The real deal in Japan selling for about $82 are these square watermelons (regular sell for much less but 5 times what they are here in the USA). Saves room in the frig! Can't wait to see their pumpkins!Friday, August 31, 2007
Pictures of the week!
The real deal in Japan selling for about $82 are these square watermelons (regular sell for much less but 5 times what they are here in the USA). Saves room in the frig! Can't wait to see their pumpkins!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. RESULTS OF A CHRISTIAN'S SINS
1. IT DAMAGES THE BRETHREN [Gal. 2:11-14]
2. IT DISHONORS THE LORD [2 Samuel 12:7-13]
3. IT DELIGHTS THE DEVIL'S CROWD [2 Samuel 12:14]
II. THE RESPONSE TO OUR OWN SIN
1. IF PERSONAL, CONFESS IT PRIVATELY TO THE LORD [PR. 28:13, I JN. 1:9]
2. IF PRIVATE, CONFESS IT PRIVATELY TO THE OFFENDED [Matthew 5:23-24]
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
3. IF PUBLIC, CONFESS IT PUBLICLY [MT. 5:23-24, I Cor. 5, II Cor. 2:1-11]
III. THE RESPONSE TO OTHER'S SIN
1. TRY TO HELP [Gal. 6:1-3]
2. TAKE HEED [Gal. 6:1, I Cor. 19:1-15]
3. TRUST HIM WHO NEVER SINNED [Heb. 4:14-16, PR. 3:5-6]
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. RESULTS OF A CHRISTIAN'S SINS
1. IT DAMAGES THE BRETHREN [Gal. 2:11-14]
2. IT DISHONORS THE LORD [2 Samuel 12:7-13]
3. IT DELIGHTS THE DEVIL'S CROWD [2 Samuel 12:14]
II. THE RESPONSE TO OUR OWN SIN
1. IF PERSONAL, CONFESS IT PRIVATELY TO THE LORD [PR. 28:13, I JN. 1:9]
2. IF PRIVATE, CONFESS IT PRIVATELY TO THE OFFENDED [Matthew 5:23-24]
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
3. IF PUBLIC, CONFESS IT PUBLICLY [MT. 5:23-24, I Cor. 5, II Cor. 2:1-11]
III. THE RESPONSE TO OTHER'S SIN
1. TRY TO HELP [Gal. 6:1-3]
2. TAKE HEED [Gal. 6:1, I Cor. 19:1-15]
3. TRUST HIM WHO NEVER SINNED [Heb. 4:14-16, PR. 3:5-6]
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
OLDER THAN DIRT
Brother Ronald sent me this one. Some of it doesn't apply to me but I have definitely heard others talk about it. Some I know from experience. -Rick
"Hey Dad," one of my kids asked the other day, "What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?" "We didn't have fast food when I was growing up," I informed him. "All the food was slow." " C'mon, seriously. Where did you eat?"
"It was a place called 'at home,'" I explained. "Grandma cooked every day and when Grandpa got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it."
By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it:
Some parents NEVER owned their own house, wore Levis , set foot on a golf course, traveled out of the country or had a credit card. In their later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card was good only at Sears Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears AND Roebuck. Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe he died.
My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow). We didn't have a television in our house until I was 11, but my grandparents had one before that. It was, of course, black and white, but they bought a piece of colored plastic to cover the screen. The top third was blue, like the sky, and the bottom third was green, like grass. The middle third was red. It was perfect for programs that had scenes of fire trucks riding across someone's lawn on a sunny day Some people had a lens taped to the front of the TV to make the picture look larger.
I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, it was called "pizza pie." When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It's still the best pizza I ever had.
We didn't have a car until I was 15. Before that, the only car in our family was my grandfather's Ford. He called it a "machine."
I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in the living room and it was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn't know weren't already using the line.
Pizzas were not delivered to our home. But milk was.
All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers. I delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents a paper, of which I got to keep 2 cents. I had to get up at
4 AM every morning. On Saturday, I had to collect the 42 cents from my customers. My favorite customers were the ones who gave me 50 cents and told me to keep the change. My least favorite customers were the ones who seemed to never be home on collection day.
Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. Touching someone else's tongue with yours was called French kissing and they didn't do that in movies. I don't know what they did in French movies. French movies were dirty and we weren't allowed to see them.
If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don't blame me if they bust a gut laughing.
Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it? MEMORIES from a friend:
My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother's house (she died in December) and he brought me an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. In the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the ironing board to "sprinkle" clothes with because we didn't have steam irons. Man, I am old.
How many do you remember?
Head lights dimmer switches on the floor.
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
Heaters mounted on the inside of the fire wall.
Real ice boxes.
Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.
Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn signals.
Older Than Dirt Quiz:
Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about . Ratings at the bottom.
1. Blackjack chewing gum
2.Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke boxes
6 . Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Party lines
8. Newsreels before the movie
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax
11. Telephone numbers with a word prefix ( OLive -6933)
12. Peashooters
13. Howdy Doody
14. 45 RPM records
15. S&H Green Stamps
16. Hi-fi's
17. Metal ice trays with lever
18. Mimeograph paper
19 Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns
23. Drive-ins
24. Studebakers
25. Wash tub wringers
If you remembered 0-5 = You're still young If you remembered 6-10 = You are getting older If you remembered 11-15 = Don't tell your age,If you remembered 16-25 = You're older than dirt! I might be older than dirt but those memories are the best part of my life.Don't forget to pass this along!!Especially to all your really OLD friends...
"Hey Dad," one of my kids asked the other day, "What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?" "We didn't have fast food when I was growing up," I informed him. "All the food was slow." " C'mon, seriously. Where did you eat?"
"It was a place called 'at home,'" I explained. "Grandma cooked every day and when Grandpa got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it."
By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it:
Some parents NEVER owned their own house, wore Levis , set foot on a golf course, traveled out of the country or had a credit card. In their later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card was good only at Sears Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears AND Roebuck. Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe he died.
My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow). We didn't have a television in our house until I was 11, but my grandparents had one before that. It was, of course, black and white, but they bought a piece of colored plastic to cover the screen. The top third was blue, like the sky, and the bottom third was green, like grass. The middle third was red. It was perfect for programs that had scenes of fire trucks riding across someone's lawn on a sunny day Some people had a lens taped to the front of the TV to make the picture look larger.
I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, it was called "pizza pie." When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It's still the best pizza I ever had.
We didn't have a car until I was 15. Before that, the only car in our family was my grandfather's Ford. He called it a "machine."
I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in the living room and it was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn't know weren't already using the line.
Pizzas were not delivered to our home. But milk was.
All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers. I delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents a paper, of which I got to keep 2 cents. I had to get up at
4 AM every morning. On Saturday, I had to collect the 42 cents from my customers. My favorite customers were the ones who gave me 50 cents and told me to keep the change. My least favorite customers were the ones who seemed to never be home on collection day.
Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. Touching someone else's tongue with yours was called French kissing and they didn't do that in movies. I don't know what they did in French movies. French movies were dirty and we weren't allowed to see them.
If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don't blame me if they bust a gut laughing.
Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it? MEMORIES from a friend:
My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother's house (she died in December) and he brought me an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. In the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the ironing board to "sprinkle" clothes with because we didn't have steam irons. Man, I am old.
How many do you remember?
Head lights dimmer switches on the floor.
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
Heaters mounted on the inside of the fire wall.
Real ice boxes.
Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.
Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn signals.
Older Than Dirt Quiz:
Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about . Ratings at the bottom.
1. Blackjack chewing gum
2.Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke boxes
6 . Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Party lines
8. Newsreels before the movie
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax
11. Telephone numbers with a word prefix ( OLive -6933)
12. Peashooters
13. Howdy Doody
14. 45 RPM records
15. S&H Green Stamps
16. Hi-fi's
17. Metal ice trays with lever
18. Mimeograph paper
19 Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns
23. Drive-ins
24. Studebakers
25. Wash tub wringers
If you remembered 0-5 = You're still young If you remembered 6-10 = You are getting older If you remembered 11-15 = Don't tell your age,If you remembered 16-25 = You're older than dirt! I might be older than dirt but those memories are the best part of my life.Don't forget to pass this along!!Especially to all your really OLD friends...
Monday, August 27, 2007
WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?
GENESIS 4:16-5:32
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE LINE OF CAIN [4:16-24]
1. THE MYSTERY OF CAIN'S WIFE SOLVED [v. 16-18]
Cain was the first child of Adam and Eve recorded in Scripture (Genesis 4:1). His brothers, Abel (Genesis 4:2) and Seth (Genesis 4:25), were part of the first generation of children ever born on this Earth.
Even though only these three males are mentioned by name, Adam and Eve had other children. In Genesis 5:4 a statement sums up the life of Adam and Eve—‘And the days of Adam after he had fathered Seth were eight hundred years. And he fathered sons and daughters.’ This does not say when they were born. Many could have been born in the 130 years (Genesis 5:3) before Seth was born.
During their lives, Adam and Eve had a number of male and female children. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that, ‘The number of Adam’s children, as says the old tradition, was thirty-three sons and twenty-three daughters.’
The Bible does not tell us how many children were born to Adam and Eve. However, considering their long life spans (Adam lived for 930 years—Genesis 5:5), it would seem reasonable to suggest there were many! Remember, they were commanded to ‘Be fruitful, and multiply’ (Genesis 1:28).
If we now work totally from Scripture, without any personal prejudices or other extra-Biblical ideas, then back at the beginning, when there was only the first generation, brothers would have had to have married sisters or there would be no more generations!
We are not told when Cain married or any of the details of other marriages and children, but we can say for certain that some brothers had to marry their sisters at the beginning of human history. Many Christians cannot answer the question about Cain’s wife because they focus on today’s world (and the problems associated with close relations marrying), and do not understand the clear historical record God has given to us.
