Justification by Faith: a change of standing – before God.

Definition of the term:  To justify means to legally acquit, to declare righteous; it is the opposite to condemn.  (Deuteronomy 25:1)
(Proverbs 17:15)

Our God Almighty is a Holy and Righteous God. (Habukkuk 1:13)
(1 John 1:5b)

As born sinners (Psalm 51:5), mankind is therefore born guilty of sin in God’s Holy eyes, and to remain a Holy God, the Lord God Jehovah is duty bound, by His own pure Holiness, to punish sin and to condemn all sinners to an Eternal Hell! (Psalm 9:17)  No sin can enter Heaven!
(1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Justifying is the Judge’s Act:  To receive Justification therefore, if one is being tried in the dock of a court, means that the accused (you and I!) receives the verdict of ‘not guilty’ from the judge. (Isaiah 43:9;25-26)

In Scripture, God is the Righteous “…Judge of the whole earth…” (Genesis 18:25), and His dealings with the sons of men are constantly described in forensic (legal) terms.  (Psalm 119:71-72)

Righteousness:  True righteousness (full conformity to God’s Laws) is what God requires of men and women, and He shows His own Righteousness as Judge in taking vengeance on those who ‘sin’, or ‘fall short’ of His perfect standard.  (Psalm 7:11) (Isaiah 5:16) (Acts 17:30-31) (1 Peter 4:1-5) (Romans 14:11-12) (Exodus 20:3-17)

Therefore, since we know from Scriptures that there is ‘…none righteous…’ (Romans 3:10), since ‘…all have fallen short…’ of the Righteousness of God (Romans 3:22b-23), it follows that al born of woman since Adam are born under God’s Holy condemnation of sin!  All, of course, but the altogether Righteous Son of God – the Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise His Name!  (Hebrews 4:15) (2 Corinthians 5:21) (1 Peter 2:21-24) (1 John 3:4-5)

All mankind, therefore, except Christ Himself, are born guilty, Hell-deserving sinners! (Psalm 14:1-4)
There are no ‘big sins’ and ‘little sins’ in God’s Holy eyes.  SIN IS SIN! (James 2:10)
We are double guilty of sin.  We are doubly condemned by the Righteous Judge!  How?  Well, first we are guilty of inherent Adamic sin
(Genesis 5:3), and then again, of the actual sins we naturally commit! (Romans 7:14-24) (1 John 1:8)
There remains, therefore, no hope for any sinner if God’s Righteous verdict goes against us.  ‘…our God is a consuming fire…’.
(Hebrews 10:30-31) (Revelation 20:10-15)

Question 1:  If all are born sinners, all fall short of God’s Righteous standards (i.e. Christ’s perfection) (Matthew 6:33), then, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ (Acts 16:30-31)  How can the born sinner be JUSTIFIED? (i.e. just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned) (Job 14:1-4)

Answer 1:  “Ye must be born again!” (John 3:3-8) (1 Peter 1:18-25)  We must be given a new birth from God Above, we must be regenerated by God the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 37:1-10) and enter into the Body of Christ (i.e. the true church) (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)  Christ must enter into us, and bring His Spiritual banquet of blessings with Him. (Revelation 3:20)  We thus, ‘…die daily…’ unto self, and live daily unto the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:31b) (Galatians 2:20)  Yea, more!  Jesus lives His resurrected life in us, through faith.  (John 14:6) (Leviticus 17:11) (Jon 10:10)  Hallelujah!  Amen!

We cannot work our way towards Justification – it is done through faith, the gift of our Sovereign Lord God. (Hebrews 11:1;6) (Ephesians 2:8-10) (Psalm 115:3)

Question 2:  How, therefore, can we receive faith to be justified before a Holy Lord God?

Answer 2:  One place only – “Faith cometh by hearing (or reading) and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)  We cannot be saved (or justified) without first hearing the Word of God – the glorious Gospel of Christ’s Salvation Sacrifice at the Cross for sinners. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (Acts 4:12)
Who will ever seek to saved, if first they are not made aware that they are indeed lost? (John 16:8) (Luke 19:10)

It is therefore, perhaps easier for an actual thief, and actual murderer; an obvious sinner, to hear and receive the Gospel Truth and be saved!
(Psalm 51:1-13)

Nice old ladies and gentlemen; church-going, ‘good-living’ persons, who have never seemed to do harm to anyone in their lives; these poor people are the hardest to reach with the Gospel!  Why?  Because they don’t really believe they are indeed vile sinners in God’s pure eyes!
(Revelation 3:14-19)

Thus, they die and open their eternal eyes in a Christ-rejecter’s Hell!  Why? Because they never really sought to be justified before God – in Christ Jesus!  They rely on their own assumed righteousness to get them into Heaven.  Thus, they reveal their disbelief of God’s Word – “…none righteous…”.  (Romans 3:10)

Conclusion:  All those sinners, who by simply taking God at His Word, and receiving Christ Jesus as both Saviour and Lord, are born again: declared not guilty; deemed sinless in their STANDING before God’s Righteous Throne (Exodus 12:13) (Isaiah 1:18); imputed (i.e. put to their account) the Righteousness of Christ Himself! (Psalm 32:1-2)  Hallelujah!

We thus manifest true trust in Christ’s Righteous ATONEMENT upon Calvary’s Cross; His suffering in our place; for we who are blessed with faith to believe and to keep on believing (i.e. the continuous verb ‘believeth’ and ‘cleanseth’).  (John 3:16) (John 1:7)  Praise God!

Therefore, when a born sinner REPENTS (i.e. turns away from sin and turns fully to follow God) and receives Christ by faith – he/she is born again of God and declared fully JUSTIFIED in God’s Holy sight.

This is the great Reformation/Protestant doctrine of JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.  Learn it!  Teach it! Believe it!  Be blessed with the joy and liberty of its truth.  Amen.

Rest Stops

By Jan Moser

During a recent vacation to the beach, my dog Pierre taught me yet another valuable lesson. Most of us, myself included, focus on our destination, our final goal, and the culmination of our project — the end of the process. I was eagerly anticipating a quiet week of reading, taking walks, and enjoying nature. But to Pierre, each step of the journey was an adventure unto itself, even the rest stops. There were new sights, smells and sounds to explore. Sometimes, we get so caught up in getting to the last step, that we fail to appreciate the blessings and lessons along the way.

It’s true we should press forward toward our goals, whether they be spiritual, work-related  or school-related or personal, if we believe that they are God’s will for us.

Phil. 3:13 Brethren, I do not reckon myself to have laid hold; and one thing-the things behind indeed forgetting, and to the things before stretching forth- 14 to the mark I pursue for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Young’s Literal Translation

But along the route, we should keep our ears, eyes and hearts open to God’s working in our lives, being constantly thankful and enjoying the journey itself. Do you look at how much weight you have yet to lose, or are you appreciative of each pound you lose? Do you feel frustrated until a committee project is complete, or do you ask God to teach you in the process, and thank Him for each step of progress? Do we fail to soak up all that we can learn, in each class we take, because we are consumed with “getting our degree?” Do we realize that each moment of life is a precious gift from God, to be appreciated – and that each day brings lessons and blessings?

We need to learn to appreciate each stage of our journey.

1 Thes 5:16 Always rejoice ye; 17 continually pray ye; 18 in every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you. Young’s Literal Translation

Dear Lord, help us to appreciate each moment of life, each step along the journey, and to show You our thanks. In Jesus’ name amen.

Jan

Obedience

By: Deborah Durrett

       It was a stormy evening, beginning with bouts of lightning flashing through a front window, followed by boisterous claps of thunder – causing our dog (Pointer) Melody’s perched ears to look pinned to the side of her head. This was during the first hour. In the second hour, the wind and rain kept coming and going, so I took a chance to get my flower baskets off the hooks out on the deck, to a place under cover of the canopy until the morning. Mellie got down from her spot, heading towards the back door, because my preparations were not uncommon if I were about to take her outside. It was still too much going on for her to go along, yet she was willing to be obedient, despite her clear trepidation about the idea. As I moved the hanging baskets, I felt tears coming to my eyes (as I also do now) realizing her decision to trust me. When we first brought her home from the local SPCA, she struggled with us getting close to her-particularly things like touching her paws or checking in her ears, even though it was due to concern for her health and comfort. Gradually, she warmed up to us enough to understand we had her best in mind, and we were going to help any way we could – because she was family. We gained her trust as we did things to have her believe she could do so. Before we came to meet her where we live, she had lived in Jackson, Mississippi-750 miles away. She had been found by animal control on her own after a bad storm that included some tornadoes-although we do not know specifics about what her personal experience had been. What we do know is that she had experienced enough to not be fond of the combination of loud thunder, strong winds and pounding rain. In a typical bout of rain, she could care less that she is wet, and has to be encouraged to go inside so I do not get soaked. For a boisterous thunderstorm, she wants to bring her fifty-four pounds of sweetness to a lap, or go and get in her kennel cab, wrapped with a blanket to buffer sounds. We are so grateful she knows we are here for her now (not necessarily on our laps! 😊) but we remain aware that those previous unpleasant memories are still in her mind at times. So we have learned how to show her that she is safe, and that she does not have to go through it alone anymore. That is exactly what God wants for her and for all of His children.

       Our Father in heaven is so pleased when we ‘get real’ (as my mother-in-law often used to say) with Him in a manner well suited to how He designed us. Sometimes, we imagine He wants us to pretend we are fine when we are not-like it seems with humans very often. Not so at all. In fact, if we try that with Him, he knows it is not true, anyway. He wants to help us be obedient no matter what is going on in our lives- and even to feel our feelings! He wants us to reap the benefits of obedience, which are often long-term, and He knows we need the help. In addition to being able to better manage living now, we can build a better connection to the one who knows us better than anyone. He longs for the connection to us, and we were made to be made whole by that bond. Even a simple conversation like I had the other night when I was not feeling very well, and all I could come up with saying to Him was, “I’ve got nothing, Pop!” I just needed Him to know He was what I needed. If we just look at obedience to Him like the lifeline it is, rather than losing ourselves, we might be less reluctant. Why would He want that when He made each of us exactly the way we are at our core? Melody reminded me that humility in obedience to me was not a weakness; it just means “I trust you, you’ve cared for me this long, and I know you have my best interests in mind-I’m ready.”  Are you there, or are you ready to be there?      

“If you agree and obey, you will eat the best food of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. The Lord has said this.” Isaiah 1:19-20, CEB

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments…I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15 & 18 ESV

“Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you]. Colossians 4:6 AMP

“But if you are careful to obey him (angel sent by God), following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies.” Exodus 23:22 TLB

“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord…I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands.” Psalm 119:1 & 176 NLT

The Journey

From: Charlie Dean –

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death…Proverbs 14:12.

Some time ago, I heard a news report that after a journey of 285 million miles NASA’s Mars Spacecraft Odyssey arrived at the red planet and successfully fired its main engines to slow it into orbit.

After reading this, it was obvious to me that without this direction and guidance from mission control, the spaceship would have crashed into Mars and been destroyed. The spaceship would have been lost and all the knowledge and data it could have collected would have been lost. As a result, those that could have benefited from it having lived to complete its mission would suffer. No data would be collected, no useful information collected. All would have been lost if it had been on the wrong path.

Man too is on a journey set into motion by your birth. No one’s birth is an accident (Acts 17:25; Gen. 2:7) and God has a purpose or plan for each of us. If we follow the “divine plan” for our life, we will complete the tasks which God desires and fulfill our mission. As a result, others will benefit from our life and all we have encountered will be blessed by the things we do.

However, there are other outside, influences on our life. As gravity was pulling on the Mars Spacecraft Odyssey, so do other influences, evil influences, try to pull us away from the path God has designed.

