Preach The Word, Not Politics

Jesus verily made it known, “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 here” (Jn. 18:36).

The separation of church and state is no mere accident or expediency, but was clearly taught by Jesus Christ so that even the wicked ruler Pontius Pilate understood him. God ordained his church and civil government as two separate institutions with different purposes. Rulers should honor God as the sustainer of the universe, of nations, and of governments (Jn. 19:11). Government officials should seek the providential help and blessing of God in doing the work he gave them to do, but cannot conduct the business of the church. God gave the church its own work and organization without the least semblance of civil, military, or political power. It has no right or authority from God to enter into such fields of action.

What does the Bible teach about the relationship between the church and politics? Godly men should lead the assemblies of the church in fervent prayer for our rulers, from the highest to the lowest (1 Tim. 2:1-8). The church teaches respect for governments, laws, and officials (Rom. 13:1-7). God ordained civil government to restrain criminals and the evil deeds which destroy peace, safety, and order in a society, and to protect obedient citizens. Governments use their power as agents of God’s wrath against evildoers. God commands us to pay our taxes and to cooperate with our rulers.

The church preaches the positive duties of all men and the positive provisions of the gospel to all men, high and low (Matt. 22:37-40 f; Mk. 16:15-16). Men sin and fall into various violations of God’s law because they fail to love God first and to love their fellowman. God does not tolerate or excuse sin on the part of the highest ruler or of the lowest servant. Every sinner must believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God (Rom 10:10), and repent and be baptized in order to receive the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). No man will be saved on his own merits by attaining great honors in civil affairs or because of suffering great abuses and injustices in life.

Sin must be rebuked and condemned no matter who practices it (Matt. 3:1-12 ff; Lk. 3:1-14; Mk. 6:17-18). John applied God’s Word to all men alike, including the common people, tax collectors, and soldiers. Some of his plainest rebukes were directed against arrogant, hypocritical, religious leaders. The unscriptural marriage of a king was condemned openly and pointedly. The same kind of preaching was done by Jesus and his apostles, and must be done today. I don’t know of one preacher who preaches politics who also condemns the adultery of the political party in which they affirm. Who would be the first to confront Donal Trump and tell him to repent of his adulterous marriages? John the Baptist would have!

No faithful Christian has the God given right to preach politics in or out of the assembly. I challenge anyone to find an impeccable political party. They are all pure evil and anyone who engages in such matters are promoting and encouraging evil. All political parties lie and all liars are from Satan himself (Jn 8:44). All liars shall have their part in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8). Most Republicans condemn abortion and gay marriage, but they themselves condone adultery and greed. Most Democrats condemn the greed of the rich while upholding the freedom to engage in most all immoral practices. It’s like choosing between Satan or his angels.

The church’s mission is spiritual, not political. God established the church with a specified, limited work: to preach the gospel, worship God, and care for needy saints (1 Tim. 3:15; 5:16 f; Acts 2:42). The church is not a social welfare agency, an arm of civil government, a political institution, a secular school, or a recreational club. The church has not a minute or a penny to spend on such endeavors. While opposing immorality, dishonesty, and sin of every kind, it has no political program and endorses no candidate. It holds no political rallies, offers no candidate the pulpit as a platform for political speeches, makes no political donations, and has no political action committees at any level. The true church of Christ registers no voters, organizes no voters, transports no voters to the polls, and finances no part of the voting process. Christ gave no authority in his word for the church to act in such matters. When the church so acts, it sins and rebels against Christ (Eph. 1:22-23 f; 2 Jn. 9). Let the church be the church and let the government be the government! Time is much too short to labor in the affairs of this world (2 Tim 2:4). The harvest is truly plentiful, but the labors are few (Mt 9:37,38). Therefore, preach God’s Word of truth, not political lies (2 Tim 4:2-5)!

Train Up A Child

Solomon declared, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). To illustrate this point, I have a 16 year old Miniature Pincher. She was trained from a pup to urinate and release her fecal matter on paper. Nowadays, do to old age, she is stoned blind and can’t hear, but she still finds her way to a piece of paper which I renew in the same place all these years. If it works for dogs, you can rest assured it works with humans.

If a child is taught, corrected, and encouraged to do good, that child will not depart from it. However, if parents neglect to teach, correct, or encourage their children, leaving such to babysitters, schools, churches, and the penal system, then you can rest assured that this child will fall into mischief. Anyone can be a biological parent, but it takes a very special person to train up their children to do right before God.

Athletes are not born but are trained. Soldiers are not born but are trained. The same applies to a child of God. If we are to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, we too must be trained (2 Tim 2:3,4). If we convert someone, and then neglect to teach them the scripture, correct their mistakes, and encourage their good deeds, that child of God will fall away. As Paul said of Timothy, “..From a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15). In the church, God has men to preach the gospel and convert the sinner (2 Tim 2:2 f; 1 Tim 4:16) . It also has qualified elders to train those new converts the doctrine of Christ (Acts 20:28-30). As Paul said, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Cor 3:6).