They try to interpret Genesis from our present situation, rather than understand the true Biblical history of the world and the changes that have occurred because of sin. Because they are not building their worldview on Scripture, but taking a secular way of thinking to the Bible, they are blinded to the simple answers.
Genesis is the record of the God who was there as history happened. It is the word of One who knows everything, and who is a reliable witness from the past. Thus, when we use Genesis as a basis for understanding history, we can make sense of questions that would otherwise be a mystery. (This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left)
2. THE MORALITY OF THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM (VIA CAIN) [v. 19-24]
The first bigamist, a poet, and a braggart-Lamech.
3. THE MENTAL ABILITY OF ANCIENT MAN [v. 20-22]
II. THE LINE OF SETH [4:25-5:32]
1. THE MYSTERY OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP SOLVED [4:25-26]
2. THE MATERIAL OF TWO BOOKS [5:1, Mt. 1:1]
This is the first mention of the word "Book" in the Old Testament, the first mention of "book" in the New Testament is Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Paul contrasts the first Adam (Adam) and the second Adam (Jesus Christ in Romans and Corinthians). The book of the first Adam deals with death, the book of the second Adam deals with life, the first Adam is of the earth-earthy, the second Adam is from Heaven-Heavenly, the first Adam sinned-the second is sinless, the first Adam brought in death, the second Adam conquered death! Oh, what glory.
3. THE MORTALITY OF ADAM'S RACE [5:1-32]
III. THE LINE OF PROPHETS
1. ENOCH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S RETURN [5:21-24, Jude 1:14]
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
2. LAMECH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S RESTORATION [5:28-29]
Dr. Henry Morris wrote: Methuselah's son Lamech, like his grandfather Enoch, was a prophet of God (prophesying at least concerning his own son Noah). These are the only two antedeluvian patriarchs from whom portions of their actual prophecies have been recorded in Scripture...
Lamech (as well as Adam, Abel, and Enoch0 was undoubtedly one of those in Peter's mind when he spoke of "the times of restitution [or 'restoration'] of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21). Noah, as the one who would by his ark preserve life as the cursed earth was being "cleansed" by the waters of the Flood, was only a precursory fulfillment of Lamech's prophecy, of course. The promised Seed was still future, but in Him and His promised coming were true "rest" and "comfort."
3. NOAH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S PROVISION [2 Peter 2:5]
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE LINE OF CAIN [4:16-24]
1. THE MYSTERY OF CAIN'S WIFE SOLVED [v. 16-18]
Cain was the first child of Adam and Eve recorded in Scripture (Genesis 4:1). His brothers, Abel (Genesis 4:2) and Seth (Genesis 4:25), were part of the first generation of children ever born on this Earth.
Even though only these three males are mentioned by name, Adam and Eve had other children. In Genesis 5:4 a statement sums up the life of Adam and Eve—‘And the days of Adam after he had fathered Seth were eight hundred years. And he fathered sons and daughters.’ This does not say when they were born. Many could have been born in the 130 years (Genesis 5:3) before Seth was born.
During their lives, Adam and Eve had a number of male and female children. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that, ‘The number of Adam’s children, as says the old tradition, was thirty-three sons and twenty-three daughters.’
The Bible does not tell us how many children were born to Adam and Eve. However, considering their long life spans (Adam lived for 930 years—Genesis 5:5), it would seem reasonable to suggest there were many! Remember, they were commanded to ‘Be fruitful, and multiply’ (Genesis 1:28).
If we now work totally from Scripture, without any personal prejudices or other extra-Biblical ideas, then back at the beginning, when there was only the first generation, brothers would have had to have married sisters or there would be no more generations!
We are not told when Cain married or any of the details of other marriages and children, but we can say for certain that some brothers had to marry their sisters at the beginning of human history. Many Christians cannot answer the question about Cain’s wife because they focus on today’s world (and the problems associated with close relations marrying), and do not understand the clear historical record God has given to us.
They try to interpret Genesis from our present situation, rather than understand the true Biblical history of the world and the changes that have occurred because of sin. Because they are not building their worldview on Scripture, but taking a secular way of thinking to the Bible, they are blinded to the simple answers.
Genesis is the record of the God who was there as history happened. It is the word of One who knows everything, and who is a reliable witness from the past. Thus, when we use Genesis as a basis for understanding history, we can make sense of questions that would otherwise be a mystery. (This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left)
2. THE MORALITY OF THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM (VIA CAIN) [v. 19-24]
The first bigamist, a poet, and a braggart-Lamech.
3. THE MENTAL ABILITY OF ANCIENT MAN [v. 20-22]
II. THE LINE OF SETH [4:25-5:32]
1. THE MYSTERY OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP SOLVED [4:25-26]
2. THE MATERIAL OF TWO BOOKS [5:1, Mt. 1:1]
This is the first mention of the word "Book" in the Old Testament, the first mention of "book" in the New Testament is Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Paul contrasts the first Adam (Adam) and the second Adam (Jesus Christ in Romans and Corinthians). The book of the first Adam deals with death, the book of the second Adam deals with life, the first Adam is of the earth-earthy, the second Adam is from Heaven-Heavenly, the first Adam sinned-the second is sinless, the first Adam brought in death, the second Adam conquered death! Oh, what glory.
3. THE MORTALITY OF ADAM'S RACE [5:1-32]
III. THE LINE OF PROPHETS
1. ENOCH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S RETURN [5:21-24, Jude 1:14]
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
2. LAMECH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S RESTORATION [5:28-29]
Dr. Henry Morris wrote: Methuselah's son Lamech, like his grandfather Enoch, was a prophet of God (prophesying at least concerning his own son Noah). These are the only two antedeluvian patriarchs from whom portions of their actual prophecies have been recorded in Scripture...
Lamech (as well as Adam, Abel, and Enoch0 was undoubtedly one of those in Peter's mind when he spoke of "the times of restitution [or 'restoration'] of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21). Noah, as the one who would by his ark preserve life as the cursed earth was being "cleansed" by the waters of the Flood, was only a precursory fulfillment of Lamech's prophecy, of course. The promised Seed was still future, but in Him and His promised coming were true "rest" and "comfort."
3. NOAH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S PROVISION [2 Peter 2:5]
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
FIVE BIBLE RAPTURES
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. ENOCH- HE PLEASED GOD Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
1. Transformed by fatherhood [Gn. 5:21-27]
2. Trusted by the Faithful Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
3. Translated by the Father [Heb. 11:5]
II. ELIJAH- HE PROVED GOD I KINGS 18
22-24 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
1. HE WENT UP 2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2. HE SHOWED UP [Luke 9:28-36]
III. JESUS- HE PERSONALLY IS GOD [ACTS 1:9-11, JN. 1]
IV. CHRISTIANS- THEY ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD [I TH. 4:13-17]
V. THE TWO WITNESSES- THEY PROPHESY FOR GOD [REV. 11:3-12]
1. ELIJAH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THEM [Malachi 4:5]
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
2. MOSES OR JOHN THE BAPTIST COULD BE THE OTHER ONE [LK. 9:28-36, 1:13-17, Matthew 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.]
3. ENOCH HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF BEING THE OTHER
He also never died. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
I. ENOCH- HE PLEASED GOD Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
1. Transformed by fatherhood [Gn. 5:21-27]
2. Trusted by the Faithful Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
3. Translated by the Father [Heb. 11:5]
II. ELIJAH- HE PROVED GOD I KINGS 18
22-24 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
1. HE WENT UP 2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2. HE SHOWED UP [Luke 9:28-36]
III. JESUS- HE PERSONALLY IS GOD [ACTS 1:9-11, JN. 1]
IV. CHRISTIANS- THEY ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD [I TH. 4:13-17]
V. THE TWO WITNESSES- THEY PROPHESY FOR GOD [REV. 11:3-12]
1. ELIJAH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THEM [Malachi 4:5]
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
2. MOSES OR JOHN THE BAPTIST COULD BE THE OTHER ONE [LK. 9:28-36, 1:13-17, Matthew 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.]
3. ENOCH HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF BEING THE OTHER
He also never died. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Q: Did God use the big bang to bring the universe into existence?
A: No, although many Christians say that we can believe in the big bang—as long as you say God did it. But here’s the big problem with such a scenario. By saying that God created the universe using the big bang, one is really saying that what God said He did in His Word is not true.
Genesis 1 teaches that God made the earth first, covered with water. The sun, moon, and stars were not made until the fourth day of creation.
The big bang, however, teaches that the sun and stars came before the earth, and then the earth formed as a hot molten blob that cooled over a long period of time—before water formed. This is the opposite of what God’s Word clearly states, which means that Christians cannot add the big bang to the Bible.
Sadly, when Christians tell people they can believe in the big bang, they’re also in essence saying, “But you don’t have to take God at His Word.” Such compromise has undermined the authority of God’s Word in our Western nations.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Genesis 1 teaches that God made the earth first, covered with water. The sun, moon, and stars were not made until the fourth day of creation.
The big bang, however, teaches that the sun and stars came before the earth, and then the earth formed as a hot molten blob that cooled over a long period of time—before water formed. This is the opposite of what God’s Word clearly states, which means that Christians cannot add the big bang to the Bible.
Sadly, when Christians tell people they can believe in the big bang, they’re also in essence saying, “But you don’t have to take God at His Word.” Such compromise has undermined the authority of God’s Word in our Western nations.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16.
