fencepostdigest

America’s history is being challenged at every level and even being rewritten by many in order to fit a new mold. These foolish people are worst of all challenging Yahweh, the God of Creation, the God of Israel, the Father of the Savior and Lord of all time, Jesus Christ. These idealogues will eventually fail because of their immorality and paganism. God is supreme over all things and people and will not be denied. “Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him And to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: “I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.” Isaiah 45:1-7. NASB.
Perhaps one of the more curious statements in all of God’s Word is found in verse 3, “I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.” Throughout history people of great and small wealth have hidden away their treasures for ‘a rainy day.’ This is the reference here and I tend to think that this may very well indicate that nothing is hidden or done in secret without God’s knowledge. He will reveal all these things to His Followers for many reasons. The first reason being is that He is God. Those people who think that they are sly enough to be on their own without God are in for a very big ‘let down.’ I pity them and God will judge them. They have become their own worst enemy. This is no secret.
160 years ago a Civil War was fought on our Continent, a war that for practical purposes ended slavery in America. However, for many, this war continues in the hearts and souls of men and women who will not ‘let go.’ Everyone, that war is over and much history has been written concerning it, and apologies have been made and forgiveness sought, but many have yet to stop fighting.

I am convinced that the real problem is not what many claim, but rather, the REAL PROBLEM is the darkness of the hearts of many who refuse to identify the Gospel Message as being the answer, the solution. God, help us all to know this truth.

Jesus is Lord.

I believe the Word of God to be literally true; every word of it is ‘God-breathed,’ and because this is so every word can be trusted to be literally true. This Book is absolutely true and without error. The Bible does NOT imply, but always speaks to those things God wants us to know about Him. 

Because the Bible is TRUTH, every person who IS born-again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ will live by that Truth.

When Christians ARE there are some characteristics displayed by them that set them apart from everyone else around them BECAUSE they are different. The question then arises, “Why is a Christian different from everyone who is not?” 

1. In John chapter 3 is recorded a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus wherein Jesus told him,  “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” verse 3. And Jesus said the same thing again in verse 7 using the Greek word, “ἄνωθεν,” ‘anothen.’ This word means, ‘to be born from above.’ Most English translations will say, ‘born-again.’ First off, a Christian is ‘born from above,’ or ‘born-again.’
2. Christians are ‘Christ-followers.’ “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:23-27.                                    What we find here are 2 very, very important notes: a. Everyone who is a Christian will do everything for the cause of Christ…everything before doing anything for ‘self.’ This is what is meant by, ‘he must deny himself, take up his cross daily.’ b. Everyone who is a Christian will experience the Kingdom of God on earth. This is what is meant by, “there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God.”
3. Christians know the way, the truth and the life as directed by Jesus. The Lord answered Thomas’ question, ‘How can we know the way?’ with these words, “ Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:7-8. Although you and I have not and will not see Jesus as the Twelve did, we know Him in ways that they did not because we have in our hands, ‘the rest of the story.’ Indeed, we Do know the Way, the Truth and the Life by His grace.
4. Christians know how to live by faith. “Faith is acting as if it is so in order for it to be so because with God it already is so.” – – Manley Beasley.  The Hebrews writer penned these words, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. For by it the people of old received God’s commendation. By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.” Hebrews 11:1-3. We are able, because of Jesus living in us, to accomplish all that happens because of Him alone. 
5. No matter life’s situation, your situation, you and I are able to endure because of Christ. Some of us are extremely wealthy and others are extremely poor, but Paul writes, “I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you did well to share with me in my trouble.” Philippians 4:10-14. Please underscore, “I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.” This is true for every Follower of the Christ.
6. Everyone who is ‘born from above’ knows what it means to, “be crucified with Christ.” Paul encouraged a group of Jewish Christians, “ And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin? Absolutely not! But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law. For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:16b-21. It is important to know that we are NOT justified by what we do or have done, but rather by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ at the Cross. For this reason alone you can say, “I am crucified with Christ.”
7. Being ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ is, perhaps, the crucial ‘identifier’ of every Believer. “Therefore consider carefully how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-21. Paul gives us a most important instruction here, “be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.” This can only be known through the presence of the Holy Spirit and Paul writes, “And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit.” 