Have you been properly trained to be a good Christian? Has someone taught you to study God’s Word and how to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15)? Have you been taught how to worship God in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:23,24)? Has someone warned you that you will be persecuted and tried for the cause of Christ (2 Tim 3:12 f; Jam 1:12)? Has someone taught you not to add to or take from God’s Word (1 Cor 4:6 ff; 1 Pet 4:11; Rev 22:18,19)? Has anyone taught you to respect all scripture as the very words of God (2 Tim 3:16,17)? If you are missing any of these, then chances are you have departed from the faith (2 Thess 2:15 ff; 2 Thess 3:6; Gal 5:11).

God Keeps His Promises

One of the great lessons we can learn from the Old Testament is the fact that God will keep his promises. As Christians, we are the recipients of “exceeding great in precious promises” from God. (2 Peter 1:4). While Peter assures us that “the Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness” (2 Peter 3:9), and the writer of Hebrews declared “he is faithful that promised” (Heb. 10:23), we can learn through Gods dealings with men in ages past that his promises are sure.

When God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees he made two great promises unto him: (1) I will make of thee a great nation, and (2) in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12: 1 -3) Though Abraham was seventy-five years old, his wife was barren, so he had no sons, yet he was “fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform.” (Rom. 4:21) Over twenty years had passed and Abraham did not have that promised son, the beginning of a great nation. Would God keep his promise? At the age of one hundred years Abraham and Sarah had a son, Isaac. Isaac had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Jacob became the father of twelve sons, who later were the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacobs name had been changed unto Israel, Gen. 32:28), and the Israelite nation became the great nation of God in Old Testament times. Truly, God kept his promise unto Abraham. However, you may read the Old Testament from Genesis through Malachi and not one time will you read of God blessing all families of the earth through Abraham, or through his seed. Two thousand years had passed since the promise was made. Would God keep that promise? Then, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, a descendant of Abraham. Jesus died for the sins of mankind, and through him all families of the earth are blessed. Remember: it is through Jesus, this promised seed (Gal. 3: 16), that all shall be raised from the dead. When we read of Gods dealings with Abraham and his family after this, we should be impressed with the fact that God keeps his promises.

Abraham had a son by the bondwoman, Hagar (Gen. 16). He thought this was the son God had promised. But God said, “Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” (Gen. 18: 10). Could God keep this promise? Sarah was now old, and it ceased to be with her after the manner of women. Even she thought, “After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also.” (Gen. 18: 12) But at the appointed time she conceived and brought forth a son, Isaac. Indeed, God had kept his promise.

When God had called Abraham he promised to give unto him a land as an inheritance. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” (Heb. 11:8). Why did Abraham think he could inherit the land of Canaan? It did not belong to his fathers. Other peoples now possessed it. Yet, he believed it would be his because God had promised it unto him. Some years later when he was in that land God commanded him to “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” (Gen. 13: 14-17). On a later date God said, “Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” (Gen. 15:18) On the day God changed Abrams name unto Abraham (which means “Father of a great multitude”), he said, “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan.” (Gen. 17:8) Abraham dwelt in that land. Thereafter his seed became bondmen in Egypt, but God heard their cry and remembered the promise he had made unto Abraham, and sent forth Moses to bring them from Egyptian bondage to inherit the promised land. (Exodus 3:7-10) While some, of our generation, deny that this promise has ever been fulfilled, and thus talk about the land promise being fulfilled at some future time, Joshua declared that “the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he swore to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.” (Joshua 2 1:43) Truly, God kept his promise.

Upon the death of Moses, when Joshua became the leader of Israel, and under Gods instruction led them through the river Jordan on dry ground, the city of Jericho was the first to be conquered by the Israelites. God promised unto Joshua, “See I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.” (Josh. 6:2) Then he instructed Joshua regarding the taking of the city. They followed Gods orders and the city was taken. But before it was taken God has said, “I have given unto thine hand Jericho.” Gods promise was sure.

When Joshua had sent the two spies to spy out the city of Jericho, the officials of the city were after them, and Rahad hid them. Later she asked for her life to be spared when the Israelites came to take Jericho. The promise was made, “When we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by,” and when the city is taken this house shall be spared. (Josh. 2: 18) God saw to it that this promise was kept. In the destruction of Jericho the two spies went into Rahabs house and brought forth Rahab and her fathers household and all that she had. (Josh. 6:25) Indeed, Gods promises are sure.

God promised to Noah to save him from the flood. God’s promise to King Hezekiah to add fifteen years to his life (Isa. 38:1-8). Sometimes the promise of God was not good for man, but still God kept his promise. Unto the first man God said, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:16-17) When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of that tree they began to die, for they were cast out of the garden, separated from the tree of life, and from the presence of God. That day they began to die physically, and that day they died spiritually. Gods promise was sure.