"My word, WHAT A PROMISE. He did not say you wont have any desires of the flesh but you wont fulfill them! One of the GREATEST NEEDS in the church today is for ALL OF US to learn how and to walk in the Spirit." -Sumner Wemp
I. OUR PURPOSE - WALK WITH GOD [GN. 5:22, 24; 6:9]
1. It is a walk of fellowship [I Jn. 1:1-7]
2. It is a walk of failure [I Jn. 1:8-10]
3. It is a wlak of faithfulness {I Jn. 1:9; 2:1-6]
II. OUR PATTERN - WALK AFTER CHRIST [I Jn. 2:6]
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1. Walk in love [Eph. 5:1-2]
2. Walk in light [Eph. 5:8-14]
3. Walk in the Lord [Eph. 5:15-20]
III. OUR POWER - WALK IN THE SPIRIT [EpH. 5:18]
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
"Too many try to "run the race" without learning to "walk in the Spirit" first. The Christian life is a walk, not one giant step... You don't have to live a roller coaster life, up one minute and down the next. A child takes one step, but he hasn't learned to walk. He is going to stumble scores of time before he stays on his feet and even then he will stumble from time to time. So it is with the Christian walk. The Spirit filled Christian will keep going and growing, up and up, with much smaller bumps along the way." -Sumner Wemp
Remember "PAY"
1. "P"- "Present your body as a living sacrifice" [Rom. 12:1, 2]
2. "A"- "Ask," for "if we ask anything according to His will, we have it" [Eph. 5:17, 18; 1 Jn 5:14, 15]
Walk by faith and not by feelings.
3. "Y"- "Yield your members unto God." Rom. 6:13. Consciously, continuously and constantly do this all through the day and you will see the "fruit of the Spirit" growing in your life!
Most of the material contained herein is from our friend Sumner Wemp. For lots more good stuff use the link in the upper left and go to his website!
"My word, WHAT A PROMISE. He did not say you wont have any desires of the flesh but you wont fulfill them! One of the GREATEST NEEDS in the church today is for ALL OF US to learn how and to walk in the Spirit." -Sumner Wemp
I. OUR PURPOSE - WALK WITH GOD [GN. 5:22, 24; 6:9]
1. It is a walk of fellowship [I Jn. 1:1-7]
2. It is a walk of failure [I Jn. 1:8-10]
3. It is a wlak of faithfulness {I Jn. 1:9; 2:1-6]
II. OUR PATTERN - WALK AFTER CHRIST [I Jn. 2:6]
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1. Walk in love [Eph. 5:1-2]
2. Walk in light [Eph. 5:8-14]
3. Walk in the Lord [Eph. 5:15-20]
III. OUR POWER - WALK IN THE SPIRIT [EpH. 5:18]
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
"Too many try to "run the race" without learning to "walk in the Spirit" first. The Christian life is a walk, not one giant step... You don't have to live a roller coaster life, up one minute and down the next. A child takes one step, but he hasn't learned to walk. He is going to stumble scores of time before he stays on his feet and even then he will stumble from time to time. So it is with the Christian walk. The Spirit filled Christian will keep going and growing, up and up, with much smaller bumps along the way." -Sumner Wemp
Remember "PAY"
1. "P"- "Present your body as a living sacrifice" [Rom. 12:1, 2]
2. "A"- "Ask," for "if we ask anything according to His will, we have it" [Eph. 5:17, 18; 1 Jn 5:14, 15]
Walk by faith and not by feelings.
3. "Y"- "Yield your members unto God." Rom. 6:13. Consciously, continuously and constantly do this all through the day and you will see the "fruit of the Spirit" growing in your life!
Most of the material contained herein is from our friend Sumner Wemp. For lots more good stuff use the link in the upper left and go to his website!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
SOUTHERN WOMEN & SOUTHERNISMS
My sister, a southern woman in her own right, sent this to me. (I edited it slightly).
Southern women appreciate their natural assets: Clean skin. A winning smile. That unforgettable Southern drawl
Southern women have a distinct way with fond expressions : "Y'all come back!" "Well, bless your heart." "Drop by when you can." "How's your Momma?"
Southern women know their summer weather report: Humidity> Humidity> Humidity
Southern women know their vacation spots: The beach> The rivuh> The crick> >
Southern women know everybody's first name: Honey> Darlin'> Shugah
Southern women know their religions: Baptist> Methodist> Football
Southern women know their country breakfasts:> Red-eye gravy> Grits> Eggs> Country ham> Mouth-watering homemade biscuits with momma's homemade jelly
Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:> Having bad hair and nails> Having bad manners> Cooking bad food
More Suthen-ism's:
Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.
Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."
Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder.
Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, ... as in: "Going to town, be back directly."
Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.
All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.
Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin!
Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.
Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.
No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, and when we're "in line," we talk to everybody!
Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.
In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.
Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say ,"Bless her heart".. and go your own way.
To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning.
Bless your heart! And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff, bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!
And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could."
Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fahevah!
Now... Shugah, send this to some girls (and guys) who were raised in the South or wish they had been!
If you're a Northern transplant, Bless your little heart, fake it. We know you got here as fast as you could!
Southern women appreciate their natural assets: Clean skin. A winning smile. That unforgettable Southern drawl
Southern women have a distinct way with fond expressions : "Y'all come back!" "Well, bless your heart." "Drop by when you can." "How's your Momma?"
Southern women know their summer weather report: Humidity> Humidity> Humidity
Southern women know their vacation spots: The beach> The rivuh> The crick> >
Southern women know everybody's first name: Honey> Darlin'> Shugah
Southern women know their religions: Baptist> Methodist> Football
Southern women know their country breakfasts:> Red-eye gravy> Grits> Eggs> Country ham> Mouth-watering homemade biscuits with momma's homemade jelly
Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:> Having bad hair and nails> Having bad manners> Cooking bad food
More Suthen-ism's:
Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.
Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."
Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder.
Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, ... as in: "Going to town, be back directly."
Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.
All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.
Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin!
Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.
Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.
No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, and when we're "in line," we talk to everybody!
Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.
In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.
Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say ,"Bless her heart".. and go your own way.
To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning.
Bless your heart! And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff, bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!
And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could."
Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fahevah!
Now... Shugah, send this to some girls (and guys) who were raised in the South or wish they had been!
If you're a Northern transplant, Bless your little heart, fake it. We know you got here as fast as you could!
Monday, August 20, 2007
MODERN PROVERBS:
Man who run in front of car get tired.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man who run behind car get exhausted.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man with one chopstick go hungry.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man who eat crackers in bed sleep crummy.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*
War does not determine who is right; war determine who is left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man who stand on toilet is high on pot.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement.
*~**~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man who run behind car get exhausted.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man with one chopstick go hungry.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man who eat crackers in bed sleep crummy.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*
War does not determine who is right; war determine who is left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man who stand on toilet is high on pot.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement.
*~**~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*
Sunday, August 19, 2007
CAIN & ABEL: THE REST OF THE STORY
GENESIS 4:1-16
Pastor Rick Jackson
Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
It really helps to know the background of events to be able to properly assess a situation. Some people think Cain got cheated but this is not the case. That's why to know the rest of the story we first need to know:
I. THE BACKGROUND
1. God has already established blood sacrifices (3:21)
Teaching 4 truths: "in order for a guilty sinner to approach a holy God he needed a suitable covering" and "that...which their own hands had made were not acceptable to Him" "God must provide the covering" and "the necessary covering could only be obtained through death" Gleanings in Genesis (pg. 63)
2. Faith in God's Word had also been established (3:15, 20)
3. All of Adam's descendants have a sin nature (5:3-4)
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
II. THE FAITH OF ABEL, THE FIRST PROPHET Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
1. It was a Bible faith [Rm. 10:17]
2. It was a saving faith [4:4, Hebrews 12:24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
3. It was a sharing faith [4:8]
Matthew 23:34-35 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
III. THE WAY OF CAIN, THE FIRST MURDERER Jude 1:10-11 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
1. Cain deliberately brought the wrong offering [v. 1-4]
-he was the first religionist
-he brought the product of a cursed earth
-ignoring sin's penalty he brought no blood to show he was trusting in the promised Seed
-his offering showed no acknowledging of sin or of God's provision
2. Cain defiantly blamed God for his own failure [v. 5-8]
3. Cain decided to strike at God through Abel [v. 8]
-Psalm 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
-2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
-Cain was unwilling to shed animal blood but perfectly willing to shed Abel's blood.
-1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Romans 2:14-16 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
4. Cain discounted God's opportunity for a confession [v. 9-10]
5. Cain declared his punishment was too much [v. 11-14]
-Cain's pride in his produce just got reduced
-Cain feared others (brothers, nephews, etc.) would do to him what he did to Abel
-no human govt. established yet to inflict capital punishment (Gn. 9)
6. Cain's desperation did not cause a change in skin color [v. 15-16]
Some have foolishly suggested that the so-called "mark of Cain" was a change of skin color. Besides just being absurd the thought is unbiblical as Noah, a Sethite, and his family were the only survivors of the great flood). Also, the change was to protect Cain from others, if it was skin color then it's purpose was obviously a failure.
Pastor Rick Jackson
Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
It really helps to know the background of events to be able to properly assess a situation. Some people think Cain got cheated but this is not the case. That's why to know the rest of the story we first need to know:
I. THE BACKGROUND
1. God has already established blood sacrifices (3:21)
Teaching 4 truths: "in order for a guilty sinner to approach a holy God he needed a suitable covering" and "that...which their own hands had made were not acceptable to Him" "God must provide the covering" and "the necessary covering could only be obtained through death" Gleanings in Genesis (pg. 63)
2. Faith in God's Word had also been established (3:15, 20)
3. All of Adam's descendants have a sin nature (5:3-4)
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
II. THE FAITH OF ABEL, THE FIRST PROPHET Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
1. It was a Bible faith [Rm. 10:17]
2. It was a saving faith [4:4, Hebrews 12:24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
3. It was a sharing faith [4:8]
Matthew 23:34-35 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
III. THE WAY OF CAIN, THE FIRST MURDERER Jude 1:10-11 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
1. Cain deliberately brought the wrong offering [v. 1-4]
-he was the first religionist
-he brought the product of a cursed earth
-ignoring sin's penalty he brought no blood to show he was trusting in the promised Seed
-his offering showed no acknowledging of sin or of God's provision
2. Cain defiantly blamed God for his own failure [v. 5-8]
3. Cain decided to strike at God through Abel [v. 8]
-Psalm 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
-2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
-Cain was unwilling to shed animal blood but perfectly willing to shed Abel's blood.
