew God and knew what he needed to do. But like many today he wanted to spend just one more day in sin and misery. By the time Moses got back to Pharaoh’s palace the next day there were heaps of dead stinking frogs all over the country. As fast as they died they were swept into piles. The Bibles calls them heaps of frogs. The smell of death was everywhere. This was but a foreshowing of things more sinister to come. Sin always causes death. Always has always will!
This is a picture of America today. We think we can play with sin for a season and things will be ok. The frogs will go away. We want one more night with the frogs. What does this show us? It pictures a Christ less generation that will not listen when God speaks, will not follow His directions and refuses to turn loose of its sin.
Just like Pharaoh we know there is a God. Know what He can and will do but still we run with sin stuffed in our pockets thinking we have plenty of time to get things right. Many know they need to get saved need to trust Christ with their lives but they want one more night with the frogs.
This is also a picture of Christians today. How in the world could this be a picture of a Christian? One way would be by the lack of faith. Many say, “No thank you God I can do this all by my self. You just stay at the church and when I need you I will come and visit.”
Or maybe it could picture a refusal to serve. God made each one of us special and unique. Gave each special talent that no one else on the planet has. We are the only one who can use the talents given to us. God had a plan for the use of our talents to edify and glorify His Church. A born again child of God is a part of the body of Christ and as such is expected to function in the area especially provided for the special talents given to that person. The Apostle Paul is describing in 1Corinthians 12:12-31 what the Church body is to look like. He is detailing how we each are to be a part of the body and are to function with the talents we have been given. As a part of the body of Christ we are expected to enhance that body not rip it apart or let it die from lack of use. Just as one of your body parts cannot function or survive separated from the body, neither can one who is a member of Christ body survive alone in the world.
Tomorrow I will serve God, just as soon as I get my schedule adjusted to fit God in. I have meetings to attend, a job to do and I must spend some quality time with the family. I’m still young I need to enjoy life, when I get old I will serve God. When we get old we say I too old to work or serve. I need to just set and rest and watch. I’ll pray for you, I’ll read my Bible and support the things the preacher wants to do. Just make sure my pew is saved for me to set on. From that vantage point I will consider how best to serve God or to direct how others are to serve Him. Tomorrow I will feel better. So just give me one more night with the frogs.
Like Pharaoh many are looking to tomorrow. The lost say tomorrow I will get saved. I have plenty of time. The Bible tells us we know not the day or the hour when the Lord will come or when God will require our soul of us. The rich man was told,” …this night you soul will be required of thee.” (Luke 12:20) Oh I know I need to change need to get things right with God. I will get things settled before I die. Besides I’m not sure I can live that Christian stuff now. I have too many things to do, too many places to go, too much fun yet to have. Give me just one more night with the frogs.
Tomorrow means a Christ less life. The Bible says every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess. Every living soul will stand before God and give account for their lives. Will give account of how they used or didn’t use the talents God gave them. This accounting will not be to man but to God. At that time all your cunning craftiness will be gone you will have to tell the truth. God has already seen your video. He knows what you have been up to. Knows everything your have ever said and done, and why you acted so.
If you are lost you are without Christ and have no one to speak for you. If you turn Christ away today you could be in Hell tomorrow. It is appointed unto man once to die after that the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) To die without God is a bad deal.
Tomorrow to a Christian means a lot more. By putting God on the back burner you will live a defeated life. You will miss all God has prepared for you. You will wander aimlessly always seeking where you left your joy, your purpose, and your life.
Hey I have time God will understand how busy I am. I go to church when I can. Besides look at all those at the church surely they can get along without me. They are always looking down on me anyway.
Yes the body will still function without you it just won’t operate at peak efficiency. Your talent is a key part. Remember God made you for a reason gave you skills no one else has or can use. Can He make things work without you sure just not as well as if you were there doing what you were designed to do.
“So you want one more night with the frogs?” “ Don’t bother me now I know what I’m doing when I have time I will get right with God. I will listen then I will serve God.Tomorrow!”
Tomorrow may never come. All we have certainty of is today. Christian today labors are needed. The fields are white unto harvest. It does not depend on age gender or education. God has a place for each of His creations. All have been given talents and gifts to make the body of Christ great.
Should you die today what rewards await you? If you are a servant of the King and have kept His commandments…”Well done thou good and faithful servant” will ring through the portals of heaven. Every angel will hear and know who you are and what you have done.
