Author: skuntzman
Jesus Christ is my Savior and I have been born again (John 3:1-6; Acts 2:38). He gifted me with the love of my life, Anita. She blessed me with 2 awesome children, a brilliant daughter-in-law, and the 5 best grandkids in the world. Together, Anita and I are striving to introduce and bring people to a victorious life through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Categories
A Complete Work
John 5:2-9, 14
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath….14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Notice:
- Impotent = to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless, to be weak in means, needy, poor, sick.[1]
- The impotent folk waited for another to help them. They were looking for a Savior
- A certain man = we don’t know his name, whether he was married, what his infirmity was, or his age, only that he was in that infirm condition for 38 years.
- vs. 6, “Wilt thou be made whole?” = Other translations read:
- NASB, “Do you wish to get well?” – removes the importance of the word “whole”
- RSV/ESV, “Do you want to be healed?”
- NEB, “Do you want to recover?”
- The man’s restoration back to wholeness relied on his obedience to the command of the Lord.
- Whole = sound, of a man who is sound in body to make one whole (i.e. restore him to health), metaphorically: teaching which does not deviate from the truth.[2]
Consider the reality that many in our churches are:
- Religious, but not saved
- Churchy-fied, but not sanctified
- They holler, but are not holy
- Speak in tongues, but don’t allow the Holy Ghost to direct their lives
- Come to the altar, but don’t give their whole self to God
- Satisfied with less than purity, holiness, morality, complete transformation
Wilt thou be made whole?
Do you really want to be complete?
Are you really seeking God in every aspect of you life?
Have you truly tried to clean up all the deficits of your personality, nature, urges?
Have you really tried to present yourself to God as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Ro. 12:1)?
Are you really striving not to be “conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro. 12:2)?
Do you really want to stop doing what’s ungodly?
Do you really want to please God and obey His Word?
Do you want to be made whole?
Philippians 1:3-7, “(3) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, (4) Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, (5) For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; (6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (7) Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”
God is here to do A Complete Work in you…
[1] Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Astheneo. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.
[2] Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Hugies. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.
Categories
Standing Tall On Your Knees
Daniel 6:1-28
(1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
(2) And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
(3) Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
(4) Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
(5) Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
(6) Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
(7) All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
(8) Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(9) Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
(10) Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
(11) Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
(12) Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(13) Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
(14) Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
(15) Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
(16) Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
(17) And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
(18) Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
(19) Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
(20) And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
(21) Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
(22) My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
(23) Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
(24) And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
(25) Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
(26) I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
(27) He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
(28) So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Categories
Times Like This?
Esther 4:13-14, “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?“
Text: Hebrews 12:28-29, “(28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29) For our God is a consuming fire.”
Ancillary: 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “(6) Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (7) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
November 11, 1861: The burning of Guyandotte[1]
The Civil War hit home in the Cabell County town of Guyandotte on November 11, 1861. Union troops burned the town in retaliation over a raid pulled off the day before by Confederate cavalry.
Joe Geiger, who has written a book about the Civil War in Cabell County, says Guyandotte’s fate was the result of suspected collaboration with the Confederate raiders and the town’s secessionist reputation.
Geiger said, It’s not really clear exactly how many buildings were burnt. But practically the entire business section was burned and a number of houses as well.
It’s interesting to note Confederate sympathizers’ houses were not the only ones targeted. Many houses belonging to people of Union sympathies were burned as well.
In the fall of 1861, Guyandotte served as a hostile host to a Union recruit camp. The recruits weren’t able to put up much of a fight against the raiders. They were taken prisoner and forced to march to New Bern, Virginia.
According to Geiger, some of the animosity came about because of the march of the prisoners. It began at a full run. They were tied two-by-two with rope and were herded out of town. Apparently, quite a few of the Guyandotte secessionist women were dressed up with their aprons and were yelling at the prisoners and such. The march was very torturous…
The Wheeling Intelligencer newspaper called Guyandotte the “ornaryest place on the Ohio River” and said it ought to have been burned earlier.
That event is called
“The Burning of Guyandotte.”
