Here's the MP3 of the sermon I preached on Saturday night, December 19, 2009. Find out how Cain, Abel and Christmas relate! Please give it a listen and let me know what you think.
Click on the headphones to listen or the down arrow to download.
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Peace
I'm not the kind of guy who finds demons around every corner. If a rake leaning against a tree falls, it's because the wind blew the tree and it caused the rake to fall. It isn't a sign. The devil didn't push it over. I think sometimes Christians, especially pentecostal Christians, do mare harm than good with the hyper-spiritual, exorcistic mindset, casting demons out of everything and everybody and attributing normal bumps in the road to "attacks of Satan" and so forth.
All that being said, I think many more Christians have a "I don't see it so it doesn't exist" mindset, which is weird considering we believe in God, though most have never seen Him. And I think this mindset is even more dangerous. There is a very real spirit realm and simply because we don't see it, does not mean it doesn't exist or doesn't affect us.
Furthermore, I would submit that this reality we live in is in fact a shadow of the spirit world. There are angels and demons that exist in the spirit world that we can't see with the natural eye. They have an ability to interfere or influence the lives and affairs of man, but because we don't see them, we often don't think they're there.
Why am I talking about demons and the spirit realm? Because we've had a recent encounter and I need to first and foremost glorify God and testify of His goodness, and second of all, because our experience and the truths gleaned from it can and do apply to the lives of others and I believe there are important lessons to be learned.
We have had no peace for the last several weeks in our home. Quinn hasn't been sleeping at night. We've had round after round of sickness in our home. Nobody has been sleeping well due to the sickness, sick babies, etc. Lack of sleep and the stresses of finances, children and life in general have overwhelmed us. Everyone has been cranky, snapping at one another, filled with anxiety, frustration, bitterness, etc.
This does not sound at all like God, does it? But it's flu season, so the sickness makes sense. The economy sucks, so the financial struggle makes sense. The kids have been sick and really busy with the holidays and stuff, so the lack of sleep and late nights make sense. All of this added up makes us cranky, frustrated and full of anxiety and stress. It all makes sense. Everything is accounted for.
Well all that changed two nights ago. Quinn went to bed Sunday night and went to sleep just fine. At 1:30AM, about two and a half hours after going to sleep, he woke up screaming. Brooke went in, loved on him, sat with him and rocked in the chair and put him back in bed once he had fallen back to sleep. He instantly woke up, started screaming and wanted out of his crib. Brooke said "I love you, but you need to go to sleep. Now lay down, okay?" And she left the room. She stood outside his bedroom door as he screamed and suddenly, his scream changed. It went from an upset toddler to a petrified, terrified little boy. And suddenly, Brooke heard other voices in his room. She immediately went in and he was screaming, rubbing his head saying "Owie! Owie!"
Again, we aren't the kind of people who see demons around every corner, and we certainly don't want to give Satan more credit than he deserves. But this was obviously a demonic attack and not just a frustrated, over-tired toddler.
Brooke came and got me and asked me to come in and pray. When I walked in the room, I didn't feel anything. I didn't feel any eerie presence. No goosebumps. No hairs standing on end. But I sat with Quinn and held him as he trembled, and we decided to bring him to bed with us. But before we did, I wanted to pray. I began to pray, but felt no eerie presence. Until I started rebuking and binding Satan and his demons. That's when whatever it was showed up. And it made the hairs on my neck stand up. And it didn't go away. As I began to pray against it, the baby who was sleeping in our bedroom began to scream.
We took Quinn back to bed with us, but I didn't feel the issue was resolved and none of us slept well. In fact after I finally went back to sleep, I had a horrible nightmare that instantly woke me up and kept me awake for another few hours. When I got up for work, I went to the kitchen to make coffee, and still felt eerie.
I called my mom, told her what had happened, and asked her and Dad to come over after work and pray with us over our home. That evening when they came over, we anointed to doorposts of our home and bedrooms, Quinn's bed and room, and we began to pray. After we prayed, we all felt a peace that we hadn't had in weeks.
Quinn went to sleep last night at 8PM. After putting him down so peacefully and easily, I called my mom to tell her and Dad and to thank them for praying. My mom then told me when they left our house, she asked my dad "Did you feel anything when you walked in there?" My dad said "No. Nothing. Until I started praying and called it out. Then it showed up." And I know exactly what he was talking about...right in the middle of his prayer, that same eerie feeling rose up and every hair on my body stood on end. Whatever this demonic spirit was, it's assignment was to hide its presence and it only "came out" to terrorize my son at night or when we directly called it out.
