I'm a thinner!!

Rom 3:23

I love the old joke about the preacher who decides to paint the building where the congregation gathers.  He went and bought all his supplies and began to paint.  He got about half way done with  the first side and realized he would need a lot more paint than he could afford.  So he mixed in some paint thinner to make the paint last.  He finished all four sides with paint to spare.  That night a bad storm rolled in and heavy rains came.  The preacher got up the next day and noticed that his thinned out paint was mostly washed away.  It looked terrible so he cried out in prayer asking what to do.  He heard a rumbling voice from above that said, "Repaint, and thin no more!"

The Bible says we are all thinners...  I mean sinners, as stated in the above verse.  When you ask Christians about sin you get a variety of answers.  It can be like the old TV show hosted by Bill Cosby, "Kids will say the darnedest things."  Let's look at a few verses concerning sin to see what sin is.

How does the Bible define sin?  All unrighteousness is sin 1Jn 5:17; sin is a transgression of the Law 1Jn 3:4; and knowing to do right and not doing it is sin Jas 4:17.  I always say being a Christian isn't just about avoiding the wrong, but it's also about doing the right.  These scriptures tell us that sin is breaking the Law of God, either doing what he forbids or not disobeying what He commands.  Adam and Eve were given much and told to avoid little.  Yet, they chose to disobey and therefore they sinned.  Sin isn't all about how we look at something.  It's about how God looks at something.  We may feel like ignoring the needy isn't a big deal, but it is in God's eyes!

Sin has its punishment.  Adam and Eve found that out.  They were warned of sins punishment, but they underestimated what God said.  Many are falling victim to the same type of thinking today.   Every person must bear the guilt of their own sin.  The guilt of sin is never transferred from person to person.  The consequences can be, but not the guilt.  Today, women suffer the consequence of pain in childbirth from Eve's sin, but not her guilt.  A baby who had a drug addicted mother may face the consequences of its mother's sin, but not the guilt.  We are all personally accountable for our sin and not what others have done.  2Co 5:10

The Bible clearly says all have sinned. Rom 3:23; Gal 3:22  All are under sin, who can really say they never said something they shouldn't have said, did something they shouldn't have did, or thought something they shouldn't have thought?  Who can say they have always said, done, & thought what the Lord has wanted them to do?  NOBODY!  If they do say that, they just sinned. 1Jn 1:9,10  Remember sin is how God looks at something not how we look at it.

So all have sinned and that is easy to see.  This sin in our lives, if left untreated, will destroy us.  Now every person will face a physical death.  We all will die.  The old saying goes, "Only two things are guaranteed, death and taxes."  Now the Bible refers to a second death. Rev 2:11  This second death is what we get for untreated sin in our lives.  Rom 6:23  This sounds bad, doesn't it?  Did you notice in Rev 2:11 the only way to face the second death is to "overcome?"  Did you notice in Rom 6:23 that we do not have to face death because God gives us a free gift of eternal life in Jesus?  It's true God doesn't want you to experience this second death.  Peter says, "...the Lord is not wishing that any should perish but all to come to repentance" in 2Pe 3:9  You see we have the free gift of eternity when we are "in Christ." (See Rom 6:23)  We are taught that Jesus came to save the lost in Lk 19:10.  Christ freed us from that penalty of the second death when he died in our place on that cross.  Isa 53:4-6  

Jesus is the savior of all that obey Him. Heb 5:9  Our salvation comes when we are obedient to Christ, not just a mental assertion of who He is and what He can do.   I'm reminded of the old hymn that says, "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way!  While we do His good Will, He abides in us still, and with all who will trust and obey.  Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

You see, when we are trusting in God's promise of eternal life in Jesus, which means we are obeying all He commands, we are separating ourselves from sin.  We will be citizens of a new heaven and new earth where we dwell in righteousness. 2Pe 3:13

So we can see today that Jesus saves us from the penalty of sin (Rom 6:23), the practice of sin (Heb 5:9), and the presence of sin (2Pe 3:13).  God has done His part in sending Jesus to be our sacrifice.  Jesus has done His part in humbling himself to the point of death for us.  Have you done your part of submitting to the Lord and His Will.  I ask you today are you "in Christ" and ready to receive the free gift of eternity?  Are you ready to trust and obey, for there's no other way?  Will you obey that gospel call?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22    

This is no fairy tale

Lk 1:26-38

Mary did have a little lamb, but not the fairy tale we all know.  I am referring to the Messiah.  The Jews were waiting for the Messiah to come.  Our Bible says the Messiah was to come through the race of Shem, Gen 9:26 the nation of Abraham, Gen 12:1-4 the tribe if Judah, Gen 49:10 the family of Jesse, Isa 11:1 the house of David, Ps 132:11 and an individual virgin. Isa 7:14  

This virgin birth is an essential Christian doctrine.  There are those who deny it, but they are ignorant of God's wisdom.  The very first Messianic prophecy, Gen 3:15, says the Messiah would be born the Seed of a woman, not  a man.  Satan misunderstood this prophecy as well. 

