Experience His Presence

Many attempts have been made to define the term “GOD” which among our ancestors signified a person of Divine Being. As to the word itself, it is pure Anglo-Saxon. A general definition of this great person to which the term “God” has been ascribed, as far as human words dare attempt, one may be thus given: He is the eternal, independent, and self-existent Creator: He is the substance of all that exist and by His word all things are created and hold together (See Hebrews 11:3 and Colossians 1:17).

He is Deity---a Person of Divine Being: He is the indestructible, invincible, eternal Holy Supreme Being having no beginning of days or end of life---He is life: He is the one and only God and eternal power: He is the absolute authority: He is an infinite omnipresent soul; an absolute sovereign intellect embodied in an invisible Spirit (Hebrews 11:6). He is a Being whose purposes and actions spring from Himself, without foreign motive or influence: He who is absolute in dominion, the most pure, the most simple, and most spiritual of all essences is also an infinite fountain of love, mercy and grace toward His creatures:

He is infinitely true, and holy---He cannot lie, He cannot deceive or be deceived: infinitely perfect; and eternally self-sufficient, needing nothing that He has created or formed: Inconceivable in His mode of existence, and indescribable in His essence; known fully only to Himself, because an infinite mind can be fully apprehended only by itself. God is a Being who, from His infinite wisdom and knowledge, cannot error, and who, from His infinite goodness can do nothing but what is eternally just, right, and kind.

His glory is likened unto radiant light penetrating His creation with His healing love, mercy, grace, and peace. The fact that all He created still exist today is evidence that He is a fountain of infinite benevolence and beneficence toward His creatures.

He is the unfaltering rightness, the unwavering straightness and the steadfast perfection by which all else is measured. He is the foundation Rock and His Word is the corner stone of His eternal kingdom. God’s word is the exact expression of His love and thoughts of His invisible soul. His Son Yeshua (Jesus), The Word of God in human form, is the ultimate manifestation of the invisible God and Father of all creation.

By faith and the witness of all that exist in its perfect design we conclude our God IS and that He is sacred, holy and divine. His existence is declared in the first verse of His Holy Scriptures.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

(Genesis 1:1 NASU)

The original word in this opening verse of the Holy Book that is rendered God, which is singular, is the Hebrew word ‘Elohim, and it is the plural form of ‘El, or ‘Eloah, and has long been supposed by many language and Bible scholars to imply a plurality of Persons in the divine nature. The name “Elohim” also expresses the might of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

“Trinity” is a word not found in Scripture but is a descriptive term use in connection with the name Elohim and many writings in the New Testament, and is used by many to express the doctrine of the unity of God as subsisting in three distinct Persons. The propositions involved in the doctrine are these:

1. That God is one, and that there is but one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1^st Kings 8:60; Isaiah 44:6; Mark 12:29,32; John 10:30).
2. That the Father is God but yet is a distinct divine Person, distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. That Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), the Word of God, is of God, from God and truly is God, and yet is a Person distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit.
4. That the Holy Spirit is of God, from God and is God, and yet is also a distinct divine Person.

This doctrine seems to imply something like a fusion---a fusion of three distinct persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in an inseparable union.

A brief example of the work of each distinct Person of the Godhead can be found in Genesis 1:2-3; the Spirit of God was moving or hovering over the surface of the waters as God the Father spoke and His Word (Son) went out bringing forth light by the power of the Spirit. And again in Luke 1:26-55, the angel Gabriel did as God the Father had commanded him and he spoke the word of God to Mary---Mary believed and the Holy Spirit (the Power of the Most High) overshadowed her and the Promised Child was conceived in Mary’s womb.

And God became flesh:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

(John 1:1-5 NASU)

“Word,” as used in the English translation of verse 1 and 14 of John’s gospel is translated from the Greek word “Logos.” In verse 1 of chapter 1 quoted above we see “Logos” (The Word) as being the person of God. The meaning of “word” is simply a statement of or an expression of thought. Many believe the term “Logos” should not have been translated “word,” for much is lost in the translation. Every name of the Savior of the world is descriptive of some excellence in His person, nature, or work; “word” falls short of that.

The epithet Logos also signifies thought, a word spoken and speech, but it extends to include eloquence, doctrine, reason, or the faculty of reasoning and is very properly applied to Him, who is the true light to every man who comes into the world, (John 1:9); who is the fountain of all wisdom; who gives being, life, light, knowledge, and reason, to all men; who has declared God unto mankind; who is the manifestation of God the Father; who spoke by the prophets, for the testimony of Yeshua is the spirit of prophecy, (Revelation 19:10); who has illustrated life and immortality by His Gospel, (2^nd Timothy 1:10); and who has fully made manifest the deep mysteries which lay hidden in the bosom of the invisible God from all eternity (John 1:18).

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

(John 1:14 NASU)

The use of the word “flesh” here, in the above verse, is evidently used to denote “man” (see Matthew 16:17; 19:5; 24:22; Luke 3:6; Romans 1:3; 9:5). The “Word” was made “man.” This is commonly expressed by saying that He became “incarnate.” When we say that a being becomes “incarnate,” we mean that one of a higher order than man, and of a different nature, assume the appearance of man or have become man. Here it is meant that “the Word,” whom John had just stated in verse 1 was God, became a man, therefore it can be said that God “was made flesh.”

For it is written,

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, GOD WITH US.”

(Matthew 1:23 NASU)

And Joseph did as he was commanded,

“----And he called His name Jesus,” (Yeshua)

(Matthew 1:25ff NASU)

Also see Luke 1:31. Thus it can also be said that God was made flesh and His name is Yeshua (Jesus).

Here we must explain our use of the name Yeshua. Our Lord was born Hebrew and our Heavenly Father gave Him the Hebrew name “Yeshua,” meaning, “He shall save His people.” The name “Jesus” is a transliteration by Gentiles, thus it is a Gentile name. We have come to prefer the name Yeshua because it is the name His Father gave Him, but we have no objection to the name Jesus either. So please understand that when we speak of Yeshua we are speaking of the One who is also called Jesus.

The Apostle Paul writes of Him saying,

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities —all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

(Colossians 1:15-20 NASU)

In the Book to the Hebrews we find these words,

“And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”

(Hebrews 1:3-4 NASU)

Again the Apostle Paul writes of Him saying,

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”

(Colossians 2:9 NASU)

This is the great and central doctrine that is to be maintained about Yeshua, that all the fullness of the Deity (Godhead, KJV) dwells in Him. Every system of worship, which denies this, is a denial of the incarnation; and we are especially to be on guard against everything that would attempt to undermine this. Almost all heresy has begun by some form of denial of the great central truth of the incarnation of the Son of God (1^st John 4:2-3).

The Apostle John records the following event,

“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ 9 Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me’?”

(John 14:8-10 NASU)

The word “Father” in these passages seems to be used with reference to the divine nature, or to God represented as a Father, and not particularly to the distinction in the Godhead of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The idea is that God, AS God, or as a Father, had been manifested in the incarnation, the works, and the teachings of Yeshua, so that they who had seen and heard Him by the Spirit might be said to have had a real view of the nature of God, the very nature that would cause them, from a heart of love, to affectionately call Him Father.

No doubt Philip was referring to some outward and visible manifestation of God that he might see him through his flesh eyes. God had manifested Himself in various ways to the prophets and saints of old, and Philip simply stated that if some such manifestation should be made to them they would be satisfied. But over the period of our Lord’s ministry such evidence had been abundantly supplied in His miracles and teaching, and that should have been enough to satisfy them. But apparently Philip had not yet received the revelation by the Spirit that the Father was in Yeshua and Yeshua was in the Father.

When Yeshua says, “has seen the Father,” He does not refer to the essence or substance of God, for He is invisible, and in that respect no man has seen God at any time (John 1:18). What is meant when it is said that God is seen, is that some manifestation of Him has been made, or some such exhibition as that we may learn His character, His will, and His plans. In this case it cannot mean that he that had seen Yeshua with the natural eyes had in the same sense seen God; but he that had seen, through the eyes of the Spirit, His miracles and His transfiguration-and by the ears of the Spirit had heard His doctrines and studied His character---had full evidence of His divine mission, and of the will and purpose of the Father in sending Him. The knowledge gained through the Spirit of the Son was itself, of course, the knowledge of the Father. There was such an intimate union in their nature and design that he who, by the Spirit, understood the one understood also the other and has had a revelation by the Holy Spirit of the Father and has seen Him, not with eyes of flesh, but through the eyes of the same Spirit.