We prayed, cast it out, and it didn't return. We all slept great last night. Quinn slept from 8PM to 915AM without waking up once. We all felt an amazing peace that hadn't been there in weeks.
God taught me several valuable lessons through all of this.
#1. Don't discount the spiritual realm; it is very real and can and does affect our lives.
#2. Don't always just assume that the sicknesses and sleepless toddlers are attributed to natural causes. It very well could be the work of Satan, and we as God's children have authority and power. Jesus said in Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
#3. There is massive amounts of power in several people praying in agreement together. Whatever this thing was, I didn't cast it out when I prayed. But when we called in reinforcements and all prayed together, it left and didn't return. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." The power of prayer exponentially increases when we join with other believes and "agree as touching any one thing. (Matthew 18:19)"
One more thing...There are rules and laws for the spirit realm just as there are in the physical. That demonic spirit had no legal right to be in our home. He was violating the spiritual law, and as such, had to leave when we cast him out. Had we had some kind of unconfessed secret sin in our lives that allowed the demon in, he wouldn't have to leave because by our sinful actions, we allowed him in. Since that was not the case and he "snuck" in somehow, perhaps "piggybacking" in on someone else or something, he had to leave when we confronted him.
So in closing, when you experience something in life that just doesn't seem right, realize that it might be a demonic attack. Search your heart for unconfessed, unrepented sin. If there is sin, get rid of it by turning from it and asking God's forgiveness. If there is not, then the demon has come against you illegally. You have absolute authority and power to vanquish it. However, if by praying you cannot, call in reinforcements. Have other believers join you and agree with you in prayer against the enemy and cast him out.
Here's a flowchart I made (just for fun).
All that being said, I think many more Christians have a "I don't see it so it doesn't exist" mindset, which is weird considering we believe in God, though most have never seen Him. And I think this mindset is even more dangerous. There is a very real spirit realm and simply because we don't see it, does not mean it doesn't exist or doesn't affect us.
Furthermore, I would submit that this reality we live in is in fact a shadow of the spirit world. There are angels and demons that exist in the spirit world that we can't see with the natural eye. They have an ability to interfere or influence the lives and affairs of man, but because we don't see them, we often don't think they're there.
Why am I talking about demons and the spirit realm? Because we've had a recent encounter and I need to first and foremost glorify God and testify of His goodness, and second of all, because our experience and the truths gleaned from it can and do apply to the lives of others and I believe there are important lessons to be learned.
We have had no peace for the last several weeks in our home. Quinn hasn't been sleeping at night. We've had round after round of sickness in our home. Nobody has been sleeping well due to the sickness, sick babies, etc. Lack of sleep and the stresses of finances, children and life in general have overwhelmed us. Everyone has been cranky, snapping at one another, filled with anxiety, frustration, bitterness, etc.
This does not sound at all like God, does it? But it's flu season, so the sickness makes sense. The economy sucks, so the financial struggle makes sense. The kids have been sick and really busy with the holidays and stuff, so the lack of sleep and late nights make sense. All of this added up makes us cranky, frustrated and full of anxiety and stress. It all makes sense. Everything is accounted for.
Well all that changed two nights ago. Quinn went to bed Sunday night and went to sleep just fine. At 1:30AM, about two and a half hours after going to sleep, he woke up screaming. Brooke went in, loved on him, sat with him and rocked in the chair and put him back in bed once he had fallen back to sleep. He instantly woke up, started screaming and wanted out of his crib. Brooke said "I love you, but you need to go to sleep. Now lay down, okay?" And she left the room. She stood outside his bedroom door as he screamed and suddenly, his scream changed. It went from an upset toddler to a petrified, terrified little boy. And suddenly, Brooke heard other voices in his room. She immediately went in and he was screaming, rubbing his head saying "Owie! Owie!"
Again, we aren't the kind of people who see demons around every corner, and we certainly don't want to give Satan more credit than he deserves. But this was obviously a demonic attack and not just a frustrated, over-tired toddler.
Brooke came and got me and asked me to come in and pray. When I walked in the room, I didn't feel anything. I didn't feel any eerie presence. No goosebumps. No hairs standing on end. But I sat with Quinn and held him as he trembled, and we decided to bring him to bed with us. But before we did, I wanted to pray. I began to pray, but felt no eerie presence. Until I started rebuking and binding Satan and his demons. That's when whatever it was showed up. And it made the hairs on my neck stand up. And it didn't go away. As I began to pray against it, the baby who was sleeping in our bedroom began to scream.