We are experiencing a very tumultuous moment in history, are we not? For this reason alone it is critical that Followers of the Christ make it known who and Whose they are. The days are evil far beyond anything we have known in America. There are Christ-deniers and there are Christians who are not. For this reason alone you and I must be known by the One we are following for He alone is Lord.

I believe the Word of God to be literally true; every word of it is ‘God-breathed,’ and because this is so every word can be trusted to be literally true. This Book is absolutely true and without error. The Bible does NOT imply, but always speaks to those things God wants us to know about Him. Far too often ‘well-meaning’ people will ‘stretch’ the Truth in order to squeeze meaning from some vague text(s). And this immediately leads to error.

What does Jesus mean when He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” Matthew 7:21-23 NASB.

The last phrase, “I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” verse 23. But, there is more. John writes in 1 John 1:5-10, “Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 

We know that God IS light, correct? Jesus is the Light of the world, right? When a person acknowledges that Jesus is Savior and Lord and believes in Him in that way, the gift of eternal life is received, yes? This Light then lives in that person is absolutely the case. John writes, “If we say, ‘We have fellowship with Him,’ yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.” This statement says that a person walking in darkness does not have the Light of Christ inside. That person’s soul is lost and without Christ. THIS is when ‘Christians’ are NOT. Many people that you and I know and are professing to be ‘Christian’ simply are not when they are supporting the sinful life-styles of their friends. This is NOT being in judgment of them for this simply is an observation of who/what they really are. They have been judged already. 

However, there is this, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8. So long as anyone breathes there is an opportunity to confess and repent of sin and to receive the gift of life from Jesus Christ.

Jesus is Lord.

‘Vision-casting’ must only be accomplished if the one casting the vision has received his instruction from God. Every time a vision is cast in the Bible the vision has come from God and there are many, many examples, “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:10-16 NASB.

In the OT we find that Nehemiah was charged with the task of rebuilding the wall around the city of Jerusalem after being in ruins for more than one hundred years. However, what we must take into account is the prayer time that this man of God utilized. Nehemiah’s vision came after 4 months of prayer before approaching Artaxerxes and his presentation changed the attitude of the Jews living in Jerusalem. Read Nehemiah chapters 1 and 2.  “Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.”  I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.” Nehemiah 2:17-18. 

Yes, ‘vision-casting’ is biblical, but in my opinion this must not be attempted by one person alone. If and when a pastor feels that God is leading him to do something ‘in God’s Name’ he should first go to some spiritually-discerning men. But, look at these words of Jesus,  “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:18-20. (Please read the verses prior to these.) “Why did Jesus say this?” It just seems reasonable not to do things without clear direction from the Father.

Jesus is Lord.

You and I are passing through what may prove to be the most difficult waters in the history of our Nation. There is no doubt that the Body of Christ in America is passing difficult challenges as well. The question(s) arise from one word, ‘racism.’ And what I do know that the Word of God is straight-forward from the book of Genesis through the book of Revelation. The wall faced by each of us in America is obvious to every person who claims to be ‘Christian’  and ‘American.’ We can call ourselves American Christians, Followers of Jesus Christ. 

Racism is not an issue to be foundin the pages of the Word of God. And I understand that many, many people will disagree with me here, but I will simply challenge everyone to study this issue with an open mind and heart. Racism is a huge elephant in our room today and this elephant is on every news report we observe around us. Racial discord is the very reason America has found itself in such turmoil. But our problem is not racial. Sin and evil is our problem. Every person must humble themselves before Holy God in confession of sin, repent of that sin in order to find forgiveness. 

STOP the finger pointing, everybody!! Jesus died on the Cross for the purpose of reconciliation with Him. And when the human heart finds peace with God through confession, repentance and forgiveness, evil will subside by that degree. However, until this happens the finger pointing and racism as we understand will not pass away.

