Condition VS Position

 The Church Age is absolutely unique in God's timeline. In this dispensation, your position as a Christian does not equate to your condition as a human being.

In the Old Testament, you were either righteous or not. You had to keep the law and statutes, treat your fellow brethren correctly, and bring a sacrifice to the temple and have the priest offer it according to the Mosaic Law whenever you messed up to keep your standing as a righteous person.

Ezekiel 33:13,14,16 - When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

Therefore, the state in which you died, whether as an unrepentant sinner or as an obedient person, determined where you went after you died. If your body committed wickedness, then your soul would also bear the punishment of that decision. If you tried to walk in the laws of the Lord and obey, then your soul would reap the benefits of your wise choices.

This same framework for salvation will again become relevant in the Tribulation. You have to keep the law of Moses and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. If you mess up, you have to confess and get right and start all over again. However, if you take the mark of the beast then you are eternally damned.

Revelation 14:9-11- And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

At the time of this writing, we are in the Church Age. That wonderful, unique period of time where people are saved by faith. They are then sealed with the Holy Spirit, and are awaiting the redemption of their bodies.

Ephesians 2:8-9- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 1:13-14- In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Galatians 5:6- And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

This is where people get all messed up. They confuse their condition with their position. They believe that because they are still sinful (their condition) that they couldn't possibly be saved (their position). They fail to see that God is working on them in parts during this dispensation.

Romans 5:9- Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (SOUL)

Romans 8:23- And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (BODY)

Your body didn't get saved when your soul got saved. Your soul was sealed with the Holy Spirit so that when your body sins it no longer affects your soul. 

Our POSITION in Christ is how we are viewed by God. Our CONDITION is how we are seen by others.

I Corinthians 15:22- For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

You are linked by birth to Adam. When you get saved, you are then adopted by God and you are now viewed by God just like Christ is- sinless.

Ephesians 1:5-6- Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

We are accepted because of Christ and His work on Calvary, and when we ask Him to save us and apply that sacrifice to our sin debt, we are adopted into God's family- that's our position.

I John 3:9- Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

However, our condition is that we are all sinners. We daily need to confess our sins to God to get our relationship right with Him.

I John 2:1-2- My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Right now, your CONDITION does not affect your POSITION.

Romans 8:35,37,38,39- Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our POSITION is that we are more than conquerors. Our CONDITION could be distress, tribulation, persecution, backsliding, or any other number of things.

I Corinthians 6:9-11- Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

My POSITION is perfect because Christ is perfect, but my CONDITION is far from perfect. My actual daily experience may ot match what I truly am inside; the prodigal son got awfully far away from the Father, but he was still the Father's son!

Our POSITION will never change; our CONDITION is constantly changing. Some days I don't feel or act saved, but I am. Some moments I am walking in the Spirit and then other moments I am walking in the flesh, but I'm still a child of God. Should we be more consistent? Yes! Will our inconsistency change our status as adopted by God? No!

Ephesians 2:5-7- Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

If you are a part of His family, He will never reject you. He cannot accept you any more or any less than how He accepts you right now. You cannot be any more redeemed. You cannot be any more forgiven. 

Your CONDITION may not always reflect your position, but your POSITION is not affected by your condition! There are no degrees or levels to salvation. God doesn't have some complicated caste system.  You got and became the exact same thing that every other believer got and became when they accepted Christ as their Savior. The most carnal christian has the same POSITION as the most spiritual.

Colossians 1:21-22- And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Now, just because your POSITION is secure doesn't mean that your CONDITION won't affect your life. You will die and go to heaven regardless of how you live. But your quality of life can be greatly diminished by how you choose to live it.

I Corinthians 3:17- If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

I Corinthians 6:12-13- Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: (POSITION)

nevertheless I live; (CONDITION)

yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: (POSITION)

and the life which I now live in the flesh (CONDITION)

I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (POSITION)

When I am glorified, then my POSITION and my CONDITION will finally agree.

Romans 8:29-30- For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

I John 3:2- Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

That's where it's all going to end up. We will be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ. Your CONDITION will finally match your POSITION because the sin nature of the flesh will be gone and we will have a body just like Christ's resurrected one.

Don't allow the fact that your CONDITION is constantly changing to influence or overwhelm you in your everyday life. Instead, allow the fact that your POSITION is immoveable encourage you to strive to live for HIM through this life's ups and downs with a peace in knowing that your eternity is secure!

Church History: Part 6 (video sermon)

Church History: Part 5 (video sermon)

Church History: Part 4 (video sermon)

Church History: Part 3 (video sermon)

Church History: Part 2 (video sermon)

Church History: Part 1 (video sermon)

A Song For Christmas (poem)

 Chant me a rhyme of Christmas—

Sing me a jovial song,—

And though it is filled with laughter,

Let it be pure and strong.

Let it be clear and ringing,

And though it mirthful be,

Let a low, sweet voice of pathos

Run through the melody.