Without Christ the most dreaded words ever spoken will also ring out. “Depart from me for I never knew you.”
The question is this, “When do you want the frogs to go away?”
Today or do you want one more night with the frogs?
Our Heavenly Father we ask you to be present and speak to the heart. This one who reads is seeking your guidance and loving care. Send the Holy Spirit to heal any hurt and show how much you care and love us. We know Lord that you have given each special gift for a specific purpose. Thank you Lord for caring enough to listen as our hearts seek you and loving enough to send your only son to die for our sins. In Jesus name we ask all things.
Many times as I read the Bible stories I know God is opening views that are not always brought out in sermons or Sunday school teachings. Just such a story was found in Exodus 8:1-11. This is but one part of a long chain of events in the life of the King of Egypt.
In here we find a picture of a man who could not turn loose of his sin, his pride or his obsessions. He loved them so much he wanted one more night of misery. As King he also wanted to share his misery with his whole country. The Bible tells us the land of Egypt was covered with frogs as a result of Pharaoh’s pride and defiance to God’s request to let His people go. Not a few but thousands upon thousands of frogs. They were everywhere, in everything and were creating a royal mess. All Egyptians were affected by Pharaoh’s desire for one more night with the frogs. After God had plagued Egypt with frogs and Pharaoh’s magicians added to the mess Pharaoh sent for Moses so he could get some sleep and to get rid of the frogs. All he had to do was to agree with God to let God’s people go. Pride got into Pharaoh’s eyes and he went back on his promise for a fourth time. This is what caused the mess in the first place. But now Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Ok I’ll let them go just get rid of all these frogs.” Moses said, “Great when do you want to get rid of the frogs?” With all the royal wisdom that Pharaoh possessed he said,” Tomorrow.” God said, ”You got it.” So all of Egypt was facing one more night with the chirping stinking dying frogs.
Imagine for a minute what this must have looked like. The land was black with crawling hopping frogs. Everywhere your looked, stepped or touched you found a frog. The land was alive with them. When you went into your house there were the frogs, in the cabinet in your bed in your bath in your food storage, everywhere. As you came in your stepped on dozens of them and now there are dead slimy stinking frogs all over your house, in your yard, frogs alive and dead and stinking, as far as you can see frogs. After you got all the frogs out of your bed and tried to rest the volume of the frog song began to rise in the night air. As more and more joined into the chorus sleep became impossible for anyone. Night after night day after day noise stench and death.
“What was the king thinking?” murmured the kingdom. “One more night?” “I can’t take it any more.” Came the screams from across the land of Egypt. You are tired and need sleep just as you sink into your easy chair a frog hops across your lap and on to you head. The Egyptian heat has started to cause the dead frogs to decay and the stench is becoming unbearable. The thought on every Egyptian’s mind, “Do we really need these Hebrews?”
Back at the palace Moses is still shaking his head at Pharaoh’s statement. “You really want one more night with these frogs?” “What ever you say, I’m sure God can accommodate you and your country.” “I’ll see your tomorrow and we can get down to the business of leaving.” Pharaoh knew God and knew what he needed to do. But like many today he wanted to spend just one more day in sin and misery. By the time Moses got back to Pharaoh’s palace the next day there were heaps of dead stinking frogs all over the country. As fast as they died they were swept into piles. The Bibles calls them heaps of frogs. The smell of death was everywhere. This was but a foreshowing of things more sinister to come. Sin always causes death. Always has always will!
This is a picture of America today. We think we can play with sin for a season and things will be ok. The frogs will go away. We want one more night with the frogs. What does this show us? It pictures a Christ less generation that will not listen when God speaks, will not follow His directions and refuses to turn loose of its sin.
Just like Pharaoh we know there is a God. Know what He can and will do but still we run with sin stuffed in our pockets thinking we have plenty of time to get things right. Many know they need to get saved need to trust Christ with their lives but they want one more night with the frogs.
This is also a picture of Christians today. How in the world could this be a picture of a Christian? One way would be by the lack of faith. Many say, “No thank you God I can do this all by my self. You just stay at the church and when I need you I will come and visit.”