If it was only by revelation through the Spirit that those who looked upon, touched and walked with our Lord knew Him as the Son of God how much more is it so of us who have not seen Him (Matthew 16:13-17)?

My dear brothers and sisters the lesson taught here is that we can only see things in the spirit realm through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. With each revelation given to us by the Spirit of God of our Lord and Savior we get a glimpse of the invisible God and it is through this personal relationship with Him that we walk in the way of salvation. To deny the work of the Holy Spirit is to reject the true knowledge of the Father and the Son.

After our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection He appeared to Thomas and he declared of Him, “my Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

Upon His pending departure our Lord command His disciples saying,

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

(Matthew 28:19 NASU)

On the Day of Pentecost Peter exhorted the people saying,

“Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the of name Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NASU)

Did Peter disobey his Lord by commanding the people to be baptized in the name of Yeshua (Jesus)? Of course not!! He knew the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit was summed up in the name of Yeshua the Messiah.

Thus the Holy Spirit has taught us from the Holy Scriptures that Yeshua is the word of God; He is the image and glory of God; and He is Immanuel, God with us. He is God in the image of man; and He is man in the image of God; and, in Him, God and man are one.

Such is the God of the Bible, but how vastly different from the God of most human creeds and apprehensions!

In the preceding pages we have endeavored to point out the greatness and the magnificent beautify of our God, Creator and Savior, and the oneness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In the pages that follow we will endeavor to show through Holy Scripture how that greatness, magnificent beautify and oneness extends from heaven to earth to be one with man.

Oneness and the promise of the Spirit:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

(John 14:15 NASU)

Love motivates faithfulness and obedience. Therefore faithfulness and humble obedience is an expression of love. This is the only proper evidence of love to Yeshua, for mere profession is no proof of love; but that love for Him which leads us to seek to know and do all His will, to love each other, to deny ourselves while sacrificing to serve others and to keep our faith and trust in Him through trials, perils and tribulations without faltering is true attachment and oneness with Him; love is the “perfect bond of unity (Colossians 3:14).”

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;.”

(John 14:16 NASU)

When Yeshua says, “I will ask the Father,” apparently He is speaking of a time after His crucifixion, after having made atonement for the sin of the world, that He would become the Mediator between God and man; and through His mediation and intercession shall all the blessings of grace and glory be acquired.

The Greek word parakleeton used here not only signifies a comforter, but also an advocate, a defender of a cause, a counselor, patron, and mediator. Yeshua is so termed by the Apostle John is the book of 1^st John 2:1, where the common translation renders the word advocate. Yeshua is thus called, because He is represented as transacting the concerns of our souls with God; and for this cause, He tells us, he goes unto the Father (John 14:12). The Holy Spirit is also called an advocate, because He transacts the cause of God and The Messiah with us, explains to us the nature and importance of the great atonement, shows the necessity of it, counsels us to receive it, instructs us how to lay hold on it, vindicates our claim to it, and makes intercessions in us with unutterable groaning. In fact, all that Yeshua was while with His disciples so is the Holy Spirit with those who believe in His name.

As the death and atonement of Yeshua will be necessary to man until the conclusion of the world, so the work of the Holy Spirit must be continued among men until the end of time: therefore says Yeshua, he shall continue with you “forever,” teaching, comforting, advising, defending, and interceding for you and for all His followers to the end of time.

“that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and WILL BE IN YOU.”

(John 14:17 NASU)

The Holy Spirit, whose essential work is to manifest, vindicate, and apply the truth is thus called the Spirit of Truth. The Gospel of Yeshua, taught and revealed only by the Holy Spirit, is Gods truth; it exposes falsity, removes error, and teaches the knowledge of the true God-shows the way to Him, saves from vanity and illusive hopes, and establishes genuine joy in the souls of those who believe; His truth is the “power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).

By the world, the Apostle means those who are influenced by the lustful desires of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the boastful pride of life (1^st John 2:16). Now these cannot receive the Spirit of Truth, because they do not have spiritual eyes to see Him, have no spiritual discernment and they attend to nothing but the dictates of their corrupt passions and affections, and will accept no influence but what can be an object of their senses. The word of God requires a heart that is empty. A heart filled with earthly projects, carnal interests, ambition, thoughts of becoming rich in worldly goods, and with the love of the luxuries and pleasures of life is not fit to receive the word of truth.

from many of these ungodly men spring all the hostile and indifferent religions of the world. While affirming the existence of God they deny all validity of revelation. In these debase and corrupt religions men of corrupt minds seek God; but in their vein religion He is not to be found; and therefore, they become infidels and atheists worshiping false gods and denying the living God. God, in the operation of His hands, and in the influences of His Spirit, is found everywhere except in the perverted passions of men.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

(John 14:18 NASU)

Here we see the oneness principle. To receive the promised Spirit is to receive the presence of the Father and the Son; to reject the Spirit is to reject their presence also.

“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.”

(John 14:19 NASU)

The world can no longer see Him because He is not in bodily form but we can see Him by way of revelation; and because He lives we live also. We who believe in His resurrection are resurrected with Him for we are one with Him in His death, burial, resurrection and eternal life.

“IN THAT DAY YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM IN MY FATHER, AND YOU IN ME, AND I IN YOU.”

(John 14:20 NASU)

When He says, “In that day” He speaks of the day of His resurrection and in His resurrection is solid proof of His oneness with the Father and that He lives in us by way of the Spirit and by love and faith we live in Him.

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

(John 14:21 NASU)

Promise of the Spirit fulfilled: Read Acts 2:

“Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself’.”

(Acts 2:38-39 NASU)

Here the Apostle Peter reaffirms the promise of the Holy Spirit for those who come to Yeshua by way of faith and repentance and are baptized in His name. The gift of the Holy Spirit here means, all generations until the promised day of His return that come to Yeshua shall partake of the influences of the Holy Spirit as may be needful for comfort, peace, and sanctification. It is also the work of the Spirit to bring the love of God into the heart of man, to give spiritual gifts for the edification of the Church, to enlighten, to give peace, to give spiritual strength to overcome sin and to give evidence that the soul is born again. And this is the evidence of His presence: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:22-24).

The work of the Holy Spirit is to be manifested outwardly in the mortal body.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

(Romans 8:11 NASU)

It seems apparent that this verse does not refer to the resurrection of the dead. It is referring to the body, subject to carnal desires and sinful tendencies; by nature under the reign of death, and therefore mortal; that is, subject to death. The sense is, that under the power of the word of God, by the influence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the entire man will be made alive in the service of God. Even the corrupt, carnal, and mortal body, so long spiritually dead under the dominion of sin, shall be made alive and recovered to the service of God. This also is the work of the Spirit that dwells in us; because that Spirit has restored life to our souls, abides with us with His purifying influence, and because the design and tendency of His indwelling is to purify the entire man, and restore all to God. The born again in our bodies as well as in our spirits become sacred. For even the body, the seat of evil passions and desires shall be cleansed and made alive in the service of God.

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

(1^st John 4:4 NASU)

The term “them” refers to the false prophets or teachers who collectively constitute antichrist. The born again are of family of God; we have embraced His truth and drunk of His Spirit; we are His children and we have overcome the false prophets and teachers because He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

(1^st John 5:4-5 NASU)

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2^nd Corinthians 5:17-20 NASU).”

Mystery revealed:

“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.”

(Col 1:25-27 NASU)

Found in the above verses of Scripture is the central theme of this writing. We desire to impress the reader with the greatness of our Creator, His majestic beauty, His love, mercy and grace, His glorious power and authority and the righteousness of His Being in order that we might realize who He is that indwells us. The whole design of the Gospel is to put men in possession of the Spirit and power of Yeshua, to make them partakers of the divine nature, and thus prepare them for an eternal inseparable union with his Heavenly Father. Yeshua, by the Spirit, is among men and in the born again, to convict of sin, to convert, enlighten, quicken, purify, and refine us, to inspire to love, faith and hope---and this He does by dwelling in us. He is likened unto leaven hidden in a lump of dough that soon leavens the whole lump.