Sing of the hearts brimmed over

With the story of the day—

Of the echo of childish voices

That will not die away.—

Of the blare of the tasseled bugle,

And the timeless clatter and beat

Of the drum that throbs to muster

Squadrons of scampering feet.

But O let your voice fall fainter,

Till, blent with a minor tone,

You temper your song with the beauty

Of the pity Christ hath shown:

And sing one verse for the voiceless;

And yet, ere the song be done,

A verse for the ears that hear not,

And a verse for the sightless one:

For though it be time for singing

A merry Christmas glee,

Let a low, sweet voice of pathos

Run through the melody.

-James Whitcomb Riley

Angels from the Realms of Glory (song)

The Law And The Pardon

 ​The book of Romans has some very large, legal words in it. Just like the book of Hebrews, Paul is taking us through a Spiritual legislative process to show us what Christ actually accomplished for us on Calvary.

​First you must note that there are two words that do not appear in Romans- parole and probation. See their meanings below:

Parole- the release of a prisoner temporarily (for a special purpose) or permanently before the completion of a sentence, on the promise of good behavior. 

 Probation- the release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behavior under supervision. 

​Both of these words are contingent upon the person's behavior after their release from prison. They may have been temporarily forgiven, but now they must maintain a certain standard to remain that way.

Now let's look at what the Bible says, and the specific words that Scripture uses.

Romans 5:1-2- Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Justified means declared or made righteous in the sight of God. I've heard justified explained this way- it's just as if I'd never done it! As far as God is concerned, a Christian is righteous in his sight.

Why? How did he get justified?

Romans 5:9-11- Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Atonement means reparation for a wrong or injury. It is through Christ's death on Calvary that we receive the atonement. Because of this we are saved from the wrath of God upon our sin.

You see, we didn't get off scot free. There was a price that had to be paid. A Christian is someone who has accepted Christ's payment for their sin and asked God to apply this payment to their personal sin debt.

Romans 8:3-4- For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Christ never came to do away with the law. He came to fulfill the law.

The purpose of the law was to show people that they were sinners, and that there was nothing they could do that could completely eradicate their sin debt.

Galatians 3:24- Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

No one could keep the law perfectly, and in God's sight it only takes one sin to be considered a lawbreaker who is guilty of punishment.

James 2:10- For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Romans 3:19-20-Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The purpose of the law was so that we could see ourselves as sinners before God.

The only way for anyone to become justified in God's sight was for someone to keep the entire law without messing up a single time, and then that person willingly offering their sinless self as a substitutional sacrifice for all those who could not keep it perfectly.

Romans 3:22-26- Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

There are some big words in there!

Redemption means the action of gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt. We gained possession of forgiveness in exchange for Christ's suffering on the cross.

Propitiation means the action of appeasing a god, spirit, or person. Christ was the only one who could appease the wrath of God. He's the only one who could have traveled from earth, to hell, up to heaven, and then back down to earth. He's the only one who knew the proper protocols required to present the sacrifice before God in heaven. Without Him, there is no hope.

Remission means the fact of being forgiven for breaking laws or rules. Through Christ's sacrifice we are forgiven.

Not only are we forgiven, but our relationship with God is now changed. He no longer looks at us as sinners deserving His wrath.

II Corinthians 5:18,19,21- And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ​For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

​Reconciliation means the act of coming to an understanding and putting an end to hostility. Christ made a deal with God to reconcile sinners. The deal was that He would die in their place, and if they accepted His death as payment for their sin, and requested that God apply that payment to their sin debt, then they would no longer be at enmity with God.

​Another word that we don't see in the Bible is pardon, and yet this word accurately describes what has happened to every person who has put their trust in Christ.

Pardon- the action of forgiving or being forgiven for an offense. 

 In order to obtain a pardon, one must admit guilt and be convicted in a court of law. You are already condemned by God’s law. Can you admit guilt, and beg for God’s forgiveness? Christ had already paid the required price for the offense. 

Because I acknowledged my sin, and pleaded for mercy, I received an eternal pardon because of Christ’s actions. My sins are not just forgiven and waiting to see if I mess up again, they are pardoned, never to be brought up again.

How about you? Would you like to be pardoned by God?

Romans 10:9-10- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

All it takes is belief in that Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day just like the Scriptures foretold he would. You have to exercise humility in acknowledging your state as a sinner who will one day face God's wrath for breaking His law. And the call out to Him in faith, believing that He will pardon your sins just like He has promised to do in the Scriptures.

The Armor of God

The Christian life has been likened to a soldier that has enlisted in the military. This soldier will fight battles with enemies to which most in the world remain oblivious.

The enemy in this war is spiritual. That's a worse foe than any human army. They don't get tired. They don't need to eat. They are constantly and consistently engaged in the battle.