There are hundreds of other examples in the Old Testament, which show that the promises of God are sure. Remember: “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4)

God’s Promises Today

1. To be a Father to us. If Christians will separate themselves from the sins of the world, he will be their Father, and they will be his children. Paul said “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 6:17-7:1).

2. Life in Christ. Paul said he was an apostle “by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:1).

3. A Crown of Life. A man is blessed who endures temptation “for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (Jas. 1:12 f; Rev 2:10).

4. Rest for the Soul. The Hebrew writer said, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it” (Heb. 4:1). 5. Eternal inheritance. Christ is the mediator of the New Testament so that “they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15).

6. Eternal life. John wrote, “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” (1 John 2:25). “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Tit 1:2)

Is it any wonder that Peter would refer to these promises as “exceeding great and precious” (2 Pet. 1:4)? They are great because they offer us so much. They are precious because they mean so much to the soul.

Promised to Christians

The promises of God that are precious to the soul are made to his children (2 Cor. 6:18). “They which are called” receive the promise of eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15). Christians are the people who have responded to the call of God issued through the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14). The promises of God are also said to be “to them that love him” (Jas. 1:12).

Gentile Christians were said to be “partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (Eph. 3:6). Christians are the ones who have obeyed the gospel. The promise of life is said to be “in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:1). The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the promise of heaven is made for God’s people, Christians who compose the Church.

We Can Depend Upon God’s Promises

Three things are said about God that make his promises sure: (1) “He is faithful that promised” (Heb. 10:23; 11:11). (2) God cannot lie. Paul said he was “in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Tit. 1:2). (3) Peter said, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise . . .” (2 Pet. 3:9). Because God does not lie, when he makes a faithful promise, he will not ignore it — he will fulfill it!

He Is Able

The things which were listed before, which God has promised to his children, would be meaningless to us if the promises had been made by a mere man. Man simply is not able to give us a crown of life, eternal life, eternal inheritance, or eternal rest. We would not expect to receive such things from men. However, these promises came from God, and they are our hope for eternity. We are depending upon these things which God said he will do for his people. Paul said Abraham “staggered not . . . through unbelief” because he was “fully persuaded that, what he (God) had promised, he was able also to perform” (Rom. 4:20-21). God is able to do what he has said he will do. Like Abraham, we also can depend on it!

Conclusion:  The promises are in Christ, and realized by our obedience to the gospel (Eph. 3:6). We must make absolutely certain that we have obeyed the gospel! Thereafter, we must be determined in our efforts to live the Christian life. We must meet the requirements of faithful living (1 Cor. 4:2), worshiping and serving God in all things (Matt. 4:10). God and the Kingdom must be the focus of our affection and our work (Col. 3:1-2; Matt. 6:33). Then, we must never become careless or impatient as we await the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Hebrew writer instructed Christians, “That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12). We must have enough faith to persevere to the end (Rev. 2:10); we must be careful to maintain good works (Tit. 3:8, 14); we must not lay down our sword before the battle is won (Eph. 6:17). If we do so, this is the promise of Jesus Christ: “He that endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 10:22). We can rest assured God will keep his promises, but the question we all need to answer is, will we be obedient to His Will (Mt 7:21-23)?

Where Are God’s Miracles?

You can of those who profess to have the power to perform miracles every day, and usually they charge a hefty fee. However, they never perform. They can’t heal the lame. They can’t make the blind to see or the deaf to hear. They can’t heal cancer or heart disease or for that matter any disease. In order to understand miracles is to understand from where the power comes. God, not man has the power to perform miracles. In this lesson I am going to surprise you as to where the miracles of God have gone.

First of all, miracles of God have existed since the world began. It was by the Word of God that the universe was created. Imagine saying, “Let there be light and there was light”. No human being has ever duplicated what God did in the beginning of time of man. Yet, all Christians believe and know of God’s power of miracles. What is in contention is, do men have the power to perform miracles today.

We know prophets of old had the power of miracles. Elijah and Elijah were two perfect examples of two prophets who performed miracles. Elijah raised the dead and confronted the 450 false prophets of Jezebel with the power of miracles (1 Kin 18). The most famous miracle of Elisha was when he healed the leprosy of Naaman (2 Kin 5). His dead bones even raised a dead man back to life again (2 Kin 13).

We know the apostles of Jesus Christ had the power of miracles. They healed the lame (Acts 3:6-8). They raised the dead (Acts 9:36-42). The performed many signs and wonders (Acts 5:12).

We know Jesus himself perform many miracles. Jesus cured the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-47). Jesus healed a leper (Mark 1:40-45). Jesus cured a woman of an issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48). Jesus cured a deaf and mute man (Mark 7:31-37). Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind (John 9:1-38). Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46). Last, but not least, Jesus arose from the dead (Luke 24:5-6).