Or maybe it could picture a refusal to serve. God made each one of us special and unique. Gave each special talent that no one else on the planet has. We are the only one who can use the talents given to us. God had a plan for the use of our talents to edify and glorify His Church. A born again child of God is a part of the body of Christ and as such is expected to function in the area especially provided for the special talents given to that person. The Apostle Paul is describing in 1Corinthians 12:12-31 what the Church body is to look like. He is detailing how we each are to be a part of the body and are to function with the talents we have been given. As a part of the body of Christ we are expected to enhance that body not rip it apart or let it die from lack of use. Just as one of your body parts cannot function or survive separated from the body, neither can one who is a member of Christ body survive alone in the world.
Tomorrow I will serve God, just as soon as I get my schedule adjusted to fit God in. I have meetings to attend, a job to do and I must spend some quality time with the family. I’m still young I need to enjoy life, when I get old I will serve God. When we get old we say I too old to work or serve. I need to just set and rest and watch. I’ll pray for you, I’ll read my Bible and support the things the preacher wants to do. Just make sure my pew is saved for me to set on. From that vantage point I will consider how best to serve God or to direct how others are to serve Him. Tomorrow I will feel better. So just give me one more night with the frogs.
Like Pharaoh many are looking to tomorrow. The lost say tomorrow I will get saved. I have plenty of time. The Bible tells us we know not the day or the hour when the Lord will come or when God will require our soul of us. The rich man was told,” …this night you soul will be required of thee.” (Luke 12:20) Oh I know I need to change need to get things right with God. I will get things settled before I die. Besides I’m not sure I can live that Christian stuff now. I have too many things to do, too many places to go, too much fun yet to have. Give me just one more night with the frogs.
Tomorrow means a Christ less life. The Bible says every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess. Every living soul will stand before God and give account for their lives. Will give account of how they used or didn’t use the talents God gave them. This accounting will not be to man but to God. At that time all your cunning craftiness will be gone you will have to tell the truth. God has already seen your video. He knows what you have been up to. Knows everything your have ever said and done, and why you acted so.
If you are lost you are without Christ and have no one to speak for you. If you turn Christ away today you could be in Hell tomorrow. It is appointed unto man once to die after that the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) To die without God is a bad deal.
Tomorrow to a Christian means a lot more. By putting God on the back burner you will live a defeated life. You will miss all God has prepared for you. You will wander aimlessly always seeking where you left your joy, your purpose, and your life.
Hey I have time God will understand how busy I am. I go to church when I can. Besides look at all those at the church surely they can get along without me. They are always looking down on me anyway.
Yes the body will still function without you it just won’t operate at peak efficiency. Your talent is a key part. Remember God made you for a reason gave you skills no one else has or can use. Can He make things work without you sure just not as well as if you were there doing what you were designed to do.
“So you want one more night with the frogs?” “ Don’t bother me now I know what I’m doing when I have time I will get right with God. I will listen then I will serve God.Tomorrow!”
Tomorrow may never come. All we have certainty of is today. Christian today labors are needed. The fields are white unto harvest. It does not depend on age gender or education. God has a place for each of His creations. All have been given talents and gifts to make the body of Christ great.
Should you die today what rewards await you? If you are a servant of the King and have kept His commandments…”Well done thou good and faithful servant” will ring through the portals of heaven. Every angel will hear and know who you are and what you have done.
Without Christ the most dreaded words ever spoken will also ring out. “Depart from me for I never knew you.”
The question is this, “When do you want the frogs to go away?”
Today or do you want one more night with the frogs?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Chapter 1 A Question God Can't Answer
CHAPER 1 A QUESTION GOD CANNOT ANSWER
Our Heavenly Father we ask you to be present and speak to the heart. This one who reads is seeking your guidance and loving care. Send the Holy Spirit to heal any hurt and show how much you care and love us. We know Lord that you have given each special gift for a specific purpose. Thank you Lord for caring enough to listen as our hearts seek you and loving enough to send your only son to die for our sins. In Jesus name we ask all things.
In the course of history many have asked why did this or that happen. In times of great grief some have challenged God or blamed Him. Some have even tried to put words into God’s mouth trying to justify a difficult situation. Many have even accused God of not listening or caring. Some try to explain what God really meant using carnal knowledge. There are also the times when everything is going great and we forget God is even there. There may have been times in your life when you’ve asked the same questions. As I looked into God’s word I found that there are some questions God can not answer.
In the book of Hebrews chapter 2 verses 1 through 3 we find these words.