-1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Romans 2:14-16 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
4. Cain discounted God's opportunity for a confession [v. 9-10]
5. Cain declared his punishment was too much [v. 11-14]
-Cain's pride in his produce just got reduced
-Cain feared others (brothers, nephews, etc.) would do to him what he did to Abel
-no human govt. established yet to inflict capital punishment (Gn. 9)
6. Cain's desperation did not cause a change in skin color [v. 15-16]
Some have foolishly suggested that the so-called "mark of Cain" was a change of skin color. Besides just being absurd the thought is unbiblical as Noah, a Sethite, and his family were the only survivors of the great flood). Also, the change was to protect Cain from others, if it was skin color then it's purpose was obviously a failure.
FIVE GRAND JUDGMENTS
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
Pastor Rick Jackson
If you ask many people how many judgments are in the Bible you would get a wide range of answers. Some think there is only one general judgment and one general resurrection--- but they would be wrong. Some say, two judgments- one for the lost and one for the saved. Again--- wrong. The Bible teaches there are 5 "Grand" judgments. (We say "Grand" because individual "judgments" or decisions are going on all the time. God sometimes judges believers' behavior causes them to be more trouble than they're worth and takes He them home prematurely.
1 Corinthians 11:29-31 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Many have mixed these 5 judgments together to their own confusion. It is not the objective of this message to cover each one exhaustively today but to give us a general idea of the 5 GRAND BIBLE JUDGMENTS.
I. THE BELIEVER'S SIN
Here is a strange thing, this judgement is passed. It occurred almost 2000 years ago. This is one judgment you want to be sure and get in on. Every believer's sin was judged and paid for on the cross of Calvary by the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
II. THE BELIEVER'S SERVICE
This judgment will cause tears in Heaven.
1. Tears of shame 1 John 2:28
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
2. Tears of loss [I Cor. 3:10-15]
3. Tears of Terror [II Cor. 5:10-11]
Thank God, after the millennium God will wipe away ALL tears. Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
III. THE NATION OF ISRAEL DURING THE TRIBULATION [EZ. 38-39]
Jer. 30 calls it "the time of Jacob's trouble" but this judgment prepares their hearts to accept Jesus Christ for Who He is, the long-awaited Messiah [Zech. 14:2-4; 12:1-14]
IV. THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH [REV. 19:11-16, MT. 25:31-34]
This determines who will enter the millennium in their natural bodies for 1000 years of peace on Earth.
V. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT [REV. 20:11-15]
Pastor Rick Jackson
If you ask many people how many judgments are in the Bible you would get a wide range of answers. Some think there is only one general judgment and one general resurrection--- but they would be wrong. Some say, two judgments- one for the lost and one for the saved. Again--- wrong. The Bible teaches there are 5 "Grand" judgments. (We say "Grand" because individual "judgments" or decisions are going on all the time. God sometimes judges believers' behavior causes them to be more trouble than they're worth and takes He them home prematurely.
1 Corinthians 11:29-31 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Many have mixed these 5 judgments together to their own confusion. It is not the objective of this message to cover each one exhaustively today but to give us a general idea of the 5 GRAND BIBLE JUDGMENTS.
I. THE BELIEVER'S SIN
Here is a strange thing, this judgement is passed. It occurred almost 2000 years ago. This is one judgment you want to be sure and get in on. Every believer's sin was judged and paid for on the cross of Calvary by the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
II. THE BELIEVER'S SERVICE
This judgment will cause tears in Heaven.
1. Tears of shame 1 John 2:28
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
2. Tears of loss [I Cor. 3:10-15]
3. Tears of Terror [II Cor. 5:10-11]
Thank God, after the millennium God will wipe away ALL tears. Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
III. THE NATION OF ISRAEL DURING THE TRIBULATION [EZ. 38-39]
Jer. 30 calls it "the time of Jacob's trouble" but this judgment prepares their hearts to accept Jesus Christ for Who He is, the long-awaited Messiah [Zech. 14:2-4; 12:1-14]
IV. THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH [REV. 19:11-16, MT. 25:31-34]
This determines who will enter the millennium in their natural bodies for 1000 years of peace on Earth.
V. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT [REV. 20:11-15]
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Q: Do creationists and evolutionists use the same science?
A: Of course they do!
Evolutionists often make the claim that creation scientists are just talking about the “religious” view of creation, whereas they’re talking about the “scientific” view of evolution.
However, the truth of the matter is that both sides use the same operational science. If this seems strange, think about it this way. Creationists accept the science of genetics—and so do evolutionists. Creationists accept the science of natural selection—and so do evolutionists. Creationists accept the science of geology—they sort rocks into sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic, for instance.
The operational science is not the issue—it’s the particular views of history that separate creationists and evolutionists. Both sides have different beliefs about the past that cause them to interpret the evidence in different ways.
But, even though the interpretations are different, only a biblical view interprets operational and historical science consistently … and explains the facts we observe!
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Evolutionists often make the claim that creation scientists are just talking about the “religious” view of creation, whereas they’re talking about the “scientific” view of evolution.
However, the truth of the matter is that both sides use the same operational science. If this seems strange, think about it this way. Creationists accept the science of genetics—and so do evolutionists. Creationists accept the science of natural selection—and so do evolutionists. Creationists accept the science of geology—they sort rocks into sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic, for instance.
The operational science is not the issue—it’s the particular views of history that separate creationists and evolutionists. Both sides have different beliefs about the past that cause them to interpret the evidence in different ways.
But, even though the interpretations are different, only a biblical view interprets operational and historical science consistently … and explains the facts we observe!
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Pictures of the week!
This is my daughter Rachel and her husband Ben at his graduation from Pensacola Christian College back in May. The face she is making is called a "gookie" and was made famous by Harpo Marx.
Ben is going to begin law school in Philadelphia soon. I had more recent pictures but have been unable to download them for some reason.
I don't want my picture taken!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
QUOTES OF THE WEEK!
"The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country. --Calvin Coolidge
He (Satan) had said, "your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil"; but he had left out a material part of the truth, namely, that they should know good without the power to do it, and that they should know evil without the power to avoid it! -CHM
Concerning these next "quotes": I cannot vouch for the veracity of the authors (though I have tried). The quotes were pretty good though no matter who said them so I have included them with this advisement.
Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement. Mark Twain
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. -- George Burns
Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year. - - Victor Borge
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. Mark Twain
By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. Socrates
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury. Groucho Marx
I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap. Bob Hope
We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress. Will Rogers
Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty . but everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out. Phyllis Diller
By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere. Billy Crystal
The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out.
He (Satan) had said, "your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil"; but he had left out a material part of the truth, namely, that they should know good without the power to do it, and that they should know evil without the power to avoid it! -CHM
Concerning these next "quotes": I cannot vouch for the veracity of the authors (though I have tried). The quotes were pretty good though no matter who said them so I have included them with this advisement.
Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement. Mark Twain
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. -- George Burns
Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year. - - Victor Borge
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. Mark Twain
By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. Socrates
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury. Groucho Marx
I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap. Bob Hope
We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress. Will Rogers
Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty . but everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out. Phyllis Diller
By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere. Billy Crystal
The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
THE king IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING!
Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, called by many the "king of rock and roll", and by still others, "the king". Some Elvis fans are fond of saying "America has had many presidents but only one king." Truth is, at one time, Memphis, Tn. proudly claimed that 3 kings had homes there... Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Jerry "the king" Lawler a professional wrestler. Speaking of wrestlers there's one now who calls himself "King Booker" because he won a "King of the Ring" tournament a while back and another who calls himself "the king of kings" because he has held so many championships for so many times. But like the song says Jesus is the... The Champion of Love
Ladies And Gentlemen, May I Have Your Attention?
I Want To Introduce To You
In This Corner Of The Good And The Right
Stands A Champion Robed In White
His Height Exceeds The Heavens
His Weight Out Weighs The World
His Reach Reaches Everywhere
His Age Is Ever More!
He Is Higher Than The Highest
Greater Than The Great
No One Can Ever Take His Crown Away
He's More Mighty Than The Mightiest
He Reins From Above!
He's The All Time Undisputed Undefeated Champion Of Love...
He Left His Home Town To Enter This Arena
To Raise His Hands In Victory For Me
An Angry Crowd Crucified This King Who Wore Their Crown
And They Gladly Watched The Champion Going Down
But I Will Never Count Him Out
For I'm A Witness Of The Day He Rose To Retain The Title Champion Of Love!
I Tm. 6:14-16 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Think about it. We still remember Elvis 30 years after his death, we still worship Jesus almost 2000 years after His death and resurrection.
I. THE TRUTH ABOUT ELVIS
1. He had no claim by a royal pedigree
One of his close friends and co-best man at his wedding said Elvis hated to be called "the King" because Elvis said, "there's only one king and that's Jesus Christ."
2. He had no kingdom (many fans but no kingdom)
3. He had no control over himself (today's Gainesville Sun labels him as "1977's poster boy for celebrity excess"). He died of an overdose or prescription medications.
II. THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS
1. He could lay claim to Israel's throne through His birth mother (Lk. 3:23-38) and His step-father (Mt. 1:1-17) Acts 2:29-31
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
2. He has a kingdom
John 18:36-37 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
3. He was in perfect control of Himself as well as Creation.
John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
III. THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS & ELVIS
1. Jesus gave Elvis his musical ability [1 Corinthians 4:7]
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
2. Elvis claimed Jesus as His Saviour
As featured in the May 18, 2006 issue of The Alabama Baptist an article by Kathy Dean, Correspondent. "Is Elvis in heaven?” It’s the question that Rick Stanley, one of Elvis's step-brothers is asked most often. For the Baptist evangelist, it’s a question not only into the eternal fate of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll but also about his stepbrother and the power of salvation.