So, the question we need to answer today is, do miracles exist today. We know prophesies, tongues and knowledge from on high ended with the completion of the new testament (1 Cor 16:8-10). We know the power of miracles the apostles had ended with them and was not passed on from generation to generation. They passed on the laying of hands but those who received such power could not pass this ability to anyone else (Acts 8:14-19).

Yet, if we are to believe the book of James, the power of miracles exist today. Are you shocked? Are you shaking your head in disbelief? Yet, we find this in the book of James, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit” (Jam 5:13-18).

Consider this, every man who ever performed a miracle first prayed to God for their request. This my brethren has never ended. Elders of the church have such power if they have FAITH. Sadly, most don’t have such faith and no such miracles are performed. As Christians, we all have the avenue of prayer and with such FAITH, we can ask God to heal us, heal others and if it be His Will, it will be done.

Now, let me share with you a part of my personal life. I have had my own life spared several times which go beyond anything normal. I and my family were delivered from what should have been a head on collision from a semi-truck on a heavy icy road in December of 1969. I have been delivered from several auto wrecks, all unscathed. I have been delivered from more than one assassin. I have been delivered from a venomous snake. Bit by a venomous spider (deathly allergic to its bite and suffered for many years), but allowed to live without treatment. I have been delivered from would be muggers unscathed. I have went through much afflictions and turmoil in my life only to be delivered from what no man could deliver me.

Now, all of these miracles came directly from God and not man. Some by the power of prayer and some by the Will of God. I have had times when the very sick and near death would have their family members call me and asked me to pray for them. One woman was actually in a coma and the ER doctors already said that she had no chance of recovery. In seconds after I prayed for her, her eyes opened up and she began to talk.  She walked out of the ER in minutes and shocked the physicians who had treated her. Coincidence or miracle of God? I had my own wife who had lost 6 pints of blood and the doctors in the ER tell me that even 3 pints low in blood will cause one to go in shock. They had never had anyone even walk into the ER low of 3 pints of blood much-less 6 pints of blood. I was told that they would begin to give her blood in drips over 3 days but not to expect her to survive. I prayed for her and 3 days later she walked out of that hospital healthy and well. To this very day they call my wife the miracle lady. Coincidence or miracle of God? Yes, I have prayed for others and some have died or never got well. The power is not within me, but is in God. It’s not my will but God’s will be done. The power of miracles never began with man of no generation but with God. Yes, the prayer of a righteous man avails much, even today! However, you must pray in FAITH and according to God’s Will, or God will not answer your request.

Having said all this, these are not the miracles the apostles performed or Jesus performed or even the prophets performed. Yet, they are still the miracles of God. I have never caused a blind man to see or the deaf to hear. I have never caused the lame to walk or raised a dead man back to life. I know of no one since the apostles who could do such miracles as these. Yet, the faithless in the days of Jesus and his apostles did not believe God healed anyone the way he did, but he did. Today, many still don’t believe God heals through the prayer of a righteous man, but he does.

Many today scoff at such notions that God can still heal mankind today. They run to doctors and place their trust in them, but to no avail. When God heals, a man is completely healed. He doesn’t have to take medicine or walk around on a cane. Man can give temporary fixes to long term illnesses, but only God can heal completely.

Now, I know many will scoff at what I have written as the writings of a mad man, but the scripture bears record, God still heals and delivers man from his dilemmas. After all, did not the scripture comfort us with these words, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb 13:5). Remember this, “With God, all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). And again Jesus said, “…All things are possible to him that believes” (Mk 9:23). God still works miracles through prayer and God still answers the prayers of the righteous (1 Pet 3:12).

One Drop Of Water

I was thinking the other day as I drank a bottle of water, that in my younger days water was something that was relatively inexpensive and was never sold in the market place. And yet, I also thought that despite the expense of water today, imagine how rich one would become if someone had but one bottle of water in hell. What would be the worth of only one drop of water in hell? Priceless?

Hell is described as a lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10,15). This would be about like being caught up in the flow of an active volcano many times hotter. The sulfur content in one volcano is approximately 29%. The sulfur content in the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah has been measured at 98%. It was fire and brimstone (sulfur) which literally melted these wicked cities. The lake of fire and brimstone is where the devil and all who follow him shall be cast into, day and night forever and ever (Rev 20:10). In Mark 9:43-44, it is spoken of as “unquenchable fire.” It is a place of eternal suffering with no way to escape. Have you ever pondered the idea of placing your hand on a burning hot stove and being unable to remove it? Or what about your whole body? Hell is truly hotter than we can even imagine. Truly God has sought to warn us!

Hell is full of sin and corruption, from the two-faced hypocrite to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (1 Cor. 6:9-10 f; Rev. 21:8). All of the scum from all of the societies for all ages are going to be found there. Just pause and think for a moment of all that will include: from Herod to Hitler and from alien sinner to fallen saint! And, if we are lost and go there, we shall be there among the very worst of them! Indeed this is a terrifying thought to even ponder!

