Sunday, January 31, 2016

The Selling Of The Christ (Part 1)


Part 1 of a 5 part series

It started many years ago; the preachers realized that Christianity was a business and their core job was to sell Jesus Christ to the people.  There was nothing wrong with the intent of the messengers until they began shaping and reshaping the message.  Jesus said, “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me.”  Jesus spoke those immortal words referencing being lifted from the cross and returning to his Father.  This verse is taken out of context and applied to worship services and he or she envisioned themselves as salespersons for God.   Lifting up Jesus took on a completely new message, the message had to be attractive and it must offer the people something tangible. 


A message about the pie in the sky by-and-by was not attractive enough to draw the massive crowds needed to support or increase the bottom line of the growing churches.  Preachers, Pastors, and Teachers were learning how to be successful living of God’s churches.  God’s churches were now becoming a business.  A business must offer a product or service or it will go out of business.  Thus began the reshaping of the message of Jesus Christ.  To shape the message, you must find a scripture, take it out of context, if necessary, view it from an alien perspective, and apply it to the model that you are constructing.  Saint John 10:10b says, “I came that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.”  This statement became the cornerstone for many messages of prosperity. 

To put this verse back in context and perspective lets read Saint John 10:1-10, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. However, he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out, and when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes not, but to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

Is there anything in the above paragraph that indicates Jesus was talking about earthly treasures?  We should never use sound bites to project a complete thought.  Jesus was speaking in a parable and he was speaking about the Kingdom of God to a Jewish gathering.  What does abundant life in the Kingdom of God have to do with earthly possessions?  God has already blessed humanity in the book of Geneses with the blessing of prosperity.  However, to make churches more attractive the promise of prosperity needed to be a part of the message.  Initially, it seems God may have used blessing and prosperity as a tool to get the wayward children of Israel to serve him.  The children of Israel were encouraged to steal from the Egyptians before leaving for the Promised Land.  Parts of the foundation of the law were prosperity and longevity.  God’s initial plan was for the children of God to kill the heathens and take their possessions.  Providing for the natural element of the man just did not prove to be conducive to serving God.  The natural desires of man were the more he got the more he wanted.  Throughout the Bible, humanity has shown that when it is getting, doing God’s will become secondary.

Jesus did not come to address the prosperity issue; he came to address the decaying spiritual nature of man.  He came to warn us to repent for the new kingdom or the Kingdom of heaven was at hand.  When asked to address natural issues, he had very few words.  Render under to Caesar the things of Caesar and unto God the thing of God.  He explained the ‘seek’ in Matthew 7:7 as Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and it's righteous and all things will be added.   The simplicity of that statement is, he did not say seek all things. If you can get the spiritual assembly to accept the ‘seek’ as a reference to spiritual things, the ‘all things’ will send them running to God for material things.  When Jesus was speaking these words he referred, to the lilacs of the field and the birds of the air, which neither toil nor sow and the heavenly Father takes care of them.  He has already provided everything needed for the grass, lilacs, and the birds to survive.  He did the same thing for humanity.  God has already provided everything humanity needs to be prosperous.  Not only did he provide humanity with everything he needed to survive, he blessed us with a spirit of prosperity.  (Gen1:28)  All we have to do is get up on our hind part and take advantage of the blessings he has already provided.  Those who are enjoying the blessing of God have a God given desire to be prosperous.  Again, consider the fowls of the air, if they sit in the tree that God has provided for them and refused to fly around “work” and get the food that God has already provided them, they will and deserve to starve.  It seems that we need to recreate a class of Christians who are concerned about the Kingdom of Heaven rather the Kingdoms of the world.  The Bless me and Give me the aspect of worshiping God seems to have gotten out of control.

When I look at Jesus as a spiritual guide, I find little support for many of the churches messages.  I take no issue with preachers teaching people how to be prosperous.  It is a needed service, so are many other community services.  I have no problem with preachers or teachers being motivational speakers.  Pastors should be motivational speakers, they should be grief counselors, and they should be family counselors.  It is when they forget the message of Luke 13:1-10 unless you repent, you all shall likewise perish.  The preaching of prosperity or getting from God just does not seem right for Sunday morning worship service.