This present and indwelling Messiah is the hope of glory; for no man could rationally hope for glory who has not been forgiven of his sins, and whose sin nature is not done away with; and none can be cleansed and forgiven but through the shed blood of our Lord on His cross; and none can have glorification but through the indwelling, sanctifying Spirit of Yeshua.

We must realize and cherish the indwelling of our Almighty God and the power and authority of His presence in this hour; for it is in the oneness we have in Him by faith that will sustain us through the trials that lie ahead for the church; He is our fortress. It is of most importance that we have the revelation that our Lord dwells in us, but it is just as important to have the revelation that we ARE IN HIM.

“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born, or You did give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

(Psalms 90:1-2)

Truly, it humbles and strengthens the soul of those who love Him to know this great Heavenly Father dwells with and in His chosen people to comfort, guide and protect from all harm. He is the Guardian of our souls!!! Experience His presence!!

CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.

Selah.

James C Sanford

Ray Comfort's Athest Starter Kit

Ten Suggestions for the Novice Atheist

1. Whenever you are presented with credible evidence for God’s existence, call it a “straw man argument,” or “circular reasoning.” If something is quoted from somewhere, label it “quote mining.”
2. When a Christian says that creation proves that there is a Creator, dismiss such common sense by saying “That’s just the old watchmaker argument.”
3. When you hear that you have everything to gain and nothing to lose (the pleasures of Heaven, and the endurance of Hell) by obeying the Gospel, say “That’s just the old ‘Pascal wager.’”
4. You can also deal with the “whoever looks on a woman to lust for her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart,” by saying that there is no evidence that Jesus existed. None.
5. Believe that the Bible is full of mistakes, and actually says things like the world is flat. Do not read it for yourself. That is a big mistake. Instead, read, believe, and imitate Richard Dawkins. Learn and practice the use of big words. “Megalo-maniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully” is a good phrase to learn.
6. Say that you were once a genuine Christian, and that you found it to be false. (The cool thing about being an atheist is that you can lie through your teeth, because you believe that are no moral absolutes.) Additionally, if a Christian points out that this is impossible (simply due to the very definition of Christianity as one who knows the Lord), just reply “That’s the ‘no true Scotsman fallacy.’” PLEASE NOTE: It cannot be overly emphasized how learning and using these little phrases can help you feel secure in dismissing common sense.
7. Believe that nothing is 100% certain, except the theory of Darwinian evolution. Do not question it. Believe with all of your heart that there is credible scientific evidence for species-to-species transitional forms. When you make any argument, pat yourself on the back by concluding with “Man, are you busted!” That will make you feel good about yourself.
8. Deal with the threat of eternal punishment by saying that you don’t believe in the existence of Hell. Then convince yourself that because you don’t believe in something, it therefore doesn’t exist. Don’t follow that logic onto a railway line and an oncoming train.
9. Blame Christianity for the atrocities of the Roman Catholic church--when it tortured Christians through the Spanish Inquisition, imprisoned Galileo for his beliefs, or when it murdered Moslems in the Crusades.
10. Finally, keep in fellowship with other like-minded atheists who believe as you believe, and encourage each other in your beliefs. Build up your faith. Never doubt for a moment. Remember, the key to atheism is to be unreasonable. Fall back on that when you feel threatened. Think shallow, and keep telling yourself that you are intelligent. Remember, an atheist is someone who pretends there is no God.

The Theory of Evolution of the Coca Cola Can

Billions of years ago, a big bang produced a large rock. As the rock cooled, sweet brown liquid formed on its surface. As time passed, aluminum formed itself into a can, a lid, and a tab. Millions of years later, red and white paint fell from the sky, and formed itself into the words “Coca Cola 12 fluid ounces.”

Of course, my theory is an insult to your intellect, because you know that if the Coca Cola can is made, there must be a maker. If it is designed, there must be a designer. The alternative, that it happened by chance or accident, is to move into an intellectual free zone.

The Banana -- The Atheist’s Nightmare

Note that the banana:

1. Is shaped for human hand
2. Has non-slip surface
3. Has outward indicators of inward content:
   Green-too early,
   Yellow-just right,
   Black-too late.
4. Has a tab for removal of wrapper
5. Is perforated on wrapper
6. Bio-degradable wrapper
7. Is shaped for human mouth
8. Has a point at top for ease of entry
9. Is pleasing to taste buds
10. Is curved towards the face to make eating process easy

To say that the banana happened by accident is even more unintelligent than to say that no one designed the Coca Cola can.

TEST ONE The person who thinks the Coca Cola can had no designer is: ___ A. Intelligent ___ B. A fool ___ C. Has an ulterior motive for denying the obvious

The Eye

Did you know that the eye has 40,000,000 nerve endings, the focusing muscles move an estimated 100,000 times a day, and the retina contains 137,000,000 light sensitive cells?

Charles Darwin said,

“To suppose that the eye could have been formed by natural selection, seems I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.”

If man cannot begin to make a human eye, how could anyone in his right mind think that eyes formed by mere chance? In fact, man cannot make anything from nothing. We don’t know how to do it. We can re-create, reform, develop . . . but we cannot create even one grain of sand from nothing. Yet, the eye is only a small part of the most sophisticated part of creation-the human body.

George Gallup, the famous statistician, said,

“I could prove God statistically; take the human body alone; the chance that all the functions of the individual would just happen, is a statistical monstrosity.”

Albert Einstein said,

“Everyone who is seriously interested in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe—a spirit vastly superior to man, and one in the face of which our modest powers must feel humble.”

TEST TWO A. Do you know of any building that didn’t have a builder? ___ YES ___ NO B. Do you know of any painting that didn’t have a painter? ___ YES ___ NO C. Do you know of any car that didn’t have a maker? ___ YES ___ NO If you answered “YES” for any of the above, give details: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________

Oranges...

Could I convince you that I dropped 50 oranges onto the ground and they by chance fell into ten rows of five oranges? The logical conclusion is that someone with an intelligent mind put them there. The odds that ten oranges would fall by accident into a straight line are mind-boggling, let alone ten rows of five.

TEST THREE A. From the atom to the universe, is there order? ___ YES ___ NO B. Did it happen by accident? ___ YES ___ NO C. Or, must there have been an intelligent mind? ___ YES ___ NO D. What are the chances of 50 oranges falling by chance into ten rows of five oranges? ______________________ If you answered “YES” for any of the above, give details: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________

Absolute Statement

The declaration “There is no God” is what is known as an absolute statement. For an absolute statement to be true, I must have absolute knowledge.

Here is another absolute statement: “There is no gold in China.”

TEST FOUR What do I need to have for that statement to be true? A. No knowledge of China. ___ YES ___ NO B. Partial knowledge of China. ___ YES ___ NO C. Absolute knowledge of China. ___ YES ___ NO

“C” is the correct answer. For the statement to be true, I must know that there is no gold in China, or the statement is incorrect. To say “There is no God,” and to be correct in the statement, I must be omniscient.

I must know how many hairs are upon every head, every thought of every human heart, every detail of history, every atom within every rock...nothing is hidden from my eyes...I know the intimate details of the secret love-life of the fleas on the back of the black cat of Napolean’s great-grandmother. To make the absolute statement “There is no God.” I must have absolute knowledge that there isn’t one.

Let’s say that this circle represents all the knowledge in the entire universe, and let’s assume that you have an incredible 1% of all that knowledge. Is it possible, that in the knowledge you haven’t yet come across, there is ample evidence to proved that God does indeed exist?

If you are reasonable, you will have to say, “Having the limited knowledge that I have at present, I believe that there is no God.” In other words, you don’t know if God exists, so you are not an “atheist,” you are what is commonly known as an “agnostic.” You are like a man who looks at a building, and doesn’t know if there was a builder.

TEST FIVE The man who sees a building and doesn’t know if there was a builder is: ___ A. Intelligent ___ B. A fool ___ C. Has an ulterior motive for denying the obvious

Perhaps you have questions that hold you back from faith. First, almost every question you have about suffering humanity etc., can be adequately answered.