We took Quinn back to bed with us, but I didn't feel the issue was resolved and none of us slept well. In fact after I finally went back to sleep, I had a horrible nightmare that instantly woke me up and kept me awake for another few hours. When I got up for work, I went to the kitchen to make coffee, and still felt eerie.
I called my mom, told her what had happened, and asked her and Dad to come over after work and pray with us over our home. That evening when they came over, we anointed to doorposts of our home and bedrooms, Quinn's bed and room, and we began to pray. After we prayed, we all felt a peace that we hadn't had in weeks.
Quinn went to sleep last night at 8PM. After putting him down so peacefully and easily, I called my mom to tell her and Dad and to thank them for praying. My mom then told me when they left our house, she asked my dad "Did you feel anything when you walked in there?" My dad said "No. Nothing. Until I started praying and called it out. Then it showed up." And I know exactly what he was talking about...right in the middle of his prayer, that same eerie feeling rose up and every hair on my body stood on end. Whatever this demonic spirit was, it's assignment was to hide its presence and it only "came out" to terrorize my son at night or when we directly called it out.
We prayed, cast it out, and it didn't return. We all slept great last night. Quinn slept from 8PM to 915AM without waking up once. We all felt an amazing peace that hadn't been there in weeks.
God taught me several valuable lessons through all of this.
#1. Don't discount the spiritual realm; it is very real and can and does affect our lives.
#2. Don't always just assume that the sicknesses and sleepless toddlers are attributed to natural causes. It very well could be the work of Satan, and we as God's children have authority and power. Jesus said in Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
#3. There is massive amounts of power in several people praying in agreement together. Whatever this thing was, I didn't cast it out when I prayed. But when we called in reinforcements and all prayed together, it left and didn't return. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." The power of prayer exponentially increases when we join with other believes and "agree as touching any one thing. (Matthew 18:19)"
One more thing...There are rules and laws for the spirit realm just as there are in the physical. That demonic spirit had no legal right to be in our home. He was violating the spiritual law, and as such, had to leave when we cast him out. Had we had some kind of unconfessed secret sin in our lives that allowed the demon in, he wouldn't have to leave because by our sinful actions, we allowed him in. Since that was not the case and he "snuck" in somehow, perhaps "piggybacking" in on someone else or something, he had to leave when we confronted him.
So in closing, when you experience something in life that just doesn't seem right, realize that it might be a demonic attack. Search your heart for unconfessed, unrepented sin. If there is sin, get rid of it by turning from it and asking God's forgiveness. If there is not, then the demon has come against you illegally. You have absolute authority and power to vanquish it. However, if by praying you cannot, call in reinforcements. Have other believers join you and agree with you in prayer against the enemy and cast him out.
Here's a flowchart I made (just for fun).
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Sickness
Ugh. It's been a miserable few weeks. I came down with the swine flu the weekend of man-camping back in October. After being sick for a week, I got over that and caught bronchitis. I was finally feeling healthy, and have now caught some kind of cold/cough thing again.
My kids have been sick a lot too. We've been stressed with finances, stressed with sickness, stressed with lack of time, just stressed in general. Yet through it all, God has been good to us. He has been our rock. He has been my strength. He's given me great grace to make it through.
He's given me joy so that I could lead others in worship. He's given me peace so that I could minister His word. He's given us a heart to give and even in our lack, He's given us the means to be givers.
That's it...no great spiritual insight or wisdom today. Just a quiet smile and a "thank you" to my Heavenly Father for all His goodness to me, even in my temper tantrums and faithless fits.
My kids have been sick a lot too. We've been stressed with finances, stressed with sickness, stressed with lack of time, just stressed in general. Yet through it all, God has been good to us. He has been our rock. He has been my strength. He's given me great grace to make it through.
He's given me joy so that I could lead others in worship. He's given me peace so that I could minister His word. He's given us a heart to give and even in our lack, He's given us the means to be givers.
That's it...no great spiritual insight or wisdom today. Just a quiet smile and a "thank you" to my Heavenly Father for all His goodness to me, even in my temper tantrums and faithless fits.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Spider on the pantry door
God has a funny way of reminding me of things. I pray this blesses you as it blessed me.
My son Quinn is obsessed with cookies. He is forever going to the pantry and asking "Cookie? Cookie?"
Quinn is also terrified of spiders for some reason.
I went into the kitchen after discussing the bills/finances with my wife. I've been stressing a little bit about money this month and especially so today. Well, I went into the kitchen and saw a spider on the pantry door and laughed to myself "Well that will keep Quinn away from the pantry!"
