Category: Bible Teaching
Categories
The Miraculous Word
Text: Acts 10:34-48
(34) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
(35) But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
(36) The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
(37) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
(38) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
(39) And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
(40) Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
(41) Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
(42) And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
(43) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
(44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
(45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
(47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
(48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
The Miraculous Word
Bishop Harper made a statement, while teaching the Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class, that has remained on my mind and that I am going to teach on tonight. He said,
The secret of the followers of Jesus is that that they brought to Jesus the sick, the lame and the bound. Then those people were healed and delivered. This is also the secret of the church – bring them to Jesus.[1]
It is still true that word of mouth will either grow or destroy a business.
Not too long one of my favorite local restaurants failed their Cabell-Huntington Health Department restaurant inspections.
Their priority violations, reported in the Herald-Dispatch[2] and on social media, listed that they were “associated with foodborne illness.”[3]
Now, I’m not going to get into what all that means, but I definitely have not been back.
In fact, they corrected all the violations quickly, but still, I have not been back.
That negative report is stuck in my mind.
I’ve been needing a pair of shoes that give good foot and ankle support.
My wife heard about a particular brand of shoes that everyone is raving about, and she, being the wonderful wife she is took me out on Friday night and bought me a pair.
And, now, I’m telling you, those shoes are fantastic.
It’s the same thing in the Church, we tend to focus on the negative or positive reports that are broadcast about a local house of worship.
I’d like to say that every congregation, every pastor, every saint receives rave reviews.
I’d like to believe that I personally have never acted in some way that would result in a failed spiritual inspection.
We all, I’m sure, want to be the first place people in the tristate think about when they need a safe place to heal, hear the Word, be loved, trust and to find victory.
How did the fame of Jesus spread? There was no television, internet, radio. It was word-of-mouth:
Matthew 4:24, “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”
It is noteworthy that the people who heard about Jesus brought the needy to Him to receive their deliverance:
Mark 1:32-34, “And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.”
Acts 10:34-48, “….(38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him….”
Yes, but how does this message to Cornelius begin?
Acts 10:34-35, “ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said [here comes the miraculous word], Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
He is telling the Good News of Jesus Christ to people who are hungry and in need.
The result is a miraculous display of God’s salvation.
Maybe you went to school when they still required you to memorize that great poem The New Colossus, written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 and placed at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty:[4]
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!“
Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”[5]
We, the Church, are to go and share The Miraculous Word of the Gospel, and when we do…when we bring them to Jesus…they are healed, delivered, saved, reborn and renewed.
You see The Miraculous Word is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church needs to be out in the open broadcasting The Miraculous Word:
In his book, The Every Day Church, Missionary Allan Calhoun writes, “We Belong in the Open.”[6]
Mark 16:15-20 (KJV), “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
The focus of our understanding of these scriptures is based on two parts: “these signs” and “believe”. Because “I believe,” “these signs” should be demonstrated in the Church. I believe, so where are the miracles?
Two other phrases in this passage are often entirely missed: “go ye” and “follow them.” It is a physical impossibility to “follow” something that is stationary.
Considering myself a believer is not enough to release the ministry of the miraculous; the catalyst that releases the potential is “go ye.”
The Miraculous Word was shared by the early Church and the same miracles – even greater works – of Jesus continued through apostles. The Acts of the Holy Ghost working through the Apostles, Acts 5:12-16:
(12) And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
(13) And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
(14) And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
(15) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
(16) There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
If you want to see that response in our day, then you who believe need to go and share The Miraculous Word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and you’ll witness what they witnessed.
[1] Edwin S. Harper. “Authority to Forgive” paraphrase. Sunday, June 4, 2023, 10:00 AM, ALC.
[2] Herald-Dispatch. (9/11/2022). Cabell County restaurant inspections. Accessed: https://www.herald-dispatch.com/features_entertainment/cabell-county-restaurant-inspections/article_f2eb2a07-d8fa-5e22-b5e4-b351997cf6a2.html
[3] Ibid.