Man used outside controls to direct the spacecraft onto the chosen path. As Christians, the Lord has given us His Spirit inside us to guide and direct us. Also, He has given us His Word to follow and opened up a line of communication between God and mankind through prayer.

He has made it possible that man could be redeemed from sin by the shed blood of his Son, Christ Jesus. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The bible is full of examples of God’s directing our lives. The words in Psalm 73:23, 24 are an excellent example of the directing hand of God in our lives:

“…I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory.”

The key is that we need to hold onto the hand of God. We need to seek his counsel, and we need to heed his advice and words. So, let’s acknowledge Jesus as Lord and seek his face for guidance that we may be on the path he wants us on not just some days, like on Sunday, but every day of our lives. Because every day you will encounter things, influences, temptations that will distract you and redirect you away from what God wants you to do that day.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths…Proverbs 3:6.”

Gifts

By Richard Moser

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)—For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

We all like receiving gifts for our birthdays, anniversaries, and at Christmas. But the best gifts are those that we receive from God.

God has given us so many blessings. We have been placed on this planet with an atmosphere just precisely right to sustain our lives. We are given talents and abilities to function in this world. God gives us husbands and wives, other families and friends to love and enjoy life with.

We are to share gifts with those whom God puts in our lives. These include the gifts of prayer for them, friendship with them, time spent with them, or even sometimes material gifts. 

But the greatest gift of all is salvation through God’s Son, Jesus Christ. God sent His only Son to free us from our sins. There is no way that we can earn our salvation. It is a gift from God. Have you accepted God’s greatest gift to you?

Just Do It

From: Charlie Dean

“Now, therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say…Exodus 4:12.”

The emphasis on “now” in this verse is mine. The command was given Moses to go and God promised to teach him what to say. But Moses wasn’t sure and wanted someone to go with him even though God said “go”. In other words, we should be willing to just do it. If God gives us a command to do something, He will be with us. It’s just that simple.

The word of God promises help and the word of God can’t lie. Luke 21:15 says:

“For I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.”

Did Pharaoh resist Moses effectively, no? Were those that imprisoned Paul and Silas effective in stopping their witness? No. They were told to go and they went. They were told to witness to the truth that Jesus is the way the truth and the life; so, they spoke.

The Lord also tells us to witness for Him. We would be foolish to do so without prayer and reading the Word. But we are to do it. Don’t let the devil steal your joy you receive when witnessing to another person.

As we go to work and see a hurtful and sinful world, the Lord gives us the opportunity to witness for him, but like Moses, we often hesitate. You may say, “I don’t know what to say” but exercise faith and just do it. The Holy Spirit will guide you.

If people come up to us and ask for help, don’t be afraid to speak out for fear of rejection. Just Do It. Jesus will guide and protect you. He’ll give you the word to use in season. Remember, we are soldiers for Jesus Christ, let’s go out and serve in His Name.

Psalm 85: Sin’s Forgiven – Sin Detested!

1. Sins Forgiven.  Psalm 85:1-3

Text: “Lord, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land: Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people; Thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all Thy wrath: Thou hast turned Thyself from the fierceness of Thine anger.”

Psalm 85:1-3.

Good morning, pardoned Christian!  By God’s Sovereign grace, you and the author have been gloriously pardoned from all sin – our Adamic sin, sin inherited within our old nature from Adam/Eve; and all the sins we have ever, or shall ever commit against our Holy Lord God of just wrath against all sin.  Hallelujah!  We are pardoned from the guilt and shame of our vile, disobedient and inherited, sins; and shall never ever be punished for our committing them.   Thank you, dear and Holy Lord God!  Amen. In Christ Jesus, we are forgiven.

“And the Blood (of Christ Jesus) shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the Blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt (Egypt is always a type of the world in Scriptures).” (Exodus 12:13)

“Blessed is he/she whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (by the Blood of the Lamb, Christ Jesus).” (Psalm 32:1)

Old Testament TYPES (the use of typology, earthly illustrations of Heavenly concepts) are all fully enacted in New Testament actions.  Christ came not to abolish the Law of God, He came to fulfil it, every jot and tittle.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till Heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”  (Matthew 5:17-18)

Verse 1. “Lord, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land: Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.”  God’s favour, or it could be interpreted as His grace, has been shown in the most profound sense, by the sending forth of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to take the sins of His elect upon Himself, go to that cruel Cross at Calvary, suffer, bleed and die the death that He alone could die – and all for to provide full Atonement for ‘His people’, and save us from the penalties and punishments for our sins.  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour! He has come the first time to do what the Lord God told Joseph he would do.

“And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou (Joseph) shalt call His Name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) (Not ALL people, but His people!)

“…Behold (look, and fully understand) the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

I hear some poor wretch say: “But, Dr McClinton, surely some of my sins are so vile and so blatantly deserving of God’s wrath, and Hell, and the Lake of Fire to follow – surely SOME of my sins will not be forgiven?”

To this sincere question I simple quote God’s written Word on the matter of forgiveness, and God’s Word puts an end to all questioning hearts. (Psalm 85:2)

Verse 2. “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people; Thou hast covered ALL their sins.”  Often and often again had He done this, pausing to pardon even when His sword was bared to punish.  Who is a pardoning God like Thee, O Jehovah? Who is so slow to anger, so ready to forgive? Every believer in Jesus enjoys the blessing of pardoned sin, and he/she should regard this priceless boon as the pledge of all other needed mercies.” (C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, page 360)

Verse 3. “Thou hast taken away ALL Thy wrath: Thou hast turned Thyself from the fierceness of Thine anger. When the Lord God, in Eternity, elects a sinner to give to His Son, Jesus Christ, to save in time – He causes ALL His wrath that that sinner deserved and continues to deserve to receive, to be taken away.  The shed and sinless Blood of His dear Son, Jesus Christ, the price of the elect sinner’s ransom, is all that the loving and Holy Father sees when He looks upon us as His redeemed people.  What grace!  What love! What a Father!  What a Saviour we have, in Christ Jesus!  Hallelujah! Thanks be to God for His grace! (John 6:37)

“That in the ages to come (right now) He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works (good deeds, good living), lest any man/woman should boast.” (Ephesians 2:7-9)

“Thou hast borne, or carried away, the iniquity. An allusion (type) to the ceremony of the scape-goat.” (Adam Clarke, 1760-1832)

“Thou hast covered ALL their sin. When God is said to cover sin, He does so, not as one would cover a sore with a plaster, thereby merely hiding it only; but He covers it with a plaster that effectually cures and removes it altogether.” (Robert Bellarmine, 1542-1621)

If the Living Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, Creator of all things, be likened unto an Atomic Reactor unto which no human being can approach, without burning up in an instant.  Then, the precious shed Blood of the Living Lord Jesus Christ might be likened unto the thick lead suit of protection, by which redeemed sinners might approach our Father’s throne, without utterly consuming away. Genuine saved sinners are covered by Christ’s sinless Blood.

“Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptable with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

The Lord Jesus Christ, by the offering of His own sinless Blood, has entered into the Holy Place in Heaven on your behalf and on mine – IF we are born again, Bible-believing Christians.  His once-for-all-time sin offering for us, covers ‘His people’, and pays the just penalty for our vile sins.  We are FORGIVEN in Him. He is our Eternal insurance policy!

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own Blood He entered in once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:12)

Thought: “Therefore (an Eternal conclusion) if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed (or are continually passing) away; behold, all things are become (or are continually becoming) new.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17) Glory to the Lamb!

Dr C.K. McClinton

Ulster Christians Ministry

www.ulsterchristians.org

You’re A Masterpiece

“You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].”John 15:3 (AMPC)

Citrus farmers will confirm that few things compare to the joy of an orchard filled with mature trees heavy laden with ripe and juicy fruit, ready for harvest. This illustration can be compared to the excitement of the Lord when His children are living free from bondage, full of His love and faith, and flowing in the power of His Spirit. In the life of a believer, fruit is evidence of the work we have allowed the Holy Spirit to do in our lives. It shows how we have yielded to His power and embraced His Word to become vessels wholly filled and flooded with Him. God’s purpose for us is to see us transformed into the very image of His Son, living in perfect harmony with Him, destroying the work of the enemy, and continuously ministering God’s goodness and grace to the lives of people everywhere we go. The more we embrace the Word of God and yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives; all limitations are removed and pruned off our lives. A life yielded to the work of the Spirit and Word becomes God’s masterpiece, displaying the quality and magnificence of His glory to all men – everywhere!

TIMING IS ALMOST EVERYTHING

From: Ron Hawks

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver…Proverbs 25:11.”

Have you ever felt like your words did more damage than good – even if what you said was correct? On the other hand, have you gotten in trouble for not saying anything when people wanted you to say something? It’s easy to lose in the communication game.

Sometimes we don’t know what to say, and sometimes we do; wisdom is when we know what to say, when and how to say it. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11) God’s revelation includes divine insight. God’s timing releases Kingdom power.

When you are called upon for counsel it is important to respond with more than your opinion. Your opinions don’t really matter to other people. What they need, whether they know it or not, is a word from the Lord. Such insight rarely simply drops from heaven. It requires a robust understanding of and familiarity with Scripture. Much of the language and truth of the Holy Spirit springs from the Bible text.

We need to be people of the Word. We also need to be people of the Spirit. Jesus said His words were full of the Spirit and life. (John 6:63) The apostle Paul said “we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” (1 Corinthians 2:13) The Holy Spirit helps us apply the truth of God in God’s timing.

Followers of Christ seek God for insight and for wisdom for others. They look for His perspectives and pay attention to what He may be highlighting – in terms of Scriptural truth and general wisdom. They wait for His timing. A word fitly applied in God’s timing can bring healing, deliverance and transformation. Such a word rightly timed can change the course of things.

James (the brother of Jesus) said, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19) Wait for God’s timing, don’t blurt thoughts as they come to your mind. Wait for a sense of what people used to call “God’s unction” – His inspiration, anointing and/or power. When we find His timing, we tend to express things most clearly and find the greatest receptivity. It can be beautiful, like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Are you, your family or friends facing any challenges? Seek God’s wisdom. (James 1:5) Also try to discern His timing to share what you think He may be saying – with all humility.

Seeking God’s Timing with you,

Pastor Tom

The Wednesday Word 

When Necessary Use Words …?

D G Miles McKee

Francis of Assisi has been attributed with the quote, “Preach the gospel always and when necessary use words.” Whether or not he actually said this is a matter of inconsequence. What matters is that this anti – gospel statement is often heralded by ‘enlightened’ evangelicals, so called, to justify their lack of evangelistic endeavour. They maintain that all we have to do is to live out the Christian life. If we do this, they insist, people will notice how god-like we are and will then convert to Christ.

When it comes to this subject, urban legends abound. For example the heretic, Charles Finney, who, in spite of his distorted and twisted denial of the doctrine of forensic Justification, is still popular in many quarters.  He was supposedly so holy that one day, he walked into a factory and just stood there. According to this fable, what happened next was that every worker in the factory came under conviction of sin, stopped working and cried out for mercy.

“Well,” you say, “don’t you believe that story?”

I reply, “Not a bit of me!”

“Well why not?” you ask.

“I’ll tell you why not I don’t believe it,” I reply, “because it’s not true.”

“But how do you know it’s not true?”

I know it’s not true for the simple reason, that when weighed by and measured against the gospel it turns out to be false.

Let me explain. Where, for example, do we read in the gospels that Christ walked into places and, just by standing there, converted all the people? Yet, Christ Jesus was genuinely pure, holy and sinless. He was God manifest in the flesh. It doesn’t get purer than that! However, His purity and holiness converted no one in the imaginary Finney manner.