Ephesians 6:10-13- Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

God isn't asking us to stand alone, though sometimes it might feel like we're fighting all alone. God is telling us to stand in the power of His might. He is mighty and He has given us strength.

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

First we're called to stand. We aren't supposed to be hiding. We aren't supposed to look like the surrounding civilians. We are supposed to stand out! We are the defensive line for our family and our community.

I Corinthians 16:13- Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

II Thessalonians 2:15-17- Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Our enlistment isn't without cost, neither is it without help. There are tools available to the soldiers in this war, and they are listed out in the Bible. Each has a specific purpose and each has a counterfeit. Each is equipped to someone who is already a Christian.

These weapons are not available to the civilian population. Only a Christian Soldier in God's army has access to these.

Ephesians 6:14-18- Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

To put on implies that there are people who don't equip, or don't fully equip, this armor. It is given to us for use by God, but sadly there are many who leave these weapons on a shelf and attempt to walk through the fray thinking they won't become a casualty.

Remember, the enemy isn't taking any breaks, and he isn't pulling any punches.

I Peter 5:8-10- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

How are you going to resist when you aren't prepared?

Let's look at our armor. You'll find that many of these overlap. That's because they are listed as separate pieces, but are supposed to be worn as a single unit.

Loins girt with truth. This is the belt and thigh protection. Your weapons would also attach to this area. 

What is the truth that we are to gird ourselves with?

John 14:6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 15:26- But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Colossians 1:3-6- We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

II Timothy 2:15- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The truth that we are to gird ourselves with is God's Word. But that isn't the only piece. It needs the Holy Spirit to guide us and the Lord Jesus Christ to reveal it to us. 

Truth is not relative. That's the counterfeit of the devil. He wants you to believe that truth can change based on situation or circumstance. Truth is definitive. It doesn't change because the culture or the acceptance of societal mores change. We are to boldly stand in the knowledge and understanding of the truth.

The truth that Christ died for our sins. The truth that He rose again in victory over the penalty of sin. The truth that He will one day change our mortal bodies into sinless immortal ones.

The breastplate of righteousness. This piece of armor protects all your vital organs. Without it you wouldn't last very long!

I Thessalonians 5:8- But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

I Thessalonians 1:2-3- We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Philemons 1:4-7- I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

This breastplate  is both faith and love. 

We show our faith through our works. We aren't working TO BE saved, we are working BECAUSE we are saved. 

We show our love by how we treat the brethren (other Christians). It's a labor of love. Sometimes it costs us to treat others the way Christ wants them treated.

Feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace. This is being ready to share the gospel. We are supposed to be prepared to fulfill the Great Commission to tell everyone everywhere what Jesus has accomplished.

I Corinthians 15:1-4- Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Acts 21:25- As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Galatians 1:8-9- But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Ephesians 1:13-14- In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The gospel of peace is very simple, and yet there are many out there who try to make it very complicated. The gospel is that Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day fulfilling the Scriptures.

The counterfeit of this is tolerance. Our love for our brethren is not to excuse blatant sin. We are to expose their sin privately to them in hopes that they will repent and get right. This generation holds tolerance as the highest standard, however overlooking evil will never be justified in the sight of God.

Shield of faith. This shield is very important, and very often misunderstood. Faith refers to a Christian believing that God will do exactly what He has said He will do in the Scriptures.

Romans 3:21-26- But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 10:8-10- But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Ephesians 3:14-21- For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Colossians 1:19-23- For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The counterfeit of this is presumption. Many Christians presume that they know God's will and never ask for His guidance or search His Word to find His opinions on the matter. Many assume that just because they want something to work out a certain way that it must be God's will, too. Our presumption to hold God accountable to our desires is not faith.

Helmet of salvation. Remember that the Christian who is already saved is the person that can avail himself of this armor. This helmet is not the salvation of the soul. It is the faith that God has promised to keep Christians from going through the Tribulation, and the hope that one day, through the rapture, our bodies will be saved from this sinful world.

I Thessalonians 5:8-10- But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Titus 2:11-15- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

I Corinthians 15:51-58- Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The counterfeit of this one is sneaky. It's almost liquid in that it can change for each person. For some, it's believing that they must endure the tribulation. For others, it's believing that there is no resurrection of believers. Boiled down to its finest poison, it's simply unbelief; you don’t believe that God can do what He has promised.

Sword of the spirit. This is the most important offensive weapon in the Christian arsenal. This weapon is powerful enough to fell enemies, and delicate enough to peel the layers of deceit off a well crafted lie. It is efficient for every battle and each season of life we may find ourselves in. Every Christian should be skilled in their use of this weapon!

Hebrews 4:12- For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I Peter 1:22-25- Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

John 1:1, 14- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The counterfeit of this is religious preference, tradition, and ignorance. Each and every Christian should be able to back up what they believe with Scripture. Your answer to questions shouldn't be "well, my pastor told me" but rather "The Bible says".