Second, we have faith in plenty of things we don’t understand. Did you understand the mechanics of television before you turned it on? Probably not. You took a step of faith, turned it on, and after it worked, understanding how it worked wasn’t that important. We accept that there are unseen television waves right in front of our eyes. We can’t see them because they are invisible. For them to manifest, we need a receiver, then we can enjoy the experience of television.

God is not flesh and blood. He is an eternal Spirit-immortal and invisible. Like the television waves, He cannot be experienced until the “receiver” is switched on. Here is something you will find hard to believe: Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21).

Either that is true or it isn’t. Jesus Christ says that He will manifest Himself to anyone who obeys Him. Approach the subject the same way you approached your first television set. Just take a small step of faith. If it works, enjoy it, if it doesn’t, forget it.

Or have you an ulterior motive? Could it be that the “atheist” can’t find God, for the same reason a thief can’t find a policeman? Could it be that your love for sin is clouding your good judgment? If the Bible is true, and Jesus Christ has “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel,” then you owe it to yourself just to check it out. Here is how to do that:

TEST SIX With a tender conscience, check this list of the Ten Commandments: Have I always loved God my Creator with all my heart, mind, soul and strength? Have I made a god in my own image a god to suit myself? Have I ever used God’s name in vain? Have I kept the Sabbath holy? Have I always honored my parents implicitly? Have I murdered (God considers hatred as murder)? Have I committed adultery (including premarital sex and lust)? Have I stolen (the value is irrelevant)? Have I lied (including fibs and these questions)? Have I coveted (been greedy or materialistic)? ____YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO ___ YES ___NO

Lawbreakers...

If you have even broken one Law, then you have sinned against God and therefore will “surely die,” for the “wages of sin is death.”

We are all guilty of breaking the Commandments. Listen to the voice of your conscience, and let it remind you of some of the sins of the past. We are not perfect as we are commanded to be (Matthew 5:48), neither is our heart pure. On Judgment Day our transgressions will be evidence of our shame. Think of it: God has seen every sin we have ever committed. We share our thought-life with Him.

We are guilty of violating His Law a multitude of times, yet if we repent, God can forgive us because Jesus stepped into the courtroom 2.000 years ago and paid the fine for us.

His death on the cross satisfied the Law we so blatantly transgressed, and at the same time demonstrated how much God loves us—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” His shed blood on the cross can make you clean in the sight of a holy God...as though you have never sinned.

God doesn’t want you to go to Hell. Please, forget your arguments, repent and put your trust in Jesus and be saved from God’s wrath. Make Psalm 51 your prayer, then read your Bible daily and always obey what you read; God will never let you down. Thank you for taking the time to read this booklet.

Adapted from God Doesn’t Believe in Atheists
by Ray Comfort (Living Waters)
available through your Christian bookstore.

The Voice of an Angel

Earlier this summer, I had the immense honor to meet the great artist Angela Knight after one of her performances.

This woman has a voice that any diva would covet... and yet I was caught off guard by her sweet and simpatico personality.

Check out Angela’s web site where you can hear samples of her mellifluous voice and (if you like what you hear) purchase her latest CD, Giubileo.

Meet Bebo Norman

September 2nd, 2008

	PRE-ORDER "BEBO NORMAN" TODAY & ATTEND THE MEET & GREET! Pre-Order Bebo Norman's new album "Bebo Norman" coming September 16th, 2008! Grab your copy at Musichristian or Family Christian and receive an EXCLUSIVE MEET & GREET PASS.
	BEBO NORMAN'S NEW SINGLE "BRITNEY" IS LIVE NOW Get Bebo Norman's new single "Britney" at iTunes and hear what lots of folks have been talking about. You can also head over to Bebo's myspace page to hear it before you buy it!
	HELP SPREAD THE WORD WITH THE BEBO NORMAN WIDGET Check out the Bebo Norman Widget and share it with your friends! You can even post it on their page!! The Bebo Norman Widget features two singles, tour info, a countdown til release date and more. So check it out and spread it around!
	JOIN THE SIMPLETONS! Want to be apart of Bebo's Official Street Team - The Simpletons?! Well now you can! CLICK HERE and get plugged in! The Simpletons participate in fun different projects to help spread the word and they get some pretty cool hookups for being apart of all the fun. So come join in on all the fun...join The Simpletons today!!
	BEBO NORMAN ON TOUR THIS FALL WITH MERCY ME Make sure and check out Bebo's tour dates as he will be heading out this Fall with Mercy Me. Check out the tour e-card. 9/9 - Cincinnati, OH 9/16 - Lawrenceville, GA 9/21 - Denver, CO 9/25 - Knoxville, TN 9/26 - Clemont, FL 9/27 - Elgin, IL 9/28 - Hattlesburg, MS 10/16 - Virginia Beach, VA 10/17 - Salisbury, MD 10/18 - Peckville, PA 10/24 - Shreveport, LA 10/25 - Wichita Falls, TX 10/26 - Austin, TX 10/30 - Holland, MI 10/31 - Lynchburg, VA 11/5 - Hannibal, MI 11/7 - Amarillo, TX 11/8 - Lubbock, TX 11/9 - Abilene, TX 11/14 - Lincoln, NE 11/15 - Davenport, IA 11/20 - New Albany, IN 12/2 - Elkhorn, NE 12/4 - Lexington, KY 12/5 - Richmond, VA 12/6 - Danbury, CT 12/7 - Schenectady, NY 12/11 - Fort Myers, FL 12/12 - Largo, FL 12/13 - Orland, FL 12/17 - Charlotte, NC 12/18 - Nashville, TN 12/19 - Kokomo, IN 12/20 - Montague, MI 12/21 - Milford, OH

Spiritual Meanies

I was reading a political blog and the topic of evangelical Christians came up. The writer, who presumably was not a believer, wailed about how so many people who call themselves Christians do lots of things... but the one thing that they don’t do is follow the teachings of Jesus.

I stopped and thought about that. We do so many things in His name except the one thing that He said would be a sign of our being connected to Him.

I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

John 13:34-25 [AMP]

That made me think both of my lack of love... and of experiences from spiritual meanies that I have encountered over the years...

You know the type. They look as if they have been baptized in pickle juice. They frown and scowl. They never offer positive encouragement but, rather, are quick with the put-downs and condemnation.

Look at that whore on the street corner...

Why, that ugly old drunk needs to go somewhere and sober up...

Those kids with the tattoos and the BB’s through their noses oughta be ashamed, walking around looking like that.

I have experienced people wagging their finger at me to point out some (real or percieved) sin in my life. Hey pal, how about praying that we all are stronger in our walk?

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].

Proverbs 27:17 [AMP]

I remember as an undergrad in Washington DC, I got through college by the skin of my financial teeth. But I trusted God and He provided. Granted, I never received enough salary or stipend to maintain a bank account, so I cashed each check I received. In DC at that time, liquor stores were authorized by the District to cash checks. Granted, a lot of poor people would go in with some sort of subsistence check and come out with an arm full of booze... but some people were mostly honest in that regard.

Well, a sister in Christ confronted me after church with her finger pointed in my face.

“A-ha!” she exclaimed. “You’re supposed to be a CHRISTIAN! But I saw you go into the liquor store!”

I asked, “Did you also see me exit the store?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“Was I carrying any liquor?” I asked.

She realized that I was not. I explained that I simply cashed my ROTC stipend. And she went away sorrowful... because she didn’t have occasion to accuse her brother.

Whoa! Don’t you think maybe she might have gone to her prayer closet and said, “Father, I don’t know if my brother has sin in his life... or if there is some problem that has taken his eyes off of You and made him seek the bottle. In any instance, I just pray his strength in the name of Jesus.”

But, in reality, how often do we ever do that? Most of the time, we are quick to judge, and then thank God that we are not as bad a sinner as the other guy. Whoa! Are we so self-righteous that we don’t realize that we are all saved by grace... and were it not for God’s grace we would all be a disgrace?

Let’s not be Christian meanies. Let’s not act like self-righteous weenies. But let us be quick to intercede for each other and (most importantly) love one another with humble spirits and godly fear.

Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men--extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers--or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain. But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am! I tell you, this man went down to his home justified (forgiven and made upright and in right standing with God), rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 18:10-14 [AMP]

Amen.