I’m praying that another fresh fire will begin to burn in Guyandotte tonight and its flames will burn through the Tri-State.
One hundred years ago, In 1924, a Pioneer of the Pentecostal Movement, Lill Horton had a dream. She was in a Church full of stoves, but she was shivering with cold. So, she sought for an interpretation and this was what she received:
“There’s plenty of people (stoves) who need to have the fire of God kindled in them, but they do not have the Holy Ghost to kindle the fire. You need to go where the Holy Ghost fire is burning.”[2]
You are in a Church tonight where God’s fire and shekinah falls and fills the stoves of all who will willingly reach out to Him in faith, call out in repentance and praise Him with their whole heart.
Others in this room tonight have received the Holy Spirit of God, but you’ve allowed the flame to become a barely glowing ember.
You need to hear, heed, listen and obey Paul’s words to Timothy:
“(6) Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (7) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
It is absolutely necessary that you stir the embers and bring forth a fresh fire tonight.
For 100 years there has been a fire in Guyandotte.
It started in Guyandotte and that same Holy Ghost fire is here tonight.
This campus in located at 350 Staunton Street in the Guyndotte section of Huntington…
But this fire I’m preaching isn’t confined to any street of section.
“Our God Is A Consuming Fire”
The fire of the Holy Ghost crosses rivers and bridges
Social divisions, economic disparities, prejudicial thinking, generational gaps
The Holy Ghost fire I am talking about is a cord of flame uniting every Spirit-filled believer together in their faith and experience:
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
Our God is a consuming fire!
Look at our text: Hebrews 12:28-29, “(28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29) For our God is a consuming fire.”
This kingdom that began on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 (And when the day of Pentecost was fully come), placed in those 120 Holy Ghost divine power:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
This kingdom cannot be moved.
It is built and established on a Rock – The Lord Jesus Christ – and the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it.
A consuming fire?
God in Christ is a consuming fire. Our Lord Jesus is “full of grace and mercy, yet He will appear in great wrath to His enemies, who will not let Him reign over them.”[3]
There is a payday someday.
So, we worship Him with reverence – a humility recognizing our unworthiness, and Godly fear – a desire from our most tender area of faith and affection not to offend God.[4]
Why? Although we see Him in this present church age as a God of mild majesty, He still possesses the tremendous power He displayed at mount Sinai, and one day, maybe tonight, He will break forth as a consuming fire against all those who violate His law and despise his gospel.[5]
I used the fire pit last night while cleaning out my garage,
The fire was hot, bright and even singed hair on the back of my hand.
The smoke got all over my clothes, my skin, hair, and even nostrils were full of the smoke…the lasting residue of the fire.
Paul told us what lasting effect the Gift, the fire, of the Holy Ghost has on us:
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
- No Fear – no timidity, no cowardice, but boldness
- Power – a holy courage, dunamis, miraculous power, strength,
- “Power to encounter foes and dangers; power to bear up under trials; power to triumph in persecutions.”[6]
- Love – God & Man
- “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
- Sound Mind – To think clearly. Discretion. The Mind of Christ.
- Philippians 2:1-11, (1) If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[1] http://archive.wvculture.org/hiStory/timetrl/ttnov.html#1111. Accessed: 1/28/2024.
[2] Mary H. Wallace. (1981) Pioneer Pentecostal Women (Vol. I). Word Aflame Press. 119-120.
[3] Hebrews 12:29. John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Albert Barnes.
Categories
Communion
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
(23) 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:
(24) 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.
(25) 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.
(26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
“…this do in remembrance of me”
What is “this”? Communion
Communion is Partnership, Joint Participation, Distribution, Fellowship.[1] It is “an embodiment and proof of fellowship.”[2]
- “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
- 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
- The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Luke 22:14-20, “And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (16) For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (17) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: (18) For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (19) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
Notice:
- v. 15, “With desire I have desired” = I have been looking forward to this.
- v. 19, Jesus declared, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst….I am that bread of life.”[3]
- v. 20, The Old Testament began with shed blood, the New Testament began with shed blood.
- “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22).