Hell will be a place where there will be no light, only eternal darkness and misery (Matt. 25:30). There will be no “light of a new day” or “hope for a better tomorrow” (for there will be no tomorrow). Although there will be a “lake of fire,” there will be no light to seek escape. Agony so horrible that the rich man begged not for a whole drink, but that Lazarus would but dip his finger tip in water and touch his tongue. Just a single drop of water to relieve his suffering. Try to do this, and see how much comfort it would give! Yet, even this would be gladly accepted as a welcomed relief by the rich man in his suffering “in this flame” (Lk. 16:24).

Likewise, there would be no joy over anticipated reunions with other loved ones in hell (Lk. 16:27-28). The fact that a close friend or relative might be there would offer no satisfaction or comfort. You indeed would prefer to suffer by yourself, if it needs to be that you go there! And in fact it will be alone, for the Bible tells us those in hell “will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thess 1:19). Alone and forgotten, left out and left to suffer in eternal agony.

Unlike heaven, in hell there will be no one to love and care what happens to you. Certainly the devil doesn’t care. To him you are but a pawn in the battle being waged against God, and the devil could care less what happens to you in that battle (witness the affliction he heaped on Job in his efforts to get him to curse God (Job 1:7). He will not offer his only begotten son on a cross, despised and rejected by the very ones he came to save, in order to save you from the horrors of hell. And, it’s not because he is unaware of what life has in store for you. Believe me, God has full knowledge of what hell is like for he created hell and it’s ever enlarging (Matt. 8:29 ff; Rev. 20:10 f; Prov 27:20). To the Devil, you are a disposable pawn he is merely using to try to get to God! Did he care what agony and suffering he brought on Adam and Eve? Or what would happen to mankind if he could succeed in getting Christ to worship him instead (Matt. 4)?

In Revelation 21:4 a single drop of water (a single tear) was sufficient to command God’s personal care and concern. Yet when the rich man begged for a single drop of water in Luke 16:24, the response was that He was too busy, not interested, and no longer cared! Nor was anyone else allowed to supply the single drop of water to relieve his agony! He would find no comfort in hell! God’s patience has its limits and it is manifested in hell and damnation! Man has the ability to kill your body. However, God has the power to destroy both soul and body in hell (Mt 10:28)!

You have one ray of hope and that is in the every saving grace of Jesus Christ. God sent him to save you (Jn 3:16). Jesus verily died for you (Acts 20:28). He can only save you if you obey His Gospel (Mk 16:16). In order to be saved you must believe Jesus is the Christ and confess such before men (Rom 10:8-10). You must repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). And you must remain faithful unto death (Rev 2:10). If you reject this gospel, you are guaranteed that you will spend your eternity in hell and suffer day and night forever and ever (2 Thess 1:8,9). Think about that the next time you sip a cool glass of water on a hot summer day when you are thirsty.

How Are We Spending God’s Money?

When the church comes together each Lord’s Day, it is in part to give of our means as we have prospered to the Lord. This is not man’s money to do as he pleases but God’s money to do the Lord’s work. It is not for fancy buildings and comforts found in kings houses, but rather is the money to preach God’s Word and to help the needy saints. When we misappropriate funds from the contribution, we are not stealing from man but from God (Acts 5:1-10)

How much of the Lord’s money is being spent on carrying out God’s Word, and how much was spent for incidentals such as carpeting, padded pews, central air-conditioning, new song books, new drapes, maintaining our physical plant, etc.? Congregations often seem to be interested in building a cathedral in which to assemble, spending an absorbent amount of money which could have been best spent of the Lord’s Work.

On every hand we find need and opportunity to fulfill God’s law and its details, but we are overly occupied with our incidentals. Surely there are things the church needs to carry out the Lord’s Work, but is it to supersede the Work of God itself? No! Many churches are overly concerned with their own personal comforts and the impression their building makes in the community. We are commanded to take God’s Word to the world, not to bring the world to us by the use of expensive and elaborate buildings and events.

As Christians, we need to find out how the leaders of our congregation is spending the Lord’s money, and make sure it is not being spent unwisely. We are stewards of God’s possessions. “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expects not, and in an hour when he knows not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful. And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another’s who will give you that which is your own?” Brethren, are we using the Lord’s money wisely to do the Lord’s Will, or are we more concerned with satisfying our own will? Elders, spend God’s money wisely doing the work of God and not for the entertainment and pleasures of its members.

The Parallel of Jonah and Jesus

The book of Jonah tells the story of the prophet Jonah who refused to obey the commandment of God to call Nineveh to repentance. He did not want Nineveh to repent; instead he desired to see the city destroyed by the hand of God because of her wickedness since the Assyrians were the primary threat to the nation of Israel. Consequently, when God told Jonah to prophesy against Nineveh, he fled to Tarshish.