Also, Jesus grew up in a home where His brothers and sisters did not believe in Him. His spotless, holy life, evidently, did nothing to move the unbelievers in His family towards salvation. In fact, there is no evidence that His brothers James and Jude got converted until after the resurrection. So much for the theory that our good, good lives will be the source of converting people.

Now, lest I am misunderstood, I of course believe that we should aim, by the gracious power of the Spirit, to lead lives worthy of the gospel.

Our lives

Should bring glory to the Father (Matthew 5:16).

 Should become sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).

Should be such that no evil thing can be spoken of us (Titus 2:7-8).

 Should adorn the doctrine of God (Titus 2:10), but, God forbid that we should think that this is the way to get people saved.

For people to get saved, the gospel must be told.  In spite of what St. Francis, or whomever it was that said it, words are always necessary. The use of words is the New Testament pattern.

Consider the following scriptures:

Acts 8:25: And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Acts 15:7 … God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;

Colossians 1:5: For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Hebrews 4:2: For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them;

1 Peter 1:25: .. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Words are necessary for the gospel, because the gospel is a past historical event. We can’t live in a way that effectively communicates events of history. We, of course, can reflect the benefits of the gospel in our life style, but this is not the same as actually preaching the gospel. Besides that, the gospel is not about our experience. It’s about the unique, never to be repeated, experience of the God/Man.  With all due apologies to St. Francis, or whomever, it is impossible, therefore, to declare the Gospel without words.

And that´s the Gospel Truth!

Psalm 74: Cruel Sufferers!

1. Reasoning with God in Suffering.    Psalm 74:1

Text: “Oh God, why hast Thou cast us off for ever?  Why doth Thine anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture?

Psalm 74:1.

Good morning, suffering Christian!  When you and I suffer as Spiritually regenerate Christians, we often know we are suffering because of some failing in our obedience to our Holy Lord God – in word, in thought, or in deed.  However, we also know that the Lord in all His grace and mercy has made a way for us to repent of that failing, that sin, that straying from the path of righteousness – and therefore we can make our way, reverently, to His throne of grace, to find mercy in time of need. We Christians often suffer constantly because of our sins.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:16)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”  (1 John 1:9-10)

As natural born sinners, we have always a way back to full obedience with the Lord God, our Creator Lord God Who gave mankind His Ten Commandments for one reason only – to show us that we could never fully keep them, and therefore needed a Saviour, Jesus Christ, to redeem us from all our sins.

However, it is when this type of suffering for sin becomes prolonged that we begin to become so very weary and distressed; when it seems like the Heavens are as brass, and that our prayers of repentance and seeking forgiveness are just not being heard by God.  This seems to be where the Psalmist has arrived here at the commencement of Psalm 74.

Verse 1. “O God, why hast Thou cast us off for ever? To cast us off at all were hard, but when Thou dost for so long a time desert Thy people, it is an evil beyond all endurance – the very chief of woes and abyss of misery.  Sin is usually at the bottom of all the hidings of the Lord’s face; let us ask the Lord to reveal the special form of it to us, that we may repent of it, overcome it, and henceforth forsake it.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 320)

An Instructive Purpose: Suffering in our Christian life and experience is given to us by God in order to instruct us in the way we should walk, in the way we should live our lives for Christ.  God the Holy Spirit condescends to come and take up abode within each and every soul redeemed by the precious, sinless Blood of Christ Jesus.  We become His temple.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy which temple ye are.”  (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

When Christians commit sin – in any degree or form – we cause immediate grief to God the Holy Spirit living within us.  God cannot abide sin.  We must flee far from it.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  (Ephesians 4:29-32) 

We now realise that Spiritual suffering has an instructive purpose for God’s people. Sin separates us from the glow of Gods face, and we grieve the loss of His fellowship.

“Title: “Maschil of Asaph.” An instructive Psalm by Asaph.  The history of the suffering church is always edifying; when we see how the faithful trusted and wrestled with their God in times of dire distress, we are thereby taught how to behave ourselves under similar circumstances; we learn, moreover, that when the fiery trial befalls us, no strange things have happened unto us, we are following the trail of the host of God.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 320)

Suffering and Serving:  Sin is not the only reason the genuine Christian suffers.  Suffering seems to be a part and parcel of the lot of the most faithfully serving saints.  We often suffer not realising WHY we are suffering.  Such sufferings can be the Lord God’s way of testing us, as He did with the faithful Job, in order to make us even stronger in the service of Christ.

Verse 1. “Why doth Thine anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture?  Suffering in the Sovereign will of the Lord God becomes a God-ordained privilege for the Christian, when once we realise that it is sent against ‘the sheep’ of God’s pasture, and not the goats!  Such trials and sufferings only serve to assure you and I that we are indeed, ‘His sheep’.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them Eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck then out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are ONE.”  (John 10:27-30)

Verse 1. “…the sheep of Thy pasture. There is nothing more imbecile than a sheep: simple, frugal, gentle, tame, patient, prolific, timid, domesticated, stupid, useful.  Therefore, while the name of sheep is here used, it is suggested how pressing the necessity is for Divine assistance and how well-befitting the Most High it would be to make their cause His own.” (Lorinus John,1569-1634)

“Lord God? Why am I suffering at this present time, and for so long a period? Please reveal this unto me, that I may be encouraged to persevere in Thy service?” This may well be your reasoning with the Lord today, beloved Reader. (Isaiah 1:18)

The history of the suffering church of Christ Jesus, reveals unto us today, how we must endure suffering for reasons known only to the Lord God, but it is only ‘His sheep’ that suffer such times of hardness and day to day difficulties.  Knowing we are ‘His sheep’ is a very real encouraging assurance to us.  It is only Christ’s sheep that are going to Heaven.

Thought: “And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats (unsaved) on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come ye, blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  (Matthew 25:33-34)

Reaching Out to Others

From:               Larry Dixon

“And on the next day he arose and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day, he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends…And so I sent to you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord…Acts 10:23a-24, 33.”

God prepared Peter in an unusual way for his encounter with Cornelius and the other Gentiles present in his home. Peter received a vision from God in which he saw various kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds being let down by the four corners of a huge sheet. A voice in the vision told Peter to kill and eat what he saw, even though eating those animals was against Jewish food laws. It was time for Peter to learn that the gospel was for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.

What was unusual about Peter and the other Jewish Christians visiting in Cornelius’ home was the fact that they had to let go of their age-old prejudice against Gentiles. The audience that Peter addressed in Cornelius’ home, according to verse 33, was spiritually ready and receptive. Notice that Cornelius had gathered his friends and family in anticipation of Peter’s message.

Why does a family need to hear about Jesus if they are good, decent people and they help the less fortunate as much as possible? Like Cornelius’ family, they may be devout, but they need to be saved. There are barriers that might hinder Christian families today from reaching out to their neighbors with God’s message of salvation: like fear of involvement; ethnic differences; lifestyle differences. What about the prejudice against Arabs/Muslims that are continuing to impact our nation during this time of war against terrorism.

Please notice that the people Cornelius called together to hear Peter’s presentation were his relatives and close friends. Peter’s vision opened his mind to the necessity of sharing the gospel with every person regardless of background. Soon, he would be tested, for Cornelius had gathered a diverse group of friends and relatives to hear Peter’s message. Peter set the example of encouraging Christians to gather together regardless of circumstances and share the gospel with everyone.

With which friends and family members do we need to get together and share the good news of the gospel? What excuses do we have for waiting to gather them around us? What approach can we take to sharing the gospel with at least one friend or family member this week? God bless you, my friend, this day to be used mightily for His glory as you reach to others with the Good News!!!

Hope and Healing

Some time ago I could not get away from the story recorded in Mark 5:24, where Jesus, walking ahead of a throng of people, experienced the touch of a woman, who had had an issue of blood that had plagued her for twelve years. She had said within herself, “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” (verse 29) Immediately the issue of blood dried up, and she was healed.

But Jesus wanted to know who had touched his clothes. The disciples ridiculed him because of the crowd that was around him. She, however, was so afraid that she trembled as she acknowledged what had happened. Jesus then told her that it was her faith that had made her well.

It is obvious that she had turned the right direction with her problem, as Proverbs 23:17 says, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Victor Frankl said, “A single moment can retroactively flood an entire life with meaning.”

There is a tug-of-war in the human heart! Anyone who has been on a diet, or has decided to start a new exercise program, or tried to get out of debt, or dealt with traumatic post-surgical recovery knows this! It is even more pronounced when one seems short of the “Love Provision” necessary to life.

As Esther Kerr Rusthoi wrote,

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,

We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;

But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,

All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,

We’re tossed and driven on, no human help in sight;

But there is one in heav’n who knows our deepest care,

Let Jesus solve your problem – just go to Him in pray’r.

Refrain

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase,

So bravely run the race, till we see Christ.

IS GOD BIGGER?

Why were Jesus’ followers drawn to ask Jesus about prayer? (See Luke 11) Were they really wanting Him to take their needs to God? Was it curiosity as to what went on between He and God? Was it the broader implication of the national situation they were in?

Or, was it because they knew they were in the so-called, “elite” group, somehow better than those following John the Baptist, and may have felt they had been short-changed in some of the things John taught his disciples?

Was it his basic disposition – the peace, contentment, and sense of having things together that was always there? Was it the evidence that God always seemed to listen to Him? Or was it really a desire to discover more about His ways that made them want to learn more about the sacred space of His prayer life? Was it because they had already seen God at work in their own lives in ways they couldn’t understand, and couldn’t adequately explain? Were they being emotionally drawn, or was there genuine interest?

Whatever the reason, they were both respectful and courteous when they asked Him if He would teach them “to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Why would Jesus attempt to teach them the intricacies of an intimate prayer life with a sixty-five word model prayer that could be learned and quoted with relative ease? Or, was this a test of their hearts?

Could it be that Jesus saw that the Holy Spirit was presenting Him with an opportunity to address the relentless needs that drove them to ask Him the question in the first place. In John 17, we learn about the heart of Jesus, as he communed with His Father, but here, it seems to me, that we see Jesus capturing the heart of God the Father.

“Our Father”. Jesus starts out by referencing the Fatherhood of God. This concept would be infinitely more than they had experienced in their culture, where women were downtrodden, and children lived in dread of their fathers. He demonstrates that prayer is first of all acknowledging God as Father. He is both distinct from – and apart from – us. He is bringing a kingdom, which needs to be discovered, and a will that needs to be cooperated with – in earth as it is in heaven.

“Give us this day our daily bread”. Jesus understood why they really needed to learn about prayer. He was to be the open access to “God, the Ultimate Provider” for every conceivable human need in life. He had already explained how God desired them to be happy, in the Sermon on the Mount.

“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” Is this not the first test of prayer? We need to have been offended, yes, offended enough in order to need to forgive another. Is this what clarifies their motive in learning how to pray? If they had indeed wondered about being treated differently than John’s disciples, their sense of equilibrium had already been damaged. They had failed the first basic test of all religious endeavor – realizing that a sense of being treated unfairly was really a blessing. (Matthew 5).

The condition of the world was desperate, and headed for destruction. So, in order to vindicate His own nature, the wonder of His own creation, and the desperate state of affairs, God sent His own Son both to picture what human life was designed to be, and allow Him to be brutally put to death, and to pay the price of redemption for a restored relationship, and a restored image, and a life that could be enjoyed in eternity.