Then I thought "How mean...what kind of father would I be to give my son a spider when he asked for a cookie."
Whoa. Matthew 7:11 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
God is never late with provision, and when I ask my heavenly Father for the things I need, He will not give me a spider instead. And when I get down and whiny, He uses funny things like my son's love of cookies and fear of spiders to remind me of His goodness.
My son Quinn is obsessed with cookies. He is forever going to the pantry and asking "Cookie? Cookie?"
Quinn is also terrified of spiders for some reason.
I went into the kitchen after discussing the bills/finances with my wife. I've been stressing a little bit about money this month and especially so today. Well, I went into the kitchen and saw a spider on the pantry door and laughed to myself "Well that will keep Quinn away from the pantry!"
Then I thought "How mean...what kind of father would I be to give my son a spider when he asked for a cookie."
Whoa. Matthew 7:11 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
God is never late with provision, and when I ask my heavenly Father for the things I need, He will not give me a spider instead. And when I get down and whiny, He uses funny things like my son's love of cookies and fear of spiders to remind me of His goodness.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Christians are free from the Old Testament law.
Galatians 3:10 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."
If you obey "some" of the Old Testament laws, then you are cursed because you are not continuing in "all things." You cannot pick and choose which Old Testament laws to abide by. Paul is saying in Galatians 3 that you either obey ALL of the law OR that you walk by faith. Faith in what? Faith in Christ and his redemptive work; freeing us from the “law of sin and death” (See Romans 8:2). You have to choose what saves you: the law or Christ. And Paul points out in this 3rd chapter of Galatians that the law CANNOT save, only Christ. Galatians 3:11 "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."
I have recently read someone saying that Matthew 5:17-18 still binds us to the and that we must follow “some” of the laws. That is incorrect. Jesus said in verse 17 that he came to fulfill the law. He fulfilled the law by living a sinless life and dying onCalvary . So the law was fulfilled. Jesus goes on to say in verse 18 "one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, TILL all be fulfilled." So you have to decide for yourself: either Jesus failed to fulfill the law and we are still bound by it OR, Jesus fulfilled the law and the jots and tittles no longer hold us captive.
Galatians 3:24-25 says "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." The LAW brought us to Christ by showing us our sinful nature and revealing to us our need for a Savior: it showed us our flaws and that we couldn't attain righteousness by our WORKS (i.e. the keeping of the law, because no man but Christ CAN successfully keep all the law). But AFTER that faith is come WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SCHOOLMASTER. In verse 24, Paul calls the law our schoolmaster. In verse 25, he says we are no longer under the schoolmaster. Now, if he calls the law our schoolmaster and says we are no longer under the schoolmaster, that would mean that Paul is saying in verses 24 and 25 that we are no longer under the law.
Galatians 2:16 says "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Jesus came and fulfilled the law so that we do not have to. Paul said in Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
If Paul the Apostle were to sit in front of some people today and tell them face-to-face all he told the Galatians, he’d be called a heretic; people would be warned about his “deception” and told to ignore his false teachings; he’d be accused of twisting scripture (although he wrote a HUGE portion of it); and would be told he was going to hell. I know this because in teaching and preaching the same things Paul did, I have had all sorts of things said to me and about me. And, in all honesty, there will still be those who read this and say all these things about me again. There will be those who read this and boldly call me a heretic and a heathen and accuse me of twisting scripture to fit my world view and absolve my conscience from my sins. They will say I am a liar and am attempting to deceive others. They will throw their religious stones at me and make all kinds of wild accusations against me. But to those people, I would caution people to prayerfully evaluate your actions and motives, and prayerfully study the book of Galatians. I’m not proclaiming anything crazy; I’m proclaiming God’s word written by the Apostle Paul.
Galatians 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." We can infer from this verse that if we believe righteousness comes by the law, then we frustrate the grace of God. Paul wrote the the in Galatians 1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) 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. (9) 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." According to Paul's letter to the Galatians, the gospel of "the law" is a perversion of the gospel of Christ, and any man that preaches that you must follow the Old Testament law to attain righteousness is cursed. Those are Paul’s words, not mine. So I would caution you to be very careful in who you listen to, what you believe, and to study this subject for yourself. 2 Timothy 2:15 says “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
If you obey "some" of the Old Testament laws, then you are cursed because you are not continuing in "all things." You cannot pick and choose which Old Testament laws to abide by. Paul is saying in Galatians 3 that you either obey ALL of the law OR that you walk by faith. Faith in what? Faith in Christ and his redemptive work; freeing us from the “law of sin and death” (See Romans 8:2). You have to choose what saves you: the law or Christ. And Paul points out in this 3rd chapter of Galatians that the law CANNOT save, only Christ. Galatians 3:11 "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."
