Sacred or Strange

Todays message is from Leviticus 9:22-10:3. Its a solemn warning against strange fire that pervades the evangelical church today. Enthusiasm and positive affirmation has replaced the divine visitation of the Holy Ghost in the midst of God's people. There is a right way to come to God and a wrong way. Please take the time to listen to this message. I trust it will challenge you and make you desire Gods sacred fire in your life and not settle for the false fire found in todays churches through profane music, humanistic philosophy and entertainment. Please click on the link to the right of this post.

Have a Drunken Christmas

The word Christmas comes from the Roman Catholic pagan observance of the Christ Mass. This pagan festival was not officially sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church until three and a half centuries after the birth of Christ. If this observance is so important and biblical why did it take 350 years to be recognized by church authority? Why is there no mention of Christs birth or Mary after the Gospels? Paul, Peter, James and Johns letters do not mention the observance of the birth of Christ or Mary the mother of Jesus. If observance of the advent of Christ is so important as the church behaves like it is today why did the New Testament epistles not mention it?

Pagan Origins of Christmas
When the gospel spread throughout the Roman empire people were converting from false pagan religions to the true and living God our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Over time abstinence from pagan practices became relaxed. New converts were bringing their pagan customs and traditions into the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote many of his letters to confront this damnable practice yet the church was giving little heed to Pauls writings.
The first mention of Christmas is not until the early 3rd century nearly 200 years after Christ and about 150 years after the last apostle died. There is no command in the scripture to observe Christ's birth and there is no example in the New Testament where the disciples observed His birth. Not until 4 generations after the apostle died is the first mention of it in church history. WHY?

I. Early Christians did not celebrate birthdays. It was considered pagan to observe birthdays.
In ancient cultures only the birthdays of “gods” were celebrated. The early Church Fathers condemned the observance of birthdays,
A. "...In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his [Jesus] birthday. It is only sinners who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world" - Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 Edition, published by the Roman Catholic Church
"Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts; Origen ... asserts (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday." The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1908, Volume III, "Christmas"
B. "Some one of those before us has observed what is written in Genesis about the birthday of Pharaoh, and has told that the worthless man who loves things connected with birth keeps birthday festivals; and we, taking this suggestion from him, find in no Scripture that a birthday was kept by a righteous man. " (Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol IX Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew Chapter XXII, p429)
C. “The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general.” (The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries; New York, 1848, Augustus Neander - translated by Henry John Rose, p. 190.)
D. ". . . none of the saints can be found who ever held a feast or a banquet upon his birthday, or rejoiced on the day when his son or daughter was born. But sinners rejoice and make merry on such days. For we find in the Old Testament that Pharaoh, king of Egypt, celebrated his birthday with a feast, and that Herod, in the New Testament did the same. But the saints not only neglect to mark the day of their birth with festivity, but also, filled with the Holy Spirit, they curse this day, after the example of Job and Jeremiah and David."Origen of Alexandria, in 245 A.D., a dissertation Leviticus
II. The celebration of a false pagan god is exactly what the “Christmas” season of giving, charity and merriment is all about.
A. The Winter Solstice
Mithras was the Persian pagan sun god that was popularized in Roman culture when Roman soldiers returned and brought this custom with them. December 21st the winter solstice is the birthday of the Sun god, Mithras. This observance was very popular in Roman culture and widely celebrated. Following this festival is another one that extends the celebration called Saturnalia.
B. Saturnalia was a week long festival of drinking, feasting, performing acts of charity and exchanging gifts. This was widely popular among Romans. The Catholic church is notorious for adopting pagan customs, traditions and even gods. A Catholic monsignor once asked me why I would not want to become a Catholic. When I told him its too pagan for me he candidly affirmed that Catholicism has much paganism in it. The birth of the Sun conveniently and is easily changed to the birth of the Son. However, if one looks closely at Roman Catholic icons you will notice the image of the Sun burst is scattered throughout Catholic imagery. The Whore of Babylon just can't give up its pagan gods.

III. Pagan Customs
A. Many of the traditional Christmas customs come right from the pagan celebration of Saturnalia. Christmas is often referred to as a season of giving and charity. Consider the popular Charles Dickens, Christmas Story. The theme evolves around the spirit of charity and the story is void of Christ. Have you ever asked yourself why non- Christians can enthusiastically involve themselves in this spirit of charity? Its because Jesus is NOT the reason for the season. During the Roman Feast of Saturnalia this charity was exhibited in role reversal. Masters would wait on their slaves, serve them food and drink and perform menial tasks for them. Gift exchange at Christmas time has nothing to do with the Magi and everything to do with this pagan religion. Feasting and drinking were a huge part of Saturnalia that is also expressed during Christmas
B. Have a drunken Christmas is the same as Merry Christmas
“Merry” is an old English word that basically means to celebrate something by getting drunk. The word “merry” is used 29 times in the Old and New Testament and the context of each usage involves drinking. The scripture does not mention that Joseph and Mary were drinking when Christ was born. Nor does it mention the shepherds or heavenly host making merry. I can think of no other time in common vernacular when the word “merry” is used except in association with the alleged observance of the birth of Christ. Associating drunkenness with the birth of Christ comes a bit close to blasphemy and yet Christians naively use this expression thinking they are honoring Christ.
C. “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.” Rev. 11: 10
I found this passage rather intriguing. The two prophets or witnesses of the Revelation are killed. People around the world exchange gifts and party.
Why are Christians exhorting others to get drunk in the alleged celebration of the birth of Christ?
IV. Three Reasons Christ was not born in December
A. The gospel of Luke tells us that shepherds were keeping watch at night. This is the most significant clue that Christ was not born in December. Shepherds stay in the fields only when lambs were being born in the Spring.
B. The census was a tax that everyone had to return to their place of birth and pay the tax. Joseph was from Bethlehem. People in those days walked every where. Travel could be very slow. Traveling during a cold rainy season would have made it very difficult for people to pay their taxes. The Romans wanted their money so they taxed people during seasons of the year that were good weather and comfortable for travel. December is NOT when the Romans would have taxed people in the land of Israel. It can snow in Bethlehem and Jerusalem in December.
C. As mentioned before Saturnalia was a widely popular festival in the Roman empire. While the Jews would not have celebrated this pagan holiday Roman soldiers and the many Roman citizens in Israel would have. Taxing people during Saturnalia would be unheard of. It would be like the IRS changing tax day from April 15th to December 24th.

As for all the other trappings of the Christ Mass I will not elaborate on wreaths, mistletoe or Santa only to say that elves are demons in German lore and the scriptures expressly condemn Christmas trees.
“Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” Jeremiah 10

The sad thing is that churches I have been affiliated with are typically non-conformist, separatist type churches and yet they enthusiastically embrace this Roman pagan heresy. Did you know that early Colonial America, for the most part, did not celebrate Christmas? Anglicans and Lutherans did but Presbyterians, Puritans, Baptists including Southern Baptists and Quakers did not. Jonathon Edwards and the Great Awakening of New England did not observe Christmas because they understood it as Catholic paganism.

So Christian, you need to ask yourself some serious questions. If celebrating the birth of Christ is so important then why do you celebrate it at a time of year when He obviously was not born? If the scriptures commanded us to celebrate His birth it would have been more explicit in detail as to what time of year this should happen.

Its no mistake or happenstance that the widespread Protestant observance of Christmas in America began at the same time biblical liberalism was creeping into the mainline denominational seminaries. The popularity of Christmas in America increased with the downfall of the church. If you want to observe a pagan festival just do it and leave Jesus out of it. By assigning the name of Christ to a pagan festival you are doing the same thing that the Hebrews did at Mt. Sinai when they worshiped the golden calf and called it Jehovah.