If indeed it was their need to see God, in the beauty of this new relationship with Jesus, their own vision or sense of appreciation for the way life was supposed to be, had now been suddenly ruined again by their own sense of justice. However, under Jesus’ instruction, they began to see and practice mercy towards each other, as they began to observe where life came from, and how prayer related to life.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (or the “evil one”). They then would discover that temptation was designed to demonstrate dangers and vulnerabilities, and was meant to provide further opportunities to learn about themselves. The plea to God would be that He would not find it necessary to lead them into temptation, but would rather provide an opportunity for them to experience deliverance from the grip of the evil one. This proves areas of understanding that need to be developed, in light of the Glorious Good News of the coming of Christ.

The illustration that follows about the neighbor who found it difficult to get a benevolent loan of food in an emergency, proved that the problem wasn’t there because of insufficient resources, but rather because of a limited view of its availability, and the reasons why it was being withheld. A new viewpoint was essential!

All around us are friends we have never met. Their desire is the same as ours, and ours the same as the disciples, because we have nothing to set before them in the hour of their need. We also feel the irritation, since we view ourselves as needing to be left alone with what we already have. It is such a distorted view of who the human race is, after the provision of God’s sacrifice for sin. The average view is that the human race has been befriended by God, but demonstrate that they do not understand true friendship.

If we have reasoned correctly, the desperate need, then, is the window through which we see our encouragement to ask God for His resources in the hour of our need to avoid being “impossible” when faced with the needs of others. (Like a stone, instead of bread.) To seek God for His wisdom in the hour of our need to avoid giving dangerous counsel to others, (A serpent instead of a fish). And finally, to knock on God’s door of Grace with, or on behalf of our friend, in order to demonstrate life and not destruction. (An egg, instead of a scorpion.) All of these represent the work of the Holy Spirit in life. Luke 11:1-13.

If this is what Jesus meant, why don’t we all avail ourselves of the Friend called Jesus, who shows us the true nature of God?

UNFLAWED WISDOM

From: Karen Parrish – karpar67@gmail.com

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction…Proverbs 1:7.”

Have you ever said, “I know what I know”? Of course, you have, we all have. However, the above verse causes me to reflect on what do I REALLY know? God tells us, “My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts”! Whoa! So do I really know?

I only know from my perspective and that is NOT God’s! We humans can get so smug in what we know, but this is based on education, which is often skewed, based on experience, and our own perspective, all of which is skewed. We all know that person who has an answer for everything, and know it all. We even call that self confidence in some instances.

More than anything, God wants a relationship with His children, you and me. That means we need to rely more and more on Him and His knowledge. He will fill us with His knowledge as we draw close and depend on Him. We humans often make decisions without consulting Him first, I know I do. The older I get, the more I realize I must depend on Him! Why, because I know His knowledge surpasses mine!

My prayer for all of us is that we will not get puffed up and conceited over our human knowledge but prayerfully seek God’s knowledge and wisdom. Our knowledge is skewed and often flawed. As we humbly seek His face, He fills us with divine wisdom. Thank you Father for loving us and all praise be to You forever and ever.

The Wednesday Word 
 

   In Us and For Us!  
                                                                    

If ever we are to be established in the gospel, we must learn not to confuse the work of God for us with the work of God in us!

The work of God for us is the work through Christ Jesus by which God has accomplished, completed and perfected our redemption (Romans 3:25-26). It is this magnificent work which is the object of our faith. This work is finished.

The second great work is the work of God in us (Philippians 2:13). This is the continuing, unfinished work of God´s Spirit. It is sad to observe the endless mischief that has been unleashed on poorly taught Christians who confuse these two works. They fail to grasp that it is Christ’s finished work for us which has secured our acquittal. They seem painfully unaware that no amount of the “moving of the Spirit” in our experience can improve upon Christ‘s experience on our behalf! Looking at our experience and resting on it as being our acceptance before the Father is a terrible mistake. 

James Buchanan tells us, “There is, perhaps, no more subtle or plausible error, on the subject of Justification, than that which makes it to rest on the indwelling presence, and the gracious work, of the Holy Spirit in the heart.”

Yet there are many who insist that they have had a thrilling experience with the Spirit and thus they tell us that because of their experience they now know that they have been accepted by God.

However, to put confidence and hope of heaven in the fact that something has happened within us is to rest on a quagmire of sinking sand. It is a wretched error. Our right standing with God is in Christ alone. This exalted Christ who, at this exact moment, is applying the benefits of His redemption to us is our resting place. This means the work of the Spirit, vital though it is, can never be our saving righteousness. Saving faith causes us to look outside ourselves to the Saviour who is already enthroned in cosmic authority and majesty.

Horatius Bonar says, and I paraphrase, “Faith, is the great identifier since it identifies us with the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is the great grasper in that it grasps all that is in the Lord Jesus Christ! Faith is the great accepter in that it accepts the righteousness of Christ as the only hope of salvation.” It is Christ and His work for us, done on our behalf, that saves us. Faith understands this.

Concerning faith, let me again paraphrase Bonar: he says, “Faith is really nothing but our consenting to be saved by someone else.” Hallelujah!

As the Spirit works faith into our hearts, we receive the glorious truth of the work done for us, apart from and outside of us 2000 years ago. The Spirit, generates faith under the hearing of the Gospel and causes us to look to the all-sufficiency of Jesus and His finished work, outside of us, to save us.

Faith sees that God is just, and yet the justifier of all those who believe in Jesus. (Romans 3:26).

Faith sees that the penalty of sin has been taken away. (1 John 8-10).

Faith sees that the curse of the broken law has been removed. (Galatians 3:13).

Faith sees that justice is satisfied. (John 19:30).

Faith sees that Satan is defeated. (Colossians 2:15).

It is no wonder then that gospel purposed believers are thrilled with the Lord Jesus. We delight in Him for He alone is our hope and salvation. Faith has freed us from the bondage of having to look to our experience or our performance to find peace with God. Faith has taught us that all our hope is in Christ and His finished work, not in the work He is doing within us by His Spirit.

And that’s the Gospel Truth!

Psalm 82: God the Almighty Judge!  Psalm 82:1-8

Text: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty He judgeth (judges, and continually judges) among the gods (small g.)”

Psalm 82:1.

          “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the Heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as Head above all.”

1 Chronicles 29:11.

Good morning, well-judged Christian! In Christ Jesus, you and I have been Spiritually awakened by the Lord God to know ourselves to be gross sinners on our way to a lost Eternity in Hell; an Eternity of perpetual torment after that, in the Lake of Fire Created to punish Satan and his fallen, disobedient angels, but which shall also house all sinful souls that knew not Christ as their own and personal Saviour from sin.

“And the angels which kept not their first estate (a state of obedience to the Lord God), but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day.  Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh (homosexuality), are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of Eternal fire.”  (Jude 6-7)

“And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever…And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:10-15)

On the other hand, having, by God’s Sovereign grace and enablement, judged ourselves to be lost; and having been blessed with God’s gift of faith to believe and trust in Christ’s Salvation – we have been born-again, regenerated by God the Spirit to be new creatures in Christ, never to be judged by God again or condemned for sins – past, present, and future sins – committed.  Hallelujah! (John 3:3-8)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

Having been justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and declared ‘not guilty of sin’ by our Father in Heaven as a consequence – we are clearly instructed by God’s Word not to ever ‘…accept the persons of the wicked.’  We are not to ‘judge’ the words and actions of others according to their social or legal positions in society, but according to the laws of the Living Lord God, as written clearly in our KJV Bibles. Wrong can never ever be judged right! The Lord God grants us Holy discernment, to judge what is wrong and right.

God Judges the judges: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty He judgeth (judges, and continually judges) among the gods (small g.)”  (Psalm 82:1)

Verse 3. “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. It is said of Francis the First, of France, that when a woman kneeled to him to beg justice, he bade her stand up; for, said he, ‘Woman, it is justice that I owe thee, and justice thou shalt have; if thou beg anything of me, let it be mercy.’” (William Price,1642)

Nations which have been founded on the Ten Commandments of God, and the Divine wisdom of the King James Version Bible, have for centuries been characterized by a high sense of justice and mercy shown to their peoples, and especially to those that have become prisoners within a Sovereign territory.

“Prisoners are judged by courts and put into prison AS a punishment, not FOR punishment. Loss of liberty IS the punishment!” (C.K. McClinton 1947 -?)

Verse 4. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. It is a brave thing when a judge can liberate a victim like a fly from the spider’s web, and a horrible case when magistrate and plunderer are in league.  Law has too often been an instrument for vengeance in the hand of unscrupulous men, an instrument as deadly as poison or the dagger.  It is for the judge to prevent such villainy.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 353)

The Lord God Jehovah is an absolutely Holy Lord God, Creator of all things; Sovereign in all issues pertaining to what He has Created.  All that He has Created was perfect, until Adam and Eve sinned the sin of disobedience in Eden’s Garden. 

All since then has been polluted by mankind’s sin.  All mankind since that Fall into sin, are NOT Created by God, but born of sinful man and woman, in Adam’s Fallen image and likeness, with a nature that is at all times very prone to sin.  (Genesis 5:3)

This is why the Lord Jesus Christ taught us, “Ye must be born again!”  We must be Spiritually regenerated, made Spiritually alive, and forgiven of all our sin; redeemed from sin, by the precious, sinless, shed Blood of the Saviour Lord, Jesus Christ.  Praise His Holy Name!  We are made to be Holy by the imputation (putting to our personal account) of the righteousness of Christ Jesus Himself.  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!            (John 3:3-8)

“For He (God the Father) hath made Him (Jesus Christ, God the Son) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we (God’s elect people) might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

When God, the righteous Judge of all the earth, looks upon those of us that have been, by His grace and faith, born again in Christ – all He causes Himself to see IS His Son, Jesus Christ, and thus, we are passed over for destruction, Hell, and the Lake of Fire. Wow! Glory to God.

“You hath He quickened (made Spiritually alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins…even when we were dead (Spiritually dead) in sins, hath quickened (made Spiritually alive) us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)” (Ephesians 2:1-5)

In Christ Jesus we are judged to be totally innocent from all our catalogues of vile sins!

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from ALL SIN.”       (1 John 1:7)

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” (Isaiah 44:22)

Thought: God, the Almighty Judge declares ‘His people’, not guilty of sins! Hallelujah!

Dr C.K. McClinton

Ulster Christians Ministry

www.ulsterchristians.org

Steadfast in the Lord.

 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) 

It’s so easy to be caught up in the distracting noise of the media and society all around us. It can be overwhelming when negativity seems to surround us on all sides. If we have not been diligent to establish, and ground ourselves in the truth of God’s Word, or have failed to make abiding in His Presence our regular habitat – we won’t find ourselves stable and fixed in a world gone mad. During the time of the Coronavirus outbreak, where the world has found itself in quarantine, many Christians have made a choice to increase their time studying God’s word and thrown themselves into the work of the gospel. They continuously use the medium of social media to encourage and build faith to a world caught in the grip of fear. They keep their eyes and ears open to help serve the needs in their communities, demonstrating the love, compassion and kindness of God. Today, make sure you find yourself steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord as you represent the faithful, caring nature of your God to others

Don’t give up though the going is tough

We are going through extremely tough and very very uncertain times with technological change, wars and people being persecuted for their faith and so much bad news in the world. Although it is extremely difficult to do so we must try not to be overwhelmed by it all, but trust in God. What is comforting and reassuring is that Jesus understands completely how we feel in all this. We are never alone even though we feel it at times, as he said that “he will never leave us nor forsake us. See also Psalm 23 King James Version 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

King James Version 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart., Isaiah 40: 31

King James Version 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. And Psalm 121, and Matthew 29:11-13

In our own particular lives, he has come to our rescue time and time again, sometimes at the last minute. So if you feel lonely, frightened, worried, anxious or have panic attacks, even feeling desperate or hopeless try as best as you can with the Lord’s help to surrender it all to God. I can tell you it is far from easy. Surrender all your life to him and even to admit to him that I am in a lot of trouble and I cannot cope with it, please just take over the reins of my life Lord, I beg you and he will, for nothing is impossible to him, especially do so when you have no idea what to do.