I have recently read someone saying that Matthew 5:17-18 still binds us to the and that we must follow “some” of the laws. That is incorrect. Jesus said in verse 17 that he came to fulfill the law. He fulfilled the law by living a sinless life and dying on
Galatians 3:24-25 says "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." The LAW brought us to Christ by showing us our sinful nature and revealing to us our need for a Savior: it showed us our flaws and that we couldn't attain righteousness by our WORKS (i.e. the keeping of the law, because no man but Christ CAN successfully keep all the law). But AFTER that faith is come WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SCHOOLMASTER. In verse 24, Paul calls the law our schoolmaster. In verse 25, he says we are no longer under the schoolmaster. Now, if he calls the law our schoolmaster and says we are no longer under the schoolmaster, that would mean that Paul is saying in verses 24 and 25 that we are no longer under the law.
Galatians 2:16 says "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Jesus came and fulfilled the law so that we do not have to. Paul said in Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
If Paul the Apostle were to sit in front of some people today and tell them face-to-face all he told the Galatians, he’d be called a heretic; people would be warned about his “deception” and told to ignore his false teachings; he’d be accused of twisting scripture (although he wrote a HUGE portion of it); and would be told he was going to hell. I know this because in teaching and preaching the same things Paul did, I have had all sorts of things said to me and about me. And, in all honesty, there will still be those who read this and say all these things about me again. There will be those who read this and boldly call me a heretic and a heathen and accuse me of twisting scripture to fit my world view and absolve my conscience from my sins. They will say I am a liar and am attempting to deceive others. They will throw their religious stones at me and make all kinds of wild accusations against me. But to those people, I would caution people to prayerfully evaluate your actions and motives, and prayerfully study the book of Galatians. I’m not proclaiming anything crazy; I’m proclaiming God’s word written by the Apostle Paul.
Galatians 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." We can infer from this verse that if we believe righteousness comes by the law, then we frustrate the grace of God. Paul wrote the the in Galatians 1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) 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. (9) 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." According to Paul's letter to the Galatians, the gospel of "the law" is a perversion of the gospel of Christ, and any man that preaches that you must follow the Old Testament law to attain righteousness is cursed. Those are Paul’s words, not mine. So I would caution you to be very careful in who you listen to, what you believe, and to study this subject for yourself. 2 Timothy 2:15 says “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
Here is where I think a lot of Christians have trouble; they are afraid that if they “compromise” the beliefs they’ve always held, then they’ve somehow sold-out or fallen away. But that is not the case. Saul of Tarsus walked in all the righteousness he knew, standing up for what he believed in to the point that he was to Christians of that day what Adolf Hitler was to the Jews. But Saul, in all the understanding he had, was doing the right thing. UNTIL God met him on the
But the thing is, Paul had to make a choice: continue on in his ignorance in spite of having the truth revealed to him, OR follow Christ. And I think all Christians have at some point come to a crossroads like this; where we must decide to change our incorrect beliefs to align with the Word of God or remain in ignorance and continue in incorrect thinking.
If I’m driving down the road, and I don’t know the speed limit, does that mean there isn’t one? No, of course there is a speed limit. If I believe the speed limit is 55MPH, but I see a sign that says 45MPH I have a choice to make: do I continue doing 55MPH or do I follow the sign and do 45MPH? Am I compromising or selling out by doing 45 instead of 55? Of course not…I just have a new understanding of the speed limit on that road. I was always following a speed limit, but I wasn’t following the correct one because I didn’t know. But once it was made known to me, I had to decide if I was going to obey or not.
And you, dear reader, are faced with the same choice today. The law, according to God’s word, cannot save you. It was given to reveal to us our sin nature and show us our need for a Savior. But once the Savior came, we were freed from the law of sin and death. And so you must make a choice; align your beliefs with the word of God, penned by the hand of Paul the Apostle all throughout the New Testament, or believe that righteousness is still attainable through the law and that we must still abide by it. But again, examine Galatians 3:10. If you fail to follow ALL of it, you are under a curse. I suppose I could say it like this; I set before you today a choice. Life or death. Freedom or bondage. Choose life.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Guest Blog - Gary White
Here is a guest-article written by my dad, Pastor Gary White. He was asked the question "Have you ever doubted God's existence." I thought both his personal answer and his teaching outline were excellent and needed to be shared. So...here goes. "Pastor Gary, have you ever doubted God's existence."