Notice there are no knee pads. That's because we're suppose to be praying. Prayer is an underrated powerhouse in a Christian's life. When we pray, we tell God how we see and how we feel about certain situations. 

Philippians 4:6-7- Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Colossians 4:2-4- Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Romans 12:9-13- Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

The counterfeit of this is telling God what you want and expecting Him to cater to your desires. It's a lot like presumption.

As Christians we should not only tell God about our problems, we should listen for His direction on them. We should not only intercede on the behalf of others, but we should be willing to step in when He leads and help. We should not only explain to the Lord how we are feeling, but we should also seek how He feels about things!

We have been called into one of the most epic battles of all time. A war that has been raging for over 6,000 years in the spiritual realm, and one that has spilled over into the mortal world. Throughout history, there have been a few brave people that have acted upon the call to fight. 

Are you one of them?

Healthy Minute- Vagus Nerve Hacks

He's Still in the Fire (song)

God Knows (poem)

 Thou knowest them that trust in Thee!
What precious words, O Lord, are these!
Here let Thy suffering children flee,
When struggling mid life's mysteries!

For to our childish minds, Thy will
Looks ofttimes hard, and passing strange;
Loving, we doubt and fear Thee still,
And long Thy wondrous ways to change.

Not thus we cry, would we assail
That saintly soul with blow on blow;
Not thus should Sorrow, stern and pale,
Put forth her hand and lay him low.

What needs he, Lord, of pain and smart?
To Thee is he not consecrate?
His joy, his hope, his all, Thou art,
Ever on Thee he loves to wait.

Ah, dearest Lord, Thou knowest best!
Thou knowest them that trust in Thee!
Blessed the soul, yea, doubly blest, 
When Thou dost try its constancy.

Upon the soft and crumbling stone, 
The sculptor spends a passing hour;
He strikes immortal blows alone
When chiselled marble feels his power.

And when the ore is rich and rare
The miner strikes and strikes again;
Labor and toil he need not spare,
He never can exhaust the vein.

Thou knowest, Lord, a stone to choose-
Worthy the labor of Thy hand;
Thou fearest not the tool to use
That gives it shape at Thy command.

Thou knowest many a hidden mine
Where Thou canst enter at Thy will;
Treasures of faith therein are thine,
Worthy of e'en the Master's skill.

Ah, Lord! we will not stay Thy hand
With folly's questions, folly's fears;
Thy ways we cannot understand- 
Forgive our weakness and our tears.

Move on in Thy mysterious way,
We'll stand aside Thy work to see;
Faithful the work, and blessed they,
Who cannot trace, but trust in Thee.

-Elisabeth Payton Prentiss

God Works With What We Are (video sermon)

Ye Have Perverted The Words Of The Living God

". . . ye have perverted the words of the living God . . ."  Jer. 23:36)

"For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God . . ."  (II Cor. 2:17)

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you."  (Deu. 4:2)

"Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."  (Pro. 30:6)

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Rev. 22:18-19)

The attack on God's word is very real, and it has been ongoing for thousands of years.  In fact, it all started when the devil questioned God’s word at his very first appearance in the Bible in Genesis 3:1: "Yea, hath God said . . . ?"

But, being the author of confusion, he hasn’t produced just ONE bad Bible.  That would be too easy to expose.  No, he has produced hundreds!  I recently read that over 900 complete or partial English translations exist.  WHY?  Is it not just to keep everything all confusing and cumbersome so that you’ll have to TRUST SOMEONE ELSE to tell you what’s right, what the true word of God is?  NEVER!

You can do it all by yourself without taking anyone's word for anything.  I Thessalonians 5:21 says to PROVE ALL THINGS, so YOU can do that.  He didn’t say to trust someone else to do it for you.  YOU can do it for yourself.  Here’s ten ways, ten quick and easy checkpoints for you to show people exactly WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR BIBLE.  You can waste your time trying to explain manuscript evidence to them or you can cut to the chase and show them what the devil has done to their Bible . . .

Daniel 3:25:  The words "the Son of God" are changed to "a son of the gods," thus promoting polytheism instead of the deity of Christ.

Micah 5:2: The word "everlasting" is changed to "ancient times" or something similar, thus attacking the deity of Christ.

Matthew 1:25: The word "firstborn" is omitted, which allows for the Roman Catholic heresy of the perpetual virginity of Mary.  

Matthew 5:22: The words "without a cause" are omitted, which makes it appear that it's a sin to become angry for ANY cause, an obvious error, since "the anger of the LORD" is mentioned thirty-two times in the Bible and Ephesians 4:26 tells us to "be ye angry, and sin not."  

Luke 2:33:  The word "Joseph" is replaced with the word "father", another attack on the virgin birth of Christ.  

Romans 14:10: The word "Christ" is changed to "God', which attacks the deity of Christ (see verse 12) and allows for the teaching of a general judgment for everyone instead of a special judgment for Christians. 