Scripture of the Day

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:23-27

The House of God

While studying for this series in Hebrews I come upon so many nuggets of truth its sometimes overwhelming. I mentioned the house of God in Hebrews 10:21 in the last message and feel we need to camp here for couple of messages. This message today will be the first of addressing the question, "what is the house of God".

Is the “house of God” and the “church” one and the same?

I. What does the word, "church" mean?

II. Not of this World

III. House of God, People or Place?

May the Lord bless you as you listen to the short message in the podcast link to the right.

Our Great High Priest

"Having an High Priest over the house of God" Hebrews 10:21

The faith of the Hebrew and Israelite looked forward to the future work of Christ. All of the Levitical laws, the commandments, the ritual in the tabernacle and even the furnishings in the tabernacle all represent Christ or His redemptive work to come. The faith of a true believer looks back and is founded upon the finished work of Christ. Without the work of Christ our faith looking back and the Hebrew faith that was looking forward is in vain. Faith in and of itself cannot save us.

I. Our Great High Priest the Mediator
II. Our Great High Priest the Sacrifice
III. Our Great High Priest over the house of God

I pray the Lord will bless you as you listen to the podcast message to the right.

Dying Dog

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
2 Peter 2:19-22

Often I have read this verse and wondered if this meant that backsliders have no hope. If we accept this notion then we limit the grace of God and His power to redeem the vilest of sinners. We would have to view David and Peter as irredeemable.

For the backslider the question may haunt them, “can God truly restore me”? For the backslider who is seeking repentance and restoration with the Lord the slightest infraction can plunge them into an abyss of guilt and shame that seems inescapable. Too often the backslider may just give up. This is an indication they are trusting in their own works and not the Lords mercy and grace. Don't give up. Keep pursuing the Lord. Many times during my 20 years of wilderness wanderings in sin I sought the Lord only to stumble in despair and resign myself to the bondage of sin. Yet, the Holy Spirit kept wooing my soul and never gave up on me. My latter life of sin was truly worse than the first. Not until I literally left family and friends, entering into a desert of solitude,seeking God, did I eventually find restoration with God. It took a radical decision on my part but even in my backslidden state God was giving grace. When God saved me in 1980 at the age of 19 I did not have many years of sin and sinful habits to contend with. Salvation at such a young age is a wonderful thing because it can spare the Christian of so much pain and turmoil years down the road. When I backslid I developed 20 years of sinful habits and behaviors making the latter far worse to overcome than the first. And its here where the nature of man fails and the empowering of the indwelling Holy Spirit prevails. We cannot overcome sinful habits and behaviors in our own strength. It takes the cross of Christ to deliver us from the penalty and power of sin.

The backslider may struggle with sin and fight temptation but only when we surrender to the Holy Spirit on a daily basis is there victory in our lives. The victory is the Lord's, not ours. We are simply the recipients of God's gracious reward. When Christ said to forgive your brother 70 x 7 how much more patient is God with us, backslider? Should we sin that the grace of God may abound? God forbid. People use that 70 X 7 as a license to sin. They practice lawlessness and that's not what I'm suggesting here. Paul said, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. God desires us to pursue holiness. When we have done all that we can and come to the end of ourselves then we will trust in His grace to restore us.

Yesterday I found myself entertaining lustful thoughts of past memories. I became deeply disturbed and troubled under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Even the waitress at the pizza shop where I frequently dine asked if I was OK saying I looked very down in my spirit. I began to question, “Lord, have I not truly been in fellowship with you”? “Is my relationship with you not real but just a form of ritual I'm going through. Please show me Lord that I am not controlled by my old desires and passions.”

Last night I had a dream. In the dream were people I worked with back in the mid to late 90's when I was at the height of my willful debauchery. Suddenly a beautiful mixed breed border collie appeared in the dream. The dog vomited. I inspected the vomit and discovered he ate something I had made the day before. In the dream ,the day before I was in Florida. In reality when I left family and friends to get my life right with God I moved to Florida in 2008. In the dream I was concerned that what the dog ate may be killing him. The dog looked horrible. Moping along with drool coming out of its mouth and laying down with a whine. The dog was dying. I did not give the dog the food he ate though it was something I made. My dreams are really strange and usually don't amount to anything but are the result of eating spicy food too late in the evening. This dream appeared significant. In the dream the dog did not return to his vomit and the dog was dying.

The vomit is sin and the dog is the carnal nature. God answered my prayer to show me that what I am doing is not behavioral but spiritual. When I first heard the gospel in 1980 it was a dramatic Damascus road experience for me. God saved me and put His love in my heart instantly. God's reclamation of me from my backsliding has been a different process. There have been times that God has witnessed to me in a clear and scriptural manner such as this dream. Twenty years of habits and thought patterns may not be swept away in an instant. Remember, Paul spent 3 years in the desert immediately after his conversion. He probably wrestled with his Pharisaic ideas until he was able to define his doctrinal positions. His theology in the book of Romans was not formulated overnight. He may have also wrestled with guilt from murdering Christians. People who have been brainwashed by cults often need to go through a period of deprogramming to correct their thinking about life in general. So the sinner may need significant time for their minds to be cleansed by God's word.

In spite of my sinful thoughts yesterday my time with the Lord has been very real and very sweet lately. The more time I spend in communion with the Lord the sweeter He grows to me. God assured me in my soul that the devil took advantage of a weak moment and I am not returning to the vomit and the old dog is dying, Hallelujah! Backslider, our hope is in Christ not in our behavior.

Backslider, what is keeping you from returning to Jesus Christ? You may need to make a radical decision for Christ. Perhaps there is some activity that has become your god. It could be hunting, fishing, sports or cars. Oh that men had as much passion for Christ as they do for their sports teams. We could have a third great awakening. What consumes your time? Maybe you have friends or associates who drag you down into sinful behaviors. Getting rid of these things will not make you holy. Turning to Christ and leaving anything that may hinder you from Christ will lead you on to holiness in Christ. Holiness is being set apart, separated unto God. Only Christ can make you holy but there must be some desire in your heart for this to happen. There is no temptation that comes upon you that is not common to man but God will make a way for you to escape. That way is the cross. Die out to sin and self. Put that carnal dog to death and let Christ arise in your heart.

An Act of God

There was a time when insurance forms and legal documents would refer to catastrophic events like hurricanes, tornadoes and floods as, "Acts of God". I'm not sure if they do this anymore. When we as a country acknowledged these events as Acts of God it inferred a sense of accountability to Holy God. Today, Americas neo-pantheistic culture could not even think of a pantheistic god as unleashing his fury upon "innocent" people. God is a God of love, right? Love is sometimes best expressed at the end of a paddle. And I'm not talking about the kind of paddle that rows a boat. The book of Hebrews tells us that God chastises those whom He loves.

For the Christian who may die during an "Act of God" it means they are now present with the Lord. For the unregenerate to die during an Act of God we can only interpret this to mean the wrath of God has been brought to bear upon this person. Like the death of a loved one, its during times of massive destruction and loss of material goods that we are forced to reflect upon spiritual things or those things of eternal value. The Act of God is an act of mercy. A blessing in disguise. Is there anything that God does that is not right? Is there any "Act of God" that is not pure but has for its end our eternal good?

The greatest things, the most noble things that we may experience or achieve almost always involve pain. Childbirth is the most perfect example of this most joyous event involving tremendous pain, not just for the mother but for the infant who fights and squirms his way to ultimately come screaming into the world. Jesus said that unless a corn of wheat, a seed, fall into the ground and die it cannot bring forth fruit. If you want to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus Christ it will often involve very painful things in this life. For this reason we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We must set our affections on things above and not on things of this earth. The painful things we experience on this mortal coil are temporary. The joy of the Lord is eternal.