I talked to a young woman, who had lived a high profile life and was now having trouble finding a husband.  She had been married several times, and each husband was not what she was looking for.  She was encouraged to turn from her sins and start going to church and God would provide her a husband.  She based her faith upon that most misunderstood statement in the Bible.  The Bible said, “Ask and it shall be given, Seek and ye shall find, Knock and the door shall be open unto you.”  When she failed to find the husband she was searching for, she began to lose her faith.  The message was causing her to lose faith in the word of God.  Then there is the question of ‘if’ faith existed at the time of her so-called conversation.  She attended church, worked in the church, and paid her money, but she did not get what she came looking for.   The ministers kept preaching, “God will give you the desires of your Heart.”  Her attitude changed,  if God was not going to give her what she wanted or if someone else was getting what they wanted and she wasn’t she might as well stay home.  To me, it is scary to think that people can take this type of attitude with God.  It is also terrifying that real preachers will project this farce as the word of God.

Many young, educated people have failed to grasp the relevancy of Christianity in modern day living because the message has been presented to them by self-motivated messengers who do not take the time to get the message right.  The self-motivated preacher realized that the people was running to and fro seeking and/or enjoying prosperity, and Jesus did say, “Ask and it shall be given.”  Now the message is taking shape, if you want prosperity you must ask God for it.  For God to grant your request you must be in the right frame of mine.  Now comes the sucker punch, Jesus said, “It is more blessing to give than it is to receive.”  Now we have the basis for a beautiful message, “Getting what you want from God.”  The smart preacher or teacher that can develop this message and present it in a forceful manner, with the whooping and hollowing in the right place, can attract a crowd from miles around.  The key to getting is giving and everybody wants to be in on the getting.  People do not mind paying money when there is a promise of more money.  Somewhere in the process of getting and enjoying God’s blessings, we forgot the message of salvation and the Kingdom of God.

 The younger generation sees the Rap Star; the Athlete, the drug pusher and just the plain old hard working sinner who does not attend church, and sees that they are prosperous.  The preacher’s job is to tell the church members they can have the same thing if they ask God for it.  In essence, you come to God to be poor so you can beg God for the things everybody else is getting.  Observations like these provide the fuel for the religious disconnect.  Somewhere in all of this, there is an element of confusion.  

The idea of getting religion and starting a church exist in the mindset of some as a sure road to financial success.

As a Christian, God requires more than praising and worshiping him.  Have you ever considered how purposely it would be for God to create man for the sole purpose of praising and worshiping him?  Can you imagine God saying; let us make a man so that we will have somebody to praise us.  What kind of God would create a man so that he would have somebody to love him?  This would make our Heavenly Father seems like an egotistical maniac.  I will quickly add that this is far from the truth.  Praising and worshiping God is something we should do because God is God, because he is our creator and because of the covenant that he has made with us.  We should praise and worship God because of what he has already done for us and not because of something we want,


To approach our God with our hands outstretched in a give-me position is not an act of repentance, respect or reverence.  This is neither an act of love.  It seems more like the action of spoiled children who want everything they can get their hands on and somewhere overlooked in all of this is the mission and the message.  

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Do God Change His Mind.

While proofing the manuscript for my book, "Understanding The Word of God", I became aware of the length and depth that we as Christians will go to keep from acknowledging some of the obvious attributes  of God.  I even found myself resorting to speculations and hypotheses in an attempt to avoid admitting certain obvious facts that the scripture proclaims.  Our evolving indoctrinated view of God often not scripture supported, it is based upon truisms, platitudes, and cliches, expressions that are designed to make us feel good. From the days of the garden of Eden, the concept of God has been tainted by the knowledge of the tree of good and evil rather than the knowledge of God.

Consider how an assembly can be brought to a rousing climax by simply stating, "God is good", or when we speak of the great things God is doing for us. Whereas a message based upon Deuteronomy 4:24  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God, would be considered unacceptable. Emotional outburst and rousing "Amens" would be far apart and few.   Thus the cry of, "can I get an amen" would fall on deaf ears.  Try injecting the phrase "God will kill you" in your message and it would like pouring water in a fire.  Our modern interpretation of the Gospel does not allow us to teach the fear of God. If we teach the fear of God we are told people would run from God.  Psalms 34:9  O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.


Selective or slanted interpretation of the Word of God has allowed mankind to create a gospel and a God in its own image, based on his concept of what a God should be like.  Remember the children of Israel at the base of the Holy Mountain.  They created a God in the imagery of the idol gods of Egypt.  This was their concept of what a God should look like and how they should act when they come before God.  As they dance before their golden calf they had the audacity to proclaimed, "these are thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."  Read the entire story. (Exodus 32:1-14). One of the most interesting and overlooked aspects of this story is Exodus 32:14 "And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people." After threating to destroy his people, God listened to Moses as he pleaded their case. The overlooked and unanswered question is,  did God change his mind?