Today some even try to change Isa 7:14.  Some try to say the word is "young maiden" as opposed to virgin.  I can't understand why, because a young maiden getting pregnant is not a "sign."  The word "sign" is often used of a miracle.  What miracle is there in a "young maiden" becoming pregnant?  NONE!!  Now, a virgin becoming pregnant, that is a "sign" or a miracle.  Let's quickly look at this woman called Mary.

She had an incredible faith.  When Zacharias, the father of John the Immerser, was told of him having a son he was skeptical and asked for a sign.  Now Mary, on the other hand, was not skeptical.  Rather, she was curious.  All she asked was, "How can this be since I am a virgin?"    She didn't doubt as to whether it would happen and ask for a sign.  She simply was inquiring about the method of how it was going to happen.  

She was incredibly submissive.   She offered no complaint of physically bearing this child.  She voiced no concern of her reputation.  She didn't communicate that she was concerned about possibly being stoned.  She didn't allow the fear of the people not believing her, mocking her, or ridiculing her to dictate her decision.  What would her parents say about her pregnancy?  What about her fiance, he may be a little upset don't you think?  All she asked for was an explanation of the process of how it would occur.  She offered no excuses of why she couldn't do this.

She was much more submissive than Moses.  Ex 3:11-4:17  Moses says he didn't have the ability, know what to say, have the authority, or have eloquence.  Then in verse 13 he finally asks God to send someone else!  What a difference huh?  

Finally, Mary was incredibly accepting of God's Will.  After her question to the angel was answered all she says is, "...may it be done to me according to your Word."  WOW!!  That is incredibly impressive.  She already understood the latter part of Mt 20:26 that says to be great we first must be servants!!  

This story is no fairy tale.  It is a story of great value and application.  Today, may we all work to have that incredible faith.  May we all be submissive to God.  May we all be accepting of God's Will.  It is doing the Will of our Father and His grace that gets us into Heaven, allows us to call Jesus our brother, and gets us eternal life through the resurrection. Mt 7:21; 12:50; Jn 6:40  May we all have the same attitude of Mary!  May we all say, "mat it be done to me according to your word."

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22    

The Three F's

Phi 3:13,14

Have you ever found yourself with a million things to do and no time to do them?  I know I have and I imagine most people can relate.  As I looked at the agenda for today I thought to myself I must form an attack plan if I want to get this stuff done.  As I did this, I thought of how the letter "F" kept appearing in my mind.  I was thinking how will I FIND the time for this.  My FAITH must come FIRST.  So I began my morning study.  My mind was just all over the place so I prayed for the LORD to protect me from Satan who will not let me FOCUS.  I know if I am to have a productive day it must start and FINISH with the Lord.  That is where this post has come from.  A productive day must have the three F's!

First, we must have our Faith.  We must have faith that God will do what He has promised he will do.  This faith in God was present in Job.  I believe Job makes one of the best faith statements in Job 19:25,26   We must start today knowing that if today is our last day, we will see God!  This faith comes from a simple math equation.  Trust in the Lord + Not leaning on our own understanding + Always acknowledging God = A faith with a straight path. Pr 3:5,6  This faith is all about what is ahead not what is behind.  Forget the past and move forward.  Ps 131:3 The psalmist never mentions the past.  Lot's wife looked back and we know what happened to her.  Our faith needs to be in the present and future, not in the past.