Colossians 1:14: The word "blood" is omitted.

I Timothy 3:16: The word "God" is replaced with the word "he", thus attacking the deity of Christ and the incarnation.  

II Timothy 2:15: The word "study" is omitted from the Bible's only command to "study" the word of God. 

I John 5:7: The words "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost" are omitted, and sometimes the entire verse is missing.

Most modern translations will fall short on well over half of these verses, so these are good verses to memorize and use readily.  Having this list printed out is good, but having it memorized is better and far more effective when dealing with a person, so please memorize it and use it skillfully for the glory of God.

 -James L. Melton

biblebaptistpublications.org

Halloween Alternative

 

In the United States (and other countries), Halloween has become one of the most popular unofficial holidays. On the upside, retail sales boost the economy around this holiday.

On the downside, the holiday has become a time of increased crime in many places (especially arson and other acts of violence) on Halloween night as well as the night before.

When did this holiday begin and why? Was Halloween’s origin paganistic or is there something more behind Halloween’s history?

On the Halloween origin, some researchers claim that the holiday can be traced back about 2,000 years to the Celts of Europe who occupied parts of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. It was a pagan festival called “Samhain” (pronounced “sow-in”) that celebrated, more or less, the honor of the dead and involved the offering of large sacrifices of crops and animals.

Around AD 600, Pope Boniface IV created All Saints’ Day, and Pope Gregory III later moved this holiday to November 1 in an effort to give a Christian alternative to this pagan celebration.

Christians who did not want to celebrate pagan festivals celebrated something of positive spiritual value—in this case honoring the saints and martyrs. With the overwhelming expansion of Christianity in Europe, All Saints’ Day became the dominant holiday.

A couple hundred years later, the Roman Church made November 2 All Souls’ Day to honor the dead. This may well have been influenced by the continued persistence of the day of the dead by the ancient Irish, Scots, and others in Europe. Standing against this, many Protestant Christians celebrate October 31 as Reformation Day in honor of reformers such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others who spearheaded the Reformation in the 1500s.

Although many affirm that Samhain was the origin of modern-day Halloween, it is significant to note how many cultures throughout the world have celebrated a “day of the dead” (often with sacrifices), occurring at the end of summer and fall. There seem to be too many parallels to call these similar celebrations a coincidence.

It seems no coincidence that cultures all around the world in both present and ancient times have had a holiday when the dead were remembered and animals were sacrificed. We can make a pretty strong argument that this holiday goes back to a time when all the peoples lived together—and then they took this holiday to various parts of the world.

Proper sacrifices in the Bible were associated with sin and death. This goes back to the first sacrifice in Genesis 3:21 when the first two humans sinned against God. The perfect creation that God had made was now marred with sin that deserved death.

Genesis 3:21-Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Leviticus 17:11- For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Romans 5:12- Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

It should be obvious from a Christian perspective that many modern practices of Halloween and days of the dead have evil intent.

1 Corinthians 10:20- But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

There has been considerable paganism that has been associated with Halloween over the years. Evil acts such as vandalism; arson; destructive pranks; and glorification of sensuality, death, and demons are in strong opposition to the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19-21- Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

So, a word of caution must be given to Evangelicals who promote some of the questionable modern practices of Halloween.

If anything, an alternative in opposition to Halloween should be offered by Christians. Psalm 24:1 points out that everything belongs to the Lord. Therefore, there is no reason to let Satan have Halloween. Despite Halloween’s origin, it is not his day in the first place!

Psalm 24:1- The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

So where do you go from here? Please encourage your pastors and elders to have some sort of church function to counter modern practices of Halloween. Of course, one of the only nice things that Halloween really has to offer could also be involved—sweet treats (in moderation of course)!

If a Christian alternative is not possible in your location, then take advantage of this opportunity to share with “trick or treaters” the message of the gospel, how Jesus Christ has conquered death, and the forgiveness that can only be found in God.

Part of this real history is the bad news that the rebellion of the first man, Adam, against God’s command brought death, suffering, and separation from God into this world. We see the results all around us.

But the good news is that God has done something about it.

Jesus Christ the Creator, though totally sinless, suffered on behalf of mankind the penalty of mankind’s sin, which is death and separation from God. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice; he died on a cross, but on the third day, he rose again, conquering death, so that all who truly believe in him, repent of their sin, and trust in him, are able to come back to God and live for eternity with their Creator.

Romans 5:8- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I Timothy 2:4-6- Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

What a wonderful Savior—and what a wonderful salvation in Christ our Creator!

— Bodie Hodge

Aiming For Success

 Every year, when new year rolls around, people make resolutions. They say they'll exercise more, lose weight, be kinder to their family, or something like that. Sadly, most of these end up as nothing more than an attempt to modify their behavior for a few weeks and then are abandoned when the person settles back into their old habits.