“When I answer that question, I ask, ‘What makes you think he is; what makes you think he isn’t?’” Stanley said. Some people point to the way Elvis Presley loved and took care of his mother and say surely he is in heaven, while others point to his drug use and sexual promiscuity and say he’s not.
“I answer by saying Elvis was saved at the age of 10 years old at Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo, Miss., at Vacation Bible School,” Stanley said. “Did he have times when he was away from the Lord? Oh yeah. … Twenty or 30 years ago, the prevailing thought was that once you were saved, you don’t have issues. You just love Jesus and you’ll be OK. That sounds good but I know some really wonderful people that love the Lord who struggle with things.”
3. Elvis was apparently a carnal Christian
Elvis got away from the Lord's teachings, but if he was saved, he was still saved when he died!
Rm. 4:1-8
Gal. 3:1-4 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
One of the more popular slogans during the Revolutionary War is one you rarely hear about in history classes at school. The slogan was, "No King but Jesus". Not a bad slogan for now is it?
Ladies And Gentlemen, May I Have Your Attention?
I Want To Introduce To You
In This Corner Of The Good And The Right
Stands A Champion Robed In White
His Height Exceeds The Heavens
His Weight Out Weighs The World
His Reach Reaches Everywhere
His Age Is Ever More!
He Is Higher Than The Highest
Greater Than The Great
No One Can Ever Take His Crown Away
He's More Mighty Than The Mightiest
He Reins From Above!
He's The All Time Undisputed Undefeated Champion Of Love...
He Left His Home Town To Enter This Arena
To Raise His Hands In Victory For Me
An Angry Crowd Crucified This King Who Wore Their Crown
And They Gladly Watched The Champion Going Down
But I Will Never Count Him Out
For I'm A Witness Of The Day He Rose To Retain The Title Champion Of Love!
I Tm. 6:14-16 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Think about it. We still remember Elvis 30 years after his death, we still worship Jesus almost 2000 years after His death and resurrection.
I. THE TRUTH ABOUT ELVIS
1. He had no claim by a royal pedigree
One of his close friends and co-best man at his wedding said Elvis hated to be called "the King" because Elvis said, "there's only one king and that's Jesus Christ."
2. He had no kingdom (many fans but no kingdom)
3. He had no control over himself (today's Gainesville Sun labels him as "1977's poster boy for celebrity excess"). He died of an overdose or prescription medications.
II. THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS
1. He could lay claim to Israel's throne through His birth mother (Lk. 3:23-38) and His step-father (Mt. 1:1-17) Acts 2:29-31
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
2. He has a kingdom
John 18:36-37 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
3. He was in perfect control of Himself as well as Creation.
John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
III. THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS & ELVIS
1. Jesus gave Elvis his musical ability [1 Corinthians 4:7]
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
2. Elvis claimed Jesus as His Saviour
As featured in the May 18, 2006 issue of The Alabama Baptist an article by Kathy Dean, Correspondent. "Is Elvis in heaven?” It’s the question that Rick Stanley, one of Elvis's step-brothers is asked most often. For the Baptist evangelist, it’s a question not only into the eternal fate of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll but also about his stepbrother and the power of salvation.
“When I answer that question, I ask, ‘What makes you think he is; what makes you think he isn’t?’” Stanley said. Some people point to the way Elvis Presley loved and took care of his mother and say surely he is in heaven, while others point to his drug use and sexual promiscuity and say he’s not.
“I answer by saying Elvis was saved at the age of 10 years old at Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo, Miss., at Vacation Bible School,” Stanley said. “Did he have times when he was away from the Lord? Oh yeah. … Twenty or 30 years ago, the prevailing thought was that once you were saved, you don’t have issues. You just love Jesus and you’ll be OK. That sounds good but I know some really wonderful people that love the Lord who struggle with things.”
3. Elvis was apparently a carnal Christian
Elvis got away from the Lord's teachings, but if he was saved, he was still saved when he died!
Rm. 4:1-8
Gal. 3:1-4 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
One of the more popular slogans during the Revolutionary War is one you rarely hear about in history classes at school. The slogan was, "No King but Jesus". Not a bad slogan for now is it?
Today in History with a point!
On this date in 1635 the first hurricane recorded in Plymouth Colony, Mass. USA. Today we are seeing a "hurricane" of signs that Jesus is coming. It behooves us all to "Prepare to meet thy God" "Keep short accounts with God" Confess those sins!
Keep short accounts with God, confess sins, here is how. Sumner Wemp (use link at left)
Private sin should be confessed privately. A student was convicted of lusting. He stopped a girl in the hallway and confessed to her had lusted after her. That is utterly foolish. It scared the poor pure 18 year old girl to tears. She was petrified every time she saw him. Private sin like that must be confessed to God alone and know that the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, even lust.
Personal sins must be confessed personally to the one offended as well as to God. "Therefore if thou bring they gift to the altar and remember that thy brother hath ought against thee. Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift" Matt 5:23, 24. "A wounded spirit who can bear" Pro 18:14. The answer is no one! You offended someone. Go and apologize. That is old fashioned! "Confess your faults..." James 5:16.
I read Dear Abby every day. Nine tenths of the problems would be solved is people would apologize when they have offended someone. A pastor I mentored confessed to me he cheated in Seminary and could not get it off his mind. I told him he should confess it to the seminary. He did, they forgave him and he had peace and it never bothered him again. Public sin should be confessed publicly if it is known all over by the public. It should be handled just like the Scriptures say and with deep love. Matt 18 gives a detailed way to handle such matters. It works, I have used it on a number of occasions and we have never had a big eruption. Always good came out of it. The ultimate purpose ought to be to "restore" such a one in the spirit of meekness Gal 6:1. God honors such actions. I have personally seen it bring unusual glory to the Lord when handled this way.
Keep short accounts with God, confess sins, here is how. Sumner Wemp (use link at left)
Private sin should be confessed privately. A student was convicted of lusting. He stopped a girl in the hallway and confessed to her had lusted after her. That is utterly foolish. It scared the poor pure 18 year old girl to tears. She was petrified every time she saw him. Private sin like that must be confessed to God alone and know that the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, even lust.
Personal sins must be confessed personally to the one offended as well as to God. "Therefore if thou bring they gift to the altar and remember that thy brother hath ought against thee. Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift" Matt 5:23, 24. "A wounded spirit who can bear" Pro 18:14. The answer is no one! You offended someone. Go and apologize. That is old fashioned! "Confess your faults..." James 5:16.
I read Dear Abby every day. Nine tenths of the problems would be solved is people would apologize when they have offended someone. A pastor I mentored confessed to me he cheated in Seminary and could not get it off his mind. I told him he should confess it to the seminary. He did, they forgave him and he had peace and it never bothered him again. Public sin should be confessed publicly if it is known all over by the public. It should be handled just like the Scriptures say and with deep love. Matt 18 gives a detailed way to handle such matters. It works, I have used it on a number of occasions and we have never had a big eruption. Always good came out of it. The ultimate purpose ought to be to "restore" such a one in the spirit of meekness Gal 6:1. God honors such actions. I have personally seen it bring unusual glory to the Lord when handled this way.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
POEMS OF THE WEEK!
I NEEDED THE QUIET
I needed the quiet so he drew me aside
Into the shadows where we could confide,
Away from the bustle where all the day long
I hurried and worried when active and strong.
I needed the quiet tho at first I rebelled,
But gently, so gently my cross he upheld,
And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things,
Tho weakened in body, my spirit took wings
To heights never heard of when active and gay,
He loved me so greatly he drew me away.
I needed the quiet, no prison my bed,
But a beautiful valley of blessings instead –
A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide
I needed the quiet so he drew me aside.
– Alice H. Mortenson
TO SEEK JESUS
To seek for Jesus
-is to find Jesus.
To find Jesus,
-is to know Jesus.
To know Jesus,
-is to love Jesus.
To love Jesus,
-is to follow Jesus.
To follow Jesus,
-is to follow God.
-Rick Jackson (written Fall 1974, I was 17)
I needed the quiet so he drew me aside
Into the shadows where we could confide,
Away from the bustle where all the day long
I hurried and worried when active and strong.
I needed the quiet tho at first I rebelled,
But gently, so gently my cross he upheld,
And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things,
Tho weakened in body, my spirit took wings
To heights never heard of when active and gay,
He loved me so greatly he drew me away.
I needed the quiet, no prison my bed,
But a beautiful valley of blessings instead –
A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide
I needed the quiet so he drew me aside.
– Alice H. Mortenson
TO SEEK JESUS
To seek for Jesus
-is to find Jesus.
To find Jesus,
-is to know Jesus.
To know Jesus,
-is to love Jesus.
To love Jesus,
-is to follow Jesus.
To follow Jesus,
-is to follow God.
-Rick Jackson (written Fall 1974, I was 17)
Monday, August 13, 2007
better than Tiger Woods?
Winning a soul to Christ is a billion times better than Tiger Woods winning the golf tournament.
Sumner Wemp (use link at left for more) Aug 13, 2007
Tiger Woods just won the 2007 PGA golf tournament. It will make headlines, it will go down in history, millions watched it on TV, thousands cheered at the golf course. He won over one million dollars for four days of golf. That boy or girl, that man or woman you won to Christ is worth a billion trillion times more than that trophy or the millions dollars, he has won. No one noticed or cheered for you. What he did will be forgotten forever in heaven but that soul will be there, forever in heaven.
Look what God did. Celeste and I ran into Bob Pearson and family from Chicago, one of my most cherished friends, after church. He took us out to eat, to a cafeteria I would have never thought to go. Just as we finished eating the 50 year old assistant manager stopped at our table. Bob spoke to him and said to me,"Give him one of your tracts." I gave him "Your Ticket to Heaven."
He said, "Boy do I need that."
I gave him my pet reply, "Louis, we all need that." Then I just told him how God loved him and the Lord Jesus suffered and died for all our sins, paid our debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds. "Louis, the whole issue is, did Jesus pay our debt of sin or didn't He. God said He did. Do you believe He died for your sins too?" It was amazing, he saw it and said, "Why, yes He did."