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things, which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
For if the word spoken by angles was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward:
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.”
In these verses the Apostle Paul is making it clear we are to listen to what God has to say. He is giving us instructions and warnings.
The fact that Jehovah is God makes it impossible for Him to do some things. Although God is capable of impossibilities He still can’t answer the question, “How shall we escape is we neglect so great a salvation.”
Just to keep things in perspective let me share some things God cannot do.
God cannot sin. God cannot change. He is the same yesterday, today and will be the same tomorrow. God cannot lie. Satan on the other had is a liar and the father of it. God cannot save a man against his will. Even though He desires that none should perish but that all should be saved. He will give you all the tools and talent you need to get to heaven where He is but you have to use the talent and the tools, He will not force His will on you, you have a free choice.
In God’s infinite mercy He has provided a “Great Salvation”. He planned it from the very beginning. When Adam and Eve fell from grace in the garden God made a decision that something had to be done to get man back into fellowship with Him. It is the first promise of a redeemer. God set in motion a chain of genealogical events that stretched from the first garden through several millennia until it reached a small city in Nazareth. This chain wove its way through common men, Kings, leaders and followers alike until it fell on a carpenter and his soon to be wife.
Once that promise was fulfilled God knew that there would have to be a great price paid to redeem fallen man. In first Peter chapter 1 verses 18, 19, and 20 the apostle lets us in on just how high a price God had to pay for our salvation.
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from you vain conversations received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”
What a price God paid so that you and I might live. He gave his only son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for you. I cannot imagine a love so great that someone would give his only child to die in my place. God will be quick to tell you He had you in mind at the very beginning as if you were the only one who would ever need His help. But then He had another thought and added this, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1Timothy 2:3-6.
Picture if you will God standing at the gate to the garden. Through tear dimmed eyes He watches His two children walk away. They had not listened to His commands about the tree of good and evil. They broke the law if you will. They now were forced to leave paradise. He had no choice but to put them on their own. As he watched them go God made a decision how mankind was to come back to Him. He devised a plan and put it in motion as the first family walked out of the garden. He said this is a Great Salvation.
If God went to all the trouble to plan and execute His Great Salvation plan for you and me how on earth could we ever neglect it?
There could be volumes written on that subject but let me share just a few examples of that neglect.
If you know Jesus as your Saviour and you simply don’t want to share that great salvation you have then you have neglected you salvation. Maybe you have not prayed in so long you prayer skills are rusty and stiff. Let me let you in on a corporate secret. God has been setting waiting ever since you put him on hold for you to get back from what ever you thought was so important. Well you say I bowed my head last Sunday in Church and when the invocation was given at the race, what do you mean I forgot how to pray. Well just because you bowed your head does not mean you prayed. You heard someone else say a prayer. When was the last time you knelt and truly spoke to God from your heart? That is what God is waiting to hear.
Another way we neglect our salvation is by not being faithful to His house. Ouch that one hurts! Hey I am there when ever I get the chance. My I inquire did you make it to the bass tournament? How about the race you bowed your head at? Weren’t they on a Sunday? Yeah but I had been waiting all winter to go. Yes and God has been waiting most of your life just to hear your voice. You know one day He will hang up and you will loose your connection.
Okay I know you are busy but let me share one more secret with you. You will make at least one more trip to the Church. You will be the guest of honor. Many will speak about you. Six good men, friends or family members will escort you to the front and the whole congregation will stand to pay their respects pass by and tell you goodbye. Oh wait you won’t even know this is going on. Your shell will be in the box at the front. Your spirit the part that is you will be somewhere else. One other note if you have never accepted Jesus as your Saviour your next stop will not have air conditioning.
Just so there is no mistake here let me stress that there is no substitute, there is nothing just as good. Acts 4:12 states, “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”
This is not a denominational position this is a biblical position. This is God’s position.
As in other facets of life neglect must be punished. You neglect to pay you bills you will loose your possessions. Your lights will be turned off, your water will cease to flow, you neglect to eat long enough your heart will stop beating.
How shall we escape? God cannot answer, as there is no answer to that question. He has provided all the ways and means. Given all the opportunity sent all the preachers it is now up to you. Should you continue your neglect God will shake his head and wipe the tears from his eyes as he watches you walk into destruction; as great as he is he will be helpless to prevent that.