Why? People have a goal, but they don't make the necessary steps to achieve that goal. 

Proverbs 29:18a- Where there is no vision, the people perish:

I've read a few books recently that have shed a little light on the difference between those who are successful and those who aren't. Let me share what I've learned.

The main changes that you need to make is to have a plan that's attainable and then slowly turn those changes into habits. Once they're habits, then you really don't have to think about it anymore. If it's not a habit, then we will slowly fall back into our old patterns. So how do we get from the goal to the habit?

In Jon Acuff's All It Takes Is A Goal, he suggests that you start by looking to the past. Make a greatest moments list. This list can be absolutely anything that you find precious. It could be a memory of a family vacation, or an achievement that you worked really hard to accomplish, something that makes you smile, whatever.

Now, look over your list. How many are achievements? How many were with those you care about? Are there any that were experiential moments? I bet very few are actual objects! His point was that once you understand what it is that makes your life worth living, you can know how to tailor your goals.

Now, you can strategize a plan. Your plan is like a vision wall. You'll have small, easy goals that you can accomplish quickly. These will lead to middle goals that take a bit longer to complete and could have people questioning if they are a good idea to attempt. And then the grand finale, the end goal that may take a year or longer but is what all the other small steps are leading up to.

Are you an accomplishment person? Do you like checking off boxes? Then create a scorecard that you can "tick" you way to the end.

Perhaps you are a relationship person. All of your greatest memories are done with others. Then you'd have goals that included a buddy. It could be a workout buddy, or a mom friend that has the same desire as you, or even a member of your family. 

Maybe you find fulfillment in experiences. You want to run a marathon, so you start with making it a quarter of a mile for a few weeks, then you build it up to five miles a month, a lastly you enter into the 5K you've always dreamed of!

Once you've accomplished your magnum opus, you probably won't stop there. You may go on to bigger and better in the same category. Or perchance, you'll chose an entirely new area to create your next goal around.

I have a few goals that I'm constantly working on. I am trying to get and stay in shape. I'm trying to strengthen my prayer life. I'm hoping to see my last two children graduate high school. I'm working on paying off all our debt.

Some goals are physical; some goals are spiritual. Some are practical, and some are necessary. These are my goals today. I've been in physically fit before. I've already had three children graduate high school. There are some debts that I've already paid off. Just because I've "been there, done that" doesn't mean that it has to come off my vision wall.

Whatever your goal, you need to bear in mind a few things. Each person is unique, and each season of life has its own challenges. A twenty-year-old mother of two toddlers can't expect to reach the same goals as a retired woman of sixty. A person who is struggling with a debilitating disease should not set a goal that a weightlifter strives to achieve. Keep in mind what your life is like, where your obligations lie, and how much time you have the ability to commit.

Philippians 3:14- I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

You may need to tweak your goals. Your vision wall may take longer than you want it to. But you should be aiming for something! This is your life that you will give an account before God for living. Do you really want to get to heaven and be like "I just let the river carry me to the grave"?

You may need to reexamine your mindset. Many habits are based on positive experiences (like our greatest hits list). A great tip from the Habit Workbook by Cultivate What Matters is you can incorporate cues that help you remember or bundle your goals with a habit you already have.

I take my vitamins when I eat breakfast. Having my coffee while I read my Bible is another bundle. Whenever I'm doing dishes or taking a shower, I pray (water is the cue). You can put your goals on autopilot by grouping them with established routines. 

Tracking your success is vital! We often get our focus on other people because we see how far they've come. Don't start comparing yourself to others! Create a way to track your achievements and notice how much you've accomplished and how far you've come. 

II Corinthians 10:12b- but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Lastly, learn to forgive yourself. You won't perform a new habit perfectly 100% of the time! And that's okay. Just don't quit! Paul kept on going until the last moment of his life. Christ had the cross in view for over three years! Why? Because they knew what was waiting on the other side.

Hebrews 12:2- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

II Timothy 4:7-8- I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

You're earning rewards in heaven. You're setting an example for the next generation. And you're allowing the Lord the lead you to the place where you can give Him all the glory while He's placing a crown on your head and granting you the title of Good And Faithful Servant!

Believer's Heritage- Corrie Ten Boom

Refusing to Claim God's Promise (video sermon)

Not Finished Yet (poem)

Has your strength ebbed and flowed?

Are you feeling weary, sluggish beneath the load?

Have your thoughts become scattered and oh so confused?

You want to accomplish many things, yet your body has refused?

You’re not finished yet!

Does your ache and pains slow you down?

The trouble with your eyesight make you frown?

Your ears, they don’t hear as well as they did before 

People are busy, you feel ignored. 

You’re not finished yet!

You’re not finished yet, the best is yet to come,

The foundations that were laid will not come undone!

The wisdom you’ve gleaned through the years,

can help someone through their tears. 