- Blood shed for remission – forgiveness
Matthew 26:26-30, “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. (27) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (29) 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. (30) And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”
- Life is in the Blood = His Life was shed for many to forgive sins.
- v. 29, Future event
- v. 30, One reason I like hymns? Jesus and His Disciples sang them.
- Psalm 113-118 were the hymns/psalms which they sang/chanted in observance of Passover.
- Psalms 117:1-2, “(1) O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. (2) For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
- Psalm 113-118 were the hymns/psalms which they sang/chanted in observance of Passover.
Albert Barne’s Notes on the Bible (Matt. 26.26-30)
Jesus took bread – That is, the unleavened bread which they used at the celebration of the Passover, made into thin cakes, easily broken and distributed.
- 1 Corinthians 10:17, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
- Humility = unleavened bread (no sin, and not puffed up)
And blessed it – Or sought a blessing on it; or “gave thanks” to God for it. The word rendered “blessed” not unfrequently means “to give thanks.” Compare Luke 9:16 and John 6:11. It is also to be remarked that some manuscripts have the word rendered “gave thanks,” instead of the one translated “blessed.” It appears from the writings of Philo and the Rabbis that the Jews were never accustomed to eat without giving thanks to God and seeking his blessing. This was especially the case in both the bread and the wine used at the Passover.
- Jesus, the Messiah – Anointed One – blessed, or anointed, the bread.
- Are you thankful? The first step to thankfulness is thoughtfulness.
And brake it – This “breaking” of the bread represented the sufferings of Jesus about to take place – his body “broken” or wounded for sin. Hence, Paul 1 Cor. 11:24 adds, “This is my body which is broken for you;” that is, which is about to be broken for you by death, or wounded, pierced, bruised, to make atonement for your sins.
- His body was broken, suffered, wounded, bruised, broken, beaten, battered for our sins.
And gave it to the disciples – You are the beneficiary of a loving and giving God. There is no greed in Him.
- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- This Gospel is for anyone who is willing – “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
This is my body – This represents my body. This broken bread shows the manner in which my body will be broken; or this will serve to recall my dying sufferings to your remembrance.
For this is my blood – This “represents” my blood, as the bread does my body.
Luke and Paul vary the expression, adding what Matthew and Mark have omitted. “This cup is the new testament in my blood.”
Which is shed for many for the remission of sins – In order that sins may be remitted, or forgiven. That is, this is the appointed way by which God will pardon transgressions. That blood alone effectively pardons sin:
- Because it is “the life” of Jesus, the “blood” being used by the sacred writers as representing “life itself,” or as containing the elements of life, Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:14. It was forbidden, therefore, to eat blood, because it contained the life, or was the life, of the animal. When, therefore, Jesus says that his blood was shed for many, it is the same as saying that His life was given for many. See the notes at Rom. 3:25.
- His life was given for sinners, or he died in the place of sinners as their substitute. By his death on the cross, the death or punishment due to them in hell may be removed and their souls be saved. He endured so much suffering, bore so much agony, that God was pleased to accept it in the place of the eternal torments of all the redeemed.
2 Cor. 5:21, “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.”
Jesus was not just a substitutionary sin offering for you and I, and He certainly did not become a sinful person on the cross.
But, He became the Sin-Bearer for all of humanity: you, and I, and all that have lived, are living, and shall ever live.
“He has made Him to be sin for us!”
Love kept Jesus on the path to Calvary, love us individually, love for the world entirely, and love for His Bride completely (Revelation 1:4-8):
(4) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
(5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
(6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
(8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Matthew 26:29, “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.”
- There is a wedding day coming – The Marriage Supper of the Lamb – when Jesus will sit down with His Bride and drink the fruit of the vine again.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
- Isaiah 54:5, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”
- The Lord Jesus Christ is Your Creator and your Redeemer, and one day we – The Bride – will be called to a marriage and supper, Revelation 19:6-9:
(6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
This is why we obey the Lord’s ordinance of communion: every time we partake of communion we do so as a token of faith in His Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and in His Return for His Bride.