________________________________
1. “Have I ever doubted God's existence?”
Answer: I think if we are all honest with our selves the answer to that question has to be YES. In fact I think the first mention of the devil in scripture proves that he is out to attack our faith. You will remember in Genesis Satan said to Eve “hath God said”? His tactic was to cause her to question what she believed to be truth. The reason he wants to destroy our faith or belief in God is that He knows that faith is the prerequisite to having any relationship with God. (Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.) However when I stop to consider even the world around me I conclude that there must be an almighty. Consider this, order never comes from chaos unless there is some kind of outside intervention. A Rolex watch that keeps perfect time even if the parts were all in one place would never function without the watchmaker. Scientists would have us to believe that the earth evolved, or there was a big bang and from chaos came to what we know today. An earth that is so precise in its rotation, an earth that sits on its axes with such perfection that it will sustain human life. If the earth were tilted more than 3 degrees one way we would all burn up and if it tilted more than 3 degrees the other way we would all freeze. To me that kind of order would require some out side intervention, a divine creator. For me personally it would take more faith to believe that things just evolved than to believe that someone, a creator intervened and made what we behold everyday.
2. “Have I ever doubted what I believe?”
Answer: Now as for doubting what I believe. When I was a child I certainly did not know the things that I have learned as I matured and became an adult. In fact I find myself (praise God) learning everyday. Truth never changes but our perception of the truth must change. When I came to Christ I was a “babe in the Lord” and as I have matured in Christ my understanding of certain doctrines has changed as well because my revelation has grown. The truth was always there but my understanding of the truth was unclear or at times only partial. I think many Christians face the struggle sometimes of holding to what they have been taught or allowing themselves to change because of a greater understanding or because of a revelation that they never fully understood. In example (Paul on the road to Damascus thinking that he is doing God a favor killing the Christians. However he soon found himself with a new revelation of who Jesus was. Faced with this new understanding Paul had two choices. Keep killing Christians or rethink his position:) In my life and my walk with Christ I have questioned at times what I believe and asked myself why I believe it. And there have certainly been times that I too have rethought my position and made changes in my belief because I came to a greater understanding. I believe that’s called growth.
3. How did I overcome doubts?
Answer: Jesus said in John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. And again in John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. From this we may conclude that not only will truth make you free but that truth is His word. And the more word I know and understand the freer from doubts and uncertainties I become. Truth in its self will not free you, but the truth that you know or the truth that you understand, that’s what makes you free. I am attaching a teaching lesson that I taught a few years ago concerning God’s word. What He has said and how it came to pass. I believe that they are proof that God is who he says he is. These things that are pointed out could not have happened by mere coincidence. Again there had to be some outside intervention and the more I understand his word the more convinced that I am of His eternal power and glory.
I pray that in some small way this has helped. If you would like to visit further on the subject I would be happy to make myself available anytime. May God bless,
Pastor Gary
Prophesy, The Signature Of God!
Teaching Lesson:
Text: Isaiah 41:22-26 & 46:8-10
Introduction: In their context, the scriptures are referring to Cyrus the King of Persia. The prophecies are referring to the time God would cause King Cyrus to allow the Children of Israel to go back to Jerusalem & rebuild the city. You will read of the fulfillment of these prophecies in the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah. However this is not the points that I intend to focus on. What I intend to concentrate on is the fact that God tells us here, that the way we will know that He is God, and the way we will know that there is none like Him, is the fact that He has declared the end from the beginning. Meaning that the Prophecies that have been spoken and fulfilled are Proof that He is the great I am God. God says, “They are my signature”. There are well, over 6000 verses of prophecy in the scripture that prove to the world & us that God & His word is truth. There are many prophecies that have been fulfilled, while there are others that are being fulfilled in our day & time, and still others that are yet to be fulfilled in the days to come. I want to study just some of the Prophecies that God spoke about Christ. Some of the Prophecies that we are about to look into were spoken nearly 2000 years before His birth, & yet fulfilled with such accuracy that it proves that only A Divine, all knowing all powerful God.