Too many Christians live their lives focused on what brings them pleasure or comfort. Pension plans and retirement funds take more of their energy than communion with Christ in the prayer closet. Your pleasures and pensions could be literally gone overnight. I've seen it happen to people. Then what do you have? Its all temporal my friends. Look to Jesus. If you don't enjoy bowing before Him in love and adoration now what will you do in heaven? The next time an "Act of God" may come your way embrace it. He is wanting your attention. He deserves and delights in all the attention we can give Him.

Shotgun Devotion

I live near Charleston, SC and currently am watching the flood waters rise behind my house. I live very near the Ashely river which is one of the two rivers that forms Charleston Harbor or as the locals say, "the Ashley and Cooper Rivers come together to form the Atlantic Ocean". The flood waters are creeping up the side of my house as I write this but I believe that God is in control and the waters will subside without damage to my home. My immediate area had 17.34 inches of rain in four days. Naturally I have been a bit anxious the past two days and have not slept much. I keep vigil to ensure a flash flood or surging water does not threaten me or my property.

This morning I had what I call a shotgun devotion. I usually have a biblical book that I read through and was recently reading through Nehemiah for my prayer time. This morning I asked the Lord to speak to me in His word. "Dear Lord, help me make some sense of this catastrophic event in SC". Its the worst flooding that South Carolina has had in its 345 year existence. When you shoot a shotgun you just point and shoot. I opened God's word at random and I let my eyes fall on a text. There isn't much aiming going on. I opened the word and my eyes fell on Isaiah 47:7 "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever" Tell me that God does not have a sense of humor. I praise Him for His gentle love and comedic relief during such a stressful time. I laughed out loud and said, "OK Lord", I don't think this really applies to me. Then my eyes turned to the opposite page at Isaiah 48:1-2

"Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. 2For they call themselves of the holy city,"

When I saw the word "water" that got my attention. That is what I have seen around my home for 4 days now and its preoccupied my mind. I did not want to read something into the text that isn't there until I read the next verse, "for they call themselves of the holy city". Google or Bing, "Holy City" and up pops Charleston. The Holy City is THE nickname of Charleston because it is supposedly populated with the largest number of churches in any American city. Sadly though Charleston could easily be the people that Isaiah is writing to because they "make mention of the God of Israel but not in truth or righteousness".

Charleston is a beautiful city. Its charm is very seductive but not in a sleazy way like New Orleans. But it is seductive none the less. Charleston is repeatedly voted the friendliest city in America by different travel magazines. The ambiance of the town is very romantic. It's a foody town where one can enjoy fine dining at over 200 restaurants for an affordable price. Charleston history is American history with a vital role in the two most defining wars of American history, the Revolution and the War Between the States. I was drawn to her charm the first time I visited and decided right then I was moving here. I think charm is the perfect word to describe Charleston. Charm n. 1. The power or quality of pleasing, attracting or fascinating. 2. A particular quality or feature that fascinates or attracts. 3. Anything that is worn for its magical affect as in warding off evil.

The etymology of "charm" is found in witchcraft. Charleston is the birthplace of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Freemasonry is very big and very influential here for over 250 years. Freemasonry is not witchcraft but it finds its common origins in the mystery religions of Babylon. While there are many churches in Charleston the Masonic influence is pervasive. Add to that a cultured hedonistic spirit that includes widespread public acceptance and promotion of homosexuality and you have a "holy city" but not in "truth or righteousness".

Charleston is a beautiful town and I love her history but it is a wicked place. When the word "wicked" is used its often associated with mass murderers, sadistic psychopathic killers like Charles Manson or Hitler. Nice and kind people can be wicked. At the root of all sin, whether it be murder or telling a white lie, is pride and vanity. Exalting oneself and having a disregard of God is wickedness. Secular humanism is clearly wicked but one does not have to murder, steal or rape to be a secular humanist. Charleston can be described as the "anti-New Orleans". Charleston is clean, hospitable and you won't read of riots happening every other weekend. New Orleans is wicked for its sexual promiscuity and occult activity. Charleston is guilty of the same thing but in a more covert or refined manner.

I'm not sure if this is why God unleashed His fury upon South Carolina, but I can't help but think this may have something to do with it. It may also have something to do with the all out attack upon all things Confederate. I am not politicizing anything here. The reality is that the state opted to believe a lie rather than stand for the truth when it came to taking down the Confederate flag which was legally hoisted. Truth is truth whether its biblical, scientific or historic. The South Carolina government promoted a lie about history instead of standing for the truth. How can they be trusted with political matters. The ramifications of their actions will have far reaching effects. Every symbol of American freedom including the cross of Jesus Christ will be assaulted.

16These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

The satellite image of this storm of the millennia shows the storm clearly targeted South Carolina from its Northern coastal border to its Southern Coastal border. No matter where the hurricane moved the low pressure over Georgia sucked in the water vapor into South Carolina. The bands of rain that poured in off shore looked like the hand of God guiding them right up I-26 from Charleston to Columbia. I was on my computer nearly every hour watching this for four days.

God is trying to get somebodies attention down here. Seek the Lord while He may yet be found.

Keeping the Faith Part 3

Today's message in this series is entitled; Through the Flesh
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh Hebrews 10:20

The Levitical Offerings did not make provision for all sin and could not take away the guilt or penalty of sin. Salvation has always been by grace through faith.

A. A New Way- God the Father looks upon His Son as the sacrificial lamb that was freshly killed for us

B. A Living Way- The freshly killed Lamb is alive.

C. Consecrated Veil - “Take up your cross and follow me” leaves no room for half hearted submission. As the one bringing a sacrifice to the tabernacle or temple would lay their hand on the animal to confer their sin and identify with the animal sacrifice so we through faith confer our sin upon Christ the Lamb and identify with Him in His death. Can we give Him any less than our ALL?

You can listen to the 20 minute message in the podcast link to the right or go here: http://cryinthewilderness.podbean.com/e/keeping-the-faith-part-3/?token=6c1a4e671181aef56b5e74f98cb49c3f

Glory of Women Vs. Glory of Men

In the not too distant past women found there greatest purpose in life was bringing life into the world. Women who were barren were often looked down upon as one in disfavor with God. In Genesis 29 and 30 we read the story of Rachel and Leah, wives of Jacob, who engaged in a birthing competition. Rachel was barren and complained to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!" Rachel was so eager to have children that she experienced childbearing by proxy through her handmaid Bilhah. When Leah appeared to be barren she gave Jacob her handmaid to bear a son. Poor Jacob never got a nights rest because these women were competing with one another through childbirth. The more children one bore the more honor they had. I believe those who scorn large families are actually shamed in their hearts because their desire for affluency take precedent over Gods blessing of children. Bearing sons in the ancient world was more prized then daughters because men were the rulers, leaders and bread winners. The scriptures do not state how many daughters Jacob had but it probably equaled or numbered more than the number of sons. Eventually, Rachel bore a son and she said, "The Lord has taken away my reproach". Rachel, Leah and their two handmaids became the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel. God took this selfish competition between these women and created a nation. Elizabeth was old and past child bearing years yet the angel of the Lord spoke to her husband Zacharias and told him she would bear a son. When Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist she said, " The Lord has taken away my reproach".

Whether women today will admit it or not they possess or at some time in their life will possess a God given desire to bring life into the world. I call this inherent need to birth the glory of women. As carriers of new life I can think of no greater glory a woman can have. This is why abortion is so evil. It attacks the act of procreation which is a divinely appointed function for creation. Giving birth was and should be a defining point of womanhood. It was a defining point for 4,000 years and still is in most of the world except for Western Civilization in the past 50 years. Now childbearing takes second place to a woman having a "career". It's been my observation that the woman who sets aside her procreative responsibilities to pursue selfish aspirations will not assume the role of mother when the time comes. Women still give birth today but very few are mothers. Public schools and day cares are the "mothers". Children spend more time with strangers who have no God given authority over that child and thus there is no inherent responsibility to teach that child in the ways of God but I am digressing a bit. The point I am making here is that the glory of women is to bring life into the world. So, what is the glory of man? Answer: To take life out of the world.