For the Lord is the God of the impossible. There are several examples but I choose to give you a few to prove this. The feeding of the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, the calming of the storm by Jesus, after the Disciples were bone terrified that they were going to drown with the boat battling in heavy seas. Another example is the raising of Lazarus from the dead and above all our Lord’s Resurrection from the dead on the 3rd day after his terrible Passion and Death. So if he can do that he can handle anything we give to him even if we feel that it is an impossible situation and see no way out. See Matthew 11:28-30 King James Version 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus loves us so much that he wants to save us. If you were the only living person in the world, Jesus would have died for you, so if you really have had enough and simply cannot take it any more, tell Jesus how you feel and ask him to hold you by the hand and leave the mess in his hands and ask him to hug you and wrap his arms of love around you. Try to trust him and believe that he can sort it out because once you give it to him, it is no longer your problem. If you are alone and you are a Christian remember that you are never alone, even if you feel empty and devoid of feelings, he is still there, so pray to him and even shout help. He understands us perfectly because he went through terribly tough times himself and he even carried all your sins and suffering on the Cross. See Psalm 139. Try to keep calm and relax and visualize that you are in Jesus’s arms and let him love you and let go and let God. If you can’t then visualize that you are walking on the beach or seeing a lovely waterfall or walking in an area which brings you a happy and peaceful memory.

Sometimes it is good to repeat peaceful and calming Bible verses. Try to take deep breaths breathing in for 5, hold your breath and say I am calm and when you breathe out release your tension and stress and surrender them to Jesus. Also repeat the help me Jesus prayer as often as you need to until you are calm. 

Help me Jesus

Dear Lord Jesus Christ,

I adore you and thank you for dying on the Cross for me. I surrender myself to you and I give you all my love, and, please fill me with your love to the brim. Please hold me in your arms. I am safe and secure in your arms, everything is fine, everything is well. You protect me from all harm. I let go of all worry, anxiety and stress and surrender them to you, and they are all drifting away from me, and flowing towards me is your peace calming all my fears.

Your love is flowing towards me and fills every fibre of my being making me whole and restoring me.

Everything is fine, everything is well. Peace and serenity fills me and I am relaxed deeper and deeper, I am at peace deeper and deeper. I have a sense of well being. I am one with you the way you are one with the Father.

Jesus thank you for loving me so much, and please keep me in your arms forever. Amen.

Read very slowly Matthew 11: 28-30, Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10

We have to try our best even when situations are very stressful to focus on Jesus and his word and make him the centre of our lives. Our Lord said that we would go through difficult times but if we persevere to the end we will be saved.

Written by D. and M.H. Bradshaw

Interference 

By Richard Moser

John 4:24 (NIV)—God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Recently at church, we had a soloist who played the guitar  to accompany his singing. Unfortunately, the amplifier for the guitar was so loud that we could not hear the words he was singing. His message was missed, because it was lost in the interfering background noise. 

How often is our own worship diminished by the interfering noise in our everyday lives?  It could be our distracting thoughts, or people nearby within hearing range, or the television. 

Do we put first things first, prioritizing worship of God ? Do we worship God in “the Spirit and in truth?” John 4:24, NIV)

We don’t have to be in church to worship God. We can talk to Him any time and place. We need to sometimes ,eliminate the “noise in our lives,” to hear Him speaking to us in His Word. 

Have you taken time to sit down with God lately?

WHEN DESPERATION STRIKES

From: Ron Hawks

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble…Psalm 46:1.”

What do you do and where do you turn when you feel desperate? You are desperate when you feel hopeless, when you feel like you are in an impossible situation that is too much to deal with emotionally, physically or spiritually.

Desperation is a human emotion … it’s going to happen. Unfortunately, it often functions as a logic suppressant. It makes us stupid. And, stupidity acts impulsively. We must be careful when we are desperate, or things could go south very quickly. These feelings can lead us to panic and to become isolated – a bad combination. Decisions made in isolation and acted upon rashly, rarely turn out well.

We need not, however, follow the desperation tracks all the way to the station of utter despair. Instead, we can allow it to take us to deep places in our relationship with God. Some have even said only desperate people grow spiritually and are transformed. It’s when we come to the end of ourselves and the resources at our disposal that we call out to God as God. And, it’s only when we see God as God that we receive Him as He is and obey His leading as Lord.

Here are a few things that can be helpful to remember when we feel desperate:

1. God has not left you; He is present within us amidst the trial. (Hebrews 13:5)

2. To greatly need God’s wisdom, direction and/or intervention is not a bad thing – there is no need to be ashamed.

3. Take time to honestly consider your situation and feelings, don’t run from them.

4. Pour out your heart to God. Express your real self – don’t be afraid. Such expressions to God – even when they are peppered with anger – are a sincere form of worship, declaring that He exists, sees and hears the cry of the needy. (Genesis 16:13; Psalm 62:8; Hebrews 4:6)

5. Don’t stay isolated. Get with others you respect in faith to share and pray. (James 5:16)

6. Look for and receive the counsel of the wise around you. (Proverbs 15:22)

When feelings of Desperation fall upon your soul, speak God’s presence into yourself. Prophesy to your soul that “God is with you – there is no need to cling to fear.” Receive the presence of the Lord amidst your feelings and trial. His presence is a greater reward than deliverance. Treasure Him amidst the storm – and you will be transformed from the inside out.

Learning to Cry Out to My God when I am at the end with you,

Pastor Tom

Heart of Darkness  Mark 7:15-23

Text: “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?  I, the Lord, search the hearts, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”                                                                                                                                                                         Jeremiah 17:9-10.

Good morning, totally depraved Christian!  Let all self-righteousness take a timely beating this morning.  Let each of us who profess the name of Christ declare HIS righteousness, and thus let HIS light shine into our hearts of darkness.  Amen! 

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me: but how to perform that which is good I find not.”  (Romans 7:18)

“As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no not one.’”  (Romans 3:10) (Psalm 14:1-3)

Essential Confession:  No person, woman or man, can ever have the full righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ imputed unto them by God, unless she/he first admits, both to self and to others, the total and utter depravity of mankind’s heart – the consequences of the original sin of Eve and Adam in Eden’s Garden.

“By one man sin entered into the world, and death (i.e., Spiritual death!) by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”  (Romans 5:12)

Total Depravity: Total depravity, the result of our progenitor’s disobedience to God’s instruction after their Creation, is passed down to each individual heart, the essence of our being, in the same manner in which a hereditary disease is communicated from parent to child. 

“Behold (look, and fully understand), I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” (Psalm 51:5-6)

Thus, mankind became totally depraved in Adam.  We are unrighteous beings in God’s impeccably pure and Holy sight.  (Habakkuk 1:13)

“But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we ALL do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) (Genesis 6:5-7)

Our total depravity is revealed by Christ in today’s Bible reading – the Lord lists just some of the vile, depraved, evil things which proceed from the essence of our beings to further defile us and to prove our natural, totally depraved, state.  (Vs.20-23)

We therefore, don’t become sinners when we commit our first sin – we commit acts of sin NATURALLY because we are natural born sinners!  (John 8:44-47)

Today’s text from the prophet Jeremiah clearly shows just how totally depraved our hearts actually are – we are so depraved inside that we can even deceive ourselves and believe a self-made lie!  We can believe we are not really that bad, and if we just do some ‘good deeds’ we will please God and enter into His Holy Heaven when we die.  What deceitful error!  This lie leads countless millions into Hell’s fires daily.   (2 Thessalonians 2:8-15)

No human heart can do a truly righteous deed, unless it is first, fully quickened and led by God the Spirit to be BORN AGAIN (Spiritually regenerated) by Christ Jesus, and then to do something from a pure motivation that will, perhaps, help others and bring greater glory to the Lord God.  (Matthew 5:16)

Deeds that outwardly APPEAR to be ‘good’ in man’s depraved eyes, are often unacceptable in the Holy eyes of a thrice Holy Lord God Almighty.  Clear recognition of this Scriptural fact is our first step towards Salvation through Christ’s righteousness ALONE.               (Acts 4:12)

“…for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”                    (1 Samuel 16:7b)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“We see, in the second place, from this passage, that the heart is the chief source of defilement and impurity in God’s sight.Moral purity does not depend on washing or not washing, —touching things or not touching them, —eating things or not eating them, as the Scribes and Pharisees taught. “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, these are they that defile the man.”

“There is a deep truth in these words which is frequently overlooked. Our original sinfulness and natural incli­nation to evil are seldom sufficiently considered. The wickedness of men is often attributed to bad examples, bad company, peculiar temptations, or the snares of the devil. It seems forgotten that every man carries within him a fountain of wickedness. We need no bad company to teach us, and no devil to tempt us, in order to run into sin. We have within us the beginning of every sin under heaven.

“We ought to remember this in the training and educa­tion of children. In all our management we must never forget, that the seeds of all mischief and wickedness are in their hearts.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

In conclusion, therefore, let us rejoice together.  Why?  Because in spite of the Scriptural fact that Adam’s fall from grace brought us, all mankind, Eternal death – according to those same God-breathed Scriptures, Christ Jesus, “…the last Adam…”, by His Cross, can bless us with Eternal Life. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!  Thanks be to God for true and everlasting Salvation, in Christ Jesus!  Amen.  (Romans 5:15-21)

Thought: The Gospel cries, “New hearts for old hearts!”.  (Ezekiel 36:24-29)

Here is your Word for today: 

Verse:   Ephesians 3:20

‘Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.’

– Do you realise that God is working within your heart and life?
– He is able to fulfil and carry out His purposes for your life.
– He can do superabundantly more than all that you dare ask or think.
– He can do more than your greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams.

PRAYER: Lord, it’s amazing to know that You are at work in my life, bringing Your plans to pass. I trust in Your unlimited power to do miracles and wonders – things that will leave me in awe. Amen.

He uses strength to bless others rather than to advance himself.

• This flows through all the servant, sacrificial, and nourishing themes above—especially Christ’s example in Philippians 2 and Matthew 20, where greatness is defined by service and ransom-giving for the good of others.

One of the greatest lies of modern culture is that masculinity itself is dangerous.

• Scripture never condemns masculinity.
• Scripture condemns sinful masculinity.
• The solution to bad men is not fewer men.
• The solution to bad men is godly men.

God not only honors masculinity but commands men to embrace masculine responsibilities rather than abandon them:

Ephesians 5:25 WEB “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;”

• Masculinity is defined by sacrificial leadership.
• Christ is the model for husbands.

1 Timothy 5:8 WEB “But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.”

• God requires men to embrace responsibility for provision.
• Failure to do so is treated as a serious moral failure.

Psalm 112:1-2 WEB “Praise Yah! Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh, who delights greatly in his commandments. His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed.”

• God honors the man who fears Him.
• His faithfulness impacts future generations.

Proverbs 20:7 WEB “A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.”

• A father’s character becomes a blessing to his children.
• Masculine integrity is presented as a virtue worthy of honor.

Micah 6:8 WEB “He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

• God explicitly tells men what He requires.
• Masculinity includes justice, mercy, and humility.

Titus 2:6-8 WEB “Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded; in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.”

• Young men are called to self-control, integrity, and leadership by example.

Job 38:3 WEB “Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!”

• God Himself uses manly courage and fortitude as the illustration.
• The command assumes strength, responsibility, and accountability.

2 Samuel 10:12 WEB “Be courageous, and let’s be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God. May Yahweh do that which seems good to him.”