Tell the lost Christ has paid their debt,

Remember this you’re not finished yet!

When all of life is slowing down,

Smile, because Jesus has promised you a crown.

Trust in the One who created you best,

As long as you have breath,  you’re not finished yet!

-Karen B Patterson

My Jesus, Fair (song)

The Demon Possessed Son

I must first preface this study with a disclaimer- mental problems are not always synonymous with demon possession. 

There are so many different things that go on in the brain, some that we probably aren't even aware happen, yet. If some of these are out of balance, it can cause some pretty odd behavior. The Bible shows that there is a distinction between mental problems and demon possession.

 Matthew 4:23-24- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

As you can see in the passage above, those who are possessed with devils are a separate item than those which are lunatick.  In the Webster's 1828 dictionary, a lunatick is defined as a person affected by insanity, supposed to be influenced or produced by the moon, or by its position in its orbit; a madman.

Noting this distinction, we will read through three gospel accounts of a demon possessed boy and glean what we can from these Scriptures.

Matthew 9:14-18- And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

The disciples had been sent out two by two and given the power to heal all manner of diseases. However, once they were back with Jesus, they found there was this one particularly stubborn case in which they had no power to prevail.

Matthew 17:14-15- And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

Among the multitude there was the father of the demon possessed. In the gospel of Matthew, he tells Jesus that the boy is a lunatick. But, the gospel of Luke gives us some further information.

Luke 9:38-40- And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

Not only does the boy have mental problems, but he is also demon possessed. Luke also tells us that this is the man's only child.

We know that Jesus can easily heal this boy. And, we also know that He doesn't do anything without a reason.

Mark 9:19-20- He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

Why did Jesus call them a faithless generation? Perhaps there is more to the story that we were originally told.

Mark 9:21-22- And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

The man tells Jesus that his son has been like this since a child. This means that this is probably not a young boy and this family has been dealing with this for a long time. Was it something the parents allowed in their home that brought a devil to prey upon their son? Perhaps there were some friendships they should have said "no" to that ended up putting this boy in this position? There's a reason Jesus wanted the father to answer this question.

Mark 9:23-24- Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Somewhere there is a lack of faith. 

The father is pleading with the Lord that if it is with him that the Lord would grant him faith.

Mark 9:25-27- When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

The gospel of Mark tells us that this spirit was "dumb and deaf". I believe that means the person who has been possessed can neither hear nor speak. This spirit certainly heard Jesus' command, and came out in a very harsh manner.

Luke 9:42- And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

The gospel of Luke tells us that this spirit didn't want to come anywhere near Jesus, nor did it want to leave. This is a very powerful demon. We will understand a little later that there are levels of power among the devils of this world.

Matthew 17:18- And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

When Jesus heals a person, it's not an isolated incident. This boy was not only healed from the demon possession, but he was also cured from his lunacy.

This next part is something that most "faith healers" don't want you to know.

Matthew 17:19-20- Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

It has nothing to do with the patients faith. Remember, Christ was rebuking the faithless generation, but we find out in Matthew 17:20 that it was the disciples lack of faith that He was calling out.

The men who saw all the miracles that Jesus did. The few who saw Him transfigured on the mountaintop surrounded by Moses and Elijah. Those men who had been given the ability to work miracles in Jesus name, had a lack of faith. Why?

Luke 9:43-45- And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

It's because they didn't understand. Nor did they try to understand.

Fear keeps us from getting ahead quite often. 

But there is one other piece of information that you should note here. This devil was a particularly powerful one. Jesus was the only one able to cast it out because He was the only one that was praying and fasting!

Mark 9:29- And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

There are only two verses in the entire Bible that tells you this. One in Mark and one in Luke.

Luke 17:21- Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

These two verses are missing from almost all of the new Bible translations. Why do you suppose that is? It's because when a devil sets up a stronghold in a person, they don't want you to know how to tear it down.

The real question is, "Why would men who profess to want to make the Bible easier to understand remove such an important piece of information from their translation?"

Healthy Minute - God's Method of Healing from the Bible

Healthy Minute- The True Cause of Disease (Part 2)

Healthy Minute- The True Cause of Disease (Part 1)

Believer's Heritage- Haralan Popov

Little Is Much When God Is in It (song)

First Day In Heaven (poem)

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

Uncle Bill, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.'

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must've made a mistake

'And why is everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

-attributed to Rod Hemphill

Don't Quit (video sermon)

The Ordinances Of The Church

 There are two ordinances that the Lord gave to the church. These ordinances are things that each and every Christian should be observing. Neither of these ordinances have anything to do with obtaining salvation. They are steps the believer should follow AFTER salvation.

The first is water baptism of the believer.