Romans 12:5, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
Communion = Partnership, Participation, Fellowship
1 Corinthians 10:16-18, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (17) For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (18) Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar.”
- We join in a partnership with one another each time we receive communion.
- It is a fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and fellowship with all participants of the Lord’s Supper.
- “…we being many are one bread…” = Publicly we are show that we are one with the Bread of Life and with every believer that has ever lived.
- The ordinance of communion reveals to us, and others, that we are part of the society called “The Body of Christ.”
- It is the proof of our fellowship.
- So, every time we participate in the fellowship of communion we partner in the Holy Spirit with Jesus, the twelve, and all those ever after.
- When you take communion you are not just sharing that moment with those physically present now, but you are also participating with all those who have gone on before and all those who choose to partner in communion in the future…until the Lord comes for His Bride, the Church, the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthinas 11:23-32
(23) 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: (24) 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. (25) 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.
In Remembrance of Me
(26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
- Past – Present – Future
- Throughout all ages since that first communion until now and into tomorrow…
(27) 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.
- Unworthily, not unworthy, means “irreverently,” or “in an unworthy manner.[4]
(28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Ephesians 2:4-7, “(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
- Heavenly Places…
Hebrews 12:1-2, “(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (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.”
1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
A word or two regarding: “…not discerning the Lord’s body.”
1 Corinthians 11:28-32, “(28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Paul’s Two Fears:
- False doctrine deceiving the church – 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, “…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
- Division in the Church – 2 Corinthians 12:20-21,”For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
- John 13:34-35, “(34) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Both are signs of a lack of love:
- No love for truth.
- No love for others
Both bring uncleanness to the Body and pervert it from within.
“…heap teachers having itchy ears…” – Echo chamber
Balaam said that Israel would destroy herself from within
Paul’s two fears for the church were not external enemies, but internal issues.
1 Peter 1:22-23, “(22) 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: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
[1] Communion. Koinonia (G2842). Strong’s & Thayer’s.
[2] Communion. Koinonia (G2842). Thayer’s.
[3] John 6:35, 48
[4] Unworthily. Anaxios (G371). Strong’s.
Episode: What is the Church? (12/16/2023): https://sites.libsyn.com/447441/encouragement/what-is-the-church
In this interview with Bishop Edwin S. Harper, ThD, he and Alan Hosch discuss the Biblical doctrine of the church and its place in our lives.
Categories
The Voice of Holiness
Text: Psalms 24:3-4
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
Psalms 15:1-5
(1) LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
(2) He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
(3) He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
(4) In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
(5) He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
The “hill of the Lord,” “His holy place,” “thy tabernacle,” and “thy holy hill,” all refer to the hill of Zion, or Mount Zion, which is where the Temple was built in Jerusalem.
It is a type and shadow of the Church. The Church is that body of Christ established in Acts 2, and the building Jesus built on top of the great mountain. So, we can also read the passage this way:
“Who shall ascend into the Church of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy Church? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
I want to draw your attention to that phrase: “nor sworn deceitfully,” and the flowing phrase found in Psalm 15, “speaketh truth in his heart.”
I am teaching tonight on this topic: The Voice of Holiness
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion [fellowship, partnership] hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(7:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Perfecting holiness is a lifelong process. There are no shortcuts.
Holiness is a continued work of sanctification, as the Holy Spirit of God perpetually prepares you for a holy purpose:
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
Holiness is an essential element of spiritual maturity and is measurable by our actions, thoughts, and speech in relation to what we know.
You are responsible for what you know, and that includes the principles related to holiness, which is why the satan want to keep you blind in order to keep you spiritually immature.
Spiritual maturity is measurable by your behavior and the habits that you develop according to your understanding of God’s Word and His principles.
Habits and conduct develop character. The spiritual character of Christ will not be formed in you if your conduct and habits are not developed in relationship to what is holy.
What you do reveals your true character.
For this reason, how you talk, your speech, is also an indicator of your spiritual maturity and holiness.