Second, we must focus.  The above faith does not come without focus.  The apostle Paul had that focus.  He knew he wasn't where he needed to be, but he was focused on getting there.  He had the faith to do it.  He said "forgetting what lies behind."  That word forgetting is special to me.  It means to forget, lose out of the mind ; or neglect.  The reason it is special to me is because in the Greek it is in the present passive/middle participle.  Let me break this down.  Present participle basically means a continuous or repeated action.  The passive voice means the subject is receiving the action of the verb.  The middle voice means the subject is acting upon himself.  So when the apostle says he is "forgetting what lies behind" he says he is continually making himself receive the action of forgetting the past.  How can a person forget the past if they are continually making themselves do it?  It makes no sense.  The explanation is that Satan is always reminding us of our past!  He says, "I know what you did" and he tries to drag us down with our past that was already forgiven us by God through Jesus.  Like the apsotle Paul, we know we are not where we need to be, but we must focus on the present and future like psalmist said and strive to get there.  Also, we must continually forget the past when Satan throws it in our face like the apostle Paul tells us.   

Finally, we must finish.  We must "press on toward the goal."  The goal of every Christian is to receive our inheritance, which is the resurrection that is reserved for us in heaven. 1Pe 1:3,4  We must finish this focused faith with endurance.  Heb 12:1 

Today, let us start approaching our Christian walk with endurance knowing we are not yet where the Lord wants us to be, but we are striving daily to be more like Him.  We can accomplish this daily task if we approach each day with the attitude starting the day with a focused faith and finishing the same way!  

 WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22     

Words of a broken heart.

Yesterday as I sat in a hospital waiting room I saw a man walk in that looked a lot like a person I knew in my past.  As I thought about that man, I remembered on time when we were working night shift in a power plant coal yard.  We had all night to talk to one another since it was just him and I.  It didn't take long before we were discussing God's plan for redeeming man.  I remembered the statement he said to me that night.  He said, "I have done some bad things.  I'm not sure I can be forgiven."  After that night, I do not know if that man ever obeyed the Gospel, but I know he did understand he could be forgiven.  Yesterday, I thought how scary it is that we live in a world that many people do not understand God's power to forgive.  It's even scarier to think that many Christians who have fallen away do not understand God's power to forgive.  When they say, "I have done some bad things.  I'm not sure I can be forgiven" that is said from a broken heart, not a hardened one.  Many people outside of the Lord's Church speak from hardened hearts, but those that have been added to the Lord's Church speak from a broken heart.

Their hearts are broken because they knew and experienced God's love.  They see great guilt in their sinful lives and feel alienated from God.  They feel beyond help and unworthy of God's love.  They have strong doubts of God's power to forgive since they should have known better than to commit such a sin.  A Christian that falls away and says they can not be forgiven says a lot more.  

A. They say Jesus failed to accomplish His mission of saving sinners.  1Ti 1:15

B. They say that God is unfaithful to keep His promises to us.  1Jn 1:9

C. They say God is unable to do what His Word says He is able to do.  Heb 7:25

D. They say Jesus is a liar because He claimed to have the power to forgive sins.  Mt 9:1-6

E. They say that Jesus' blood is no different than the blood of bulls and goats. Heb 10:4; 19-22 

F. They say God is unable to keep us in the presence of His glory.  Jude 24

G. They say Satan was victorious and won that eternal battle for man's soul.  That God was unable to complete His plan for redeeming man

H. They say anyone who has committed the sin they did cannot be saved by the blood of Christ.

I want you to know that God has the power to forgive.  Moses was a murderer.  David was an adulterer.  Noah was drunk.  Saul of Tarsus persecuted the Church.  These men all did great things for the Lord.  God no doubt forgave their sins.  God will forgive the sin of any repentant heart.  He is not willing that any should perish. 2Pe 3:9  He desires all mankind to be saved and to know the truth. 1Ti 2:3,4  The only thing that is stopping God from forgiving your sins, whether you are a Christian or not, is you!!!  

Today, please do not let Satan tell you that you can not be forgiven.  You can be forgiven and God is willing to do so.  He made the first move and sent His Son. Jn 3:16  Now it is up to you.  I always say there are two sides to salvation, providing and partaking.  One is God's job and the other is mankind's job.  The providing is done by God.  He has provided Jesus.  The partaking is up to mankind.  He must partake of God has provided him to be saved, Jesus!  A man stuck in the bottom of a well isn't saved when he is provided a ladder.  He is saved when he partakes of the ladder provided for him to climb out.  God provides us the way to his power of forgiveness of our sins.  For the sinner it is baptism to wash away our sins. Acts 22:16   For the saint it is a confession prayer to God, not man. 1Jn 1:19    God loves you and is waiting for you to partake of His power of forgiveness!!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22       

Sour Grapes???