Every age of history is defined by war. Men are typically drawn to war. I can't recount the number of stories I have read and heard of teenagers sneaking off to join the fight. It's happened in every war the United States has fought in. Some wars evoke a greater response relative to the moral issues that may surround it. During WWII there were many men who committed suicide because they were found physically unfit to serve in the military. This was an unbearable reproach upon them as was barrenness in a woman. Their rejection to serve their country made them feel less of a man.

Throughout the ages the heroes of boys were often generals or warriors. And those heroes who killed were perceived to be justified in their killing. Two of my heroes are Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. They were Godly men who fought a noble cause to defend their homes and families against an illegal invader. I think Lee captured a glimpse of man's depravity when he said, "It is good that war is so horrible or we should grow fond of it".

The highest citation bestowed by the U.S. government upon anyone is the Congressional Medal of Honor. In many instances killing is directly related to the Medal of Honor. Our countries highest honor is often associated with killing. I am not a pacifist or conscientious objector. I believe there is a time for peace and a time for war. However, its my opinion that during my 54 years on this planet I can think of only two times the U.S. was justified in using military forces and that was the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Grenada and the Iranian hostage crisis. The sad thing is that history is defined by death. The glory of men is to kill. And to kill with skill. Most men are fascinated with killing. I've watched many a war movies and shoot em' up Westerns. So, I'm not pointing a finger at anyone but making an observation that I fear most of us give little thought to. We are desensitized to killing and glorify the death of our enemies.

Stop and think with me. Where does killing and death come from? Where did it start? It started with Adam and Eve committing sin and bringing death into the world. As gruesome and horrible as death is we entertain ourselves with it through movies, books, music and art. Its like watching your neighbors house burn. As horrible as it may be it becomes a source of entertainment and it does not disturb you as much because its not your house. I believe this propensity to be entertained by violence is another evidence of the depravity of mankind. Even though the hero is killing for a just cause its still killing and should not be a source of entertainment for a Christian. I'm not suggesting that we should not be prepared for war. Studying war is one thing. Being entertained by it is another.

Christians should entertain their minds with the fact that Jesus conquered death and the grave. He does not take delight in the death of the wicked but we certainly do.
Ezekiel 18:23,32 "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?","For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."
Ezekiel 33:11 "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

The glory of men is to kill. Is this something to really aspire to? My greatest heroes in history are John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Martin Luther, John Knox, Peter Cartwright, Elijah, Paul and Jesus. These are the men I want to emulate. Men who brought eternal life to others through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The glory of women is to bring life into the world and the glory of men is to take life out of this world. Oh, that I may glory in the cross of Christ my king. To the men reading this, glory not in taking life unless it is your own life you take to the cross.

Keeping the Faith Part 2

Continuing this series of messages in Hebrews I hope you find encouragement in keeping the faith. The message today is Through His Blood. In Hebrews 10:19 we find three wonderful points to ponder:

A. Our Privilege- Come Boldly
B. Our Place- The Holiest of Holies
C. Our Provision- The Blood of Christ

Please listen to the short message in the podcast link to the right and come boldly before the throne of grace.

Keeping the Faith Part 1

I find it prudent that in these days we live the necessity of preaching some messages in regard to keeping the faith. I will be doing so out of Paul's letter to the Hebrews. Todays message will lay the foundation for the next 3 or 4 messages I preach on this subject of faith. What is the necessity of faith? The bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. It is by faith alone that we come to and remain in this encounter with Almighty God.

I. Shadow of the Law, Hebrews 10: 1-6
A. Indelible remembrance of sin-The sacrifices of the Mosaic law could not atone for nor remove the guilt and remembrance of sin.
B. Insufficiency of Our Sacrifice-Our sacrifices and earthly works, good deeds and benevolence cannot atone for sin.

II. Sanctification by the Lord Hebrews 10:7-14
A. He Died Once for all v. 10
B. He is the Final Sacrifice v. 12
C. He is the One Offering v. 14

III. Superior Covenant Hebrews 10: 15-18
This new covenant was prophecied by Jeremiah

Please click on the podcast preaching link to the right for the full message.

Elijah: Depression or Devotion

Was Elijah depressed when he fled to Mt. Horeb after slaying the prophets of Baal? Open your bibles to 1 Kings 19 and read along with me the beloved story of Elijah's encounter with God at Mt. Horeb and listen to the podcast preaching for a message of devotion to God.

We Have Sinned

All to often I hear Christians and I have been guilty myself of blaming the unsaved, unregenerate for the evils that are happening in this land. Its not the homosexuals, progressives, politically correct or politicians in D.C. that have brought evil upon this land. It is the people of this land who call themselves Christians. Gods word says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked way then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land". It does not read, "if the wicked will seek my face and repent". This land can only find healing when the churches repent and seek the Lord. Please listen to the podcast message to the right.

Charleston Tragedies

The shooting of 9 innocent people in the Emmanuel AME church in Charleston, SC has captivated and horrified the nation. No American is unaffected by this event. This tragic event has been a catalyst for many more tragedies thrust upon the American people.

"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6

Please click on the podcast link to the right to hear the message.

Profane and Holy

For nearly a year now I have listened to a radio preacher with great delight. His expositions are solid and right on the mark with the text of scripture. Stephen Davey is founder and senior pastor of the Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, NC. I am traveling this weekend to nearby Greensboro and decided to spend an extra night and attend the early morning service at Colonial. Davey founded the church about 30 years ago and has grown with such success that he is now the president of a seminary associated with the church. They have 3 worship services on Sunday morning. I did not know what to expect with a church so large. I prayed before attending asking God to give me a spirit of lowliness and mercy. My morning devotion ended up being Philippians 2:1-3... "in lowliness of mind esteem other better than yourselves."

As I walked into the building rock music was playing over the PA system. That was a bit unnerving to me but I was determined not to pass judgement. I arrived 10 minutes early and sat in the rear of the sanctuary observing the people and testing the spirit to see if it was of God.(Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.I John 4:1) What I saw was disturbing in light of the preaching that Stephen Davey delivers. There was no spirit of reverence. People were chatting and socializing. In my opinion this should be reserved for after a worship service. When one attends a worship service they should go in reverence and expectation that God is going to meet with them that morning. The congregants minds were NOT focused on worshiping God.

There was an orchestra on the platform of about 50 people. I don't believe the scriptures are opposed to an orchestra but I'm not sure that it lends to "singing and making melody in your hearts to the LORD". Eph. 5:19. Orchestra's too often become the focal point or an instrument of a production rather than that of worship. That is precisely what happened. While the congregants were mingling and socializing, instead of preparing their hearts to worship God, a man started speaking over a loud speaker. The first words spoken in the service were, "Alright guys, lets do this service right. Cue the lights, turn up the sound......." It was a production of entertainment in the spirit of this world. It was Godless and irreverent. Colonial Baptist church was nothing more than another seeker friendly mega-church. I promptly exited the building with tears in my eyes. OH LORD, where is Your remnant?

I cannot for the life of me understand how Stephen Davey can preach as he does and yet mix the profane with the holy. This is the deception that will be so strong in the latter days that if it were possible even the very elect would be lost. Pastor Davey, I have a word for you,

" 15But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD: 16They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.....23And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean Ezekiel 44:15-16,23

Pastor Davey, as well as you can exegete the scripture you have failed this commandment of the Lord. I call you to repent of this wickedness and break up your fallow ground. Stop allowing the external Godless environment of this pagan society to dictate how you serve the Lord.