Hurricane Gustav - A Call to Urgent Prayer by Tom Victor

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

I woke up very early this morning with a growing concern. Here in the United States we are in a holiday weekend. But we are also facing a significant challenge. No doubt many of you are already praying - but would you take a couple of minutes to read the following. Then please join us in prayer and help to get this prayer alert out to others that can join with us both in the United States and around the world. Here's why.

History and Context:

In 2005 as Rita, a category 5 Hurricane was lining up for a direct hit on Houston, sustained winds had reached 180 miles per hour. Lt. Col. Warren Madden, a Hurricane Hunter and meteorologist for the Weather Channel, recorded a peak wind gust of 235 miles per hour while flying in the eye of the story and called Rita, "the strongest storm that I've ever been in."

It was indeed a killer, the strongest hurricane to enter the Gulf of Mexico at the time, surpassing the strength of Hurricane Katrina that had devastated New Orleans and the surrounding area only weeks earlier. As a result the largest mass evacuation in our nation's history began in the Greater Houston area, involving some 2.7 million people.

Suzette Caldwell, associate pastor for Windsor Village United Methodist Church and President of the Kingdom Builders' Prayer Institute, issued an urgent call to pray. A specific prayer assignment was given as people in Houston were encouraged to point their hands towards Rita and pray in unity. That call was picked up through the Houston Prays network and sent out to key prayer networks in places like Indonesia, India and to praying people literally around the world.

The Miracle:

Did God answer those prayers? We watched as Hurricane Rita shifted her course and landed 100 miles to the east in the least populated regions of the coast. The winds diminished from 180 to 115 miles per hour when the storm made landfall. Winds blowing offshore in Texas actually flattened the storm surge which was only seven feet in Galveston, well below the Galveston seawall. The five inches of rain expected to fall overnight in neighboring New Orleans also did not happen and the pressure on their levee system was eased. Following Rita, gas prices fell in the U.S. instead of rising as feared.

Current Challenge:

We are facing a new threat as Hurricane Gustav is moving toward the Gulf of Mexico. A line of storms is forming behind, including tropical storm Hanna. Water temperatures are very favorable for intensification of Hurricane Gustav. It has already reached Major Hurricane Status of category 4 with sustained winds of 145 miles per hour. Those winds are expected to strengthen with a growing probability of a full category 5 hurricane.

The implications of Gustav and this line of storms following for our entire nation are very significant, especially for the peoples along the Gulf Coast and in major cities of New Orleans and Houston. Evacuation plans are already in place as well as contingency plans for the GOP National Convention on Monday.

God was gracious to us during Rita as united prayers were lifted up in the area and around the world. Would you join with us in prayer once again?

Call to Urgent, United Prayer for Gustav:

Please join with us in faith as we unite our hearts in prayer. For those in the Gulf Area, you are encouraged to point your hands towards Gustav and pray the following:

The Prayer:

Father, we acknowledge you as Lord over the United States.

You reign above all gods. All power belongs to You.

We thank You for your continual protection and provision.

Using the authority given to us in the Name of Jesus, we speak to Hurricane Gustav and we command the winds and the storm to dissipate.

We ask for the peace of God to still Hurricane Gustav, and we declare that Gustav will not bring harm or destruction to New Orleans, Houston or the surrounding coastal areas.

We also speak to Hanna and the storms lining up following Gustav. We declare peace to these storms and we command them to dissipate and to do no harm.

Lord, we ask You to touch the heart of every believer in this area to pray against this hurricane. Raise up a Spirit of prayer and empower your people to pray effectively.

Father, please forgive our many sins. Please forgive our disobedience, rebellion, unbelief, and any forms of idolatry. Lord, help us to be a nation that is kind and forgiving to others.

Have mercy upon us. Lord, help us to overcome our temptations as a nation, and please deliver us from this impending destruction. We ask You to destroy every satanic assignment against our nation during this season.

Father, in Your great love and compassion we also ask you to protect the peoples of the islands in the path of Gustav, Hanna and these weather system.

Now to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. We ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thanks for praying,

Tom Victor

A Democracy and the Church

A democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Thus the power of change rests with the majority of the people. Therefore, the government reflects the will of the people. Their moral values, work habits, code of ethics and etc. are mirrored by the one’s they elect to hold government office. If the majority’s standards are high in these things then the one they elect to office will be of high standards. If the majority’s values are corrupt then the government is corrupt. The nature or character of the majority of a nation of people is directly reflected in the nature or character of the government of that democracy---for the people are the government.

Many of the congregations that gather in our Lord’s name govern themselves as though they are a democracy. The majority of the people elect the officials from among themselves or from the schools that they have established to train their leaders. The pastor, deacon, bishop, priest, pope, convention or association president, clerk, denominational head, or what ever they may call them, are all elected, directly or indirectly, by the people. If the people have high values then the one they elect from among themselves will also have high values. Of course, if the people have lowered their standards then they can expect their leaders to have the same lower standards.

But contrary to today’s modern “church” our Lord’s kingdom, His church, is not a democracy; it is a theocracy governed by the rule of His law; and the power to change the lives of men rests in His law (Romans 1:16). Thus the law of a never changing God working in the lives of His people reflects His will. The very nature of God is manifested in those who believe and obey Him from a heart of love. It is from among these that He calls and seats in the offices of His kingdom (Ephesians 4:11). Thus the nature of God’s kingdom is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 NAS). These are the works of the Spirit of God, not MAN.

If we are to ever see democracy work again in this country, God and His theocracy must be restored in the American church; rather, it must repent and be united to His church. A nation that is a democracy such as ours can only function to a proper success when the heart of its people is governed by God’s theocracy. A democracy of an immoral self-centered people is distained to failure---this is God’s judgment.

No politician can bring about the needed change in this nation or in this world. Only Jesus Christ seated on the throne of the lives of the majority of the people of this nation, ruling their spirits, can bring about the needed change.

About the Kingdom of God

The kingdom of heaven and its blessings is here now—it is not all “pie in the sky in the sweet by and by.” But we must learn how to reap its benefits. Please read this entire message and study it carefully---you will be spiritually blessed.

Note: This is not a doctrine of financial prosperity.

At His trial, in response to Pilate:

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

(John 18:36 NASU)

The origin of our Lord’s kingdom is of the spirit realm and comes down from heaven to earth in His person. The power of His kingdom is not in mighty armies and weapons as the nations of the world, but is in His word ministered in love. The message of His love conquers the hearts of the wicked and rescues them from a burning hell and transfers them into His kingdom of love, joy, peace and eternal life. Therefore, as the King of His kingdom He rules over the spirits of converted men.

The kingdom of God in the earth began humbly in a manger in Bethlehem two thousand years ago with the birth of a baby named Jesus (Yeshua), God’s unique Son (Luke 2:7; John 1:14). Thus the kingdom of God on earth began with the loving gift of His Son that through Him men might enter His kingdom and the realm of eternal life. About thirty-three and one half years into His incarnate life He was crucified and became the “chief corner stone” that the builders rejected at Mt. Calvary (Isaiah 8:14 NAS; Matthew 21:42 NAS).

Three days after His crucifixion our Lord and King was resurrected from the dead by the Holy Spirit of God with demonstration of great power and authority. Thus Jesus became the “first born from the dead,” or rather He was the first to be “born again;” He was the “first of many brethren (Hebrews 2:10-13),” or the first of many to be born again; that He might have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18). He, The Living Word of God (John 1:1-2 & 14; Revelation 19:13) that the nation Israel rejected, became the “corner stone” and foundation of the church, the kingdom of God in the earth (Psalms 118:19-23; 1^st Peter 2:7 NAS).

His kingdom is likened unto the leaven that was hidden in the lump of dough (Matthew 13:33 NAS). The beginning of His kingdom is as the precious pearl of great value, yet so small it can be hidden in ones pocket (Matthew 13:46 NAS). And His kingdom is also likened unto the grain of mustard seed that is the smallest seed in the earth, yet it grows so large it becomes the resting place for the foul of the air (Luke 13:19 NAS; Mark 4:31-32 NAS).

As to the foundation of His kingdom---kings, kingdoms, heaven and earth will all pass away but God’s word will never pass away (Matthew 24:35 NAS; Mark 13:31 NAS; Luke 21:33 NAS). His is the kingdom that is built upon a “rock” and the “gates of hell” cannot, has not and will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18 NAS).