My first encounter with the question of God changing his mind was as a small child in Sunday School studying the fall of Adam.  The learned ability to spiritualize parts of a scripture or verse to make it fit a particular narrative presents a conversation that is hard to follow.  God said to Adam in Genesis 2:17, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."  To the novice, it would seem as if Adam was destined to fall dead the day he ate the forbidden fruit.  The failure to acknowledge that God repented of the evil which he thought to do unto Adam and grant him a reprieve does not set well with the spiritually enlighten.  Thus, we have many different scenarios of what took place in the garden and they are all based upon what point we began to spiritualize God's conversation with Adam.

Family Bible Notes interprets it as such: Surely die; in the original, dying thou shalt die. He would lose the moral image and the favor of God; become mortal and exposed to endless sinfulness and misery.  Geneva Bible Footnotes defines this passage as such, by death, he means the separation of man from God, who is our life and chief happiness: and also that our disobedience is the cause of it. The Devil's interpretation is given in these verses.  Genesis 3:4-5  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  It does seems as if the Devil was privy to the fact that Adam that a reprieve would be forthcoming.

The golden bullet that is often used to shoot down any speculation on the nature we are discussing is Malachi 3:6.  "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."   Interpreting this scripture out of the context of which it was spoken allows one to overlook what was said, God said I am the Lord and I will always be the Lord, I am not going to change.  These various interpretations of the scripture are based on the concept that God meant something else, rather the what he actually said.   To acknowledge that God meant exactly what he said would be to acknowledge that God did changed his mind and gave Adam a reprieve.   Due to our religious indoctrination, we are not prepared to accept a God that is capable of repenting or changing his mind. Neither are we comfortable with the concept of an angry God who is storing up his wrath. 

Isaiah 38:1-5  In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.  Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.  Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.  Hezekiah prayed in such a manner that God was moved. 

The message that is often presented here is that if we are sick and pray to God, he will deliver us.  This presentation is caused by a faulty interpretation of certain scriptures.  The Devil has used this to create a false reliance upon God, that cause many to stumble.  The truth is Christians get sick, Christians die, the followers of Christ get their heads chopped off.  Let's take a closer look at the prayer that changed God mind.  His prayer was simple and short, then he wept. All that he asked of God was to remember.  If we think forward to the thief on the cross, in the face of death all he asked was for the Christ to remember.  We must conclude that was enough to invoke the forgiveness of God. 

Another story that bears looking into is presented in the Book of Jonah.  God gave Jonah a message to deliver.  Jonah 1:1-2  Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,  Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Jonah 3:4  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

Jonah 3:10  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

When God choose not to destroy the city Jonah became upset and he explain to God his reasoning for refusing to deliver the message when it was first given Jonah 4:2  And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore, I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 

In the ancient days, God enforced his Law through judgment and swift action, yet there were many event that took place in the beginning of time that cause God to repent of the damnation that he was about to bring upon mankind.  Thus, we have in the Book of Revelation a full account of the vials of wrath that has been stored up.

The apostasy began soon after God created man. 
It's Cause. The marriage of the sons of God and the daughters of men (Genesis 6:1-2). 
It's Effect on the Human Race. 
Men forgot God and became giants in wickedness (Genesis 6:3-4).

It's Effect on the Creator. 
"And the LORD repented that he had made the man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Genesis 6:6). The word "repent" always describes a change in something. There is a sense in which God cannot change (Matthew 3:9; James 1:17). He is always God, omnipotent and eternal. There is a sense in which He changes His purposes toward us, otherwise, forgiveness would be impossible (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrew 8:12). God has declared that the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4), but the sinner who turns from his sins and obeys the Lord has the promise of salvation (2nd Peter 3:9). God, therefore, changes His purposes toward men, but He is always God!

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Reigning With Christ


The term “Kingdom of God,” or "Kingdom of Heaven" is common to most Bible readers but how many of us really understand what it is?  Jesus often prefaced his dissertations with, "the Kingdom of Heaven is like."  But, even so, many of his disciples just didn't get it.  Ask the question in a bible study group and we should be prepared for answers that satisfy the denominational rhetoric rather than the word of God.  Throughout the entire Bible, the establishment of God Kingdom is the central message! John the Baptist preached the Kingdom of God, Jesus preached it, and the apostles preached it even though they didn't quite understand it. The last question that Jesus was asked before He left the earth was, “Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Knowingly and unknowingly, this question is the basis of much confusion.  Especially today, it is unthinkable to think of the Kingdom of God in terms relating to the Jewish nation, this would be politically incorrect.  It would also deny the church the right to claim the earthly blessing of Abaraham.