Fallow Ground

Fallow ground is ground that has become hard and unable to receive life giving seed. This hardness occurs because the external environment such as wind, rain and sun have an adverse affect making the ground hard. The external environment of the Christian in this pagan culture we live in has made the average American christian calloused and insensitive to its surrounding un-Godly environment. If God is to rain down righteousness we must take extreme and sometimes painful measures to break up our fallow ground. Listen to the 11 minute podcast message to the right of this post and break up your fallow ground.

Seek the Lord while He may be found.

True and False Conversion pt. 2

In the last message we looked at a few things which are not conversion. In this message we will look at three things which are vital to conversion:

I. Conversion Involves a Response to God's Calling
A. Our Sin Nature is Contrary to Responding to God
B. Christ Compels us to Respond

II. Conversion Requires Revelation
A. Revelation of our Sin Nature
B. Revelation of our Savior

III.Conversion Requires Regeneration
A. Old Things are Passed Away
B. All Things Become New



Please click on the 20 minute podcast message to the right.

True and False Conversion Part 1

Professing Christians today seem to give little thought to what they are associating themselves with. This embrace of the world by Christians could be indicative of false conversion on a broad scale.

What Conversion is NOT

1. Conversion is Not belonging to an institution known as your local church.
The local church is NOT the body of Christ. There may be Christians in your local church but the Body of Christ is not an institution.

2. Conversion is Not Baptism
Baptism does not save you nor is it a part of salvation. It is subsequent to salvation.

3. Conversion is Not Behavioral Modification
If conversion was simply a matter of changing my behavior then Christ died in vain.

4. Conversion is Not tithing
I Cor. 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

5. Conversion is not mere confession
You say you believe in God. So does the devil and the devil trembles.

Please click on the 15 minute podcast message to the right to hear this entire message.

What is True Conversion? Part 2 coming soon.

Easter: Pagan or Christian?

Deuteronomy 6
12Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. 14Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

Deut. 7
But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. 6For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God

2 Kings 21
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. 3For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. 5And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. 7And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever.

2 Chronicles 33
God was angry with Manasseh causing him to be taken into captivity in Assyria. While in Assyria Manasseh cried unto the Lord God and found repentance in his heart. God restored him to the throne of Judah and Manasseh destroyed the pagan idols and tore down the altars to the false gods and found favor in the eyes of God.

2 Kings 23
Josiah gathers all the elders of Judah unto Jerusalem and reads from Gods law. He renews a covenant with God and throughout this chapter he tears down the altars of Baal. He destroys pagan images and idols. He destroys the houses of homosexuals. He rids the land of witchcraft, sorcers, pagan religion and practice and this pleases God. “21And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the Lord your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.”

God commanded the Hebrew children to destroy all traces of pagan religion in their midst. This was a constant battle throughout the Old Testament. People are instinctively drawn to false gods because they don't exist. These false gods can be manipulated in your mind. They can also be very dangerous as a gateway for Satan into the hearts of people. This is why the true and living God abhors these pagan false gods. They are lies that distract from the true and living God. In a previous message I explained the meaning of the first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”. Of all the commandments God gave this is the most important. The word “have” in this commandment can have a broader meaning than simply to “possess” another god. This word “have” actually means to simply “acknowledge” another god even exists. In spite of these stark warnings throughout the Old Testament Christians for 18 centuries have defied this commandment and acknowledged the false pagan Teutonic goddess of Spring called Easter. Easter is not a season like spring. The word Easter comes from the pagan Teutonic goddess Ostre. The customs and traditions that surround Easter are from the ancient pagan practices involved in sacrificing to Ostre. Bunny rabbits, chicks and colored eggs all are part of this pagan religion. This is why non-Christian people can celebrate Easter because Easter has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ. The transference of this pagan god into the Christian religion is probably one of the earliest examples of the Catholic practices of accepting pagan customs, traditions and even gods into the religious practices of the church. According to church historians the earliest mention of Easter was early to mid second century. Well into the second century Christians did not celebrate the resurrection as a feast or holy day. Early Christians observed Passover with Jesus as the Passover Lamb. The resurrection was celebrated every Sunday because that is the day that Jesus rose from the dead.

The early Christians would not have said, “Happy Easter” to one another. Paul and Peter would have been livid to think that a false pagan god would be associated with the Passover Lamb and resurrection. Paul states in Ephesians 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Paganism has no place in the church and Easter has no place in the vocabulary of a Christian.

I read, admire and respect greatly the reformers such as Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and later Wesley but I cannot understand why they never opposed this pagan influence in the gospel. What is more disturbing is the number of people who acknowledge that Easter has absolutely nothing to do with Christ but they have Easter sunrise service, Easter egg hunts and such. By the way, the sunrise service also has nothing to do with the resurrection story. I know the scripture says the women rose early to go to the tomb. Sacrifices were made to Ostre at the rising of the sun. This “rising sun” is a part of the etymology of the word Easter. This is not some small matter to be taken lightly. God does not take it lightly. In Exodus 32 we find the impatient Hebrew children eager to worship something because Moses had been in the mount a long time. So they made a golden image of the Egyptian calf god Apis and ascribed to that calf the name of Jehovah. Moses burned the image, ground it into powder cast it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it.

And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) 26Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

And they killed 3,000 Israelite men. Usually, the scriptures only count the heads of households when there is a counting like this. The number of people that died was probably closer to 15,000. To ascribe something so profane as Easter to the most significant holy day of the Christian year is nothing short of sacrilege. Whenever Jesus hears a Christian say, “Happy Easter” it must sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to Him.

I submit to you that Easter was born in the mind of satan as a distraction from the meaning of this holy event of Christs resurrection and dilution of the message of Passover which is to be a memorial FOREVER.

“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever”. Exodus 12:14

Jesus is the Passover Lamb. And what did His death accomplish?

Christ has conquered death, hell and the grave. The next time someone says, “Happy Easter” respond by saying, “He is Risen”.

Who is on the Lord's side?

The Lamb of God has Been Slain

Exodus 12
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

11And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’S passover. 12For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Matthew 5
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

John 1
29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

I Corinthians 5
6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

I Peter
18Forasmuch 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; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Revelation 5
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Is it really that difficult for Christians to give prominence to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Passover sacrifice rather than acknowledge a false pagan Teutonic goddess instead? More to come in two days.

Who is Jesus

I. What Religions Say about Jesus

One may think that because religions like Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism may accept Jesus as a prophet that this validates their religions as acceptable to God but they don't accept Jesus as the exclusive deity He claimed to be. Either Jesus is who He claimed to be or Jesus is a liar or lunatic. If He is a prophet then these religions make Him out to be a false prophet because they do not accept what the Prophet Jesus said about Himself.

II. What Jesus Said About Himself

The expression, “I AM” is the ultimate expression of God. He alone is self existent. Nothing else exists without Him. Jesus repeatedly uses the I AM in referring to Himself;
I am the true vine, I am the living water, I am the good shepherd, I am the bread of life, etc. He has no dependence or interdependence upon others but exists within Himself. This is exclusive deity. And this is what Jesus says about Himself.


III. What the Scripture Says About Jesus

Immanuel is interpreted to mean, “God with us”. Take note that this is the name of an individual and not a reference to God's presence in an omnipresent or pantheistic manner. Its a person who is God in the flesh. Colossians 2 Paul states “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”


For the entire message please listen to the podcast by clicking on the link to the right of this post.

That Old Serpent

9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10And 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. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Revelation 12:9-12


What hope the Christian has in this expression, "That Old Serpent". "Old" indicates something that has a terminal end. Jesus is not old, the saints gone on before are not old, the angels in heaven are not old. That which is old has a passage of time and time will one day come to an end. Verse 12 states that Satan is angry because his days are numbered. Those who are in Christ have a glorious hope. "Rejoice ye heavens and ye that dwell in them". Paul said in Ephesians 2:6 that we are "seated together with Christ in heavenly places". As Satans time draws near to an end he is unleashing great deception in the world. People who are deceived don't know they are deceived. The Christian must be ever vigilant about their daily life for Satan is a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour. The lion roars because its hungry. Satan enjoys nothing more than deceiving and destroying God's greatest creation. That one thing that Christ died for; man. How do we as Christians defeat Satan?