John 3:16 is the best place to begin this ‘discussion’ if we can, indeed, call this a ‘discussion.’ How about a ‘monologue?’ But this is not correct. What we may have is a ‘melodrama’ with the use of the title, “Black Lives Matter” that brings forth emotional responses from a very large portion of our population. People of many racial backgrounds respond to this statement. The quest is equal justice, at least, by the Black population in America that has affected most aspects of our National culture. Jesus said, “for whosoever believes in Me will not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is a statement that is all-inclusive, and is for everyone. The problem is that the Bible does not directly address racial issues as we understand them.

We find these words in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” Please note that there is no mention of a person of any kind of racial background. All that is said is this, “So God created man in His own image.”

What is found later in Genesis 11:5-8, “Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city.” This event concerned language and no racial content is implied much less stated.

The only racial implications that can be found in Scripture concerns God’s choice of the Hebrew people as being His Chosen. What we can gather from this choice of God cannot be suggested as a racial issue, but rather His choice of a Nation that He would bless for all eternity. This has nothing to with racial prejudice from a human perspective.

God’s perspective is not to be compared to human perspective for He alone is God and He alone is Holy, and He alone is Sovereign. Isaiah 55:8-11 tells us this, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” We humans MUST recognize His Sovereignty, Period.

James writes the following, “Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, but if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James 2:8-9. Please note, this is not a statement concerning racial differences. This is a statement coming from the heart of the Almighty who created us to love one another. His desire is that we simply love one another no matter who the ‘other’ might be.

This article could be very, very long for the subject of sin simply has no end. However, if we are to find a solution to this problem we call racism the place to begin is the human heart. Paul writes these sobering words, “ For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.” Galatians 5:13-15. Our service is to Jesus Christ and to one another through love that is generated by the presence of the Holy Spirit. “If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Christian love is the result of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

The sin of racial prejudice is the result of the heart of mankind refusing the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.” John 3:18-21. The problem is the rejection of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus is Lord.

Wow, what a challenging time for the Followers of Jesus Christ!! Our culture seems to be in a ‘tailspin,’ and so it is. The ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement focuses upon a single culture among us and not the entirety of humanity. This is the ‘Me Culture’ out of control. The Social Gospel is NOT The Gospel Message, but about cultures and not about the Risen and Coming Again Christ. And sadly, many who are ‘in’ the local church are joining with them. They have become ‘apostate.’

In times like these we not only need a cultural revolution in Washington, D.C., and as many seem to be expressing, across our Nation; “In Times Like These, We Need a Savior” and His Name is Jesus Christ the Lord. The Body of the Christ belongs to the Savior, but there are many, many more souls who must repent and be ‘born again.’ John 3:16.

Our government has seemingly lost its way from the intentions of the Founding Fathers’ vision. the Constitution seems, also, to be not much more than a very old historical document and nothing more. Someone said to me, “Times have changed.” And my reply was, “But the Word of God has not changed.” What was once true in our culture is no longer true, but the Word of God remains true. Just as the writer of Hebrews said, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.” Hebrews 13:7-9. NASB.

One of the many problems facing us today is the very fact that so many are hearing strange doctrines from their churches. Many have gone along with accepting sin with changing culture and saying that it is ‘Okay’. It was said to me this week, “A friend is a homosexual, is getting married and I am going to the wedding.” I replied, “By doing so you are approving that act of sin.” By approval of sin one enters into that sin much in the same way one may drive the ‘getaway car’ in a burglary. This is called guilt by association. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:11, “I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” Tough words, but we are to be different from the world in which we live and not a part of it. Are you, are we Followers of the Christ? “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32.

Jesus is Lord.

In my mind and heart, America has reached a very difficult crossroads in her history. Many may disagree with me, but before this moment I feel God’s response to Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:12-16, “Then the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a temple of sacrifice. If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. My eyes will now be open and My ears attentive to prayer from this place. And I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My name may be there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there at all times.” HCSB.

Never has there been a time in my Christian walk that I did not believe this statement in God’s Word. And I have asked God to forgive our Nation for sin as a people. However, I have always thought, “Can America truly, as a Nation, call itself ‘a people called by God’s Name?'” I will not hesitate to answer, “Not since the late 60s through the mid-70s, at least.” Almost 6 decades our Nation has been in a downward slide toward darkness. At no time has this prayer been more needed than now. People will disagree, but that is okay for I know that I am never 100% correct and that is not my goal. My point is that prayer always changes things…always.