The Lord sent a storm threatening the lives of those on the ship with Jonah. They threw their cargo overboard but still were not safe. In desperation, they cast lots to see for what reason God sent the storm. The lot fell to Jonah. He confessed his sin, telling the sailors that he had “fled from the presence of the Lord” (1:10). The valiant sailors desperately tried to navigate their ship to land. When this failed, the sailors followed Jonah’s advice and threw him overboard. The Lord then sent a great calm.

The Lord prepared a huge fish which swallowed Jonah. For three days and nights, he was in the fish’s belly. There he repented and prayed to the Lord. The fish vomited Jonah out on dry ground. The Lord gave his charge to Jonah a second time: “Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I asked you” (3:2). This time, Jonah went and preached to Nineveh.

The city heard the message of Jonah. The sign of the Lord in saving Jonah from death in the fish’s belly served to convince the Ninevites of the truthfulness of his message. They repented of their sins and God did not destroy the city.

Jonah was unhappy. He wanted the Ninevites destroyed. The pouting prophet went to a hill nearby Nineveh and sat to watch the Lord destroy the city. As he sat in the hot sun, the Lord sent a gourd to shade him. The next day the Lord smote the gourd that it withered and died. Jonah was angry that his shade, the gourd, had died. God asked him why he could show sorrow for the loss of a gourd but would expect God to allow 120,000 children who could not distinguish their right hand from their left hand to perish.

What valuable lessons were learned from Jonah? Jonah tried to escape his responsibility before God by running from his presence. He left his hometown, but he could not leave God’s presence. God’s all-seeing eye followed Jonah as he boarded the ship and fled to Tarshish. Like Jonah, many men today are trying to escape their responsibilities to God. Thy could go to the ends of the universe and yet they will not escape the presence of the Almighty. They will be no more successful than was the prophet Jonah. God will still hold men accountable to Him regardless of how far they may run from his presence. Are you running from God today?

The book of Jonah emphasizes God’s control over nature as well. The Lord sent the storm to the sea (1:4). When the men threw Jonah overboard, the Lord sent the calm (1: 15). To save Jonah from death, the Lord prepared and sent a great fish to swallow the prophet (1:17). The Lord later commanded the fish to vomit the prophet out on dry ground (2:10). The book of Jonah emphasizes that “God in heaven, has made the sea and the dry land.” The sea obeyed God. The great fish obeyed God. All of nature obeys God. Will you?

The book of Jonah vividly demonstrates the meaning of repentance. The Lord told Jonah, “Arise, go to Nineveh” (1:2). In his rebellion against God, Jonah fled to Tarshish; he should have gone northeastward but he fled northwestward. When Jonah repented, the Lord again commanded, “Arise, go to Nineveh” (3:2). Penitent Jonah went to Nineveh. The change in the will of the prophet produced a change in his conduct. What will it take God to do to you to cause you to repent?

The conduct of the Gentile Ninevites also demonstrates the meaning of repentance. When Jonah preached in the city of Nineveh saying, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (3:4), the people of Nineveh “believed in God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (3:5). What a contrast between this Gentile city which repented when one prophet preached to them and the Israelites, God’s chosen people, who refused to repent when prophet after prophet was sent to them! Their contrition before God, outwardly displayed by their wearing of sackcloth, demonstrated their sorrow for sin and resolution to turn from it. This was true repentance in both Jonah and Nineveh. Will you turn your sins and obey the same gospel preached unto all the world (Mk 16:16)?

In contrast to Jonah, God loved the Ninevites and was just as concerned for their welfare as he was for the Israelites. He saw that there were 120,000 innocent infants and young children who would die should judgment fall on the city of Nineveh. He loved them and cared for them. Consequently, he sent the prophet to warn them of God’s judgment and call them to repentance.

Jonah’s begrudging that God would forgive the Gentiles may very well be an Old Testament answer to the Jews who begrudged the gospel going to the Gentiles, to demonstrate that the nature of God had always been the same in his love for all of mankind. Through the apostle Paul, God revealed his desire for Gentiles to be grafted into the covenant, despite Jewish opposition thereto (Rom. 9).

The Lord Jesus confirmed the historicity of this book by using Jonah’s three days and nights in the belly of the fish as a type of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeka after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:38-41).

He also used the incident of the miraculous sign of Jonah to the people of Nineveh as a type of the miraculous sign he would give to the world to confirm his message. Compare the sign of Jonah and the sign of Jesus. Jonah: Life given to save sailors. Jesus” Life given to save sinners. Jonah: Cast to certain death in the great fish. Jesus: Died a certain death on the cross. Jonah: Buried in fish’s belly 3 days and nights. Jesus: Buried in the belly of the earth 3 days and nights. Jonah: “Raised” to life. Jesus Raised from the dead. Jonah: Incident a sign to confirm his message. Jesus: Incident a sign to confirm his gospel. Jonah: Mission to save the Gentiles. Jesus: Mission to save both the Jews and Gentiles. When one studies these parallels, he can readily see that Jonah was a type of the Christ. The God who sent his Son to die on Calvary prefigured his death by the events recorded in Jonah.