James 3:1-12
(1) My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
(2) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
(3) Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
(4) Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
(5) Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
(6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
(7) For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
(8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(11) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
(12) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
The Voice of Holiness
I remind you, “Holiness” means “a sacred place…dedicated thing…hallowed…holiness…holy…saint…sanctuary.”[1]
According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, in the New Testament, there are two words for holy and holiness and each is important to having a full understanding of the perpetual work of holiness working in your life as the Holy Spirit of God prepares you for a holy purpose”
- Hagiasmos – “Holiness, which in most cases is rendered sanctification. It means separation to God.”[2]
- Hagiosune – “Denotes the manifestation of the quality of holiness in personal conduct. This, along with His resurrection from the dead, is what marked Jesus as the Son of God. He was without sin.”[3]
Hear that again: Holiness is “the manifestation of the quality of holiness in personal conduct.”
This includes your voice. The conduct of your tongue.
This is why the late Bill Sciscoe defined holiness as “the amount of the character of Jesus Christ displayed in you, and we’re all at different levels” of spiritual maturity.
Pastor Fairburn reminded me today that in Judaism there is an entire area of teaching regarding the sin of speaking evil, which is known as Lashon Harah.[4]
Part of this teaching says that you need to be careful about passing judgment on other because inevitably you be tempted in the same thing that you verbally judged and spoke of someone else doing.
One Jewish teacher, Rabbi Mendel Kessin, says that “lashon harah (speaking evil) brings prosecution by Satan and shortens one’s life.”
If this is true, then is not only wise to guard your tongue when tempted to speak, or judge someone else, but it may be healthy for you to just be quiet.
“Discretion is your friend.”[5]
“(5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:5-6).
Proverbs 8:12, KJV, “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” ESV, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.”
Know when to speak and when not to speak.
The Voice of Holiness refuses to align itself with the devil by joining his prosecuting team as a fellow accuser of the brethren.
Revelation 12:10, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
Join the Advocate’s side: “(1) 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: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (John 2:1-2).
“God casts a vote for you, the devil casts against you, but you cast the deciding ballot.”[6]
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33).
Learn to be still…
Psalms 4:4, “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”
“…be still…” = “to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb”[7]
Try this: “Stop Talking!”
Study to be quiet…
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, “(9) But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (10) And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; (11) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; (12) That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”
To labour and strive[8] to keep still, to refrain from meddlesomeness or speech, hold peace.[9]
It is not easy, but practicing The Voice of Holiness is well worth the effort when you see how it pleases the Lord and brings His peace into the situation.
Romans 14:10-13
(10) But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (13) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Matthew 7:1-2, “(1) Judge not, that ye be not judged. (2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:37-38, “(37) Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (38) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
1 Corinthians 11:31-32, “(31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”
Matthew 12:34-37, “(34) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
Make sure that your speech today doesn’t judge you on the day of judgment.
1 Peter 3:8-12, “(8) Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (9) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (10) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: (11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (12) For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
Colossians 4:2-6, “(2) Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (3) 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: (4) That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (5) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (6) Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Living the principle of The Voice of Holiness will prepare for you an open door of utterance to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Consider this…
2 Peter 2:9-10
(9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. The word rendered “dignities” here, (δόξας doxas,) means properly honor, glory, splendor; then that which is fitted to inspire respect; that which is dignified or exalted. It is applied here to men of exalted rank; and the meaning is, that they did not regard rank, or station, or office – thus violating the plainest rules of propriety and of religion
[1] Strong’s. Brown-Driver-Briggs. H6918.
[2] PI. 8304 – Perfecting Holiness, Lesson 1 Notes
[3] Ibid.
[4] Aaron Fairburn. Notes from a series of text messages with him on 2/6/2024.
[5] Anita Kuntzman
[6] Elwood Fleming.
[7] Brown-Driver-Briggs. H1826.
[8] Strong’s. G5389.
[9] Strong’s. G2270.
Categories
The Humility of Holiness
The Humility of Holiness
Isaiah 6:1-8, “(1) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (2) Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (4) And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (6) Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (7) And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
Deuteronomy 17:12-13 “(12) And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. (13) And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.”
Exodus 21:14, “But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.”
Isaiah 57:15, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.“