Romans 6:1-6- What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

When Paul speaks about Baptism, he is using it as a simile. Just like we are to imagine that our old man of sin is dead, we are to imagine that we have been buried with Jesus and risen as a new creature. Did our flesh actually die? No, we will fight with it every day! Was our body actually buried? No, we were just immersed in water. It's a picture to show those who are watching what has happened to you spiritually.

It's just like a wedding ring. Those who didn't attend your wedding wouldn't know you were married, unless they saw a wedding ring on your finger. Can someone wear a wedding ring without being married? Yes. Can someone not wear a wedding ring and actually be married? Yes.

Baptism, like the wedding ring, doesn't save. It's just there to alert others. Baptism is not a part of salvation. Those who don't get baptized don't lose their salvation if they pass the statute of limitations. If it were then Paul would have been baptizing as he went along. He did not.

I Corinthians 1:17- For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

He says that God sent him to preach the gospel, not to baptize! If baptism were a part of salvation, then Paul would have certainly made sure to baptize everyone he led to the Lord.

The second ordinance is communion, or the Lord's Supper.

This communion is based on the last dinner the Lord had with His disciples. It is recorded in two of the four gospels.

Matthew 26:26-29- And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. 

Jesus and His disciples were eating dinner. The Lord broke bread and passed it out to the disciples to eat. The analogy was that His body was going to be broken on the Cross. Then he passed the cup around as an analogy of His blood that was going to be shed on the Cross. His physical body was sitting there with them; he wasn't giving them His actual flesh to eat. The fruit of the vine (grape juice) was not the blood running through His veins.

Christ came to fulfill the Law. He tells us often that leaven is a type of sin. The days of Passover were where they ate unleavened bread. Why would Jesus use leavened, or fermented, wine? Christ came to fulfill the law, not break it. Wine is forbidden throughout Scripture.

Proverbs 20:1- Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Isaiah 28:7- But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

A Nazarite was forbidden to drink wine as long as he was separated to do God's will.

Numbers 6:2-4- Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.

As the Priest of our Salvation, Christ would not be allowed to drink fermented wine.

Leviticus 10:8-11- And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Hebrews 4:14-15- Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Christ was drinking unfermented grape juice at the last supper. So, why is it that some denominations use fermented liquor during communion? Especially when it is forbidden for someone who is suppose to be set apart for the work of the ministry?

The disciples had a hard time understanding the Lord. He often used similes or analogies with them so that they would understand His meaning.

Mark 14:22-26- And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Jesus says that the cup was an analogy of His blood of the new testament. There was something happening that no one ever thought possible; Jesus was changing the parameters of what was currently understood to be the redemption of the soul.

Hebrews 9:13-17- For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 

In the Old Testament, people had to continuously bring a sacrifice for their sin. Their sins were covered, as in hidden from God's sight because the price had been paid. However, every time they sinned they were required to make this payment again.

Jesus blood in the New Testament not only completely forgave past sins, it paid for the future sins as well. His sacrifice only needed to be offered ONCE.

Hebrews 10:9-14- Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

If Christ's blood is so perfect and so potent that it can take away the sins of whosoever asks Him, why is it that there are some denominations who believe that the communion they perform is them offering Christ over and over again as a sacrifice?

We understand that what Christ was saying was symbolic because at no time in history did God ever allow drinking blood. 

BEFORE the law was given: Genesis 9:3-4- Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

AFTER the law was given: Leviticus 7:26- Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.

AFTER Christ was crucified and risen: Acts 15:19-20- Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

If God is against the consumption of blood, why is it that there are some denominations that say they are turning the wine into the literal blood of Jesus to be consumed?

Paul tells us that communion is to be a memorial to the sacrifice that Christ made for us. It's to remind ourselves of the price that had to be paid for our redemption.

I Corinthians 11:23-32- For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Paul also warns us that this ordinance has consequences associated to its abuse. He says that those who eat and drink unworthily shall bring damnation to himself. It's not an eternal damnation, like you go to hell for, but rather a temporal condemnation that affects the body- many are weak and sickly and many sleep (die).

When you are asked to partake in communion, you need to make certain that you are truly saved. An unbeliever has no business taking the Lord's Supper! 

This to remind you of the price paid for your sin; it is NOT a requirement to be saved.

Every Christian has the right to be included in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. It has nothing to do with being a member of a specific local church. It has everything to do with being a member of the Bride of Christ, the spiritual church that is made up of all believers from the time of Christ's resurrection until the rapture.

You also need to understand that it is not sacrificing Christ again for your sins. Christ took care of that once on Calvary. You need to observe it as a memorial, remembering that He has already paid for your sins.

Thirdly, you need to judge yourself- this means you need to examine your life and confess your sins.

I John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we judge ourselves and confess our sins and get our hearts and mind right with the Lord, when we partake of the Lord's Supper, or communion, then He won't need to judge us or chasten us for our unrepentance.

These are the two ordinances that Christ has left for the church to observe, and this is the meaning and the requirements to fulfill each of them.