When Jesus was resurrected many others were resurrected after Him (Matthew 27:51-53 NAS); they were among the “born again” along with all of the faithful disciples who were the first of the citizens of this new and exciting kingdom (John 20:22 NAS).

Before our Lord ascended unto the Father He gave His disciples instructions not to leave, but to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit of Promise and they would receive power (Acts 1:4-8 NAS). On the day of Pentecost the promise of the Spirit was fulfilled with another great demonstration of power over evil and three thousand souls were snatched from the grasp of Satan and were added to the church that day (Acts 2:1-41 NAS). The giving of the Holy Spirit was the completion of the divine order for the church and the kingdom had begun its powerful quest to fill all the earth with the glory of God.

The “golden thread” that runs through the kingdom of God is “faith working through love (Galatians 5:6 NAS).” The Spirit of the Father through His Son first established this great principle through His relationship with all of His disciples. As they grew in revelation knowledge (Matthew 16:13-19 NAS) of Him their hearts became knit together with His in love and they grew in holy faith. This was the beginning of His writing His law upon the hearts of men (Jeremiah 31:33).

After our Lord’s death the disciples became “messengers of God” or apostles bearing the good news of the mighty works of God and of salvation through Jesus Christ. They continued in the law of faith working through love and other teachings that had been written upon their hearts. The Holy Spirit, through these men of God, brought into effect all the doctrines necessary for governing God’s kingdom (John 16:13-15 NAS). Therefore the foundation of God’s kingdom was not and is not laid by carnal man and does not rest upon the wisdom of mere men, but upon the wisdom and power of God (1^st Corinthians 2:1-5).

To understand the wonderful nature of the kingdom of love, joy and peace one must know and accept the fact that Jesus Christ is the personification or the embodiment of the law of His kingdom; He is the Word of God (John 1:1-2 & 14 NAS). This being so, The Word of God, is also Lord and King or ruler of the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit of God is the teacher of the kingdom and He speaks of and glorifies the Son (John 16:14).

While speaking to Nicodemus Jesus said,

‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God’.”

(John 3:3 NASU)

Our Lord’s kingdom, His congregation called His church, is not a religion but an entity, a nation of people born of the Spirit who are one with their King. To see the church that Jesus established is the kingdom of God in the earth and that He is the King of this kingdom one must be “born again” of the Spirit. Furthermore, to understand the government and know the blessings of living within the boarders of our Lord’s kingdom one must be “born again” of water and the Spirit (John 3:5). He must be cleansed by the washing of the water with the word (Ephesians 5:26). For this reason he is baptized into Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God, by the Holy Spirit. Through this process he is set apart (sanctified) from the world and set into the kingdom of God and made one with his Lord; he is a “new creature” of the spirit realm, old things have pasted away and new things have come (Colossians 5:17).

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

(Galatians 5:24 NASU)

Without a vision of the blessing of living in the kingdom of our Lord one’s soul perishes under the influence of the sinful flesh. That which opposes the power of love is lust---the overwhelming desires of the flesh nature. Therefore the new convert must die to the desires of the flesh. The nails of repentance are the way to the cross with Jesus; and faith in Him is the way to resurrection life. Repentance is the empting of one’s soul of sinful lust and preparing the heart with a love for the word of God. This is accomplished only through convictions brought about by the Holy Spirit; resulting in a deep sorrow and remorsefulness for crimes committed against God. The only voice the Savior hears from outside His kingdom is one pleading to be granted repentance.

The word of God requires a heart that is empty. A heart filled with earthly projects, carnal interests, ambition, thoughts of becoming rich in worldly goods, and with the love of the luxuries and pleasures of life is not fit to enter the kingdom of our Lord.

Take heed to the words of Jesus:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

(Matthew 6:24 NASU)

Man cannot serve the riches of the world and the kingdom of heaven. One must be dedicated to and live within the boundaries of the kingdom of heaven to receive the blessings of it. God’s word defines the boarders of the kingdom; to live within these boarders and receive the blessings of the King one must be obedient to the commandments of God from a heart of thanksgiving and love (John 14:15).

Jesus continues, referring to verse 24 above:

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing’?”

(Matthew 6:25-31)

When God, by the hand of Moses, led the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt they entered a wilderness. There God fed them for forty years with food from the heavens, gave them water from a rock and their cloths and sandals never wore out. If God so loved and took care of a people whom He had delivered because of faith in the shedding of the blood of an animal how much more will He take care of a people He has delivered from the bondage of sin and death by their faith in the shedding of the blood of His own Son?

“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

(Matthew 6:25-33 NASU)

The heathen seek the things of the world; the sons of God seek His kingdom and His righteousness.

Our heavenly Father knows our every need but when His subjects, His children obey His commandments His ear is always attentive to their prayers. Our Lord and Savior desires that His children not be anxious about their daily needs in order that they not be distracted from the work of the kingdom. Therefore we should focus upon His kingdom and His righteousness; when He went to the cross to die in our stead His focus was upon serving us; now our focus should be upon serving Him from a heart of love.

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

(Romans 8:1-2 NASU)

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God .”

(Romans 8:12-14 NASU)

Not all who claim the kingdom are truly sons of God.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter .”

(Matthew 7:21 NASU)

Therefore,

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

(Galatians 5:25 NASU)

A Closing Thought

The sons of God are the true church, the kingdom of heaven, the salt in the world to purify, give flavor and preserve. In these United States of America it is a theocracy within a democracy. Without its strong influence in the hearts of the majority of the people and men in our government, like the heathen democracies before us, we will surely fall. A nation of people who put their trust in God and obey His commandments is a blessed nation. Selah.

James C Sanford

Classic Podcast: Purple Pope Hats

Are you pursuing a daily personal and intimate walk with God... or do you hide behind the symbols of your religious tradition?

Download or listen to this classic podcast: http://www.link2power.org/podcasts/Purple_Pope_Hats.MP3

For more podcasts, visit our podcast-only blog: http://powerpodcasts.blogspot.com/

I Need a God Who Can

Do you find it hard to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Sometimes I find it hard to comprehend. But that is ok, I am not alone. The disciples had spent three years with Jesus, and still they did not understand when they found the tomb empty. The scriptures tell us in Luke that when the women returned from the tomb and told the disciples that Jesus had risen, they didn't believe them. "But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense." Luke 24;11 NIV It is hard to believe in something that is not a normal part of life. It seems like nonsense to us too.

People die all the time. The papers carry an obituary sectionevery day, but I have yet to see a paper that carries a resurrection section. People die...but they just don't rise from the dead. The story of Jesus rising from the dead is hard to believe. It is just not a natural part of every day life. Have you ever known someone to go to the cemetary looking for living people? The women in the gospels didn't! They went expecting to find a corpse. Not just someone who was in cardiac arrest and in need of CPR. They expected to find a body dead for three days.A body with rigor mortis, a body already starting to decay. Yet, what they expected...they didn't find. Instead of a body, they found and empty tomb and a risen Lord!

I need a God like this. I need a God that does things beyond what I can comprehend. I can't comprehend bodies raising from the dead. That just does not make sense to me. I need a God that can do things that I can't figure out. I want a God that is bigger than anything I can figure out and understand.

I want a God that does supernatural things! I don't want a God that is limited by the natural. I need a God who does things that can't be explained on the History and Discovery Channels.

If I am able to comprehend all that God does, then God is no bigger than my mind. If God is only able to function within the realm of my comprehension, then God is no bigger than the human mind. I need a God that is not confined by my understanding. I want a God bigger than anything I can possible think of. A God which nothing can confine.

We attempt to confine God all the time. We try to keep him contained where we can control him. They attempted to contain Jesus by using his mortality. They thought, "If we kill him, that will contain him." Surely death will hold him. But to be sure,they attempted to contain him with rock and stones, sealed within a tomb. And if that is not enough,they placed a gaurd upon the tomb.

The Roman gaurd placed on the tomb was nothing to be trifled with. In today's world, it would be like being gaurded by team of Navy seals. Yet, death could not contain him, the tomb could not hold him, and the Roman Gaurd fled in fear. I want a God like that. One that nothing I can think of can contain him.

Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." I want a God that is immeasurably more than anything I can think of, greater than my wildest imagination.