Please note that God appeared to Solomon at night and Nicodemus met Jesus at night in John chapter 3. And, no doubt, America is walking in darkness as I write. God told Solomon, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a temple of sacrifice.” Take a hard look at this phrase. God not only hears the faithful prayer of HIS PEOPLE…He always answers; ALWAYS. However, there is something here that we may have missed, too. In the OT and until 70AD when Titus destroyed the 2nd Temple, God’s Holy Presence was there. This was the ‘Holy of Holies’ and the Veil. Do not forget that this Veil was torn in half at the Crucifixion of Jesus and God’s Presence was no longer seen there.

Today, the Temple of the Holy Spirit is where? In the heart of every Believer, every born-again Believer in Jesus Christ, lives the Holy Spirit. The sacrifice of which God spoke to Solomon was an animal sacrifice, but at the Crucifixion of His Son, Jesus became the Sacrifice. But today, every Believer to be a spiritual sacrifice, “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2.

Every born-again Believer in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is a part of His Body, the Church. We have become His Nation, His People and this is significant, “My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” His People will be healed from their ‘evil ways,’ that is, their sin. For in 1 John 8-10, “If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Is God speaking about the sins of our Nation? NO, our personal sin. Is He also speaking about the United States? Probably not for the Bible NEVER mentions our Nation. He must be talking about forgiving the sins of individual Believers and the Church, His Body, will be healed.

Much is to be done in the local Body of Believers. Jesus is Lord.

The gospel says some things that people do not want to hear and are sometimes offended. This happens as the offended is intended to be absolutely changed by the Word of God that speaks righteousness to the sinful actions. 

The gospel speaks to the sin of every human being that all are sinners and stand in rebellion against Holy God.  By praising people about their goodness they will love you for it.  Give them therapy and encouragement from the pulpit and enormous venues are packed to capacity. Speaking the Truth about how they are sinners separated from God and will not be able to enter His Kingdom? The audience is reduced accordingly.  Pastors and evangelists cannot preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ without confronting the darkest of stains of sin. There is no one righteous, not even one. Paul told the Believers in Romans 10:2 that the Jews had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  Their religion may have been noble and sincere, but it could not save because only Jesus Christ is able to save.

The Gospel narrative cannot be understood by human thinking because without God they are spiritually ignorant.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 to explain that the truth of the gospel as being “spiritually discerned”.  For this reason many reject the Message of the Cross because God’s reasoning is higher than those who deny Him.  It is only His Spirit revealing His Truth that anyone can understand the purpose of the Cross. Those who know Jesus understand what He meant when He said, “I am the Truth.”

The Gospel is not inclusive, this Message is exclusive of those who deny the Christ  This is what the world system of humanism hates.  If we said that “this is my way” and everyone is allowed their own path absolutely no one would care.  Followers of the Christ offend because we proclaim that Jesus Christ is the only way.  And Paul explained in Galatians 5:12 that by preaching salvation through the law the Message of the Cross would be removed. NOT changed but removed. This troubled the Apostle greatly. 

The Gospel Message is offensive and most people are unable to receive it.  Jesus told the Disciples that His Way would be difficult.  Peter, Stephen and Paul experienced it. What we must understand: to remove the offense of the Cross is to remove the power of the Gospel. For the blood of the Cross is the power that saves and there is NO alternative. The blood of Christ poured out at the Cross is the offense of the Gospel Message.

If anyone preaches the Gospel without offending, the Message is stripped of both purpose and power to save. It is absolutely impossible to proclaim the full counsel of God without being offensive. The Gospel presents sinful people face to face with their sin and failure, and this is offensive.

What we must remember is the statement of Paul in  1 Corinthians 1:23-25: “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” NASB. 

Jesus saves because He is Lord!!

The Net2 Translation is used for documentation…

Recently I was told “It is obvious that someone has tricked you into believing what you think is true.” My fault is that I hold the Word of God to be literally true, inspired by the Holy Spirit and every word in His Word is literally true. And furthermore, I allow the Bible to guide how I live. The issue with this person is simple: he holds to the fallacy that time changes things and our interpretation of the Bible should change with the shifting sands of social change. Paul writes “ Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen. 15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately. 16 But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, 17 and their message will spread its infection like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. 18 They have strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith. 19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” 2 Timothy 2:14-19.