There are clues embedded within the scripture that explain in detail God's plan for mankind.  These clues are often overlooked in search of sound bites or surgically removed verses used to titillate or motivate our mortal desires.  The spiritual purpose of man and his relationship with his God is often cast aside in favor of a journey filled with pomp and pleasures.  The focus of the journey becomes the "Now", walking in created favors and claiming the blessings of Abraham.  Meanwhile, the nations are shifting and aligning.  The present world as proclaimed by Jesus and signified in the book of Revelation is heading towards an apocalypse climax.   John proclaims, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea" (Revelation 21:1).


The church began to lose it way when it abrogated its true position as the bride of Christ and began to follow the gospel of men.  Numerous gospels  emerged, the gospel of God's love, the gospel of prosperity and many others, while the Gospel of the Kingdom is discarded.  Salvation is either a work in progress, even through Jesus proclaimed "it's finished",  or it can be purchased through tithes and offering.   Jesus chronologize the path of the failure of the organize church in his seven often overlooked letters to the church (Revelation 2-3).    

The scripture references three groups, 1 Corinthians 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.  One of these groups will rule with Christ, (The church, Holy angles, the bride of Christ) consisting of both Jews and gentiles, and another group who will be ruled by Christ (The sheep nations).  1 Corinthians 6:2-3  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?  Matthew 25:32  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:

Matthew 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

The ancient prophets prophesied of a time when the Lord shall rule over all of the earth.  “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” Zechariah 14:9



This prophecy of Zechariah is referring to the time of the Battle of Armageddon. The nations of the world will come down against Israel to battle in Jerusalem. It’s at that time Jesus Christ will come back, fight for the nation of Israel, and establish His rule on the earth. This passage says that the Lord shall be king over all the earth. That’s the Kingdom of God. In that day, there shall be one Lord, and His name one. Let’s look at several other scriptures that also refer to this. In Daniel, we see a description of the time when human governments will be put down and the kingdom of God will be established.

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Daniel 2:44.  


Another prophecy of when Almighty God will rule this world is in Revelation 11. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15 


Matthew 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The word Kingdom is used 321 times in the King James Bible.   In the New Testament, it is referenced 150 times.  

There are nine events in the New Testament where Jesus used the words, "the Kingdom of Heaven is like", or "the Kingdom of God is like."

Some teach that Christ will return to this Earth and establish his Kingdom.  It is excepted by most that this Kingdom can be referred to as the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of heaven.  Matthew referred to it as the "Kingdom of heaven" whereas Luke referred to it as the "Kingdom of God".   There are those who seek to define the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven as two different places. Then, there is the attempt to separate heaven from the Kingdom, thus making heaven the place where we all go, sit on clouds and look down on our loved ones.   When we do this we create unanswerable questions that can only be resolved by saying, "I Just want to go to heaven when I die."   The extent of our knowledge of God's plan for mankind become restrained by that simple statement.  Heaven gradually digresses into a beautiful place where we go to live forever.  The Kingdom become an afterthought  


It is clear from the Scriptures that God has been trying to set up a "visible" Kingdom on this earth ever since the creation of man, to whom He gave dominion. Geneses 1:26-28. But that dominion was lost by the "Fall," and Satan set himself up as the "Prince of this World." Matthews 4:8-10; John 14:30. In the "Call of Abraham" God took the first step toward the setting up of a visible Kingdom on this earth, which assumed an outward form in the "Jewish Commonwealth" under Moses, but the plan was blocked by the Jews losing their "National Existence" at the time of the Babylonian Captivity B. C. 606, and the beginning of the "Times of the Gentiles." But when 600 years of the "Times of the Gentiles" had run their course, God again made a move to set up the Kingdom, and the angel Gabriel announced to Mary the Birth of the King. Luke 1:26-33. Thirty years later the King's forerunner, John the Baptist, announced that the Kingdom was "at hand" Matthew 3:1-2), and when the King manifested Himself to Israel He Himself made the same announcement (Matthew 4:17-23), and later He sent out the "Twelve" (Mt 10:7), and the "Seventy" (Luke 10:1-9), to proclaim the same thing. But the King was rejected and crucified, and the setting up of the Kingdom postponed, and the Kingdom took on its "Mystery Form" under the name of the "Kingdom of Heaven."

There are some who object to what they call the "Postponement Theory," and claim that the Kingdom which was "At Hand" was not an outward visible Kingdom, but a spiritual Kingdom and that it was not withdrawn but is seen today in "New Born" believers. They base their claim on the fact that the earthly visible Kingdom of Christ could not be set up until after He had suffered and died on the Cross as the Saviour of men, and had risen from the dead, and ascended to the Father and received the Kingdom, and that therefore, the offer of an outward visible and earthly Kingdom at that time was not a "bona fide" offer, and that John the Baptist and Jesus must have meant by the "Kingdom of Heaven" something else than an outward visible and earthly Kingdom.  Confusion is a tool of the devil.