If you are a Christian and have stopped reading you Bible or studying His Word you have neglected you Great Salvation.
If you are a Christian neglect can cost you your joy. David in humble prayer asks please restore to me the joy of my salvation. It can also cost you God’s blessings. One day we will all have to stand before God and give Him an account of our lives and how we used the talents, and gifts He so loving gave to us. Keep this in mind as you ponder how you will respond God already knows what we have done or have not done. So He will not accept any excuse. The Bible says our works will be tried by fire as to what sort they are. Only the precious metal will be left as our reward. Our good intentions, our good thoughts our selfish deeds will all go up in flames leaving only ashes. We then get what is left.
How will you answer the only two questions God will ask? The first is, “ What have you done with my son? The second, “What did you do with what I gave you?
As you read this if God has spoken to your heart and you do not know how to answer the first question the second will be of no consequence. For without Jesus as your saviour and guide you leave God no choice but to cast you into a place created for the devil and his angles. Just as God had no choice but to drive Adam and Eve from the garden after they broke the rules you will leave Him no choice as to your final destination. You ask how can a loving merciful God do that to me? He did not do that to you, you did that to yourself by rejecting His Son Jesus Christ. You don’t have to believe there is a place called hell, but that does not mean it does not exist. Look in Luke 16:23, “And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments…”
There is a great salvation provided by Christ Jesus. He went to a cruel cross and paid your sin debt. Neglect of so great a salvation must be punished either by banishment or by loss of reward. The choice is yours.
If we neglect this great salvation, planned by so great a God, bought with so great a price we then leave God no choice. He must destroy your works if they are made of wood hay and stubble or you will be separated from God for all eternity.
The choice is ours to make. Make it wisely.
Our Heavenly Father we ask you to be present and speak to the heart. This one who reads is seeking your guidance and loving care. Send the Holy Spirit to heal any hurt and show how much you care and love us. We know Lord that you have given each special gift for a specific purpose. Thank you Lord for caring enough to listen as our hearts seek you and loving enough to send your only son to die for our sins. In Jesus name we ask all things.
In the course of history many have asked why did this or that happen. In times of great grief some have challenged God or blamed Him. Some have even tried to put words into God’s mouth trying to justify a difficult situation. Many have even accused God of not listening or caring. Some try to explain what God really meant using carnal knowledge. There are also the times when everything is going great and we forget God is even there. There may have been times in your life when you’ve asked the same questions. As I looked into God’s word I found that there are some questions God can not answer.
In the book of Hebrews chapter 2 verses 1 through 3 we find these words.
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things, which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
For if the word spoken by angles was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward:
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.”
In these verses the Apostle Paul is making it clear we are to listen to what God has to say. He is giving us instructions and warnings.
The fact that Jehovah is God makes it impossible for Him to do some things. Although God is capable of impossibilities He still can’t answer the question, “How shall we escape is we neglect so great a salvation.”
Just to keep things in perspective let me share some things God cannot do.
God cannot sin. God cannot change. He is the same yesterday, today and will be the same tomorrow. God cannot lie. Satan on the other had is a liar and the father of it. God cannot save a man against his will. Even though He desires that none should perish but that all should be saved. He will give you all the tools and talent you need to get to heaven where He is but you have to use the talent and the tools, He will not force His will on you, you have a free choice.
In God’s infinite mercy He has provided a “Great Salvation”. He planned it from the very beginning. When Adam and Eve fell from grace in the garden God made a decision that something had to be done to get man back into fellowship with Him. It is the first promise of a redeemer. God set in motion a chain of genealogical events that stretched from the first garden through several millennia until it reached a small city in Nazareth. This chain wove its way through common men, Kings, leaders and followers alike until it fell on a carpenter and his soon to be wife.
Once that promise was fulfilled God knew that there would have to be a great price paid to redeem fallen man. In first Peter chapter 1 verses 18, 19, and 20 the apostle lets us in on just how high a price God had to pay for our salvation.
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from you vain conversations received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”
What a price God paid so that you and I might live. He gave his only son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for you. I cannot imagine a love so great that someone would give his only child to die in my place. God will be quick to tell you He had you in mind at the very beginning as if you were the only one who would ever need His help. But then He had another thought and added this, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1Timothy 2:3-6.