[4] Emma Lazarus. (11/2/1883). The New Colossus. Accessed: https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/colossus.htm
[5] Mathew 11:28
[6] Allan Calhoun (2011). TheEvery Day Church. Self-published. p. 44-46
Categories
Battle Ready
Categories
Reporters at the Gate
It is a breath of fresh air then you read a positive news report.
In ancient times, the city gate was the busiest place in the city:[1]
A place where the social, business, and legal interaction of the city took place
Where the Torah was read and proclamations were declared
Where justice was served
News exchanged and discussed
Local gossip spread
2 Samuel 15:1-6 (KJV)
(1) And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. (2) And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. (3) And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. (4) Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! (5) And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. (6) And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:1-6 (NET)
(1) Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. (2) Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.” (3) Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” (4) Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.” (5) When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. (6) Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.
Markets and trading centers flourished in certain gates in the city:
Nehemiah 3:1, “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.”
Nehemiah 3:3, “But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.”
It was at the gates where prophets and priests delivered God’s admonitions and Divine pronouncements
Sovereign attention was attracted at the gate, because “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”[2]
The most vulnerable place in the walls surrounding a city were the gates, which were well-guarded and designed to deter enemy soldiers.
Such a place of distinction would also be a place where any “new arrivals” would be seen, noticed and counted.
It was an honor for an elder to be chosen to sit at the gate of the city and viewed as a place of authority.
Lot, somehow, was an elder at the gate of Sodom where he was vexed with the wickedness of that city and his own compromises made there:
“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;”[3]
Though vexed and compromised, Lot still had enough in him to recognize the angels of the Lord.
Those same angels were the means of Lot’s salvation from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorroh:
Peter tells us how that God “delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:”[4]
But the damage was done: his wife was dead and his two daughters, overcome by their situation reverted to what Sodom had taught them.
The Gate Signifies Authority[5]
- The gate represents a place of authority
- To “possess the gates” meant one possessed the city
- Jesus spoke of the “gates of Hell” (Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”)
- While we may not be privy to the dark counsels of Hell was have no worries when we have the Rock – Jesus Christ.
- We are on a missional journey and Hell Cannot Stop the Church.
- “To be within the gates” meant to be under the authority of the elders of the city presiding in the gates
- Deuteronomy 15:7, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
The gates are a place where plans are made, tactics designed, strategies implemented, and counsel sought.
Absalom understood the importance of the gate and exploited that knowledge to turn the heart of the people from King David with an Evil Report.
It is the Evil Report, spread at your gate and attended to by you that defiles you.
Defile = to make profane, call common, defile, pollute, dirty, or unclean.
Jacob spoke of the “gate of Heaven” (Genesis 28:17, “And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”)
He called that place Bethel – the house of God.
You are Bethel today – You are the House of God and you have gates of access that to need to be well guarded.
Isaiah 33:15-17
(15) He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
If you Shun the Evil Report
(16) He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
(17) Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Your ears, eyes and mouth are gates to either shun or share evil reports.
Your ear is a gate and listening to an evil report can defile you.
Evil Report: Distortion of Facts – Incomplete Facts – False Information
The wrongful motivation of an evil report causes the hearer to be defiled by drawing wrong conclusions based on that report.
Mat 15:17-20, “(17) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? (18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
Dr. Joe Nelson of Parkersburg Bible College listed various ways an evil reporter operates:
- A Whisperer – one who secretly passes an evil report:
- Psalms 41:7, “All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.”