What are the facts? First, that the Old Testament scriptures teach that there is to be an earthly and visible Kingdom over which the Son of Man is to rule (Daniel 7:13-14; 2:34-35,44-45; Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 14:9), and we know that at the time of Jesus' birth there was a widespread expectation of the coming of the Messiah and that Simeon and Anna waited in the Temple for the "Consolation of Israel." Luke 2:25-38. We are also told that "Wise Men" came from the East to Jerusalem inquiring "Where is He that is born KING OF THE JEWS?" and when they had found Jesus they worshipped Him as KING. Matthew 2:1-11. There can be no question but that Jesus was born to be a KING. It was not until Jesus was 30 years old that John the Baptist appeared at the Jordan preaching-- "Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is AT HAND." Matthew 3:2. And we are told that his mission was to "Prepare the Way of the Lord." Matthew 3:3; Isa 40:3. Prepare the way of the Lord for what? Not for the "Cross" but the "Kingdom." John's message had no meaning to those who heard him and were looking for the setting up of the "Messianic Kingdom," if he did not mean by the "Kingdom of Heaven" an outward and visible earthly Kingdom. That John himself so believed is evident from the question he sent his disciples while in prison to ask Jesus-- "Art Thou He that should come or do we look for another?" Mt 11:3. The fact that Jesus answered John's question by a number of miracles of healing, which are the "signs" of the Messianic Kingdom (Isaiah 35:1-10), and were proofs of Christ's Messiahship, and told John's disciples to so report, is proof that both John and Jesus had in mind the earthly Messianic Kingdom when they proclaimed that the "Kingdom of Heaven was AT HAND." It was the "Kingdom of Heaven," not because it was a Heavenly or the Spiritual Kingdom, but because it was not received from men, but was given from Heaven by God the Father.

While it is true that John the Baptist pointed out to two of his own disciples Jesus as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29), this was after Jesus' return from the "Wilderness Temptation," and had been revealed to John at the Baptism of Jesus, and does not nullify or alter the character of his previous proclamation that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. We must not forget that as soon as Jesus was baptised He was "immediately" driven into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:11-13), and it was not until 40 days after His Baptism that John pointed out to his disciples Jesus as "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." The words "next day" (John 1:29) refer not to the day after Jesus' Baptism, but the next day after the Priests and Levites had inquired of John whether he was the Christ or Elias. Joh n 1:19-28. In John 1:32-34, John the Baptist testifies that he knew not Jesus as the "Lamb of God" until His Baptism. Then he knew by the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove upon Christ that He was the "SON OF GOD." Therefore, John the Baptist knew nothing about Christ's sacrificial work at the beginning of his ministry, and his proclamation that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand could have had no reference to a Spiritual Kingdom.

When Nathanael exclaimed-- "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the KING OF ISRAEL" (John 1:49), Jesus did not disclaim the title. When Jesus entered on His own ministry His message was the same as John the Baptist's "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is AT HAND." Matthew 4:17. The repentance called for was a "NATIONAL REPENTANCE." The Old Testament scriptures clearly teach that the Messianic Kingdom cannot be set up until Israel as a nation REPENTS. In Matthew 4:23 we read-- "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the `Gospel of The Kingdom.'" While this was attended with "signs of bodily healing" we are nowhere told that the "Gospel of the Kingdom" had anything to do with the salvation of the soul, and as it is to be preached again after the Rapture of the Church for a "witness" unto all nations, that the time has come for the setting up of the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14) the inference is that the "Gospel of the Kingdom" has nothing to do with "salvation," but is simply an announcement that the "Messianic Kingdom" is AT HAND.

When Jesus sent forth the Twelve Disciples He commanded them, saying, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; but go rather to the 'lost sheep' of the HOUSE OF ISRAEL, and as ye go, preach, saying-- 'The Kingdom of Heaven is AT HAND.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils (demons)." Matthew 10:5-8. Note again that the works they were to perform were "Kingdom SIGNS," and had no reference to the salvation of the soul. They did not preach the "Gospel of Salvation," but the "Gospel of the Kingdom." And further the "Gospel of Salvation" is for the whole world, but the Disciples were forbidden to go to any but the "House of Israel," thus showing that what they preached was exclusively for Israel. That the Disciples were expecting the setting up of a visible earthly Kingdom is evidenced by the request of James and John that they might sit, one on the right hand, and the other on the left hand of Jesus in His Kingdom. Matthew 10:35-41. If there was to be no earthly Kingdom Jesus would have disabused their minds of that idea, but He confirmed it by saying that the place of honor was not for Him to give, but would be bestowed by His Father. Matthew 20:23.