A God like that is able to accomplish things, that if it were up to me would remain unsolved and unresolved. Situations that seem hopeless, now find hope in a resurrected Lord. Broken people and broken lives can be restored by the power of a resurrected Lord. Addictions and issues that seem more than I can cope with, Jesus is able to overcome. I know this, because even death can not hold him.

I need a God that great! I need a God that is so big, everything else I face in lifebecomes small in comparison. With him, all things are possible. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

A resurrected Lord...difficult to comprehend. Itmakes no earthly sense. So I turn to faith. I chose to believe something I can't see. I chose to believe in something that is greater than me. Jesus once said if we have faith the size of a grain of a mustard seed we can move mountains. I believe. I need a God like Jesus I can believe in. I need a Lord that although he once was dead, now HE LIVES!!

Author John Phipps, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church, Wayensburg, PA

A Call for Repentance (revised)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

(Matthew 5:13 NIV)

Salt has literally hundreds of uses, but here Jesus is speaking of the positive qualities it has in purifying, seasoning and preserving.

Those who are taught and trained in the word of God are likened unto salt; they serve as a purifying agent in their community, spreading as seasoning, the word of God and preserving the principals of godliness. But when the truth of God is exchanged for myths, fables, lies and the tradition of men the “salt” has become tasteless or has lost it’s “saltiness” and “it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God??”

(Romans 2:1-3 NASU)

The design of this scripture is to show that the Jews were no less guilty of breaking His Law than the Gentiles, and that they needed the benefit of the same salvation. The same is true of the church today. The church has greater light than the people of the world, and yet they do the same things that the heathen do. Still they are in the habit of accusing and condemning the heathen as wicked and having need of salvation; while they excuse themselves on the ground that they possessed the word of truth, and are His chosen people. The scripture here affirms that the church is inexcusable in her sins, and is condemned in the sight of God on the same ground on which they condemn the world; to wit, that they have truth and yet commit wickedness.

Our churches of today have welcomed and accepted the traditions of the world and the practice of paganism into the church and are teaching myths, fables and lies rather than the truths of God’s Holy Scriptures. They have tickled the ears of the masses for the sake of numbers in the pews and dollars in the offering plate. They have become rich and think they have need of nothing.

Yes, the church has fallen away from the faith of our forefathers and have become as the heathen. Immorality in the pulpits has led to immorality being accepted in the congregations and it seems no one in the churches is speaking out against it. Thus the church is no longer held is high esteem by the community it is serving, but is looked upon as being a house of hypocrites, whoremongers and thieves.

We look at our leaders in government in awe of their total disrespect for the laws that they are sworn to uphold, we presently see congressmen and senators with morals less than that of an alley cat. In the past we have seen, and was even approved by the masses, immorality in the White House. We have become a nation of shameless fornicators, adulteresses and murders!! Homosexuality and same sex marriages are now accepted as a normal way of life.

The responsibility of these moral failures lies on the shoulders of the church; the church is to be the moral fiber of the nation. Why do we see crime of all sorts in our communities on the rise? Do we wonder how these things can be? Could it be that the “salt” has become “tasteless” and has lost its ability to purify, season and preserve? Has the church become the apostate church? Has this apostate church led this nation down the path of destruction?

Where is the fear of God? Have we as a church and a nation become so haughty that we don’t any longer fear Him? Have we become so unpleasantly or disdainfully self-important we feel that we are self-sufficient and have no need to reverence God? Have we become so proud of our military that we lean upon our own might rather that the power of God?

We must take heed lest we fall,

“Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.”

(Proverbs 18:12 NIV)

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

(Proverbs 11:2 NIV)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”

(Psalms 111:10 NIV)

We must return to teaching the precepts of our Lord to see the salvation of a declining nation destined to fall. Yes, our nation is in a downward spiral into the pit of immorality, but if we will listen to the words that God speaks to His people and take heed there is still hope.

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

(Romans 2:4 NASU)

God has shown us His love through His tolerance and patience with our sin; let us not think lightly of the riches of His kindness for it is though these that He leads us to repentance.

“---- If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

(2^nd Chronicles 7:14 NASU)

When He says, “if my people who are called by My name” He is speaking to the church today just as He spoke in the days of King Solomon. He is calling for His people of today to come humbly before Him and to pray. God hears the prayers of the humble but resist the proud.

How can the salt become salty again? Repent and call upon the name of the Lord that our sins might be forgiven. The church must repent; turn its back on sin and seek God’s face in humbleness with broken and contrite hearts. God promises that He will hear the prayers of the broken and contrite.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus.”

(Acts 3:19-20 NASU)

We as a church and nation must turn from the course of wickedness in which we have been so long walking. Sin cannot be pardoned before man repents of it. In the order of the work of grace, repentance must always precede pardon. Of course, no peoples can have evidence that their sin is pardoned until they repent.

The enemy is at work he never sleeps. He has penetrated our boarders and sits in our pews, he has filled our pulpits and governmental offices, and he seeks whom he might destroy. The faithful and true church is the “salt” that preserves and it must be this church that brings this nation back to God; the church must lead this nation in repentance before it is too late. We must call upon our Lord and Savior to give us wisdom and strength; we must lean upon His power to save us. Selah.

James C Sanford

Clay Vessels (Revisited)

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.

They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone! Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It’s like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them. I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with each of you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.

A Kingdom of Truth and Love

“Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘what is truth?’”

(John 18:37-38)

In a sense Pilate was asking Jesus, do you admit the charge in any way that the Jews have brought against you, or do you lay claim to a kingdom of any kind?

Jesus answered in a form of expression denoting affirmation. It is equivalent to yes.

This does not mean simply that Pilate affirmed that he was a king; it does not appear that he had done this; but it means, “You affirm the truth; you declare what is correct, for I am a king.” I am a king and do not deny it.

Jesus continues to state that He was born into the world that He might set up and maintain a kingdom “not of this world” but a spiritual government. By this He showed what was the nature of His kingdom; this government is established in and by love and truth. It was not to assert power; not to collect armies and not to subdue nations in battle. It was simply to present truth to men; and He would close the establishing of His kingdom of truth with the greatest expression of love ever made toward man. Thus He writes His laws upon the hearts of men and exercises dominion only by the power of love and truth. Hence, the only power put forth in the kingdom of our Lord to restrain the wicked is in convicting the sinner, in converting the heart, in guiding and leading those who come to Him, cleansing and sanctifying them, by applying truth to the heart and mind through love. All that love truth, hears His voice and attends to the spiritual doctrines He teaches.

Therefore it is by truth and love that our Lord influences the minds and governs the people of His kingdom. Men are not forced to enter His kingdom. Through the hearing of truth they are made to see that they are sinners; and that God is loving and merciful, that they need a Redeemer, and that He is the One who loved them enough to pay the price for their redemption, and yield wholly to be governed by Him---the Living Word of God.

During the time our Lord walked the earth there were many opinions concerning truth; and some had even supposed that it was a thing utterly out of the reach of men. Pilate perhaps might have asked the question, “what is truth” in a mocking way; and in not staying to get an answer he indicated that he either despaired of getting a satisfactory one, or that he was indifferent about it. Nevertheless all truth in heaven and on earth was standing before him and he did not know Him.

To know Christ, the living Word of God, is to know truth, for Christ is the embodiment of all truth (John 1:14). Like Pilate, most of mankind had lost sight of truth and Jesus came that He might restore truth and righteousness in the earth. Apart from truth man cannot be in right standing with God, therefore man must seek to know God’s truth.

The word truth is defined as a statement or an act that conforms to fact or actuality. Fact is exact and cannot be altered; thus fact has no variation; and truth conforms to fact, and it too, to remain truth, cannot be in part, vary or be altered. Fact and/or truth are the standard by which all else is measured. To make a statement or to do an act that adds to, takes from or omits the facts is a distortion, a variation and a misstatement that does not represent and uphold the facts; thus it is not truth.

Truth establishes trust. Trust is defined as confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability and justice of a person or institution. If a person or institution is to be trusted they must be known for speaking and abiding in the truth. It is the element of trust in truth that has the power to transform the lives of men.