Picture if you will God standing at the gate to the garden. Through tear dimmed eyes He watches His two children walk away. They had not listened to His commands about the tree of good and evil. They broke the law if you will. They now were forced to leave paradise. He had no choice but to put them on their own. As he watched them go God made a decision how mankind was to come back to Him. He devised a plan and put it in motion as the first family walked out of the garden. He said this is a Great Salvation.
If God went to all the trouble to plan and execute His Great Salvation plan for you and me how on earth could we ever neglect it?
There could be volumes written on that subject but let me share just a few examples of that neglect.
If you know Jesus as your Saviour and you simply don’t want to share that great salvation you have then you have neglected you salvation. Maybe you have not prayed in so long you prayer skills are rusty and stiff. Let me let you in on a corporate secret. God has been setting waiting ever since you put him on hold for you to get back from what ever you thought was so important. Well you say I bowed my head last Sunday in Church and when the invocation was given at the race, what do you mean I forgot how to pray. Well just because you bowed your head does not mean you prayed. You heard someone else say a prayer. When was the last time you knelt and truly spoke to God from your heart? That is what God is waiting to hear.
Another way we neglect our salvation is by not being faithful to His house. Ouch that one hurts! Hey I am there when ever I get the chance. My I inquire did you make it to the bass tournament? How about the race you bowed your head at? Weren’t they on a Sunday? Yeah but I had been waiting all winter to go. Yes and God has been waiting most of your life just to hear your voice. You know one day He will hang up and you will loose your connection.
Okay I know you are busy but let me share one more secret with you. You will make at least one more trip to the Church. You will be the guest of honor. Many will speak about you. Six good men, friends or family members will escort you to the front and the whole congregation will stand to pay their respects pass by and tell you goodbye. Oh wait you won’t even know this is going on. Your shell will be in the box at the front. Your spirit the part that is you will be somewhere else. One other note if you have never accepted Jesus as your Saviour your next stop will not have air conditioning.
Just so there is no mistake here let me stress that there is no substitute, there is nothing just as good. Acts 4:12 states, “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”
This is not a denominational position this is a biblical position. This is God’s position.
As in other facets of life neglect must be punished. You neglect to pay you bills you will loose your possessions. Your lights will be turned off, your water will cease to flow, you neglect to eat long enough your heart will stop beating.
How shall we escape? God cannot answer, as there is no answer to that question. He has provided all the ways and means. Given all the opportunity sent all the preachers it is now up to you. Should you continue your neglect God will shake his head and wipe the tears from his eyes as he watches you walk into destruction; as great as he is he will be helpless to prevent that.
If you are a Christian and have stopped reading you Bible or studying His Word you have neglected you Great Salvation.
If you are a Christian neglect can cost you your joy. David in humble prayer asks please restore to me the joy of my salvation. It can also cost you God’s blessings. One day we will all have to stand before God and give Him an account of our lives and how we used the talents, and gifts He so loving gave to us. Keep this in mind as you ponder how you will respond God already knows what we have done or have not done. So He will not accept any excuse. The Bible says our works will be tried by fire as to what sort they are. Only the precious metal will be left as our reward. Our good intentions, our good thoughts our selfish deeds will all go up in flames leaving only ashes. We then get what is left.
How will you answer the only two questions God will ask? The first is, “ What have you done with my son? The second, “What did you do with what I gave you?
As you read this if God has spoken to your heart and you do not know how to answer the first question the second will be of no consequence. For without Jesus as your saviour and guide you leave God no choice but to cast you into a place created for the devil and his angles. Just as God had no choice but to drive Adam and Eve from the garden after they broke the rules you will leave Him no choice as to your final destination. You ask how can a loving merciful God do that to me? He did not do that to you, you did that to yourself by rejecting His Son Jesus Christ. You don’t have to believe there is a place called hell, but that does not mean it does not exist. Look in Luke 16:23, “And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments…”
There is a great salvation provided by Christ Jesus. He went to a cruel cross and paid your sin debt. Neglect of so great a salvation must be punished either by banishment or by loss of reward. The choice is yours.
If we neglect this great salvation, planned by so great a God, bought with so great a price we then leave God no choice. He must destroy your works if they are made of wood hay and stubble or you will be separated from God for all eternity.
The choice is ours to make. Make it wisely.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Messages From God
Over the past several years I have worked on how to listen to God. I began to write about my lessons and wanted to share them here in this forum. Over the next weeks and months I will be posting pages and/or chapters from what I have written. I pray this will be of interest and benefit and many will follow.