There in the cafeteria, with scores all around, I asked, "Louis, could you right now, pray with me and tell God you want to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior?" Without hesitation he said, "Yes, I could " We bowed out heads and he prayed out loud and received the Lord Jesus as his Savior and God gave assurance he was saved. I asked if he would tell the other four adults at the table what he had just done. He said, "Yes" and immediately told them "I just accepted Jesus as my Savior." Heaven came down as we all nearly burst into tears of joy and awe at what God had done.
As I look back, it was so obvious, God orchestrated the whole event. Of course, I am going to follow up.
Dear people, anyone could have lead Louis to Christ. "God said, the harvest is plenteous, the laborers are few". We have just got to get serious about obeying God to get this gospel, this good news, like God commanded us, to every person we have that moment of personal contact. It is the ONLY way we are ever going to change the world. PLEASE, start by giving them a good gospel tract and watch God open just such doors for you too. What you do in "preaching the gospel", the GOOD NEWS, to any person is far more important to you, to God and to that person than all the riches and rewards down here.
"Rejoice not that the spirits are subject to you but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" Lk 10:20 and for the one who led YOU to Christ.
Enter the drawings for packs of tracts www.sumnerwemp.com and read great articles. You are loved by God and me. My passion is you will have tons of treasures and trophies up there as you leave every thing else down here! ABC Sumner
Sumner Wemp (use link at left for more) Aug 13, 2007
Tiger Woods just won the 2007 PGA golf tournament. It will make headlines, it will go down in history, millions watched it on TV, thousands cheered at the golf course. He won over one million dollars for four days of golf. That boy or girl, that man or woman you won to Christ is worth a billion trillion times more than that trophy or the millions dollars, he has won. No one noticed or cheered for you. What he did will be forgotten forever in heaven but that soul will be there, forever in heaven.
Look what God did. Celeste and I ran into Bob Pearson and family from Chicago, one of my most cherished friends, after church. He took us out to eat, to a cafeteria I would have never thought to go. Just as we finished eating the 50 year old assistant manager stopped at our table. Bob spoke to him and said to me,"Give him one of your tracts." I gave him "Your Ticket to Heaven."
He said, "Boy do I need that."
I gave him my pet reply, "Louis, we all need that." Then I just told him how God loved him and the Lord Jesus suffered and died for all our sins, paid our debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds. "Louis, the whole issue is, did Jesus pay our debt of sin or didn't He. God said He did. Do you believe He died for your sins too?" It was amazing, he saw it and said, "Why, yes He did."
There in the cafeteria, with scores all around, I asked, "Louis, could you right now, pray with me and tell God you want to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior?" Without hesitation he said, "Yes, I could " We bowed out heads and he prayed out loud and received the Lord Jesus as his Savior and God gave assurance he was saved. I asked if he would tell the other four adults at the table what he had just done. He said, "Yes" and immediately told them "I just accepted Jesus as my Savior." Heaven came down as we all nearly burst into tears of joy and awe at what God had done.
As I look back, it was so obvious, God orchestrated the whole event. Of course, I am going to follow up.
Dear people, anyone could have lead Louis to Christ. "God said, the harvest is plenteous, the laborers are few". We have just got to get serious about obeying God to get this gospel, this good news, like God commanded us, to every person we have that moment of personal contact. It is the ONLY way we are ever going to change the world. PLEASE, start by giving them a good gospel tract and watch God open just such doors for you too. What you do in "preaching the gospel", the GOOD NEWS, to any person is far more important to you, to God and to that person than all the riches and rewards down here.
"Rejoice not that the spirits are subject to you but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" Lk 10:20 and for the one who led YOU to Christ.
Enter the drawings for packs of tracts www.sumnerwemp.com and read great articles. You are loved by God and me. My passion is you will have tons of treasures and trophies up there as you leave every thing else down here! ABC Sumner
Sunday, August 12, 2007
WHY THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE
GENESIS 3
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. SOME OF SATAN'S FAVORITE TOOLS [V. 1-6]
The Devil has many tools at his disposal. He will twist legitimate desires into destructive lusts anywhere and anytime he can... and he can almost anywhere and anytime. His goals of course relate back to his desire for power and his determination to try to frustrate the purpose of God. Genesis 3 introduces us to 7 of Satan's favorite tools for the destruction of mankind and the defilement of God's purpose. Because of God neither of Satan's long-range goals will be reached.
1. Doubt the Word of God [v. 1-3]
2. Deny the Word of God [v. 4]
3. Despise the God of the Word [v. 5] Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
He (Satan) had said, "your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil"; but he had left out a material part of the truth, namely, that they should know good without the power to do it, and that they should know evil without the power to avoid it!" -CHM (Rm. 7)
4. Lust of the flesh [v. 6] "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food"
5. Lust of the eyes [v. 6] "...and that it was pleasant to the eyes,"
6. Pride of life (the one that got him) [v. 6, Is. 14, Ez. 28] "...and a tree to be desired to make one wise,"
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
7. People [v. 6] "...she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."
1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
II. THE TROUBLES OF SIN [V. 7-13]
1. GUILT [v. 7, Hebrews 4:13] Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
2. SHAME [v. 8-10, Proverbs 13:18] Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
1 John 3:20-21 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
3. BLAME [v.11-13]
III. THE SOLUTION OF GOD [V. 14-24]
Though I have divided this into 3 sections please note that the solution is One. All accomplished through the person of the second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. THE PROMISE OF SATAN'S DOWNFALL [v. 14-15] Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
II. THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF SIN'S DEFILEMENT [v. 16-20] Rm. 8:21-22
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
III. THE PATTERN OF THE SAVIOUR'S DELIVERANCE [v. 21-24, Heb. 9:14-28]
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. SOME OF SATAN'S FAVORITE TOOLS [V. 1-6]
The Devil has many tools at his disposal. He will twist legitimate desires into destructive lusts anywhere and anytime he can... and he can almost anywhere and anytime. His goals of course relate back to his desire for power and his determination to try to frustrate the purpose of God. Genesis 3 introduces us to 7 of Satan's favorite tools for the destruction of mankind and the defilement of God's purpose. Because of God neither of Satan's long-range goals will be reached.
1. Doubt the Word of God [v. 1-3]
2. Deny the Word of God [v. 4]
3. Despise the God of the Word [v. 5] Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
He (Satan) had said, "your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil"; but he had left out a material part of the truth, namely, that they should know good without the power to do it, and that they should know evil without the power to avoid it!" -CHM (Rm. 7)
4. Lust of the flesh [v. 6] "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food"
5. Lust of the eyes [v. 6] "...and that it was pleasant to the eyes,"
6. Pride of life (the one that got him) [v. 6, Is. 14, Ez. 28] "...and a tree to be desired to make one wise,"
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
7. People [v. 6] "...she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."
1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
II. THE TROUBLES OF SIN [V. 7-13]
1. GUILT [v. 7, Hebrews 4:13] Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
2. SHAME [v. 8-10, Proverbs 13:18] Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
1 John 3:20-21 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
3. BLAME [v.11-13]
III. THE SOLUTION OF GOD [V. 14-24]
Though I have divided this into 3 sections please note that the solution is One. All accomplished through the person of the second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. THE PROMISE OF SATAN'S DOWNFALL [v. 14-15] Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
II. THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF SIN'S DEFILEMENT [v. 16-20] Rm. 8:21-22
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
III. THE PATTERN OF THE SAVIOUR'S DELIVERANCE [v. 21-24, Heb. 9:14-28]
CONSEQUENCES, CHRIST, & CONNECTIONS
GENESIS 3:17-24
"MAKE THE CONNECTION" This was the point of a recent message but really it's the point of every message. God wants us to make the connection with the His Word and our lives. If we are lost He wants us to make the connection and be saved. If we are saved He wants us to make the connection and be sanctified. If we are sanctified He wants us to make the connection and be serving! Make the connection!
As we are going through Genesis on Sunday evenings there are sometimes truths that don't quite fit the paramaters of the messages being given at that time. But they are messages that we need, messages that we must give our hearts and ears in attention and respond to the leading of the blessed Holy Spirit. I pray this message is one of those.
I. THE CONSEQUENCES TO ADAM'S RACE
1. A CURSE [v. 17]
2. SORROW [v. 17]
3. THORNS [v. 18]
4. SWEAT [v. 19]
5. A return to DUST in Death [v. 19]
6. SEPARATION [v. 22-24]
7. A SWORD [v. 24]
II. THE CONSEQUENCES MET BY CHRIST
1. A CURSE Galatians 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
2. SORROW Isaiah 53:3-4
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
3. THORNS Mark 15:15-19
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
4. SWEAT Luke 22:44
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
5. DUST Psalm 22:15 (14-16)
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
6. SEPARATION Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
7. SWORD Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
[The following was adapted from www.wordsofhope.org]
God put it in the heart of an English Baptist, William Tyndale to translate the Bible into English. A Bible in the English language was just what the pope did not want. Tyndale sadly said, "In England there is no room for attempting the translation of the Scriptures." Did he quit?. No. . He just left England and went to live in Germany. There the FIRST ENGLISH BIBLE was printed, two sizes being made, one large and one small, for he thought if the English Catholic bishops found the large ones, he might be able to hide the smaller ones. Now they must be gotten to England. In barrels all covered with cloth and articles for sale, in bales that looked like cloth, in sacks of flour, in every way that could be found to hide them, they were sent across to England in large numbers, and the Catholic bishops found out they were being sold. Every seaport was carefully watched, and many a package of Bibles was found and BURNED. But more Bibles came. They could not stop them, and some of them would always get to people who wanted to read them. Finally the Catholic bishop of London had a bright idea! He decided he would buy all the copies that were printed, through a merchant in Germany! Then there would be no more Bibles to come across the water. He did not know that the merchant he asked to do this was a friend of William Tyndale. This friend knew that right at that time Tyndale needed money more than anything else to pay his printers for the work they had done and start a new printing of the Bible. So he said, "My Lord, I will be glad to attend to this matter. But it will take money to do it, for the men who have these books in Germany hold them at a high price.""My dear Sir," said the bishop, "do your best to get them for me, all of them, for they are very bad books. I will gladly pay you whatever they cost, for I intend to burn them all and end this matter."