Isa 5:1-7

I have noticed one thing that drives people crazy is when they put time and effort into something and that something never pans out!  That is very frustrating.  I have heard that called and I like to call that UTLC or "unreturned tender loving care."  People do not like UTLC!  Guess what...   So does the Lord!

Today's text is a song that has a surprising twist.  It sounds like it will be beautiful song about Israel being a vineyard with stone free soil, choice vine,  and security.  Then it turns bad.  We read that it is trampled, laid to waste, parched, and filled with Judah.  WOW!  What brought that on?  The production of "sour grapes."  We are all called to produce fruit in our Christian lives.  As a matter of fact, Jesus says that is how we are known, by our fruits. Mt 7:20  Too many Christians produce sour grapes and sour apples instead of love, joy, peace, etc. Gal 5:22,23

Jesus spoke of plants being uprooted that was not planted by His Father. Mt 15:13  I find it very sobering that He will uproot the ones He did plant, but are producing sour grapes.  Heb 6:8   Today, we can learn from this song.  We have a stern warning in scripture about producing these sour grapes and needing to be uprooted. Heb 10:30,31 

What more could God have done for them?  He gave them everything they needed to be fruitful!  Just like Adam and Eve, God has always supplied His children with the best of everything.  God expects good fruit for His efforts just like we would expect.  

God has planted a new vineyard, the Church.  We too should heed this scary and sobering song.  Can we see this production of sour grapes in the Church today?  SURE DO!!  People are driven by "feelings" as opposed to the written word.  People today feel saved and that's enough.  God desires love, righteousness, and mercy.  Instead he gets bickering, unrighteousness, and bitterness.  Those are sour grapes.  God looks for righteousness in His people.  He doesn't seek out our mistakes.  Rather, he is looking for good in us.  Unfortunately, all we show Him is the bad!  The production of sour grapes will lead to divine wrath!!!   We too will be trampled, laid to waste, parched, and filled with Judah.  The sins that brought about the destruction of the first vineyard are found in the second one as well.  

A sober warning can be found from Peter as well in 2Pe 2:20-22  The Church today can fall away.  There is no such thing as once saved, always saved.  We must be cautious of the fruit we produce.  

On the bright side, if we are faithful, obedient, and producing good grapes look at we get.  We will live on a fertile hill, the soil will be dug and free of stones, we will be protected, and have a tower to watch for us.  God will prune, fertilize, break up the ground around His choice vine (the Church) so we can achieve the most fruit production.  He will send the rain and supply us with all we need!!

Today, which vineyard do you choose to be faithful, obedient, and producing good grapes or unfaithful, disobedient, and producing sour grapes?  Do you choose to be the beautiful vineyard or the trampled one?  

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22         

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a Savior...

Isa 53:1-6

We live in a world that just loves a superhero, don’t we?  I mean look at the movies and comics that have made a ton of money from inventing these superheroes.  You have Superman, Batman, Flash, Captain America, etc…  Even women got into the act with Wonder Woman and Daisy Duke.  Well, OK, maybe Daisy wasn’t a super hero, but she sure did help start the whole women in tight clothes deal!  Consider how the people of Israel were looking for a hero to save them after being held in captivity for such a long time.  Today’s text deals with that very thing, the hero that God was sending to His people ?  It would be nothing like Jesus, would it?  That is exactly what happened to the people of Israel.  They were promised a savior, or a hero, but the one they got was not what they were looking for.

V1-  Who has believed our message? This shouts loudly as to the Jews unbelief.  They had the opportunity to physically walk with the savoir and rejected him.  We know from the New Testament this was fulfilled.  Jn 12:38; Rom 10:16    That sheds a little light on the verse of Romans doesn’t it?  Mere, disbelief is enough to receive full punishment for your sins.  Mk 16:16  

        Arm of the Lord revealed- This is a reference to the Lord’s power, might, and strength and the Jews unbelief.  They got to see the power of the Lord 1^st hand.  Look at The Gospel according to Jn. 