Consider:
Descendant From The Tribe Of Judah: Gen: 49:10 Luke 3:23 & 33
The Place Of His Birth: Micah 5:2 Mt. 2:1
Born Of A Virgin: Isaiah 7:14 Mt. 1:18, Luke 1:26-35
As A Prophet: De. 18:15 John 6:14
His Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem: Zec. 9:9 Mt. 21:1-11 & John12: 13-14
Betrayed By A Friend: Ps. 41:9 Mk. 14:43-45
Sold For Thirty Pieces Of Silver: Zec. 11:12-13 Mt. 26:14-16
Money Returned For a Potters Field. Zec. 11:13 <> Mt. 27:3-10
Silent When Accused: Isaiah 53:7 Mt 27:12-14
Crucified With Sinners: Isaiah 53:12 Mk 15:27-28
Given Gall and Vinegar: Ps. 69:21 John 19:28-30
Soldiers casting Lots for His Garments: Ps. 22:16-18 Mk 15:24 & John 19:23-24
To Be Buried with The Rich: Isaiah 53:9 Mt. 27:57-60
Not A Bone To be Broken: Ex.12: 46 & Ps. 34:20 John 19:31-37
15. Hands and Feet Pierced: Ps. 22:16 John 20:24-31
Time does not permit to tell you all of the Prophecies That was fulfilled in the life of Christ, but this should be enough proof to convince even the most hardcore skeptic. Just think, theses things were spoken thousands of years before His birth. No man could know suck things. No man if he knew them could bring them to pass. God says this is the proof that I am God & there is none like me.
Final Thought: If these things have come to pass with such great accuracy, we must remember that He has promised to return to receive us unto himself. John 14:1-3
________________________________
1. “Have I ever doubted God's existence?”
Answer: I think if we are all honest with our selves the answer to that question has to be YES. In fact I think the first mention of the devil in scripture proves that he is out to attack our faith. You will remember in Genesis Satan said to Eve “hath God said”? His tactic was to cause her to question what she believed to be truth. The reason he wants to destroy our faith or belief in God is that He knows that faith is the prerequisite to having any relationship with God. (Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.) However when I stop to consider even the world around me I conclude that there must be an almighty. Consider this, order never comes from chaos unless there is some kind of outside intervention. A Rolex watch that keeps perfect time even if the parts were all in one place would never function without the watchmaker. Scientists would have us to believe that the earth evolved, or there was a big bang and from chaos came to what we know today. An earth that is so precise in its rotation, an earth that sits on its axes with such perfection that it will sustain human life. If the earth were tilted more than 3 degrees one way we would all burn up and if it tilted more than 3 degrees the other way we would all freeze. To me that kind of order would require some out side intervention, a divine creator. For me personally it would take more faith to believe that things just evolved than to believe that someone, a creator intervened and made what we behold everyday.
2. “Have I ever doubted what I believe?”
Answer: Now as for doubting what I believe. When I was a child I certainly did not know the things that I have learned as I matured and became an adult. In fact I find myself (praise God) learning everyday. Truth never changes but our perception of the truth must change. When I came to Christ I was a “babe in the Lord” and as I have matured in Christ my understanding of certain doctrines has changed as well because my revelation has grown. The truth was always there but my understanding of the truth was unclear or at times only partial. I think many Christians face the struggle sometimes of holding to what they have been taught or allowing themselves to change because of a greater understanding or because of a revelation that they never fully understood. In example (Paul on the road to Damascus thinking that he is doing God a favor killing the Christians. However he soon found himself with a new revelation of who Jesus was. Faced with this new understanding Paul had two choices. Keep killing Christians or rethink his position:) In my life and my walk with Christ I have questioned at times what I believe and asked myself why I believe it. And there have certainly been times that I too have rethought my position and made changes in my belief because I came to a greater understanding. I believe that’s called growth.
3. How did I overcome doubts?
Answer: Jesus said in John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. And again in John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. From this we may conclude that not only will truth make you free but that truth is His word. And the more word I know and understand the freer from doubts and uncertainties I become. Truth in its self will not free you, but the truth that you know or the truth that you understand, that’s what makes you free. I am attaching a teaching lesson that I taught a few years ago concerning God’s word. What He has said and how it came to pass. I believe that they are proof that God is who he says he is. These things that are pointed out could not have happened by mere coincidence. Again there had to be some outside intervention and the more I understand his word the more convinced that I am of His eternal power and glory.
I pray that in some small way this has helped. If you would like to visit further on the subject I would be happy to make myself available anytime. May God bless,
Pastor Gary
Prophesy, The Signature Of God!