- A Gossip (rumor) – magnifies and sensationalizes rumors of partial information:
- Ezekiel 7:26, “Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
- A Slanderer – One who speaks to destroy credibility by using evil facts:
- Numbers 14:36-37, “(36) And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, (37) Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
- A Busybody – one who digs up evil reports and information with the express purpose of spreading them by any of the three methods above:
- 1 Peter 4:15, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”
Nelson taught that an evil report is motivated by:
- Bitterness – reacting because of personal hurts
- Rebellion – justifying an independent spirit
- Deception – believing that the evil report is one’s “right” to give
- Pride – wanting to exalt self
- Guilt – justifying past actions or attitudes
- Envy – desiring what others have (jealousy)
Evil Reporters often think that they are getting by: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).
5 QUESTIONS THAT WILL UNCOVER AN EVIL REPORT (DR. JOE NELSON):
- WHAT IS YOUR REASON FOR TELLING ME THIS?
- WHERE DID YOU GET THE INFORMATION?
- HAVE YOU GONE DIRECTLY TO THOSE INVOLVED?
- HAVE YOU PERSONALLY CHECKED OUT ALL THE FACTS?
- CAN I QUOTE YOU IF I CHECK THIS OUT?
Defilement takes place when you receive an evil report and believe it to be true.
Our True Spiritual Battle is not with people, but with spirits that motivate people.
Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Spirits of lust, deceit, envy, rebellion, perversion, jealousy, pride…
God has elected not to tell us about the plans of these evil rulers & authorities of the unseen world.
He has not given us a seat at their gate listening to their strategies and wicked plans.
But we see the result of these evil authorities.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
(6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
How?
Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
You get to choose what you allow into your gate, what you heed, hearken, obey.
[1] **See Notes from Dr. Nelson’s Class & Lesson “Defilement: Absalom’s Curse on 7-13-2010**
[2] Rom 13:1
[3] Genesis 19:1
[4] 2 Peter 2:7
[5] Clarence H. Wagner Jr., Guarding Your Gates
Categories
Victory
Text: Exodus 3:13-15
(13) And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
(14) And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
(15) And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Matthew 1:18-25
(18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
(19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
(20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
(21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
(22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
(23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
(24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
(25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
“To know” and “to understand” are different from one another.
Many know the name of Jesus,
But they don’t understand the greatness of the Name.
Name refers to the fame, authority, report, honor, character and record of God.
In the Hebrew the Name was known as far back as Moses.
It was not the articulation of the Name,
But what He who had the Name would do.
In this passage, the LORD established His eternal name as a record and a memorial with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Therefore, He was also their God as the children of those patriarchs.
The “I AM THAT I AM” is the progressive revelation of the name.
It simply means that Jehovah,
the Self-Existent One who exists all by Himself,
has no beginning or ending,
and needs no other to validate His existence.
He is to you what you let Him be to you.
So, when you understand that Name you find that the Lord is everything we need:
- He is our Salvation
- Genesis 49:18, “I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.”
- Psalm 3:8, “Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.”
- Isaiah 12:2-4, “(2) Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (3) Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (4) And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.”
- He is our Redeemer
- Isaiah 49:16, “…and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.”
- Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
- He is our Saviour
- Isaiah 43:11, “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
- Isaiah 63:8, “For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.”
- Luke 1:46-47, “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
This all deals with the work of God to deliver people from sin and harm by paying the price necessary for their deliverance.
This great salvation we have was bought with a price: 1 Peter 1:18-21
(18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
(19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
(20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
(21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
“…and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins.”
“This is my name forever” refers to God’s record and fame, his authority and character,
But when Gabriel spoke to Mary the name he told her to name the child was a proper name.
That name, the name of Jesus, held within it all the fullness of the record, fame, authority, character and honor of the I AM.
Colossians 2:9-10, “(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
You need to get a personal and continuing revelation of Jesus Christ.
His first responsibility was to “save His people from their sins.”
How? Immanuel = God with us.
The only way He can reveal to you the superiority of His name is through you daily experiences.
You will never understand how God works until you get to the place where you allow Him to work.
Then you will begin to understand His Name.
The name of Jesus is a continuous and increasing revelation of His greatness.