·         1. Jn 2:1-11  Water into wine.  Jesus has mastery over QUALITY

·         2. Jn 4:46-54  Nobleman’s Son  Jesus has mastery over DISTANCE/SPACE

·         3. Jn 5:1-9   Healing @ Bethesda     Jesus has mastery over TIME

·         4. Jn 6:1-14  Feed 5,000 (+)     Jesus has mastery over QUANTITY

·         5. Jn 6:16-21   Walks on water    Jesus has mastery over GRAVITY

·         6. Jn 9:1-12    Blind Man    Jesus has mastery over LIFE’S MISFORTUNES

·         7. Jn 11:1-46    Raising of Lazarus    Jesus has mastery over DEATH

If these aren’t displays of power, what in the world is?   Should a display of this kind of power cause someone to believe and become obedient?  Yes.  Why don’t they?

V2- We see some humble characteristics this savior will posses.  This probably has something to do with his rejection.  Who wants a simple and humble hero?  Everyone wants a loud, strong man that demands respect!

        tender shoot- “to suck” like a suckling child.  It means a fallen tree that sprouted!  This is a very humble example of a leader.

        root out of parched ground- In a barren waste land, or where there is no moisture. Such a sprout or shrub is small, puny, and withered up. Such shrubs spring up in deserts, where they are stinted for want of moisture, and they are most striking objects to represent that which is humble and unattractive in its personal appearance

        He has no form- Properly means no beauty in figure or appearance.

        Or Majesty- The root word of comeliness to be honored or esteemed.

        No appearance- The source of this word is to look at or inspect.  It actually can mean anything with the outward appearance.  Between no beauty and no form does not mean Jesus was an ugly man.  ***It is saying that the savior will have nothing extraordinary, which one might have thought to meet considering He was an incarnate deity. Those who saw him could not see that there was any beauty in him that they should desire him, nothing in him more than in any another!!  Does appearance have anything to do with how we treat people?  YES!  If TV and media of today was in the 40’s does FDR get voted in?  NO

V3- “Carnal hearts see no excellency in the Lord Jesus, nothing that should induce them to desire an acquaintance with him or interest in him.”~~Matthew Henry 

     Jesus is not only not desired, but he is despised and rejected, abandoned and abhorred, a reproach of men, one that men were shy of keeping company with and had not any esteem for, a worm and no man.  How do people not esteem and reject Jesus today?  We do not accept his authority. Mt 28:18  

V4-They turned away from him in horror and contempt. They supposed that he was suffering on account of some great sin of his own.  It was not for his sins but for ours. It was not that he was smitten of God for his own sins—as if he had been among the worst of mortals—but it was because he had taken our sins, and was suffering for them. The very thing that gave offence to man, and which made man turn away from him, constituted the most important part of His work, and was really the occasion of highest gratitude

        stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted- We need to understand that Jesus was not stricken, smitten, and afflictied by God but we esteemed him to be as much.  Meaning, these things are why he came!  He came to be stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  It was His purpose, not His punishment!!

V5     Pierced- Literally means pierced or bored  Ps 22:16

          Crushed- be cast down, break, crush, broken in pieces.  Unique in that this verb is only used in Hebrew poetry, and can only apply to people.  (A goat cannot be crushed) God is often the agent of the crushinging!!

        Chastisement- correction that results in education    A parent punishes a child that has been disobedient.  Focus on correction and not punishment because there can be no punishment where there is no guilt and Jesus was sinless!  Adam Clarke says 21 manuscripts have a word that is defined as “our pacification.”

        Well being- Shalom a satisfied condition, unconcerned state of peace, absence of strife, completeness, harmony, and fulfillment that can only be received through God!  

Jn 14:27  Jesus clearly defines 2 radically different concepts of peace

V6- This verse is a penitent confession.  Similar to Zec 12:10

        In ourselves we were scattered; in Christ we are collected together.   By nature we wander, in Christ we find the way to the gate of life! 

        Each of us has turned to his own way- Like sheep without a shepherd.  We choose our individual paths, unprotected, and wander into even more danger.  One goes this way & another goes that way!  This is the same today!!

        laid on Him the iniquity of us all- he suffered in our stead; and whatever he was called to endure was in consequence of the fact that he had taken the place of sinners;

What can we do to have the mind of Christ toward the scattered sheep?

·         Christ’s view  Mt 9:36

·         Our obligation  Jn 21:17

DO WE HAVE A ZEAL FOR CHRIST'S LOST SHEEP?????

God has never forgotten his people no matter how far they have chosen to wander away from him.  If that doesn’t comfort you I don’t know what will.  After all the Israelites did God still sent his Son, our Savior, do gather the lost sheep.  It must be noted that only the sheep who want to be gathered will be!

Forget super heroes, I want my savior and that the Lord Jesus Christ!!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22