The fact that after the miracle of the "Loaves and Fishes" the multitude was desirous to take Jesus by force and make Him a KING (John 6:15), reveals what they understood by the preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven being AT HAND. That Jesus prevented them from doing so by escaping to a mountain is no evidence that He repudiated the idea of Kingship over a visible earthly Kingdom, but that to have received the Kingdom from them would have been wrong, for He is to receive the Kingdom from the FATHER, and not from men. Daniel 7:13-14. That Jesus did not deny His Kingship of an outward and visible earthly Kingdom is clear from the fact that He accepted the "Hosannas" of the multitude when He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday in fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. John 12:12-15. And it was as "King OF THE JEWS" He was crucified. Matthew 27:37. When Pilate asked Jesus-- "Art Thou the King of the JEWS?" He evaded the question, but admitted that He was a KING, and to that end had been born, but that His Kingdom was "not of this world," that is, it would be given to Him by God the Father, and, therefore, would be from Heaven. John 18:33-37.

But someone may ask, "What would have happened if the Jews, as a nation, had repented, and accepted Jesus as King, would the earthly Messianic Kingdom have been set up?" Certainly, but not necessarily immediately, for certain Old Testament prophecies as to Jesus' death and resurrection had to be fulfilled, for He had to die for the redemption of the race before He could assume His office as King. But this could and would have been fulfilled by the Roman Government seizing Jesus and crucifying Him as a usurper, and with Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension, Daniel's 69th week would have terminated, and the 70th week begun without a break, and at its close Jesus would have descended and set up His earthly Kingdom.


Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Used In God's Service

This lesson text follows the lesson text of last Sunday's Sunday School lesson. The  subject was "Equipped with God's gifts", today's subject is, "Used in God's service".  The changing of the subject within the chapter is not a call to change our perspective as it must hold true through the chapter.  Therefore, a careful reading of our lesson text is necessary so as that we will not miss the intent of the writer.   Paul is addressing an ugly problem that had reared it head among the Corinthians and the newly formed churches at large.   We must note that the problem within the assembly did not go away after being that addressed by Paul in such an eloquent manner.  There was, and is a type of confusion that grew and continue to grow within the household of faith, often it is based upon the ability or lack of ability of members within the assembly. 

In many assemblies, there are those who have set themselves up as "bosses" of the church.  They have claimed authority in all aspects of the assembly without regard to the gifts or talents of others.  "My way or the highway", has become the gold standard of how things are done in many organized community churches.  A dichotomy emerges because a church organized outside of the community, will have a problem responding to the problems of the community. Today's lesson is stressing that a perfect body consist of many members functioning in harmony.  Imagine the discord, the trauma, the brain tells the hand to pick up and object,  the hand touches the object and respond, "it too hot!"  the brain respond, "I am the brain I said pick it up."

When Jesus addressed the  Church in Revelation chapter two and three he exhibited a type of concern about those who claimed to possess a type of leadership skill, and had been allowed to organize and rule over his church. As the chief Sheppard of the flock, it was his intent that all work together for the edification of all, as one body.  The concept of, follow me as I follow Christ, or the edification of absent rulers, while the assembly suffers can be viewed as a product of religion indoctrination that is truly not scripturally supported.

1 Corinthians 12:12-16  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.   For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

1 Corinthians 12:21-22  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

Imagine the brain trying to negotiate a path of egress out of a burning building without consulting the eye for sensor input.  What if the feet revolted and refused to recognise the commands of the head.   These analogies make for a pitiful existence.   The oracles of God as spoken by Jesus, Paul and Peter is presented within the Holy Scripture.  When these type of attributes exists within the household of faith, the assembly suffers from what Jesus defined as, a house divided against or within itself.  

1 Peter 4:9-11  Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 

The key word in this verse is hospitality, without grudging. Greek, "without murmurs;" that is, without complaining of the hardship of doing it; of the time, and expense, and trouble required in doing it. The idea of grudging, in the common sense of that word--that is, of doing it unwillingly, or regretting the expense, and considering it as ill-bestowed, or as not producing an equivalent of any kind--is not exactly the idea here. It is that we are to do it without murmuring or complaining. It greatly enhances the value of hospitality, that it be done On our part with entire cheerfulness. One of the duties involved in it is to make a guest, member or friend  happy, and this can be done in no other way than by showing him that he is welcome

1 Peter 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

As every man hath received the gift. The word rendered the gift, (carisma,) in the Greek, without the article, means endowment of any kind, but especially that conferred by the Holy Spirit. Here it seems to refer to every kind of endowment by which we can do good to others; especially every kind of qualification furnished by Christianity by which we can help others. It does not refer here particularly to the ministry of the word--though it is applicable to that and includes that--but to all the gifts and graces by which we can contribute to the welfare of others. All this is regarded as a gift, or charisma, of God. It is not owing to ourselves but is to be traced to The Christ. 