We cannot defeat Satan within our own abilities. He is too powerful for us to battle with. We must have three things found in Revelation 12:11
1. The blood of Christ applied to our hearts cleansing us from sin.
2. A testimony of knowing that the blood of Christ is applied to our heart resulting in a changed life.
3. To live is Christ and to die is gain. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We must have a mentality or disposition that is heaven centered and not earthly centered. Our hearts must dwell in eternity. Everything physical around you is decaying. It will all melt with a fervent heat and God will establish a new heaven and a new earth. Christian, don't get too attached to this world because it will soon pass away. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away but my words shall not pass away" Matthew 24. Read Matthew 24. It is in the same context as Revelation 12. Christs word is eternal. Hide it in your heart.

Heavenly Anxiety

We have those moments in our lives when we become preoccupied with life events that are not pleasant or create uncertainty. This morning I knelt in prayer to seek the Lord and my mind kept wandering to a project I am working on and two other major issues in my life right now. As I evaluated these issues it was clear they were strictly of earthly matters. Issues that will one day pass and may have no effect upon eternity. Paul said, “life is but a vapor”. In our finite condition, life on earth is here for a brief moment and then its gone. For some its about the same amount of time as yawning. For others it may be the same amount of time as sneezing all compared to eternity. Most of what “happens” in life on this planet is of little significance in heaven. Our disposition , behavior or attitude toward what is “happening” is of heavenly consequence. Ideally, nothing in this earthly existence should cause us anxiety. This world is not our home. Jesus said, “I am not of this world”. Our home is in heaven. In Ephesians 2:6 Paul told these Christians that “we are seated together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus”.

Christ Jesus did not exhibit temporal anxiety during His earthly sojourn. He had no worries over his next mortgage payment. He had no son in prison or a daughter on crack. Christ had no health concerns or fears of his pension being robbed by the government. He had no anxiety over the issues of life. Even though he knew Judas would betray Him Christ expressed no anxiety but complete submission to the fathers will. The only anxiety Jesus ever expressed was heavenly in nature. In the garden of Gethsemane He prayed so hard till blood came from the pores in His skin. The fulfillment of His earthly mission was nearing and He knew this task involved separation from the father. We cannot fathom the breadth, the depth and length of this moment where Christ took upon Himself the curse of man and experienced separation from the Father. In a sense it was like God denying Himself. Christs passion was a moment worthy of anxiety. Yet His righteousness overcame and therein is our righteousness hid.

If there is anything in this earth that should bring us anxiety it is those things that separate us from God. It should be those things that impede us from serving the Lord. Those things that take our eyes off of eternity. God help us that we may stay fixed and focused on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith. With our eyes set on the prize before us that we might run the good race may we bring our wills into submission to Almighty God. May all things that come our way in this earthly existence be stepping stones to that heavenly prize in Christ Jesus. Jonathon Edwards said, “Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs”. May we look at life around us through the lens of eternity. We are not of this world. Lord help us to live as such.

Practical Holiness

The Podcast message today touches on the necessity of practical holiness. I could preach a lengthy theological discourse on practical holiness vs. positional holiness but choose to address the issue where the rubber meets the road. Many Christians embrace ideas and behaviors commonly accepted in society. Christians are called of God to be different. Our natural desire is to NOT be different but to be accepted. The call of God to the Christian is to take up their cross. This is something the world cannot know. Yet, the modern Christian wants to be loved by the world and will only distinguish themselves on subjects that are extreme such as abortion or same sex marriage. Holiness goes way beyond holding an opinion about a couple of big issues. Holiness for the Christian should be life consuming. The Christians desire for the things of the world is not the main problem. It is a symptom of the heart not longing for God.

Lucifers Mirror

The Bible admonishes us to look for certain signs of the end times that we may be ready for Christs return. An increase in wars and rumors of wars, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, one world government and one world religion are all indications of Christs imminent return. The esoteric meanings of end time prophecy found in the book of the Revelation, Daniel and Jesus' sayings in Matthew occur for a reason. That we may always live as though Christ were coming tomorrow. We must be prepared. There are signs that give us surety that these prophecies are being fulfilled. As prophecy unfolds we begin to understand more clearly. The resurrection of Christ is the perfect example of this. Jesus Himself told His disciples he would raise from the dead and they did not comprehend this. Only after Christs resurrection did they understand all of the prophecy concerning the Messiah. Up until the very end of Christs earthly sojourn the disciples believed He would be a conquering king and set up a kingdom on earth.

The amount of literature that has been written about the end times is evidence to me that because people understand it more clearly we are living in or very near the end times. Of all the people on earth who need to take heed to this message it is not the unchurched but the church people. We are no doubt living in the Laodicean age. I even hear people who are Laodicean in spirit admit this but they are blinded to their own acceptance of satans devices in their midst. I see it nearly every day. I do not go looking for this stuff and I can't avoid it no matter where I go. I witnessed the spirit of the age at a conservative Bible believing church just recently.
I pulled into the parking lot and observed a car with a bumper sticker, “I'm Christian and I vote”. This vehicle had a rather large Native American dream catcher hanging from the mirror. Why is a Christian adoring their vehicle with pagan witchcraft symbols? You might think its harmless but its things like this that Christians accept from popular culture and give little thought to the significance of how this relates to a Christian testimony. Swastikas are ancient Native American symbols. Why not adorn your car with Swastikas?

The spirit of this present age is deception. Paul told Timothy this would be so in the latter times. II Tim. 3 and 4 address this spirit of the end time. After a long list of behaviors that describe the end times Paul states in 3:8 they are “men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the faith.” In chapter 4:3 Paul states,” the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” and they shall “turn away their ears from the truth”. This is one other point of eschatology that we can be dogmatic about and that is apostasy in the visible church of Christ in the end times. I don't care how sound you may be in Bible doctrine or how separated from the world you may think you are I have seen the spirit of deception even in conservative, bible believing fundamental churches.




II Thes. 2:1-4
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (New Age)
And what is the temple of God? Acts 7:48 states that God does not dwell in temples made with hands. Paul said in I Cor. 6:19 ; “ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
Many believe that the “man of sin” or “son of perdition” as mentioned in II Thes. 2:3 is THE antichrist.
I'm not so sure that is the case. Once again, we are dealing with prophecy here and I am not being dogmatic about this statement, rather I am simply making an observation of our present world. The predominant perception of mankind in our present culture is a New Age perception. New Age teaching places oneself on the throne of their lives. They are not accountable to a transcendent holy God. They are in essence divine or so they believe. New Age philosophy is humanistic, holistic and cosmic. You are divine. This popular teaching as promoted by people like Oprah Winfrey, Eckart Tolle and countless others has morphed its way into the church.

The “little god” teaching proclaims that you were made in the image of God and are thus, little gods. Christ died to reveal in you this truth that you are a small god. This teaching denies Christs atonement for the sin nature of man. The sin that occurred in Adam and passed to us was the sin of not accepting that Adam was a little god. This teaching is found within the word of faith, name it and claim it movement of people like Kenneth Copeland and Joyce Meyer. This message appeals to so many people because it is always positive.

I recently was contacted by some friends who had a disturbing experience at a church meeting. It was not the church they attended but an elder from their church invited them to this meeting. I concluded that if the elder was participating in questionable spiritual activity then the church my friends attend must also be engaged in questionable spiritual activity. They never saw bizarre behavior or heard overt teaching that sounded heretical. They like the people at this church and the church seems to do good things in the community.

This church is part of the Journey Church movement. I have found nothing definitive about this movement. The only common theme I have found among them is a seeker friendly model which I define as people wanting to worship God on their own terms and not His. They embrace popular culture in order to win people living in popular culture. This is not in keeping with the command to “Be ye holy as I am holy”. Many of the doctrinal or faith statements that I read appeared to be Biblically sound. But the Journey Church movement is not a denomination and not accountable to a larger body so beware of wolves in sheep clothing. The following is one such statement of faith. Their faith statement is bold print and my comments are italicized.

A "belief section" on a website can never truly articulate the truths of what and Who we believe in (as though the Eternal could be packaged and bullet-pointed by human words). Nonetheless, we know that you still may want to know if we are some crazy cult, so we will do our best to put forth our core beliefs here.
This preamble seems to trash 1600 years of Christian theology. Thousands perhaps millions were persecuted and put to death for “bullet pointed” theological statements about God. The early church fathers had to wrestle with these concepts of what will be commonly accepted and acknowledged as Christian truth. Many heresies have existed over the centuries and even today are still prevalent. Mormons will tell you they believe Jesus is the Son of God. What they won't tell you is that they believe Jesus is Lucifers brother which means Jesus is a created being. Its vital that Christians in this current age of deception know what they believe and the basis of their beliefs.

We believe that from all eternity, before time and space exploded forth into substance and reality, the Creator exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This speaks to the relational and intimate dimension of God. The One who fills all in all is complete Spirit, and yet is a Person who exists in eternal relationship. Creation was birthed out of a happy relationship and a desire to share that relationship with others.
“Time and space exploded forth into substance...” You won't find this comment even suggested in the Bible. Scripture states, “And God said”. Creation was SPOKEN into existence by God. The “explode” comment suggests an evolutionary process which is not biblical. No where do I find in the scripture that the Trinity is the creator. This is a very odd statement with no biblical foundation. Colossians 1 explicitly declares who is the creator,
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him(Jesus), and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Indeed, humanity itself was birthed out of an intense and infinite love. We began in the heart of God and were made in His mirror image and likeness. Our story begins with original glory, not original sin. This is what Jesus would come to redeem us back to.
“Mirror Image”. Where do they get this idea from? Man was made in the likeness and image of God. A child is the likeness and image of their parent but not the “mirror image”. They provide no scripture to support this comment. We are made in God's image but that does not make us equal with God. Heb. 2:7 “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels”
Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images
God made Adam and crowned him with glory and honor but God shares His glory with no created man. Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father”. Adam could not say this because he was a created being. We are not the “mirror image” of God.

Geneticists track our origin to one person and will often refer to "Mitochondrial Eve" as the part of our DNA that links our humanity to one mother. This one mother and her partner we know of as "Adam" were approached by a very real enemy of mankind who came with a temptation and a lie. He said, "If you eat of this tree, you will become like God..." The reality was...they already were like God! They were His very image and likeness reflected on the earth... However, they fell for a lie about their identity and thus was birthed the beginning of sin--and religion. Sin is anything that "misses the mark" of our original blueprint and DNA as Image-Bearers. It is the direct result of deception and believing a lie about ourselves and about God. Ultimately, it is a false identity that becomes a living power in people's hearts.
Mitochondrial Eve? Genetics? These have got to be the most bizarre comments I have ever read in a statement of belief or theological context. They appear to give a preeminence to Eve by referring to Adam as her partner. Eve was clearly made from man and that happened after initial creation. Genesis 2:18-24. Adam is the word for “man”. Eve came from Adam not the other way which they seem to suggest.
The original sin as defined in this statement was NOT Adams disobedience to God but Adams denial of his identity. But they won't come right out and say Adam is a little god however they go to great lengths to imply this fallacy. To suggest we are little gods suggest we are by nature divine. Adams holiness and purity was not self generated or derived from intrinsic purity and independent from God. “Man, therefore, derived holiness from his immediate connection and direct communion with God” T.N.Ralston
Adam was made in the image of God but this “image” had limitations in that only God is Self-Sufficient. “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself “ John 5:26. Adam, even in his sinless state, was dependent upon God. Only God is Self Existent. God has no beginning or end. Man has a beginning. God is transcendent.

Religion, in the negative sense (not in the definition given in James 1:27), is man's vain attempt to reach God and God-likeness through our own efforts. Ever since this "fall from glory" we have been trying by our own efforts to reach back to Eden and to "hit the mark" again (whether it is the pursuit of nirvana, a better reincarnation, the heavenly realm, etc...all of it is man's attempts to attain back to what his heart knows was lost).

In the Gospel , Jesus Christ comes to redeem us back to Eden and to re-reveal both God and us. He defied every major concept of God, even among the religious leaders who felt they had the truest handle on Him back then. Jesus reveals to us the Father, showing forth the eternal God in all His kindness, gentleness, love, mercy, strength, and truth. He reveals the true face of the Father--one called Abba "Daddy" God. Moses revealed the Law, but Christ reveals the grace and truth of who God really is.

Jesus does not only reveal the Father...but He also reveals who we are. He comes as the express image of the invisible God. This is the Image that Adam and Eve and all their children were made in. Jesus demonstrates that the human frame is and always was meant to be a carrier (a temple) of the glory of God, reflecting His love, beauty and authority in the physical realm.

Jesus does not only re-reveal us, but He also comes to redeem us. He takes on our fallen identity, our corruption, and sinfulness itself in His sacrificial death on the cross. When He died on the cross, the Apostle Paul proclaims in 2 Corinthians 5 that "all died." When He was raised to new life, we were raised with Him. Jesus is the High Priest, or Representative, of the entire human race, coming as the "Last Adam" who put an end to the false identity and power of sin. He took on the wrath of the Law and releases grace and reconciliation to all people. The work of the cross is a finished work whereby we are invited to simply believe and be immersed ("baptized") into its reality and live from the power of a new life.
This comment on 2 Corinthians 5 is a great lesson on proof texting By the way, in this entire statement of belief this is the only Biblical text that they reference to support their belief system and they completely ignore the context. Here is the passage they are referencing. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all then were all dead; And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again”.
Verse 17 of this same chapter states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things become new”.
The key phrases to note in these passages is v. 14 “they which live” implies not all will live. V. 17 “If any man be in Christ”. Implies not all men are “in” Christ. Their statement that all died on the cross with Christ implies universalism. In other words all are going to heaven. This universalism is supported with the very next point of their statement.

People have the choice to reject the goodness of God and the reality of their inclusion in Christ's death and resurrection. They can reject this work all the way into eternity. Nonetheless, we believe that God the Father is the great pursuer of His lost sheep. His mercy endures forever and He deeply desires that all come to the knowledge of His salvation and love.

Jesus is the Word made flesh. We put inestimable value upon the Written Word of God, as being fully inspired by the very Spirit of God to teach, lead, and instruct us towards Righteousness. The Bible is a lamp unto our feet, which points us towards Jesus, the Gospel, and our true identity in Christ. Without this understanding of the Written Word, we can fall into division, religious striving, and a guilt-based lens when we read it. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. We must approach the Scriptures through the Spirit and through an understanding of Christ's work on the cross. It is not the Father, Son, and Holy Book... The Holy Book is simply meant to feed us with revelation knowledge of who God is and who we are in Christ.

The Church are those who are "awakening" to the glory of Christ's work on the cross and our union with Him. They are those who have stepped into their true identity... The church celebrates this redemption regularly through the sacrament of communion and through worship. They also embody it through a life of deep fellowship, love, and generosity towards one another. 