Sometimes I do get ‘caught up in’ unending and useless conversation with some folks who believe and teach a lie. My personal struggle with folks like this is their foolishness that I, in my eagerness to help them to see, attempt to correct their spiritual blindness. What I do know all too well is these folks can only see when Jesus Christ becomes their Savior and Lord. Paul tells Timothy, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” This is not difficult to understand, but impossible to do unless Jesus is their Lord.

“Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, 21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21. Indeed, as the Holy Spirit empowers me to utilize my gift of prophecy, I understand that revealing sinful characteristics in others is not of my doing, but of God alone. However, that which is not understood by the listener is his personal spiritual darkness. Some have asked me, “How do you know for sure if someone is lost or not?” My answer is simple: “I do not know in and of myself, but the Holy Spirit shows me the darkness surrounding a person who is lost.” Sadly, most people do not want to listen to what He shows me and they walk away angry.

“Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence. 15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.” 2 Peter 3:14-18.

Inside the 4 walls of the building in which you and I worship are many that do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Sadly, these call themselves ‘Christian’ and are supported by those surrounding them because they are able to fool themselves and others. However, they cannot fool God. “Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. 7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, 8 because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.” Galatians 6:6-10. Those of us who are, indeed, Followers of Jesus Christ must continue to proclaim the truth of the infallible and incorruptible Word of God and, therefore, make application of it to our daily lives. We must not allow those who are unbelievers to speak untruths, but to correct them with Truth. They will not like it and will resist with the power of darkness at every turn. “Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh…” They think of themselves as wise, but are fools.

Jesus is Lord.

“Just then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” 27 He answered: Love the Lord your God 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’

36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

Well, America, here we are again and the solution is the same, but few are willing to accept the solution. I am only speaking to the ‘Praise and Worship Team.’ (Not long ago we would write/say ‘to the choir.’) Jesus answered His question, “The one who showed mercy” is the neighbor by demonstrating God’s love to the victim of the beating. 

What we hear, see and read is ‘Racism’ over and over again because this is a political solution and a profiteering scheme that keeps this fire burning. No, attempting to find a solution through politics and financial gain will only lead to more and more frustration for everyone. Blaming others for this is not an answer. The guilt will only be known to those who are profiting from racism in some way. “The white guy is the guilty party” seems to be the only solution that some are able to find, but this is not the solution. Hating another person because that person is different has been around since the story of Adam and Eve became known. Adam and Eve did not hate one another, but they blamed one another for the apple issue. Blaming the other person is not a solution at any level because the blame always reflects a heart empty of God’s presence and influence.

Jesus points us to the Good Samaritan story that lays the guilt of hate at our very doorstep. The Savior points out the fact of emptiness that is really a void that can only be accommodated by His presence. Remember that God is love, right? Wherever He goes love abounds and every person who knows Him as Savior and Lord is affected by His divine character of love that is effective in every relationship a Believer has.

The Good Samaritan not only stops to render aid, binds up some wounds, but also takes this beaten and rejected soul to a place that could continue to help this man. No doubt, there are others who would have been involved in this saga of healing of mind and body, but they are the volunteers of our day and time that often remain nameless. 

However, love is the motivation behind this act of kindness. We know that the Samaritan is a person who has been rejected and most likely denied some of the better things of life because he is a Samaritan. The notable thing is that the person who has lived a life of ridicule because of no fault of his own is the person who reaches out to the traveller who was left in a heap of defeat. His love was a deposit of God’s grace that was extended to another without reservation, and this brings us to our present reality.

Thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of people are being involved in the violence and unrest across our Nation today. This is OUR STORY. Our Story is one of opportunity to reach out and touch anyone who has a need of any kind. That person in need may or may not be in poverty, but simply may need a good word spoken. That deed could be as simple as opening a door or helping another with some act of kindness accomplished in Jesus’ Name. YOU be THE Good Samaritan because of WHOSE YOU ARE.

Jesus is Lord.