Even so minister the same one to another, in anything by which you can benefit another. Regard what you have and they have not as a gift bestowed upon you by God for the common good, and be ready to impart it as the wants of others require. The word minister here refers to any kind of ministering, whether by counsel, by advice, by the supply of the wants of the poor, or by preaching. It has here no reference to any one of these exclusively; but means, that in whatever God has favoured us more than others, we should be ready to minister to their wants. See 2nd Timothy 1:18; 2nd Corinthians 3:3; 8:19-20.

As good stewards. Regarding yourselves as the mere stewards of God or shepherds; that is, as appointed by him to do this work for him, and entrusted by him with what is needful to benefit others. He intends to do them well, but he means to do it through your instrumentality and has entrusted to you as a steward what he designed to confer on them. This is the true idea, in respect to any special endowments of talent, property, or grace, which we may have received from God.  1st Corinthians 4:1.


Of the manifold grace of God. The grace or favor of God evinced in many ways, or by a variety of gifts. His favors are not confined to one single thing; as, for example, to talent for doing good by preaching; but are extended to many things by which we may do good to influence, property, reputation, wisdom, experience. All these are to be regarded as his gifts; all to be employed in doing good to others as we have the opportunity through the spirit of unity.

1 Peter 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

If any man speak. As a preacher, referring here particularly to the office of the ministry.  Let him speak as the oracles of God. As the oracles of God speak; to wit, in accordance with the truth which God has revealed, and with an impressive sense of the responsibility of delivering a message from him. The word rendered oracles, (logia) means, properly, something spoken or uttered; then anything uttered by God--a Divine communication--a revelation, 

If any man minister. (diakonei). This may refer either, so far as the word is concerned, to the office of a deacon, or to any service which one renders to another. The word commonly refers to service in general; to attendance on another, or to aid rendered to another; to the distribution of alms, etc. It seems probable that the word here does not refer to the office of a deacon as such, because the peculiarity of that office was to take charge of the poor of the church, and of the funds provided for them, (Acts 6:2-3;) but the apostle here says that they to whom he referred should "minister as of the ability which God giveth," which seems to imply that it was rather to distribute what was their own, than what was committed to them by the church. The word may refer to any aid which we render to others in the church, as distributing alms, attending on the sick, etc.  

As of the ability which God giveth. In regard to property, talent, strength, influence, etc. This is the limit of all obligation, No one is bound to go beyond his ability; everyone is required to come up to it. 

That God in all things may be glorified. That he may be honored; to wit, by our doing all the good we can to others, and thus showing the power of his religion. 

Through Jesus Christ. That is, as the medium through whom all those holy influences come by which God is honoured.


To whom. That is, to God; for he is the main subject of the sentence. The apostle says that in all things lie is to be glorified by us, and then adds in this doxology that he is worthy to be thus honored. Many, however, suppose that the reference here is to the Son of God. That it would be true of him, and appropriate.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Are you Alone On The Isle of Patmos?


Revelation 1:9-10  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Throughout the holiday season leading up top the New Year, conversations, social media status, and preached messages have been inundated with hopes and expectations for the coming year.  Many are glorying in the success of their hard labor and their expectations, which is a light to many but a stumbling block to some.  Many non-definitive statement such as, I am expecting God to do great things for me this year", is the crust of many well-prepared messages. These type of messages resonate well with a majority within an assembly,  and for that reason, they are popular during any season. But, there are those who like John who is exiled on their own Isle of Patmos, and because of circumstances in their lives are forced to look at things differently. 

To some, the New Year will always remind them of the lost of a love one, to other it will remind them of their battle with a type of sickness.  Sickness, death or separations are some of the types of tribulation that we must endure.  There is a false rendering of Deuteronomy 7:15 that teaches that sickness separates the righteous from the unrighteous and trials and tribulations is not in accordance with God's plan. John was aware of the tribulation the church was facing, therefore he identified himself as, "your brother, and companion in tribulation".  The strangeness of John's writing was that nowhere in his message did he proclaim, "God is going to do great things 'FOR' me", therefore, because of his attitude, God was able to do a great thing through him.  The wording of Revelation 1:10 seems to indicate that John was praising God in or regardless of his tribulation and waiting for a message, not an act of deliverance.  