Ask For The Old Paths

It was the prophet Jeremiah who pleaded with the people of Israel: “Thus saith the Lord, Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein.”(Jer. 6:16). However they replied, “We will not walk there in.” Now you may reason, “Those, people were certainly rebellious.” I ask of you today, “Has man’s attitude changed that much today?” The Lord is still pleading with man to return to the “old paths,” but the answer comes back with the same reverberating words, “We will not walk therein.” Thus man’s rebellion down through the ages has placed him in lost condition.

In times past many have heard the Lord’s will, and at the same time, have rejected it. But what is the Lord going to do about it? Is he going to become disgusted with man and give up? The answer is no, inasmuch as he is long-suffering, for Peter declares: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Since we are to have the spirit of Christ, we must be as determined, and continually plead for man to return to the old paths.

What is meant by the Old Paths? This is simply a term which describes God’s ways. Many have wandered off after man. Hence, to plead for the old paths is only to plead for man to return
to God’s way of doing things. Of course, no one can be popular with mankind if he makes such a decision and sticks to it. Neither will he be able to follow his opinions, or the opinions of others, when it comes to matters pertaining to religion, but if one loves the Lord he will put him first in everything.

Often we hear many people saying that there are various ways to please God, that one way is just as good as another. “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto
the Father, but by me.” (Jn 14:6).

Come back to the gospel of Christ. Upon hearing that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and arose from the dead on the third day according to the scripture, believe with your heart and confess your believe with your mouth before men (Rom 10:8-10). Then repent of your sins and have them washed way by baptism (Lk 13:3 f; Acts 22:16). Then are you added to the Lord’s church which he bled and died for on the cross (Acts 2:27 f; Acts 20:28).

Worship God in spirit and in truth. Worship on the first day of the week just like the disciples of Christ did (Acts 20:7). Sing with your heart and not with instruments of music (Eph 5:19). Pray with the spirit and understanding (1 Cor 14:15). Give of your means freely, not grudgingly (2 Cor 9:6,7). Be taught by the means of preaching and teaching by preachers who change not from God’s Word no matter the season (2 Tim 4:2-5).

Endure temptations, afflictions, and persecutions unto the end and you shall receive a crown of life (2 Tim 3:12 ff; 2 Pet 3:9; Jam 1:12; Rev 2:10)

These are the old paths that one must walk therein if they intend to be saved come the day of judgment. It hasn’t changed in nearly 2000 years. And if the world should stand for a million more years, God’s way will never change! It was good for Paul and Silas. It was good for Peter and John. It was good for every new testament convert in the new testament. Make it good enough for you. Ask for the old paths, the good way, and walk therein.

 

Rev. 22:14).

The Unteachable, The Unreachable

Have you ever tried teaching or correcting someone only have them make unwarranted personal attacks on you? It’s as though they think you dislike them or are disrespecting them. Learning only occurs when there has been a transfer of knowledge from the teacher to the one who is taught. If one is not willing to learn, the teacher is just wasting their time.

Sometimes the teacher is not prepared or is inept on the subject he is teaching. This is why all teachers need to be prepared to give biblical answers to biblical questions (1 Pet 3:15). However, sometimes the process of learning is impaired by the hearer. Jesus, the perfect Teacher, was unable to teach some people. He warned that men should be careful to hear. He said, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear” (Lk. 8:8). Such was a description of Israel who were deaf but had ears to hear and blind but had eyes to see (Is 43:8). Yet to do evil they have much wisdom but to do good they have no knowledge (Jer. 4:22). Each of the letters to the seven churches of Asia concludes with the saying, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22). In order to benefit from the revelation which God has given to man, an individual must have the proper attitude to learn.

An individual must have a burning desire to know God’s will. The wise man said, “Buy the truth, and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23). This proverb recognizes the preciousness of truth, the willingness to sacrifice in order to obtain it, and the obligation to cling to it at all costs. Jesus taught the same lesson in comparing the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field and to a goodly pearl (Matt. 13:44-46). The man who accidentally discovered the hidden treasure and the man who found the goodly pearl for which he had been searching sold all that they had in order to obtain it. The Bereans displayed this attitude toward learning God’s will when they “searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

A wise man is marked by this attitude toward learning the will of God. He will listen to instruction.Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning (Prov. 9:9). The wise in heart will receive commandments (Prov. 10:8). The instruction which they hear, they will obey and make an application to their lives (Prov. 10:17). Having this attitude toward learning makes them increase in wisdom (Prov. 12:1; 15:31; 19:20). They will love the man who reproves them for their sin (Prov. 9:8). This disposition perceives that anytime a man has the opportunity to rid himself of some incorrect belief or practice in “change for a correct belief or practice, he is wise to exchange the bad for the good.