The Apostle Paul writes,

“I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

(1^st Timothy 3:15ff)

God’s word---His truth, is His expressed power and authority; therefore the power and authority of the Church is God’s truth. His truth has the power to deliver the souls of men from the prison of darkness---the dungeon of death, and to bring them into the kingdom of light and eternal life. I fear that in the these modern times ungodly men have crept in preaching a different “Jesus” than the One who suffered and died to redeem the souls of men---a different One than the Apostle Paul preached; and as the serpent deceived Eve they have led God’s children astray (2^nd Corinthians 11:3-4). Myths, fantasy, fiction, fables, lies, the practice of observing pagan holidays, rituals, idolatry, immorality, traditions of men and things like these---these have NO saving power---they are the opposite---they are of the kingdom of darkness. These have no place in the church of the living God; for the true Church is Christ body in the earth today, the embodiment of truth.

“These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you, but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”

(1^st John 2:26-27 NASU)

If indeed you have come to know the Son of the Living God stir up the gift of the Spirit that is within you. You are without excuse for you have the power within you to know, understand and walk in love and truth. To be a member of the body of Christ, the Church, one must be faithful to seek to know and be obedient to---and faithfully speak the truth. Keeping God’s truth is a key element of divine love. One who knows God’s love has and is obedient to His truth.

“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself walk in the same manner as He walked.”

(1^st John 2:3-6)

When trials or tribulations come to the true believers, they stand because their foundation is laid by the word of their Lord. They know the truth and do not profane or pollute the name of their Lord with the lies of paganism.

“‘As for you, O house of Israel’ thus says the Lord God, 'Go serve everyone his idols, but later, you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will profane (pollute) no longer with your gifts and with your idols’.”

(Ezekiel 20:39 NASU)

God’s people of faith are members of the true Church that will endure (James 1:2-4).

• They refuse to bow to heathen gods even though they may go to the fiery furnace (Daniel chapter 3) or to the lions den (Daniel chapter 6).
  

• They will not take the “mark of the beast” (Revelation 13:14-18; 14:9-12) because they love not their life “even unto death” (Revelation 12:11).
  

• They bear the fruit of righteousness (Philippians 3:8-9) and present their bodies a living and holy sacrifice (1^st Peter 1:13-21) acceptable to the service of God, not being conformed to the world (Romans 12:1-2), but being transformed to the image of their Lord (Galatians 2:20; 5:22-23)
  

• When the “tares” (the children of lies) are removed, the “wheat” (the children of truth) will be gathered into the barn” (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43).

“O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill, and to Your dwelling places. Selah.”

(Psalm 43:3)

James C Sanford

Christian Conduct

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, there are many in the world that is lost and dying because they do not know our Lord and Savior. We as children of God should always lift up our Lord’s name and present to the world His great plan of salvation. Older and more mature believers should always endeavor to teach the younger Christians as well, and set an example before them of proper Christian conduct; but I have observed that many who call themselves Christians act just like the unbelievers; they do not set themselves apart from the worldly.

As a pastor and teacher of the word of God I am held responsible and accountable for the things I teach and the manner in which I conduct myself. Our Creator holds you, as a believer, responsible for how you hear the word of God and how you conduct yourself as well. It is our privilege and responsibility to rightly represent our Lord and Savior---for we are His ambassadors.

In the Epistle to the Galatians we find these words.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
(Galatians 5:22-23 NASU)

If indeed we have believed, repented and been baptized in the name of our Lord we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). And if we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us then we also have the fruit of the Spirit. These fruits are then manifested in our daily lives unless we quince the Spirit by unholy conduct. These fruits of the Spirit are evidence of God in our lives and present us in His image.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
(Galatians 5:24 NASU)

According to the above Scripture we should not be able to walk in unholy conduct because these deeds of the flesh have been crucified with Christ. And if we have been crucified with Christ we are also buried with Him. And if we are buried with Him then we are also raised up with Him a new creature “the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2^nd Corinthians 5:13 NASU);” we have been “born again” to live and walk by the leadership and power of the Spirit dwelling within us.

Therefore,

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”
(Galatians 5:25-26 NASU)

When one has been born again he has been raised from the dead and he no longer wears the cloths of the dead. He receives unto himself the robe of righteousness from his Lord Jesus; this is the robe of the living. He undergoes an inward change that is manifested outwardly by the love for His Savior that has been given to him by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). His conduct is that of a saint. He walks as a disciple in reverent awe of His Lord

Concerning conduct the Apostle Peter writes,

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.”
(1^st Peter 1:17 NASU)

If you have been reconciled to the Father through His Son “then conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;” for the One you address as Father is also “the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work.” Conduct yourselves in respect and reverent awe of our all-powerful Creator, the one who is able to save your soul or destroy it in hell (Matthew 10:28).

The Apostle Paul speaks of conduct in this manner,

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.”
(Ephesians 4:17-19 NASU)

You are called to holiness; the unbelievers have no such calling; do not live according to their chosen lifestyle. You are to be set apart from the ungodly and live according to the righteousness you have been called into by grace through faith.

The children of the world, because of their unbelief, have been darkened in their understanding and often mock the things you should cherish as a believer. They have been “excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them.” But you are not excluded if you hold fast the things you have learned of the Lord, if indeed you have been taught of Him. But they hold fast to the sin that is in the world “because of the hardness of their heart.”

Like hands that have become callous from hard labor and no longer have a sense of feeling so are the hearts of the sinners. Their souls have labored in sin so long that they have become callous and have lost all sense of tenderness, love and mercy. But beware; if you walk as the unbelievers walk your heart can become callous also!!

“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
(Ephesians 4:20-24 NASU)

If we have become Disciples of Christ it means that we are being trained in the ways of righteousness and because of practice are able to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). We no longer walk the paths of the sinners. We cease to indulge in sexual immorality (fornication), divorce, adultery, thief, murder and etc.

The Spirit renews the true disciples mind and the new self is put on in the likeness of Christ who is in the image of God the Father.

“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
(Ephesians 4:25-29 NASU)

It is the work of the Spirit in the believers life bringing about the change, it is not just a reformation brought about by self. Such work of ones self would be the work of the flesh and would not endure, it would soon fail and pass away.

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
(Ephesians 4:30 NASU)

Disregarding the guidance of the Holy Spirit grieves Him; we should listen and take heed to His teachings for that is our guidance into the will of the Father.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
(Ephesians 4:31-32 NASU)

Love is not offended; if we have love, then bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander cannot abide in us, neither can malice. Kindness, tender-heartedness and forgiveness is the nature of love.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children”
(Ephesians 5:1 NASU).”

Let our conduct be like that of our Lord; by knowledge acquired of the Holy Spirit (1^st Corinthians 2:10-13) and observing Him through the eyes of the same Spirit we must imitate Him in all our actions, words, spirit, and inclinations; imitate Him as children do their parents, and remember that we stand in the relation of beloved children to Him. It is natural for children to imitate their parents; it is their constant aim to learn of them, and to copy them in all things; whatever they see the parent do, whatever they hear them speak, that they endeavor to copy and imitate. If therefore we be children of God, we must, by the power of the Holy Spirit, show this love to our heavenly Father, and imitate all His moral perfections, and through the same Spirit “put on the mind” of our Lord and Savior.

“and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
(Ephesians 5:2 NASU)

A true disciple of Christ should let every act of life be dictated by love to God and man; laying down his/her lives for their fellow man if necessary; counting nothing too difficult to be done in order to gain their eternal salvation; this is not a suggestion or an option but a command from our Lord (John 13:34-35).

“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
(Ephesians 5:4-5 NASU)

Let it be understood: Heaven will be pure!!! Thus NO impure person will dwell there.

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
(Ephesians 5:6 NASU)

Let no one by eloquent speech and artful pleas (ear tickling) persuade you that; there will be no danger from practicing worldliness. We may suppose that one would be under strong temptations to mingle in the “happy” and “festive” scenes where acts of the “sinful human nature” are not frowned upon, or where they are practiced; or that a person might be tempted to commit these acts of sin by some of the plausible arguments such as “we are only human” which are now used for their own indulgence. Many of our friends may walk in these circles; and they would endeavor to convince others that such were the customs that had been long practiced, and that there could be no harm still in their indulgence “since everybody is doing it.”

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
(Galatians 6:7-8 NASU)

“Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

For this reason it says,
‘Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you’.”

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

(Ephesians 5:7-17 NASU)

James C Sanford