You may be struggling with you present circumstance and having a difficult time with the “why” of it.
It may be that this is what God wants for you right now so that He can reveal more of Himself to you.
God love you too much to allow you to stay static, stagnant, and motionless.
Now would be a good time to give Jesus the credit for all the good things in your life.
For example, “Thank you, Jesus, for keeping me free from sin all day long.”
The Lord has different ways that He reveals Himself to us continuously.
A prayer this morning: “Lord, I want a greater revelation about and of You.”
To say as Paul, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…” (Philippians 3:10).
Salvation has come to this house
Luke 19:1-10
(1) And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
(2) And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
(3) And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
(4) And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
(5) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
(6) And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
(7) And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
(8) And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
(9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
(10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Notice: Jesus is the salvation coming to Zacchaeus’ house
- V. 5 – Jesus said, “To day I must abide at thy house.”
- V. 9 – Jesus says, “This day is salvation come to this house…”
_______
Acts 4:12 – there is no other record, fame, authority whereby you must be saved.
You need a name change.
Your soul has not lived until you get a name change.
This can only take place when you are baptized in the only saving name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Moses changed Oshea’s name to Jehoshua.
Joshua had a job to do and his name was changed to fit his job.
Categories
Anchored In Hope
Text: Hebrews 6:13-20
(13) For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
(14) Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
(15) And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
(16) For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
(17) Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
(18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
(19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
(20) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hope, in the New Testament, is generally defined as “anticipation, expectation, confidence, faith.”[1]
However, in this passage it is best defined as that which we “have, hold, own, or possess.”[2]
Another way to view hope in our text today is “to hold one’s self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to.”[3]
George Beverly Shea wrote “In Times Like These,” and it contains these words:
In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
With all the uncertainty of our day, it is abundantly clear that we need something, or someone to hold on to.
Something, or someone, to cling to.
That Rock is Jesus, He is the one we anchor our hope upon.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
At some point everyone will have a testing of their faith.
When those tribulations come, you need to be anchored in Jesus.
You need to anchor into Jesus from several points.
Six anchor points are suggested when you moor a boat.[4]
We need multiple mooring/anchor points in our lives.
Approach truth from every angle.
You have scripture and an experience to match the Word of God.
Anchor points that help you to hold on to your faith.
Truth comes by revelation from the Word of God.
Reason is not the final authority, but God is the final authority.
Postmodernism = the idea that there is no absolute truth and what works for me “in the moment” is my truth, but it’s relative and may change at any time.
When you don’t have a personal experience with the Lord Jesus Christ all you have is theology.
Always choose the side of truth, righteousness, & holiness.
How we choose to obey and follow Jesus in our relationship with Him is key to a life of holiness.
When we don’t have a long term goal we often fall short ofour potential.
Live with an awareness of eternity.
What if Jesus were coming today.
Live for today and live for that Day when He comes for us.
Six Anchor Points
Hebrews 6:1-3, “(1) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit.”
Six Anchor Points:
- We must believe there is a God.
- Hebrews 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.”
- Jesus is the one true God manifest in the flesh to be our Savior.
- The Bible is the Word of God.
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “(16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
- We must believe, obey, and experience the New Birth.
- Faith, Repentance, Water Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ, and the Infilling of the Holy Ghost Speaking in Tongues.John 3:5-8, “(5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
- Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
- Life in the Spirit.
- Laying on of Hands = Operation of the Spirit and its Fruit and Gifts.
- Romans 8:12-15, “(12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
- Life of Holiness.
- Acts 2:40, “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
- How? Living a life of holiness.
- 1 Peter 1:13-16, “(13) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
- The Life to Come.
- Jesus is coming.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
If you feel adrift today then you need to go back and secure the lines of your hope and reattach your anchor on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Rock.
When you have made sure these six anchor points are secure, then you can weather any storm.
[1] Strong’s.