Teaching Lesson:
Text: Isaiah 41:22-26 & 46:8-10
Introduction: In their context, the scriptures are referring to Cyrus the King of Persia. The prophecies are referring to the time God would cause King Cyrus to allow the Children of Israel to go back to Jerusalem & rebuild the city. You will read of the fulfillment of these prophecies in the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah. However this is not the points that I intend to focus on. What I intend to concentrate on is the fact that God tells us here, that the way we will know that He is God, and the way we will know that there is none like Him, is the fact that He has declared the end from the beginning. Meaning that the Prophecies that have been spoken and fulfilled are Proof that He is the great I am God. God says, “They are my signature”. There are well, over 6000 verses of prophecy in the scripture that prove to the world & us that God & His word is truth. There are many prophecies that have been fulfilled, while there are others that are being fulfilled in our day & time, and still others that are yet to be fulfilled in the days to come. I want to study just some of the Prophecies that God spoke about Christ. Some of the Prophecies that we are about to look into were spoken nearly 2000 years before His birth, & yet fulfilled with such accuracy that it proves that only A Divine, all knowing all powerful God.
Consider:
Descendant From The Tribe Of Judah: Gen: 49:10
The Place Of His Birth: Micah 5:2
Born Of A Virgin: Isaiah 7:14
As A Prophet: De. 18:15
His Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem: Zec. 9:9
Betrayed By A Friend: Ps. 41:9
Sold For Thirty Pieces Of Silver: Zec. 11:12-13
Money Returned For a Potters Field. Zec. 11:13 <> Mt. 27:3-10
Silent When Accused: Isaiah 53:7
Crucified With Sinners: Isaiah 53:12
Given Gall and Vinegar: Ps. 69:21
Soldiers casting Lots for His Garments: Ps. 22:16-18
To Be Buried with The Rich: Isaiah 53:9
Not A Bone To be Broken: Ex.12: 46 & Ps. 34:20
15. Hands and Feet Pierced: Ps. 22:16
Time does not permit to tell you all of the Prophecies That was fulfilled in the life of Christ, but this should be enough proof to convince even the most hardcore skeptic. Just think, theses things were spoken thousands of years before His birth. No man could know suck things. No man if he knew them could bring them to pass. God says this is the proof that I am God & there is none like me.
Final Thought: If these things have come to pass with such great accuracy, we must remember that He has promised to return to receive us unto himself. John 14:1-3
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Blessing
Matthew 5:3 - 11
Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
I heard an awesome sermon on the radio on my way to work this morning. The minister was talking about God's blessing, and how the term "blessing" has been hijacked by secular society and how God's own people often don't even understand it.
The word "blessed" Jesus used here in Greek is "makarios." The word "makarios" came from the name of the island of Cyprus in ancient Greece. Because Cyprus had perfect climate and fertile soils, the ancient Greeks believed anybody living on the island had it made in the shade; all the resources needed for a happy, content, prosperous life was on the island. It was self-contained.
As I heard that part, I said to myself "Oh! I see where he's going! That's deep!" Just because you have all your bills paid and there's money in the bank and the Benz is in the garage doesn't mean you are blessed. Conversely, just because you're going through a trial, a time of setbacks and heartaches doesn't mean that you are not blessed.
Are you ready? Here's the big revelation. God's blessing is self-contained happyness, unaffected by your situation. You can be a multi-millionairre and be miserable. You can be homeless and be happy. It's not about where you are financially or materialistically, but where you are spiritually. Blessing is the peace that passes all understanding; the peace that says "I should be terrified and miserable, but God has given me happyness." Blessing is the joy of the Lord, which is our strength. God's blessing has nothing to do with circumstances, but everything to do with your heart.
Cool, huh?
Cheers and God bless!
Hoss
Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
I heard an awesome sermon on the radio on my way to work this morning. The minister was talking about God's blessing, and how the term "blessing" has been hijacked by secular society and how God's own people often don't even understand it.
The word "blessed" Jesus used here in Greek is "makarios." The word "makarios" came from the name of the island of Cyprus in ancient Greece. Because Cyprus had perfect climate and fertile soils, the ancient Greeks believed anybody living on the island had it made in the shade; all the resources needed for a happy, content, prosperous life was on the island. It was self-contained.
As I heard that part, I said to myself "Oh! I see where he's going! That's deep!" Just because you have all your bills paid and there's money in the bank and the Benz is in the garage doesn't mean you are blessed. Conversely, just because you're going through a trial, a time of setbacks and heartaches doesn't mean that you are not blessed.
Are you ready? Here's the big revelation. God's blessing is self-contained happyness, unaffected by your situation. You can be a multi-millionairre and be miserable. You can be homeless and be happy. It's not about where you are financially or materialistically, but where you are spiritually. Blessing is the peace that passes all understanding; the peace that says "I should be terrified and miserable, but God has given me happyness." Blessing is the joy of the Lord, which is our strength. God's blessing has nothing to do with circumstances, but everything to do with your heart.
Cool, huh?
Cheers and God bless!
Hoss
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