• Masculine strength is connected to protecting people and defending what God has entrusted.

The Bible repeatedly demonstrates the importance of fathers.

• Abraham was called to lead his household.
• Joshua declared that his household would serve the Lord.
• David influenced generations after him.
• Joseph protected and provided for his family.
• The Apostle Paul continually used fatherhood as a picture of spiritual leadership.

Joshua 24:15 WEB “If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”

• Notice that Joshua accepted responsibility for the spiritual direction of his home.
• He did not delegate it to culture.
• He did not surrender it to government.
• He did not outsource it to someone else.

Research consistently demonstrates what Scripture has always taught: fathers matter.

• When fathers are absent, children face significantly elevated risks in nearly every major area of life.
• Higher rates of poverty.
• Greater likelihood of dropping out of school.
• Lower academic achievement.
• Increased behavioral problems.
• Higher rates of juvenile delinquency.
• Greater likelihood of incarceration.
• Increased substance abuse.
• Increased depression and anxiety.
• Higher rates of suicide attempts.
• Greater likelihood of early sexual activity.
• Higher rates of teen pregnancy.
• Greater likelihood of becoming involved in gangs.
• Increased risk of abuse and neglect.
• Higher rates of emotional and relational instability.
• Greater likelihood of divorce in adulthood.
• Greater likelihood of repeating the cycle of fatherlessness.

Fatherlessness does not guarantee these outcomes.

• But fatherlessness consistently increases the likelihood of these outcomes.
• The pattern appears again and again across decades of research:
• When fathers disappear, children generally suffer.
• When fathers are present, involved, engaged, and loving, children generally flourish.

While God can graciously overcome the absence of a father through mothers, grandparents, churches, and mentors, the biblical pattern remains the same: fathers are essential.

Psalm 68:5 WEB “A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.”

• God Himself identifies as a Father.
• The highest picture of authority in Scripture is not that of a king, warrior, or politician.
• It is that of a Father.
• When fathers are faithful, they reflect the character of God.

The modern world often teaches men to avoid responsibility.

• Scripture calls men to embrace responsibility.
• Culture says freedom comes from avoiding commitment.
• Scripture says greatness comes through commitment.
• Culture says family is an obstacle.
• Scripture says family is a stewardship.
• Culture says masculinity must be suppressed.
• Scripture says masculinity must be sanctified.

Ephesians 6:4 WEB “You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

• Fathers are commanded to disciple their children.
• Fathers are commanded to instruct their children.
• Fathers are commanded to nurture their children.
• Fathers are not called merely to finance a household.
• Fathers are called to shepherd a household.

A godly man is called to lead, provide, protect, teach, and serve.

1 Corinthians 16:13 WEB “Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!”

• God calls men to courage.
• God calls men to strength.
• God calls men to faithfulness.
• God calls men to vigilance.

A father’s influence extends far beyond his lifetime.

• Nations rise and fall upon the strength of families.
• Families rise and fall upon the faithfulness of fathers.
• Children often remember far more about what their fathers did than what their fathers said.
• A father’s example becomes the blueprint for future generations.

Proverbs repeatedly teaches fathers to train sons in wisdom.

• Teach them to fear God.
• Teach them to guard their minds.
• Teach them to obey authority.
• Teach them to choose wise companions.
• Teach them to control their desires.
• Teach them to honor marriage.
• Teach them to watch their words.
• Teach them to work diligently.
• Teach them to manage resources wisely.
• Teach them to love their neighbors.

Proverbs 1:7 WEB “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 1:8 WEB “My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:”

Proverbs 15:20 WEB “A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.”

Proverbs 23:24 WEB “The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.”

Proverbs 20:7 WEB “A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.”

Proverbs 13:22 WEB “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.”

Proverbs 20:6-7 WEB “Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man? A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.”

• Everything begins with fearing God.
• A father who teaches his children to fear God gives them a foundation that no government, university, corporation, or cultural movement can provide.

The church must never apologize, minimize or sugarcoat God’s design/role for men.

• Men are not the problem.
• Sin is the problem.
• Masculinity is not the problem.
• Ungodliness is the problem.
• Fatherhood is not the problem.
• Fatherlessness is the problem.

A culture that dishonors men ultimately harms women and children.

• A culture that restores biblical manhood strengthens families, churches, and nations.

Men are needed.

• God created them.
• God designed them.
• God called them.
• God commissioned them.

Fathers matter.

• Not because culture says so.
• Not because politics says so.
• Not because sociology says so.
• Because God says so.

Men are not replaceable.

• A godly father gives identity.
• A godly father gives protection.
• A godly father gives direction.
• A godly father gives example.

In Defense of Men

For decades now, we have been immersed in a culture that openly mocks men.

The obvious reason if because Satan wants to destroy Gods order, upend and flip the God ordained roles and purpose of both men and women, and to weaken Christian influence on the world.

Turn on any electronic screen…

• The father is usually portrayed as clueless.
• The husband is portrayed as incompetent.
• The man is portrayed as emotionally stunted.
• He is the punchline.
• He is the idiot.
• He is the problem.
• He cannot cook.
• He cannot parent.
• He cannot make decisions.
• He cannot function without a woman constantly correcting him.

This has affected not only the reputation of men in culture but in the family court systems where men are only applauded when the parent like women, and are diminished to primary paying for children, not actively being needed as a male role model.

• This is not me exaggerating a point because I’ve been subject to it… this is me making this well documented and evidenced point having seen just how real and pervasive it is from personal experience, and the countless similar stories I’ve been told.

For generations now, sitcoms, movies, commercials, advertisements, schools, universities, social media influencers, and even government institutions have repeated the same message over and over:

• Men are immature.
• Men are selfish.
• Men are dangerous.
• Men are unnecessary.
• Women are wise.
• Women are strong.
• Women are capable.
• Men are the problem.

And after hearing this message repeated thousands of times, many people simply accept it as truth.

• Young boys grow up hearing that masculinity is toxic.
• Young girls grow up hearing that they don’t need men.

The modern slogan is often some version of, “Women don’t need men.”

But that statement only survives because it is spoken from the comfort, security, safety, and prosperity built largely through the labor, sacrifice, and protection of men.

The irony is staggering.

• People sit in air-conditioned buildings built by men.
• Using electricity maintained primarily by men.
• Driving on roads built by men.
• Crossing bridges built by men.
• Protected by police officers who are overwhelmingly men.
• Protected by military forces that are overwhelmingly men.
• Living in houses built primarily by men.
• Receiving food delivered through transportation networks built and maintained primarily by men.
• Benefiting from sewer systems built by men.
• Water systems built by men.
• Power grids built by men.
• Oil fields operated by men.
• Natural gas systems maintained by men.
• Construction crews composed primarily of men.
• Electricians.
• Linemen.
• Roofers.
• Welders.
• Steel workers.
• Miners.
• Loggers.
• Commercial fishermen.
• Farmers.
• Truck drivers.
• Engineers.
• Firefighters.
• Military personnel.

The modern world functions because millions of men quietly get up every morning and perform difficult, dangerous, exhausting work that most people never even think about.

The reason society soaked in feminism can afford to dismiss men is because men have been so successful at creating stability that entire generations have forgotten what instability looks like

• And the reality is the men in our country CHOOSE to ALLOW women the safety and comfort they enjoy because historically at any point men COULD rise up and subjugate women instantly
• Modern western women don’t experience this, so they have not considered historically this is NOT true, and Christianity is the reason

Despite relentlessly hearing about our “toxic masculine patriarchy”, MEN CHOOSE in our country to honor, protect and provide this wonderful life women and children enjoy because of our Christian values.

• Let men decide, like many countries and other religions to subjugate, domination and oppress women and children and see how quickly this is realized

We Don’t Need Men

• Let men disappear for a few day and society begins to strain.
• Let men disappear for 3-4 weeks and critical infrastructure begins to fail.

Let men disappear for a months or a year and civilization as we know it collapses.

• Who keeps electricity flowing?
• Who repairs the power stations?
• Who maintains the water systems?
• Who harvests the crops?
• Who transports the food?
• Who builds the homes?
• Who repairs the roads?
• Who keeps the supply chains moving?
• Who protects the borders?
• Who responds to disasters?
• Who enters burning buildings?
• Who climbs electrical poles during storms?
• Who works offshore oil rigs?
• Who performs the overwhelming majority of the most dangerous jobs in society?

The answer is obvious.

• This is not because men are better than women.
• This is because God created men and women differently and designed them to fulfill complementary roles.

The biblical position is not that women are unnecessary.

The biblical position is not that men are unnecessary.

• The biblical position is that both are essential.

We live in a culture that celebrates women by telling them they can do anything while simultaneously telling men they are the source of everything wrong.

• The Church must not adopt that spirit.
• Unfortunately, many churches have even if subtly and unconsciously.
• Men are often challenged, chided, reminded about their flaws and responsibilities (which is good) while the topic is at best tiptoed around when women are addressed.
• Many will say “not in my church” but its hard to find sermons, program, or Christian books “getting on to” women and speaking frankly about the flaws and shortcomings of women, mothers, and daughters while it is a constant drumbeat for men.
• Too much backlash, too much indoctrination, too controversial… so its mostly avoided because its so ingrained our culture: you don’t criticize women.

On Mother’s Day we often hear about the beauty of womanhood, the sacrifice of mothers, the faithfulness of women, and rightly so.

But on Father’s Day, many sermons become little more than lectures about what men are doing wrong.

• Men are challenged. Women are celebrated.
• Men are corrected. Women are honored.

And after a while, many men begin to wonder if anyone remembers that God actually created man and declared him good.

• There is a backlash movement among young men today in response to this that is in some ways good, an “awakening” but apart from the Bible turns into “men are alpha, being a man is money, sex, and superficial ‘manly’ things” which is BAD but predictable.
• When young men are taught from childhood how wonderful girls are, how they should be treated, etc but you never hear the balance of “how wonderful boys are, and how girls should treat boys” then the message is clear: MEN = BAD
• The backlash, frustration and hopeless is predictable and we see this being clearly, and mostly negatively, manifested today.

============================================

Biblical Defense of Men

Today, on Fathers Day, I want to defend men culturally and Biblically.

• Not sinful men.
• Not abusive men.
• Not irresponsible men.
• Not lazy men.
• Not selfish men.

Those things deserve condemnation. But I want to defend biblical manhood.

• I want to defend fathers.
• I want to defend husbands.
• I want to defend sons.
• I want to defend the God-given dignity, worth, responsibility, and honor of men.

When God created man, He did not create a mistake. God’s design for male/female roles that compliment each other was PERFCT.

• He created an image-bearer.
• He created a worker.
• He created a protector.
• He created a provider.
• He created a leader.
• He created a husband.
• He created a father.

And the attack on biblical manhood is ultimately an attack on the wisdom of the God who designed it.

• Scripture presents men as bearing a sacred responsibility before God.

Genesis 1:27 WEB “God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.”

• Men and women possess equal value because both bear the image of God.
• Neither sex is superior in worth.
• Both are created by God and for God.
• The attack on manhood is ultimately an attack upon one aspect of God’s own design.

From the very beginning, God assigned responsibility to men.

Genesis 2:15 WEB “Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.”

• Before there was a nation, a city, a church, or a family, there was a man entrusted with responsibility.
• Work was not a curse.
• Responsibility was not a curse.
• Leadership was not a curse.
• These were gifts from God.
• Work and leadership are part of God’s design for men.

The biblical man…

The biblical man is not a tyrant.

• He rejects domineering, self-serving authority.

Matthew 20:25-28 ESV “… But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”

• Jesus explicitly contrasts worldly tyranny (“lord it over them”) with biblical leadership.

He is a servant leader.