The fool hates reproof. He that hates reproof is brutish (Prov. 12:1). A scorner hears not rebuke (Prov. 13:1). Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction: but he that regarded reproof shall be honored (Prov. 13:18). Frequently, he will hate the one who brings it. Paul asked the Galatians if he had become their enemy because he told them the truth (Gal. 4:16). “A scorner loves not one that reproves him” (Prov. 15:12).

What should be our attitude toward an individual who refuses to learn? Should we continue trying to teach him? The scornful man has hardened his face against the truth (Prov. 21:29). The wise man said, “Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words” (Prov. 23:9). Not only will he harden his face against the truth, he will maliciously attack the one teaching it. He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, unless he hates you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you (Prov. 9:8-9).

Jesus indicated the same thing when He taught that one should not cast his pearls before swine “Unless they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matt. 7:6). The early apostles learned this lesson well enough to shake the dust off their feet when one refused God’s word (Acts 13:45-46; 18:6). A scornful man should be left alone in his sin (Matt. 15:14).

The man who rebels against God’s divine word will suffer the consequences of his action. Under the theocratic government in Israel, a scornful man was punished, sometimes by a beating (Deut. 25:1-3). Civil punishment would teach a man what he was too foolish to learn by instruction. A rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding (Prov. 10:13). Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools (Prov. 19:29). Yet a fool will learn less from his punishment than the wise will learn from instruction (Prov. 17:10).

Sometimes a person will rebel against God’s law and civil law to the point that he is put in prison. Prison is for the man who cannot learn any other way. Yet, in prison, some men learn only how to be better criminals. Such a man is a fool. To punish these individuals is necessary, not only that justice might be served, but that others will learn not to conduct themselves in the same way. “When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge” (Prov. 21:11 f; 1 Tim. 5:20). The person who continues to rebel against God’s word will eventually destroy himself. “Whoso despises the word shall be destroyed” (Prov. 13:13 f; 19:16). God’s law of retribution is this: “whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). And the harvest is always greater than the seed that is sown (Hos. 8:7).

Conclusion: What is your attitude when someone corrects you? Do you swell up with anger? Do you lash back with attacks against the one correcting you? Do you cease associating with the one correcting you? Or, do you listen attentively, weigh the criticism objectively, and act accordingly?

Remember this, only one who is teaching falsely will make personal attacks on those who oppose their views. Those who bear the truth allow the truth to speak for itself, but never make personal attacks on those who oppose them. Few things test one’s character more than how he reacts to criticism. What would be your reaction should someone say, “You are doing this wrong; I will show you a better way”? Suppose someone tried to show you that something you believed about salvation and God was wrong. Could you listen, weigh the evidence, and make an objective judgment? Are you a foolish man or a wise man? The answer could determine where you will spend your eternity.

Don’t Forget Lot’s Wife

Every lukewarm Christian needs to be reminded of Lot’s Wife. “Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Lk. 17:32-33). It serves as a warning. Lot’s wife, though nameless, was lukewarm in her attitude toward God and the salvation he offered when the “cities of the plain” were to be destroyed (Gen. 19). She began her journey to safety with her husband and daughters; but the farther they went from Sodom the more her heart became more divided. As a result she perished along with the inhabitants of Sodom. Why? Because she looked back. This was the very thing the Angel of God told Lot and his wife and two daughters not to do (vs 17). No one can serve two masters (Mt 6:24).

The scriptures never tells us the exact reason(s) why Lot’s wife looked back. We are left forever to speculate as to why she disobeyed God. Perhaps her heart was still in the city. Perhaps she did not appreciate all that had been done for her salvation (Gen. 18:16-33). Perhaps she had friends and family still residing in Sodom. Perhaps her loyalty to God and the world was divided (1 Jn 2:15). She almost made it to safety; but sadly she allowed her vigilance to relax. As in the words of the writer of Hebrews, she came “short of the grace of God” (Heb. 12:15). As in the words of John, God spewed her out of his mouth (Rev 3:15,16).

Lot’s wife is like many Christians today who have salvation in their hands and let go of the prize. They forget that they was once purged from their sins and return back to the ways which lead them astray (2 Pet 1:9). Just like the dog who returned to his own vomit and the sow to her wallowing in the mud (2 Pet 2:22). It had been better she had never known the way of righteousness, than to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto her (v21).

I know of many who were baptized believers who see the world enjoying the pleasures of this world and return back to their sinful ways. We all need to be reminded that we are not saved until we have fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith. Then and only then do we receive a crown of righteousness. (2 Tim 4:7,8). Being close doesn’t count. REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE!