Grafted in at The Branch

Preaching at the funeral of a lost person

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:23:00 +0000

On several occasions I have been asked to preach at a funeral or memorial service of someone whose salvation was in question or unknown. In most of those cases my personal observation would lead me to believe that the person was not in Christ. There was no talk of the Lord, no reliance upon Christ, no love for His word, and no fellowship with His people. In short, there was no fruit. And despite the absence of a Christian walk, in most cases, the family was always adamant that the person was saved and is now in heaven with Christ.

Several friends have asked me, "What do you say at the funeral of someone who you think is lost?" My answer is, and will likely always be the same, "I preach Christ and Him crucified." While I do reflect on the positive remembrances of the deceased and strive to provide comfort for the family, I never try and cloud the fact that salvation is found in Christ and in Christ alone.

In the most recent occurrence I was lead to preach, "What Does it Mean to Believe Upon Christ". I started by asking how many believed in Christ (quoting John 3:16) and from what I could see every person in the chapel was agreeing that they did. Then I challenged their belief and asked what separated their belief form that of the demons. I urged the hearers to reflect on John 3:3 and that a true believer must be born again according to the Spirit and not the flesh.

Urging them to plead with Christ I explained that true believers must come to grips with the depth of their wickedness and depravity. The problem for most people is that they do not see mankind as evil. Most people think that since man is capable of doing “good” deeds that deep down man is OK. But this is where mankind is blind to the truth. Man is sinful and must come to Christ alone for salvation or else perish. It isn't until you understand your sinful state that you recognize you must cry out to Jesus.

In closing I told the audience that true believers hear and obey Christ. The true believer hears Christ because they have a love for His word. The true believer also follows Christ’s teachings and trusts fully in His work on the cross.

The gospel is for all to hear – we preach Christ crucified to all nation, to every man, woman, boy and girl, because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There are none righteous and apart from Christ all will perish in an eternal hell. And yet although the gospel is for all to hear not all will receive this word. Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and theywill never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:24-28)

In regards to eternal life the gospel is very selective. Only those who Christ knows will be saved, only those who follow Him will be saved, only those who have been given eternal life will be saved.

Yet many, and most, will claim to believe but have no understanding of the word.

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Easy believism will get you nowhere. Just saying that you believe that Jesus is God’s Son makes you no different than the demons.

Acts 16:30-31 ESV - Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

This belief involves the hand of God changing your life and what used to be a love for sin becomes a hatred for sin. You must repent of your sins and put your trust in the work of Christ.

If your belief is no different than that of the demons than I plead with you today to repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 ESV - For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Who among you today will claim to believe but have not been born again? Who among you today will claim to believe but don’t see mankind as evil? Who among you today claim to believe but have no desire for the Word of God and do not follow Christ?

This was my plea to the gathering that the Lord had appointed that day. I pray for grace and comfort for the family and I pray that the Lord might grant ears of faith to the lost. The truth of God should never be void of grace. Always show grace to the family, pray for grace for the family, and proclaim grace to the family.

33 Words that are greater than 40

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:48:00 +0000

Simply phenomenal...

A New Message?

noreply@blogger.com (unstoned) — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:31:00 +0000

I heard some guys talking today about the recent tornadoes and the damage and loss of life they have caused, a few weeks back throughout the south and most recently through Missouri. No one can deny how devastating weather has been this year. But a comment by one of them made me think. He said "Somebody's trying to tell us something". The implication is that God is trying to warn mankind about impending doom. I have heard that a lot. But is He really?

Hebrews 1:2 tells us that in these last days God has spoken to us by His Son. What that means is that God has made His message clear. If it wasn't clear when He spoke through the prophets (Heb. 1:1), it is clear now, because He has spoken by His Son, Jesus Christ. There is nothing else to say.

It is also worth mentioning that Christ spoke on this subject. In Luke 21:11, Jesus says:

There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

These things, He says, will happen as the end approaches. So, now that we see terrible events such as tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. that leave a trail of death and destruction in their unforgiving paths, we shouldn't think that God is all of the sudden trying to tell us something.

These events are tragic, but I don't think it is God clearing His throat as if to wake us up. That's why Christ came. That's why His words are final. But, I could be wrong.

Was Killing Bin Laden Just?

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:43:00 +0000

The past few days have been filled with commentary on the killing of Usama Bin Laden, the terrorist behind the 9/11 attack on the US. Was the killing just or unjust? Should Christians rejoice in the killing of man who was filled with such violence and hatred?

Tonight I heard an interview with Edward Beck, a Catholic Priest and "religious" contributor to various news outlets. Beck indicated his frustration with the rejoicing and jubilation over the death of Bin Laden. Beck also continued, "killing one man (bin laden) is not justice. If you want justice then you would have to kill 3000." Beck was insinuating that for those who feel justice has been served by Bin Laden's death, there would need to be a one to one killing that had to take place.

Beck's whole argument was based on his misunderstanding of the justice of God. He seemingly has no concept or understanding of God's justice and blurs the lines for those who hear him. Beck indicated that a Christian should never condone killing and that as Christians, we are called to "love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us."

Although Beck is correct in his statement, he is way off in his understanding. Christ command to love and pray does not negate the penalty of sin and God's establishment of governmental authority to bring justice (Romans 13). God established the penalty for taking a human life in Genesis 9:5-6 and contrary to what many would want to believe, Christ did not undo this call for justice. Christ established His church and commanded that they be submissive to governmental authorities and the apostle Paul reiterated this in Romans 13. Our governments have been given the authority to wield the sword for our own protection and benefit.

I would agree with Beck that we should not rejoice of the destruction of a man, but we must not neglect rejoicing in the justice of God being fulfilled. Dr. John Piper wrote an excellent piece on this on the Desiring God blog (click here).

As Christians we do not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked, but we do rejoice in the satisfaction and justice of God.

Alabama Tornado Relief

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:34:00 +0000

Many have inquired about how they can donate to assist the local relief efforts in the aftermath of this past weeks devastating Tornado's. These donations will be sent directly to Camp Branch Baptist Church and will be used to purchase much needed relief items in the areas local to Camp Branch (Tuscaloosa / Birmingham areas).

Most Needed Items:
Chap Stick
Tarps
Towels
Plastic Tubs for Storage

Click Here to Donate

The Spiritual Armor

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:49:00 +0000

Ephesians 6 is well balanced with the equipment needed to wage spiritual battle. Christian have the Truth, the Righteousness of Christ, the stability and mobility of the Gospel, a Faith that fully shields, a Salvation that is not only eternal but also guards the mind, and the Word of God that allows for an offensive attack on the enemy.

As Christians, we should live in this fullness and not get side tracked by the darts of the enemy. We are in a spiritual war and not a flesh and blood war. Be encouraged to fight the enemy and not only his darts. Alcohol is a dart, abortion is a dart, violence is a dart. The underlying issue of sin still exists. Alcoholism will not cease without regeneration, murder will not stop until murderers are converted, and abuse will not quit until the abuser is born again.

These issues and hundreds of others are nothing more than the darts that the enemy has launched. Put on the whole armor of God that you might stand against these wicked missiles and use the Word of God to push forward with the redeeming message of Christ.

"Let us remember this when the injurious treatment of others provokes us to revenge. Our natural disposition would lead us to direct all our exertions against the men themselves; but this foolish desire will be restrained by the consideration that the men who annoy us are nothing more than darts thrown by the hand of Satan." ~ John Calvin

Ten Reasons To Not Ask Jesus Into Your Heart - by Todd Friel

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 06:21:00 +0000

Ten Reasons To Not Ask Jesus Into Your Heart
Todd Friel

The music weeps, the preacher pleads, “Give your heart to Jesus. You have a God shaped hole in your heart and only Jesus can fill it.” Dozens, hundreds or thousands of people who want to get their spiritual life on track make their way to the altar. They ask Jesus into their heart.
Cut to three months later. Nobody has seen our new convert in church. The follow up committee calls him and encourages him to attend a Bible study, but to no avail. We label him a backslider and get ready for the next outreach event.

Our beloved child lies in her snuggly warm bed and says, “Yes, Daddy. I want to ask Jesus into my heart.” You lead her in “the prayer” and hope that it sticks. You spend the next ten years questioning if she really, really meant it. Puberty hits and the answer reveals itself. She backslides. We spend the next ten years praying that she will come to her senses.
Telling someone to ask Jesus into their hearts has a very typical result, backsliding. the Bible says that a person who is soundly saved puts his hand to the plow and does not look back because he is fit for service. In other words, a true convert cannot backslide. If a person backslides, he never slid forward in the first place. “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (II Cor.5) No backsliding there.

Brace yourself for this one: with very few if any exceptions, anyone who asked Jesus into their hearts to be saved...is not. If you asked Jesus into your heart because you were told that is what you have to do to become a Christian, you were mis-informed.
If you have ever told someone to ask Jesus into their heart (like I have), you produced a false convert. Here is why.

1. It is not in the Bible. There is not a single verse that even hints we should say a prayer inviting Jesus into our hearts. Some use Rev. 3:20. To tell us that Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts begging to come in.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” There are two reasons that interpretation is wrong.
The context tells us that the door Jesus is knocking on is the door of the church, not the human heart. Jesus is not knocking to enter someone’s heart but to have fellowship with His church. Even if the context didn’t tell us this, we would be forcing a meaning into the text (eisegesis). How do we know it is our heart he is knocking at? Why not our car door? How do we know he isn’t knocking on our foot? To suggest that he is knocking on the door of our heart is superimposing a meaning on the text that simply does not exist.
The Bible does not instruct us to ask Jesus into our heart. This alone should resolve the issue, nevertheless, here are nine more reasons.

2. Asking Jesus into your heart is a saying that makes no sense. What does it mean to ask Jesus into your heart? If I say the right incantation will He somehow enter my heart? Is it literal? Does He reside in the upper or lower ventricle? Is this a metaphysical experience? Is it figurative? If it is, what exactly does it mean? While I am certain that most adults cannot articulate its meaning, I am certain that no child can explain it. Pastor Dennis Rokser reminds
us that little children think literally and can easily be confused (or frightened) at the prospect of asking Jesus into their heart.

3. In order to be saved, a man must repent (Acts 2:38). Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of repentance.

4. In order to be saved, a man must trust in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of faith.

5. The person who wrongly believes they are saved will have a false sense of security. Millions of people who sincerely, but wrongly, asked Jesus into their hearts think they are saved but struggle to feel secure. They live in doubt and fear because they do not have the Holy Spirit giving them assurance of salvation.

6. The person who asks Jesus into his heart will likely end up inoculated, bitter and backslidden. Because he did not get saved by reciting a formulaic prayer, he will grow disillusioned with Jesus, the Bible, church and fellow believers. His latter end will be worse than the first.

7. It presents God as a beggar just hoping you will let Him into your busy life. This presentation of God robs Him of His sovereignty.

8. The cause of Christ is ridiculed. Visit an atheist web-site and read the pagans who scoff, “How dare those Christians tell us how to live when they get divorced more than we do? Who are they to say homosexuals shouldn’t adopt kids when tens of thousands of orphans don’t get adopted by Christians?” Born again believers adopt kids and don’t get divorced.
People who ask Jesus into their hearts do. Jesus gets mocked when false converts give Him a bad name.

9. The cause of evangelism is hindered. While it is certainly easier to get church members by telling them to ask Jesus into their hearts, try pleading with someone to make today the day of their salvation. Get ready for a painful response. “Why should I become a Christian when I have seen so called Christians act worse than a pagan?” People who ask Jesus into their hearts give pagans an excuse for not repenting.

10. Here is the scary one. People who ask Jesus into their hearts are not saved and they will perish on the Day of Judgment. How tragic that millions of people think they are right with God when they are not. How many people who will cry out, “Lord, Lord” on judgment day will be “Christians” who asked Jesus into their hearts?

So, what must one do to be saved? Repent and trust. (Heb.6:1) The Bible makes it clear that all men must repent and place their trust in Jesus Christ. Every man does have a “God shaped hole in their hearts,” but that hole is not contentment, fulfillment and peace. Every man’s heart problem is righteousness. Instead of preaching that Jesus fulfills, we must preach that God judges and Jesus satisfies God’s judgment...if a man will repent and place his trust in Him.

If you are reading this and you asked Jesus into your heart, chances are good you had a spiritual buzz for a while, but now you struggle to read your Bible, tithe, attend church and pray. Perhaps you were told you would have contentment, purpose and a better life if you just ask Jesus into your heart. I am sorry, that was a lie.

The Rapture and American History

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:48:00 +0000

Interesting video I found on the Reformed Baptist Blog --

The Rapture: History and Influence in America from Derrick Sims on Vimeo.

Camp Branch Sermons Online

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:07:00 +0000

Sermons from the Branch are now available online at Sermon Audio.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/campbranchbc

The Fear of Dying Alone

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:03:00 +0000

My grandmother is currently very ill and the doctors and nurses who administer care have indicated that she doesn't have long to live. This news of being near death has put my parents on a 24 hour vigil of either sitting by her bedside or having sleepless nights waiting on the phone to ring.

I am thankful that they are so willing to provide attention and care in such a delicate situation.

"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8

Since all humans have been created with a social nature, many people find it overwhelming when a loved one passes into eternity alone. For the non-present loved ones, there is often a feeling of guilt, remorse, or great sadness that they were not at the bedside when the dying passed on.

These moments of humanity are best handled with a heavy dose and understanding of God's word. Psalm 23 should bring great comfort to an individual facing the trials of life, especially death. When we belong to the Lord, facing death alone is not an option. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us and He comforts us.

The Lord Jesus also gave us this promise in Matthew 28:20 when He said that He is with us always even until the end of the age.

It is a commendable and noble effort to spend as much time as possible with the dying, but not the the point of withdrawing from the Lord and fellowship with His church. In the moments leading up to death, it is not just the dying that needs to be filled with the Word. Those who surround the dying should retreat in the sanctity of God's Holy Word just as deeply. Fellowship with the saints should never be so comforting as when we are coming together to worship the Almighty and usher one of our own off to glory.

May the peace that surpasses all understanding not just come upon the dying, but also upon the one who longs to sit by their side.

Rural Traditionalism

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:47:00 +0000

There are many moments in a pastors life when he is greatly encouraged by the efforts of a new Christian; especially when that new Christian is one that he had the privilege of sharing the gospel with. Twice this new Christian has stood to the challenge of traditionalism by rural "pastors" who supposedly know the scriptures.

Granted, I feel as if I am on dangerous ground by countering men who claim to be pastors. However, these men in question are not feeding the sheep nor are they shepherding the flock. They are dangerously handling the holy Scriptures and in many circumstances they are doing more harm than good.

From deceptions concerning spiritual gifts (their distribution and their application) to butchering verses by misapplying the context, these men are dangerous and deceptive.

Lord, I pray that pastors would make disciples according to the scriptures and not based on the traditions of men. Let the scriptures be our guide and our sustenance as we teach and equip.

Five Points of Calvinism and Contrasting Views

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:18:00 +0000

I came across this on the Puritan Fellowship blog. It is a nice comparison and overview of the TULIP acrostic.

Click the pic below to view in full.

Feel Like I'm Falling?

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Psalm 118:13 - I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.

So often we feel the pressures of the world crashing down upon us. Death invites itself into our families and loved ones are taken, cancer strikes, jobs are lost, addictions are made known. There are so many worldly pressures we have to deal with as a result of our sin.

In these circumstances comes one of my favorite phrases, "But God." God has intervened and His Son is on the thrown. In the midst of pressure and turmoil, trust in the Lord. He is my refuge and my strength, His steadfast love endures forever. Be strong Brothers and Sisters. Run the race with endurance and lean not on your own understanding.

My dear Brother Chad Beck recently posted a note concerning Philippians 3:13.

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead..."

Going forward in Christ involves struggle. Paul says we are "straining" forward. Although this life and its pressures are heavy, let us not forget that Christ has relieved us of the greatest burdens. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Let us find rest for our souls in Him.

It Had To Be A Friend

noreply@blogger.com (unstoned) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:34:00 +0000

So many times, pieces of Scripture allude me. Whether I am slow in understanding or in too much of a hurry to comprehend is unknown, probably both at times. But every now and then, something hits me and settles in. I believe this is of the Spirit. That in itself is a great comfort. But one of those pieces of Scripture is this. It had to be a friend. Here is what I mean.

In John 13:18, after Jesus had washed His disciples feet and told them that He had given them an example to follow and encouraging them to follow His example he says:

"I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'"

Jesus Christ is referencing Psalm 41:9 as the prophecy:

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

It had to be a friend. The Jewish leaders wanted so badly to get rid of Jesus, but they could not. Not until Jesus was ready, that is. And not until the Scripture was fulfilled, not until God's Word was fulfilled.

Had the Jews been successful in their attempts to capture Christ or trap Him in His teachings and bring Him to trial on their time, the Scripture would not have been fulfilled. Jesus had to be betrayed and it had to be a friend. This was to fulfill the Scriptures and it was to work out according to God's plan from before the foundations of the world.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The Persecution is Coming! The Persecution is Coming!

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:22:00 +0000

This was sent to me by Pastor Jim Gunn... The warnings are becoming clear, are you ready?
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Why People are Fleeing from Solid, Biblical Churches

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:27:00 +0000

It is no coincidence that the half brother of the Lord Jesus said, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

Being carried along by the Holy Spirit, James wrote the truth of God. Resisting the devil in total submission to God forces the adversary to flee. So, does it not also stand to reason that the preacher who submits himself to biblical preaching will have also have "members" who flee from him?

In essence, they are not fleeing the preacher, they are fleeing the truth of God's Word. It is a bitter thing for the wicked to sit under the exaltation of the gospel. In every gathering of God's people there is a response. The response of the righteous is humble submission and obedience to God's truth. The response of the wicked is to flee from God's truth and begin a pattern of self centered idolatry, hissing, moaning and back biting.

Romans 1:28-32
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

I recently read an encouraging word from D.J. Ward:

"The best way to purify the church and keep it pure--is to get rid of all the goats! And the best way to run the goats out of the church--is to feed them 'sheep food'. God's sheep will grow in grace under the preaching of grace--but goats will go hungry because they choke on 'sheep food'. They will soon leave and go somewhere else. Preach sovereign grace!"

Is this not what scripture teaches? Did the Lord Jesus not say, "Feed My sheep." John 21:17

Did the apostle Peter not commission church elders to, "Feed the flock of God entrusted to you." 1 Peter 5:2

Pastor, elders and saints, be encouraged by those who gather together faithfully to be fed the Word of God. It is gospel that satisfies the sanctified!

Acts 20:32
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Critical Principle when Reading the Bible

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:38:00 +0000

I scraped this off the Desiring God blog..... good stuff!

(Author: John Piper)

Sometimes readers of the Bible see the conditions that God lays down for his blessing and they conclude from these conditions that our action is first and decisive, then God responds to bless us.

That is not right.

There are indeed real conditions that God often commands. We must meet them for the promised blessing to come. But that does not mean that we are left to ourselves to meet the conditions or that our action is first and decisive.

Here is one example to show what I mean.

In Jeremiah 29:13 God says to the exiles in Babylon, "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." So there is a condition: When you seek me with all your heart, then you will find me. So we must seek the Lord. That is the condition of finding him.

True.

But does that mean that we are left to ourselves to seek the Lord? Does it mean that our action of seeking him is first and decisive? Does it mean that God only acts after our seeking?

No.

Listen to what God says in Jeremiah 24:7 to those same exiles in Babylon: "I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart."

So the people will meet the condition of returning to God with their whole heart. God will respond by being their God in the fullest blessing. But the reason they returned with their whole heart is that God gave them a heart to know him. His action was first and decisive.

So now connect that with Jeremiah 29:13. The condition there was that they seek the Lord with their whole heart. Then God will be found by them. But now we see that the promise in Jeremiah 24:7 is that God himself will give them such a heart so that they will return to him with their whole heart.

This is one of the most basic things people need to see about the Bible. It is full of conditions we must meet for God's blessings. But God does not leave us to meet them on our own. The first and decisive work before and in our willing is God's prior grace. Without this insight, hundreds of conditional statements in the Bible will lead us astray.

Let this be the key to all Biblical conditions and commands: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13). Yes, we work. But our work is not first or decisive. God's is. "I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

What is Molinism?

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:50:00 +0000

Here is a good presentation on Molinism for the theologically rich mind! Dr. James White gives an excellent presentation.

John MacArthur on Barack Obama's Christianity

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:42:00 +0000

I could not agree with Dr. MacArthur more....

Why Are Children Ruling Our Homes?

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:52:00 +0000

In a recent article by Dr. Al Mohler, he addresses the issue of modern day children ruling the roost. In my short years as an adult and parent, I have noticed the extreme lack of discipline in children throughout our society. To the modern day child, teachers are not authorities, police officers are the bad guys and parents are brutal enforcers that are standing in the way of personal development.

Scripture teaches us the exact opposite of what modern society teaches:

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

And of course the commandment as given to Moses:

Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

This verse is echoed several times throughout scripture.

You can find Dr. Mohler's article on his blog:

http://www.albertmohler.com/2009/10/14/parents-obey-your-children/

Let us follow the example of King David:

Psalm 34:11
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

But perhaps the bigger issue is not the children. Maybe the problem is that modern parents cannot lead their children to a place that they themselves have never been.

Lord, let your people gather their children and instruct each child to listen as parents teach them to fear You.

Until He Returns,

Love and the Law

noreply@blogger.com (unstoned) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:21:00 +0000

John 8:2-11

2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Here, we have an interesting and beautiful story regarding the Law of God. While Jesus was teaching people in the temple, the scribes and Pharisees brought before Him a woman that had been caught in the act of adultery. Obviously, they want to trap Jesus in saying the wrong thing; either telling them to stone her and losing favor with the people (which they were doing quite well of themselves) or dismiss the penalty and disregard the law of Moses.

His answer was for the one without sin to be the first to throw the stone - after that it could have been no holds barred! Problem was that there were none without sin, so they went away.

However, Christ was without sin, so He could have thrown the first stone. But He did not condemn her. So, did Jesus let the sin go and disregard the law?

No. First, He told her to go and 'sin no more'. This meant to repent of her sins. So He acknowledged that what she had done was sin. So what about the punishment?

The punishment was carried out...completely.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Christ bore her sins and the sins of the world to fulfill the law and provide forgiveness and reconciliation.

Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Son who was faithful!

*Most scholars agree that this passage was not part of John's gospel. However I believe that the Scriptures teach that what can be gleaned from this story is Truth.

Don't Preach In Fear Of What Hyper-Calvinists Will Think Of You ~Paul Washer

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:26:00 +0000

I came across this on the Puritan Fellowship Blog. Good stuff I might add.

"Another thing that we must deal with and you must deal with is the Gospel call. Of faith. Of repentance. Jesus did not come to Israel saying "the time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand, now who wants to ask me into their heart?" He cried out "Repent and believe". But now let me tell you something: You need to be balanced. Because I know a lot of guys who are reformed who if they make any sought of Gospel call at all they're always quick to say "Now in making that call I also know that if God doesn't move on your heat you can't come." Stop it! Don't do that! You get up there and you plead for men to repent! You plead for men to believe! And don't try to defend yourselves just in case there are a few hyper-Calvinists that have a problem with an open invitation in the audience. If you're always doing something like that and then explaining yourself you've got a problem with pride and what men think about you. That's why I love Spurgeon so much. He was true in his Gospel. He cried out for men to be saved. Don't be passive: "well I've laid the Gospel for them, I've laid it out, let's just all sit here". You're preaching to dying men. Don't manipulate them. But I'm not manipulating a man when I see him running in front of a train and I scream out: "stop!" I'm reacting to the severity of the situation. I want you not to trust ever in the arm of the flesh. I want you to isolate yourself to this one thing: unless God moves nothing is going to happen. But I want you to do what Scripture does and that is cry out to men. Beg me. You leave men saying "I have to leave you now, please hear my voice, I'm begging you. Listen to the Gospel." Be passionate preachers."~Paul Washer

Ever Heard John 3:16 like this?

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Enoch vs. Enoch

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:27:00 +0000

God's sovereignty never ceases to amaze me. While preparing for this past weeks messages "By Faith Enoch", the Lord spoke through His Word and revealed to me the path of the two Enochs.

Cain, who slew his brother Abel, had a son named Enoch.

Genesis 4:17 17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

To the Enoch of Cain was born many others who prospered in an earthly perspective. They were home builders, instrument makers and players, bronze and iron workers, and those who tended flocks. From a worldly perspective, they had it all and they were proud of it too.

Enoch's great great grandson was a man named Lamech who we see wasting no time in deviating from God's original plan for marriage. He takes "two" wives and then boasts to them about how he had killed a man.

Like great great great grandfather (Cain) like great great great grandson (Lamech).....

This line of Cain and his son Enoch had a thirst for violence and the blood of their own brothers.

Now a look at the other Enoch ---- The Enoch born to the line of Seth.

Genesis 5:19-24 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. 21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

This is the Enoch referred to in Hebrews 11:5-6 when the writer states, "By faith Enoch". This new line from Adam would be one who "began to call upon the name of the Lord".

Genesis 4:26 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

This Enoch would live by faith; a saving faith the pleased God (Hebrews 11:5-6).

"......Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him........."

Two Generations later from this Enoch would come Noah, who would be found faithful in building the ark and be delivered from the global destruction of the flood.

As for Cain's Enoch and his lineage, God's wrath would be displayed by destroying their whole line in the flood.

Of course, this did not wipe out the sin issue and to this day we continue to suffer from its effects. However, those who will repent and believe the gospel are redeemed or bought back from the wages of sin which is death.

Homosexual Debate Should be Based on Philosophy and not the Bible??

noreply@blogger.com (PastorJ) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:03:00 +0000

Tony Jones, from the emerging church movement has asked for critics to bring an argument against homosexual activity to the table without the use of scripture.

In a recent blog post he says:

"If you are one who thinks that homosexual sex is sinful, can you please explain to me WHY a gay or lesbian person who is in a long-term, monogamous relationship would not be able to wholeheartedly follow Christ?

My only stipulation is this: You may not quote one of the six verses in scripture that mentions homosexuality. Instead, you must use theological and/or philosophical arguments to attempt to convince me that when you have genital contact with someone of your own gender, it somehow inhibits your relationship with Christ."

Here is some interesting discussion on it:

http://crninfo.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/an-honest-question-about-gays-in-the-church-response-to-tony-jones/#comments

By the way -- To give brother Brian McGraw a shout out -- how do you have a theological argument without the use of scripture?