What fun it was to the merchant! He went to Tyndale, bought his books at a good price and brought them over to England while Tyndale went right to work on a new improved printing for he now had plenty of money. The Bishop thought there'd never be another BIBLE in English. Imagine how he felt when he learned that more Bibles than ever before were coming into England. So many came that the officers simply could not stop them. "HOW CAN THIS BE?" a man who had been arrested for helping Tyndale, was asked. "I will tell you truly, my lord," the man replied, "tis yourself that gave us the money to print the Bibles!"
III. THE GREATER CONNECTION
Here is a wonderful thing. The connection between God and man was broken by Adam, a greater connection was put in place by Christ. If you have Christ you have the broadband instead of the dial-up conncetion to God. This package includes:
1. A DIVINE NATURE
2 Peter 1:4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
I Cor. 15:47-49 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
2. A HEAVENLY PARADISE
Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
3. A DIVINE RIGHTEOUSNESS
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
4. A BETTER INHERITANCE
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
5. A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
"MAKE THE CONNECTION" This was the point of a recent message but really it's the point of every message. God wants us to make the connection with the His Word and our lives. If we are lost He wants us to make the connection and be saved. If we are saved He wants us to make the connection and be sanctified. If we are sanctified He wants us to make the connection and be serving! Make the connection!
As we are going through Genesis on Sunday evenings there are sometimes truths that don't quite fit the paramaters of the messages being given at that time. But they are messages that we need, messages that we must give our hearts and ears in attention and respond to the leading of the blessed Holy Spirit. I pray this message is one of those.
I. THE CONSEQUENCES TO ADAM'S RACE
1. A CURSE [v. 17]
2. SORROW [v. 17]
3. THORNS [v. 18]
4. SWEAT [v. 19]
5. A return to DUST in Death [v. 19]
6. SEPARATION [v. 22-24]
7. A SWORD [v. 24]
II. THE CONSEQUENCES MET BY CHRIST
1. A CURSE Galatians 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
2. SORROW Isaiah 53:3-4
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
3. THORNS Mark 15:15-19
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
4. SWEAT Luke 22:44
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
5. DUST Psalm 22:15 (14-16)
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
6. SEPARATION Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
7. SWORD Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
[The following was adapted from www.wordsofhope.org]
God put it in the heart of an English Baptist, William Tyndale to translate the Bible into English. A Bible in the English language was just what the pope did not want. Tyndale sadly said, "In England there is no room for attempting the translation of the Scriptures." Did he quit?. No. . He just left England and went to live in Germany. There the FIRST ENGLISH BIBLE was printed, two sizes being made, one large and one small, for he thought if the English Catholic bishops found the large ones, he might be able to hide the smaller ones. Now they must be gotten to England. In barrels all covered with cloth and articles for sale, in bales that looked like cloth, in sacks of flour, in every way that could be found to hide them, they were sent across to England in large numbers, and the Catholic bishops found out they were being sold. Every seaport was carefully watched, and many a package of Bibles was found and BURNED. But more Bibles came. They could not stop them, and some of them would always get to people who wanted to read them. Finally the Catholic bishop of London had a bright idea! He decided he would buy all the copies that were printed, through a merchant in Germany! Then there would be no more Bibles to come across the water. He did not know that the merchant he asked to do this was a friend of William Tyndale. This friend knew that right at that time Tyndale needed money more than anything else to pay his printers for the work they had done and start a new printing of the Bible. So he said, "My Lord, I will be glad to attend to this matter. But it will take money to do it, for the men who have these books in Germany hold them at a high price.""My dear Sir," said the bishop, "do your best to get them for me, all of them, for they are very bad books. I will gladly pay you whatever they cost, for I intend to burn them all and end this matter."
What fun it was to the merchant! He went to Tyndale, bought his books at a good price and brought them over to England while Tyndale went right to work on a new improved printing for he now had plenty of money. The Bishop thought there'd never be another BIBLE in English. Imagine how he felt when he learned that more Bibles than ever before were coming into England. So many came that the officers simply could not stop them. "HOW CAN THIS BE?" a man who had been arrested for helping Tyndale, was asked. "I will tell you truly, my lord," the man replied, "tis yourself that gave us the money to print the Bibles!"
III. THE GREATER CONNECTION
Here is a wonderful thing. The connection between God and man was broken by Adam, a greater connection was put in place by Christ. If you have Christ you have the broadband instead of the dial-up conncetion to God. This package includes:
1. A DIVINE NATURE
2 Peter 1:4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
I Cor. 15:47-49 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
2. A HEAVENLY PARADISE
Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
3. A DIVINE RIGHTEOUSNESS
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
4. A BETTER INHERITANCE
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
5. A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Q: Don’t evolutionists have different “evidence” than creationists have?
A: No. Think about these questions:
Do creationists and evolutionists have the same animals?
Do creationists and evolutionists have the same fossil record?
So do they have the same earth?
So do creationists and evolutionists have the same facts/evidence?
The battle between creation and evolution is not about facts—the facts are the same.
The real difference is how one interprets the facts in relation to the past. This is all determined by one’s beliefs to start with. A creationist starts with the belief that the Bible’s history is true and interprets the evidence on this basis. An evolutionist starts with the belief that most, if not all, things can be explained without God, and interprets the same facts differently.
But only the biblical basis makes consistent sense of the facts … and fits directly with real observational science.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Do creationists and evolutionists have the same animals?
Do creationists and evolutionists have the same fossil record?
So do they have the same earth?
So do creationists and evolutionists have the same facts/evidence?
The battle between creation and evolution is not about facts—the facts are the same.
The real difference is how one interprets the facts in relation to the past. This is all determined by one’s beliefs to start with. A creationist starts with the belief that the Bible’s history is true and interprets the evidence on this basis. An evolutionist starts with the belief that most, if not all, things can be explained without God, and interprets the same facts differently.
But only the biblical basis makes consistent sense of the facts … and fits directly with real observational science.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Are you Monkish?
Here's a joke my only sister sent me.
This is for all the germ conscious folks that worry about using cold water to clean.
John went to visit his 90 year old grandfather in a very secluded, rural area of Georgia . After spending a great evening chatting the night away, John's grandfather prepared breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. However, John noticed a film like substance on his plate, and questioned his grandfather asking, "Are these plates clean?" His grandfather repli ed, "They're as clean as cold water can get them.Just you go ahead and finish your meal, Sonny!"
For lunch the old man made hamburgers. Again, John was concerned about the plates as his appeared to have tiny specks around the edge that looked like dried egg and asked, "Are you sure these plates are clean?" Without looking up the old man said, "I told you before, Sonny, those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them. Now don't you fret, I don't want to hear another word about it!"
Later that afternoon, John was on his way to a nearby town and as he was leaving, his grandfather's dog started to growl, and wouldn't let him pass. John yelled and said, "Grandfather, your dog won't let me get to my car" Without diverting his attention from the football game he was watching on TV, the old man shouted..."COLDWATER, GO LAY DOWN!!!!"
Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride.
This is for all the germ conscious folks that worry about using cold water to clean.
John went to visit his 90 year old grandfather in a very secluded, rural area of Georgia . After spending a great evening chatting the night away, John's grandfather prepared breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. However, John noticed a film like substance on his plate, and questioned his grandfather asking, "Are these plates clean?" His grandfather repli ed, "They're as clean as cold water can get them.Just you go ahead and finish your meal, Sonny!"
For lunch the old man made hamburgers. Again, John was concerned about the plates as his appeared to have tiny specks around the edge that looked like dried egg and asked, "Are you sure these plates are clean?" Without looking up the old man said, "I told you before, Sonny, those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them. Now don't you fret, I don't want to hear another word about it!"
Later that afternoon, John was on his way to a nearby town and as he was leaving, his grandfather's dog started to growl, and wouldn't let him pass. John yelled and said, "Grandfather, your dog won't let me get to my car" Without diverting his attention from the football game he was watching on TV, the old man shouted..."COLDWATER, GO LAY DOWN!!!!"
Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Quantas Airlines???????
I doubt this is true. www.snopes.com didn't have an opinion on it but it is pretty funny so I'm giving it to you pretty much as the Great Sandini sent it to me.
After every flight, pilots fill out a form called a gripe sheet, which conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction. The mechanics read and correct the problem,and then respond in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action was taken, and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Quantas pilots and the solution recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, Quantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident.
(P = The problem logged by the pilot.)
(S = The solution and action taken by the mechanics.)
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.
After every flight, pilots fill out a form called a gripe sheet, which conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction. The mechanics read and correct the problem,and then respond in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action was taken, and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Quantas pilots and the solution recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, Quantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident.
(P = The problem logged by the pilot.)
(S = The solution and action taken by the mechanics.)
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cryout for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wildbeasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
Christians, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Is the story of the Cherokee true? I don't know, it says it's a legend. Duh! But I do know the Heavenly Father is watching over us!
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wildbeasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
Christians, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Is the story of the Cherokee true? I don't know, it says it's a legend. Duh! But I do know the Heavenly Father is watching over us!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
An American
Peter Ferrara, associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law in Northern Virginia. Originally published in the National Review Sept. 25, 2001.
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So I just thought I would write to let them know what an American is, so they would know when they found one.
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them choose.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. The best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes.
Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed.
These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers in the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their families. [I've been told that the people in the Towers were from at least 30, and maybe many more, other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.]