[2] Thayer’s
[3] Ibid.
[4] David K. Bernard, “Anchor Points (In Our Lives),” May 14, 2015
Categories
A Need for Seed
Genesis 1:11-12
(11) And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
(12) And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 3:15
(15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Galatians 3:16-29
(16) Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
(17) And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
(18) For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
(19) Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
(20) Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
(21) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
(22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
(23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
(24) 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.
(26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
(27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
(29) And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
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.
Romans 9:7, “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”
Luke 8:11-15
(11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
(12) Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
(13) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
(14) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
(15) But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Categories
A Time of Preparation
Esther experienced a time of preparation (purification) before she was introduced to the king and subsequently gained his love and was made queen:
Esther 2:2-18 (KJV), “(1) Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: (3) And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: (4) And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. (5) Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; (6) Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. (7) And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. (8) So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. (9) And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. (10) Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. (11) And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. (12) Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) (13) Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house. (14) In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. (15) Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. (16) So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. (17) And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (18) Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.”
This time of purification was a time of instruction and examining for these young ladies. They learned what their role was to be and how to act and please the king. It was more than just cleaning and preparing the body, but also the decorum and grace of the maiden.
Hadassah? Well, she excelled and her time of preparation resulted in great success.
The psalmist David wrote, “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”[1]
In this passage, when we read that God “trieth” it simply means that this is God’s way of “examining, scrutinizing, proving, and testing” the hearts of those who are His people.[2] These tests are for the sole purpose of preparing us for greater responsibility and spiritual growth.
The apostle Paul makes it quite clear that the process of being approved by God follows a particular process: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”[3]
As this process takes place we witness the varying degrees of preparation God places us in as they accomplish. Work out, and achieve God’s purpose for our lives.
So, what we think of as pressure, stress, or trial God uses as a means to bring about a patient, enduring, sustaining, perseverant, and steadfast quality to our Christian character. These times of preparation are purifying our motives and actions through the teaching of grace in our lives.
When this quality is part of our spiritual nature we have become God proven because our character has been tried and found worthy. This experience results in the establishment of hope in our lives, which is the “joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation” and the understanding that because I came through previous trials intact then I’ll make it through this one as well because God is with me.”[4]
This is why, when Esther, as queen, had to go before the King to deal with the threat of genocide her people faced because of Haman’s jealous treachery, she did to with complete faith and hope.
Esther was prepared beforehand “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:4). It likely never crossed her mind in her time of purification that she was actually being prepared to be more than a queen, she was being readied for a role of mediation and deliverance.
Right now you are being prepared through trial and tests and difficulties for a greater work than you can imagine. Let those tribulations purify and prepare you for your own God designed moment.
[1] Psalm 11:5
[2] Brown, Driver, Briggs and Gesenius. “Hebrew Lexicon entry for Bachan”. “The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon”. https://www.studylight.org/lexicons/eng/hebrew/974.html.
[3] Romans 5:1-5
[4] Thayer and Smith. “Greek Lexicon entry for Elpis”. “The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon”. https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/elpis.html.
Categories
Rahab’s Faith
Faith is a conviction or belief that one holds. To be convicted of something is to be convinced, and to have a belief is the “mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another.”[1]
Rahab showed her complete faith in the God of the Hebrews by her statement, “The LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”[2] This is why she could hide the two spies and then put out the red cord.
She did it in faith and because of this the scripture states, “And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”[3]
The action on Rahab’s part was a response to the fact that she was convinced of the omnipresence and complete deity of God because she believed that He was the only God of heaven and earth. This is why James wrote, “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”[4]
When we have faith, we will also have a response to that faith. Rahab’s response to her complete faith in Jehovah was in helping the spies. Thus, “…faith without works is dead.”[5]
[1] Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=belief.
[2] Joshua 2:9-11
[3] Joshua 6:25
[4] James 2:25
[5] James 2:20
The Pillar and Ground of Truth 