I often find myself wondering why do we have such a 'high expectation' of God. Why is it necessary for God to be always active and doing things to make our life here on earth better?  True, in the Old Testament we have God delivering the Children of Israel, we have the stories of the three Hebrew boys and even Daniel in the lions den, just to name a few.  We can easily end up with a testimony of God is a deliverer.   As we emerge into the New Testament the deliverance of God seems to diminish. Jesus and the New Testament writers began to speak of enduring hardship as if were a virtue.  Mark 4:17  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.  Paul encouraged Timothy to endure.  2 Timothy 2:3  Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

For a moment of study, I invite you to take a step backward, shift your perspective.  Compare how 'God, in the capacity of the Father' dealt with Moses and the Children of Israel.  He actively fought battles for them.  Now consider how 'God in the capacity of the Son' dealt with his twelve Apostles, even Paul and many others that followed him.  He allowed them, even himself to be delivered up and prosecuted   It is clear, under the dispensation of the Law, God operating in the capacity of 'God the Father' was the protector of his earthly Children. Their mission was to establish 'The Kingdom of God' or the Promise land here on earth.  Failing to carry out the mandate of God, a divorce action, and scattering of his people was implemented.  When the dispensation of the Law came to an end it was the dispensation of Grace that followed.  Even under the presumption of Grace, God protected his Son from Herod the King.  Once, 'God the Son' declared "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand", persecution began to intensify.   John the forerunner of Christ did not live to see a ripe old age. 

The early Christians profound belief in the Kingdom of Heaven did not allow them to place the same value on this earthly life as we do today.  Consider the antic of Stephen, (Acts 7:54-60), rather than reverse his stance or toning down his rhetoric he seems to choose to incite the mob to act.  In the early days, even the Church ordained by Christ suffered intense persecution.  Matthew 21:35  And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.  It was only after the church laid aside the mandates of Christ and polluted the Gospel was it able to boast of its great blessings (Revelation 3: 14-22).
  
The transformation of the Bible into a study guide to enhance world economy, rather than a spiritual economy is causing many to turn away from God.  The conversion of the church into a place to attract people to come and have a good time is merely a technique used to promote and enhance an emotional experience.  The ordained church has entered into the entertainment business, spiritual guidance that Jesus offered to his church in Revelation 1-3 is no longer fashionable, it is out of date.   Like the crowd that assembles to view the football game, the cheers go up, and we walk away with and emotional high that might sustain us till the next big game.  As a parent and grandparent, I attended quite a number of football games.  I was a fixture in the bleachers because it was something expected of me.  The truth remains, at the end of the day I was one of those in my age bracket who didn't understand the game.

The entertainment field is flourishing, it is a high paying profession.  Men and women enter the arena and draw out a following through words that resonate and high energy performances.   The antic of humanity is not lost on the organized church has begun a process of assimilation and emulation.  Where is the spiritual value? But I, like the Apostle Paul, and many of us, we are aware that we adrift upon a turbulence sea, and our deliverance will only further  our persecution, our tribulation.   Like John, the Apostle, we have been cast upon our own Isle of Patmos and the message that Jesus is sending is not a message of sunshine and favors. Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Verse 9. I John, who also am your brother. Your Christian brother; who am a fellow-Christian with you. The reference here is doubtless to the members of the seven churches in Asia, to whom the epistles in the following chapters were addressed, and to whom the whole book seems to have been sent. In the previous verse, the writer had closed the salutation, and he here commences a description of the Circumstances under which the vision appeared to him. He was in a lonely island, to which he had been banished on account of his attachment to religion; he was in a state of high spiritual enjoyment on the day devoted to the sacred remembrance of the Redeemer; he suddenly heard a voice behind him, and turning saw the Son of man himself in glorious form in the midst of seven golden lamps, and fell at his feet as dead.

And companion in tribulation. Your partner in affliction. That is, he and they were suffering substantially the same kind of trials on account of their religion. It is evident from this, that some form of persecution was then raging in which they were also sufferers though in their case it did not lead to banishment. The leader, the apostle, the aged and influential preacher, was banished; but there were many other forms of trial which they might be called to endure who remained at home. 

In the first three chapters of Revelation, Jesus is sending a profound message to his church.  These letters are often cast aside or invalidated as being dated and of no value to today's church.   Yet we do not hesitate to surgically remove segments of scripture from the Old Testament and present them as a message to the church.  Thus, we have a beautiful and highly motivational message  of the church standing on the banks of the Red Sea, and the message is "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.   We can shout on that.  But Jesus is saying something different.  Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.  Revelation 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.