John 13:12-17 ESV (Jesus washing the disciples’ feet) …. . If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.’”

Philippians 2:5-8 ESV “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

He protects rather than exploits (and nourishes/cherishes).

1 Peter 3:7 ESV “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

He sacrifices rather than dominates.

Mark 10:45 ESV (parallel to Matthew 20): “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

He accepts responsibility rather than avoids it.

Biblical leadership involves stewardship and accountability (e.g., managing one’s household well as a prerequisite for broader service).

1 Timothy 3:4-5 ESV (qualifications for overseers, reflecting expected male character) “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?”

Psalm 85: Sins Forgiven – Sin Detested

1. Sins Forgiven  Psalm 85:1-3

Text: “Lord, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land: Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people; Thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all Thy wrath: Thou hast turned Thyself from the fierceness of Thine anger.”

Psalm 85:1-3.

Good morning, pardoned Christian!  By God’s Sovereign grace, you and the author have been gloriously pardoned from all sin – our Adamic sin, sin inherited within our old nature from Adam/Eve; and all the sins we have ever, or shall ever commit against our Holy Lord God of just wrath against all sin.  Hallelujah!  We are pardoned from the guilt and shame of our vile, disobedient and inherited, sins; and shall never ever be punished for our committing them.   Thank you, dear and Holy Lord God!  Amen. In Christ Jesus, we are forgiven.

“And the Blood (of Christ Jesus) shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the Blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt (Egypt is always a type of the world in Scriptures).” (Exodus 12:13)

“Blessed is he/she whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (by the Blood of the Lamb, Christ Jesus).” (Psalm 32:1)

Old Testament TYPES (the use of typology, earthly illustrations of Heavenly concepts) are all fully enacted in New Testament actions.  Christ came not to abolish the Law of God, He came to fulfil it, every jot and tittle.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till Heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”  (Matthew 5:17-18)

Verse 1. “Lord, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land: Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.”  God’s favour, or it could be interpreted as His grace, has been shown in the most profound sense, by the sending forth of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to take the sins of His elect upon Himself, go to that cruel Cross at Calvary, suffer, bleed and die the death that He alone could die – and all for to provide full Atonement for ‘His people’, and save us from the penalties and punishments for our sins.  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour! He has come the first time to do what the Lord God told Joseph he would do.

“And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou (Joseph) shalt call His Name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) (Not ALL people, but His people!)

“…Behold (look, and fully understand) the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

I hear some poor wretch say: “But, Dr McClinton, surely some of my sins are so vile and so blatantly deserving of God’s wrath, and Hell, and the Lake of Fire to follow – surely SOME of my sins will not be forgiven?”

To this sincere question I simply quote God’s written Word on the matter of forgiveness, and God’s Word puts an end to all questioning hearts. (Psalm 85:2)

Verse 2. “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people; Thou hast covered ALL their sins.”  Often and often again had He done this, pausing to pardon even when His sword was bared to punish.  Who is a pardoning God like Thee, O Jehovah? Who is so slow to anger, so ready to forgive? Every believer in Jesus enjoys the blessing of pardoned sin, and he/she should regard this priceless boon as the pledge of all other needed mercies.” (C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, page 360)

Verse 3. “Thou hast taken away ALL Thy wrath: Thou hast turned Thyself from the fierceness of Thine anger. When the Lord God, in Eternity, elects a sinner to give to His Son, Jesus Christ, to save in time – He causes ALL His wrath that that sinner deserved and continues to deserve to receive, to be taken away.  The shed and sinless Blood of His dear Son, Jesus Christ, the price of the elect sinner’s ransom, is all that the loving and Holy Father sees when He looks upon us as His redeemed people.  What grace!  What love! What a Father!  What a Saviour we have, in Christ Jesus!  Hallelujah! Thanks be to God for His grace! (John 6:37)

“That in the ages to come (right now) He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works (good deeds, good living), lest any man/woman should boast.” (Ephesians 2:7-9)

“Thou hast borne, or carried away, the iniquity. An allusion (type) to the ceremony of the scape-goat.” (Adam Clarke, 1760-1832)

“Thou hast covered ALL their sin. When God is said to cover sin, He does so, not as one would cover a sore with a plaster, thereby merely hiding it only; but He covers it with a plaster that effectually cures and removes it altogether.” (Robert Bellarmine, 1542-1621)

If the Living Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, Creator of all things, be likened unto an Atomic Reactor unto which no human being can approach, without burning up in an instant.  Then, the precious shed Blood of the Living Lord Jesus Christ might be likened unto the thick lead suit of protection, by which redeemed sinners might approach our Father’s throne, without utterly consuming away. Genuine saved sinners are covered by Christ’s sinless Blood.

“Wherefore we, receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

The Lord Jesus Christ, by the offering of His own sinless Blood, has entered into the Holy Place in Heaven on your behalf and on mine – IF we are born again, Bible-believing Christians.  His once-for-all-time sin offering for us, covers ‘His people’, and pays the just penalty for our vile sins.  We are FORGIVEN in Him. He is our Eternal insurance policy!

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own Blood He entered in once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:12)

Thought: “Therefore (an Eternal conclusion) if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed (or are continually passing) away; behold, all things are become (or are continually becoming) new.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17) Glory to the Lamb!

Dr C.K. McClinton

Ulster Christians Ministry

www.ulsterchristians.org

The Wednesday Word

 The Loveliness of Jesus

D.G. Miles McKee

2 Corinthians 5:21.

Christ’s loveliness consists mainly in this …  He knew no sin! If He had had just one tiny sin of His own, He could not Have suffered for ours. Remember, in Hebrews 7:26 we are told that our High Priest (Jesus) was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. We would think that such a person should be welcome in any community. But no! He got terrible treatment. The people despised, rejected and hated Him… But Jesus suffered this wretched behaviour on our behalf. That makes Him altogether lovely.

Do any of us hate Him? Hate Him? Yes, hate Him.  Do any of us use His name as a common swear word? If we do, we are speaking as though we despise Him. If we are guilty of that crime, it doesn´t seem that He is lovely to us.

Also, if we will not trust Him alone for our salvation is that not yet another way of despising Him! When you stand before God on Judgement Day, is there anything more that you would like to add to the perfect righteousness of Christ to save you? If there is, you have not yet grasped the Gospel and the Gospel has not grasped you.  However, when believers stand before God, it will be as if they had never sinned.  They will stand before him in the immaculate righteousness of the worthy Lamb.

He is altogether Lovely!

So, how did the Father deal with the spotless Christ? In Isaiah 53:5-6 we are told the shocking truth that ‘the Lord laid on Him the iniquities of us all.’

This is dreadful.

 The Father heaped upon the Lord Jesus the thousands and millions of our sins till at last He was so covered, in God’s sight, that nothing but sin appeared.

He was treated as though He was one entire mass of sin.

He was dealt with by the Father as if He was sin from head to toe.  We tend to think of the agonies of the cross as being merely physical.  But the physical pain was only a small part of His suffering. There was a torrent of torment that hit Him when our sin was imputed to His pure and lovely being.

As the hymnwriter said, “We may not know, we cannot tell what pains He had to bear but we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there.”

He is altogether lovely!

But why was He made sin?

He was made sin so that we would be declared to be the righteousness of God in Him.  Just as Christ, at Calvary, was covered with innumerable sins and, in a manner of speaking, appeared as one mass of sin, so the vilest one of us who trusts in Christ is so covered with the Lord’s glorious righteousness that in God’s eye we, as it were, appear to be one mass of uprightness.

We are swallowed up by the righteousness of Christ. ( see again 2 Corinthians 5:21).

What an amazing provision He has made for us!

He is altogether lovely!

“Thou dear Redeemer, dying Lamb,
I love to hear of Thee;
No music like Thy charming name,
Is half so sweet to me,
Is half so sweet to me.

My Jesus shall be still my theme,
While in this world I stay;
I’ll sing my Jesus’ lovely name
When all things else decay,
When all things else decay.

When I appear in yonder cloud,
With all Thy favored throng,
Then I will sing more sweet, more loud,
And Christ shall be my song,
And Christ shall be my song.”

Cennick

And that´s the Gospel Truth!

‘Til He Comes!

Psalm 76: God’s Terrible Power.

1. The Power of Christ’s Name                                    Psalm 76:1-4

Text: “In Judah is God known: His Name is great in Israel”                                                                                                          Psalm 76:1.

          “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: that, at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11.

Good morning, Christ-honouring Christian!  Having been Spiritually regenerated, made Spiritually alive from being a dry-bone natural sinner – you and I have learned the privilege of exalting the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, the risen Christ.  What a truly marvellous privilege this is today.  Hallelujah!  We honour and praise you, Lord Jesus!

“Again, He said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord.”  (Ezekiel 37:1-10)

“And you hath He quickened (made alive), who were dead (Spiritually dead) in trespasses and sins…even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).”  (Ephesians 2:1-10)

The Sovereign Lord God has blessed you and I and granted us His gift of genuine FAITH to believe His Word, the Gospel of Christ Crucified for to save natural sinners – and we have been graciously saved; redeemed by the sinless shed Blood of God the Son, Christ Jesus.  Wow!  Now, there’s a thought that should cause our redeemed souls to sing with joy!  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour we have in Christ Jesus!  Thanks be to Thee, great Lord God.

“Here faith sings of triumphs achieved. The present Psalm is a most jubilant war song a paean to the King of kings, the hymn of a theocratic nation to its Divine Ruler.  We have no need to mark divisions in a song where the unity is so well preserved.” (C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, page 325)

What great theme is being song here in Psalm 76?  What is the cause of Israel’s triumphant rejoicing?  Why, it’s the fact that the nation has received God’s enlightenment and come to worship the true Creator Lord God Jehovah; and, furthermore, the acknowledgement that the Lord God has made Himself known to this nation, and hidden Himself from many others!

Verse 1. “In Judah is God known: His Name is great in Israel. Dark is the outer world, but within the favoured circle Jehovah is revealed and is the adoration of all who behold Him.  The world knows Him not, and therefore blasphemes Him, but His church is full of ardour to proclaim His fame unto the ends of the earth.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 325)

For me, this mirrors the Spiritual mystery of Christ’s Eternal Salvation: He saves some, and does not save others.  Fact! Those whom God the Spirit ‘quickens’ (makes Spiritually alive) are Eternally saved and shall go to be with Christ in Heaven.  Those to whom God the Spirit does not ‘quicken’, never get Eternally saved, and go to Hell when they die.  Fact!

Both groups are privileged to hear the glorious Gospel message of Eternal Salvation in Christ’s Atonement at Calvary’s Cross for sinners – but only a portion of those hearers get Eternally saved.  The Gospel message means EVERYTHING to those who are ordained to be saved; the Gospel message means NOTHING to those who are ordained to remain lost. This is an easily observable FACT we can see taking place day by day. God gives the Gospel message out loud and clear to all souls, but only those ordained by Him to ‘…receive power to become the sons of God’; that wonderful Divine gift of faith, ever get Eternally saved.  God’s Sovereign will is, at all times, fully done.

“But as many as received Him (Christ Jesus), gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born, not of blood (human conception), nor of the will of the flesh (humanism and self-will), nor of the will of man (decisionism), but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

“For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”  (Hebrews 4:2)

“But the natural man (unregenerate, unquickened) receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

This is the power of Christ’s Holy Name!  His Name is GREAT indeed, in Spiritual Israel (the born again, Bible-believing Church).  Others outside Christ’s Kingdom may well seek to blaspheme His Holy Name; use it as a curse word on television dramas, movies, and worldly shows, etc.  But ‘His people’ know and fully reverence the blessed Name of Christ Jesus.  Glory and praise to Him Who sits on the right hand of our Father God!  Amen.

“Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.”  (Exodus 20:7)

“And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou (Joseph) shall call His Name JESUS: for He shall save HIS PEOPLE from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:21)

Verse 2. “…His dwelling place in Zion. In God’s awesome power, He deems it fit to dwell continually in the hearts of redeemed sinners. What Divine humility!  What Divine grace!

Today’s Zion: Today’s Zion, in Spiritual Christian terms, is the hearts of ‘His people’; we who are privileged to be Spiritually regenerated Christians, are the dwelling place of God the Holy Spirit. He condescends to live within the hearts of those He has quickened, and for whom Christ shed His own sinless Blood on that cruel Calvary Cross.  We are God’s Zion.

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (capital S.), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”            (Romans 8:8-11)

Thought:  Verse 3. “There break He the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Over the past 46 years, since the Lord in His Sovereign grace saved a Hell-deserving wretch like me – there have been many ‘arrows’, ‘bows’, ‘shields’, and ‘battles’ raging within my heart.  But the Sovereign Lord God has broken every weapon, and granted me His Victory. All praise, and honour, and glory to His Holy and loving Name! (Isaiah 54:17)

Dr C.K. McClinton

Ulster Christians

www.ulsterchristians.org

STIR UP JOY

From: Ron Hawks

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law…Galatians 5:22-23.”

In Boston, it’s sometimes hard to get eye contact from others. Many seem preoccupied, most do not seem happy – at least their faces are not exuding very positive feelings. This driven city can press and tempt people to feel as if they don’t measure up and are somehow behind. It “tells” people that if they tried a little harder they might meet the imaginary standards that are floating in the atmosphere. Praise God, we do not have to live under such emotional and spiritual slave masters!

We have been set free from the standards upon which many try to build their sense of worth. We have been forgiven in Christ, we are loved by the Father and the Spirit of God dwells in us! We must be careful, however, to remember who we are in the triune God.

“Now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” (Galatians 4:9) “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) Human standards (sometimes empowered by evil forces) can have the appearance of wisdom and strength, but they lack God’s presence and real power.

Rather than seeking approval and validation from others, we would do best to receive our identity in Jesus. In Christ, our future is full of hope. In Christ, our identity is eternal and cannot be shaken. In Christ, we can have joy as a fruit of the Holy Spirit within us. (Galatians 5:22). His joy dwells in us! We can rejoice (and be joyful) always. (Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Joy is accessible because our joy is in the Lord. So, it’s OK to be joyful … all the time. Your joy is not imprisoned by your circumstances; it’s founded upon God’s presence and your hope in His future for you. It is good and right for your face to show the joy that is in your heart. So, smile Boston and all of creation the Lord your God is present, and He is mighty to save and give you hope for the future. Allow the joy of the Lord to put a smile on your face today!

Smiling with you,

Pastor Tom

Here is your Word for today: 

Verse:   Romans 14:4b

‘And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.’

– The Lord will sustain you and keep you standing.
– With the Lord’s help you can stand and pass the tests.
– The Lord will strengthen you in the journey of life.
– He will hold you and He will make sure that you don’t fall.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your hand on my life. I recognise that without You I will stumble and fall but with You, I am able to stand and stay standing. Amen.

Bold Prayers!

“And now, Lord, observe their threats [take them into account] and grant that Your bond-servants may declare Your message [of salvation] with great confidence,”. Acts 4:29 (AMP) 

After the disciples were threatened to never again preach or heal in the Name of Jesus Christ, they got together and did the one thing they knew to do – pray. Their prayer, as recorded in Acts 4, was short, deliberate, bold and to the point. They didn’t beg or seek pity. Instead, they prayed God would grant them more boldness to preach the Word! Backing down was not even an option. How someone prays reveals a great deal about what they believe, and their confidence in their God-given authority. Instead of wailing and travailing, they prayed simple, direct prayers that echoed the will of God. Since they approached the very real threats of the authorities in faith, God granted them their request. And no wonder, since without faith it’s impossible to please Him! This is why not one chapter in the Book of Acts is void of the supernatural. Whatever you are facing or going through, go to the Lord in prayer and pray bold prayers. God is moved by our faith and our willingness to obey Him, in the heat of the challenges we face. May the Lord strengthen you as you step out today in boldness

Your Resume

By Rob White 

     What  does your resume say about  you? Recently, someone asked me, “How do you identify yourself? What does your resume say about you?” I quickly answered: 

Child of my Lord, Christian, teacher, leader in the church, student, computer technician, servant, friend, prayer warrior, Bible reader. 

     It sounded good—until I read Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:10-14 (HCSB) about the Pharisee and the tax collector. “The Pharisee took his stand [a] and was praying like this:

“God, I thank You that I am not like other people [b] – greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I  give a tenth [c] of everything I get.”

     The tax collector, standing far off, wouldn’t even lift his eyes to Heaven. He beat his chest and said, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” Luke 18:13b, NLT

 The Pharisee’s resume would have looked impressive: 

 One of God’s chosen people 

 Pure, just, law-keeping

 • Prays, reads Scripture, does good works

 • Keeps the Sabbath, not a thief or adulterer

 • Thankful he’s not like “that sinner” 

    The tax collector’s resume was far less flattering: 

 . Steals and cheats

 • Recognizes he is a sinner

 • Humble, seeking God’s mercy

 • Ready to trust God by faith 

     My list looked a lot more like the Pharisee’s than the tax collector’s. It didn’t even mention that I am a sinner. Yet if I claim I don’t sin, I make God a liar (See 1 John 1:8-10). That adds two more entries: liar and sinner. 

    Jesus said that the tax collector—not the Pharisee—went home justified. We are no different from the “lost” –  except for our relationship with Christ. “All have sinned and fall short of  the glory of God.”Romans 3:23, NIV

     The only way to be made right with God is through humble faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross—not by polishing our spiritual resume. 

     So here is my revised resume: 

 I am a sinner—yet God loves me so much that 

“…He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who  believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life .” John 3:16,NLT

I am a Christian—becoming more like Christ because the Holy Spirit lives in me, helping me love God and love others.

 I love Him, and I love you. I talk to Him daily in prayer. 

I read the Bible—His love letter to us.

 I serve God and people. 

I teach about God’s love, while still learning it myself. 

I work as a student minister (and sometimes still as a computer technician and manager). 

    No matter what we’ve done, God loves us. The most valuable gift we can share is the Gospel: Jesus died for sinners like us, rose again, and offers forgiveness and new life, through faith in Him alone. 

     Friend, what does your resume say? Does your heart show that you love God and love others? Examine it today. Come to God like the tax collector—honest about your sin, and trusting in His mercy. He is ready to justify you, too. May our lives be lived for the glory of God alone. — Rob 

Psalm 82: God the Almighty Judge!  Psalm 82:1-8

Text: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty He judgeth (judges, and continually judges) among the gods (small g.)”

Psalm 82:1.

          “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the Heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as Head above all.”

1 Chronicles 29:11.

Good morning, well-judged Christian! In Christ Jesus, you and I have been Spiritually awakened by the Lord God to know ourselves to be gross sinners on our way to a lost Eternity in Hell; an Eternity of perpetual torment after that, in the Lake of Fire Created to punish Satan and his fallen, disobedient angels, but which shall also house all sinful souls that knew not Christ as their own and personal Saviour from sin.

“And the angels which kept not their first estate (a state of obedience to the Lord God), but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day.  Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh (homosexuality), are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of Eternal fire.”  (Jude 6-7)

“And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever…And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:10-15)

On the other hand, having, by God’s Sovereign grace and enablement, judged ourselves to be lost; and having been blessed with God’s gift of faith to believe and trust in Christ’s Salvation – we have been born-again, regenerated by God the Spirit to be new creatures in Christ, never to be judged by God again or condemned for sins – past, present, and future sins – committed.  Hallelujah! (John 3:3-8)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

Having been justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and declared ‘not guilty of sin’ by our Father in Heaven as a consequence – we are clearly instructed by God’s Word not to ever ‘…accept the persons of the wicked.’  We are not to ‘judge’ the words and actions of others according to their social or legal positions in society, but according to the laws of the Living Lord God, as written clearly in our KJV Bibles. Wrong can never ever be judged right! The Lord God grants us Holy discernment, to judge what is wrong and right.

God Judges the judges: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty He judgeth (judges, and continually judges) among the gods (small g.)”  (Psalm 82:1)

Verse 3. “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. It is said of Francis the First, of France, that when a woman kneeled to him to beg justice, he bade her stand up; for, said he, ‘Woman, it is justice that I owe thee, and justice thou shalt have; if thou beg anything of me, let it be mercy.’” (William Price,1642)

Nations which have been founded on the Ten Commandments of God, and the Divine wisdom of the King James Version Bible, have for centuries been characterized by a high sense of justice and mercy shown to their peoples, and especially to those that have become prisoners within a Sovereign territory.

“Prisoners are judged by courts and put into prison AS a punishment, not FOR punishment. Loss of liberty IS the punishment!” (C.K. McClinton 1947 -?)

Verse 4. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. It is a brave thing when a judge can liberate a victim like a fly from the spider’s web, and a horrible case when magistrate and plunderer are in league.  Law has too often been an instrument for vengeance in the hand of unscrupulous men, an instrument as deadly as poison or the dagger.  It is for the judge to prevent such villainy.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 353)

The Lord God Jehovah is an absolutely Holy Lord God, Creator of all things; Sovereign in all issues pertaining to what He has Created.  All that He has Created was perfect, until Adam and Eve sinned the sin of disobedience in Eden’s Garden. 

All since then has been polluted by mankind’s sin.  All mankind since that Fall into sin, are NOT Created by God, but born of sinful man and woman, in Adam’s Fallen image and likeness, with a nature that is at all times very prone to sin.  (Genesis 5:3)

This is why the Lord Jesus Christ taught us, “Ye must be born again!”  We must be Spiritually regenerated, made Spiritually alive, and forgiven of all our sin; redeemed from sin, by the precious, sinless, shed Blood of the Saviour Lord, Jesus Christ.  Praise His Holy Name!  We are made to be Holy by the imputation (putting to our personal account) of the righteousness of Christ Jesus Himself.  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!            (John 3:3-8)

“For He (God the Father) hath made Him (Jesus Christ, God the Son) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we (God’s elect people) might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

When God, the righteous Judge of all the earth, looks upon those of us that have been, by His grace and faith, born again in Christ – all He causes Himself to see IS His Son, Jesus Christ, and thus, we are passed over for destruction, Hell, and the Lake of Fire. Wow! Glory to God.

“You hath He quickened (made Spiritually alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins…even when we were dead (Spiritually dead) in sins, hath quickened (made Spiritually alive) us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)” (Ephesians 2:1-5)

In Christ Jesus we are judged to be totally innocent from all our catalogues of vile sins!

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from ALL SIN.”       (1 John 1:7)

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” (Isaiah 44:22)

Thought: God, the Almighty Judge declares ‘His people’, not guilty of sins! Hallelujah!

Dr C.K. McClinton

Ulster Christians Ministry

www.ulsterchristians.org

Why Does the Local Church Matter?

From:              Ron Hawks and Bruce Ferris

Not only does the local church matter, it is vital to everything that Christ died for. It is, in fact, His body here on earth (1 Co. 12:27) and Christ is its head. God has placed every member in the body as it has pleased Him (1 Co. 12:18).

The churches whole purpose is to evangelize the lost, glorify God and to continue to meet together to encourage, strengthen and edify one another.

When a church is biblically sound, it provides the environment for spiritual growth, accountability, and congregational worship. It offers support, protects believers from theological error, and focuses on service allowing members to put shoe leather to their faith by using their spiritual gifts to help fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)