As we are awakened from the slumber of a religion and a false identity, we "arise" into the glory He intended us to carry through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit bears the personality (fruit) and abilities (gifts) of God in the lives of the saints. As we do this, we "advance" this message of reconciliation and hope wherever we go...causing others to awake and arise as well and thus beginning a cycle of life and restoration on the earth. We believe the Lord is returning in His resurrected physical body, but that He is returning to a beautiful Bride who is fully awake to the realities of the cross. We have great hope in the "end-times" despite any plans of darkness that have and continue to be set forth.

In summary, there is much more I could write but for the sake of time and space take note of the frequent reference to identity and false identity. Self identity is at the center of their "theology". This is a man centered, self centered focus. It is very humanistic and new age. Oprah would fully agree with this statement. There statement of faith is quite arrogant, completely ignoring the saints who have gone before and tread these same waters hammering out doctrinal issues. There is no call to repentance, no new birth, no dread of holy God. They appear to deny the literal 6 day creation and refer to creation as “exploding” into existence. The Bible says God spoke it into existence. They claim they put “inestimable” value upon the written Word of God but never quote it but once and that improperly. There statement of faith does not come from scripture but from themselves because they believe they are little gods. Finally, their perception of Adam's relation to God as being His mirror image is nothing short of damnable heresy. Adams sin was not a false image of himself but actual rebellion just as Lucifer had rebelled and attempted to make himself like God. These people have the mirror image of Lucifer, not God.



Isaiah 14:12-15 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

It is this very lie that Satan convinced Eve in the garden that the word of faith movement is teaching.
Genesis 3:4-5, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

The word of faith or “little god's” teaching claims that Jesus died to reveal that you are gods. There is only ONE God. This is reiterated over and over to the Hebrew children.

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
The word “have” in Exodus 20:3 implies more than just possessing another god but even the mere existence or acknowledgment of other gods. Other ways in which this is translated could read, “in addition to me, equivalent to me and by the side of me”. Any way you look at this verse the “little god” teaching becomes relegated to the category of heresy.

God will save us and fill us with His Spirit but he will not share His glory with us;

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another...”

II Tim. 4:2-4 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”


Just prior to this passage of scripture we find II Tim. 3:16-17. This often quoted passage whereby the authority of Gods word is affirmed. We find this passage sandwiched in between these passages addressing apostasy and heresy. Paul was affirming that every teaching, every faith statement, every belief system must come under the scrutiny of Gods word for “All scripture is give by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works”

Do Not be a Carcass

In the first part of this message, Carcasses for Christ, I highlighted that salvation is a relationship with God. We must avoid the doctrinal quagmire of obsession with the security or lack of security in the believer and lift our eyes to the cross wherein our salvation is secured. So what is it that keeps us unfocused on the cross?

Part 2 Don't be a Carcass

12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom swear he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:12-19

How can we avoid becoming carcasses in the wilderness? Verse 13 tells us to Exhort one another daily lest our hearts become hardened.

1. Exhortation keeps us from a hardened heart.
We need fellow believers to stir us up and challenge us at the same time. There is a time to be challenged and a time to be comforted and exhortation in the church should provide both.

2. Exhortation can keep us from unbelief.
As believers we have an obligation to one another to encourage, comfort and chastise, if need be, lest there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.

3. Exhortation can keep us from the deceitfulness of sin.
Sin always lies. Sin always promises more than it can offer. Sin never touts its consequences. This careful exhortation within the modern church is rare indeed. It either is never present or presents itself in a judgmental Pharisaical form. Loving Christian exhortation and discipline can only come from those whose hearts are in tune with the voice of God, “Today if you will hear His voice....”.

Weaning from the milk of the word is not synonymous with weaning from meaningful fellowship with fellow believers. There is never a time in your Christian walk where you do not need exhortation from fellow believers. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” I Cor 10:12.

Where is the first century model of the church exhorting one another found today? The last great example of this was found in early Methodism from 1740 to circa 1860. While many previous church movements were built on doctrine such as Lutherans, Reformed and Presbyterians, Methodism was based upon this very principle of exhortation in a new testament fashion. The Wesley's understood this principle of exhortation.

Click on the podcast message to the right of this post for more.

Carcasses for Christ pt.1

The podcast message for today is Carcasses for Christ. This is the first part of the message which is an introduction. Avoid becoming a carcass in the wilderness as those who wandered for 40 years in unbelief ultimately losing out on the promised land. Are you trusting in an empty lifeless religion or is your faith fixed on the Living Redeemer? Are you resting on a doctrine of security or is your security found in fellowship with the Divine Savior?

Remember

“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever”. Exodus 12:14

In the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy God repeatedly tells the Hebrew children, “I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt”. God insists that these chosen ones remember where they came from and Who delivered them to be a peculiar people unto Him. For this purpose the passover is a feast of remembrance to be passed on from generation to generation. God wants us to remember our past life in sin not to relish in that sin but to distance ourselves from it. God took them out of Egypt and instituted His law as a means to take Egypt out of them. What about you? Does the Egypt of your past still exist in you? Do you still desire the Egypt of your past as the Hebrew people who built a golden calf and worshipped that calf as Jehovah. Maybe you have hung on to idols or behaviors from your past and ascribed the sacred name of Jesus to that idol. I strongly encourage you to read Exodus 32 and see what is in store for you if you are clinging to the idols and behaviors of your pre-Christian days. Jesus our Passover Lamb died to deliver your from Egypt and He gave us the Holy Spirit to conquer the Egypt in you.

The feast of passover is to be kept by God's chosen FOREVER.

I find this rather striking. I am fully aware of what Paul says in Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of holyday, or of the new moon or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ.”

The passover is not only a remembrance of the past deliverance but also a shadow of the future Messiah who will deliver His chosen from the bondage of sin. Jesus said He came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. The feast of the passover is a type of Christs sacrifice and I think its a beautiful way to not only remember how Jehovah delivered the Hebrew children from bondage in Egypt but how Christ fulfilled the law and became the final sacrificial Lamb once and for all. How Christians easily forget or conveniently ignore that Jesus sacrificed Himself as the Lamb of God during Passover. The feast of Passover lasts for seven days. Luke 22 tells us that Jesus desired to eat the passover with His disciples before He died. Pilate states in John 18:39 “ you have a custom that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”. And we all know that they released the criminal Barabbas instead. In the words of Joseph who spoke to his brothers that sold him into bondage,” you meant if for evil but God meant it for good”. The mob that cried out ,” crucify Him , crucify Him.” Did not realize they had chosen the spotless Lamb of God to be slain for the sin of the world.

Jesus celebrated the Passover and so did Paul in Acts 12:4. The word translated “Easter” in Acts 12:4 in the King James Version is the Greek word, Pascha which literally means, “Passover”. There is no first century koine Greek word for “easter”*. I Cor. 5:7 Paul refers to “...Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us”. I think its a shame that Christians do not celebrate the Passover Feast as the first century Christians would have in memory of Christ the final sacrificial Lamb once and for all. Instead Christians incorporate paganism into this most sacred day of the year. For now, let us never forget what the Lamb has saved us from and is leading us to.

* As you may realize by now I exclusively use the King James Version but I am not KJV only. In spite of its antiquated language I think its still the best translation except for this reference in Acts 12:4. I have read some very weird explanations from KJV only people concerning this translation in Acts 12:4 but there is no way getting around the fact that Pascha cannot mean, “easter”. If the etymology can be stretched to mean “easter” then we might as well call Jesus Buddha. The 1611 KJV is translated from the Received Text or whats called the Majority Text of Greek manuscripts. The Geneva Bible was translated from these same texts 60 years prior to the KJV and reads almost identical to the KJV, Acts 12:4 is one exception. The Geneva Bible is the Bible of the reformation used by Calvin, Zwingli and the Puritans. I believe in biblical inerrancy in the original manuscripts. Some of you attend evangelical churches that do not accepted biblical inerrancy and you don't realize the importance of this issue. I will post more on this subject at another time.