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
So look around you. You may find more Americans in your land than you thought were there. One day they will rise up and overthrow the old, ignorant, tired tyrants that trouble too many lands. Then those lands, too, will join the community of free and prosperous nations.
And America will welcome them.
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So I just thought I would write to let them know what an American is, so they would know when they found one.
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them choose.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. The best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes.
Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed.
These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers in the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their families. [I've been told that the people in the Towers were from at least 30, and maybe many more, other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.]
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
So look around you. You may find more Americans in your land than you thought were there. One day they will rise up and overthrow the old, ignorant, tired tyrants that trouble too many lands. Then those lands, too, will join the community of free and prosperous nations.
And America will welcome them.
Monday, August 06, 2007
THE CROWN OF CREATION
GENESIS 2
Pastor Rick Jackson
VII. THE SEVENTH DAY- GENESIS 2:1-3
1. Six 24 hour days of creation [v. 1]
2. God rested though He was not tired [v. 2]. Only here do we know of that God rested. Since sin entered the world God has not rested.
John 5:16-18 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God
3. God established the 7th day on Saturday (2500 years later He would establish the Sabbath with the nation of Israel on this basis). Here He establishes a 7 day week, explained no where else in the universe to our knowledge.
Dr. John R. Rice pointed out 3 Bible facts about the Sabbath that every person should know.
[1] "...though God sanctified the Sabbath day, He did not let it be known to mankind for hundreds of years! He did not tell Adam... Noah... Abraham or Isaac or Jacob!"
[2] "...this was a particular covenant between God and Israel and nobody else." [Ex. 20:1-3; 31:12-13, 16-17]
[3] "No Christian is to be judged... in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon or the Sabbath days in those things which were commanded in the ceremonial law to Israel," [Col. 2:16-17]
The first week, approximately 6000 years ago. Those were the days!
I. REVISITING CREATION (Not a 2nd account, more details given like 1:20-21)
1. Titled [v. 4a] (10 times this occurs in Genesis-here, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, etc.)
2. Temperate [v.4b-6]
3. Tenderness [v. 7]
II. REMARKABLE CREATION [v. 8-17]
1. Loving care [v. 8-9]
2. Local conditions [v. 10-14] Doubtless all changed since the flood of Noah's day.
3. Land caregiver [v. 15-17]
III. REMARKABLE CREATOR [V. 18-25]
1. Causing Adam to consider [v. 18-20]
2. Causing Adam to contribute [v.21]
3. Causing Adam to comment [v. 22-25]
Pastor Rick Jackson
VII. THE SEVENTH DAY- GENESIS 2:1-3
1. Six 24 hour days of creation [v. 1]
2. God rested though He was not tired [v. 2]. Only here do we know of that God rested. Since sin entered the world God has not rested.
John 5:16-18 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God
3. God established the 7th day on Saturday (2500 years later He would establish the Sabbath with the nation of Israel on this basis). Here He establishes a 7 day week, explained no where else in the universe to our knowledge.
Dr. John R. Rice pointed out 3 Bible facts about the Sabbath that every person should know.
[1] "...though God sanctified the Sabbath day, He did not let it be known to mankind for hundreds of years! He did not tell Adam... Noah... Abraham or Isaac or Jacob!"
[2] "...this was a particular covenant between God and Israel and nobody else." [Ex. 20:1-3; 31:12-13, 16-17]
[3] "No Christian is to be judged... in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon or the Sabbath days in those things which were commanded in the ceremonial law to Israel," [Col. 2:16-17]
The first week, approximately 6000 years ago. Those were the days!
I. REVISITING CREATION (Not a 2nd account, more details given like 1:20-21)
1. Titled [v. 4a] (10 times this occurs in Genesis-here, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, etc.)
2. Temperate [v.4b-6]
3. Tenderness [v. 7]
II. REMARKABLE CREATION [v. 8-17]
1. Loving care [v. 8-9]
2. Local conditions [v. 10-14] Doubtless all changed since the flood of Noah's day.
3. Land caregiver [v. 15-17]
III. REMARKABLE CREATOR [V. 18-25]
1. Causing Adam to consider [v. 18-20]
2. Causing Adam to contribute [v.21]
3. Causing Adam to comment [v. 22-25]
Sunday, August 05, 2007
THE TREES, RIVERS & PARADISE CONNECTION
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE FIRSTS
1. The Tree of Testing [Gn. 2:9, 15-17; 3:6]
2. The River of Eden [Gn. 2:10]
3. The Paradise of Eden [Is. 51:3]
II. THE FINALS
1. The Tree of Life Revisited [Rev. 22:2]
2. The Pure River [Rev. 22:1]
3. The Paradise of God [Rev. 2:7]
III. THE FOUNDATION
1. The Tree that crosses the barriers [Gn. 3:17, Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29, Gal. 3:10-14, I Pet. 2:24, Rev. 2:7 compared with I Jn. 5:4-5]
2. The River that changes the courses of life [Jn. 7:37-39]
3. The Person Who opens Paradise [Lk. 23:39-43]
Have you made the connection with the Man who has all the connections and makes the connections? Have you helped others make the connection?
I. THE FIRSTS
1. The Tree of Testing [Gn. 2:9, 15-17; 3:6]
2. The River of Eden [Gn. 2:10]
3. The Paradise of Eden [Is. 51:3]
II. THE FINALS
1. The Tree of Life Revisited [Rev. 22:2]
2. The Pure River [Rev. 22:1]
3. The Paradise of God [Rev. 2:7]
III. THE FOUNDATION
1. The Tree that crosses the barriers [Gn. 3:17, Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29, Gal. 3:10-14, I Pet. 2:24, Rev. 2:7 compared with I Jn. 5:4-5]
2. The River that changes the courses of life [Jn. 7:37-39]
3. The Person Who opens Paradise [Lk. 23:39-43]
Have you made the connection with the Man who has all the connections and makes the connections? Have you helped others make the connection?
Saturday, August 04, 2007
What about the gap theory?
Q: Why do some people say that there is a gap between the first two verses of Genesis 1?
A: The idea of adding a break between the first two verses of Genesis 1 is called the gap theory, and there are many different versions of this theory. But they all, in some way, try to fit the supposed billions of years of earth’s history between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.
But the Hebrew grammar does not allow for such a gap.
Genesis 1:2 begins: “And the earth … .” The use of the English word “and” there is because of what’s called an explanatory use of a waw disjunctive in Hebrew, when it is connected to a noun like “earth.” In Hebrew grammar, this means this verse is a comment on the previous verse. It is not a part of the sequence of the narrative.
Now in verse 1:3, we read “And God said … .”
When the waw is connected to a verb like “said,” this is called a waw consecutive. This means this is part of the sequence of the narrative.
Thus, Genesis 1:1 actually connects directly to verse 1:3—so verse 1:2, where there is an alleged gap, is a comment or description of the earth in verse 1:1.
The bottom line is that the original Hebrew grammar does not allow for a gap between the first two verses.
For more information on the gap theory, see From the beginning of the creation.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
A: The idea of adding a break between the first two verses of Genesis 1 is called the gap theory, and there are many different versions of this theory. But they all, in some way, try to fit the supposed billions of years of earth’s history between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.
But the Hebrew grammar does not allow for such a gap.
Genesis 1:2 begins: “And the earth … .” The use of the English word “and” there is because of what’s called an explanatory use of a waw disjunctive in Hebrew, when it is connected to a noun like “earth.” In Hebrew grammar, this means this verse is a comment on the previous verse. It is not a part of the sequence of the narrative.
Now in verse 1:3, we read “And God said … .”
When the waw is connected to a verb like “said,” this is called a waw consecutive. This means this is part of the sequence of the narrative.
Thus, Genesis 1:1 actually connects directly to verse 1:3—so verse 1:2, where there is an alleged gap, is a comment or description of the earth in verse 1:1.
The bottom line is that the original Hebrew grammar does not allow for a gap between the first two verses.
For more information on the gap theory, see From the beginning of the creation.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK (IV) WITH THE TRINITY
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE TRINITY SEALS CHRISTIANS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. SEALING DENOTES OWNERSHIP [Eph. 1:13-14]
2. SEALING IS NOT BROKEN BY SIN [Eph. 4:30]
3. SEALING DEMONSTRATES SECURITY [Jn. 13:16, II Cor. 1:21-22]
II. THE TRINITY ANOINTS CHRISTIANS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. JESUS WAS ANOINTED BY THE FATHER WITH THE SPIRIT
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
2. JESUS SENT US AS THE FATHER HAD SENT HIM
John 20:21-22 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
3. JESUS HAS ANOINTED US WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
III. THE TRINITY ASSURES CHRISTIANS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT [RM. 8]
1. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION [V. 15A]
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons
2. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF INTIMACY [V. 15B]
Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
3. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF ASSURANCE [V. 16-25]
Galatians 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Though this information comes from many years of study and many sources I must give thanks to Sumner Wemp for the idea and the general series. Check out his fantastic website using the link in the upper left of my blog.
I. THE TRINITY SEALS CHRISTIANS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. SEALING DENOTES OWNERSHIP [Eph. 1:13-14]
2. SEALING IS NOT BROKEN BY SIN [Eph. 4:30]
3. SEALING DEMONSTRATES SECURITY [Jn. 13:16, II Cor. 1:21-22]
II. THE TRINITY ANOINTS CHRISTIANS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. JESUS WAS ANOINTED BY THE FATHER WITH THE SPIRIT
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
2. JESUS SENT US AS THE FATHER HAD SENT HIM
John 20:21-22 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
3. JESUS HAS ANOINTED US WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
III. THE TRINITY ASSURES CHRISTIANS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT [RM. 8]
1. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION [V. 15A]
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons
2. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF INTIMACY [V. 15B]
Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
3. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF ASSURANCE [V. 16-25]
Galatians 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Though this information comes from many years of study and many sources I must give thanks to Sumner Wemp for the idea and the general series. Check out his fantastic website using the link in the upper left of my blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