Introduction
There have been many books written pertaining to the things God had to say. This book is nothing new. The Bible says there is nothing new under heaven. The question may rise in your mind then why was this book written? The best answer I can give is because God said to write it. He wants us to hear what He has to say. Over the past thirty years I have been learning how to talk to and listen to God. There were times I was close to God and there were times I wandered out on my own. One thing I have learned when I open my mind and I am close to God I have no problem hearing what He has to say. As I open my mind His message is clear. When I was a child and mom or dad gave direction and I failed to comply there were stern consequences for disobedience. The same thing applies when it comes to hearing what God has to say and following His directions.
Several years ago as I was studying my Bible, asking God to open my mind and heart a very wonderful thing happened. God did just that, open my mind and showed me things in a new light. I knew from my studies that I had matured to the point God could open His book to me in ways I had never seen before. He touched my heart and opened my eyes. I really stopped and listened to what God had to say and I was ashamed I had not listened closer when I was young.
As my eyes were opened I realized there was so much I had missed.
One thing God has laid on my heart is that there is someone who needs to hear what He has to say. Someone He has not been able to reach by any other means. In this modern age of high tech gadgets and gizmos man feels he is so much smarter than God and does not have to listen to instructions.
Today mankind either has lost contact with God or forgot to put Him in his contact list. In my conversations with God He impressed upon me this book might be a good way to get in touch with you. What follows is a journey into the mind and the heart. A journey that is not only enlightening but could be life changing.
My prayer for you as you open your heart and mind to God is He will speak to you as only He can. That He will open His Holy Truth in ways you may not have ever seen before. There is a passage in the Book of Romans chapter 12 verse 2 and I quote, “and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
I begin each chapter with a prayer asking God to speak with you like you and He are having a private conversation. Each and every one of us is special to God and He wants you to know that He really cares for each of us individually.
This journey you are about to embark upon will take you into a wondrous world. Keep your Bible close by and I encourage you to have questions, look up the scriptures that are quoted, you will see that it is God’s word, not mans. Now, if you are ready, set back, grab your Bible and enjoy the ride.
Tune in next week to find out about a Question God Can't Answer
Introduction
There have been many books written pertaining to the things God had to say. This book is nothing new. The Bible says there is nothing new under heaven. The question may rise in your mind then why was this book written? The best answer I can give is because God said to write it. He wants us to hear what He has to say. Over the past thirty years I have been learning how to talk to and listen to God. There were times I was close to God and there were times I wandered out on my own. One thing I have learned when I open my mind and I am close to God I have no problem hearing what He has to say. As I open my mind His message is clear. When I was a child and mom or dad gave direction and I failed to comply there were stern consequences for disobedience. The same thing applies when it comes to hearing what God has to say and following His directions.
Several years ago as I was studying my Bible, asking God to open my mind and heart a very wonderful thing happened. God did just that, open my mind and showed me things in a new light. I knew from my studies that I had matured to the point God could open His book to me in ways I had never seen before. He touched my heart and opened my eyes. I really stopped and listened to what God had to say and I was ashamed I had not listened closer when I was young.
As my eyes were opened I realized there was so much I had missed.
One thing God has laid on my heart is that there is someone who needs to hear what He has to say. Someone He has not been able to reach by any other means. In this modern age of high tech gadgets and gizmos man feels he is so much smarter than God and does not have to listen to instructions.
Today mankind either has lost contact with God or forgot to put Him in his contact list. In my conversations with God He impressed upon me this book might be a good way to get in touch with you. What follows is a journey into the mind and the heart. A journey that is not only enlightening but could be life changing.
My prayer for you as you open your heart and mind to God is He will speak to you as only He can. That He will open His Holy Truth in ways you may not have ever seen before. There is a passage in the Book of Romans chapter 12 verse 2 and I quote, “and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
I begin each chapter with a prayer asking God to speak with you like you and He are having a private conversation. Each and every one of us is special to God and He wants you to know that He really cares for each of us individually.
This journey you are about to embark upon will take you into a wondrous world. Keep your Bible close by and I encourage you to have questions, look up the scriptures that are quoted, you will see that it is God’s word, not mans. Now, if you are ready, set back, grab your Bible and enjoy the ride.
Tune in next week to find out about a Question God Can't Answer
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